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.

My Voice Shalt Thou Hear...

I hope your week is going well.  It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week our focus verse is Psalm 5:3, "My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord, in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up."  This verse is a great reminder that the best way to start our day is by praying and looking to the Lord for help.  How often we think we're "too busy" to take time to start our day with prayer.  Quite the opposite is true, we're too busy NOT to pray. 

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is one of our sponsors this week.  I used the adorable Benjamin Bunny on my card this week.  I've been taking the Online Card Classes Copic for Card Makers Class.  I've been loving it.  I still have a long way to go with my coloring but I did apply some of the techniques I learned on my image.  I used colorless blender on a washcloth to add texture to his fur - this also lightened my over-dark coloring. The flower and Benjamin's nose were coated with Glossy Accents and his eyes have some enamel on them.  My finished card is 5" x 7".

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections, Georgia Pacific (image only)
Patterned Papers:  My Mind's Eye (Remarkable 6 x 6 pad)
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Psalms 5:3), Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Benjamin Bunny digi stamp)
Tools/Embellishments:  Copic Markers, Glossy Accents, Enamel, teal pearls (Recollections), cream pearls (The Paper Studio), Spellbinders dies (Standard Circles Large & Small), Cheery Lynn dies (French Pastry), My Favorite Things Die-namics (Mini Scalloped Edge).

I'm entering this card in the following challenge:
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll come back to visit soon.  There's a free digi for you and inspiration from the rest of the DT on the Word Art Wednesday blog.

There's a New Challenge Blog in Town!!

Today a new challenge blog, Anything Goes With a Twist, is launching and Deedee's Digis is a sponsor for this first challenge.  Anything Goes With a Twist is a blog for card and non-card projects.  Each challenge will be Anything Goes but with a "twist."  They kept it easy for the first one and there isn't a twist - it's just Anything Goes.  :)   The blog has all the rules/details for participation.

My project today uses two sets from Deedee's Digis:  Turtle-rific Day and Teacher's Pet.  This is a birthday card/gift card holder. You can find one I made with a coffee theme and only one gift card here.  A YouTube tutorial by Holly Krautkremer gave me the inspiration for this project.

I used the pre-colored owl from Teacher's Pet as the focal image. The owl was printed, fussy cut and popped up on the Happy Birthday circle.  The matted image panel is attached to a belly band that holds the card closed. Some glossy accents to the owl's eyes and beak give him some fun dimension.

Two little "file cards" provide a place to write a personal message and tuck into their own little pocket.  This card was for our son-in-law's birthday.  He always makes a point to write a note in cards that he and our daughter send to us.  So, my husband and I wanted to both send him a note on his birthday. Having two little cards gave us both room to write our birthday messages.

Here is the card completely opened up.  The two little note cards are in the top pocket and then we put gift cards in the bottom two pockets.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections (kraft), Georgia Pacific (white), Core'dinations (chipped sapphire)
Patterned Paper:  My Mind's Eye (Remarkable)
Stamps:  Deedee's Digis (Turtle-rific Day and Teacher's Pet)
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders Dies (Petite Scallops Circle Large, Labels 4, Labels 4 Small, Standard Circles Small), My Favorite Things Die-namics (Pinking Edge), Glossy Accents

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sentimental Sundays #226 - Use Kraft Cardstock
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #30 - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #341 - Spots and Dots
The ABC Challenge - U is for Unique
CraftyHazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - Must cover base w/Patterned Paper

Thanks for visiting me today.  I hope you'll play along in the new challenge over at Anything Goes With a Twist. You could win a $10 shopping spree to Deedee's Digis.

God's Word Stands Forever

It's Wednesday, so that means it's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  Our focus verse this week is Isaiah 40:8, "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth; but the word of our God shall stand for ever."  We've all heard the saying, "All good things must come to an end."  However, this verse is a promise that God's Word will never end.  It's stands for ever.  It is unchanging and will last forever.  I love that!!

I haven't been feeling well today, so I'm going to keep this short.  I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch (MOJO365) for my card design.  Some faux stitching and a few pearls are the only extras.  I really like keeping the focus on God's Word.  The finished card is 3.5" x 5.5".

Supplies:
Cardstock - Georgia Pacific, Core'dinations
Patterned Paper - Pebbles
Stamp:  WORDart by Karen (Isaiah 40:8)
Tools/Embellishments - Spellbinders dies (Petite Ovals Small, Petite Scalloped Ovals Large), Staedtler fine tip marker (blue), Sakura Gelly Roll pen (white), My Favorite Things die (Mini Scallop border)

I'm entering this in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday (MOJO365) - sketch
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #30 - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting today.  I'll hope you'll come back soon.  Don't forget to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog for inspiration and a free digi.