Our Refuge

I have some friends who are a little older than me who had given their lives to the mission field and to evangelism. I enjoy writing them long cards of encouragement and appreciation for their service. Twice they served on tropical islands and some of their family still does, so I made them a card using more of the tropical CTMH Postcard Perfect and one of the flower stamps that coordinated with the paper. I chose this sketch from Sketch Saturday:

I used two small scraps of the two flowered papers. To make my tag larger, I matted it first on Kraft cardstock and then on leafy vellum that came with the paper pack. I topped it with the burlap ribbon and flower that I stamped first with Blossom ink then the edges sponged with Tangerine ink. I dotted the inside of the flower with Nuvo Crystal Drops (Bubblegum Blush) and added more on the panels.

I used one of the scripture stamps from Verve, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1"  Julie Tilman's sketches from Mojo Monday were the ones that taught me how to make cards. If you hadn't heard, she is closing the Verve store in a few days and devoting her life to her busy twin boys. The truth is, life doesn't stay the same, people change, circumstances change. The one constant is the assurance that God never changes. He always cares and is always there for us, no matter what.

Thank you for visiting! May you be blessed as you bless others with your card creations!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments Challenge #206 - anything goes with a sentiment

Crafty Catz Challenge #422 - anything goes with option of beautiful blooms

Creatalicious Challenge #141 - anything goes with option of flowers

heARTful stamping challenge - anything goes with stamping

Sketch Saturday Challenge #519 - sketch

Time Out Challenge #112 - Warm - mine is warm tropical flowers and paper

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #340-341 - anything uplifting

Psalm 103:6 (WEB)Yahweh executes righteous acts, and justice for all who are oppressed.

365 Promises of God - Promise #175: I will provide justice for everyone who is mistreated.

Tropical Paradise Layout

After making three layouts using the CTMH Postcard Perfect papers, I still had enough for two more.  I also had more of my son's vacation photos taken in Florida and on the way to The Grand Bahamas. I made one using the June Stick It Down two page layout and Cricut-cut title and  embellishments.

I'm sharing this layout with the following challenges:

Bimini Moose Scrapbook June Challenge - layouts/optional - summer
Bitten by the Bug 2 - Tropical Vacation or Flowers
Cut It Up Challenge #150 - anything but a card - with die cuts
Stick It Down June challenge - double page layout

Jeremiah 49:11 (WEB)Leave your fatherless children, I will preserve them alive; 
and let your widows trust in me. 

365 Promises of God - Promise #174:
I will protect the fatherless, and widows can trust in Me.

Rustic Christmas Joy

When I saw the sketch from Atlantic Hearts this week I envisioned a rustic, masculine Christmas card using the Fresh Air papers.

I cut a tag and vellum snowflake on the Cricut. I used the center cut-outs of several snowflakes as small ones in the corner. The gold glitter "JOY" was from CTMH letter dies.

I used woodgrain design papers and green and brown colors hoping to make this card masculine. I liked the birchwood panel which had an arrow already printed on it. It was one of the 4" x 6" pocket cards in the paper pack that I cut down to 4" x 5.25."  The tag was also one of the pocket cards with  a pattern of small evergreen trees. I leaned something important making this card: don't try to cut out vellum shapes on a new cricut mat!  I'm hoping this card will bring Christmas Joy to someone in December!

Thank you for visiting! May God fill your heart with  joy and blessings as you create cards for others!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #269 - sketch

Aud Sentiments Challenge #206 - anything goes with a sentiment

Christmas at Sweet Stampin' June Challenge - anything goes

Crimbo Crackers #161 - anything goes

Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday June Challenge - Make it masculine

Happy Little Stampers June Christmas Challenge - anything goes with option: JOY

Moo-Mania & More Challenge #168 - arrows

Pile It On #143 - any holiday

The Merry Christmas Challenge #25 - anything Christmas goes

Matthew 5:9 (WEB)

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they shall be called children of God.

365 Promises of God - Promise #173: I will bless the peacemakers and call them My children.

Penguin Christmas Wishes

I was still inspired by the challenge at Winter Wonderland to make cards with Christmas birds. This time, a more fun look using some of my older CTMH paper (Free to Be Me) and retired stamps (Wintry Wishes). I started to make two the same with red and green. . .

but then I flipped the red patterned paper over to the turquoise pattern and decided that was my favorite.

I used the cut out negative portion as a frame for the inside sentiment in each card. It was cut with the PTI die, Shape Shifters Square 1. The Christmas tree die is from the CTMH die and stamp set, Cozy Christmas. The inside was stamped with Altenew "Holiday Wishes"

Thank you for visiting! May you be blessed as you bless others with the cards you make!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Allsorts Challenge #472 - use at least 2 dies
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #472 - Christmas
Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #214 - wet/dry embossing (The Paper Studio holly embossing folder)
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #390 - anything goes (opt. nontraditional colors)
Die Cuttin Divas Challenge #374 - embossing (dry or heat)  + dies (2)
The Holly and the Ivy Challenge #31 - anything Christmas goes
Winter Wonderland - Christmas Birds

Isaiah 61:3 (WEB)
to appoint to those who mourn in Zion, to give to them a garland for ashes,
the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
that they may be called trees of righteousness,
the planting of Yahweh, that he may be glorified.

365 Promises of God-Promise #170: I will give you a garment of praise in exchange for your spirit of heaviness.

Silhouettes of Christmas Doves

During the winter and late spring we were feeding birds outside our kitchen window. So many birds came to the feeder, we had to put down bird seed in several wide swaths on the patio to accommodate all of the hungry visitors.  Late in the season when doves arrived I could see why they are often portrayed as symbols of peace. They weren't pushy like the blue jays and some sparrows. They slowly, gently walked into a group to feed. Although they were bigger than the sparrows and juncos that we had so many of, their behavior seemed to say, "You go first, I can wait" or "it's your turn-you need it more than I do." At the time, I thought we could all take a few lessons from such birds.

I made two Christmas cards with a vintage silhouette digi of two doves from Free Trinkets and Treasures with the PEACE sentiment. I changed the colors from black to a peaceful light blue.

I embossed the white card base with snowflakes and used some very old CTMH Sweet Home papers that matched the blue of the doves.  I die cut the image panel with PTI 's Pretty Brackets die and snowflakes from silver glitter paper and added a bow with white and silver ribbon.  I used leftover paper to add more interest to the inside.

Thanks for visiting! May you be blessed as you create Christmas blessings for others!

I'm sharing these cards with the following challenges:

A Snowflake's Promise Challenge #52 - anything goes
Christmas at Sweet Stampin' June Challenge - anything goes
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #472 - Christmas

Crimbo Crackers Challenge #160 - anything goes Christmas
Pile It On Challenge #143 - All sorts of holidays
The Holly and the Ivy #31 - Anything Christmas Goes

Winter Wonderland - Christmas Birds

Ephesians 3:20 (WEB)
Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly
above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

365 Promises (of God) - Promise #167: I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine.

Poppy Get Well Card

This card is for hubby's cousin who sang in the church choir and is now battling cancer. Over the years I've purchased old hymnals in thrift shops that I can use in cards and crafts. I got four that were falling apart for about 50 cents each. I chose a hymn about God's miracles that I thought his cousin might know so that I could write my note inside about how I'm praying for a miracle in his healing. I added a poppy I colored with Copic markers and the sentiment from a Graciellie digital stamp set, Poppy Wishes. I used a paper cutter to cut the inside out of black cardstock to make a frame to pop up over the hymn background. If you'd like to hear this hymn and the story behind its creation, you can listen on youtube.

Thank you for visiting! I'm so glad you share your love with others through your cards. May God bless you with His love in return!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Aud Sentiments #205 - anything goes with sentiment
CCEE Stampers #1824 - blooming flowers
Color Inspiration Monday #30 - anything goes with hand-colored image
Ike's World #109 - anything goes/inspired by a song

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Frame It

Jeremiah 33:3 (WEB)
Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great things,
and difficult, which you don’t know.

365 Promises (of God) - Promise #165: Call out to Me and I will show you wonderful things you do not know.

Audrey - Wonderful, Unique, Love You!

As a retired reading teacher I was attracted to the Library Challenge. This card is based on Breakfast at Tiffany's. I combined it with the color challenge of red and teal from Double D challenge.

I saw the movie when I was a young adolescent and the main impression that stayed with me was the quirky, Holly Golightly's dialogue. I inserted a quote from the book about her that I wanted to put on this card for one of my friends who has a degree in theater. The narrator told Holly, "You're wonderful. Unique. I love you." I thought it went perfectly with this digital stamp of Audrey Hepburn, who played the leading role.

I've been following Ginny Maxim's blog for a couple of years and this was one of the vintage digital images she shared with us in 2017. I inserted the quote.  I cut out the image with the PTI Confetti Mix and Mat die. The red CTMH retired Heartstrings paper has a subtle heart pattern to go with the theme of "love you." Because Tiffany's implies jewelry I added gold sequins with sparkles in the middle and some heart sparkles. I added a sparkle flourish overlapping the image necklace and extended to be a bracelet.

Thanks for visiting! May you also be blessed as you share your love through cards!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks #406 - Love is in the air
Allsorts challenge #471 - Ladies Night Out
Craftaholics Challenge #23 - Love You card

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #471 - ribbon and sparkle
Crafty Catz Challenge #420 - anything goes with option ribbon or twine
Double D Challenge - Teal and Red color challenge
The Library Challenge - Breakfast at Tiffany's inspired by character Holly Golightly and Tiffany setting

James 1:17 (WEB)
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights,

with whom can be no variation, nor turning shadow.

365 Promises (of God) Promise #163: Every good gift that you receive comes directly from My hand.

Comfort, Strength, and Courage

I keep needing cards for people I care about who are fighting cancer or other difficult battles. I used a set of sentiments about courage and strength that can apply to a lot of serious trials someone might face. What I'm wondering about this card is whether it sounds final, like they're facing death. My feeling is that it's for the health battle someone is facing, but someone else might think it sounds like I believe they're dying. What do you think?

 I stippled the white panel with Sweet Leaf ink, then stamped the parsley with Juniper. For the Retro Rubber challenge, I've had the stamp set "Good Thymes" since December 2016.) The first part of the PTI sentiment was stamped with New England Ivy. I die cut three of the word "courage" with black cardstock and adhered them together.   I used CTMH Fresh Air papers plus this sketch from Sketch-Tanten (The Sketch-Aunts):

Inside:

On the left side I used the stipple brush again with Sweet Leaf ink to help set off the white scripture die cut: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13" I think it was from Word Art Wednesday a couple of years ago.

 I used scraps to enhance the inside sentiment: "When you don't have the strength, may you find the courage."

Thank you for visiting! May you, too, have courage and strength for the battles you face!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

A Gem of a Challenge #220 - use three of something (3 papers, 3 black enamel dots)

Crafting from the Heart challenge #209 - anything goes

Crafty Calendar June Challenge - three of something (3 papers, 3 black enamel dots)

heARTful Stamping challenge - anything goes 

Retro Rubber challenge #88 - anything goes (CTMH Good Thymes purchased 12/16)

Sketch-Tanten #44 sketch

Through the Craft Room Door - anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #336-337 - anything uplifting

"You open your hand, and satisfy the desire of every living thing." Psalm 145:16 (WEB)

365 Promises (of God) - Promise #155:  When I open My hand, I provide for all that I have created.

Dapper Father's Day Card

When my hubby and I each retired we found ourselves still working hard, just without the usual salary and doing other work than before. The sentiments on this paper caught my attention for a fun Father's Day card for my busy, hard-working husband. Summer is his busiest time on the farm where we live, even though he doesn't farm the land like his father.

I used this sketch from Sketch Saturday Challenge #516:

 My hubby should like the additional sentiment: "Handsome and hardworking. Yes, that sounds about right." The paper is from Authentique's  "Dapper" and Basic Grey and the Father's Day Stamp is retired from CTMH.

I used leftover pieces to make the inside more interesting!

Thank you for visiting! May you also find ways to bless the guys in your life as we celebrate Father's Day this month.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Crafting by Designs - for the boys

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper June Challenge - anything goes

Pile It On Challenge #143 - All sorts of holidays
Simply Create Too #139 - for a male
Sketch Saturday Challenge #516 - sketch above

Isaiah 55:10-11 (WEB)

10 For as the rain comes down and the snow from the sky, and doesn’t return there, but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, and gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater; 11 so shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing I sent it to do.

365 Promises of God - Promise #154: My Word will not return to me until it accomplishes what I intended.

The Mountains in Life

Life is so full of mountains. Sometimes our mountainous problems tower over us, casting their dark shadow over all we see, feel, or do. Today a cousin shared with us details about her husband's struggle with lung cancer that has spread to another lung. Before he'd gotten so sick, I had thought about sending him a card with this message, but with his struggle to breathe now, I need to take his case to the One who gives us faith that can move mountains. Neither of us were smokers so I know the shock of finding out you have tumors in your lung. Yet, I had the good news last week that mine had stopped growing, requiring no further monitoring and my mountain disappeared. I'm thanking and praising God for His goodness and grace. If you're a praying person, I'd appreciate you praying for Larry when you read this.

I'll plan to send this card to another guy who needs this encouragement:

Maybe you've been assigned this MOUNTAIN to show others it can be MOVED.

Thank you for visiting! May you be blessed and see your own mountains REMOVED!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Crafting By Designs - For the Boys

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - masculine

Simply Create Too Challenge #139 - for a male

Simply Papercraft #58 - anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #336 - 337 - anything uplifting

Psalm 36:6 (WEB)
Your righteousness is like the mountains of God.
Your judgments are like a great deep.
Yahweh, you preserve man and animal.

365 Promises of God - Promise #153:  My righteousness towers like the mountains and My justice goes deep as the sea.

June Stamp of the Month Blog Hop - A Bushel & a Peck

Welcome to our blog hop featuring the CTMH June Stamp of the Month, A Bushel & A Peck.If you have just come from Kathy Burrows blog, you're on the right path. You can see the entire list of participants at Melinda Everitt's blog.

I really love the sentiments in this set. Here are three ways I used them:

I used Cricut cuts on each card using Cricut Design Space and the Artbooking and You Are Here cartridges.  You are welcome to use my cut files if you'd like.

I hope you'll enjoy using these sentiments and images! You can either get them for $5.00 with a $50  purchase on your consultant's website or here or you can purchase tbem for $17.95.

Thank you for visiting! Now you're ready to see the creation at Catherine Nowak's blog.


Card #1 - Central Park and Beautiful Friendship papers, Sweet Leaf, Cranberry, and Lemon cardstock, Whimsy Ribbon Pack, Thin Cuts Stitched Circle dies, Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, Regular and Thin 3-D Foam Dots.

Card #2 - Adventure Fundamentals Paper, Fresh Air and  Documented paper packs, Vellum paper, New England Ivy Burlap Ribbon, Black and White Dots, ShinHan Touch Twin Black Marker, Versamark Ink, Princess Gold Embossing Powder.

Card #3 - Fresh Air and Documented paper packs, Kraft, Sweet Leaf and White Daisy Cardstock, Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, ShinHan Touch Twin alcohol ink markers, Central Park Sequins, White Superfine Embossing Powder.