Word Art Wednesday Blog Hop

 Hello, Friends!! Can you believe that Christmas is next week?? Today we start our last Word Art Wednesday Challenge for 2020. This challenge will run three weeks. In conjunction with the challenge, we are having a blog hop that will have prizes on each blog. More about that at the end of my post.

Our focus verse this week is, "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name, Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." Matthew 1:23. Can you imagine being a young woman (possibly still a teenager), far away from home, and giving birth in a stable with only your husband to help you? Yet we find no complaint from Mary. Her focus was on the Christ Child and doing what God had called her to do. What a challenge that is to me! As we are all busy with Christmas preparations, let's not forget Who we are celebrating. I would challenge you to take some time over the next week and read the accounts of Christ's birth found in Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 2. 

 

I chose to make an easel card this week. I love the papers in the Silent Night collection by Echo Park. I used one of the border papers and layered it over a starry sky paper. A strip of gold vellum adds a border between the two. I used the Fishtail Sentiment Banners dies provided by our sponsor, Stamp Simply, to add some interest to the card from. A stamped sentiment and some Nuvo crystal drops on the stars finish off the card front. 

This week's focus verse can be found on the interior of the card, matted and layered on top of another fishtail banner. This is popped up on the interior to provide a stopper for the easel portion. 

Supplies:

Cardstock: The Paper Studio (#110 heavyweight card base, gold vellum), Pen & Gear (white for sentiments), Recollections (Rose Gold foil), Bazzill (dark blue and gold)

Patterned Paper: Echo Park (Silent Night 6 x 6 pad) - this is available from our sponsor, Stamp Simply

Stamps: WORDart by Karen (Matthew 1:23 digi), Jillian Vance Designs (O Holy Night clear stamp set)

Ink: VersaFine (Onyx Black)

Tools/Embellishments: Stamp Simply dies (Fishtail Sentiment Banners), Spellbinders dies (Classic Circles Large & Small, Labels 4, Labels 4 Small), Nuvo Crystal Drops (White Blizzard)

Word Art Wednesday will be offering the usual prize for a random participant in our challenge. Stamp Simply has provided this generous prize. In addition, at each stop on the hop, we will have a prize package from Emma's Paper that will be given away (US winners only). All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on each blog. This is the prize from Emma's Paper that will be given away here on my blog:

 

As an extra bonus, I will also be giving away an envelope of various new craft supplies to one person who leaves a comment below (I can only ship to the US).

I hope you will make the time to visit each stop on the hop to be inspired and have an opportunity to win some nice prize packages. Then link up one of your projects in order to have a chance to win a prize from our generous sponsor.

Here's the blog hop list:

Word Art Wednesday

Karen Conner

Holly Lau

JoAnn Atterbury

Ginny Maxam

Natalie Houston

Stephanie Wright - that's me! :)

Karen Letchworth

Thanks for visiting with me today. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas. May we concentrate on the greatest Gift of all, and the reason we have to celebrate: Christ, our wonderful Savior. He was born so that He could provide us with the gift of salvation.

Where Is Your Treasure?

Hello! Can you believe it's already December? I can't say the year has flown by but it sure has been eventful (and no, not all events are fun. lol) Our verse for the Word Art Wednesday Challenge this week can really help us finish out the year strong by helping us maintain our focus on things that truly matter. "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Luke 12:34. One of our most valuable things is our time (treasure). As we spend our time and energies on things that are most important, our heart will follow. So do the right things, the important things, the things that have eternal value and your heart will follow and you'll find yourself doing them not just because it's what is right but because it's what you truly want to do.

I believe the sketch I used is from Operation Write Home but I forgot to write that info down and now can't find it again. I double matted most of the layers with black and then rose gold foil cardstock. Some rose gold jewels are the final embellishment.

Supplies:

Cardstock: The Paper Studio (Extra Heavyweight cardstock -card base), Recollections (black, rose gold foil)

Patterned Paper: Carta Bella (Home Again 6 x 6 pad)

Stamp: WORDart by Karen (Luke 12:34)

Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders Dies (Classic Rectangles Large & Small), Divinty Design die( Double Stitched Pennant Flags), My Favorite Things dienamics (Blueprints 1), The Paper Studio jewels 

 

Thanks for stopping by to visit today. I do hope you'll come back soon. Please visit the Word Art Wednesday blog to find lots of inspiration from the rest of the Design Team.

Magnify Him with Thanksgiving

 Hello! I hope you are all having a good week. I'm sorry I missed posting for the last Word Art Wednesday challenge. We had an emergency at work and then it's been crazy ever since. Whew! I'll post the card I made for the last challenge at the end of this post. For this week's challenge our focus verse is Psalm 69:30, "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving." This is the time of year that our thoughts turn to thanksgiving. After the year we've all had in 2020, it's even more important to focus on our blessings. The Lord has been so good to all of us. I am so thankful that He is still on the throne in control. God is good!!

For my card this week, I wanted the verse to be the focus.I chose this MFT sketch 353 to be the inspiration for my card. I stayed fairly close to the sketch and used one of my favorite rose gold foil cardstocks for some added pizzazz.

Supplies:

Sketch: MFTWSC353

Cardstock: Recollections (rose gold foil, #110 white for card base), Darice (red, brown), Pen & Gear (white cardstock)

Patterned Paper: Pink & Main (Take Flight 6 x 6)

Stamp: WORDart by Karen (Psalm 69:30)

Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders dies (Standard Circle Large, Petite Scalloped Circle Large), Big Lots ribbon, The Paper Studio gems

My card for the last challenge:

Supplies:

Divinity Designs Center Step Cards card base

Cardstock: Recollections (rose gold foil), Darice (brown), Pen & Gear (white)

Patterned Paper - unknown manufacturer

Stamp: WORDart by Karen (Exodus 15:13)

Tools/Embellishment: Spellbinders Classic Squares (Large & Small), Big Lots Ribbon, Eyelet Outlet jewels (gray), The Paper Studio sequins

Thanks for stopping by to visit today. I hope you and your loved ones have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Please stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog so that you can be inspired by the rest of the Design Team.

Sowing and Reaping

Hello, Friends! It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday. This verse is another one that is great for Pastor Appreciation cards. Psalm 126:3 says, "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." Having a dad that was a pastor and now being married to pastor, I can tell you that pastors who love their flocks truly do sow with tears and grieve when a member of their congregation is grieving or going down a wrong path. But oh the joy when someone accepts Jesus as their Savior, has a spiritual victory or is rejoicing over something. Truly the ministry is a wonderful blessing! 

For my card this week, I kept the focus on this wonderful verse. I used  Mojo Monday sketch 539 for inspiration and stayed pretty close to the sketch. I added a couple sequins for embellishment.

Supplies:

Cardstock: Recollections (cream), Coredinations (navy)

Patterned Paper: Refined (Celebrate 6 x 6 pad)

Stamp: WORDart by Karen (Psalm 126:5)

Dies: Divinity Designs (Double Stitched Circles), Spellbinders (Standard Circles Large), Lawn Fawn (Everyday Sentiment Banners)

The Paper Studio sequins

Thanks for visiting today. I hope the rest of your week goes well and that you'll have time to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog and see the projects from the rest of the design team.

Good Stewards - Pastor Appreciation

Hello, My Friends! I know it's been a while. Life got a little busy over the summer and I needed to take a hiatus for a bit. But I'm back now and hoping to post on a regular basis. It's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday. For our verse this week we are focusing on 1 Peter 4:10, "As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." October is Pastor Appreciation month. I think this verse is a great one for pastors as they minister to others with the gifts the Lord has given them. They are to be good stewards those gifts and share the Lord's grace with others.

For my card this week, I was inspired by Mojo Monday Sketch 541. I rotated it and changed up the shape a little. I really like theses Papers by Pink and Main. They are good for masculine cards year round and for fall cards as well. I kept it pretty simple as I am just easing back into crafting.

 

 

Supplies:

Cardstock: Recollections #110 (white for card base), Pen & Gear (white for sentiment panel), Bazzill 

Patterned paper: Pink & Main (Take Flight 6 x 6 - retired)

Tools/Embellishments: Offray ribbon, Eyelet Outlet bling, Creative Memories fine tip black marker, Spellbinders Label 7 dies

Thanks for stopping by for a visit today. I hope you'll have time to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog for more inspiration from the rest of the Design Team. 

A Place of Refuge

Hello! I'm a little late posting this week. I apologize for my tardiness. It's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday and our focus verse is so very appropriate. Proverbs 14:26 says, "In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence and his children shall have a place of refuge."  When we recognize Who God is and that He is all powerful ("in the fear of the Lord") we can have confidence that He has things under His control and this gives His children a place of refuge. In these days of uncertainty and confusion, it is so comforting to know that the Lord will care for me and provide a place of refuge. As Psalm 94:19 says, "In the multitude of my thought within me thy comforts delight my soul." If you are like me, sometimes my thoughts are swirling around like crazy at times (sort of like the background paper on my card this week). However, when I corral my thoughts and think of how the Lord has comforted me, I find myself at peace.

I chose to use Mojo Monday Sketch 538 for my card design. I stayed pretty true to the sketch and added Nuvo Crystal and Glitter drops along with some bling for embellishments.

Supplies
Cardstock: Recollections #110 White for card base, Pen & Gear white for sentiment panel
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey (Urban Luxe 6 x 6 - retired)
Stamp: WORDart by Karen (Proverbs 14:26)
Tools/Embellishments: Nuvo Crystal Drops (Ebony Black), Nuvo Glitter Drops (White Blizzard), Cuttlebug embossing folder (Moroccan Screen), Memento Marker (Tuxedo Black), Park Lane bling

I'm entering this card in the following challenge:
Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper Challenge - must use patterned paper

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

Call Unto Me

Happy Wednesday! It's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday. This week our focus verse is Jeremiah 33:3, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." What a neat promise from the Lord that if we will just call on Him (pray), He will answer us. This doesn't mean that the Lord will give us everything we ask for when we pray. I've heard so many people say, "I prayed but the Lord never answered me. I asked Him to do this and He didn't do it." One thing we have to remember is that "no" is still an answer. The Lord is promising to listen when we pray to Him and that alone is wonderful. Don't we all just need someone to listen to us at times? But along with listening, He promises to answer. Sometimes that answer is "Wait for My timing." God isn't confined to our time table. Sometimes the answer is a loving, "No, that's not what is best for you." There have been so many times I've later been SOOO thankful the Lord has told me no when I asked for certain things. And sometimes, the Lord answers,"Yes." But no matter how He answers us, He will show us things and work in ways we could never have imagined. Sometimes, looking back, I see where some of the most painful times in my life are when I saw the Lord working the most. They are the times I felt His comfort most. Other times, when I waited on His timing, the end result was so much better than I had dreamed. So, talk to the Lord, call on Him, and then just wait and see how He works.

For my card today, I brought out one of my current favorite paper pads and a fun sketch by Mojo Monday (MOJO 533). The vertical panel is dry embossed for some added dimension and interest. Because so many of the layers are double matted, I used some Scrapbook Adhesives Thin Foam Squares to help keep things level. 

Our sponsor this week is Art Glitter. I have heard wonderful things about their Designer Glue and their Metal Tip Attachment. So I decided to give both products a try. Instead of using my normal ATG tape runner, I used the Designer Glue with the Metal Tip Attachment on the bottle. Wow! Now I see why it is so well liked. It comes out of the bottle so easily (some bottles are so stiff they require a lot of pressure to release the glue), the metal tip gives very precise placement of the glue and it holds extremely well. Even my patterned paper didn't wrinkle. I won't be getting rid of my ATG gun but I think I've found a new favorite liquid adhesive.


 
Supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections #110 (white card base), Pen and Gear (white for sentiment), Bazzill (blue), pink cardstock is a scrap and I don't know the manufacturer, pearlized white cardstock (unknown manufacturer)
Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny (Early Bird Collection 6 x 6 pad)
Stamp: WORDart by Karen (Jeremiah 33:3)
Tools/Embellishments: Art Glitter (Designer Glue and Metal tip Attachment). Scrapbook Adhesives Thin 3D Foam Squares, Fiskars punches (large and small butterflies), Park Lane bling, Divinity Designs Dies (Double Stitched Rectangles), CuttleBug embossing folder (Paper Lace 2)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Createful Heart Challenge #20 - Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - Must use patterned paper
Outlaws Sunday Songs & Rhymes Challenge - Sing a Song of Flowers

Thanks for stopping by to visit with me today. I hope you'll stop by the Word Art Wednesday Blog and see the rest of the Design Team's projects. Also be sure to enter our challenge so that you'll have an opportunity to win a prize from our generous sponsor.

Thy Mother Shall Be Glad

Happy Wednesday! I hope you are doing well and surviving this time of social distancing and quarantine. It's time for a new challenge on Word Art Wednesday and this week our focus verse is very appropriate for the upcoming Mother's Day holiday. Proverbs 23:25, "Thy father and thy mother shall be glad, and she that bare thee shall rejoice." Exodus 20:12 instructs us to, " Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." and Ephesians 6:2 states, "Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;" There is instruction in both the Old and New Testaments about the importance of honoring our parents. What truly makes a parent glad and a mother rejoice? 3 John 4 says it best, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." Having your children following the Lord and seeking to please Him brings joy to a mom's (and dad's) heart. My heart is thrilled when our children share something with us and tell us how they saw the Lord was working in the situation. My heart is humbled when they say, "I've been praying for you, Mom." As children, let's live a life that will bring joy to our parents. For those of us that are parents, let's be a good example of godly living so our children will know how they ought to live.

Our sponsor this week is Pink & Main. I love their products so I couldn't stop at one card (product links are provided below). First up is a shaker card using this week's free WORDart digi. I used the Reverse Scalloped Rectangle dies for the frame of the card and for the verse. The larger frame was cut multiple times (approx 8) from white cardstock and the layers stacked and glued together to form the well for the seed beads. The beautiful spring papers are so bright and cheerful and the coordinating enamel shapes provide the finishing touch.

I used the Sunny Cover Dies for a set of 5 cards. Five different patterned papers were used for the die cut inlay. This first card uses a Pink & Main stamp and die bundle. The hot air balloons were stamped on patterned paper with embossing ink and white heat embossed. The stamp set includes layering dies for the balloons but I didn't have inks that went with the papers so I opted for heat embossing. The largest balloon was die cut from white card stock and the basket was stamped in black ink. The top of the balloon was stamped, embossed and fussy cut around the outside of the embossing before being glued to the top of the die cut balloon. It was popped up on the card front with foam squares. The smaller balloons were stamped and heat embossed before being die cut. They were adhered flat to the card front. An enamel heart was added to the basket to finish off the card.

I don't have any other Pink & Main sentiment stamps so I pulled a couple sentiments from other sets in my stash for the remaining four cards in the set. I kept them pretty simple so that they would mail easily. They also are embellished with the enamel shapes and two of them use the banner die in the Sunny Cover Die set.


Pink & Main Products used:
Enchanted Garden 6 x 6 paper Pad
Enchanted Garden Enamel Shapes
Reverse Scallop Rectangle Dies (first card only)
Sunny Cover Dies (card set)*
Hot Air Balloon Bundle - stamps & dies (card #2 only)*

*these two items are currently on sale. :)

Other supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections #110 (white for card base ), Pen & Gear (white), Green - source unknown
Stamps: WORDart by Karen digi stamp (Proverbs 23:25), Stamps of Life clear stamps (Anniversary 2 Celebrate), Divinity Designs cling stamps (Bon Voyage)
Ink: Versamark, Versafine (Onyx Black)
Tools/Embellishments: Fiskars heart punch, black fine tip marker, Simon Says Stamp fine detail embossing powder (white), MISTI stamping tool, Cuttlebug Die Cutting Machine, The Paper Studio seed beads

I'm entering these cards in the following challenges:
Crafty Sentiments - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Cuttlebug Mania - Celebrate Mums (the shaker card and the hot air balloon card are both Mother's Day cards - the Mother's Day sentiment is on the interior but not shown - I used the Cuttlebug machine and three different die sets)
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #419 - Mother's Day (the first two cards are Mother's Day cards but the Mother's Day sentiment is on the interior)
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Use Punches or Dies (I entered the hot air balloon card as it uses more dies)

I hope you'll be able to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog and see the projects from the rest of the Design Team. I also hope you'll check out our sponsor, Pink & Main. Thanks for visiting today. Please stay safe.

God's Creative Bouquet

Hello! I hope you're having a good week. It's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday. This week our challenge verse is, Hebrews 1:10, "And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands." The Lord we love and serve is the one that made the foundations of the earth and created the heavens. He is the one that "upholds all things by the word of his power." (Hebrews 1:3) I know this week's verse was picked a while ago but what a great reminder for the times in which we live. The same Lord that made the foundations of the earth, created the heavens and upholds all things by the word of His power is taking care of us today. None of this takes Him by surprise and our King is still on the throne. When we take our eyes off the Lord and look around us, it's a pretty scary sight. However, I read a reminder recently that our King has never lost a battle. That has really stuck with me. Let's keep our eyes on the Lord and let Him handle all of this for us. He didn't promise it would be easy but He did promise to take care of us and love us no matter what. That's good enough for me.

Stamp Simply is our sponsor this week. I was able to play with some of their products and use them on my card this week. First I stamped the image from the Floral Cluster-Summer Roses with Memento ink on white cardstock. I colored the image with Copics and added white gel pen details. The Floral Cluster and Sprigs die set was used to cut out the image. (Side note: This die will also work with 3 other stamps sets made by Stamp Simply) Since I knew the image would hang off the edge of the card, I cut an additional Floral Cluster die cut out of light blue cardstock to back my colored image and give it a more finished look. I used a floral cardstock instead of patterned paper and embellished the flowers with Wink of Stella and a white gel pen. Stamp Simply's Fishtail Sentiment Banners were used to die cut the verse and the mat was fussy cut from light blue cardstock. The edges of the mat were highlighted with Wink of Stella and the rest of the card was given some white gel pen detailing.

Thanks to Stamp Simply for providing the stamp sets and dies for me to use in this project. I genuinely enjoy using their products. The stamps give a crisp image right out of the package, the Floral Clusters suite of products is pure genius and the Fishtail Sentiment Banners are so versatile. They are one of the die sets that I use the most on my card projects.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections #110 (white for card base), Darice (Dark Blue Flower), Light Blue cardstock brand unknown (I think Bazzill but I'm not sure), Pen & Gear (white for sentiment and image panels)
Stamps: WORDart by Karen (Hebrews 1:10), Stamp Simply (Floral Cluster - Summer Roses clear stamp set)
Ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Copics: BV02, 04, 08; Y38; YG21, 23, 25, 99
Tools/Embellishments: Stamp Simply Dies (Floral Cluster and Sprigs Dies, Fishtail Sentiment Banners), Spellbinders dies (Classic Circles Large, Grand Circles), Park Lane bling, Gelly Roll White gel pen, Wink of Stella glitter brush marker (clear)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Createful Heart Design #19 - Anything Goes
CCC Digi Creations #113 - Use a Flower/Flowers
Happy Little Stampers - Anything Goes with Dies
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Flower Power

Thanks for stopping by to visit today. I hope you'll come back again soon. Please be sure to visit the Word Art Wednesday blog for more inspiration from the rest of the design team. Our sponsor, Stamp Simply is currently having a sale and only $1 shipping fee until 4/26/20.

By His Own Power

Hello! I hope you are all staying safe and well. It's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday. Our focus verse this week is 1 Corinthians 6:14, "And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power." I asked my husband for some thoughts on this verse so credit for the following goes to him. 

What a marvelous power it took to raise up our Lord and Savior, Jesus! We look forward first to our being raised from the dead and being given bodies like unto His glorious body. But prior to that promised resurrection, we need His power to live the daily Christian Life. Philippians 3:10 states, "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death." In this verse, Paul desires the power of His resurrection that he might live the Christian life under the power and guidance of the Holy Spirit. So resurrection power is not just for our one day glorious resurrection but for the here and now that we might live as He would have us to live.

Gina K Designs is our sponsor this week. I love her products but don't own any of her current stamps/dies. I reached for an oldie but goodie retired red rubber stamp for my card. I am guessing it's about 10-11 years old. I bought it in a grab bag of stamps I bought from Gina K.  I used another oldie but goodie favorite from that time period, chalk ink, to stamp the green frame and leafy branches. This is actually all one stamp that I think is so versatile. Since it's such a big stamp, I used my Misti stamping tool to help me get a good image. The card front has several layers but is actually a pretty simple design. It's hard to see in the pictures, but Nuvo glitter drops were used in random spots around the leafy stamped image, for the center of the flowers around the verse and for centers on some of the larger flowers in the dark floral border.

I like to save paper when I can. The leafy patterned paper shown here on the interior of the card was actually cut from the panel used on the front. This meant I only had to use one sheet of 6 x 6 paper in this pattern. The blue floral paper was a scrap that I used to die cut the flowers used around the verse and to make the strip on the interior.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections #110 white for card base, Darice Minty Fresh cardstock pack, Pen and Gear white for sentiment and interior panel
Patterned Paper: Pebbles (Family Ties 6 x 6)
Stamps: WORDart by Karen (1 Corinthians6:14), Gina K Designs (Leafy frame die - not the real name, it's so old I have no clue what the real name is)
Ink: Colorbox Chalk Ink (Olive Pastel)
Tools/Embellishments: MFT Blueprints 29 dies, MFT Die-Namics (Mini Scallop Edge - retired), Gina Marie Designs Die set (Large Pierced Flower), Divinity Designs Dies (Double Stitched Rectangle), Spellbinders dies (Classic Squares Large and Small), Nuvo Glitter Drops (White Blizzard), Sharpie blue marker

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge: Use Patterned Paper
Retro Rubber Challenge #132: Must use squares and a stamp that is at least 1 year old. My stamp is at least 10-11 years old.
Crafty Sentiments Designs: Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by to visit today. I hope you'll be able to stop by our Word Art Wednesday Blog to see the rest of the Design Team projects. Also, be sure to visit our sponsor's website, Gina K Designs. I hope you are all able to stay safe and healthy.

He Will Bless Them

I am late to the party but it's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday. The challenge started last Wednesday (3/25) but I had "one of those weeks" (haven't we all!) and am running late. I first want to check in with all of you. I hope you are doing well and staying healthy during this time of national emergency. I work for an essential business so I am still going in to work. We are all keeping to our own offices as much as possible and spraying the place down with Lysol (while it lasts) each evening. Hand sanitizer is in frequent use. My husband's weekday job was "paused" so he is home on a lay-off. It does give him more time for studying for his sermons. We are live-streaming our church's services from our living room. Doesn't everyone have a podium in their living room? :) I've added "Media Production" to my pastor's wife task list. LOL

In this time of uncertainty, our focus verse is very apropos, "He will bless them that fear the Lord, both small and great." Psalm 115:13. These are difficult times in our world to be sure. Knowing that none of this takes the Lord by surprise and that He is still in control brings such peace of mind. He hasn't forgotten us and will bless us. God doesn't care about our social status or age. He will bless all of those that fear Him regardless of their place in life. This is a comfort to me. What does it mean to fear the Lord? This isn't a terror type fear but one of respect and awe. This is the type of fear that motivates us to serve Him and live in a way that would please Him out of our love and thankfulness for what He has done for us.

In an effort to corral and ultimately use up my scraps, I recently went through all the scraps laying on my desk and cut them to 4" x 5.25". I was given a stacking plastic organizer for Christmas. These card front sized pieces were put in the top section. The smaller pieces, that were still of usable size, were separated out and put in the next section down. The bottom section contains some cardstock scraps that I'd used with some of the papers in the upper sections. Today's card uses paper from the top two sections. The downside of this organization method is that I don't know the manufacturer of my patterned paper. However, the scraps were overtaking me and desperate times called for desperate measures!

I used a large banner die to cut out the patterned paper from a two-sided 4" x 5.25" piece. Then I used a scrap of the same paper but used "side 2" to cut out just the top of the banner. A border die was used to cut a pinking edge on this piece and on a cardstock scrap to layer under it. The digi stamp of the cat and the verse were printed on white cardstock, cut to size and matted with cardstock. The design on the cat was colored with Copics. Some twine was threaded thru the banner and tied in a bow. This panel was layered on cardstock and then adhered to the card base. After adding the sentiment panel and some bling, some Nuvo glitter drops were added to the patterned paper for some extra sparkle.

A second card was made just like the first except the verse was traded out for this encouraging sentiment. I love this sentiment because it's also good for those with long-term or chronic illnesses as well as those going through a long-term difficult time. While they may never be "well" some days are better than others. Praying for them to have a good day acknowledges their illness/difficulty but also lets them know you are praying for them to have more "good" days than bad.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections #110 (white for card base), Pen & Gear (white cardstock for sentiment panels), pink cardstock - unknown from stash, Simon Says Stamp (Audrey Blue)
Patterned Paper - unknown (maybe American Crafts but I'm not sure)
Digi Stamps: WORDart by Karen (Psalm 115:13), Bugaboo (Cat Silhouette), Deedee's Digis (Greatest Joys set - store now closed)
Copics:  RV32; R81, 85; BG10, 13
Tools/Embellishments: Nuvo Glitter Drops (White Blizzard), Darice bling, Park Lane bling, MFT Die-Namics (Pinking Edge - retired), Lawn Fawn dies (Stitched Party Banners), The Twinery baker's twine

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamps Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes
Crafty Sentiments Designs - Anything Goes
Dare 2B Artzy - Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper Challenge: Use Patterned Paper

Thanks for stopping by to visit. I hope you will all stay healthy and while you are quarantined at home, that you will have more crafty time as a benefit.

Exceeding Abundantly

Hello! It's time for another challenge a Word Art Wednesday. This week we are focusing on Ephesians 3:20, "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us." There have been so many times in my life when I've see the Lord do exactly what this verse says. I've asked Him to work in a situation and had an idea in my mind of what He would do. Instead He not only works in the situation, but He does so in a way that far exceeds anything I would have imagined He would do. At times like that, all I've been able to do is stand back and say, "Thank You, Lord! You are truly a wonderful and loving God! Thank You, thank You, thank You!!!" The Lord truly does have our best interests at heart and when we trust Him to work in a situation and don't try to run ahead of Him, we can be sure that we will experience His best for us. It might not look like we thought it would, but it is what is for our best.

This week DRS Designs is our generous sponsor. They generously provided me with this beautiful Medium Daisy Bloom red rubber stamp to play with. I ended up making two cards with it. For my first card, I stamped it randomly on my cardstock panel and colored both the flowers and the background with Copic markers. I then die cut an oval window in this panel, backed it with a piece of kraft cardstock with a smaller oval window and adhered both panels over the verse panel. Foam tape was used to pop up this entire piece over two layers of cardstock before being adhered to the card base. Some jewels in two different sizes finish off the card and add a little sparkle.

For my second card, I colored and fussy cut three of the images. Two of the flowers were adhered to the embossed brown cardstock and the middle one was popped up with foam squares. Baker's twine was wrapped three times around the lower portion of the panel before double matting the panel and adhering it to the card base. A doubled piece of  baker's twine was used to tie the bow. The sentiment popped up over the twine and embellished with some small jewels. Larger jewels finish off the flower centers.

Supplies for both cards unless otherwise indicated: 
Cardstock: Recollections (110# white for card base, kraft, cream {card #2 only}), Bazzill (Gold Coins), Georgia Pacific (white for images), Ms. Sparkle Embossed Paper Pad (Woodgrain - Card #2 only)
Stamps- WORDart by Karen (Ephesian 3:20 - Card #1), DRS Desings (Medium Daisy Bloom), Paper Sweeties (Get Well - Card #2)
Copics: Daisy - Y11, 13, 17, 19; E25, 29, Background for Card #1 - YG03, 95
Ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Tools/Embellishments: Eyelet Outlet Jewels (gray), Card #1-Spellbinders Classic Oval Dies Large and Small Card #2 only: The Twinery baker's twine, Zutter Round-it-All 1/2", Stamp Simply Fishtail Banner Dies

I'm entering the following challenges:
Crafty Sentiments Designs - Add Flowers (card #2)
Use Your Stuff Challenge Blog Challenge #393 - Favorite Embellishment (jewels - I love to add bling to my cards)
Dare 2B Artzy  - Anything Goes
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Use Some Green (card #1)

I hope you have a chance to check out the rest of the Design Team projects on the Word Art Wednesday blog and please be sure to visit our wonderful sponsor, DRS Designs. Thanks for visiting today.

Floral Gatefold Card

Hello! I sure hope your January was healthier than mine! I've been sick or recovering for the past 4-5 weeks. I'm still working on regaining energy but sure feel better than I did a couple weeks ago. Anyway, enough of that...it's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday. This week we're focusing on 1 Corinthians 2:9, "But as it is written, eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him." This verse should be such a great encouragement to us. The Lord has such wonderful things planned for those who love him that we can't even imagine them. This helps me trust Him when times are tough. I remember His love for me and how what He has planned is so much better than anything I could envision or plan for myself. He knows what is best for me so I can trust Him.

As I mentioned earlier, I have been under the weather for a while so I have not been able to spend much time in my craft room -- how I've missed crafting!! I thought I'd get back into card-making with one of my favorite but easy fancy folds, the gate fold card. If you are new to fancy fold cards, this one is a good introduction. I started with a piece of heavy weight white cardstock cut 5.5" by 8.5". Along the 8.5" side I scored it 2-1/8" from each end. I chose a pretty floral paper and a new-to-me die to use as a backer for the matted sentiment panel. I used some of my new favorite rose gold foil specialty paper to mat the patterned paper panels and for the sentiment panel backer. I finished off the card with some cream colored pearls. I didn't show it in the picture, but I used a 5/8" strip of the rose gold paper topped with a 1/2" strip of patterned paper to decorate the interior.

Supplies: 
Cardstock: Recollections (#110 white for card base, Rose Gold Foil), Georgia Pacific (white for sentiment panel) scrap of red (I think Bazzill?) for matting sentiment.
Patterned Paper: Echo Park (Jack and Jill 6 x 6 pad)
Stamps: WORDart by Karen
Tools/Embellishments: Spellbinders Dies (Floral Swirls Tags), Want2ScrapBaby Bling Pearls (LaCreme)

I'm entering this card in the Crafty Hazel Nut's Patterned Paper Challenge (must use patterned paper).

Thanks for stopping by to visit. I hope you'll come back again soon.

I Shall Not Be Moved

Happy New Year!! We've all said good-bye to 2019 and are now welcoming a new year, 2020. At Word Art Wednesday, we're starting the year with a new challenge. This week we're focusing on Psalm 16:8, "I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." What a great theme verse for 2020! What a difference it would make in each of our lives if we set the Lord always before us. What if we made all our plans and decisions only after determining what He would have us do? We would be vastly different people. Because we would be seeking the Lord first in everything, He would help us remain steadfast and we would be able to say, "I shall not be moved." Last year, instead of choosing a word for the year, I chose a theme. My theme for 2019 came from Haggai 1:5, "...Consider your ways." I faced some definite challenges throughout the year, and having this verse posted on my monitor at work helped remind me to be aware of my actions and words. It was a great encouragement to me. I think this year, I'll post this verse and have this as my theme for 2020.

Our first sponsor for 2020 is Stamp Simply Clear Stamps. This online store carries some of your favorite brands as well as their own line of stamps and dies. They provided the Floral Cluster Summer Roses stamp set and the Floral Cluster and Sprigs die set for me to use on this week's card. I really like when a company keeps their customer's wallet in mind and makes multiple stamp sets to go with a single die set. That's exactly what Stamp Simply has done with their Floral Cluster series. There are four separate 4x6 stamp sets that coordinate with the die set. There is one stamp set for each season and the sentiments that go along with the stamp sets cover a wide variety of card making needs. You are able to purchase the stamp sets and the die set individually, or in the Floral Cluster Bundle with Die. Please check the website for all the details on what themes are included in each stamp set.

While the stamp and die are designed to curve around the perimeter of an oval or circle, I chose to have them anchor a banner that features our WORDart for the week. Be sure to pick up the free WORDart while visiting the Word Art Wednesday blog. You'll find lots of inspiration from the rest of the Design Team.

I colored the image with Copics, and after popping it up on the card front with foam tape, I added Wink of Stella to the flower buds and some clear gems to the flower centers.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Recollections (#110 white for card base, red), Georgia Pacific (white)
Patterned Paper: Echo Park (Jack and Jill 6 x 6)
Stamps: WORDart by Karen (Psalm 16:8), Stamp Simply (Floral Cluster - Summer Roses)
Ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Copics: R31, 81, 83, 85; YG21, 23, 25; W5
Tools/Embellishments: Stamp Simply Dies (Floral Cluster and Sprigs), WRMK dies (Party Banner - retired), Dare 2B Artzy (Leaf Background dies), The Paper Studio bling, Zig Wink of Stella (clear)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Something New (this stamp and die set are new to me as is the paper pad)
Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper Challenge - Use patterned paper

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