But in the Power of God

Hello!  I hope your week is going well. It's time for another Word Art Wednesday challenge. This week we're focusing on the verse in 1 Corinthians 2:5, "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." Have you ever had to step out in faith in a way that did not make sense to the wisdom of the day? Twice now my husband and I have turned in our resignations, knowing without a doubt that the Lord wanted us to move, but have not known WHERE we were to go. The first time, he had a job and we had a place to live before we finished working out our notice.  However, the second time required a bit more faith. We packed up our belongings and moved in with his mom (for a little less than a month) while the Lord was working out the details of our next ministries.  We knew the Lord had a plan for us that would work out in His timing, however, that didn't mean it was easy to take those steps of faith. I can honestly say, we were so glad we did. Watching the Lord work out all the details was fantastic!! Seeing His power at work was such an encouragement and helps us through the ups and downs that life inevitably brings. It's when we step out in faith, even when the wisdom of man tells us it doesn't make sense, that we truly see the power of God at work.

For my card this week, I used the current sketch at Sweet Sunday Sketches.  I really liked the simplicity of the design and the curved panel. I don't have a die that will make this curved edge (it's on my wish-list) so I used a piece of scrap paper cut to the size of my panel.  I measured up an equal distance on both sides and, using a pencil, sketched a curved edge.  I cut out my template and then traced it on the back of the patterned paper and cardstock.  After cutting along the traced lines, I held the patterned paper and cardstock together and trimmed them at the same time so that the curve on both pieces would match exactly.  I kept my template for future use.

The image from Deedee's Digis was colored with Copics, die cut, matted and popped up over the background. The flower centers were filled with Liquid Pearls and the flowers and leaves accented with Stickles. More Stickles accents both shades of purple flowers in the patterned paper. I'm not sure how well the Stickles on the background paper shows up but in real life it has such a pretty sparkle.  Stickles is my all time favorite way to use glitter and Star Dust Stickles is my favorite shade!! Some faux stitching and purple rhinestones complete the card front.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (purple)
Patterned Paper: Recollections (Blue Ditsy Floral)
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (1 Corinthians 2:5); Deedee's Digis (Blooming Blessings)
Ink:  Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Copics: Y13, 17; YG03, 05; G07; V01, 04, 06
Tools/Embellishments: Stickles (Star Dust), rhinestones (Studio G), My Favorite Things Die-Namics (Blueprints 1), Spellbinders dies (Standard Circle Small, Eyelet Circle), Liquid Pearls (Buttercup), Staedtler fine tip marker (black)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #270 - Sketch
Crafting When We Can Challenge #95 - Bling it Up
Cuttlebug Mania - Bling
Outlawz Greeings Challenge - Anything Goes
Scrapbook Blessings Club - Anything Goes

Thanks for taking the time to visit with me today.  I hope you'll be able to visit again soon.  Don't forget to pick up your free digi at the Word Art Wednesday blog.

With Effort Comes Success

Deedee's Digis is sponsoring the Fan-Tastic Tuesday challenge this week.  The challenge is to make a square or rectangular project that includes some texture.  For this card, an embossing folder, pearls, brad and floss tassel provide the texture requirement.  The finished card is a standard 4.25" x 5.5" so that satisfies the rectangular part.  I saw this card on Pinterest and had to try my hand at making one.  There was no tutorial so I made it up as I went along.  Classic Diamond Spellbinders dies were used to make the v-shaped collar of the graduation robe.  Copics were used for the skin tone and a pearl "necklace" provides a feminine touch.  The tassel was made with DMC embroidery floss and attached to the hat with a brad.  The entire hat was popped up over the robe.  A sentiment from the Congratulations Graduate set finishes off the front.

Congratulations Graduate - Non-EU Residents ONLY

Congratulations Graduate - EU Residents ONLY

Two more sentiments from the set were used on the card interior.  Both were double matted in the school colors.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections (black), Strathmore Water Color paper (collar), Best Occasions (green), Georgia Pacific (white), Papertrey Ink (white for flesh toned area)
Stamps: Deedee's Digis (Congratulations Graduate)
Copics: E00, 01, 02, 11
Tools/Embellishments: DMC floss (white), brad from stash, pearls (Michael's), Spellbinders dies (Classic Squares Large and Small, Classic Diamonds), Cuttlebug embossing folder (Herringbone)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Tuesday Throwdown Challenge #246 - Anything Goes 
Going Grey with Scrap-Creations - Celebrations 
Inky Chicks Challenge #51 - Pearls 
Cuttlebug Mania - Bling (pearls or gems) 
Twisted Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes 
Scrapbook Blessings Club - Anything Goes 
V's Sweet Ideas - Emboss It! 
Crop Stop Linky Party #4 - Use something available in the store (Cuttlebug Herringbone embossing folder)

I hope you'll be able to play along in the challenge.  You just might win a $15 gift code to spend in the Deedee's Digi store if you do.  Thanks for visiting with me today.

Spring Cherries

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week we're focusing on Deuteronomy 30:14, "But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it." As Believers, God's Word is supposed to be so precious to us that we keep it close to us.  We're not just to read God's Word.  We're not just to talk about it or even just think about it.  Yes, we should do these things.  However, the emphasis on this verse is that we're to read, talk and think in order to DO what the Bible says.  It's kind of like reading directions to make a cake.  What good does it do to read the directions, or talk to others about the directions or even to think about the directions if you don't ever follow them and make the cake? God's Word is our instruction manual for life and practice. If we don't DO what it says then reading it, talking about it and thinking about it is really useless. Just this week I encountered a situation where I really needed to take action. I knew what the Bible said I should do. I talked about it with other wise Christians and I spent some time thinking about it (and praying about it). But, it wasn't until I took action and did what I knew was right that I pleased the Lord and felt His peace about the situation. I would encourage you to read God's Word, talk about with others, meditate upon it and also DO what His Word says to do. 

This week one of our wonderful sponsors is Gloria Shirr of Purpleglo Creations. I won this stamp set from Gloria a few months ago (Thanks again, Gloria!!) and was finally able to ink it up!  It was so fun to color and I'll be using it again soon.  After coloring the image with Copics, it was die cut and matted on another die cut.  The fishtail banner for the sentiment was handcut.  A few die cut hearts accent the sentiment.

An online friend blessed me with quite a few 6x6 sheets of patterned paper.  This cherry paper was part of that RAK and went perfectly with the image.  I thought it had a vintage-y look to it so I added some lace, faux stitching and kraft cardstock to go with the vintage theme. The cherries and hearts have a couple coats of Wink of Stella on them.

The interior has another layered heart and more faux stitching.  The interior hearts also received a coat of Wink of Stella for a little shimmer.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections (kraft), DCWV (red), Papertrey Ink (image, sentiment), Georgia Pacific (white hearts, writing panel)
Patterned Paper:  I'm not sure because it was a RAK but I think Magnolia
Stamps: WORDart by Karen (Deuteronomy 30:14); Close To My Heart (Sweet Life)
Ink:  Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Copics: B000; N3; G03, 07, 09; E35, 37; R22, 24, 27
Tools/Embellishments: Offray lace, Lawn Fawn Lawn Cuts (Hearts), Spellbinders dies (Standard Circle Large, Picot Circle), My Favorite Things Die-namics (Mini Scallop Edge), Uni-ball Signo gel pen (white), Staedtler fine tip marker (brown), Zig Wink of Stella glitter brush marker (clear)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Craft Your Passion Challenge #262 - Anything Goes
The Kraft Journal Challenge #224 - Anything Goes - Vintage
2 Crafty Girls Challenge #3 - Vintage
Papertake Weekly - With a Heart (use a heart somewhere on your project)
Going Gray with Scrap-Creations - Anything Goes
Scrapbook Blessings Club - Anything Goes
Inky Impressions Challenge #210 - Faux Stitching/Doodling


I do appreciate your visit today.  Please don't forget to get your free digi at the Word Art Wednesday blog.

Perseverance - Chronic Illness

Deedee's Digis is sponsoring the Path of Positivity (PoP) challenge this month.  PoP is a month long challenge with a different theme word each month.  The theme for this month is Perseverance.  You can see my first post for this challenge here.

Dictionary.com defines "perseverance" as: steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. Whenever I think of "perseverance," I think of our children. Since childhood, they have both battled chronic health issues. Since all their illnesses are "invisible," they have also battled the disbelief of others.  "But you don't look sick," ranks up there as a least favorite comment.  I've learned so much from both of them and they have been such a great example to me of how to trust the Lord even during the difficult times.  They don't complain and just go on day by day doing what they need to do. Most people don't realize how badly they feel because they don't make a big deal of it.  As our son-in-law once put it, "It's sometimes a limitation but never an excuse." Our daughter's college recently wrote an article about how she continued to persevere in order to graduate and posted the article on their website.  You can read the article here.  My husband and I are so proud of them and thankful for them and the attitude they have.  The Lord has truly blessed us.

I chose to use two sets from Deedee's Digis to make encouragement cards for them.  With the exception of the colors used, the cards are very similar. I used the outline version of the cause ribbon in the Passionately Pink set (a FREE set in the store) and colored it with Copic markers.  The sentiment comes from the Greatest Joy set (available for Non-EU Customers and for EU Customers). I handcut the fishtail ends to the sentiment panels. To represent that their health issues are invisible, I chose to use a clear card base. The card design is based on last week's Tuesday Morning Sketch #300 (I'm too late for the challenge but loved the sketch).

Most of our daughter's challenges fall under the purple ribbon on the awareness chart.  For this reason, her card has a purple theme.  I've used the background swirls on several other projects for her during her college years, so that also is another little detail I wanted to include.

A year ago, our daughter-in-law was diagnosed with Celiac Disease.  As I've watched her learn to live with this diagnosis and deal with the other auto-immune issues that come with it, I've also seen her persevere to continue to live life as fully as possible.  Due to some new health issues, our son now has to eat gluten free.  So I'm letting the green Celiac Disease ribbon represent both of them. May is also Celiac Awareness month. If you know someone that requires a gluten-free diet, please remember that even just a little gluten can cause great harm to them.

Supplies for both cards:
Cardstock: Papertray Ink (image and sentiment panels), Georgia Pacific (white interior message panel), Bazzill (purple and green matting cardstock), Paper Temptress (acetate sheet for card base)
Digi Stamps:  Deedee's Digis (Passionately Pink, Greatest Joy)
Clear Stamps:  Autumn Leaves (Swirls)
Rhinestones: Best Occasions
Zig Wink of Stella glitter brush marker (clear)

Supplies for Purple Card:
Hero Arts Shadow Ink: Passion Flower
Copic Markers: V04, 06, 09; 100; N3
Supplies for Green Card:
Hero Arts Shadow Ink: Green Hills
Copic Markers: G03, 07, 09; 100; N3

I'm entering these cards in the following challenges:
Mod Squad Challenge - Mix it Up (Use stamps from at least two different sets - I used 3)
Scrapbook Blessings Club - Anything Goes

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

The Lord Taketh Pleasure in His People

I hope you are having a good week.  Here we are mid-week and it's time for a new challenge at the Word Art Wednesday blog.  This week we're focusing on Psalm 149:4, "For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation." The part that really jumped out at me was the first part: "For the Lord taketh pleasure in his people..."  Wow!  The King of King and Lord of Lords, Creator of the Universe and Savior of the World takes pleasure in those who belong to Him. Last weekend, my husband and I attended our daughter's college graduation where she received her Master's degree.  As we spent time with her and her husband, we just enjoyed being with them.  It didn't matter what we were doing, we just took pleasure in their company.  In a much greater way, that's the way the Lord feels about us.  He just wants to spend time with us, fellowship with us, and enjoy being together.  That is an amazing thing to me!

I used a set from Mark's Finest Papers called Amaryllis Definition on today's card.  It's a fun one to color.  I also used this week's free digi from WORDart by Karen.  You can pick up this digi on the Word Art Wednesday blog. This week's Mojo Monday card sketch was used for the card design. The finished card is 5x7.  I changed up the sketch a bit by removing the banners on the top left.

  After coloring the image with Copics, I fussy cut it and used it to accent the verse panel.  A white gel pen adds highlighting to the flower and leaves.  Stickles and a Wink of Stella marker add some sparkle. The navy circle and white cardstock strip were dry embossed for added interest.  The scallops on the border punched edging has been accented with small rhinestones. 

The layered circles are popped up off the card base. A little interior decorating finishes off the card but still leave plenty of room for a note.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (navy), Coredinations (yellow)
Patterned Paper:  Pebbles (Family Ties 6x6 pad)
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Psalm 149:4), Mark's Finest Papers (Amaryllis Definition)
Ink:  Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Copics: B21, 23, 26; Y11, 13, 15, 17, 35, 38; YR07; YG03, 05
Tools/Embellishments: Uniball Signo gel pen (white), Stickles (Star Dust), Zig Wink of Stella glitter brush marker (clear), Spellbinders dies (Circles Large and Small, Petite Scalloped Circles Large), Fiskars border punch (Apron Lae), Cuttlebug embossing folder (Swiss Dot, Baby's Breath border), Want2Scrap baby bling (silver rhinestone)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday (MOJO397) - sketch
Scrapbook Blessing Club - Anything Goes with a focus on border punches
Mema's Craft May 2015 Challenge - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion Challenge #261 - Anything Goes
Eureka Stamps Challenge #140 - Flowers
Papertake Weekly - In the Garden
Going Grey with Scrap-Creations - Anything Goes
Digi Choosday Week 19 - Flower Power
Chocolate, Coffee & Cards Challenge #90 - Spring Has Sprung
Mod Squad Challenge - Mix It Up (use stamps from at least 2 different sets)

Thanks so much for visiting with me today.  Hopefully, you'll also have time to visit the Word Art Wednesday blog to see the other DT projects and pick up your free digi.  I hope you'll come back soon.

Rejoice!

It's time for another great challenge over at the Word Art Wednesday challenge blog.  This week we are focusing on 1 Chronicles 16:10, "Glory ye in his holy name; let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord." When I was reflecting on this verse, the second part of the verse is what really struck me.  If we are truly seeking the Lord, our hearts will rejoice.  When we consider His holiness and all He does for us, how could we not rejoice??  What a wonderful God we serve!!

As I was thinking of the verse and what image to use with it, I thought of how so often when we are rejoicing in the Lord, at least at our house, that involves singing or piano music.  Kris at Imagine That!, one of our fantastic sponsors this week, has a Grand Piano image that I really like so I thought it would be a good choice to use. I chose to make an old favorite today....an easel card.  It just seemed fitting so that the grand piano could have plenty of room.  When the card folds flat, it's a standard A2 size. I used a black Copic to edge the image panel and a light gray Copic to provide some shading under the piano legs.  The image panel is popped up using a piece of fun foam.

I gave the piano a good coat of Wink of Stella clear so that it would have some shimmer.  I used a Fiskars border punch to set off the sentiment and a Spellbinders die cut to set off the image.  Red pearls accent both of them.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections
Patterned Paper:  The Paper Studio
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (1 Chronicles 16:10), Imagine That! (Grand Piano)
Copics:  100, N0
Tools/Embellishments:  Darice fun foam, Spellbinders die (Lace Doily Motif), Fiskars border punch (Apron Lace), Zig Wink of Stella glitter brush marker (clear), Staedtler fine tip marker (black), Wat2Scrap Baby Bling Pearls (Red)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Scrapbook Blessings Club - Anything Goes (Optional - use a border punch)
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Clear it out Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting with me today.  I hope you'll have time to also visit the Word Art Wednesday blog, our wonderful sponsors and pick up your free digi.  Please come back soon!

Perseverance - Graduation

This month, Deedee's Digis is sponsoring the challenge at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog.  The theme this month is Perseverance.  Regular visitors to my blog know that I've really come to enjoy the Path of Positivity challenge and have even had the privilege of being a Guest Designer for them.  So I'm extra happy today to get to combine two things I really enjoy....Deedee's Digis and the Path of Positivity!

It's the time of year for graduations.  When I think of perseverance, graduating from school comes to mind. We personally know several graduates from all levels and types of schools this year...high school, home school, Christian school, college and even grad school. Each one has had to work hard to accomplish their work load and complete the course to earn their degree.  That takes perseverance. This shaker card will be going to one of those graduates.  I used a sentiment and one of the pre-colored images from the Congratulations Graduate set. 

For Non-EU Customers ONLY

For EU Customers ONLY

After matting the patterned paper, a circle die was used to make the shaker portion.  Star sequins are inside the shaker and provide accents on the card front. Two nesting circle dies were used to make a frame for the shaker window.  Several of these frames were stacked on top of each other for some added dimension.  A label die that reminds me of a book was used to mat the sentiment.  The mat for the sentiment panel was made by tracing the outside of the die on the cardstock and then hand cutting it.

Here is another view with the shaker pieces mid-shake.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Creativity Inc. (gray), Papertrey Ink (image and sentiment panels), Georgia Pacific (card base and interior panel), The Paper Temptress (acetate)
Patterned Paper:  Recollections
Stamps: Deedee's Digis (Congratulations Graduate)
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders dies (Standard Circles Large, Labels 7), V's Sweet Ideas sequins (Holographic Stars 5mm), Stickles (Star Dust), Darice fun foam, Multi-Medium Matte

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Craft Your Passion Challenge #260 - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #371 - Use a Sentiment
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #244 - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by for a visit today.  I hope you'll have time this month to play along in the Perseverance themed challenge at the Path of Positivity blog.  You will have a chance to win a $25 gift code to the Deedee's Digis store if you do!!

Kitty Birthday Pop Up

If you are a regular visitor here at my blog, you know I love fancy fold cards.  I recently came across this Box Stand Fun Fold Card by Dawn O on YouTube.  Here is her blog post that has all the measurements for making this landscape version and another portrait version that she talks about in the video. It's so easy to make and if you don't allow your die cut to go above the panel like I did, it will fit in an A2 envelope!!  Easy to make, easy to mail, and an extra surprise for the recipient.  This will NOT be the last one I make.  You can put a panel on the back up the pop up panel to write a message. 

To make it fold properly, you need to keep the pop up panel flat.  So no pearls or gems....however, I was able to squeak by with adding stickles to the flower centers. 

I did my best to get a picture of it folded flat.  It will do OK in an envelope but was a bit un-cooperative for photos.  As I mentioned earlier, if my oval for the kitty did not extend beyond the rectangular panel it would still be an A2 size.  I'll make a custom envelope on my envelope punch board.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill (green), Georgia Pacific (white)
Patterned Paper:  The Paper Studio
Stamp:  I borrowed a friend's stamp for the kitty.  I forgot to write down the name.  If I find it, I'll come back and edit it.  The sentiment is from the Stampendous (Birthday Wish) clear stamp set.
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black (kitty image), Versafine Onyx Black (sentiment)
Copics: N1,3,5,7; YG03, 05; W1, R02, 81, 83, 85; Y11, 15,17
Tools/Embellishments:  Sakura Gelly Roll pen (black), Stickles (Star Dust), The Twinery baker's twine, button from stash, Spellbinders dies (Classic Ovals Large & Small), Bazzill flower (pink), Memory Makers flower (green)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Scrapbook Blessings Club - Use Pink, Green, White
Sentimental Sunday Challenge #256 - Color Inspiration Board (I chose to use light and dark pink and the yellow/gold colors)
Cuttlebug Mania - Use Stamps
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge #225 - Anything But Square
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #371 - Use a Sentiment
Chocolate, Coffe & Cards Challenges #90 - Spring Has Sprung
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #244 - Anything Goes
ABC Challenges - "I" for Inspire (show your style - my style is layers, fancy folds, and if I color an image it's usually with Copics)

Thanks for stopping by to visit today.  I hope you're having a great weekend.

Right on Track

Deedee's Digis is celebrating the  21st Annual National Scrapbooking Day with a special challenge.  On the Deedee's Digis blog you'll find sample projects (layouts and cards so that no crafter gets left out) from several of the DT.  Your challenge, if you chose to accept it, is the case/scraplift one of the projects and make your own project using any Deedee's Digi.  Link up your project and you'll have an opportunity to win a $21 gift  code to the shop AND a spot as Guest Designer in an upcoming month on our blog.  Be sure to make a new project for this challenge (no back-linking please).  You have until Saturday, May 9th to enter your project. There's also a 21% discount code to the store available to use thru May 9th. Visit the blog for all the details on the challenge, the samples from the rest of the DT and the discount code.

Right On Track - For EU Customers ONLY

Right on Track - For Non-EU Customers ONLY

For my card, I chose to make a non-traditional size.  The finished Size is  3.5" x 6.25" and it fits in regular 3-5/8" x 6-1/2" letter envelope. I used the Right on Track set and chose some of the pre-colored images and sentiments. I had some scraps of this train paper left from earlier projects and thought it coordinated perfectly with the Right on Track images.

I'm working on keeping my cards flatter so that they are easier to mail.  I did pop up a small heart die cut that anchors the sentiment on the front of the card.

The train theme was carried into the interior.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Bazzill (blue), Georgia Pacific (white)
Patterned Paper:  My Mind's Eye (Out of the Blue "Boy" Train Paper)
Digi Stamp Set:  Deedee's Digis (On the Right Track)
Tools/Embellishments:  Lawn Fawn Lawn Cuts (Hearts), Wink of Stella glitter brush pen (silver)

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Clear It Out Challenge - Theme:  Kids, Stash: Primary colored things (papers, embellishments)
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge #225 - Anything But Square
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #371 - Use a Sentiment
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #244 - Anything Goes
Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes

I hope you'll visit the Deedee's Digis blog, find a DT sample that inspires, a Deedee's Digi you like and play along with us!