Wisdom from Above

It's time for the last challenge of the year at Word Art Wednesday.  As we head into a new year, and think about new beginnings, new goals, etc., it's good to remember how God defines wisdom.  As our focus verse, James 1:17, says, "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy."  What a list!  I think most of us would like to be considered wise.  In order to do so, we need to develop these characteristics of wisdom in ourselves.  We are used to seeing pure, peaceable, gentle, full of mercy (merciful), etc.  But one of the items in this list that isn't as common is "easy to be intreated."  According to Dictionary.com "intreated" is the old spelling of our current word entreated.  The same source says the definition of entreated is to ask earnestly for something.  So "easy to be entreated" would mean that it's easy for people to ask us for things.  This means we're approachable, welcoming, and easy to get along with.  Yep, quite the list!  There are eight separate things on this list.  It would be overwhelming to try to work on all eight at one time.  Why not join me in a year long challenge to take each one and work on it for six weeks?  At the end of the first six weeks, add the next trait and so on.  By the end of 2015, we'll be a lot closer to having godly wisdom in our lives.  Please let me know in the comments or via email if you're going to join me.

I went with a masculine gate-fold card this week.  I did some shading on the WORDart banner with a W1 Copic marker.  Some twine, a button and gems complete the front.

For the interior decorating, I fussy cut the Morning Devotions (Gold) digi stamp and and added it to a kraft die cut. Some Glossy Accents were added to the coffee in the cup.  I stamped the sentiment above it.  The kraft image panel is mounted on an embossed die cut panel.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (kraft, blue)
Patterned Paper:  The Paper Studio
Stamps: WORDart by Karen (James 1:17), Sweet 'n Sassy (Comforting Pines clear stamp set), Clear Dollar Stamps - store now closed (Morning Devotions Gold digi set)
Ink:  Memento (Rich Cocoa)
Tools/Embellishments: Copic Marker (W1, Colorless Blender), twine (Jillibean Soup - Bean Stalks), rhinestones (The Paper Studio), button from stash, Spellbinders dies (Classic Rectangle Large, Deckled Rectangle Large and Small), Glossy Accents, Cuttlebug embossing folder (Basket Weave)

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope 2014 ends well for you and that 2015 gets off to a great start.  Please be sure to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog and see the rest of the Design Team projects and pick up your free digi.

Once In Every Life...

I have a quick anniversary card to share with you today.  A friend asked for me to make a card for her husband for their anniversary and here is the result.  I used on old sketch from Operation Write Home (sketch #16) as my inspiration.  My pictures don't do the card justice in its simple elegance.

The black patterned paper has romantic words/phrases.  I really like this Bo Bunny pad for weddings/anniversary/romantic cards.  It just has an elegance about it!

The sentiments, inside and out, were stamped with VersaFine ink and then heat embossed with a clear glitter embossing powder.  You can see it a little better in this picture.  I really like the sparkle it adds.

The interior decorating of the card mimics the front but still allows plenty of room for her message.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (red)
Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny (Enchanted 6x6 pad)
Stamps: Stampabilities wood mount (Once in A While), Mark's Finest Paper (Celebrate Big clear stamp set)
Ink: VersaFine (Onyx Black)
Tools/Embellishments: Darice Whispers embossing powder (Clear Glitter), silver rhinestone flourishes (Want2Scrap Inspire Swirls by Nina Brackett), My Favorite Things Die-namics (Blueprints 1)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sentimental Sunday Challenge #237 - Anything Goes
Clear It Out Challenge - Anything Goes
Fan-tastic Tuesday Challenge #66 - Anniversary card
Penny Paper-Crafty Challenge #208 - Anything Goes
Divas by Design - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #352 - Sparkles (gems and glitter embossing)

Thanks for stopping by to visit today.  I hope you'll come back soon and often.  :)

Being Confident

Hi!  I hope your week is going well.  It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week our focus verse is Philippians 1:6, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."  This time of year, we hear a lot of talk about faith and beliefs.  Why don't we hear consistent talk about the same topics all year long?  After all, what we believe and our faith in the Lord shouldn't be like a shirt we put on and take off at our convenience.  We are supposed to be consistent witnesses for the Lord.  Our faith in Him should be ever growing and deepening.  Obviously, we can not successfully live the Christian life on our own.  We need help -- from the Lord.  That's where today's verse comes into play.  It is a promise that He that began this work in us (when we received Him as Savior) will perform it (continue working) until the day of Jesus Christ (when we are Home with Him in Heaven).  What a great promise!  We're not in this life alone.  He's right there beside us helping us, continuing to work on us and won't leave us.

 Deedee's Digis is one of our sponsors this week.  I hope you'll play along with us so that you can have a chance to win some free digis stamps. Like most of you, this is a busy time for me.  I've been a bit swamped with custom orders the last month or so (that's a good thing!).  So, I took a little help with today's card and used one of Deedee's Digis pre-colored digis from the Love One Another set.  I thought it went well with today's verse - after all, getting a cat and mouse to get along would take on-going work.  :) The critters' noses are accented with Glossy Accents for a little dimension and shine.  The kitty's collar got some attention from my Wink of Stella glitter pen.  I used a copic marker to provide a little shading and ground the image.

I used lots of scraps on this card.  The scalloped die cuts remind me of a shop awning.  The button die is from the My Favorite Things Blueprints 1 die-namics set.  I love that die set!!  Some baker's twine finishes off the front.  The interior got just a little decorating.

For the Top Tip Tuesday Challenge we're to include a picture of what around our home inspired us.  My kitty, Sasha, is the inspiration for using the gray kitty (and why I tend to color all cats gray).  She has been my scrapbooking and card making supervisor ever since she was a kitten.

Supplies:
Sketch:  MOJO Monday (MOJO221)
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, Bazzill
Patterned Paper:  kaiser Craft (Chanteuse Collection)
Digi Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Philippians 1:6), Deedee's Digis (Love One Another)
Tools/Embellishments:  Copic Marker (W1), baker's twine (The Twinery), Spellbinders Dies (Big Scalloped Border Petites), My Favorite Things Die-namics (Blueprints 1), Glossy Accents, Wink of Stella brush marker (Clear)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Path of Positivity Challenge #21 - Faith
Top Tip Tuesday - Inspiration from your home
Clear It Out Challenge - Anything Goes
Sentimental Sunday Challenge #237 - Anything Goes
ABC Challenge - Z is for Zany (fun/quirky image)
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge #208 - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for visiting with me today.  I really appreciate you taking the time to stop by.  I hope you'll have time to play along with us this week for your chance to win some free digis from Deedee's Digis.  Don't forget to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog to get your free digi and see the other projects from the rest of the Design Team.

Good Tidings of Great Joy

It is time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week our focus verse is Luke 2:10, "And the angel said unto them, Fear Not; for, behold, I being you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people."  Christ's birth was the greatest news (tidings) that have ever been given.  Wouldn't it have been neat to have been an angel that got to tell people the good news of His birth?  It would have also been pretty cool (and yes, my knees would have been knocking to see and hear the angels talking to me) to hear the news straight from the angels.  Let's be sure to share the Good News of the Gospel with others so that they too can know the "Good Tidings of Great Joy."

I kept my card pretty simple today.  This card is an adaptation of Dawn Griffith's Trim the Tree Christmas card.  I follow Dawn on YouTube and really enjoy her projects.  I also returned to some old favorites: inking the edges of my papers and faux stitching.

The interior has a little bit of decoration too.

Supplies:
Cardstock: DCWV (Christmas & Winter 12x12 cardstock pad), Recollections (cream)
Patterned Paper: DCWV (Heirloom Christmas 12x12 stack)
Digi Stamp: WORDart by Karen (Luke 2:10)
Ink:  Distress Ink (Vintage Photo)
Tools/Embellishments: Staedtler fine tip marker (brown), ribbon (Hobby Lobby), rhinestones (The Paper Studio), Spellbinders dies (Petite Ovals Small, Petite Scalloped Ovals Large), Fiskars border punch (Apron Lace)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Bling it On!
Pile It On Challenge #49 - Christmas/Holiday
Scrapbook Blessings Club - Holiday theme
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #180 - Favorite technique (inking and faux stitching)
Going Gray with Scrap Creations - Christmas
Cuttlebug Mania - Anything Christmas


Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll have time to play along with us this week.  Please don't forget to stop by the Word Art Wednesday Blog and see what the rest of the Design Team made and pick up your free digi.

Glory to God in the Highest

This card has LOTS of embossing.  I used Versamark with gold embossing powder for the images and sentiments.  The front panel was embossed with a Cuttlebug folder and then accented with a gold Wink of Stella pen.  I have had the CTMH stamp set for several years and have always had trouble stamping this city-scape.  This time I tried it with my Fiskar's stamp press and had no problems getting a good stamped image.

The front panel is popped up over the gold embossed main image.

The inside has a lot more gold embossing.  The flourishes are from an old BG Figgy Pudding stamp set.  The Merry Christmas is a Stampendous set and the verse is from Mark's Finest Papers.  It's hard to believe but I used four stamp sets on this card and NONE of them were digis.  :)

Supplies:
Carstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (red)
Stamps (all clear stamp sets): CTMH (Bethlehem -retired), Basic Grey (Figgy Pudding), Stampendous (Christmas Wishes), Mark's Finest Papers (Christmas Music)
Ink: Versamark
Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders dies (Rectangles Large), StampCraft embossing powder (Gold), CuttleBug embossing folder (Baby's Breath), Zig Wink of Stella brush marker (Gold)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sentimental Sundays Challenge #235 - Lots of Layers
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #35 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Christmas
Eureka Stamps Challenge #117 - Celebrations
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Fan-Tastic Tuesday #64 - Embossing
PDE Linky Party - Christmas
ABC Challenge - Yuletide
Divas By Design - Feeling Festive
Pile it on Challenge #48 - Sprinkle It (use anything you sprinkle on your project - glitter/embossing powder/flocking/etc.)
Outlawz Twisted Thursday (TT120414) - Anything Goes with the "Twist" of Christmas

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll visit again soon.

Thou Shalt Call His Name Jesus...

Hi!  I'm glad you stopped by today.  Since it's Wednesday, that means it's time for another Word Art Wednesday challenge.  This week our focus verse is Matthew 1:21, "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins."  As we anticipate Christmas, it's easy to overlook the real reason we celebrate.  Jesus' birth is truly the "reason for the season."  Jesus came to earth so that one day He could go to the cross to die for our sins.  Many people love to talk about the baby in the manger.  However, talking about Jesus dying on the cross is not quite so popular.  But this is a core belief of our faith.  If Jesus hadn't come to die for our sins, we could have no home in Heaven.  That He was willing to give up the glories of Heaven for a season to come to live here on earth just because He loved us...Wow!  If that doesn't give us cause to celebrate then I don't know what does. Let's not forget Whose birthday we're celebrating!

I love this Away in a Manger digi set from Deedee's Digis.  I thought it was perfect to illustrate the focus verse this week.  

The image was colored with Copics and die cut.  I used some clear Wink of Stella on the baby blanket.  It added a little shimmer to got along with the shimmer in the snowflakes and gems.

The inside has a few more snowflakes and gems.  There's faux stitching and doodling inside and out.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), DCWV (blue), WorldWin (vellum),  scrap of glitter cardstock
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey (Figgy Pudding)
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Matthew 1:21), Deedee's Digis (Away in a Manger)
Copics: R20; Y35, 38; YR21; N3; B000, 21, 23; W1; E00, 11, 31, 33, 35, 37
Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders Dies (Petite Oval Large, Petite Scalloped Oval Large, Create-a-Flake 4), My Favorite Things Die-namics (Blueprints 1), Queen & Co rhinestones, Staedtler fine tip marker (black), Zig Wink of Stella brush marker (clear)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Outlawz Friday Coloring Challenge (CPC112814) - Anything Goes with a Christmas Twist
Scrapbook Blessing Club Challenge #35 - Anything Goes
Sentimental Sunday Challenge #235 - Lots of Layers
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Holiday Cards
Eureka Stamps Challenge #117 - Celebrations
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #179 - Free is Good (the snowflake dies and Staedtler markers were gifts and I received both digis for free)
Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #223 - Bling It On
Cuttlebug Mania - Snowflake(s) and a sentiment
PDE Linky Party - Christmas
Digi Chooseday Week 48 - Christmas

V's Sweet Challenge #29 - Holiday Theme
Path of Positivity Challenge #21 - Faith

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  As always, I'd encourage you to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog for inspiration and to pick up your free digi.

Every Good Gift

I hope your week is going well and that you will be able to spend time with loved ones tomorrow.  For the new challenge at Word Art Wednesday, our focus verse reminds us where gifts come from.  "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17  This is a great verse to reflect upon as we think about all our blessings tomorrow.  We need to remember that the Lord is the source of all good gifts/blessings and be thankful to Him for them.  It seems that Thanksgiving gets greatly overlooked and we got straight from Back-to-School into Christmas.  However, I really enjoy the day to reflect on all the blessings (or gifts as this verse says) that the Lord has given to us.  What a loving and kind Father we have in the Lord.

This week I took a break from fall colors and used this verse to emphasize that people can be gifts as well.  This verse is on the front of a birthday card that is intended to let the recipient know that they are considered a great gift from the Lord.  One of our sponsors this week is Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps.  Some of the DT were generously provided with images to use this week and I got to play with Pretty Flowers.  The flowers were colored with Copics and then the centers were accented with Diamond Stickles.  Mojo Monday Sketch 271 was the inspiration for the card design.

I did some interior decorating and was able to carry the flower theme to the inside my highlighting just one of the flowers in the image.  The finished card is just under 5"x7".

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill (yellow, blue), Georgia Pacific (white)
Patterned Paper:  Pebbles (Family Ties)
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (James 1:17), Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps (Happy Flowers), Hero Arts wood block stamp (Special Birthday)
Ink:  VersaFine (Onyx Black)
Copics: YG03, 05; Y11, 13, 15, 17; B000, 23, 26
Tools/Embellishments: Staedtler fine tip marker (dark blue), Offray ribbon, Stickles (Diamond), pearls (The Paper Studio), Spellbinders dies (Standard Circle Large, Petite Scalloped Circle Large, Rectangle Large, Big Scalloped Border Petites), Marvy Circle Punch

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #34 - Anything Goes
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #179 - Free is Good (Use something you got for free - I received the two digi stamps, the Staedtler marker and the ribbon for free)
Papertake Weekly - Take Your Pick (I chose the Product Theme - Ribbon and/or Lace)
Sweet Stamps Challenge #197 - Bordered Sentiment
V's Sweet Ideas Challenge #28 - Anything Goes

I hope you'll be able to find time this week to play along.  Our generous sponsors have some wonderful prizes to be won.  There's also a free digi and lots of inspiration from the rest of the DT over on the Word Art Wednesday blog.

I am thankful for each of you that comes to visit me here.  Your comments are read and greatly appreciated.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Winter Woods

This is my second post for today.  If you are looking for my Word Art Wednesday post, please scroll down a post or click here.I have several cards to share with you today using Winter Woods.  Masculine Christmas, birthday and/or Praying for You cards are a snap with this set.  In each of my cards, I used the scenes from the set.

First up is this masculine birthday card using this week's Outlawz  Sketch Challenge.  Deedee's Digis is sponsoring the sketch challenges this month.  Why not play along for your chance to win some free digis?

I colored the deer with Prismacolor pencils and gamsol.  The background was colored with Copic markers.  Some Sparkly Fluff was used on the snowy ground and on the trees.  Die cut snowflakes topped by buttons, twine and stickles complete the wintery scene.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill (navy), Creativity Inc. (brown), Georgia Pacific (white)
Patterned Paper:  Bo Bunny (Snowfall 6x6 pad)
Digi Stamp Set:  Deedee's Digis (Winter Woods)
Tools/Embellishments:  Copics, Prismacolor pencils, gamsol, baker's twine (The Twinery), buttons (Making Memories - 5th Ave.),  stickles (Diamond), Cuttlebug embossing folder (Snowflake), Spellbinders dies (Create-A-Flake Four), Sakura Gelly Roll pen - white, Our Craft Lounge Sparkly Fluff (sugar)

I'm entering this card in the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Release Day Challenge - Create a Wintery Birthday Card.

Next is a Christmas card using the same image but in a Center Step fold card.  A tutorial on making a Center Step card can be found on SCS here.  This time the entire scene was colored with copics and again accented with Sparkly Fluff.  Die cut snowflakes and a brad finish off the tag and some tiny bling accents some of the snowflakes.

This is a side view of the card. As you can see there's plenty of room to write a note.

These are the Copics I used.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill (navy), Recollection (kraft), Georgia Pacific (white), WorldWin (vellum)
Patterned Paper:  Bo Bunny (Snowfall 6x6 pad)
Digi Stamp Set:  Deedee's Digis (Winter Woods)
Tools/Embellishments:  Copics, Spellbinders dies (Create-A-Flake Four), Our Craft Lounge Sparkly Fluff (sugar), brad (American Crafts - Denim), rhinestones (The Paper Studio), My Favorite Things Die-namics (Pining Edge)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Fan-Tastic Tuesday Challenge #62 - Anything Goes with a Twist - Masculine
V's Sweet Ideas Challenge #28 - Anything Goes

Now for a moose card.  The moose scene was colored with Copics and accented with Sparkly Fluff.  I kept this one pretty simple.  The sentiment was printed on vellum.  The vellum strip is wrapped to the back and attached.  The pinking edges also help adhere it to the card front.  The image was popped up over the background.

These are the markers I used.  The un-marked marker is BG000.


Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill (navy), Recollection (kraft), Georgia Pacific (white), WorldWin (vellum)
Patterned Paper:  Bo Bunny (Snowfall 6x6 pad)
Digi Stamp Set:  Deedee's Digis (Winter Woods)
Tools/Embellishments:  Copics, Our Craft Lounge Sparkly Fluff (sugar), My Favorite Things Die-namics (Pining Edge)

 For this last card, I used the pre-colored Moose scene.  Another very simple design with a couple die cuts and some faux stitching.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), DCWV (blue), Recollections (kraft)
Patterned Paper:  Pebbles (Family Ties 6x6 pad), My Mind's Eye (Dolled Up 6x6 pad)
Digi Stamp Set:  Deedee's Digis (Winter Woods)
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders Dies (Squares Large and Small, Classic Rectangles Large), Staedtler fine tip marker (brown) 

Whew!  I think I got carried away with this set.  We have several family members that love the outdoors so using this set was a no-brainer for me.  :)  If you've hung in there this long, thanks for sticking with me.  Have a good day!!

We Give Thanks

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday. Our theme verse, "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him and bless His name." Psalm 100:4,  reminds us that our expressions of thanksgiving and praise should be directed to the Lord.  He is the source of all of our blessings and definitely deserves the "credit" for giving them to us.  We are so rich in God's blessings, it sure seems the least we can do to daily thank Him.

For my card this week, I used my MFT Blueprints 1 dies and one of the downloadable sketches you can get for them.  I really like these mix-and-match sets.  They make card design so easy!! Deedee's Digis We Give Thanks set was perfect for this week's verse.  I used a 100 Copic on my Pilgrims to add some additional shading and to cover the edge after fussy-cutting.  I added some Wink of Stella to the girl and her pumpkin.  The buckles on the shoes were given some clear star gelly roll pen.  I realize real Pilgrims didn't go for glitz and shine but....another case of artistic license.  :)

The inside is fully decorated.  The buckles on his hat and shoes were given a little shine with a clear star gelly roll pen.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill, Georgia Pacific, Recollections
Patterned Paper:  American Crafts (The Classics - Red Fern)
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen, Deedee's Digis (We Give Thanks)
Tools/Embellishments:  Staedtler fine tip marker (black), baker's twine (The Twinery), ribbon (The Paper Studio), Copic 100, My Favorite Things Blueprints 1 dies, Sakura Gelly Roll Pens (white, clear star), Zig Wink of Stella Clear marker

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Craft Your Passion Challenge #240- Pumpkins or Turkeys (I have one of each)
Eureka Stamps Challenge #115 - Give Thanks
Path of Positivity Challenge #20 - Gratitude
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #178 - Thankful (Thank You or Thanksgiving)
Sweet Stamps Challenge #196 - Thanks
Clear It Out Challenge - Anything Goes
Going Gray with Scrap Creations - Give Thanks
PDE Linky Party - Pilgrims, Indians, Turkeys or Scarecrows
Outlawz Challenges - Monday Greetings - Thanksgiving

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you will have time to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog to pick up your free digi and to see what the rest of the Design Team has made.

Lakeside Birthday

Today I have a simple masculine birthday card to share with you today.  The image is colored with copics.  After making a frame, the image is mounted behind the frame with pop dots for some dimension.  The woodgrain paper seems to go with the outdoors theme and gave a great place to add the sentiment.

The interior decorating carries the same theme.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (image), Recollections (cream), Core'dinations (dark red)
Patterned Paper:  My Mind's Eye - Howdy Doody 6x6 Pad
Stamps: Flourishes (In Nature), Stampendous (Birthday Greetings)
Ink: Versafine (Black Onyx), Memento (Tuxedo Black), Distress Ink (Tea Dye), brads (Making Memories), Spellbinders Dies (Circle Small, Petite Ovals Large and Small), Copics

 

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Craft Your Passion Challenge #239 - Begin with "B" (birthday, boats, blue water/sky)
Fab 'n Funky Challenge #237 - Happy Birthday
Paper Pretties Challenge #336 - Masculine B'day
MilkCoffee Challenges - Hand Color Image

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you're enjoying your weekend!!

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.

So Very Thankful For You

We continue the Thanksgiving theme this week at Word Art Wednesday.  Our verse is, Ephesians 5:20, "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."  It's so easy to take those closest to us for granted.  Our words have a tremendous power to encourage or discourage our loved ones.  Just a simple, "thanks for taking out the trash" or "I appreciate all you do to provide for us" or "thanks for listening" can mean so much.  It doesn't matter if it's their "job," appreciation is like food for the soul.  This year, let's make a point to let our loved ones know that we do notice and appreciate the little things (as well as the big things) they do for us.

I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch for my card design.  The circle sentiment is printed on vellum and backed with cream cardstock.  The frame allows the adhesive to be hidden.  The sentiment is accented with individual pearls and pearl swirls add some movement for all of the leaves.

The pre-colored image was printed on text weight Opal Mica/Metallic paper.  It has a cool shimmer to it. As soon as it came out of the printer, I sprinkled it with clear embossing powder.  It makes it look like regular heat embossing.  I love this way to emboss digis.  The red berries in the image were accented with stickles.

I put this week's focus verse on the interior this time.  It also was printed on vellum and backed with cream cardstock.  After adding the frame, I added more pearl swirls to set it off.  For the right side, a scalloped border around the sentiment and along the patterned paper strip finish off the interior decorating.

Supplies:
Cardstock: The Paper Temptress (Opal Mica/Metallic Paper-text weight), Bazzill (brown), Recollections (cream), WorldWin (vellum)
Patterned Paper:  The Paper Studio (Bella Bohemia 12x12 pad)
Stamps: WORDart by Karen (Ephesians 5:20), Deedee's Digis (Autumn Blessings)
Tools/Embellishments:  Pearls (Want2Scrap), Stampin' Up embossing powder (Crystal Clear), Stickles (Christmas Red), ribbon (Michael's), My Favorite Things Die-namics (Mini Scallop Edge) Spellbinders Dies (Circles Large and Small, Petite Scalloped Circle Large, Rectangle Large, Deckled Rectangle Large, Petite Oval Large, Petite Scalloped Oval Small)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Mojo Monday Sketch #371 - Sketch
Path of Positivity Challenge #20 - Gratitude
Catered Crop - Gratitude Attitude
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #33 - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown #221 - Swirls and Pearls
Sweet Stamps Challenge #195 - Lovely Layers (not counting the card base, my card front has 9 layers of paper)
Fan-Tastic Tuesday Challenge #61 - Anything Goes with ribbon

Thanks for stopping by for a visit today.  I hope you'll come back again soon.  I also hope you'll have time to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog to see the other projects by the Design Team and to snag the free digi.

In Everything Give Thanks

Hi!  I hope you are having a good week.  Can you believe it's November already?!?  It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just a couple short weeks away.  This month, at Word Art Wednesday, our focus verses are concentrating on thankfulness and gratitude.  Our word art this week comes from Diane's Daydream Designs.  You can pick up the free digi from the Word Art Wednesday blog and enter your project(s) for an opportunity to win some free digis of your choice.  Our verse this week reminds us that giving thanks in everything is what God wants us to do.  Notice that we're to give thanks *in* everything not *for* everything.  I've talked with two different people in the last two days who experienced great trials in their lives.  As we talked, both of them related to me various things for which they were thankful.  Being thankful doesn't mean we don't hurt or that things aren't difficult but it does mean we can look for positive things and thank the Lord for them.

I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch for my card design.  The candle image is from Deedee's Digis (and is also available at Diane's Daydream Designs).  The background panel was dry embossed.  There are lots of layers and faux stitching.  Baker's twine and a button accent the banner and the candle image was given a coat of Wink of Stella clear marker before being covered with Glossy Accents.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (both shades of orange)
Patterned Paper: American Crafts - The Classics (Red Fern)
Stamps: Diane's Daydream Designs (1 Thess. 5:18), Deedee's Digis (Autumn Blessings)
Tools/Embellishments:  Staedtler fine tip marker (brown), Wink of Stella glitter marker (clear), Glossy Accents, Cuttlebug embossing folder (Victoria), The Twinery baker's twine (Cappuccino), La Mode button, My Favorite Things Die-namics (Mini Scallop Edge)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday Sketch #370 - Sketch
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #33 - Anything Goes
Sentimental Sundays Challenge #231 - Anything Goes
Catered Crop - Gratitude Attitude
Eureka Stamps Challenge #113 - Count Your Blessings
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #176 - Leaf Me Alone (use leaves in your project)
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
PDE Linky Party - Autumn Colors
Path of Positivity Challenge #20 - Gratitude

Thanks for stopping by today.  I truly am thankful for all those who visit and for those who leave comments.  Your comments are a great encouragement to me. 

Whatsoever God Doeth...

Hello!  I hope your week is going well.  We had special meetings at our church last week so I wasn't able to be in my craft room.  I really enjoyed our speaker and it was exciting to see souls saved and Christians strengthened in their walk with the Lord.  It's now time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday and this week our focus verse comes from the book of Ecclesiastes.  Ecclesiastes 3:14 says, "I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him."  Our world seems to be one that loves convenience and lots of things are disposable.  I love how when God does something, it stands the test of time.  It stands for ever, nothing needs to be added to it nor can anything be taken from it.  No wonder He is referred to as the Rock.  Such steadiness and security!

I chose to have God's Word be the focus of my card this week.  I set it off by a couple layers of  Cheery Lynn doily die cuts. Lots of pearls and layers, with some ribbon, inking and faux stitching complete the 5.5" square card front.

There's a small amount of interior decorating to carry the theme to the inside.


Supplies
Cardstock:  Recollections (cream, kraft), Bazzill (brown)
Patterned Paper:  MME Indie Chic (Nutmeg)
Stamp:  WORDart by Karen (Eclesiastes 3:14)
Ink:  Color Box Chalk Ink (Chestnut Roan)
Tools/Embellishments: Sakura Gelly Roll pen (white), ribbon (May Arts), cream pearls (Queen & Co), tan pearls (Want2Scrap), Spellbinders Dies (Standard Circle Large, Decorative Photo Corners), Cheery Lynn Dies (English Tea Party, French Pastry)

I'm entering this card in these challenges:
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #32 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge #102 -Anything Goes
Divas By Design - Anything Goes

I hope you'll have time to craft this week and link up your project(s) this week.  Top Dog Dies is one of our sponsors and will be giving one participant (chosen at random) their Baby on Board Die Set.  The cream colored doily die (French Pastry) I used in my card this week is also available at Top Dog Dies.  You can find all the details on participation and our sponsors on the Word Art Wednesday Blog.  You will also find lots of inspiration from the rest of the Design Team.

Thanks for visiting today.  I hope you'll come back often.

The 20th Christmas

The 20th Christmas by Andrea Rodgers is a hard-to-put-down book.  It tells the story of  Alan and Arianna Tate and how the kidnapping of their young son affected their lives and marriage.  No part of their life was left untouched - including their relationship with the Lord.  In a secondary story line, Daniel and Lydia Feller adopt the son they believe is Lydia's nephew.  They raise this little boy along with their four other children in a stable, God-honoring home.

While the convergence of the two story lines is somewhat predictable, the plot twists keep it interesting and hard to put down.  It is very honest in how such a nightmare-ish event affects the various aspects of the Tate's lives.  Their struggles are not minimized or glossed over.  It made me evaluate myself and how I would react in the same situation.

Without giving too much away, I was challenged by Lydia's comments on why the Lord may have allowed the kidnapping to occur.  I was also greatly challenged by how much weight our words can have on those we love.  What we say or in some cases, what we don't say, has the power to either add an unbearable weight to their shoulders or lift that same burden.  We tend to be less careful in our words with those who love us because we take them for granted.  This book gave some great examples of why this is something we should guard against.

I received a copy of this book for free from the publisher to review.  I was not required to give a positive review.  I highly recommend this book.  It will tug on your heart-strings, challenge you and tempt you to stay up late reading.

From Dishes to Snow

Because I know many of my crafty friends are also book-lovers, I've decided to include the occasional book review on my blog.

I recently read From Dishes to Snow by Kathy M. Howard. Bayne Harris, the main character, has experienced a life-shattering tragedy, the death of her husband and children in an accident that was her fault.  Over a year later, she's still consumed with guilt and struggling to function.  She was close to the Lord before the accident but now feels like even He is distant.

Bayne decides that a change of scenery is an absolute necessity if she is ever to get to a point of healing where day-to-day function is possible.  She chooses a remote cabin/house in the mountains in a different state.  It is there that the Lord brings people into her life that help her spiritually and emotionally heal, accept and forgive herself.  Sometimes, starting over is the best thing you can do.

I really enjoyed the book and found my thoughts returning to it when I had to put it down to do other things.  It reinforced to me the importance of just being there with someone that is hurting.  Many times, your words are totally unnecessary (and silence is preferred) but your presence is a great comfort.  It also reinforced how important it is to give people the privilege of privacy.  You don't always have to know all the details...learning to let people tell you what they want to tell you on their time schedule.

I received this book for free from the publisher to review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story that is easy to read yet challenges your thinking.

Quote Collection 4 from ODBD

Happy Wednesday!  We can definitely tell it's fall here in our corner of the world.  It's rainy, the temps are cooler and the trees are beautiful with the various color leaves.  I love fall!  Anyway...., it's Wednesday and that means it's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week our sponsor is Our Daily Bread Designs (aka ODBD).  ODBD generously provided the design team with stamps to use for this week's challenge.  I chose to use Quote Collection 4.  It has five inspirational and encouraging quotes in the set. 

For my first project, I made a tri-shutter card using the Corrie ten Boom quote from the set.  I embellished the card with pearls and ribbon.  The bigger center panel has room for a personal message.

This set was so much fun that I couldn't stop with just one project this week.  I used another quote on the notebook below.  While this specific notebook was a gift for a friend, this style of notebook has quickly become a best-seller for my Sasha Belle Designs endeavors. The matching pen is a popular added touch.

The interior front cover has a pocket and the back of the notepad slips into another pocket so that it can be replaced.  I love these papers.  They are easy to work with and don't need a lot of extra embellishment. The finished notebook is 8.25"x5.25" when closed.

Supplies for the two projects above:
Cardstock: Bazzill (purple), Recollections (cream)
Patterned Paper: The Paper Place
Stamps:  Our Daily Bread Designs (Quote Collection 4)
Ink:  Versafine (Onyx Black), Versamark (card)
Tools/Embellishments:  Want2Scrap (pearl flourish and gems), Spellbinders dies {Classic Ovals Large and Small, Floral Ovals (notebook), Lacey Ovals (card)}, May Arts ribbon (card), Stampendous white opaque embossing powder (card)

Here is another smaller notebook that showcases another stamp from the set.  I really like this quote.  The interior of the notebook has a pocket, 3x3 post-it note pad and a 3x5 replaceable notepad.  The finished size is 3.75"x5.5" when closed.  Both notebooks make great gifts.

This was the first opportunity I've had to stamp with ODBD stamps.  They are a purple (how cool!) rubber stamp mounted on cling foam.  They are pre-cut really well.  I was most impressed with how crisp they stamp.  I've stamped them using VersaFine and VersaMark inks and been very happy with the outcome every time.  They didn't require any prep before using them and it's quite easy to get full ink coverage.  I definitely have some other sets on my wish list and would highly recommend them for their high quality.

Be sure to play along with us this week for an opportunity to win some ODBD stamps of your own.  I hope you'll take time to visit the WordArt Wednesday Blog to see other projects from the rest of the design team.

Thanks for visiting today.