So Much Sympathy

Last night I received news from a friend of a serious infection she has. A few minutes later there was a call of a cousin who had a heart attack. As I sat to begin writing this post I received a call that a dear friend had just passed away. Life as an older adult brings so many challenges, so much bad news. The good news is that God is with us and loves us through all our trials.  His strength is made perfect in our weakness. I'm thankful I had just made these two cards and will certainly need more.

I was playing with the color orange. I used Nectarine dye ink and a water brush for the first one and watercolor paints for the second.

I'm sharing these cards with the following challenges:

613 Avenue Create #217 - anything goes/option watercolors

Make My Monday #87 - use words or a sentiment

Unicorn Challenge Blog #39 - Things with wings

Word Art Wednesday #370 - 371 - anything goes

Thank you for visiting! May you be strengthened by the Lord when life brings its trials. 

365 Promises:  Promise #18: My power will rest on you when you are weak.2 Corinthians 12:9 (WEB)

He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.

Boutique Encouragement Card

I must apologize for being MIA for two months. I kept getting sick with autoimmune problems and viruses in October. By the 30th I came down with shingles, but didn't know what the severe pain was until I broke out with the rash five days later. It was much easier and less painful giving birth to children! Four weeks of pain wasn't all. It left me with other neurological problems requiring medication that makes me lethargic and tired all day.

I had never thought anything would keep me from creating and blogging, but found out I was wrong. So now with a return of some of my mojo I hope to return, at least somewhat, to my norm. I must admit that two months ignoring my usual craft room activities made it difficult to find some things. I think organizing will be at the top of my list of New Year's resolutions.

I have a lot of unused papers from the last quarter. Here's a card using Word Art Wednesday's newest scripture art, Atlantic Hearts latest sketch, and the soft colors of the soon to retire CTMH Boutique papers, Puffy Stickers, and Mink twine.

It's nearly time for the Blog Hop featuring the January Stamp of the Month! I hope you'll join us late tomorrow evening or Wednesday. You'll also see new papers available in the new catalog! 

Thank you for visiting! Have a Happy New Year!

365 Promises of God - Promise #365:
Hold fast to the hope you confess, for I am faithful to keep My promises.Hebrews 10:23 (WEB)
let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering;
for he who promised is faithful

Asian Card

My daughter-in-law decorated one of her homes with Asian art and furnishings. When I saw the challenge at Make My Monday, I  knew I needed to make a card for her. I used to make cards for a Christian school that at one time had many Asian exchange students, so I still have a lot of Asian papers.

The Sisterhood of Crafters challenged us to use a printed page background so I used book paper from a book from the University of Peking. Then I embossed an old Basic Grey panel with Chinese lanterns and added a lovely girl from Graphic 45's Bird Song papers. I sponged Almond ink on the embossed lanterns then "painted" them with the clear CTMH shimmer brush, but the shine isn't showing. Although you can see the gold foil paper on which the image is matted.

The inside was stamped with three old CTMH that words I wish for my daughter-in-law: Peace, Love, Health, and plenty of room for a short note of love and kindness. She has a serious muscle disease and many other health issues so I'll write what I am praying for her.

Thank you for visiting! May you be blessed with peace, love, and health, too!
Matthew 18:19 (WEB): 
Again, assuredly I tell you, 
that if two of you will agree on earth concerning anything 
that they will ask, it will be done for them 
by my Father who is in heaven.
365 Promises (of God): Promise #230: If two of you agree in prayer, I will do whatever you ask. 

Under His Wings

I like to make blank notecards because I enjoy writing personal messages to friends, relatives, and acquaintances. This one has a simple reminder to seek shelter under God's protection and comfort when troubles arise, just as a mother hen would protect her young by covering them with her sheltering wings.  I used the CTMH Fresh Air papers with a Cricut Flower Market branch wreath.

I used these colors from Color My Heart Color Dare #299, diagonal down: Juniper, New England Ivy, and Glacier. I added a Nutmeg for the branches, White Daisy base, and Gold for the embossing, sequins, and white and gold baker's twine.

The inside was stamped with a feather from the July 2017 stamp of the month using Glacier ink. There's lots of room for me to write!

Thank you for visiting! May you find comfort and shelter under His wings in the stormy times of life!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

As You Like It Challenge - favorite type embossing and why - heat embossing with gold to make simple cards more elegant

Color My Heart Color Dare #299 - colors from Fresh Air papers

Crafting with Dragonflies Challenge #107 - use baker's twine

Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper July Challenge - anything goes with patterned paper

Paper Minutes #544 - Sequins

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #340-341 - anything goes that's uplifting

Psalm 36:7 (WEB)How precious is your loving kindness, God!
The children of men take refuge under the shadow of your wings.

365 Promises of God - Promise #184: All of mankind can find protection in the shadow of My wings.

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.

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.

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.