God Can Do Anything

It's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday. This week our focus verse comes from the book of Job. This verse is such a statement of Job's faith in the Lord. In Job 42:2, Job states, "I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee." The first part had to be such a comfort to Job. When you look at Job's life, you see that except for his wife, he'd lost his entire family, he'd lost his wealth and he'd lost his health. Yet by reading the beginning chapters, we can see that this wasn't because of wrong-doing on Job's part, it was actually a way of proving how strong his faith was. You see, in Job 13:15, Job states, "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him..." Wow! So by this last chapter in the book, Job is saying (my paraphrase), "Lord, I know that you can do every thing and anything and that you know every thought." You might wonder, what was God's response to Job's faithfulness. Verse 10 of chapter 42 tells us that God gave Job twice as much wealth as he had before. He'd lost 10 children and the Lord gave him 10 more. What about his health? Well, after this he lived another 140 years and was able to see his sons' sons to the fourth generation! Yes, I'd say God can do everything! We serve the same God Job did. He can still do wonders today. As the song we learned in Sunday School says, "God can do anything, anything, anything. God can do anything but fail!" I don't know about you, but this verse is a great reminder for me this week!

One of our sponsors this week is All Dressed Up and they generously provided some images for us to use. I was able to play with Little Flower Girl. I chose to paper piece her dress, hat and basket and Copic color her skin, hair, flowers and the little bird. She was fussy cut and popped up over the lacy doily die cut. The finished card size is approx 4" x 8.5".

Copic shading adds some depth to the paper pieced items. An enamel dot was used on the flower center. Stickles add some sparkle to her hat, the bow on her basket, and the flowers. Her hairbows and the butterflies were coated with a Wink of Stella glitter brush marker and the butterflies have Stickles bodies.

Popping the girl up over the doily and sentiment adds some dimension. The rhinestones on the doily and the banners add additional sparkle.  Every girl needs a little sparkle!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (image and sentiment), Georgia Pacific (cardbase and doily), unknown pink cardstock from my scrap basket
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye (Dolled Up 6x6 pad)
Stamps: WORDart by Karen (Job 42:2); All Dressed Up (Little Flower Girl)
Copics: Skin (E00, 11,50; R20), Hair (YR21; E33, 35, 37; Y21), Bird (B000, 21, 23), Flowers (Y15, 17; R20, 22, 83, 85; YG03, 05), Shading (N0, 1, 3, 100, Colorless Blender)
Tools/Embellishments: Fiskar's punch (Butterfly), MME enamel dot, Sakura Gel Pen (black), Staedtler fine tip marker (black), Cheery Lynn die (French Pastry), Want2 Scrap Baby Bling, Stickles (Star Dust)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Eureka Stamps Challenge #151 - Anything Goes
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #212 - Use bling
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Take Your Pick (I chose to use the product choice and used a lacy doily die)
Fussy and Fancy Challenge #144 - Things with Wings (I have a bird and 5 butterflies on my card)
Mod Squad Challenge - Anything Goes plus a die brand that sponsor One Happy Cut carries  (I used a Cheery Lynn French Pastry Doily die)
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations Challenge #294 - Use 4 of something (I have 4 fishtail banners)

Thanks for stopping by to visit with me today. I hope you'll come back often!

Inspirational CAS

This week's theme at The Kraft Journal is to make a CAS (clean and simple) card that is inspirational. As a patterned-paper-multi-layers addict, I find CAS challenges truly a challenge. I started this week's card with a Lunch Bag Kraft Note Card as my card base. Then I stamped a floral background stamp in white pigment ink on a piece of Lunch Bag Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock. The sentiment was stamped on the back of an Admit One Ticket Tag. After stringing the tag with Red Baker's Twine, I  wrapped the twine around the stamped cardstock and then layered it on the note card.  Some Copic colored butterflies and pearls finish off the card. 

A piece of Buff Cover Weight Cardstock was layered on the inside to make it easier to write a message.

Supplies:
Card base: Lunch Bag Kraft Note Card (4"x5.5") - The Kraft Outlet
Cardstock: Lunch Bag Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock, Buff Cover Weight Cardstock - The Kraft Outlet
Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs (Quote Collection 4), Hero Arts (Flower Burst Pattern), Doodlebug Designs (Doodlebug Love Spell)
Ink: Colorbox Pigment Ink (Frost White), VersaFine (Onyx Black), Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Tools/Embellishments:  Admit One Ticket Tag & Red Baker's Twine - The Kraft Outlet, pearls (The Paper Studio, Queen & Co), Copics (BG01, BG05), Staedtler fine tip marker (black)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Fussy and Fancy Challenge #144 - Things with Wings
Mod Squad Challenge - The Wing's the Thing
Fab 'n Funky Challenge #269 - No Patterned Paper
A2Z Scrapbooking Supplies July Challenge - CAS using at least one Hero Arts product (my background stamp is Hero Arts)


Thanks for visiting with me today.  I  hope that you'll play along in this week's CAS challenge.

Belated Happy Birthday & A Blog Update

Today's card features a retired Stampin' Up wood block set. A die cut strip is topped with some laced and the image panel is popped up over it. The sentiment is stamped on a die cut fish tail banner and some purple paper flowers anchor the straight end of the banner.

I watercolored this sweet girl with distress ink and markers. The image was die cut and matted on a scalloped mat. Each scallop was accented with a white gel pen for added interest.

Popping the image panel up just a little adds a touch of dimension and helps the image panel stay level when placed over the lace trim.

The paper flowers add a beautiful touch, however, this much dimension means the card will have to be hand delivered or packaged with extra care (and extra postage).

The interior was decorated too.  Unfortunately, I need to use this sentiment a LOT.  :)

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (purple), Strathmore Water Color Paper (image)
Patterned Paper:  Recollections (Lavender Print)
Stamps:  Stampin' Up (Summer By the Sea -retired); Stampendous (Birthday Wish)
Ink: Stazon (Jet Black), Versafine (Onyx Black)
Tools/Embellishments: Distress Markers and Inks for water coloring, Uniball Signo White gel pen, The Paper Studio flowers, Offray lace, Spellbinders dies (Petite Oval Small, Petite Scalloped Oval Large), Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps die (Lacey Eyelet Border), Cuttlebug embossing folder (Basketweave)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Crop Stop Linky Party #6 - Use something that can be purchased in the Crop Stop Shop (I used distress inks and markers)
Papertake Weekly - Build it Up (use lots of layers and dimension)
Digi Choosday Week 29 - All About the Girl
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

For my email subscribers:  I will be changing email servers in the very near future.  Hopefully, the change over will go smoothly and you will not experience any interruption of delivery.  However, if you do have a problem with my posts not landing in your email box, please let me know.  I don't want to lose any of you. If you would like to receive notification of my blog posts, please use the sign up box in the side bar.

Thanks for visiting and please come back soon.

Be Steadfast

Hi! It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week we're focusing on 1 Corinthians 15:58, "Therefore my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable; always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." In this verse, Paul is encouraging his fellow believers to remain true to the Lord and to keep working for Him. So often, when we are trying to serve the Lord, whether in formal ministry or just in day-to-day life, it's easy to get discouraged. Maybe we don't see any obvious results or maybe we are being criticized or even persecuted for what we are doing. When we are not seeing results, we need to remember that it's our job to be faithful and the results are up to the Lord. If we are being criticized or persecuted, that's a time to be like the Early Church leaders who rejoiced "that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name." (Acts 5:41)

Our focus verse this week ends with a great encouragement, "that your labour is not in vain in the Lord." Our Lord keeps meticulous records. He knows everything we do (good or bad) down to the smallest detail. If we are serving Him, even when no one else notices or appreciates it, God does see it. Our labor for Him is never in vain. So let's be encouraged and remain steadfast and unmovable and keep working for Him.

One of our great sponsors this week is Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  I used the Peaceful Swans Digi Set on my card today.  This week's card is my take on an old Mojo Monday Sketch from last December (MOJO377). As usual, I changed it up a little to make it mine but I really like taking inspiration from a good sketch.

 The swan and her surroundings were colored with Copics. After die cutting the image, the water was "colored" with a Versamarker and covered with clear embossing powder. This gives the water a shiny appearance. I like using the Versamarker because it allows such a controlled way to apply the embossing ink.

The swan image is popped up off the card with foam squares.  The entire front panel is popped up off the card base by a large piece of craft foam.  The interior has a large die cut for the writing spot.

Tip for Top Tip Tuesday: When trying to stretch your supplies by using scraps, don't be afraid to cut smaller mats out of the middle of larger ones.  The layers on top will cover where you cut out the pieces and those supplies will last longer.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (teal)
Patterned Paper: Recollections (Aqua Dot, Teal Paisley)
Digi Stamps: WORDart by Karen (1 Corinthians 15:58); Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Peaceful Swans)
Copics: N0, 1, 3; BG000, 01, 05; B000, Colorless Blender
Tools/Embellishments: VersaMarker, Stampin' Up embossing powder (Crystal Clear), Creative Memories journaling marker (black), My Favorite Things Die-namics (Blueprints 1), Spellbinders dies (Classic Squares Large and Samll, Petite Scalloped Circles Large, Standard Circles Large), ribbon (Offray), rhinestones (The Paper Studio), ribbon slide and metal corner accent are from a prize pack I received so I'm unsure of the brand

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #211 - What do you do to relax (I love to sit by a lake and watch the birds on the water - stress seems to melt away)
Inky Chicks Challenge #54 - Use a metal embellishment (my corner piece and the ribbon slide are metal)
Top Tip Tuesday - Bingo Challenge (I chose the middle column - heat embossing on the water, sentiment and a total of 6 dies were used)
Crop Stop Linky Party #6 - Use something found in the Crop Stop Store (VersaMarker)
Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes
Mod Squad Challenge - Use a winged creature on your card
Work it Wednesday - Use Die Cuts (I have 6 on my card)

I hope you'll be able to visit the Word Art Wednesday blog to see the projects from the rest of the Design Team and to get your free digi. Thanks so much for spending some time with me today.

Purse-Sized Gift Set Duo

For this week's Anything Goes - NO Cards challenge at The Kraft Journal, I chose to make a gift set for our daughter of a purse-sized notebook holder and a business card wallet. Both items have a base of Buff Cover Weight Cardstock with Lunch Bag Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock used to mat the patterned paper and sentiments. All the computer generated sentiments and the business cards were printed on Buff Cover Weight Cardstock. 

Our daughter has loved books since her toddler days and we spent hours upon hours in the library during her childhood. For this reason, I thought the vintage library card catalog paper was quite appropriate. She has turned that love of reading into a career and is now a published author and style editor. And yes, I am her biggest fan! :)

The interior of the business card holder uses two Lunch Bag Kraft Card Sleeve Envelopes that were covered with patterned paper to hold the cards. Since I don't have one of her current business cards, I made these sample cards as props to use during the project's photo shoot.  Her website, K. D. Winchester, is publishing focused and covers a broad range of  items.  On her blog, she does frequent book reviews from all types of genres. If you have specific questions about the content of a certain book, feel free to ask her via her contact page.

Kendra loves book lists and has quite a lengthy "Books I Want to Read" list of her own. I thought this quote on the front of the notebook holder was quite appropriate. The notebook holder is embellished with an Antique Silver Label Holder. 

The interior of the notebook holder has a 3 x 5 notepad. The backboard of the notepad slips into a pocket so that it can be replaced when all the sheets are gone. The front cover has a pocket where small items can be tucked for safe keeping. The finished size of the notebook holder when closed is 3.75" x 5.5".

For extra stability, the spine of the holder was also covered with cardstock mat and patterned paper layer.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Buff Cover Weight Cardstock and Lunch Bag Kraft Card Stock - The Kraft Outlet
Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny (Weekend Market Collection 6x6 pad)
All sentiments computer generated
Tools/Embellishments - Antique Silver Label Holder & Lunch Bag Kraft Card Sleeve Envelopes (The Kraft Outlet), Marvy 3/4" Circle Punch, Spellbinder dies (Labels 7), brads (The Paper Studio), Distress ink (I just used whatever was left on my sponge dauber  - I suspect a combo of walnut stain and tea dye)

I'm entering this duo in the following challenges
Digi Chooseday Week #28 - Use something old (I've had this paper for a long time)
Crop Stop Linky Party #6 - Use something found in the Crop Stop Store (Distress Inks - Walnut Stain, Tea Dye)
Scrapy Land Challenge #22 - Vintage + must use die brand that Scrapy Land carries (I used Spellbinders)

Thanks for visiting with me today.  I hope you'll come back often and that you'll participate in The Kraft Journal's Anything Goes - NO Cards challenge this week.

Led Forth with Peace

Welcome back!  It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week our focus verse is Isaiah 55:12, "For ye shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace, the mountains and hills will break forth before you into singing and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." This verse is looking forward to the Millennium. This is a 1000 year period when the Lord will be reigning on the Earth. We will be spending much of our time praising the Lord. In fact, the whole earth will be full of praise to the Lord. So much so that the mountains, hills and trees will burst forth with greenery in praise to Him. Verse 13 of the same chapter tells us that instead of thorns and thistles, trees will sprout and grow.  It will be a time of great peace.

So many today are feeling hollow inside and are looking for peace. They will try many things and many religions looking to fill that hollow space. However, that empty space inside can only be filled by the Prince of Peace. Peace isn't found in things or even in religion. It's only found in a personal relationship with the Lord. What about you? Have you accepted Christ as your Savior and experienced the peace that only He can bring? It's the most important decision you will ever make.

For my card today, I brought out my cute Pandamonium stamps.  I thought the bigger pandas looked like they were having fun swinging the little panda as they walked among the bamboo trees (embossed background). The verse is recessed and given a black frame. Some star sequins topped with Star Dust Stickles complete the front.

The pandas on the front are popped up off the card base for some dimension. The little panda on the inside was die cut several times from black card stock.  The black die cuts were stacked with the stamped image on top. The panda was die cut from the white cardstock and the black stack was recessed into this opening. Copic markers add some shading under the pandas on the inside and the outside.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (black), DCWV (green)
Stamps: WORDart by Karen (Isaiah 55:12 digi), Mama Elephant (Pandamonium clear stamps)
Ink: Stazon (Jet Black)
Copics: 100; N0, 1, 3; Colorless Blender
Tools/Embellishments: Darice embossing folder (Bamboo), Mama Elephant dies (Pandamonium), Spellbinders dies (Classic Rectangles Large), V's Sweet Ideas (Hologram Star Sequins 5mm), Stickles (Star Dust)

 I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Craft Your Passion Challenge #270  - Anything Goes
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge #236 - Anything Goes
Inky Chicks Challenge #53 - Furry Friends
Outlawz's Twisted Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes - Twist: Use a Die Cut

Thanks for visiting with me today.  I hope you'll be able to stop by again soon.

A Shell in Your Pocket

This week's challenge at The Kraft Journal is a Pick Three challenge.  Choose your choice of at least 3 items from the chart.  For my easel card, I started with a Lunch Bag Kraft Note Card. The beach patterned paper was layered on a piece of Lunch Bag Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock.  All the shells are colored with Copics. As a child, growing up in Florida meant we spent a lot of fun days collecting shells on the beach.  Ocean...shells...beach....all bring back memories of those fun times.

A Mini Polka Dot Kraft Merchandise Bag holds a tag, also made from Lunch Bag Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock, for a message or a gift card. The "hello" die cut was by stacking two diecuts cut from Lunch Bag Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock and one diecut of patterned paper. 

I managed to fit five of the items from the list on my card: beach, shell, aqua, sentiment and punch.

Supplies:
Card base: Lunch Bag Kraft Note Card - The Kraft Outlet
Cardstock: Lunch Bag Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock -The Kraft Outlet, White Cardstock  - Papertrey Ink
Patterned Paper: Paper House (Beach)
Stamps: Deedee's Digis (Seashells)
Copics: Cluster of 3 shells (BG000, 01, 05, 10, 15; E01, 31, 33, 35; YR21; N1, 3; Y13, 15, 17; W1; C0), Interior Shell (R01, #01, 31, 33, 35; W1; C0)
Tools/Embellishments: Mini Polka Dot Kraft Merchandise Bag (The Kraft Outlet), Spellbinders dies (Deckled Rectangles Large and Small), Lawn Fawn Lawn Cuts (Hello), brad (Making Memories), scrap of ribbon from my stash, Marvy 1" Circle punch, WRMK Crop-a-Dile Corner Chomper, Staedtler fine tip marker (brown), craft foam (Darice), Ranger Multi Medium Matte, Zig Wink of Stella brush glitter marker (clear)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Crafting When We Can Challenge #98 - Summer Fun
Pile It On Challenge #77 - Water/By the Water
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Summer
Top Tip Tuesday - Summer Fun
Eureka Stamps Challenge #149 - At the Beach

Thanks for visiting with me today.  Please come back soon.

Happy Anniversary

When I saw this week's Mojo Monday sketch, I knew I wanted to use it. I needed an anniversary card for a friend and that was the perfect excuse to give it a try.  Since I had watercolored this image already, the card came together so quickly! It has some of my favorite elements on it....lots of layers, lots of dies (there are a total of 6 different dies from 3 different companies), faux stitching and shimmer from a Wink of Stella pen. I thought this couple enjoying spending time together at the beach on a summer evening was perfect for a summer anniversary.

Supplies:
Cardstock: The Kraft Outlet (Brown Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock & Buff Ivory Cover Weight Cardstock), Strathmore Water Color Paper, red cardstock from my scrap bin
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye (Dolled UP 6x6 pad)
Stamps: Stampin' Up (Summer by the Sea - retired), Mark's Finest Papers (Celebrate Big)
Inks: Stazon (Jet Black), Versafine (Onyx Black), Various Distress markers and ink pads for water coloring
Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders dies (Deckled Rectangles Large and Small), Lawn Fawn Lawn Cuts (Hearts), Sizzix dies (Circle Flip-its #2), Staedtler fine tip marker (black), Uni-ball Signo white gel pen, Zig Wink of Stella brush glitter marker (clear)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday #405 - Sketch
Inky Impressions Challenge #217 - Use 2 or more die cuts (I have 7 die cuts from 6 different dies)
Craft Your Passion Challenge #269 - Anything Goes
Scrapy Land Challenge #21 - Anything Goes using a brand of die that Scrapy Land sells (they sell all 3 of the brands that I used)
Loves Rubber Stamps Challenge #159 - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Crop Stop Linky Party #6 - Use a product found in the Crop Stop Store (Distress ink pads and markers)

Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you'll come back soon.

We Will Rejoice

It's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week we are focusing our attention on Psalm 20:5, "We will rejoice in  thy salvation and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfill all thy petitions." As we read the other verses in Psalm 20, we see that the Psalmist (David) is expressing his supreme confidence and trust in the Lord (Psalm 20:6-7). Because of his deep-seated trust in the knowledge that the Lord is in control, he is saying that he can also rejoice in how the Lord is working in the lives of others.  This confidence also allows him to "set up his banners," in the Lord's name.  David was not afraid to let others know of his trust in the Lord. David faced many times of war and uncertainty, however he knew that the Lord was in control and would take care of him.

We also face difficulties, financial uncertainties and troubling times in our world today. It's easy to get bogged down in worry for not only our future but also for those we love. Since we serve the same God David did, we can also have his confidence in the Lord to care for us and our fellow believers. This should be a great comfort to us. Let's follow David's example and not only have this confidence in the Lord in our hearts, but also be bold in expressing it to the world and stand up for Him.

I kept my card this week pretty simple so that the focus would be on this Scripture. The verse was die cut and matted on a scalloped oval. It was popped up over a ribbon that wraps around the patterned paper panel.

The layered butterfly sticker that coordinates with the patterned paper was accented with some pearls.  After all, what's a butterfly without pearls or rhinestones? LOL Some faux stitching and a few additional pearls complete the card.  The interior also has some faux stitching and a strip of matted patterned paper.

Supplies:
Cardstock: white (Georgia Pacific), dark gray and blue (unknown - part of a RAK)
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey (Out of Print 6x6 pad)
Stamp: WORDart by Karen
Tools/Embellishments: Basic Grey Pops (Out of Print), Uniball Signo white gel pen, Staedtler black fine tip marker, Offray ribbon, pearls (The Paper Studio, Queen & Co), Zutter Round-it-All, Spellbinders dies (Petite Oval Small, Petite Scalloped Oval Large)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Craft Your Passion Challenge #269 - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly Challenge - Anything Goes
Inky Impressions Challenge #217 - 2 or more die cuts

Thanks for visiting with me today.  I hope you're having a great week. Please come back soon.

Deedee's Digis: Featured Artist in Through the Craft Room Door

We are really excited that Deedee's Digis is the Featured Artist  in the July/August 2015 edition of Through the Craft Room Door Magazine.  The Design Team was asked to provide some samples for this issue.  We had the choice of using an old favorite or making something brand new. I chose to submit a couple of my favorite Deedee's Digis cards. Please visit the Deedee's Digis blog to see all the details on how to get a copy of the magazine - your paid subscription will be accompanied by FREE digis!!

This card uses Fluttering By and was originally posted on my blog September 16, 2014 - With Sympathy. 

My second card I submitted uses Winter Woods and was originally posted on my blog November 29, 2014 - Winter Woods.

You can see complete supply lists and full details on how I made the cards by clicking the links to the original blog posts. 

Sending Love

I am so excited to finally be able to announce that I am privileged to be a Guest Designer for The Kraft Journal challenge blog for the months of July and August. My good friend, Karen Letchworth is taking a well-deserved break this summer to help her daughter prepare for her wedding and to do some traveling. I'm helping to fill in for her while she's away. You'll love Karen's work so please stop by her blog, My Cup Runneth Over, and let her inspire you with her beautiful work. 

The Kraft Journal blog is sponsored by the online store The Kraft Outlet.  They have a great selection of kraft cardstock, notecards, tags and other items at fantastic prices.  Please be sure to check them out! To play along in the challenges, all you need to do is follow the theme and use kraft cardstock or something that has been purchased in The Kraft Outlet.

This week's challenge is a Summer theme. I think this adorable little girl looks like she is enjoying a bright, sunshiny summer day by collecting a bouquet of flowers. The image was colored with Copic markers, die cut and then matted on a eyelet circle die cut. A few sequins topped with tiny rhinestones were scattered on the image panel for a little sparkle. The card base and die cut mat are made from Lunch Bag Kraft Cover Weight Cardstock. The patterned paper was embossed with an embossing folder and then matted with Buff Cover Weight Cardstock. This same cardstock was used for the sentiment panel and for the interior of the card. The side panels were wrapped with Dark Green Baker's Twine.

I saw this Center Panel Easel Card on Dawn Griffith's YouTube channel.  This was a new version of Easel card for me so I had to give it a try. The border die that I used to line the interior panel also cuts out these little flowers.  I used them to embellish the side panels and added rhinestones to their centers. 

The finished card is a standard 4.25" x 5.5" when folded. 


Supplies:
Cardstock:  The Kraft Outlet (Lunch Bag Kraft Cover Weight, Buff Ivory Cover Weight), Papertrey Ink (white for image)
Patterned Paper: Craft Paper (Random 6x6 pad)
Stamps: Whimsy Stamps (Stamp Art Designs by Kathryne - Sophie (retired digi)), Sweet 'n Sassy (Across the Miles (retired clear stamp set))
Ink: Stazon (Jet Black)
Copics: Hair (E33, 35, 37, 50); Skin (E00, E11, R20); Shirt/Headband (R81, 83, 85); Pants (B21, 23, 26; R81, 83); Shoes (N1, 3, 5; R81, 83, 85); Flowers (YG03, 05; V01, 04, 05; Y11, 15); Grass (G03, 07, 09); Sky (BG000, 10; B000; N0; Colorless Blender)
Tools/Embellishments: The Kraft Outlet Baker's Twine (Dark Green), Want2Scrap Baby Bling, Darice sequins, Uniball Signo gel pen (white), Zig Wink of Stella brush glitter marker (clear), Sakura Pigma Micron pen (Black .01), Spellbinders dies (Petite Ovals Small, Petite Scalloped Oval Large, Standard Circles Small, Eyelet Circles), Sweet 'n Sassy die (Lacey Eyelet Border)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #234 - Anything Goes
Inky Impression Challenge #216 - Pink & Girlie
Pile It On Challenge #76 - Fun in the Summertime
Crafting When We Can Challenge #98 - Summer Fun
Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge (TT070115) - Summertime

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

Fear Not, O Land

It's time for another Word Art Wednesday challenge. This week's focus verse is Joel 2:21, "Fear not, O Land; be glad and rejoice: for the Lord will do great things." When we look at the background of this week's verse, we find that it was written during a time when the nation of Israel had taken steps to turn back to the Lord. The results was that Joel was able to tell them that instead of living with fear, they could have joy and gladness because the Lord was going to do great things for them. That is the way it always is for followers of the Lord. When we follow His clear teaching in the Bible and obey His leading, we will experience His blessing in our lives. In our world today, people in general are abandoning Biblical principles in favor of what is culturally or politically acceptable. This is the broad path that the Bible says leads to destruction. This makes it even more important for those who call themselves Christians to stand up for what is right and follow what the Bible teaches. God's Word is the final authority for life and practice.

This does not give us an excuse to be unkind or deliberately antagonistic. The Bible says we were to speak the truth in love. We may disagree, but that does not mean God's command to love others does not still apply. Just like a light in the window on a dark night draws the traveler home, we should live so that others are drawn to the Light we are showing, So, Christian, be loving but unwavering when it comes to standing up for truth and righteousness. God will bless you for it.

Deedee's Digis is one of our sponsors this week. I chose to use the image from a brand new set, Morning Window, on my card today.  The sentiment was die cut and matted with oval dies and then backed with a Fancy Tags 3 die.  I like to cut this die cut in half and use it behind oval diecuts for a little special touch. The background panel was embossed with an embossing folder. Lots of pearls, some ribbon, faux stitching and a scalloped border finish off the card front.

I colored the image with Copics. A white gel pen adds some details to the curtains and a clear Wink of Stella pen adds shimmer to the sun. A glaze pen adds some shine to the "coffee" in the cup. The image was trimmed out with my paper trimmer and matted with a Spellbinders' Rectangle die.

The image panel was popped up over the pearl Flourishes. The finished card is 5"x7".

Supplies:
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (for image), Recollections (cream), Paper Reflections (blue)
Patterned Paper: American Crafts (Hip Hip Hooray 6x6 pad)
Stamps: WORDart by Karen (Joel 2:21); Deedee's Digis (Morning Window)
Copics: Table/Bible (E000, 00, 01, 07, 31, 33, 35, 37, 40, 50; N5), Grass (G03, 07, 09, 17), Curtains (R81, 83, 85), Chair (B21, 23, 26), Woodwork/frame (E29, 35, 37), Sun (Y11, 13, 15), Cup (Y000, 11, 13; E31, 25), Sky (B000)
Tools/Embellishments: Sakura Glaze Pen, Uniball Signo white gel pen, Zig Wink of Stella brush marker (clear), Want2Scrap pearls and pearl flourish, My Favorite Things Die-Namics (Mini Scallop Edge), Spellbinders dies (Petite Ovals Large and Small, Classic Rectangle large, Fancy Tags 3), Cuttlebug embossing folder (Honeycomb)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Craft Your Passion Challenge #268 - Anything Goes
Papertake Weekly - Take Your Pick (I'm using the Product theme: pearls and the Color Theme of Pink)
Digi Chooseday Week #26 - Embossing
Outlawz Monday Greetings Challenge - Anything Goes
Mod Squad Challenge - Patterned Paper
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Use Spots or Dots

Thanks for visiting with me today. I hope you'll come back often.  There is a lot more inspiration on the Word Art Wednesday blog and a free digi there for you as well.