Bought with a Price

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and were able to celebrate Christ's birth with friends and family. Both of our children, their spouses, our grandson and new grand-puppy were here for Christmas. What a rare treat (both of our children live 8 hours away from us and from each other)!! This mama soaked in lots of good memories to treasure now that they've all returned to their homes.

It's time for the last Word Art Wednesday challenge for 2015. Starting in 2016, the Word Art Wednesday challenges will each last 2 weeks. This will give you more time to play along. As always, we have some wonderful sponsors so you'll want to be sure to keep joining us and linking up your projects. This week we're looking at 1 Corinthians 6:20, "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." The baby in the manger that we celebrated last week, grew up to become the Savior that died on the cross to pay the price for our sins. Glorifying God, obeying His commands and living for Him, should therefore just come naturally to us. After all, we belong to Him.

One of our fantastic sponsors this week is Fresh Brewed Designs. I've been wanting to color this image they designed for a long time. I've never really colored eyeshadow on an image before so this was something new for me. I used a little glaze pen on the lipstick to give it some shine. The image is double matted.

After coloring the image, I decided to put her on a notebook cover instead of a card. I thought this week's verse was so appropriate for a Bible Journal or Prayer Journal. This particular notebook will hold a Jr. Legal size paper pad and you can replace the pad when you need more pages. The pad measures 5" x 8".  I cut a piece of teal cardstock 10 3/4" x 8 1/4".  It is scored on the long side at 5 1/4" and 5 1/2". The patterned paper panels on the front and the interior are 5" x 8". The finished closed size of the notebook is 5 1/4" x 8 1/4".

The interior of the notebook has a pocket for small keepsakes or a book mark. The finished pocket measures 5-1/8" wide x 5" tall. This is also the size of the pocket that holds the paper pad. The cardboard backing slips down into the pocket. For more detailed directions on how I made the notebook, please leave me a comment below or email me using the Contact Me link in my profile.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Coredinations Ranger/Tim Holtz line
Patterned Paper: DCWV (The Blossom Song 12 x 12 Stack)
Stamps: WORDart by Karen, Fresh Brewed Designs
Copics: BG10, 11, 13, 15, 70; R20, 22, 24; C5; 100; E00, 11,13, 25, 29, 31, 33, 34, 35, 50
Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders dies (Labels 4, Labels 4 Small), Fiskars border punch (Apron Lace), Sakura Glaze pen

I'm entering this notebook in the following challenges:
Sweet Stamps December Challenge - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Hiding in My Craft Room Challenge #231 - Freestyle
Mod Squad Challenge - Use at least one die cut

Thanks for visiting with me today. I do hope you'll play along with the challenge at Word Art Wednesday. Be sure to stop by the blog for your free digi and to see what the rest of the Design Team have made. Happy New Year!!

I Will Be Glad and Rejoice

Hello! I hope your week is going well. It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday and this week we're focusing on a verse in Psalms. Psalm 9:2 says, I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most high. When you think of all the blessings in your life, how can you help but rejoice in the Lord and sing His praises? A friend and I were just emailing tonight about how grateful we are for our friendship, even though we've never met in real life. The Lord definitely gave me a great blessing when He allowed our online paths to cross. It's easy to rejoice in the good times but it's more challenging to rejoice when we're going through deep waters. My nephew's wife is experiencing some major health issues and yet she continues to praise the Lord and express her trust in Him. She is praising the Lord even though she's suffering. Her posts may be to encourage herself but she's also an encouragement to me. Today's card will be going to her.

I've wanted to try two-step stamps for a long time. I was gifted a set of floral images from The Ton Stamps and couldn't wait to get them inky. I've been impatiently waiting to get settled from the move in order to do so. I used 10 different colors of ink on this card. That has to be a record for me. I started by making my own patterned paper with several of the flowers and leaves. After printing this week's WORDart and cutting it to a tag shape, I accented the tag with some of the images. The tag was double mounted with cardstock and popped up over the stamped background. The front was finished off the a burlap ribbon knot and a scattering of small rhinestones. The rhinestones trail across the card on the diagonal to help keep the eye moving.

I was having so much fun that I didn't stop with the card front...I decorated the inside of the card too.

And then, I decided that the envelope should get some attention as well. I'll be reaching for this set again and again.


Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), The Paper Studio (green), The Kraft Outlet (Lunch Bag Kraft) 
Stamps: WORDart by Karen (Psalm 9:2), The Ton Stamps (Mini Wild Florals)  
Inks: Memento (Bamboo Leaves, Pear Tart, Rose Bud, Lulu Lavender, Lilac Posies, Angel Pink, New Sprout, Summer Sky, Grape Jelly, Paris Dusk)
Tools/Embellishments: Burlap Ribbon (The Kraft Outlet), Rhinestones (Queen & Co, Rhinestone Trios - Crystal)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Mojo Monday 428 - Sketch
The Kraft Journal Challenge #254- Take Your Pick (I chose to use ribbon, green, tag, envelope)
Sweet Stamps December Challenge - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Crop Stop Linky Party #11 - Use something from the Crop Stop Store (I used lots of Memento Ink)
Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes
Mod Squad Challenge - Anything But....

Thanks so much for visiting with me today. In this busy season of the year, your time is extra valuable so I truly appreciate you stopping by. Please visit the Word Art Wednesday blog for your free WORDart and to see more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team.

Joy and Gladness

It's already time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday. This week we are looking at Luke 1:14, And thou shalt have joy and gladness: and many shall rejoice at his birth. In the passage surrounding this week's verse, we learn that an angel is speaking to Zacharias and telling him that he and his wife would have a son and that they were to name him John (later to be known as John the Baptist). What was extra special about this child's birth was that Zacharias and his wife, Elisabeth were an elderly couple and had never been able to have children. Can you imagine the joy and excitement they felt? They had been praying for years and years for a baby. Now, when they probably felt all hope was gone, they were told they would have a son! Zacharias and Elisabeth had been faithful to the Lord and the angel was telling him he would have joy and gladness in the birth of his son and that many would rejoice with them. What exciting news! Be sure to read the remainder of the chapter for the "rest of the story." Another aspect of the story is that Elisabeth and Mary (Jesus' mother) were cousins. This chapter also tells how Elisabeth recognizes that Mary is carrying the Messiah and encourages her. I tell you, this chapter is full of miraculous ways the Lord worked in the lives of people who were faithful to Him. And He is still working in absolutely amazing ways in the lives of His faithful people today.

I have a circle card to share with you today. I really liked this pre-colored image from the Beauty of the Season digi set by Deedee's Digis. It had a circle shape to it so I layered this week's WORDart on it and then used the partial die-cutting technique to cut it out. After using the die on part of the circle and fussy cutting the rest, I ran a black Copic marker around the edges to get a solid black outline. The rest of the card came together quite easily. The image/sentiment panel is popped up over the card base which is topped by a layer of patterned paper.

Here is a peek at the interior decorating. You can also see where I accented the flowers and the sentiment panel with 3 colors of Stickles. Copic markers were used to add some shading to the flowers.

Deedee's Digis is currently have a 75% off sale on the entire shop. The shop is permanently closing it's doors on Dec. 31st. The sale will last until the store closes so this is your last chance to stock up on all her fantastic sets.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (green)
Patterned Paper: Basic Gray (Figgy Pudding)
Stamps: WORDart by Karen (Luke 1:14), Deedee's Digis (Beauty of the Season)
Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders Dies (Standard Circles Large and Small, Petite Scalloped Circles Large, Grand Circles), Copic Markers (C1, 3; 100), Stickles (Goldenrod, Christmas Red, Star Dust)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Pile It On Challenge #98 - Anything Christmas/Winter
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Christmas
Craft Your Passion Challenge #291 - Anything Goes
Eureka Stamp Challenge #170 - Christmas is Coming
Outlawz Twisted Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes
Sweet Stamps December Challenge - Anything Goes
Get Creative Challenge #29 - Holidays
Scrapbook Blessings Club 3rd Annual Christmas Party - Anything Christmas
ODBD Shining the Light Challenge #265 - Color Challenge (I used green, red and black)

Thanks for stopping by for a visit. A couple reminders: this is the last month for weekly challenges at Word Art Wednesday. Starting with the first challenge in 2016, each challenge will run two weeks. Also, don't forget to stop by Deedee's Digis to stock up before the shop closes Dec. 31st.

Immanuel

I am finally emerging from the piles of boxes! We survived the move and are gradually getting things unpacked and put away. We've spent the majority of our time getting my mother-in-law's part of the house unpacked and organized so that she'll be comfortable as soon as possible. I have a card to share with you this week, for the newest Word Art Wednesday challenge. It felt like it had been forever since I'd made a card! As we head into the Christmas season, our theme verse this week very appropriately focuses on the true meaning of Christmas...Christ's birth. This week we turn to the Old Testament for a verse that prophesied the Lord's birth, Isaiah 7:14, Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign: Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. God the Father gave the sign so that there would be no question that this was His Son. As we all make our preparations for Christmas, let's not forget why we are celebrating. Jesus was born in a manger so that he could provide salvation for us. Christmas is the day we celebrate Jesus' birth. What will you give Him for His birthday this year? What will I?

I wanted to keep the focus on this beautiful verse so I chose an old Mojo Monday sketch (MOJO217) that let the verse panel be the focal point. I wanted to play along with this week's The Kraft Journal challenge, so I used some green paper and the button and star sequins bring in some gold.

I added some stickles and sequins to accent the pattern in the papers. The card base, ribbon, twine and cream cardstock are all from The Kraft Outlet. The button is one that has been in my stash for a long time. I used pop dots on the back to attach it to the card and to keep the shank from making it wobbly. The edges of all the papers were inked with Distress Ink.

Supplies:
Cardstock: The Kraft Outlet (Buff Ivory, Brown Kraft)
Patterned Paper: DCWV (The Heirloom Christmas Stack - 12 x 12)
Stamps: WORDart by Karen (Isaiah 7:14)
Ink: Distress Ink (Vintage Photo)
Tools/Embellishments: The Kraft Outlet (Natural Burlap Ribbon, Red Baker's Twine), Stickles (Star Dust), Spellbinders dies (Classic Squares Large & Small), Pretty Pink Posh (4mm Marshmallow sequins), V's Sweet Ideas (Star Mini Sequins), button from my stash

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
The Kraft Journal Challenge #262 - Color Challenge (use at least one: Orange, Green, Gold)
Twisted Thursday Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for visiting with me today. I'll be back to a regular schedule now. I hope! ;) Please play along in the challenge at Word Art Wednesday this week. We love to see your projects!