I Trusted in Thee

It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday. This week we're focusing on Psalm 31:14, "But I trusted in thee O Lord: I said, Thou art my God."  There are times in our lives that make us evaluate if we truly believe God is trustworthy. In this week's verse, the Psalmist has just made his evaluation and decision. Earlier this week, I was recounting to a friend of a time when I was in a deep valley and that I had to decide if what I said I believed about God and His comfort and strength was really true. I had to face that I could NOT go it alone in my own strength and that there was no earthly person who could fix things. I had to rely on the Lord and fully rest on Him. It was not easy or an overnight fix. I found a verse of comfort in the Bible that really spoke to me and imagined it as a trapeze bar that I was literally hanging onto with both hands. I felt like everything had dropped out from underneath me and that bar was all that was keeping me from falling. I would read, quote and pray that verse to the Lord and beg Him for His help. I acknowledged I couldn’t do it alone and needed His help. He was always faithful and kept me putting one foot in front of the other sometimes minute by minute. I agree with the Psalmist, "...I trusted in thee O Lord: I said, Thou art my God."

I chose to use this week's free WORDart (don't forget to go by the Word Art Wednesday blog and pick it up for yourself) on a book mark. I made the bookmark part of a gift set for a friend.

The verse was double matted before being adhered to the patterned paper layer. Three ribbons were threaded through the hole at the top of the bookmark and some baker's twine was tied in a bow to keep them in place.

A small notebook (3.75" x 5.5" closed) was decorated with a heat embossed quote by Jim Elliot and a few jewels. I tend to keep the covers of my notebooks fairly flat so that the embellishments don't get knocked off if the notebook is put down in a bag or purse.

The interior of the notebook has a small notepad on the right side. The back panel of the notepad slides down into a pocket so that it is replaceable. The left side of the interior has a large pocket and two small sticky-note pads.

One of my standard 5.25" x 8.25" junior legal size notebooks has a favorite quote by Corrie ten Boom heat embossed and then matted with dark brown cardstock. I thought this quote and the Jim Elliot quote went well with the focus verse this week. A few jewels decorate the flower centers.

The interior of the notebook has a pocket to hold the notepad on the right and another pocket on the left for odds and ends.

The thank you card uses MOJO Monday Sketch 524 for the design. The background panel was dry embossed and the sentiment heat embossed. A few clear jewels are the final embellishment.

There is a little interior decorating for the inside of the card.

Supplies: 
Cardstock (all items unless otherwise noted): Core'dinations (Tan Pearl), Bazzill (dark brown), Recollections (cream on card interior and bookmark), Park Lane (Neutrals - card interior)
Patterned Paper (all items): Basic Grey (Dear Heart Collection - Grace)
Stamps (as noted): WORDart by Karen (Psalm 31:14 - bookmark), Simon Says Stamp (Many Thanks clear stamp set - card), Divinity Design (Quote Collection 4 - small notebook, Never Be Afraid - large notebook)
Dies: Divinity Design (Bookmarks-bookmark, Double Stitched Circles- card and small notebook) Spellbinders (Petite Scalloped Circles Large - card and small notebook), My Favorite Things Die-namics (Mini Scallop Edge - retired - card)
Embellishments: Eyelet Outlet Multi Jewels Clear (both notebooks, card), The Ribbon Boutique (organza-bookmark), Big Lots Craft Ribbon (bookmark), May Arts Seam Binding (bookmark), Ms. Sparkle baker's twine (bookmark)
Other: Darice embossing folder (Cherry Blossom - card), Versafine Onyx Black Ink (card, both notebooks), Simon Says Stamp fine details embossing powder (Clear - card, both notebooks)

I'm entering items from this set in the following challenges:
Artsystamper  Digitals Challenge #2 - Patterned Paper

A Place to Start - Use at least 1 item from each column (Focusing on my card: Column 1- sentiment, patterned paper, solid paper; Column 2 - sketch, die, embossing -I used both; Column 3 - embossing powder; Column 4 - bling, flowers; Column 5 - stitching-faux)

Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes

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

Soccer Bookmarks Card

Hello! I'm back with another project for Our Daily Bread Designs using the Soccer Stamp/Die Duo set. I was recently able to attend a stamp show and ODBD was a vendor. How fun to get to meet Kelley, Rick, Lisa and Dawn! Of course I had to do some shopping and among other items, I bought the Bookmark Die Set. This set makes 3 different sizes and types of bookmarks. I used all 3 of them on today's card.

I used the largest die to make the scalloped panel for the pocket on the front of the card. This panel was adhered to the front of the background patterned paper on the bottom and both sides. Then a strip of patterned paper from the Americana Quilt Paper Pad was adhered on top.  I die cut and embossed one of the sentiments from the Soccer Stamp/Die Duo set with a Double Stitched Circle Die. Then it was matted with some Old Glory patterned paper (another stamp show acquisition) die cut and embossed with the next larger die from the same set. The larger book mark features another sentiment from the Soccer set and the smaller bookmark features the soccer ball stamp that was die cut with the coordinating die. Embossing both of these bookmarks really adds a subtle detail that gives them a more finished look. The final sentiment for this card was die cut, embossed and matted with the Double Stitched Rectangle Dies.  Clear Wink of Stella was added to both soccer balls and to the letters on the larger bookmark for a little shimmer.

Supplies from Our Daily Bread Designs

Soccer Stamp/Die Duos	ODBD Bookmarks die	Double Stitched Circles Dies	Double Stitched Rectangles Dies	ODBD Old Glory Paper Pack
Americana Quilt Paper Collection

Other Supplies Used:
Cardstock: The Paper Studio Heavy Weight (white-card base), Georgia Pacific (white for images & sentiments)
Ink: VersaFine (Onyx Black), Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Tools/Embellishments: Zig .5mm Ball pen (red), Gelly Roll Pen (Red Metallic), Zig Wink of Stella Glitter Brush Marker (Clear), Tassel from Tassel Depot

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Crafty Hazelnuts Patterned Paper Challenge - Must Use Patterned Paper
Crop Stop August Challenge #31 - Use items/brands found in the Crop Stop online store {I used the following brands Zig (adhesives, pen, Wink of Stella), Cuttlebug, and Scotch (adhesive)}
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Crafty Creations Challenge #348 - Anything Goes


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

But God Is Faithful

Hello!! I hope your week is going well. Our grandson was visiting last week and now that he's returned home our house sure seems quiet! I sure did enjoy hearing his chatter and the sounds of a little boy playing. Brings back happy memories of when his daddy was little. But you came here for a card not to listen to me walk down Memory Lane. LOL It's time for a new challenge at Word Art Wednesday. This week we are focusing on 1 Corinthians 10:13, "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." I do love this verse. When we are tempted to do wrong, we don't have to yield to that temptation. The Lord will ALWAYS make a way to escape the temptation to sin. Sometimes, we're to fight the temptation with Scripture and sometimes we are simply to run. If you know a certain place, activity, or whatever is a weakness for you, stay as far away from it as you can. As Adrian Rogers once said, "He who would not fall down ought not to walk in slippery places."

For my card today, I drew inspiration from this card by Mary Fish that I found on Pinterest. I changed up the style of the pocket and added some burlap ribbon for some texture. My favorite Stampin' Up! punch, the Owl Punch, was used for the owl and all the hearts on the bookmark. After punching the elements from various pattern papers, a black marker was used on all the edges to cover the white edge and give each piece a little more definition.

This week's focus verse is on the back of the bookmark. I used some additional heart made with the Owl Punch to carry the theme to the back of the bookmark. I used a Crop-o-Dile Corner Chomper on the top corners of the bookmark. A couple years ago I did a bookmark project for our daughter's book club. I had some of the tassels left over and used one of them on this week's card.

Once you pull the bookmark out of the pocket, you can see there is another owl. I originally thought I'd use bling for the pupils of the eyes but decided against it so that the bookmark would remain flat. The sentiment on the bookmark is from one of my favorite Dare 2B Artzy stamp sets. I used clear Wink of Stella on all the hearts and the owls' eyes.

Supplies:
Cardstock: The Paper Studio Heavy Weight (white card base), Georgia Pacific (white book mark panels)
Patterned Paper: Echo Park (I Love Family 6 x 6 pad)
Stamps: WORDart by Karen, Dare 2B Artzy (Prayers for You clear stamp set)
Ink: VersaMark (Onyx Black)
Tools/Embellishments: WRMK Crop-O-Dile Corner Chomper (Deco/Stub), My Favorite Things Die-namics (Mini Scallop Edge), Stampin' Up! Owl Punch, Tassel from Tassel Depot, The Paper Studio (burlap ribbon), Wink of Stella (clear), Memento marker (Tuxedo Black)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - Must Use Patterned Paper
Outlawz Monday Greeting Challenge - Anything Goes
2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge #5 - Must Use a Critter
Mod Squad Challenge - The Wings the Thing
Crop Stop Challenge #30 - Use items/brands found in the Crop Stop Online Store (I used items from Cuttlebug, Fiskars, Zig, Ranger and My Favorite Things.

I hope you will stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog to see the projects from the rest of the Design Team and to pick up your free digi. Thanks for stopping by and visiting with me today. Please come back later when I'll have a card showcasing one of the new release sets from Our Daily Bread Designs.

Safety is of the Lord

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for another great challenge at Word Art Wednesday. Our focus verse this week is Proverbs 21:31, “The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.”  When an army is preparing for battle, they go to great preparations.  They get a plan of attack ready, outfit their troops, pack ammunition and provisions, scout out the terrain, clean their weapons, prepare their armor (in ancient times) or uniforms, prepare their transportation (horses, camels, tanks, trucks, ships, etc.), and study the typical weather conditions.  However, even with these elaborate preparations, the outcome of the battle is still in the hand of the Lord.  Many times during the Old Testament time period, the children of Israel were outnumbered and/or had lesser equipment, but God intervened and they won the battle/war.  During WWII, the Germans planned to invade England via the English Channel.  On at least four different occasions, unusual and never seen in recorded history weather conditions prevented their attack.  God alone controls the weather. The Germans had made their preparations and timed the attack perfectly according to human reasoning, but truly “safety is of the Lord.”

Making preparations during a time of war or even for daily life is admirable and right.  In Luke 14:28, the question is asked, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?” As we look around our world today, we see so many things that can alarm and dishearten us.  We may feel that there is no way Truth and Right can prevail.  However, we must remember that whether we are acting as an individual or a nation, it is God that determines the outcome of all things. As John Phillips states in Exploring Proverbs Volume 2, “A nation’s best line of defense is an active trust in God.”  

When I saw the WORDart for this verse, I thought it would be perfect for a bookmark.  I really like the papers in this BoBunny paper pad and decided to use some favorite techniques with them:  inking and dry embossing.  I inked the edges of all the papers in Chestnut Roan chalk ink.  After dry embossing the patterned paper layer, I used the direct to paper technique with Walnut Stain distress ink. 

After stamping the compass image with the same Distress Ink, I die cut it and double matted it on two more circles.  After adhering all the layers, a metal eyelet and some rough twine finish it off.  Since I wanted it to stay flat, I resisted the urge to put some bling in the middle of the compass.  :) I love to read so this bookmark will be put to use pretty soon.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections
Patterned Paper:  Bo Bunny (Weekend Market 6x6 pad)
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Proverbs 21:31), Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Across the Miles clear stamp set) 
Ink:  ColorBox Chalk Ink (Chestnut Roan), Distress Ink (Walnut Stain)
Tools/Embellishments: Jillibean Soup Bean Stalks (Multi-Stripe), Spellbinders Dies (Circles Large and Small, Petite Scalloped Circles), My Favorite Things Die-namics (Fish Tail Stax), Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Basketweave), eyelet from stash

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Digi Choosday Week 11 - Make Anything but a square card
Crafting When We Can Challenge 90 - Favorite hobby or activity (reading)

Thanks for stopping by for a visit today.  I hope you'll be able to come back soon.  Please take some time to visit the Word Art Wednesday blog to see the projects made by the rest of the Design Team and to pick up your free digi.  Have a good week!!

Bookmark This!!

Hi!  It's time for another weekly challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week's focus verse is James 1:12, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."  The main emphasis of this verse centers on the person that faces trials and persecutions for their faith.  In America today, we may not see Christians persecuted as they were in the early days of our country (see This Day in Baptist History Vol. 1, 2 or 3 for more information about this) or that other Christians endure in other countries today.  However, there are more subtle persecutions here that some people do face now and greater testing may come in the future.  For those who endure persecutions and testing, the Lord has promised not only His help but also a reward once we get to Heaven.  The Lord keeps very detailed accounts and He knows exactly what we are going through and will reward us accordingly.  Our God is so good....ALL the time!

I saw this neat bookmark tassel video on YouTube the other night and was inspired to make my own. One of this week's sponsors is Mark's Finest Papers.  I used their Amaryllis Definition stamp set for the bookmark.  The base of the bookmark is craft cardstock. I used the partial die cutting technique with a Labels Four Small die to cut one end and then embossed it with a Cuttlebug Baby's Breath embossing folder.  The edges were inked with distress ink.  The verse was matted with cardstock and then pounced with the same ink for a distressed look.  The potted flower image was stamped, colored with Copics and then fussy-cut.  After being arranged around the verse, they were coated with a Wink of Stella clear glitter marker.  The tassel was made with baker's twine from The Twinery and attached per video instructions.  

The back of the bookmark also has a kraft cardstock base that is completely covered with patterned paper.  More inking and partial die-cutting.  One of the sentiments from the Amaryllis Definition set was used on the back and some heart die cuts were used as accents.  More Wink of Stella adds shimmer to the hearts.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections (kraft), Georgia Pacific (white), Bazzill (Green)
Patterned Paper:  Crate Paper (Farmhouse 6x6 pad)
Stamps:  PaperCraft Memories (James 1:12), Mark's Finest Papers (Amaryllis Definition clear stamp set)
Ink:  Distress Ink (Vintage Photo), Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Copics:  Y11, 13, 15, 17, 38; YG03, 05
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders dies (Labels Four Small, Petite Ovals Large and Small), Lawn Fawn Lawn Cuts (hearts), baker's twine (The Twinery), Cuttlebug embossing folder (Baby's Breath), , Zutter Round-it-All (1/2"), eyelet from stash, Crop-a-dile, Zig Wink of Stella glitter pen (clear)

I'm entering this bookmark in the following challenges:
Fan-Tastic Tuesday Challenge #44 - Anything Goes
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #24 - Anything Goes 
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #160 - Can't put it down or away (Wink of Stella Glitter pen, dies, distress ink)

Thanks for stopping to visit today.  Please don't forget to stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog and see what the rest of the Design Team have made and to pick up your free digi WORDart.