Blessings for Chinese New Year

Today is the beginning of Chinese New Year. This year is called the year of the horse. I mentioned before that my son, his wife, and I have a passion for all things Asian. I'm so glad that China has opened its door to the west. I've met many from China and have been fascinated by their story. My favorite was a nurse who told me that whenever they would build or repair roads, they'd have so many people working on the road it took only one day. I wish our six month road repairs in Missouri took the same approach. I've met some who have worked in China setting up businesses or factories. They've come back with a love for the Chinese people.  So I made this card in honor of these lovely people, praying that God will bless them.  I used a digital image from Digital Things. The inside sentiment is one I typed in Word.

"Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers." 3 John 2

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Cardz 4 Guyz - Chinese New Year - Year of the Horse
Crafts for Eternity #161 - Oriental theme
Polkadodles #5 - Anything goes/Oriental
Southern Girls - It's all new (New Year)
Winter Wonderland - Digi days (horse and sentiment)

Bird Song Love and Honor Valentine Card

Chinese New Year is later this week. This is another chance for me to make an Asian card using Graphic 45's Bird Song collection. I think the papers are beautiful and easy to use. The two birds in the picture I chose remind me of LOVE BIRDS, so I stamped the words "Love" and "Honor" to go with the illustration. I designed this card to be a masculine valentine (no pink, lace or hearts).

I used the design I found at Mark's Finest Papers Oriental Sketch Challenge #21:

I used a 3" circle punch to cut the bird picture. I have a few Asian stamps that I've collected since my son and his wife like to decorate with all things Chinese. I stamped the two squares with words from the Technique Tuesday Far East stamp set. I tied black crochet thread around the striped panel. The black doily is glittery, so I matted the two words on black and then gold metallic cardstock. You might be able to see the black glitter and gold shine in this photo:

You can find many Chinese card sentiments with a google search. Here is the Valentine sentiment I chose from a set that included the English translation. This is from Chinese Phrases for Greeting Cards by Hongyang in this pdf file.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Hiding in My Craft Room #134 - For a loved one
Oriental Sketch Challenge #21 (mfpspeedytv) - Sketch used
Pile It On #4 - Animals
Ruby's Rainbow #71- use a Doily (black Wilton doily)
Sentimental Sundays #191 - Lovey Dovey
Simply Create Too #53 - Valentines or hearts
Stamplorations January Challenge - Feathers (bird pictures) and stamping (Chinese & English words)
Word Art Wednesday #116 - anything goes with uplifting verse

It Is Well With My Soul Hymn and Scripture Challenge

Here is a page going in my Scripture and Hymn Scrapbook. It has one of my favorite hymns. I heard the story behind the hymn many years ago, so it always nearly brought tears to my eyes when we'd sing it in church. Here's what Patter shared on her challenge:

"Horatio G. Spafford was born in North Troy, New York, on October 20, 1828. Mr. Spafford, was a well-known attorney. He and his wife Anna, had six children—5 girls and 1 boy. He also had a lot of real estate interests but lost a great deal in the great Chicago fire of 1871. Their only son died at the age of 4 from scarlet fever. Their 6th child, the last daughter, was not born until after a great tragedy which I will share in a moment.
"Mr. Spafford and his wife were good friends with D. L. Moody, founder of the Moody Bible Institute and Moody Publishers. Mr. Moody needed help in Britian as he was on an evangelistic campaign. Mr. Spafford and his wife were going to travel to Britian to help Mr. Moody; however, Horatio Spafford was delayed due to business. So, he urged his wife to take their 4 daughters and head to Britain ahead of him; he would then join them later. Nine days after his family left, Mr. Spafford received a telegram from his wife in Wales stating "saved alone." Their ship had collided with another ship and sank within 12 minutes. The Spafford's 4 daughters drown, and Mrs. Spafford was "saved alone." Horatio Spafford immediately boarded the next ship to join his wife in Wales. On his way, he wrote this hymn."

Life has seasons of trials which can overwhelm us at times, "when sorrows like the sea billows roll." Spafford went on to remind us of the lesson that he had learned well during other trials perhaps, "Whatever my lot thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul." The song ends with a triumphant reminder of our eternal destiny that will end all sorrow and trials, that the Lord is coming back for us.  Patter gave us this link to listen to the Isaacs sing this beautiful hymn. 

I used a page from a vintage, falling-apart hymnal to make this 9" x 9" page. The flowers, butterflies, and pearls are from CTMH.

Here are all six of the soothing verses of this hymn:

1. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
   When sorrows like sea billows roll;
   Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
   It is well, it is well, with my soul.
   • Refrain:
     It is well, with my soul,
     It is well, it is well, with my soul.
2. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
   Let this blest assurance control,
   That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
   And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
3. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
   My sin, not in part but the whole,
   Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
   Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
4. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
   If Jordan above me shall roll,
   No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
   Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
5. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
   The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
   Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
   Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
6. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
   The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
   The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
   Even so, it is well with my soul.

The Scripture verses I wrote on my layout are the ones I've turned to scores of times during trials, Psalm 34 17-19 (in the New King James version):

¹⁷ The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears,
And delivers them out of all their troubles.
¹⁸ The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart,
And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

¹⁹ Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the Lord delivers him out of them all.

 I'm sharing this page on the following Challenges:
Craft Your Passion #198 - Spots and Stripes (my papers used)
Created with Love #74 - Anything Goes
Make It Monday #176 - Anything Goes
The Ribbon Girls - Anything Goes
Triple the Scraps - Hymn and Scripture challenge#2 (2013)
Winter Wonderland - Butterflies (doesn't have to be Christmas this time)
Word Art Wednesday #116 - Anything Goes with uplifting sentiment

Boy Praying Step Card

Before I made today's card I had been finding so many reasons to pray: for direction, for strength, for health, for blessings for  family, thankful for His grace and so many blessings he's given me. The older I am, the more prayer has become this frequent small conversation that goes on throughout the day between me and my "Abba, Father." I can't imagine going through the day without my thoughts turning to Him often in thankfulness or appeal. He knows I'm not perfect and never will be. This relationship is so closely tied to knowing how much He loves me anyway, enough to send His own Son to take my place, dying for my own sins. I wanted to make a card of encouragement for someone else to remember how much we have to talk to our Heavenly Father about.

Earlier this week I mentioned that I wanted to make more multicultural cards. I found some adorable images at Mo's Digital Pencil. Here's one called "Cal" that I couldn't resist. He reminded me of friends that each of my grandsons have at Grandview Christian School. I combined the image with a verse from Word Art Wednesday and the larger sentiment from Our Daily Bread Designs, "Thank God."  The trickier part was combining them into a step card that I'd been wanting to create. I'm still not sure I know ways to keep it standing, but I combined it with some extra support in places and here's the result:

As a masculine card, I kept it simple, without embellishments besides the paper. I didn't want it to be any thicker than it already is.  Now I'm looking at it and wonder if a few buttons would fit the theme and design.  Having a lot of layers is the challenge at Mo's Bronte and Bella's Challenge #218 this week. Here's the side view of the layers.

I planned the back panel and the blue facing part on the middle panel to be the "inside" part of the card where a message can be written on the blue piece:

Here's what the verse on the first panel says:

Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

In case you can't read the back panel from Our Daily Bread Designs, this beautiful sentiment says:

Happy Moments,

Praise God.

Difficult Moments,

Seek God.

Quiet Moments,

Worship God.

Painful Moments,

Trust God.

Every Moment,

Thank God.

Thank you for visiting. May God fill your moments with awareness of His presence in your daily life and conversation that goes both ways.

I'm sharing this card with the additional challenges:


A Gem of a Challenge #111 - For the Boys
Brown Sugar #78 - Embossing (used Medium Polka Dots folder from the Paper Studio)





Charisma Cardz Challenge #2 - It's a Boy Thing
Digitally Sweet Challenge #72 - Anything Goes (with digi)
Frosted Designs Friday Challenge - Polka Dots (Orange panel - Medium Polka Dots embossing folder from the Paper Studio)
Graph It Color Challenge #4 - Anything Goes/Dark Skin Tones
My Sheri Crafts #125 - Use a Digi
Paper Creator's Crafts #19 - Anything Goes
Totally PaperCrafts #203 - One for the Boys
Word Art Wednesday #116 - Anything Goes with uplifting sentiment

And He Shall Lift You Up Encouragement Card

This week at Word Art Wednesday they've given us a Scripture verse that we used to sing when my children were young. Ever since I read it on Wednesday the song has continually played in my head. If you've never heard this chorus, you can hear it here. Amazingly it goes with a talk I gave my dear, gifted grandson this week. God has blessed him academically, athletically, and with many friendships. I overheard a remark he made to one of his brothers - that he was a better reader and could read bigger books. Much later we had a private talk about bragging, making others feel inferior, and Joseph and his 10 brothers in Genesis. I was glad to see that my grandson listened attentively and accepted  what I shared with his smile.

I've learned much about being humble in God's sight from my dear hubby. He's an amazingly intelligent scientist, but if you'd meet him, he would seem much more like a quiet farm boy. I've never seen him "show-off" his abilities or intelligence to others. I've been reading a chapter in Proverbs each day. Here are verses that encourage the wisdom of humility:

Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 18:12 Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.   

Proverbs 22:4 Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.    

I find this last verse to be the most amazing. With godly humility, God brings you honor in life!


For this card of encouragement I copied and pasted James 4:10 from Word Art Wednesday onto a lovely vintage picture of this girl and her cat from Bumble Button. Raising cats definitely
keeps us humble at our house. Our dog had let us know that we were the masters, but the tables are turned with our cats. They let me know in so many ways that we are here to satisfy their needs and whims!

 I thought the lovely girl and her cat image had colors that went well with Basic Grey's "Blush" paper pack. The blue paper from Fancy Pants "Swagger" matched the image. I added pearls on the corners of the image and flower centers. The CTMH sorbet ribbon is threaded in the button for the center of the brown glittered flower and tied around the sentiment and brown border.

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you in your crafting!

Craftitude #57 - anything goes or I see Fluffy (my cat in the image)
Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge #160 - Tic Tac Toe (diagonal for blue, buttons, white)
Creative Moments - buttons and pearls
Delicious Doodles #72 - Use Ribbon (I used sorbet ribbon in three places) 
Fussy and Fancy #106 - Vintage
Moving along with the Times - Cats
Paper Crafting Journey - Vintage/Distressed/Shabby Chic
Ruby's Rainbow #71 - use a Doily
Word Art Wednesday #116 - anything goes - used this week's sentiment

Bird Song Birthday Card

I spent Martin Luther King Day with my three oldest grandsons. We had a great adventure visiting our planetarium and the Imax theater in our old Union Station. We had a lot of time to talk about the history of Civil Rights in our country and Martin Luther King Jr.'s contribution. It also made me realize I needed to make more multi-cultural cards which I hope to start this week.

I saw Time 4 Scrap that it's time for the Chinese New Year. That inspired me to make some Asian cards. My son, his wife, and I have always had a fascination with all things Asian, so when Our Daily Bread Designs had an inspiration photo of cherry blossoms in a blue jar, I knew that my Graphic 45 Bird Song paper would be perfect for this challenge. My grandchildren go to school with many Asian children. I hope this card will be enjoyed by one of their mothers.

The left side is CTMH Crystal Blue cs embossed with bamboo. The black sparkle flourish is also from CTMH.

Here is the inspiration from Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge #187. I used the colors and flowers on the right as my inspiration.

The sketch from Everybody Art Challenge #262 gave me more inspiration:

I used three stamp sets from Our Daily Bread Designs. The pink flowers were fussy cut from an image from "Grow in Grace" and matted on black. The outside "Blessings" banner is from "Sweet William-Small." The inside sentiment is from "Birthday Blessings."

Thank you for visiting. May God strengthen you with wisdom and bless your days in this new year!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks #178 - Bling (black sparkle flourishes and gold flower centers)
Crafting By Designs - Girly Girl
Crafting for All Seasons #69 - Girly
Crafty Sentiments - Birthdays
Deep Ocean #69 - Birthday
Everybody Art Challenge #262 - sketch
Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge #187 - photo inspiration
Time 4 Scrap #32 - Chinese New Year
Word Art Wednesday #116 - anything goes with uplifting verse

Flight of Birds - Vintage Birthday Card

I was intrigued  by the Poetry Inspiration challenge at CCEE. I especially loved this part of the poem they chose:

A poem should be wordless
As the flight of birds.

I chose a vintage image of swallows in flight to illustrate these lines in the poem.Swallows are so graceful to watch - truly poetic! You can find quite a few vintage images of birds, including swallows at The Graphics Fairy.  This image shows one of the swallows carrying a sprig of blue forget-me-nots. The sentiments I chose for the front and inside are from the "Happy Birthday" set by Our Daily Bread Designs.  I made this in honor of my mom's birthday (that would have been this week) in shades of blue, her favorite color.

Thank you for visiting. May God bless you and help you to see and enjoy even more of His marvelous creation!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

CCEE Stampers #1403 - Poetry Inspiration
Crafty Sentiments Designs - Birthdays
Created With Love CHallenge #73 - Winged Things
Deep Ocean #69 - Birthday
Incy Wincy Designs - Flower Frenzy
MilkCoffee Challenge - Monochromatic
Paper Crafting Journey - Vintage/distressed/shabby chic
Word Art Wednesday #116 - Anything goes with uplifting verse

Happy Healing Card with Boo-Boo Birdie

Tomorrow our scrapbook club is meeting at the church. One of my friends had foot surgery two weeks ago and plans on coming. Here's a card I made for her. The image was perfect for foot and crutches. This image is from Doodle Pantry and is called Boo-Boo Birdie & Ants.

Inside:

The sentiments and papers were also part of this digi set.

 

Both of the oval dies used are from Spellbinders Nestabilities. The brads were from CTMH and the flowers were Recollections. I pop dotted the sentiment on top of an organdy ribbon that was knotted.

I used this lovely sketch at Hanna and Friends.



I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:


4 Crafty Girls Challenge #9 - anything goes
Animal Friends Challenge #10 - Punches and dies
Aud Sentiments #98 - use any sentiment
Bastel-traum - Get well soon
Gold award:



Digitally Sweet #71 - anything goes
Emerald Faeries Challenge #51 - things with wings
Hanna and Friends #188 - sketch
Sister Act Card Challenge #40 - anything goes
Wags 'n' Whiskers #120 - anything goes

Angelic Christmas Greetings

I found this lovely angel at The Graphics Fairy whose wings transparently reveal stars and wisemen in the background. I thought it was unique and adorable for this Christmas card. After making a lot of cards at the last minute, I'm determined to start early this year. I especially want to keep the focus on the real meaning of Christmas the gift of Christ, our Savior.

Using vintage images like this helps make a quick card. This one uses vintage Graphic45 French Country blue patterned paper and a retired scrap of pink CTMH "Jingle." One star sparkle covers the image star. The blue Bazzill scalloped rectangle is from a Spellbinders Nestability. The four CTMH clear buttons have a star-like pattern that I thought went well with the starry scene.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
ABC Christmas Challenge - A for Anything Christmas
Crafting from the Heart #4 - anything goes with buttons or pearls
Crafty Boots - Anything Goes
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #2 - Anything Christmas
Creative Creations Challenges - anything goes
Pile It On #2 - Holidays and Celebrations
Through the Purple Haze - anything goes

Scripture Lessons and Lyrics Challenge #1

I'm fighting a respiratory and stomach virus, so decided I wouldn't make any cards until I'm better so I won't spread germs to recipients. I've been working on my own personal scrapbooks instead. I have two posts for today.

Patter Cross at http://triplethescraps.blogspot.com/ started a new challenge for this year. I always enjoyed her hymn and scripture challenges, even though I have many more that I'm deternined to make for my own journal. I decided to start this year's challenge while I'm still working on the last. I have a NEW designer notebook from Close To My Heart called My Crush - Bluebird Book. It comes with an assortment of journal spots, stickers, and small envelopes- perfect for my journaling or additional verses. Each page is a different colored, decorated differently with words or drawings. I really liked it but wasn't sure what my retired-life-at-home would have to save or journal about. When I saw that Patter's new challenge was using a newer, non-hymn song for the lyrics, I knew the recent song would fit well with the contemporary design. This book does not have page protectors, so I'll probably have to be careful what I attach to the pages.

I googled and found the lyrics to Jeremy Camp's "You Are the Lord" and printed them to put on one of the larger journaling cards. I sized it to fit three sections and made the journaling card one that flips up.

I also printed the verse phrases and Scriptures that Patter included so I could keep referring to them in the future. I reduced the print size to 10 points. These fit nicely in the pocket. I put the verse that I wanted to emphasize on the front of the pocket to go with the first part of the lyrics on the front:

"If God is for us, who can be against us?"

I'm so glad that Patter introduced this song so I could learn the beauty and depth of it's lyrics. You can listen to it here. I'll be returning to this study multiple times for strength and encouragement. I hope you'll check out Patter's study for the rich commentary that accompanies the selected Scriptures.


Anything But a Card has a challenge right now on balance:

 

This intrigued me because focusing on both Scripture and hymns or songs truly give me balance. I said more about this on my first post for today.  Here's the portion of the suggested definition that I chose:

"stability of mind or feelings - the way to some kind of peace or personal balance"

So I am sharing this project on their challenge and the following:
A Gem of a Challenge #110 - something new (new challenge, new notebook, new journal cards)
Anything But a Card #31 - Balance
Make It Monday - always anything goes
Order of the Opus Gluei #174 - need a lift (this study is very uplifting for me and others)
Triple the Scraps challenge #1
Word Art Wednesday #114 - anything goes with scripture, encouraging, or uplifting verse

Scripture and Hymn Challenge - I Need Thee Every Hour

Thirty-four years ago, just before the birth of my second child, my son, I told my pastor's wife that I was beginning to get nervous because my first birth experience was very long- 30 hours - and there was a long recovery after a high forceps delivery. After my son's birth I was supposed to start teaching her son in our Christian school. I couldn't afford to have problems, but my son was in the breach position at every doctor's visit. In addition, I've always been allergic to benzocaine or lidocaine that they give for pain, so I really had to have a natural birth.

My pastor's wife told me to focus on singing Scripture songs. She said that the verses would keep my spirit calm and the songs minister to our souls - mind, will, and emotions - where fear would reside. She was absolutely right. We had a 30 mile drive to the hospital. I sang my collection of Scripture songs silently during my entire two hours of labor, along with Lamaze breathing. No one thought I was having a baby. It was a short beautiful labor and delivery, happily memorable.  The doctor never made it in time and I never had to push. I could hardly believe I was holding a beautiful eight pound boy.  Now Scriptures and hymns are what I always love to turn to before surgeries or hospital procedures.

Today I have the flu, stomach and respiratory. I've been focusing on this hymn all day, acknowledging my need for God's help, healing, calming, and wisdom. You can check out the beautiful Bible verses and commentary by Patter Cross in her challenge for this hymn.  You can also see her list of links to all of the 2013 Hymn challenges here.

I found myself starting to feel really grouchy last week when I started getting sick. The verse I chose to highlight goes perfectly with the 2nd verse of the song: "Temptations lose their pow'r when thou art nigh." The stamped verse is from Our Daily Bread Designs:

"Great Peace have they who love your law and nothing can make them stumble." 

The lyric and the Scripture sound great to me when I'm praying not to be a grouch!

The orange and red tag were added so I could include my journaling about how this song relates to my life. My hope is that it will be an encouragement for me and my children when it's read.

(All of the pieces used on this project were scraps from my scrap box. The hymn itself was torn from an old 1950's falling apart hymnal that I had purchased for 50 cents at a 2nd hand store. My color choices came from the predominant colors that I've been using in the 9" x 9" album that I'm using for my hymn and scripture pages. I love the way CTMH papers, ribbons, inks, etc. can all match, like the juniper ribbon and ink I sponged on the chipboard flourish and sentiment and the flower center and brad. Both of the clock stamps are old, retired stamps from CTMH.)

I'm sharing this link with the following challenges:
All Sorts #241 - Use ribbon but no bows
Hiding in My Craft Room #132 - Super Scraps Saturday - papers were all from my scraps
Simply Create Too #52 - 2nd birthday!! Anything Goes
Triple the Scraps Hymn and Scripture Challenge #20
Word Art Wednesday #114 - anything goes with Scripture, uplifting verse

Sparkle and Shine Workshop On The Go

Just before Christmas our scrapbook club  had planned to meet to make Sparkle and Shine layouts, but an ice storm had other plans. We finally got to meet Saturday. Here are the four layouts they made. If you live in our area, you may be interested to know that we always make four layouts. I have all of the pieces cut so that you don't have to take time cutting your papers. You can look at my examples to speed the process of construction. If you're one of the ladies who missed that day, hopefully these photos will help you.

The first two are from the Workshops On the Go brochure, using the CTMH stamps.

The last two use the chipboard complements that match the Sparkle and Shine workshop. I roughly based them on the level two layouts Jeanette Lynton gives us on her website.

I added the rest of the stitched dots on the bottom. I sanded the edges of the juniper cardstock and  decided to score two lines near the top and sand them for contrast.

This last layout uses photos I took of our scrapbook club  last year. If you were there that day,  I made a set of the photos for you.

Our scrapbook club meets again on January 18th to make winter layouts using the Frosted paper pack.  You can see the Frosted workshop picture here. The second layout is here. The Level 2 layouts that use the Stickease complements are here.

Cloud Nine Scripture Card

January is National Papercrafting Month.  I've been making a set of cards using the Close To My Heart special card-making kit for this month, Cloud Nine. I have plenty of paper left to make some extra cards, so I used the paper leftovers, gold polka dotted washi tape, and turquoise shimmer trim that came with the kit to make this card with this week's word art from Word Art Wednesday.


January is also the time for new beginnings. I love the verse on this card because it reminds me to keep seeking to know God better and to do His will so that other plans, other aspects of life will work out for the best.  The ladies at Word Art Wednesday have wonderful commentary that you can see HERE. I love the example given that if we'd wake up tomorrow with only the items we'd thanked God for the previous day, what would we have?

The Scripture was cut out using Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Eighteen, embossed, and edges were colored with Copic BG72.

The large gold polka dots are from two strips of the washi tape. Here's a close-up of the sparkle:

 

I embossed the Honey cardstock with The Paper Studio's "Medium Polka Dots" embossing folder. The blue-green sparkles, ribbon, flower, and Sunset corduroy brad are old retired CTMH embellishments. I always seem to add sparkles, ribbon, and flowers because they are truly 3 of my favorite embellishments.  I used this Bingo diagonal at Mema's Crafts: ribbon, dry embossing, brads, free:

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Die Cut Divas - Make it Glitter (shiny washi tape, glitter tape: teal Shimmer Trim)

Incy Wincy Designs - 3 favorite embellishments (ribbon, flowers, sparkles)

Mema's Crafts - Bingo

Opus Gluei #173 - use leftovers (the paper, washi tape, glitter trim left after making the cards from the kit)

Perfectly Rustics #13 - Washi Tape

Shopping Our Stash #133 - Use Something New ( the January kit papers and washi tape, glitter trim)

Word Art Wednesday #114 - anything goes

Twist of Faith to Bless Your Heart

Each week at Twist of Faith we have been sharing our faith with uplifting and encouraging cards. We often include a scripture with our sentiment.  I have been uplifted by the many cards the challenge followers have entered from week to week. Today our blog announced that we will be taking an indefinite break from posting new challenges, so this will be my last "official" post until we start up again. However, I will keep posting faith-based cards each week like our other team members. I know we will see many of you at Word Art Wednesday and other blogs. Be sure to keep checking to see our return date. We love sharing God's love with our families, friends, and fellow bloggers.




For today's post I made a card  using images, papers, and sentiments from two Doodle Pantry digi sets, Heart for God Sentiments and Heartful Heart. Laurie at Doodle Pantry has many stamp sets with scripture and/or uplifting sentiments. I loved this heart image - it looks like a heart full of love!


This sentiment was what Christ called the first and greatest commandment. He then added that the second was like it - we should love our neighbors as ourselves. I believe that the more we focus on loving God, we find even more love in our hearts for those around us. When I was 25 I started a Bible reading plan that I continued for decades. At a teacher's conference we were encouraged to read 5 chapters of Psalms a day and one chapter of Proverbs. There are 150 Psalms chapters and 31 of Proverbs. That works out so that you start over again each month. Psalms help us to have a heart for God and Proverbs help us to know how to live with our fellow man.

I used this week's sketch from Mojo Monday 327.

My card is 5.5" x 4.25".  The Crystal Blue cardstock strip was embossed with "Tiny Hearts" from The Paper Studio. To have them going the right direction, lengthwise, I embossed it twice. I lined the heart die cut on the bottom of the sentiment with silver glitter paper and tied a wide silver ribbon around that panel. The smaller hearts were cut out of one of the digi papers that I also used on the inside:

Thank you for visiting! I pray that God's love will fill your heart so that you will find endless blessings of love to share with all those around you. May His love shine in all you do!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Make My Monday - embossing
Mojo Monday #327 - sketch
Time 4 Scrap #31 - any color with silver (or gold)
Totally Gorjuss #217 - ribbon
Word Art Wednesday #113 - anything goes with uplifting verse
Your Next Stamp Fun Friday Challenge #8 - used photo inspiration:

Doodle Pantry's St. Bernard Buddy Get Well Card

Happy New Year! Today is a day to celebrate, make resolutions, eat black-eyed peas, and make new plans. May God bless you and yours with love, health, joy, peace, and prosperity in 2014!

It's also the day of a new release of images at Doodle Pantry! I chose to use St. Bernard Buddy to create a get well card. Our area has finally been hit by the flu - mostly swine flu. I may need lots of get well cards! This set had such a fun nurse-looking dog and appropriate sentiment that it was perfect. I used the matching red patterned paper that came with the set.

I used two Spellbinders Nestabilities dies for the scalloped and lacy ovals and the design from A Die for a Sketch challenge.  Sadly, it's their last sketch, so you may want to join in to show your support and say farewell:

Since one of our daughters is a nurse, I can see birthday cards using this same image. Here are the rest of the images included in this set.

Be sure to check out the other new images and the creations by the other Doodle Pantry designers listed on the right. Thanks for visiting!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

 A Die for a Sketch - sketch

Creative Card Crew #52 - Anything Goes

Creative Craft Challenge #26 - Anything Goes

Digitally Sweet #68 - Anything Goes (with digi image, sentiment, paper)

Hiding in my Craft Room #130 - Anything  but Holiday

Inkspirational Challenge #46 - Anything Inkspirational

Just Inspirational Challenges - Anything Goes

Kaboodle Doodles #204 - Anything Goes

Sentimental Sundays #187 - Pick from team's favorites: Calypso's #145 (3 embellishments that start with B - bow, buttons, banner with sentiment)

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes