Bought with a Price

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and were able to celebrate Christ's birth with friends and family. Both of our children, their spouses, our grandson and new grand-puppy were here for Christmas. What a rare treat (both of our children live 8 hours away from us and from each other)!! This mama soaked in lots of good memories to treasure now that they've all returned to their homes.

It's time for the last Word Art Wednesday challenge for 2015. Starting in 2016, the Word Art Wednesday challenges will each last 2 weeks. This will give you more time to play along. As always, we have some wonderful sponsors so you'll want to be sure to keep joining us and linking up your projects. This week we're looking at 1 Corinthians 6:20, "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." The baby in the manger that we celebrated last week, grew up to become the Savior that died on the cross to pay the price for our sins. Glorifying God, obeying His commands and living for Him, should therefore just come naturally to us. After all, we belong to Him.

One of our fantastic sponsors this week is Fresh Brewed Designs. I've been wanting to color this image they designed for a long time. I've never really colored eyeshadow on an image before so this was something new for me. I used a little glaze pen on the lipstick to give it some shine. The image is double matted.

After coloring the image, I decided to put her on a notebook cover instead of a card. I thought this week's verse was so appropriate for a Bible Journal or Prayer Journal. This particular notebook will hold a Jr. Legal size paper pad and you can replace the pad when you need more pages. The pad measures 5" x 8".  I cut a piece of teal cardstock 10 3/4" x 8 1/4".  It is scored on the long side at 5 1/4" and 5 1/2". The patterned paper panels on the front and the interior are 5" x 8". The finished closed size of the notebook is 5 1/4" x 8 1/4".

The interior of the notebook has a pocket for small keepsakes or a book mark. The finished pocket measures 5-1/8" wide x 5" tall. This is also the size of the pocket that holds the paper pad. The cardboard backing slips down into the pocket. For more detailed directions on how I made the notebook, please leave me a comment below or email me using the Contact Me link in my profile.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Coredinations Ranger/Tim Holtz line
Patterned Paper: DCWV (The Blossom Song 12 x 12 Stack)
Stamps: WORDart by Karen, Fresh Brewed Designs
Copics: BG10, 11, 13, 15, 70; R20, 22, 24; C5; 100; E00, 11,13, 25, 29, 31, 33, 34, 35, 50
Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders dies (Labels 4, Labels 4 Small), Fiskars border punch (Apron Lace), Sakura Glaze pen

I'm entering this notebook in the following challenges:
Sweet Stamps December Challenge - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Hiding in My Craft Room Challenge #231 - Freestyle
Mod Squad Challenge - Use at least one die cut

Thanks for visiting with me today. I do hope you'll play along with the challenge at Word Art Wednesday. Be sure to stop by the blog for your free digi and to see what the rest of the Design Team have made. Happy New Year!!

Countdown to Fun

My project for this week's Take Your Pick challenge at The Kraft Journal is a countdown calendar for our 5 year old grandson. It is designed to help him count down the days until my husband and I go to visit him on his birthday weekend. I was able to pack 4 (red, embossing, die cuts, and washi tape) of the 8 choices in the simple design of the front cover. I started with a base of Lunch Bag Kraft cardstock (my favorite The Kraft Outlet cardstock). The folded size of this project is 5" x 8". My cardstock base is in two sections. The first piece was cut to 8" x 10.5". It was scored on the long side at 5" & 10". The second piece was cut at 5" x 8". I added scrappy tape (like Scor-tape) to the 1/2" strip on the first panel and used that to adhere the smaller panel. This gave me a strip 15" long that was scored at 5" & 10" in mountain and valley folds. Since I only needed 3 places to put my calendars, I folded the last setion back and adhered the sides to make a pocket. {That is probably clear as mud since I forgot to take pics of the construction process. See the last picture in this post for a little clarification.}

For the cover red cardstock and patterned paper  was layered over the base kraft cardstock. Using a VersaMarker, all the cars  were embossed with clear embossing powder. The computer generated sentiment and a red mat were die cut. A piece of white cardstock was cut as a mat for the sentiment and then covered with Notebook Grid Paper Tape (aka washi tape).

I printed 3 monthly calendars that I found as free downloads on the internet. I then added the countdown numbers with a black sharpie.

The final month of the countdown calendar is on the back. Stickers to mark off each day are tucked into the pocket.

Supplies:
Cardstock: The Kraft Outlet (Lunch Bag Kraft), Georgia Pacific (white), Core'dinations (red)
Patterned Paper: Echo Park (Little Boy 12 x 12 collection)
Computer generated sentiment
Tools/Embellishments: Versamarker, Sharpie black marker, Stampin' Up! embossing powder (crystal clear),  Notebook Grid Paper Tape (The Kraft Outlet), Spellbinders dies (Classic Rectangles Large), Stickers from the Dollar Store

Thanks for visiting with me today.  I hope you'll be able to play along in this week's Take Your Pick Challenge.

Purse-Sized Gift Set Duo

For this week's Anything Goes - NO Cards challenge at The Kraft Journal, I chose to make a gift set for our daughter of a purse-sized notebook holder and a business card wallet. Both items have a base of Buff Cover Weight Cardstock with Lunch Bag Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock used to mat the patterned paper and sentiments. All the computer generated sentiments and the business cards were printed on Buff Cover Weight Cardstock. 

Our daughter has loved books since her toddler days and we spent hours upon hours in the library during her childhood. For this reason, I thought the vintage library card catalog paper was quite appropriate. She has turned that love of reading into a career and is now a published author and style editor. And yes, I am her biggest fan! :)

The interior of the business card holder uses two Lunch Bag Kraft Card Sleeve Envelopes that were covered with patterned paper to hold the cards. Since I don't have one of her current business cards, I made these sample cards as props to use during the project's photo shoot.  Her website, K. D. Winchester, is publishing focused and covers a broad range of  items.  On her blog, she does frequent book reviews from all types of genres. If you have specific questions about the content of a certain book, feel free to ask her via her contact page.

Kendra loves book lists and has quite a lengthy "Books I Want to Read" list of her own. I thought this quote on the front of the notebook holder was quite appropriate. The notebook holder is embellished with an Antique Silver Label Holder. 

The interior of the notebook holder has a 3 x 5 notepad. The backboard of the notepad slips into a pocket so that it can be replaced when all the sheets are gone. The front cover has a pocket where small items can be tucked for safe keeping. The finished size of the notebook holder when closed is 3.75" x 5.5".

For extra stability, the spine of the holder was also covered with cardstock mat and patterned paper layer.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Buff Cover Weight Cardstock and Lunch Bag Kraft Card Stock - The Kraft Outlet
Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny (Weekend Market Collection 6x6 pad)
All sentiments computer generated
Tools/Embellishments - Antique Silver Label Holder & Lunch Bag Kraft Card Sleeve Envelopes (The Kraft Outlet), Marvy 3/4" Circle Punch, Spellbinder dies (Labels 7), brads (The Paper Studio), Distress ink (I just used whatever was left on my sponge dauber  - I suspect a combo of walnut stain and tea dye)

I'm entering this duo in the following challenges
Digi Chooseday Week #28 - Use something old (I've had this paper for a long time)
Crop Stop Linky Party #6 - Use something found in the Crop Stop Store (Distress Inks - Walnut Stain, Tea Dye)
Scrapy Land Challenge #22 - Vintage + must use die brand that Scrapy Land carries (I used Spellbinders)

Thanks for visiting with me today.  I hope you'll come back often and that you'll participate in The Kraft Journal's Anything Goes - NO Cards challenge this week.

Special Wedding Project

A couple months ago, a couple in our church asked me to help them with a special project for their wedding.  The groom's mother had passed away and they wanted the ringbearer to carry her Bible instead of a pillow.  The problem with this is that her Bible had seen a lot of wear and was going to be carried by a 2 year old.  Their main requests were that I do something that would help the Bible look better, be more practical for a little guy to carry, and that the rings be tied onto it somehow.  They decided not to have their actual wedding rings attached to the Bible so we used their purity rings instead.

Here is a before look at the Bible:

Here is the after:

I didn't want to attach anything permanent to such a treasure.  I went back to my childhood days and made a book cover like we used to do in grade school. Because the edges of the Bible curled down over the pages, I made the cover bigger to allow for them to be flattened out and reinforced the front and back covers with chipboard.    His mom, like many of us, kept some special items between the pages of her Bible.  I didn't want them to get lost during the wedding so I made little vellum envelopes and slipped them in the flaps of the front and back covers.  The ribbon was tied package-style around the Bible to help hold everything together and to give it more stability.

As it turned out, the ringbearer got sick and wasn't able to participate in the wedding.  So, a Plan B was arranged.  The Bible, a candle and a picture of the groom's mom were displayed on the top of the piano.  This was such a great way to include her memory in such a special day.  What was of the utmost importance to me...the bridal couple was pleased with how the project turned out.  :)

Supplies:
Papers:  The Paper Studio
Ribbons/Trims:  Offray
Pearl button and pearl strips:  The Paper Studio
Chipboard from my stash
Rings:  The bride and groom's purity rings

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:
Crafty Ribbons Challenge #111:  Anything But a Card
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge #212 - Anything Goes
Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge - Optional Twist - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations Challenges #281 - Something Old/Something New (the Bible and ribbons are old, and the papers and lace trim are new)

I appreciate you taking time out of your day to visit.  Thanks!  I hope the rest of your week goes well.  The weekend is in sight!! Yay!!!

Menu Planning Board

A customer sent me this link to a Menu Planner and asked me if I could make one.  She wanted to give it as a birthday gift to a friend.  This friend has some of Sara Mincy's artwork in her home and really likes that style.  As I looked at Sara's blog I noticed she has lots of bright colors, mixes solids, stripes and polka dots and even has some collage type designs several places in her home.

The way this board works is that you write the meals you make for your family on pieces of cardstock.  On the back of this you write what ingredients you need to have to make it and the location of the recipe.  This helps with planning your grocery shopping list and makes finding the recipe easier.  You can color code your meals to help with variety.  Example: Red meat on red cardstock, meatless meals on green, chicken/fish on yellow, easy meals (soup/sandwiches, eating out, church dinner, etc.) on white.  Use whatever works for your family.  Then you can use packing tape to laminate these meal strips for durability.  My customer is taking care of this part of the project so I just made white strips (1.5" x 3.5") to help me with spacing.  The strips are stored in the top box.  The meals you choose for the week are attached to the appropriate clothes pins and after the week is over moved to the bottom box.  Once the bottom box is full, all strips return to the top box and the process starts over. This helps prevent constant repeats.

I started with an 11x14 canvas.  I cut scraps of scrapbook paper and cardstock into squares and rectangles and Mod Podged them all over the canvas.  I then gave it a couple extra coats of Mod Podge for durability.  The eventual owner has several young children and will hang this in her kitchen so I tried to seal everything for durability and ease of cleaning.

I wrapped washi tape around the edge of the canvas and then sealed it with at least 2 coats of Mod Podge.   The clothes pins have washi tape on the top that is also sealed.  The days of the week were stamped and then punched out and backed with another punched circle from cardstock.  Again these were sealed before being adhered to the clothes pins with Multi Medium Matte. The clothespins were adhered to the canvas using hot glue.

The boxes were made by covering thin chipboard with cardstock.  Decorative edge dies were used on the corners.  The boxes were sealed and adhered to the canvas with hot glue.  The letters, heart and star were painted with acrylic paint.  After being sealed they were attached with hot glue.  The star, heart and scalloped border were given Enamel Accent polka dots.  Strong magnets were attached to the back with Glossy Accents so that it can be hung on the refrigerator.

This board was a lot of fun to make.  I haven't used this much paint and glue in a long time.

Tip for Top Tip Tuesday: When covering clothespins, to make coating with paint or Mod Podge easier, clip the pins to a folded piece scrap piece of paper. Line the pins up on one edge and tuck the other side of the paper under something heavy on a bookshelf.  The fold allows them to hang free to dry.

Supplies:
Cardstock & Patterned Paper - Many from my scrap basket
Stamp Set (Scrappy Cat  - Letter Sweater clear stamp set)
Ink:  VersaFine (Onyx Black)
Other items: Plaid Acrylic Paint (Black, Real Blue, Red Apple), Mod Podge (matte), Bella Blvd Washi Tape (gulf Dot), Craft Essentials Washi Tape (red and blue dot), My Favortie Things Die-namics (Mini Scallop Edge), Spellbinders Die (Fair Isle Border Petites), Marvy Circle Punches (3/4" and 1"), Wooden Letters, Star, Heart (Plaid Wood Letters 1-1/4" Collegiate), clothes pins (Canvas Corp - Canvas Home Basics), magnets (Horizon Group Super Strong Neo Magnets), Ad Tech Hot Glue Gun/Glue Sticks, Enamel Accents (white)

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:
Always Anything Goes With a Twist Challenge #6 - Use a Canvas
Scrapbook Blessings Club #33 - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion Challenge #239 - Begins with B (board, boxes, blue)
Top Tip Tuesday Challenge - Use 3 or More Papers
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Use at least one star

Thanks for stopping by today.  And don't forget to step out of your comfort zone (bright colors are outside of mine) sometimes when crafting and see what happens.

Congrats Gift Set

My husband's co-worker just received a nice promotion.  This is the gift set I made to congratulate her.  I forgot to take pics before bagging it.  However, that also gives you a look at my new packaging for the items I sell.  :)

The box holds an altered RSVP pen.  I found the tutorial for the Ink Pen Box on the Chic 'n Scratch blog.  I really like Angie's video tutorials.  She breaks things down and is very easy to follow.  I did have to alter the size of her box to better fit the RSVP pens.  Her pens were a little shorter. 

The square with the flower is a post-it note holder.  It holds a 3x3 post it note pad.  I used quite a bit of inking on all the papers and cardstock for both projects.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections 
Patterend Paper:  The Paper Studio
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Owl Occasions - retired), Inkadinkado (Floral Flourishes)
Ink:  VersaMark (Vintage Sepia)
Tools/Embellishments - flower (Studio G), pearls (Want2Scrap), Spellbinders dies (Labels Four, Labels Four Small), Staedtler fine tip pen (brown), doily (Sunny Side Up Bakery), ribbon (May Arts)

I'm entering this in the following challenges:

Shopping Our Stash Challenge #162 - Triple Threat (from the list I used die cuts, pearls and a doily)
Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #206 - Other than a card or tag

Thanks for stopping by today.  I truly appreciate your visit.

Draw Near to God...

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday!  This week's verse is Psalm 73:28, "But it is good for me to draw near to God; I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works."  That first part of the verse is a place we can camp isn't it.  How wonderful it is to not only draw near to God but much more wonderful, mind-boggling, and amazing is that He allows us to draw near to Him.  He *wants* us close!  Wow!  I'm just so thankful that God loves me with all my failures and imperfections.  The rest of the verse is a great testimony, because we have put our trust in the Lord God, we have the ability/knowledge to be able to declare all the wonderful things He has done for us.  This would be a great verse to memorize and keep in the forefront of our minds.

I thought this week's WORDart had a more masculine feel to it so I decided to design a masculine notebook.  One of our generous sponsors this week is The Paper Temptress.  This site has some absolutely amazing papers that are very unique.  The owner sent the design team some papers to use.  While I used 3 of the papers she sent on this notebook project, I couldn't help but play a bit more with some of the others.  You can see what I made by scrolling down one post or clicking here.  I used two leather papers on this notebook.  The outside of the notebook has Navy Blue Leather and the interior is Ivory Leather.  I wish you could feel this paper.  It truly has a leather texture and feel to it.  I paper pierced a border around all four edges.  A plaid ribbon and some metallic brads complete the masculine design.

One thing with using digi stamps that I have missed is heat embossing.  I've always wanted a way to do this that made the heat embossing look like "the real thing."  When I read the description for the Opal Mica/Metallic paper this is what I learned:

TIP: DIGITAL EMBOSSING.....The mica/metallic paperline is perfect for Digital Embossing: print image with an ink jet printer, immediately pour embossing powder over the digital image and heat for an embossed finish.....Works perfectly for sentiments!!

 Now THAT was a paper I had to try.  I hope you can see the dimension in the above picture (click for a larger image) but it truly looks, and feels, like regular heat embossing.  One thing I learned with this paper is that even after zapping it with my heat gun, VersaFine ink smears.  So, I just re-stamped my image and covered it with clear embossing powder.  Perfect!!  I really like this paper and will have to get more for future projects.  Note:  Since I was running this paper thru my ink-jet printer for the digi stamps, I used the text weight paper.

For the inside of the notebook, I used a solid piece of the ivory leather paper.  I wanted to use a solid piece because I was trying a new notebook design.  Some of my repeat notebook customers have requested a notebook that will allow the notepad to be replaced without destroying the cover.  I was able to modify my original design to allow for that.  I cut a 1/4" wide slit in the leather on the right side and punched a hole at either end of the slit to prevent tearing.  When adhering the ivory panel to the base, I made sure to only put Scor-tape to the edges and above the slit.  I still put a pocket on the inside left cover and used scraps of the two leathers to embellish it a little.  Since the notepad is going to be replaced, and since this is for a man, I didn't decorate the top of the notepad.

Here is another look at the beautiful texture of the leather paper.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections (Kraft)
Papers from The Paper Temptress:  Navy Blue Leather, Ivory Leather, Opal Mica/Metallic
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Psalm 73:28 digi), Flourish (In Nature clear stamp)
Ink: VersaFine (Onyx Black)
Tools/Embellishments:  ribbon (JoAnn's), brads (The Paper Studio), Spellbinders dies (Petite Ovals Large and Small), SU embossing powder (Crystal Clear), Tim Holtz Craft Pick, Workforce 5" x 8" Junior legal pad

I'm entering this project in the following challenges:
Paper Crafting Challenges - No Patterned Paper
Just B Creative Crazy - Anything Goes
Just Keep On Creating - Anything Goes
Going Gray with Scrap Creations - Anything Goes
Fan-tastic Tuesday Challenge #32 - Anything Goes
Pile It On Challenge #16 - No Patterned Paper (or make your own)

I hope you'll go by the Word Art Wednesday blog to see what the rest of the Design Team projects and to pick up your free digi.  I also hope you'll link up your projects so that you have a chance to win one of our sponsors' prizes.  And please do go visit The Paper Temptress, you will find lots of unique papers that have to be seen and felt to be fully appreciated. 

Thanks for stopping by today.  Your visit is truly appreciated!

For Unto Us a Child is Born

Hi!  I'm just popping in for a quick post to show you my project for this week's Word Art Wednesday challenge.

I made another notepad cover and pen set.  You can see my first set in this post. These have been quite popular as gift items and they've been selling quite well. My husband and I gave each of our co-workers a pad and matching pen for Christmas. 

Here's a peek at the interior.  I didn't make the post-it note cover for this set.

I'm working feverishly to get gifts ready to put in the mail {nothing like the last minute! ugh!!} but I'll try to come back later to edit this post with a supply list.

I hope you'll stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog and see what the rest of the design team has made this week.  Thanks for stopping by!

{Count Your} Blessings Journal

For my project this week for Word Art Wednesday, I chose to make a Blessings Journal.  Our verse this week is Proverbs 14:26 which says, "In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence:  and his children shall have a place of refuge." To me, the Lord giving me a place of refuge, a place of safety, is an awesome blessing.

This little journal (approx. 4" x 6" - purse sized) is a place to record the special things the Lord does in our lives.  Sometimes that's an answered prayer, sometimes it's something He does before we even pray about it, and sometimes, it those things we realized His hand of protection kept from us.  Another way to use this journal is to write down 10 things every day for which we are thankful (no repeating from day to day is allowed).  Why write these things down?  Because, just like the children of Israel in the Old Testament, we are too quick to forget all that the Lord has done for us.  During times of discouragement, we can re-read our entries and see all the ways the Lord has helped us and blessed us in the past.  Because we KNOW that He is faithful, we know He will continue to care for us in the future.

I covered the journal covers (inside and out) with patterned paper.  I added some ribbon and a flower to the front.  In case it is carried in a purse, I tried to keep it flat so that it will remain pretty while being used.  a few brads were added for accents on the flower and title die cut.  I used white and pink gel pens for accenting both die cuts and the patterned paper.  This is a simple project that makes a great gift.  It's going to end up in the hands of one of the young mothers at our church -- she has 3 little girls so I think the flip flops and girlie colors will be perfect for her.

Supplies:
Journal - Mead
Cardstock - Georgia Pacific, Bazzill
Patterned Paper - The Paper Studio
Tools/Embellishments - flowers (Bazzill), brads (Making Memories), ribbon (The Paper Studio, Really Reasonable Ribbon), Sakura Gelly Roll pen (pink), Uniball Signo Broad pen (white), Fiskars border punch (Apron Lace), Spellbinders (Petite Oval Small, Petite Scalloped Oval Large, Floral Oval, Classic Oval Large)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Shopping Our Stash #103 - Graduation/Anniversary OR Use something at least 2 years old (the flowers and brads have been in my stash approx 3-4 years)
Tuesday Throwdown #149 - Inspired by your favorite book (The Bible is my all-time favorite book.)
Craft Room Challenge - Use Your Scraps (all the papers used on this journal were scraps left over from other projects)
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday (Shelly's Images) - Anything Goes
Crafty Ribbons Challenge - Anything Goes (must use ribbon)
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

Be sure to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog to not only see what the rest of the Design Team made but also to get your free WordArt of this week's focus verse.

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you have a fantastic week and, even if you don't write them down,  remember to Count Your Blessings.

Edited to add:  I just found out this qualifies for the Gift Challenge on Moxie Fab World.  You can check out all the details on this blog post.

Preserving Family Memories

When Spellbinders Paper Arts reaches a new 1000 "likes" on their Facebook page, they sometimes pick one of their followers to do a guest blog post on their Spellbinders Paper Arts Blog.  I was thrilled (what an understatement!!) to be asked to be a guest blogger for today.  What an honor!!   

When I was told that this week’s theme is Preserving Family Memories, I was pretty excited.  Our daughter, Kendra, is getting married this Saturday and this sentimental mama has lots of memories on her mind. To make getting to share on the blog even more special, my project is for our daughter and today is her birthday.  Our sweet baby girl is now a beautiful young woman and on Saturday, will become "her Samuel's" wife.  Truly....

At the wedding, Kendra is having a memorial table displaying pictures of the grandparents of the bridal couple that have already passed away.  After the wedding, I’m guessing she’ll want to use the frames from the display table to showcase wedding pictures.  I decided to make her an album to hold the pictures from the memorial table as well as pictures of those grandparents that are still living.

Here are a couple pictures of the album.  You can find more pictures and full how-to details on the Spellbinders Blog.

Supplies:

Cardstock:  The Paper Studio (black, cream), Wassau (green marbled), Recollections (cream)
Patterned Paper:  The Paper Studio (Gold Vintage Damask, Old Postcards)
Stamp:  Momenta
Ink: Memento (Rich Cocoa, Toffee Crunch)
Embellishments/Tools: ribbon (KaiserKraft), trim (Hobby Lobby), rub-on (Stemma), Spellbinders (Classic Ovals Small, Classic Circles Large & Small, Classic Squares Small, Lacey Squares, Lacey Circles, Decorative Photo Corners, Fancy Tags 3, Classic Edges 2, Classic Decorative Edges 5, Labels Four, Labels Four Small), pearls (Want2Scrap)

I'm linking this project up at WordArt Wednesday  and at the Spark Your Creativity Challenge #9 this week.

Thanks for stopping by today.  If you think of us, please pray that we have nice weather Saturday (the reception is outdoors) and that everyone stays well for the wedding (if you know our family, you know that is not something taken for granted).

Psalm 62:8 - WAW #29

I chose to doing something other than a card to highlight the focus verse for this week's challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  The verse is Psalm 62:8, "Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before Him: God is refuge for us. Selah."

I think this verse is such a good reminder that we should trust the Lord no matter what is going on in our lives {ALL times} and also that He wants us to pour our hearts out to Him.  In my mind, the phrase, "God is a refuge for us," means that He is a place of safety.  Not only will He protect us but also, when we pour out our hearts to Him, our secrets are safe with Him.  What a wonderful, loving Lord we have!

Since this verse is one of those verses that it's good to keep in front of you, I decided to make a wall hanging out of it.  I bought a small, unfinished sign at Michael's and altered it.  It came with the cord hanger so I didn't have to attach one.

 

After painting the sign with acrylic paint and letting it dry, I swiped a distress ink pad across the service to add a little distressed look to it.  I distressed the edges of my papers and inked them as well. After adhering the papers to the sign with Mod Podge, I gave it a couple more thin coats and let it dry overnight.  

Then, I embellished the sign with some flowers and a pearl flourish (it was cut into 2 parts).  This was really a simple project.  It's a great way to keep Scripture before us and having it hanging on our walls is another way to witness to others.

Supplies:

Unfinished sign - Michael's

Cardstock - Recollections

Patterned paper - Prima

Embellishments/Tools -  acrylic paint (Anita's - latte), Mod Podge (matte), flowers and butterfly rub-on (Prima), pearl flourish (Recollections), Tim Holtz Distress Ink (tea dye)

I'm entering my sign in the following challenges:

Scripture Thursday - Use Scripture

Crafty Friends Challenge #4 - Anything but a card

Tuesday Throwdown #99 - 3D

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll play along with us this week -- don't forget to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog for your free digi of this week's Scripture.

January Digi Release at Clear Dollar Stamps

There is such a great variety of stamps being released today in the Clear Dollar Stamps January Digi Release.  Everything from Noah's Ark, to Snowmen, to flowers, to a Bible and Scripture verses.  You're sure to find lots of stamps you just can't live without.  :)

One of the sets I got to play with is called Morning Devotions.  I though this sentiment was perfect for a prayer journal so I decided to use it on an altered notebook.

Supplies:
Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey (Picadilly)
Stamps:  Clear Dollar Stamps (Morning Devotions Digital Stamps)
Embellishments/Tools:  Zva Creative pearl flourish, Ribbon (Wright's), Spellbinders (Lacey Squares), SU Crystal Effects, Zutter 1/2" Round-it-All

I'm entering this journal in the following challenge:
Stampin' Sisters in Christ #122 - Something New (the stamp set)



This adorable set is called Snow Tweet Colored Blue.  This set is also available in a line art set or a green colored set.  Come back later this week and I'll have something in the green version to show you.

I sponged the edges of my snowman & the sentiment panel to add to the snowy look.  I used some stickles on the white parts of the snowman's hat & scarf and on the snow.  Some Crystal Effects on the snowman's buttons added some extra dimension..

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (red)
Patterned Paper:  SU
Stamps:  Snow Tweet Colored Blue
Ink:  SU (Bliss Blue)
Tools/Embellishments:  SU Crystal Effects, Stickles (diamond), Spellbinders (Petite Ovals, Petite Scalloped Ovals), Zutter Round-it-All 1/2"


I hope you'll stop by the Clearly iStamp blog to see the rest of the digi sets being released today and to see the beautiful projects made by my fellow design team members.

Thanks for visiting today. 

Altered Paint Bucket - SNSDC5

Before our daughter got sick and went to the hospital, I had worked ahead and had this project completed.  The hospital internet would not let me post to my blog so I was not able to post it in time.

This project is for the Sweet 'n Sassy Digi Challenge Blog Challenge #5 which was to make anything but a card.  I chose to alter a small clear paint bucket.  I used two digi stamp sets from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps -- Everyday Miracles Digital Stamp and New Creature Digital Stamp.  I paper-pieced one of the butterflies from the New Creature set three times and accented them with a Sakura glitter pen and some rhinestones.

Here is the front of my bucket:

The back of the bucket:

The lid:

Supplies:
Paint Can:  Oriental Trading
Patterned Paper:  BG (Ambrosia)
Cardstock:  Bazzill, Georgia Pacific
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy (New Creature & Everyday Miracles)
Ink:  Memento (Potter's Clay), Colorbox Fluid Chalk (Charcoal)
Embellishments: Sakura Gelly Roll Pen (Clear Star), Ribbon - SU (white), Offray (gray), MAMBI Rhinestone Singles, Recollection Bling, Spellbinders Nestabilities (Petite Ovals Large, Petite Scalloped Ovals Large, Standard Circles Large, Fancy Tags 3

Thanks for stopping by!!

ZTO Senior Notebooks

I made notebooks for the 26 graduating seniors in our daughter's college society.  Their mascot is a seagull and their colors are navy & gold.  I had to keep the books budget friendly, low profile (bulky embellishments tend to fall off or get ruined) and not too labor intensive since I had 26 of them to do.  My cuttlebug was greatly used but I think they turned out pretty well.

Using Versamark ink, I stamped a flourish stamp in a random pattern on the solid navy cardstock. This is a low-cost way to add extra interest and almost create the look of patterned paper.  The back cover has the same navy cardstock with versamark flourishes.  Each notebook is personalized with the senior's name. 

Using PSE I made a "logo" using a Seagull Digi Stamp from Tiffany's Doodles.  ZTO is for Zeta Tau Omega and their motto is Zealous, True, Obedient.  Here's a closeup of the medallion I made with the help of my circle & lacey circle nesties.

The inside covers are lined with either blue/white gingham or white with blue dots paper.  The same paper is used to decorate the pockets.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill, SU, Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  Recollections
Stamps:  Tiffany's Doodles (Seagull), Autumn Leaves (Flourish)
Tools:  PSE, Nestabilities (Circles, Lacey Circles, Petite Ovals, Petite Scalloped Ovals), Cuttlebug, Fiskar's Border Punch (Apron Lace)

Thanks for stopping by & Congratulations to the Class of 2011!!!