As long as I have breath...

A dear friend lost her husband this week several decades too soon, so I've been frequently praying for her. Another family at our church lost a sister/daughter/aunt this week.  I seem to need sympathy-type cards frequently. Here is the first. It simply started with this blue and kraft colored image from Graphic 45's Botanical Tea, which I've nearly used up. I had wanted to make it for this week's Color Throwdown challenge using light blue, kraft, and white, but of course mine also has the neutral cream color so much a part of Graphic 45. I added white glitter tape, white sequins, and white for the sentiment and card base.

I  chose two Psalms about prayer for this card from Verve's Scripture Medley Five: "Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath." Psalm 116:2 and "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you." Psalm 55:22. The truths in these verses will be needed for life's challenges to come. I'm so glad the Lord listens, cares, and is always near to help those who take their cares to Him. 

I embossed the Sky blue cardstock with the CTMH Rose embossing folder. I used a PTI border die to cut the kraft border and added the leftover inside. Some burlap twine seemed to go with all the kraft.

Thank you for visiting. May you, too, take your cares to the Lord who wants to sustain you if you'll only ask.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

4 Crafty Chicks #386 - with Sympathy

Aud Sentiments Challenge #195 - anything goes

Color Throwdown Challenge #476 - kraft, light blue, white

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Birds of a feather

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - add a sentiment

Word Art Wednesday 318-319 -  anything goes.

Autumn/Fall Thankfulness Portfolio

This month I'm a guest designer at the Let's Craft and Create October Challenge #130. The theme is anything goes with the option of Witchy/Halloween or Autumn/Fall. I always need a lot of autumn projects for our craft fair in November, so here is one of my thankfulness portfolios or gratitude journal. I like to add scriptures and quotes about gratitude and lots of blank pages for the recipient to write what they're thankful for as well as room for a few photos.

The cover is made from a 6" x 6" kraft card base that CTMH used to sell. I like the scalloped flap that overlaps on the right side and that it's made from extra heavy kraft cardstock, making it more durable.

I used a variety of fall-colored papers, mostly from Authentique. Inside I made three "booklets" embellished with scripture and quote stamps that encourage thankfulness for blessings. 

The first pocket inside is simply a burlap ribbon attached with two brads that go through to the front. I attached the front of the ribbon after inserting the brads so that I could cover them on front so they wouldn't show. I had never tried that but I liked it enough to try it again.

This started as a fall card from Basic Grey paper that was square that I never used since square is not popular with our postal system. I added quite a few pages inside, stapling in the inside center like a book.

The pocket on the right side is made from a 4" x 6" card that I trimmed a little, including an angle following the thankful box, and adhered on the right and bottom only.

This tag booklet is 5.25" x 3. (It really has 4 sides but I didn't unfold all of it.Oops!)

This one is 5.5" x 4" with one of the small cards decorating the front and the rest left blank for photos.

The back has a simple quote stamped and the spine has a strip of bronze shimmer trim. The leaves were cut and embossed with Spellbinders Leaves 8.

Thank you for visiting! May your heart be filled with gratitude for blessings received and those to come.

I'm also sharing this project with the following challenges:

Mod Squad Challenge - Color Me Fall

Shopping Our Stash #323 - Give Thanks

The Crafty Addicts Challenge #41 - Anything Goes/Autumn Colors

Word Art Wednesday #302-303 - anything goes

New Driver's Birthday Card

In May, my oldest grandson turns 15 and is able to get his learner's permit to drive in Missouri. Exciting and frightening! I made this card for him with the encouraging message that he may plan his way, but the Lord is there to direct what happens to him. When I think back to my own driving, I've been constantly reminded over the years of God's watch care when I've come close to having an accident. Those incidents always ended with a sigh of relief and a prayer of thanksgiving for His protection.

This card was inspired by the challenge at Mustard Seed Faith challenge - Traveling Mercies.  The Verve scripture verse I included from Scripture Medley 3 says,

"A man's heart plans his way but the Lord directs his steps." Proverbs 16:9

The sketch at Atlantic Hearts this week worked well with the paper I used, leftovers from a 2005 CTMH pack called Road Trip and a coordinating stamp set with the same name.

All of the materials except for the three top stars (unknown) and black and gold ribbon  are old retired CTMH products. I stamped the car with retired CTMH Star Spangled Blue ink to match the background paper and fussy cut that one and an orange matching car that I pop dotted for dimension. I chose the sticker from the same paper pack for Interstate 15 since my grandson is turning 15! The kraft corrugated star was highlighted with the gold shimmer brush.

Thank you for visiting! May God guide and protect you on your daily journey through life!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #209
HeARTful Stamping Challenge - anything goes plus stamping
Mustard Seed Challenge #3 - Traveling Mercies
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Numbers
That's Crafty Challenge - Outnumbered
The Paper Girls Challenge #126 - Numbers
Try It On Tuesday Challenge - Transport
Word Art Wednesday #278-279 - anything goes family friendly

Mojo Monday 493 - Scatter Kindness Like Confetti

 When I was a girl in 6th grade, our public school teacher, Mrs. Schrader, had a large copy of the "Golden Rule," which came from the Bible,  in front of our class. At the beginning of the year she had all of us write our own copy, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." She was a great influence on our class and probably for many others over the years. She would have loved the sentiment I used today. If only the whole world practiced the idea of KINDNESS, this world would be a much better place.

I loved this Verve sentiment and flower from "Kindness Matters." .They were perfect for my Mojo Monday card for this week. Here's Julie's lovely sketch:

I used CTMH Sugar Rush paper and a Hello Lovely PML card that both resembled confetti.

Thank you for visiting! I challenge you to scatter kindness everywhere and watch your world follow your example!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Mojo Monday #493 - Sketch
Sisterhood of Crafters - Stamped image, not digi
Try It On Tuesday - Add a Quote
Word Art Wednesday #278-279 - anything goes/family friendly

Mojo Monday 477 - First Card

This past week was a very busy week with a stomach bug, a couple of migraines and a computer virus thrown in for a little extra diversion. Today was a great time to relax by making a few cards. This first one I made earlier in the week for the challenge using the Mojo Monday sketch, but it wasn't a favorite of mine so later I'll post the one I made today.

The sentiment came from one of my favorite Verve Christmas stamp sets called Peace on Earth. I also liked the two coordinating starry papers from DCWV. The cardboard star and music embellishment are old CTMH. The cream colored "stitched" panel was a Cricut cut. I think that's the feature I don't really like about this card.  Thanks for visiting.

Thoughts and Prayers for Amazing Grace

It wasn't until I was 29 that I gave much thought to the concept of God's grace and how it applied to my life.  I was practicing a duet to sing in church on Sunday, "He Giveth More Grace." The first verse burned into my memory and returns when I need to hear that little voice playing in my head:

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

That winter I also memorized 2 Corinthians 12:9 - "And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."  That verse meant so much to me all that winter. I was tired and nauseated all the time during pregnancy, teaching, mothering a highly allergic child, and trying to adjust to a Nebraska sand hills winter. (We had snow on the ground from Thanksgiving until mid-March.) The church provided a parsonage and health insurance for us but only $75 a month in cash.  I had canned a lot of food that I'd raised in our garden and a farmer gave us a beef for Christmas. Somehow it always worked out. We even had company for meals at least once a week.  I always look back to that time in that church with those believers as the most positive days of anywhere I ever lived. God strengthened me, gave me a positive influence, and blessed me as well. What an amazing God we have who sees our limitations and weaknesses and strengthens us with His immeasurable grace!

So I combined the Verve stamp about His amazing grace will bring us through with the the Simon Says stamp to let someone know our prayers are with them:

I combined the color theme from Shopping Our Stash (perfect with CTMH Swan Lake paper)  with the sketch from Paper Craft Crew:

Thank you for visiting! May God bless you with an increasing awareness of the workings of His grace in your life that you may share that with others!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Crafting By Designs - add a sentiment
Paper Craft Crew #214 - sketch
Shopping Our Stash Weekly #273 - fall color theme
Word Art Wednesday #252-253 - anything goes that's uplifting/family friendly

Mojo Monday #462 - His Presence

I was playing with some Christmas paper that had Santa and some presents. My favorite sentiment to use with that kind of paper is from Verve: "The Magic of Christmas is not in the presents but in HIS presence." I'm glad to have a sentiment that emphasizes the presence of Christ, my reason for Christmas.  Material gifts can never compare to Christ's presence, strength, and help in my life.
I stamped the sentiment on a gift shaped die cut using Cricut Art Philosophy. The Mojo Monday sketch was perfect for the paper scrap I had.

Thank you for visiting! May you also focus on Christ's presence as you create cards and gifts of encouragement for those you love. Have a lovely weekend!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks #313 - get sentimental
12 Months of Christmas #20 - anything Christmas
Addicted to Stamps and More #208 - Holiday
Crafting by Designs - get ready for Christmas
Mojo Monday #462 - sketch
The Crafty Addicts #22 - use die cuts
Word Art Wednesday #244-245 - anything family friendly

Mojo 442 Amazing Grace Encouragement Card

This month at Path of Positivity the focus is on GRACE. This word has many different meanings, but I chose to focus on the Grace of God. I've been reading a book by John McArthur called, At the Throne of Grace. I had found it at the library and enjoyed it so much I ordered my own copy at Amazon. It has scriptures and prayers from 52 of his Sunday services. I like a definition of grace he has on his website: Common grace is a term theologians use to describe the goodness of God to all mankind universally.

When I was young I don't think I understood the far-reaching impact of this concept. Now its something I think about often, that God's loving kindness extends to us even when we don't deserve it;. That's why I chose the Verve sentiment I stamped today: Amazing grace will bring us through. I want this card to encourage someone with the realization that no matter what happens to us in life, God's care and loving kindness will comfort and sustain us.

I was inspired to make this card by several challenges. The sketch from Mojo Monday 442 and the color palette at Color Throwdown #387:

The sentiment phrase "Amazing Grace" made me think about the famous hymn of that name, so I chose the pale yellow paper with a musical theme for the stitched square die cut, although I don't know its source.  The background aqua paper and orange polka dot strip are from  My Mind's Eye "Bloom and Grow," and the red plaid is a Basic Grey "Lauderdale" paper. 

On the inside I added the beautiful truth the Lord told Paul, "'My grace is sufficient for you: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Thank you for visiting. May you grow and flourish in the beauty, knowledge, and comfort of God's grace.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

ABC Challenge - E is for Everything

Color Throwdown #387 - aqua, red, orange, yellow 

Crafting from the Heart #106 - Anything goes

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper April challenge - anything goes with patterned paper

Mojo Monday #442 - sketch

Path of Positivity #37 - Grace 

Sisters of Craft - anything goes

Word Art Wednesday #224-225 - anything uplifting

Mojo Monday 440 Get Well Soon

My box of Get Well cards is nearly empty and I want to make a priority of encouraging my friends who are sick or recovering from surgery.

The Mojo Monday sketch this week was perfect for the scraps I was putting away. I cut a CTMH Picture My Life card in half, then I paired it with one of the Verve sentiments and flowers that I colored with Copics and mounted on a chipboard ring wrapped with cocoa grosgrain ribbon. The center of the flower is made by putting a glob of liquid glass and sprinkling on some dark brown granules I saved from a dessicant pack that came in my vitamins.

I'm keeping posts short until I can get my computer fixed!  So thanks for visiting!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Cards Und More #154 - use ribbon 
My Time to Craft #317 - flowers as main focus
Stamping Sensations March Challenge - flower power
The Crazy Challenge #218 - Flowers
The Ribbon Girl March any image challenge
Word Art Wednesday 222/223 - anything uplifting
Mojo Monday #440 sketch: 

Mojo Monday 438 Brighter Days Card

Yesterday I did a workshop with a friend who had surgery a few weeks ago. Although she's off work and doing physical surgery, she's so tired you can see the exhaustion in her face. She didn't realize surgery would take such a toll on her energy level. The doctor said it would take a year to get her strength back. I made this card today so I could write an encouraging message to her.  I used the Mojo Monday sketch from this week:

I raided a couple of bags of scraps I had at my desk, (thanks to HIMCR) so I'm not sure where all the papers came from although the background seems to be Basic Grey.  The flowers and circle were in my scrap bag left over from a November project. The sentiment is from a Verve set called Brighter Days. The butterfly is from Close To My Heart, colored with Shin Han Twin Touch markers. The colors were too bright at first until I distressed them with gray and brown. The Colonial white circle was distressed with a stippling brush and Flaxen and Glacier inks, but they don't show up in the photo.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Crafting with Friends #16 - anything goes

Crafty Friends Challenge #27 - anything goes

Crazy 4 Challenges #327 - circle or pie

Creative Knockouts #132 - die cuts/punches

Hiding in My Craft Room #242 - use scraps

Let's Color Saturday Linky Party #5 - anything with colored image

Mojo Monday #438 - sketch

Word Art Wednesday #221 - anything uplifting





Mojo 435 Peace on Earth Card

I made this Christmas card to emphasize the important Christmas message the angels brought to simple shepherds at the birth of Christ -  Peace on Earth. Each time I read this sentiment my mind begins singing "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" which has this phrase. I combined the sketch at Mojo Monday and the colors of the inspiration at the Christmas Card Challenge #11.

 

 

I cut the gray panels using Cricut Artbooking, using old CTMH colors, Gray Flannel and Gray Wool. The pink embellishment was cut using Cricut Artiste with Pixie and Hollyhock cardstock. If you'd like to use my cut files on the Cricut Explore for flower and snowflake panels you can find it here in two sizes.  The white embossed sentiment from "Peace on Earth" stamp set byVerve is stamped on a very dark blue Bazzill cardstock. I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the white background. Bitty sparkles, a clear sparkle on a silver sequin, and silver shimmer trim are the final embellishments.

I'm sharing this Christmas card with the following challenges:

A Snowflake's Promise #16 - anything Christmas/winter

Addicted to Stamps #120 - die cuts

Christmas Card Challenge #11 - Christmas card with optional color challenge

Dream Valley Challenge #125 - sparkle, bling, embellish

Everybody Art Challenge #356 - techniques - embossing, 2 kinds

Holly Jolly Christmas #65 - emboss it

Mojo Monday #435 - sketch

Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge #117 - anything goes/twist-sentmental

Mojo Monday for Much Happiness

Here's a card I made for a dear friend who inspires me with her art as well as her life. In her art, she always shares the new techniques and materials she uses. I seem to hear the latest from her before I see it on the web! In life, we share the same Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and the physical challenges we both face as well as the way He answers our prayers. What a blessing she is!

I used some of my old Basic Grey papers and ribbon (the one on top). I chose these three colors from the challenge at Just Us Girls:  TEAL, YELLOW, and GREEN. The ribbon and the inked edges have just a bit of  CORAL. The sketch is from Mojo Monday this week. To continue the green theme challenge from Clear It Out, I used a green scalloped circle stamped with New England Ivy ink and one of the flower layers is a green felt flower.  The yellow resin flowers and the teal sequins are from CTMH. The stamp I used is from Verve's "Brighter Days."

 

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Clear It Out - green and my old green stash items - old Basic Grey paper and ribbons, green felt flower
Crafty Boots Challenge - ribbon (or lace)
Crafty Gals Corner #19 - May flowers
Fan-Tastic Tuesday #85 - anything goes (square/rectangular) with twist - add some flowers
Just Us Girls Challenge #293 - use at least 3 of the colors
Mojo Monday #397 - sketch
Word Art Wednesday #183 - anything uplifting, family friendly

Viva la Verve February Sketch 4

One of my friends is getting ready to have back surgery this week. She's never had surgery before, and I've had plenty, so I've tried to share the good things that help me get through it all. The best idea I've ever heard came from a pastor's wife. She said that we are all body, soul, and spirit and that our soul is made of mind, will, and emotions. If we focus on Scripture, it ministers to our mind and spirit. Music ministers to our emotions. So scripture songs and hymns can ease the nervousness and fears that plague us before surgery or any other serious event.

I was worried before the birth of my son because he was supposed to be breech and I'd need to deliver him by c-section. A week later I focused on a couple of scripture songs while I was in labor . With no pain medication, I delivered him in two hours, simply, without a c-section, with controllable discomfort and no pushing!

Another time I took a hymnal and my Bible to the hospital the night before I was to have serious surgery. I read through many hymns and Psalms that night. The next day after surgery, I could hear words and verses of assurance playing in my head while I slept off the anesthesia and initial pain.

Here's the card I made with this in mind. I used this sketch from the Viva la Verve challenge, February Week 4and a Verve stamp. I was able to use the following palette from The Color Sisters by using some of my old Basic Grey papers. The pearls, rosette ribbon, leaf zip strip, and sweet leaf ribbon are all from Close To My Heart.

 

 Thank you for visiting.!  May the Lord bless you through the hard times.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Bastel-Traum #26 - health, get well

C.R.A.F.T. #300 - get well, sympathy, sorry

Crafting Musketeers #23 - ribbon and pearls

Paper Creator's Crafts - ribbon, lace, pearls

Paperminutes #373 - Get Well soon 

The Color Sisters Palette #18

Try It On Tuesday - Pearls for girls

Viva la Verve February Sketch 4

Whoopsi Daisy - add a sentiment 

Word Art Wednesday #173 - anything uplifting

Viva la Verve February Sketch 3

My Sheri Crafts had the right idea for a challenge this week - "Think Spring!!" Our ground is covered with more white stuff today and those of us with snow are so very ready for warmer weather and the buds of spring. Here's another card with spring colors and seed packet images from Graphic45. The wonderful sentiment is a Plain Jane from Verve, "All the flowers of tomorrow are in the seeds of today." It's not just talking about flowers, but refers to all the good things in life. I hope I can help teach this concept to my grandchildren. Simply, the little things they do now will make a difference in their lives tomorrow.

I used this sketch from Viva la Verve and Bingo (sentiment plus ribbon, flowers, embossing) from Aud Sentiments Challenge:

Thank you for visiting! May you be blessed with the fruits of good seeds planted earlier in life!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Aud Sentiments Challenge #126 - Bingo (ribbon, flowers, embossing) plus sentiment
Crafter's Cafe #105 - lots of layers
My Sheri Crafts #151 - Think Spring
Really Reasonable Ribbon #112 - ribbon plus purple and green
Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenge #69 - anything goes with twist - embossing
The Stamping Boutique - more than one layer
Viva la Verve February Week 3 sketch
Word Art Wednesday #172 -  anything uplifting

Viva La Verve February Sketch 2

In my younger gardening days I would start planning what flowers, trees, and vegetables I would grow as early as January. I would begin growing flats of annual and perennial flowers under ultraviolet lights. Stores and garden centers would usually start selling seed packets in January.

Perhaps that will explain why I chose these Graphic45 papers with flowers and seed packets to go with this scripture stamp from Verve. Most of us make plans of some type. Sometimes life's details upset our best plans, but our loving God can direct our steps along the path that is best for us. When I had an accident that tore three tendons and injured my back, my consuming hobby changed from gardening to papercrafting. May God direct your steps along life's way!

 The background was embossed with a CTMH Scallops embossing folder. Here's the sketch I used from the Viva la Verve challenge:

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Craft-Dee BowZ February Challenge - anything goes with a handmade bow
Crafting from the Heart #48 - anything goes
Craft It Up Link It Up (Craftin' Desert Diva's) - use ribbon
Crafty Boots Challenge - use a sentiment
Get Creative Challenge #9 - embossing
Loves Rubber Stamps #140 - use ribbon and/or lace
Love to Scrap #48 - anything goes
Monday Morning Challenge #4 - Spring
Vintage Stamping Challenge #29 - Spring colors
Viva la Verve February Sketch 2

Viva la Verve February Sketch 1

I'm still playing with spring-inspired papers to make these Viva La Verve encouragement cards. This one uses the sketch from week 1 for February.

On this card I used circle punch, Cricut Art Philosophy  for additional circle, and the Spellbinder's Nestabilities die, Lacey Circles. The butterfly was hand cut and has three black gems on the body and head. The first one above had soft spring colors, so I used more of my scraps and made one with slightly bolder accent colors.  The scalloped circle die cut was from Cricut Art Philosophy.

I used this fun sketch:

The Verve butterfly goes well with the butterflies on the Graphic45 paper.

I'm sharing these cards with the following challenges:
Crafting for All Seasons #96 - dies and/or punches (I used both.)
Crafts 4 Eternity R#214 - circles
Die Cut Divas February Challenge - words, quotes, sentiments (my die cut from Cricut Art Philosophy)
Mod Squad Challenge - Spring
Monday Morning Challenge #4 - Spring
The Corrosive Challenge #218 - things with wings
Viva la Verve February Sketch 1

Mojo Monday 386 Encouragement Card

Here in northern Missouri we've had two incredible warmer days, but we're getting rain and snow right now with the prediction of below zero temps again tonight. But in this brief respite I noticed trees and flowering bushes with swelling buds, the promise that spring really will come soon. So I've been using spring papers, feasting my eyes on their refreshing colors after all the monotonous grays and browns of winter. So I have several posts with these amazing Graphic45 papers, Verve sentiment, and a little Close To My Heart paper and embellishments.

Here's my Mojo Monday Tall and Skinny card for this week with this Verve sentiment:

"Be strong and take heart all you who hope in the Lord." Psalm 31:24

 

I used a CTMH woodgrain embossing folder to represent the wood in the trees and shrubs in my yard swelling to bloom, hopefully soon! For you who have been overwhelmed with snow lately, like the verse says, "take heart all you who hope in the Lord," spring will soon be here!

 I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Come and Get It - lots of layers

Crafter's Cafe Challenge #105 - Lots of Layers

Get Creative Challenge #9 - embossing

Inspiration Destination #22 - anything goes

Mojo Monday #386 sketch

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge #216 - lots of layers

Tuesday Throwdown #233 - anything goes

Vintage Stamping Challenge #29 - Spring colors

Word Art Wednesday #172 - anything uplifting