As the Hart

It's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday. Our challenge focus verse this week is Psalm 42:1, "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God." That is a fantastic word picture of how we should desire to be close to the Lord. Just as animals seek out water in brooks and streams on a very regular basis, so should we desire to get to know the Lord. This closeness with the Lord comes from time spent in His Word and in prayer. I have been praying lately that the Lord would increase my desire to spend time reading my Bible. It's so easy in the busy-ness of life to let our personal time with the Lord become just one more thing to check off on our to-do lists. That's not the way our time with the Lord should be and not the relationship I want to have with Him. I want to be more like the hart in today's verse.

Today's card features a new die set I was recently able to purchase. It's the Blueprints 29 Die-namics set by My Favorite Things. Our sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp (SSS) and I was able to purchase this die set from them. I also used some SSS Soft Navy cardstock for the frame (two frames were layered on top of each other for dimension and for the background mat. The SSS Delicate Thistle die was used to cut out the thistle from plain white cardstock which was then inked using Distress Inks. Then the die cut was cut apart to use in the two bottom openings in the die cut frame. I'm not totally pleased with their placement and if I had it to do over again, I would die cut two thistles and have the frames filled a little more. An embossing folder adds some texture behind the thistles. Some SSS Moonshine sequins were scattered across the card front and accented with Star Dust Stickles. One of the stitched tab dies from the Blueprints 29 set was used to hold the Praying for You sentiment from the retired SSS Always and Forever stamp set.

Simon Says Stamp supplies:
Soft Navy Cardstock
Delicate Thistle Die
Moonshine Sequins 
Always & Forever stamp set (retired)

Additional Supplies (items linked to SSS store where available):
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), The Paper Studio Heavy Weight (card base)
Patterned Paper: Echo Park (Just Be You 6 x 6 pad)
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen
Ink: Versafine (Onyx Black), Distress Inks
Dies: My Favorite Things (Blueprint 29)
Embellishments/Tools: Cuttlebug Embossing folder (Basket Weave), Wink of Stella glitter brush pen (Clear), Stickles (Star Dust)

This card has been entered in the following challenges:
CraftyHazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - Must use patterned paper
Tuesday Throwndown Challenge #344 - Anything Goes
Come and Get It Challenge - Emboss It (I used dry embossing behind the thistles)

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you will take the time to visit the Word Art Wednesday blog to see what the other designers have made and to pick up your free digi. Please also be sure to visit Simon Says Stamp - they truly are a one-stop shop.