Blessed to Have You Card

When I saw the lovely sentiments in the CTMH September Stamp of the Month, I couldn't wait to try them. If I had the stamina and knew the addresses, I'd make scores of cards with this one to send to the many people who have blessed my life over the many years. But I'll have to settle for the here and now to share this lovely sentiment of gratitude. 

The striped and dotted papers come from Jeepers Creepers paper pack and the leaves were stamped on Cricut cuts of Rustic Home Fundamentals papers. Since they're reversible, one side has a warmer beige coloring and the other a gray tone. I used both. An eighth inch strip of gold glitter paper was also coordinated with gold sequins and white and gold twine.

The sentiment of this card also challenges me to be a blessing to others. It brought to mind the words of the old song, Make Me a Blessing.

Out in the highways and byways of life, Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife, Making the sorrowing glad.
Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing, Out of my life, May Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Saviour I pray, Make me a blessing to someone today.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
ABC Challenge - O for Open
Aud Sentiments Challenge #163 - anything goes plus a sentiment
Crafty Catz #336 - anything goes with twist-autumn colors
Creative Knockouts #157 - sparkle and shine
Heart 2 Heart Challenge - for National Stamping month, CTMH product and stamping
Let's Craft and Create #117 - Spots or Stripes
PDE Linky Party #136 - anything goes
Word Art Wednesday #246-247 - anything family friendly

5.5" x 4.25" Card Recipe:
Papers - CTMH Jeepers Creepers (tangerine stripe and whisper gray dotted), Rustic Home (leaf backgrounds)
Stamps - September Stamp of the Month "Blessed Beyond Measure"
Ink - Black, Tangerine (stamped on small leaves and sponged on biggest leaf)
Markers - ShinHan Twin Touch YR24 Marigold
Embellishments - Gold Glitter Paper, Gold Sequins, White and Gold twine
Tools - Cricut Artbooking (leaves), 2" scalloped circle punch, sponge

Autumn Colored Thankfulness

September came to our area with an early taste of fall. The high temperatures have been in the 70's and lower 80's. They've been so much more refreshing than the humid 90's! They put me in a mood to make fall cards!

I wanted to make one with another sentiment from the Close To My Heart Stamp of the Month in my last post.  The stamp set displayed each of these separately but I paired them together because I saw a connection between "thankful" and the idea, "The secret to having it all is knowing you already do."  This is truly something to think about! Taking time to consider that I have so much to be thankful for can make a difficult day seem blessed, and in my head I start hearing the old hymn playing, "Count Your Blessings."

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged thinking all is lost.
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by.

Thank you for visiting! May your days be blessed with thankfulness and awareness of the many ways God has blessed you!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
613 Avenue Create #189 - optional - colors of fall or anything goes
Crafty Catz #336 - anything goes with optional autumn colors
Die Cut Divas - Fall (die cut oak leaf wreath and wood embossing)
Just for Fun Challenge - Fall photo inspiration (stamped leaves and sentiment)
Really Reasonable Ribbon #148 - autumn colors with ribbon
Simply Create Too #117 - Fall colors
Word Art Wednesday #246-247 - anything family friendly

5" x 6.5" Card Recipe:
Papers - Kraft Cardstock base, Jeepers Creepers (tangerine stripe), Swan Lake (poppy nature pattern), Enchantment Paper Fundamentals (New England Ivy), Black, White Daisy, Tangerine (wreath) cardstocks
Stamp - Blessed Beyond Measure
Inks - Tangerine, Black; Chocolate and Poppy for sponging
Markers to color acorns on wreath
Embellishments - gold sequins, black and gold ribbon (Uptown Ribbon Pack)
Tools - sponges for inking,  Wood Slats embossing folder, corner rounder, Cricut Flower Market