Above All Things

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you and yours are staying away from all the viruses and yucky stuff that seems to be floating around. I have been recovering from bronchitis for the last couple of weeks. That cough seems to take forever to go away!! Enough of that, it's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday. This week our focus verse is Colossians 3:14, "And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness." Many times in the Bible the word "charity" means love. I think it's interesting that this verse tells us to "put on" love. It makes me think of putting on a coat. You may say, "But love is an emotion. You can't put it on and take it off." Actually, as one wise man once told us, "Love is more an action to be learned that a feeling to be felt." To love as God does, we must be loving. That doesn't mean that we don't challenge people to change their ways when they are doing wrong. But it does mean that we love the sinner while we hate their sin. It does mean that we are loving and kind to those who treat us with anger and sarcasm. It takes effort and self discipline but with God's help we can become known for our loving actions.

Stamp Simply is one of our sponsors this week. They generously provided some goodies for us to try. For my card today, I stamped the rose from the Thinking of You Rose clear stamp set and colored the roses with Copic Markers. While this stamp set does have a coordinating die, I don't own it (yet). So I fussy cut each of the roses. The background die is from Gina Marie Designs. I die cut the A2 Lattice Panel die from kraft card stock and then used distress ink to give it some additional dimension. The roses were arranged on the lattice and tucked into it. I shorted the stems on the top two roses. The Scripture was die cut with a banner die and then the edges were inked with the same Distress Ink used on the lattice panel. Some die cut hearts from my stash, some sequins, stickles and Nuvo Crystal drops were scattered on the front. It's hard to see in the picture but the lattice panel and the roses were coated with Wink of Stella for some beautiful shimmer.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections (Cream card base, kraft), Copic (70# marker paper)
Stamps: WORDart by Karen, Stamp Simply (Thinking of You Rose)
Ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black), Distress Ink (Vintage Photo)
Copics: YG03, 05, 13, 21, 23, 36; R81, 83, 85
Dies: Gina Marie Designs (A2 Sized Lattice Panel Die), WRMK (Party Banners-retired)
Embellishments/Tools: Stickles (Cotton Candy), Zig Wink of Stella Glitter brush marker (clear), Nuvo Jewel Drops (Clear)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Crop Stop February Challenge - use brands/items found in the Crop Stop Store (I'm using Zig, Tonic, Cuttlebug, Fiskars, Ranger,Scotch and We Are Memory Keepers)
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

I appreciate your visit today. I hope you'll take the time to see the projects the rest of the Design Team made. You are sure to be inspired.