Dwelt Among Us

 Hello! I hope you are having a good week. It's time for another Word Art Wednesday challenge. This week our focus verse is John 1:14, "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." The "Word" in this verse refers to Jesus. He is God in the flesh and He humbled Himself to live among His creation. This is totally mind-boggling to me. Not only did He dwell with humans like us, but He loved us and always treats us with grace. God definitely gives us much more grace and mercy than we could ever deserve.

 

 

This week our sponsor is Stamp Simply Ribbon Store. They generously provided me with their Floral Cluster Spring Pansies stamp set and the coordinating Floral Cluster and Sprigs dies to work with this week. One of the great features of the die set is that works with all four of the stamp sets in the Floral Cluster series. This makes it so cost effective! I colored the stamped image with Copics and then used the die to cut it out. I used the sketch from the January 2020 SheetLoad of Cards as the inspiration for my card design. The Floral Cluster tops the matted verse panel and some Nuvo Crystal drops accent the flower centers and two corners of the card.

Supplies:

Cardstock: The Paper Studio Heavy Weight (white card base), Bazzill (Avacado), Pen and Gear (white for sentiment panel)

Patterned Paper: The Paper Studio

Stamps: WORDart by Karen (John 1:14), Stamp Simply (Floral Cluster Spring Pansies clear stamp set)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Copics: R81, 83, 85; YG 95 97; G21, 28

Tools/Embellishments: Stamp Simply dies (Floral Cluster and Sprigs), Spellbinders dies (Classic Squares Large and Small), Nuvo Crystal Drops (Bottle Green)

 

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Createful Heart Design Challenge 28: Anything Goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge: Must use patterned paper 

Crafty Sentiments Designs: Anything Goes

 

Thanks for stopping by to visit with me today. I hope you'll have time to check out the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store and to visit the Word Art Wednesday blog for more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team.

Blog Hop Winners

Happy New Year!! I hope 2021 is off to a good start for you. Be sure to keep reading; I'll be announcing the Word Art Wednesday winner from my blog and my personal prize winner from those who left comments on my blog.

 Our focus verse for the next Word Art Wednesday challenge is near and dear to my heart. Psalm 34:4 states, "I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." The Lord used this verse to provide comfort to me as a young wife when I was going through some medical trials. I love how when we seek the Lord, He hears us. He doesn't force Himself on us, we have to turn to Him. I have returned to this verse again and again during various times of trial. Our current world situation is one that could cause fear in our hearts. The changes and uncertainties of life can be overwhelming. However, if we will seek the Lord, He will hear us and deliver us from our fears. It's definitely a time of learning to trust Him.

 Years ago, when I first began making cards, I came across an e-zine called Sheetload of Cards. Each month the author would give a plan to use one or two pieces of 12 x 12 patterned paper and give a cutting guide and sketch to make 6-12 cards. She had various designers that would use her guide and share pictures of their cards. I was sad when the e-zine was discontinued. Just this week, I discovered she now has a YouTube channel and not only posts videos each month but offers a free PDF download of the sketch and cutting guide for her subscribers. I enjoy mass producing cards and this was just what I needed to kick start my missing mojo. This month, she even has a downloadable PDF of sentiments sized to fit the January sketch. I modified her sketch to use for my card this week and also made the 9 cards this cutting guide is intended to make. So by just adding additional cardstock, I stretched the patterned paper to make 10 cards instead of 9. I would encourage you to check out Call Me {Crafty} Al's channel. She began sharing the Sheetload of Cards monthly posts back in July 2019 so there's plenty of back material to use. I needed some masculine birthday cards so I used her sentiment download and now have 9 for my stash. Here's a group shot:

#SUYSJan2021 #ShowUsYourSheetLoad

Supplies: 

Sketch: Jan 2021 Sheetload of Cards

Cardstock: Recollections (brown), Pen & Gear (white for sentiment)

Cardbase: Cordinations A2 Kraft (for WAW card), The Paper Studio A2 Kraft cards (9 birthday cards)

Patterned Paper: GCD Studio (Great Outdoors 12 x 12 pad)

Tools/Embellishments: Eyelet Outlet (gems)

 

I'm entering this card in the Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper Challenge.

Now it is time to announce the Word Art Wednesday (WAW) blog hop winner from my blog! Congratulations to Elizabeth Hart. Please see the WAW blog for details on how to claim your prize. You can also see the WAW blog for a list of all the winners.

I chose the winner for the prize I'm personally giving from those who left comments on my post via a random number generator. The winner is Kathy A. Kathy please check your email for info on how to claim your prize.

Please be sure to check out the Word Art Wednesday blog for the full list of blog hop winners and for inspiration for this week's challenge. Thanks for visiting with me today. I hope you'll come back soon.

Word Art Wednesday Blog Hop

 Hello, Friends!! Can you believe that Christmas is next week?? Today we start our last Word Art Wednesday Challenge for 2020. This challenge will run three weeks. In conjunction with the challenge, we are having a blog hop that will have prizes on each blog. More about that at the end of my post.

Our focus verse this week is, "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name, Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." Matthew 1:23. Can you imagine being a young woman (possibly still a teenager), far away from home, and giving birth in a stable with only your husband to help you? Yet we find no complaint from Mary. Her focus was on the Christ Child and doing what God had called her to do. What a challenge that is to me! As we are all busy with Christmas preparations, let's not forget Who we are celebrating. I would challenge you to take some time over the next week and read the accounts of Christ's birth found in Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2. 

 

I chose to make an easel card this week. I love the papers in the Silent Night collection by Echo Park. I used one of the border papers and layered it over a starry sky paper. A strip of gold vellum adds a border between the two. I used the Fishtail Sentiment Banners dies provided by our sponsor, Stamp Simply, to add some interest to the card from. A stamped sentiment and some Nuvo crystal drops on the stars finish off the card front. 

This week's focus verse can be found on the interior of the card, matted and layered on top of another fishtail banner. This is popped up on the interior to provide a stopper for the easel portion. 

Supplies:

Cardstock: The Paper Studio (#110 heavyweight card base, gold vellum), Pen & Gear (white for sentiments), Recollections (Rose Gold foil), Bazzill (dark blue and gold)

Patterned Paper: Echo Park (Silent Night 6 x 6 pad) - this is available from our sponsor, Stamp Simply

Stamps: WORDart by Karen (Matthew 1:23 digi), Jillian Vance Designs (O Holy Night clear stamp set)

Ink: VersaFine (Onyx Black)

Tools/Embellishments: Stamp Simply dies (Fishtail Sentiment Banners), Spellbinders dies (Classic Circles Large & Small, Labels 4, Labels 4 Small), Nuvo Crystal Drops (White Blizzard)

Word Art Wednesday will be offering the usual prize for a random participant in our challenge. Stamp Simply has provided this generous prize. In addition, at each stop on the hop, we will have a prize package from Emma's Paper that will be given away (US winners only). All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on each blog. This is the prize from Emma's Paper that will be given away here on my blog:

 

As an extra bonus, I will also be giving away an envelope of various new craft supplies to one person who leaves a comment below (I can only ship to the US).

I hope you will make the time to visit each stop on the hop to be inspired and have an opportunity to win some nice prize packages. Then link up one of your projects in order to have a chance to win a prize from our generous sponsor.

Here's the blog hop list:

Word Art Wednesday

Karen Conner

Holly Lau

JoAnn Atterbury

Ginny Maxam

Natalie Houston

Stephanie Wright - that's me! :)

Karen Letchworth

Thanks for visiting with me today. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas. May we concentrate on the greatest Gift of all, and the reason we have to celebrate: Christ, our wonderful Savior. He was born so that He could provide us with the gift of salvation.

Where Is Your Treasure?

Hello! Can you believe it's already December? I can't say the year has flown by but it sure has been eventful (and no, not all events are fun. lol) Our verse for the Word Art Wednesday Challenge this week can really help us finish out the year strong by helping us maintain our focus on things that truly matter. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Luke 12:34. One of our most valuable things is our time (treasure). As we spend our time and energies on things that are most important, our heart will follow. So do the right things, the important things, the things that have eternal value and your heart will follow and you'll find yourself doing them not just because it's what is right but because it's what you truly want to do.

I believe the sketch I used is from Operation Write Home but I forgot to write that info down and now can't find it again. I double matted most of the layers with black and then rose gold foil cardstock. Some rose gold jewels are the final embellishment.

Supplies:

Cardstock: The Paper Studio (Extra Heavyweight cardstock -card base), Recollections (black, rose gold foil)

Patterned Paper: Carta Bella (Home Again 6 x 6 pad)

Stamp: WORDart by Karen (Luke 12:34)

Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders Dies (Classic Rectangles Large & Small), Divinty Design die( Double Stitched Pennant Flags), My Favorite Things dienamics (Blueprints 1), The Paper Studio jewels 

 

Thanks for stopping by to visit today. I do hope you'll come back soon. Please visit the Word Art Wednesday blog to find lots of inspiration from the rest of the Design Team.

Magnify Him with Thanksgiving

 Hello! I hope you are all having a good week. I'm sorry I missed posting for the last Word Art Wednesday challenge. We had an emergency at work and then it's been crazy ever since. Whew! I'll post the card I made for the last challenge at the end of this post. For this week's challenge our focus verse is Psalm 69:30, "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving." This is the time of year that our thoughts turn to thanksgiving. After the year we've all had in 2020, it's even more important to focus on our blessings. The Lord has been so good to all of us. I am so thankful that He is still on the throne in control. God is good!!

For my card this week, I wanted the verse to be the focus.I chose this MFT sketch 353 to be the inspiration for my card. I stayed fairly close to the sketch and used one of my favorite rose gold foil cardstocks for some added pizzazz.

Supplies:

Sketch: MFTWSC353

Cardstock: Recollections (rose gold foil, #110 white for card base), Darice (red, brown), Pen & Gear (white cardstock)

Patterned Paper: Pink & Main (Take Flight 6 x 6)

Stamp: WORDart by Karen (Psalm 69:30)

Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders dies (Standard Circle Large, Petite Scalloped Circle Large), Big Lots ribbon, The Paper Studio gems

My card for the last challenge:

Supplies:

Divinity Designs Center Step Cards card base

Cardstock: Recollections (rose gold foil), Darice (brown), Pen & Gear (white)

Patterned Paper - unknown manufacturer

Stamp: WORDart by Karen (Exodus 15:13)

Tools/Embellishment: Spellbinders Classic Squares (Large & Small), Big Lots Ribbon, Eyelet Outlet jewels (gray), The Paper Studio sequins

Thanks for stopping by to visit today. I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Please stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog so that you can be inspired by the rest of the Design Team.

Sowing and Reaping

Hello, Friends! It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday. This verse is another one that is great for Pastor Appreciation cards. Psalm 126:3 says, "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." Having a dad that was a pastor and now being married to pastor, I can tell you that pastors who love their flocks truly do sow with tears and grieve when a member of their congregation is grieving or going down a wrong path. But oh the joy when someone accepts Jesus as their Savior, has a spiritual victory or is rejoicing over something. Truly the ministry is a wonderful blessing! 

For my card this week, I kept the focus on this wonderful verse. I used  Mojo Monday sketch 539 for inspiration and stayed pretty close to the sketch. I added a couple sequins for embellishment.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Recollections (cream), Coredinations (navy)

Patterned Paper: Refined (Celebrate 6 x 6 pad)

Stamp: WORDart by Karen (Psalm 126:5)

Dies: Divinity Designs (Double Stitched Circles), Spellbinders (Standard Circles Large), Lawn Fawn (Everyday Sentiment Banners)

The Paper Studio sequins

Thanks for visiting today. I hope the rest of your week goes well and that you'll have time to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog and see the projects from the rest of the design team.

Good Stewards - Pastor Appreciation

Hello, My Friends! I know it's been a while. Life got a little busy over the summer and I needed to take a hiatus for a bit. But I'm back now and hoping to post on a regular basis. It's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday. For our verse this week we are focusing on 1 Peter 4:10, "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." October is Pastor Appreciation month. I think this verse is a great one for pastors as they minister to others with the gifts the Lord has given them. They are to be good stewards those gifts and share the Lord's grace with others.

For my card this week, I was inspired by Mojo Monday Sketch 541. I rotated it and changed up the shape a little. I really like theses Papers by Pink and Main. They are good for masculine cards year round and for fall cards as well. I kept it pretty simple as I am just easing back into crafting.

 

 

Supplies:

Cardstock: Recollections #110 (white for card base), Pen & Gear (white for sentiment panel), Bazzill 

Patterned paper: Pink & Main (Take Flight 6 x 6 - retired)

Tools/Embellishments: Offray ribbon, Eyelet Outlet bling, Creative Memories fine tip black marker, Spellbinders Label 7 dies

Thanks for stopping by for a visit today. I hope you'll have time to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog for more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team. 

A Place of Refuge

Hello! I'm a little late posting this week. I apologize for my tardiness. It's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday and our focus verse is so very appropriate. Proverbs 14:26 says, "In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence and his children shall have a place of refuge."  When we recognize Who God is and that He is all powerful ("in the fear of the Lord") we can have confidence that He has things under His control and this gives His children a place of refuge. In these days of uncertainty and confusion, it is so comforting to know that the Lord will care for me and provide a place of refuge. As Psalm 94:19 says, "In the multitude of my thought within me thy comforts delight my soul." If you are like me, sometimes my thoughts are swirling around like crazy at times (sort of like the background paper on my card this week). However, when I corral my thoughts and think of how the Lord has comforted me, I find myself at peace.

I chose to use Mojo Monday Sketch 538 for my card design. I stayed pretty true to the sketch and added Nuvo Crystal and Glitter drops along with some bling for embellishments.

Supplies
Cardstock: Recollections #110 White for card base, Pen & Gear white for sentiment panel
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey (Urban Luxe 6 x 6 - retired)
Stamp: WORDart by Karen (Proverbs 14:26)
Tools/Embellishments: Nuvo Crystal Drops (Ebony Black), Nuvo Glitter Drops (White Blizzard), Cuttlebug embossing folder (Moroccan Screen), Memento Marker (Tuxedo Black), Park Lane bling

I'm entering this card in the following challenge:
Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper Challenge - must use patterned paper

Thanks for visiting with me today. I hope you'll come back soon.

Call Unto Me

Happy Wednesday! It's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday. This week our focus verse is Jeremiah 33:3, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." What a neat promise from the Lord that if we will just call on Him (pray), He will answer us. This doesn't mean that the Lord will give us everything we ask for when we pray. I've heard so many people say, "I prayed but the Lord never answered me. I asked Him to do this and He didn't do it." One thing we have to remember is that "no" is still an answer. The Lord is promising to listen when we pray to Him and that alone is wonderful. Don't we all just need someone to listen to us at times? But along with listening, He promises to answer. Sometimes that answer is "Wait for My timing." God isn't confined to our time table. Sometimes the answer is a loving, "No, that's not what is best for you." There have been so many times I've later been SOOO thankful the Lord has told me no when I asked for certain things. And sometimes, the Lord answers,"Yes." But no matter how He answers us, He will show us things and work in ways we could never have imagined. Sometimes, looking back, I see where some of the most painful times in my life are when I saw the Lord working the most. They are the times I felt His comfort most. Other times, when I waited on His timing, the end result was so much better than I had dreamed. So, talk to the Lord, call on Him, and then just wait and see how He works.

For my card today, I brought out one of my current favorite paper pads and a fun sketch by Mojo Monday (MOJO 533). The vertical panel is dry embossed for some added dimension and interest. Because so many of the layers are double matted, I used some Scrapbook Adhesives Thin Foam Squares to help keep things level. 

Our sponsor this week is Art Glitter. I have heard wonderful things about their Designer Glue and their Metal Tip Attachment. So I decided to give both products a try. Instead of using my normal ATG tape runner, I used the Designer Glue with the Metal Tip Attachment on the bottle. Wow! Now I see why it is so well liked. It comes out of the bottle so easily (some bottles are so stiff they require a lot of pressure to release the glue), the metal tip gives very precise placement of the glue and it holds extremely well. Even my patterned paper didn't wrinkle. I won't be getting rid of my ATG gun but I think I've found a new favorite liquid adhesive.


 
Supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections #110 (white card base), Pen and Gear (white for sentiment), Bazzill (blue), pink cardstock is a scrap and I don't know the manufacturer, pearlized white cardstock (unknown manufacturer)
Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny (Early Bird Collection 6 x 6 pad)
Stamp: WORDart by Karen (Jeremiah 33:3)
Tools/Embellishments: Art Glitter (Designer Glue and Metal tip Attachment). Scrapbook Adhesives Thin 3D Foam Squares, Fiskars punches (large and small butterflies), Park Lane bling, Divinity Designs Dies (Double Stitched Rectangles), CuttleBug embossing folder (Paper Lace 2)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Createful Heart Challenge #20 - Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - Must use patterned paper
Outlaws Sunday Songs & Rhymes Challenge - Sing a Song of Flowers

Thanks for stopping by to visit with me today. I hope you'll stop by the Word Art Wednesday Blog and see the rest of the Design Team's projects. Also be sure to enter our challenge so that you'll have an opportunity to win a prize from our generous sponsor.

Thy Mother Shall Be Glad

Happy Wednesday! I hope you are doing well and surviving this time of social distancing and quarantine. It's time for a new challenge on Word Art Wednesday and this week our focus verse is very appropriate for the upcoming Mother's Day holiday. Proverbs 23:25, "Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice." Exodus 20:12 instructs us to, " Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." and Ephesians 6:2 states, "Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;" There is instruction in both the Old and New Testaments about the importance of honoring our parents. What truly makes a parent glad and a mother rejoice? 3 John 4 says it best, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." Having your children following the Lord and seeking to please Him brings joy to a mom's (and dad's) heart. My heart is thrilled when our children share something with us and tell us how they saw the Lord was working in the situation. My heart is humbled when they say, "I've been praying for you, Mom." As children, let's live a life that will bring joy to our parents. For those of us that are parents, let's be a good example of godly living so our children will know how they ought to live.

Our sponsor this week is Pink & Main. I love their products so I couldn't stop at one card (product links are provided below). First up is a shaker card using this week's free WORDart digi. I used the Reverse Scalloped Rectangle dies for the frame of the card and for the verse. The larger frame was cut multiple times (approx 8) from white cardstock and the layers stacked and glued together to form the well for the seed beads. The beautiful spring papers are so bright and cheerful and the coordinating enamel shapes provide the finishing touch.

I used the Sunny Cover Dies for a set of 5 cards. Five different patterned papers were used for the die cut inlay. This first card uses a Pink & Main stamp and die bundle. The hot air balloons were stamped on patterned paper with embossing ink and white heat embossed. The stamp set includes layering dies for the balloons but I didn't have inks that went with the papers so I opted for heat embossing. The largest balloon was die cut from white card stock and the basket was stamped in black ink. The top of the balloon was stamped, embossed and fussy cut around the outside of the embossing before being glued to the top of the die cut balloon. It was popped up on the card front with foam squares. The smaller balloons were stamped and heat embossed before being die cut. They were adhered flat to the card front. An enamel heart was added to the basket to finish off the card.

I don't have any other Pink & Main sentiment stamps so I pulled a couple sentiments from other sets in my stash for the remaining four cards in the set. I kept them pretty simple so that they would mail easily. They also are embellished with the enamel shapes and two of them use the banner die in the Sunny Cover Die set.


Pink & Main Products used:
Enchanted Garden 6 x 6 paper Pad
Enchanted Garden Enamel Shapes
Reverse Scallop Rectangle Dies (first card only)
Sunny Cover Dies (card set)*
Hot Air Balloon Bundle - stamps & dies (card #2 only)*

*these two items are currently on sale. :)

Other supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections #110 (white for card base ), Pen & Gear (white), Green - source unknown
Stamps: WORDart by Karen digi stamp (Proverbs 23:25), Stamps of Life clear stamps (Anniversary 2 Celebrate), Divinity Designs cling stamps (Bon Voyage)
Ink: Versamark, Versafine (Onyx Black)
Tools/Embellishments: Fiskars heart punch, black fine tip marker, Simon Says Stamp fine detail embossing powder (white), MISTI stamping tool, Cuttlebug Die Cutting Machine, The Paper Studio seed beads

I'm entering these cards in the following challenges:
Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Cuttlebug Mania - Celebrate Mums (the shaker card and the hot air balloon card are both Mother's Day cards - the Mother's Day sentiment is on the interior but not shown - I used the Cuttlebug machine and three different die sets)
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #419 - Mother's Day (the first two cards are Mother's Day cards but the Mother's Day sentiment is on the interior)
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Use Punches or Dies (I entered the hot air balloon card as it uses more dies)

I hope you'll be able to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog and see the projects from the rest of the Design Team. I also hope you'll check out our sponsor, Pink & Main. Thanks for visiting today. Please stay safe.