Take Care of Others

Hello! I hope your week is going well. It's time for a new challenge over at the Word Art Wednesday blog. Our verse this week is Philippians 2:4, "Look not every man on his own tings, but every man also on the things of other." I hear a lot in social media about "self care" and "self love." The thought being that we need to look out for ourselves and take care of ourselves. While it is true that we need regular times for rest and relaxation, and we are to care for our bodies because they are the temple of the Holy Ghost (1 Cor. 6:19). However, I think we have to be careful that we don't become selfish. It's very easy to slide into a mentality that puts oneself first. Today's verse tells us that we're to look out for others. This verse isn't giving us a license to be busybodies but instead is encouraging us to look for ways to help others. Find ways to lighten the load or brighten the day of someone else. It doesn't have to be something big. Maybe a few flowers from your yard that you know they like. Maybe send a card, email, or text just to let them know you're thinking of them. Maybe help with a chore or just provide a listening ear.

When I saw this Cat Silhouette stamp on the Bugaboo site, I just had to purchase it, especially since it was on sale! It goes well with my watermark, don't you think? I used two Copic markers to add some color and interest to the kitties. I flipped the image for the cat on the interior because I thought it looked better facing a different direction. I love that with digis you can not only re-size them but also flip them as needed.

Pink & Main is one of our sponsors this week. Some of their Pumpkin Spice patterned paper was layered over cardstock and adhered to a Half Shutter card base. I really like the graphic patterns and beautiful colors in this paper pad. It is the first time I've ever used Pink & Main's paper and I really like the weight and texture of it. It's very easy to work with. The colors in this paper pad are traditional fall colors and yet they are able to be used year round. And with the name of Pumpkin Spice you just can't go wrong. LOL I saw Kristie Marcotte's recent Pink & Main haul video where she talked about the Glossy Dots. When I visited their booth last weekend at a stamp show, I couldn't resist picking up some for myself (along with this paper pad and another one - considering all the fantastic items in her booth I think I showed great restraint. 😊). I used the Glossy Dots to accent both cat panels. The plain white panel was added to allow a space to write a message. Some twine adds interest to the front of the card.

I'm not sure it shows up well in the pictures, but stickles were added to some of the circles in the white background papers. It adds some nice sparkle that goes well with the Glossy Dots. You will be seeing a lot more of Pink & Main papers in the near future and I'm pretty sure this cat will be making multiple appearances as well.

Supplies:
Card Base: Our Daily Bread Designs (Half Shutter Card Base)
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (Tangelo)
Patterned Paper: Pink & Main (Pumpkin Spice 6 x 6 pad)
Stamps: WORDart by Karen (Philippians 2:4), Bugaboo Stamps (Cat Silhouette), Dare 2B Artzy (Prayers 4 You)
Ink: VersaFine (Onyx Black)
Copics: B02, YR04
Tools/Embellishments: Pink & Main Glossy Dots (Silver), Our Daily Bread Designs dies (Double Stitched Rectangles), Jillibean Soup Bean Stalks (Blue/Green Twine), Stickles (Diamond)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Crop Stop Link Party #42 - Use brands/items found in the Crop Stop Store (I used Fiskars, Scotch, Ranger, Tsukineko, Jillibean Soup, Bazzill, Cuttlebug)
Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations Challenge #372 - Anything Goes
Always Fun Challenges #71 - Going in Circles
Cute & Crafty Challenge #7 - Use an Animal

Thank you for visiting with me today. I hope you'll be back soon. Please be sure to visit the Word Art Wednesday blog for your free digi and to see the rest of the projects from our Design Team. Also, please be sure to visit our sponsors. Link up your projects at the Word Art Wednesday blog to have an opportunity to win a prize.

Top 10 Viewed Blog Posts of 2017

Hello All! I know it's been a while since I posted. Some health issues have kept me out of my craft room. I'm finally feeling much better so hopefully I'll get back to crafting soon.

I have been enjoying all the "Best Nine" collages on Instagram. Click here to see mine. Then today I read Kristie Marcotte's post today of the top 10 viewed blog posts from her blog The Best Things in Life are Pink. That inspired me to take a look at my own blog stats and see what my top 10 viewed blog posts of 2017 were. Here they are (click the link on each card title to see the original post):

#10 - Coffee Over Everything

#9 - Brentwood Birthday

#8 - Your Kindness Warms My Heart

#7 - A Trio of Thanks

#6 - Autumn Trevor

#5 - How You Bean?

#4 - Land That I Love

#3 - O Give Thanks

#2 - Seasoned with Salt

#1 - Tickled Pink Birthday

Thanks for reading through my list. I'll be back soon with my favorite cards of 2017.

O Give Thanks

Happy Wednesday!! It's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday. This week our focus verse is from 1 Chronicles 16:34, "O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever." We could camp out on the first half of this verse for a long time thinking about all the wonderful things the Lord has done for us. He has given us so much! Then when we get to the second part of this verse, "his mercy endureth for ever" we could spend another lengthy time span. When we think of the wrong we've done and the consequences we deserve and yet the Lord offers us salvation, we can't help but thank Him and praise Him. He deserves our praise, thanksgiving and adoration.

For my card this week I chose to make a Thanksgiving card. One of the good things the Lord provides for us is people to love and encourage us. This card will go to one of these people the Lord has put in my life. I started with a Half-Shutter Card base from Our Daily Bread Designs. Our daughter gave me three paper pads by Playing With Color 2 with fall colors and patterns. One of the pads was kraft cardstock with orange-gold foiling. Three of the patterns in the pack made their way onto this card as did strips of the solid orange-gold foiled sheet. These solid foil strips add a little extra interest to the sentiment panels.

This card design gives several spots for sentiments and/or places to write a message. This card has the free digi WORDart on the front and a stamped and heat embossed sentiment on the inside. I used fine detail embossing powder from this week's sponsor, Simon Says Stamp for the heat embossing. I love the smooth finish this powder gives even when only using one layer of embossing powder.

Somewhat hidden when the card is on display is a third panel where I'll write a short message to the recipient. An alternate choice of location for a message is on the back of the card. Since the finished size of this card is 4" x 5.5", the back provides plenty of space for a personal message. For cards that are meant to be displayed, I usually like to put my message in an "out of the way" spot.

Supplies:
Card Base: Our Daily Bread Designs - Half Shutter Card
Cardstock: Bazzill (Avacado), REollections (cream)
Patterned Cardstock: Playing with Color 2
Stamps: WORDart by Karen digi (1 Chronicles 16:34), Jillibean Soup clear stamp set (Handwritten Sentiments)
Ink: Versafine (Onyx Black)
Other: Simon Says Stamp fine detail embossing powder (Clear), My Favorite Things Blueprints 1 Die set

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #199 - Thankful
Dare 2B Artzy November Challenge - Gratitude
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Outlawz Color Challenge  - Inspiration Photo for colors + Thankful or Thanksgiving

Thanks so much for visiting with me today. I hope you'll stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog to pick up your free digi and see the inspirational projects from the rest of the Design Team.