Perfect Sentiment Challenge #95 - Layered Thanksgiving

Practicing GRATITUDE has amazing benefits. When I was a child many decades ago, adults reminded us frequently to say thank you to others for any gift or kindness. When we were learning to pray, we were taught to thank God first before asking for something for ourselves. These simple habits were only a beginning. GRATITUDE goes much deeper.  Sometimes it means seeing what we can be thankful for during difficulties.  The eyes of GRATITUDE see beyond our own self interests or circumstances. GRATITUDE even increases after times of great difficulty. Now that I'm older, I hope that I can practice even more GRATITUDE during times of difficulty.

Corrie Ten Boom learned how to be thankful for lice in a concentration camp during World War II. She reminded her sister that because of the lice, the guards didn't come into their building and they could worship and pray.

Our challenge this week at Perfect Sentiment is to make a multi-layered card that expresses Thanksgiving.

I love the CTMH "Always Grateful" sentiment stamp that I used today:  GRATITUDE turns what we have into ENOUGH. The patterned papers are from the CTMH Huntington collection. I used this week's sketch from Mojo Monday. It had great potential for layering, especially if each element was matted.

I used two embossing folders (The Paper Studio Quatrefoil & Sizzix Ornate Swirls) to dress up the Barn Red and Goldrush cardstock. I fussy cut two of the floral images from the patterned paper. The second one was only the flower itself, pop dotted on the larger image (more layering). I also layered two ribbons, very old Autumn Terracotta organdy and a 1/8" satin ribbon. I added a little adhesive to the satin ribbon so it would stay in place while I was tying it.

I hope this gives you some ideas for a card you can share with us at The Perfect Sentiment Challenge.
I also challenge you to find something new for which to be grateful in your circumstances.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Bearly Mine #107 - Ribbon, string, or twine
Mojo Monday #314 - Sketch
Papertake Weekly - Use two of something (2 ribbons, 2 embossing folders)
Shopping Our Stash #122 - old stash (ribbons) and 2 embossing folders

 



Try It On Tuesday - add Texture (dry embossing and lots of pop dots)
Word Art Wednesday #101 - anything goes with Scripture or encouraging/uplifting sentiment


 

Twist of Faith #58 - Autumn Colors

Autumn is one of the times when the temperatures here in Missouri are quite mild. It's great to see that the weather will be in the 70's all week. It's just like life. Sometimes there are extremes that prod us to seek God's help through prayer. Then there are "regular," easier days which should give us reason to thank God. The lesson we should learn is that we should pray and praise God always, in the easy times and the hard times. There is an older hymn, "Count Your Blessings," that often comes to my mind.  This led to the sentiment I used for my card today.

 

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 hath done.

• Refrain:Count your blessings, name them one by one,
  Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
  Count your blessings, name them one by one,
  *Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.
  [*And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.]

You can find the rest of the great verses here.

This week's challenge at Twist of Faith is to create your card with

AUTUMN COLOURS

AND a scripture, or uplifting verse/quote or positive words of healing, encouragment, or support

This week Pauline shares a simple scripture with you...

"So do not worry about today.  Let tomorrow worry about itself.
Living faithfully is a large enough task for today." 

                              ~ Matthew 6:34 The Voice ~

 

I had been wanting to try a side-step card and this is my first one.  Directions can be found here at Splitcoaststampers. I wanted my card to be 5" x 6.5" so I modified it. I initially cut it to be 6.5" x 8.5" so that the scoring would be the same. When I made the single cut, I made the left side 3" and the right side 3.5." I just increased it vertically to 5" by having the tree and image panel to stand higher than the folded portion of the card.

 

The sentiment, fence, gingham ribbon, and tiny leaf buttons are all long retired from Close To My Heart. The sweet Milk Coffee image of Lisbeth and the leaves was colored with Copic markers. I cut the grass using Straight from the Nest at 1.25" and the tree at 4.75" with the Give a Hoot Cricut cartridge. The tree is made from Basic Grey and Graphic 45 designer papers.

 

I encourage you to share your autumn colored card with a positive message or Scripture at our challenge this week at Twist of Faith!  May you enjoy fall blessings where you live and see the many reasons to praise God this week!

 

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

2 Sisters #164 - Fall Fun

4 Crafty Chicks #162 - Fall/Autumn

Addicted to Stamps Challenge - Create a Scene

All sorts #227 - Autumn Colors

Challenges & Candies #18 - The Colors of Autumn


 

Creative Fingers #5 - Anything goes with optional twist ribbon and/or lace

Eclectic Ellapu - Celebrate Autumn

Polka Doodles #40 - Autumn

QKR Stampede #59 - Fall Colors

Word Art Wednesday #100 - anything goes



Autumn Peace

There is something about the beauty of nature and God's creation that lifts my soul to rejoice and gives me a great sense of peace. My husband has the same experience when he's on a photo trip. Here is one of the photos from his trip to Colorado last week that I wanted to include with the message of my autumn card. (If you're a travel, photo, or landscape enthusiast, you can check out more on his blog.)

In the autumn, there's the trees here in the U.S. turn brilliant shades of red, orange, yellow, or many shades of brown. Here are the awe-inspiring photos from the Basic Grey Challege and Shelly's Images for the October Challenge. They remind me of the sugar maples on the north shore of Lake Michigan in early October.

I chose this stamp from Our Daily Bread Designs taken from Isaiah 26:3 for the encouraging sentiment on this card:

You will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.

 

 

 

The Basic Grey paper was a scrap from my stash that inspired the fall colors and motifs. The buttons, new jute ribbon and inks are from Close To My Heart. The dark brown die cut is from CTMH Cricut Artiste. The Scalloped circle and leaves are die cuts from Spellbinders dies.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
4 Crafty Chicks #162 - Fall/Autumn
Basic Grey Challenge - Autumn Colours
Challenges and Candies #18 - Colors of Autumn
Going Grey with Scrap-Creations - Fall (2nd)
Polkadoodles #40 - Autumn Crafting
QKR Stampede #59 - Fall Colors
Shelly's Images October Challenge - photo inspiration
Simply Create Too #47 - Fall/Autumn (my third one)
Tuesday Throwdown #167 - Colors of Fall
Word Art Wednesday #100 - Anything Goes with Scripture, or uplifting, encouraging verse

Just Wear Pink - Free Download Today

If you know or have known any lady who has faced the battle of breast cancer, you may also know the fears, uncertainties, and concerns they struggle with. Having encouragement and the support of family and friends can make a big difference in the emotional and spiritual health which in turn support the physical well-being. Today I'm sharing with you one of the cards I decided to make ahead for just such a lady. I'm hoping the words of Scripture and encouragement of prayer make a difference.

Doodle Pantry is releasing this great set of images, sentiments and papers to help you make such cards. Today (October 4th) only it will be free of charge on the Doodle Pantry product page. After today the entire set will still only be $3.00

Here's the first card I made using some of the colored images and two of the sentiments from the set designed by Laurie Wilson.

If you know or have known any lady who has won the battle with breast cancer, you may also be aware of their joy, sense of victory, and acknowledgement of God's miraculous work in their lives during the times of struggle. The inside message of this card will hopefully build someone's faith to know that the giver is agreeing with them in prayer, trusting Christ for victory over the disease.

All of the papers and images were from the set except the black CS. I embossed the solid papers from the set with an m-bossibilities folder from Spellbinders that is used at a friend's house. The flower is from Recollections. The CTMH Hollyhock twill and pink square and bigger brads are all long retired. I've forgotten the source of the baker's twine but loved the way it matched the papers.

When I saw this set I was also inspired to make some mini-albums for the "patients" using the great elements in this set. I'm hoping to share this with you soon!

There are additional specials this week at Doodle Pantry. Laurie just released an amazing number of digis that you can check out HERE.

OCTOBER SPECIALS - LIMITED TIME!!!

October 1 thru 7 ONLY  -  Get 25% OFF the NEW DOODLE PANTRY PRODUCTS released October 1, 2013!!

(excludes SVG's, Templates)

~~MINIMUM purchase $3.00 required~~

 

When I saw this set I was also inspired to make some mini-albums for the "patients" using the great elements in this set. I'm hoping to share this with you soon! I hope you get great ideas from this to create for a lady who may be facing this battle.

 

May God lead, guide, and bless you to minister to them some way!

 

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Crafty Ribbons #64 - Anything goes with ribbon

Creative Craft Challenge2 #20 - Anything Goes

Link Up for Pink 2013 Linky Party - Breast Cancer Awareness, Pink and comments

Moving Along with the Times - Anything Goes

Fab 'n' Funky #187 -  Ribbon

Oldie But a Goodie - Bingo below (ribbon, flower, embossing) old: pink twill and brads

Penny's Paper-Crafty #147 - Anything Goes

Shopping Our Stash #121 - Pink or Cancer Awareness support

Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday #100 -  Anything Goes with Scripture, encouraging or uplifting verse

 

 

 

 

Perfect Sentiment Challenge #94 - Autumn Birthdays

Today our challenge at The Perfect Sentiment Challenge is to make a card for Autumn Birthdays using autumn colors. 

Our sponsor this week is Robyn's Fetish, who will provide 5 free digis to one lucky winner!

 

This week I didn't use an image. I allowed my autumn leaf paper and Cricut die cut to be my image. I used an awesome sentiment from Our Daily Bread Designs. I strongly believe that we should speak blessings over our family and friends just as they did in Bible days. I believe God has given us that example in His Word. I think that's why I love this birthday greeting so much.

 

 

The black card base was a die cut from CTMH Cricut Art Philosophy. I lined the back with more of the fall leaf dp and added three "fall" flowers with CTMH bitty Licorice Opaques in the center.  I love this sentiment from Our Daily Bread Designs. I cut a fancy label from a Spellbinders die twice. I colored the outside of one with E30 Copic. I stamped the center of the second one with the sentiment, cut off the fancy edges, embossed the remaining oval and sponged it with CTMH Autumn Terracotta ink, then pop dotted it.

Thank you for visiting and may God bless you as you create and help you to bless others in turn.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Come and Get It - Fall colors
Fantabulous Cricut Challenge#180 - Fall Brown, Orange, Red, Yellow + Cricut cut (Art Philosophy)
Get Inky #14 - Fall Colors
House of Gilli #54 - Anything Goes Fall
Kaboodle Doodles #191 - on your special day (I chose birthday)
Ooh La La Creations - F is for ? (mine is Fall and flowers)
Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge #  - Anything with ODBD stamps or dies
Parade Your Crafts #5 - Fall
Stamp and Create Monthly Challenge - Birthdays
House of Cards - Photo inspiration below- I love branches with colorful leaves!

Doodle Pantry Angel Birdie

Today is the first day to post a card for Doodle Pantry as a member of their Creative Team! It's such a privilege to use some of Laurie Wilson's designs. The image I'm showing today is one that we are also using on the Doodle Pantry Challenge for this month: Angel Birdie!

I was instantly drawn to the sentiment: Heaven hears every prayer. This is a truth I want to convey to my grandchildren. I also want them to know God answers every prayer, whether it's "yes," "no-that's not best for you," or "yes, but wait."

I chose this sketch to design my card because the horizontal banner coordinated with the wings of the birdie:

I colored the image with Copic Markers that would match the two Angel Birdie patterned papers that came with the set. (Y11, Y15, Y21, Y32; BG70, B21; R20; E00)  Laurie also has pre-colored images with this set that are simply beautiful. Before printing the Blue patterned paper, I copied and pasted the sentiment on the corner.  I also used some CTMH Glitz Glitter Glue on the wings and halo and some CTMH blue sparkles. The blue Bazzill was embossed with a Paper Studio Tiny Stars embossing folder.

You should visit the Doodle Pantry Release and Challenge Blog and see what the other members of the Creative Team have for you there. I can't wait to share other Doodle Pantry projects with you!

Thank you for visiting. May you take every need to the Lord God who hears and answers every prayer.

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Aud Sentiments #90 - Sentiment for a child (see explanation  above)
A Creative Romance - Fairytale or Winged Creation
Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Things with Wings
The Crafter's Café #30 - Die Cuts/Punches
Unscripted Sketches #224 - the sketch above
Word Art Wednesday #99 - anything goes with Scripture or encouraging, uplifting verse

 

Twist of Faith #58 - Inspired by a Song

This week our challenge at Twist of Faith is:
Inspired by a Song

AND a scripture, or uplifting verse/quote or positive words of healing, encouragement, or support

This week Pauline shared a scripture with you about songs/music...

      "And David and all Israel played before God with all their might and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets." 

                              ~ 1 Chronicles 13:8~
Our randomly drawn winner will receive their choice of five (5) digital images from  Eureka Stamps ...

 Music has been a big part of my life as long as I can remember, listening, playing the flute, and singing. My flute days are long gone, but I can still sing. In fact, I wake up every morning with a hymn playing in my head. I've wondered if I should keep a journal of the hymns in my head because there are so many and I sometimes think God's Spirit leads my spirit with specific ones sometimes. This fall image and the hymn "This Is My Father's World" seemed to jump out at me simultaneously to be joined in this challenge. Patter at Triple the Scraps blog has a wonderful study and layout on this hymn that you might want to check out. I identify with the way Maltbie Babcock felt about being inspired in the Great Outdoors. The beauty of the natural world always lifts my soul to appreciate and worship the Creator.

 

 

I love autumn's beauty! This photo was taken by my hubby when he was in the San Juan Mountains in southwest Colorado last week . The aspens had just started to turn colors, right after it snowed. My card uses the Eureka digi34502 Tree Losing Leaves.

 

 

 This was a perfect image to color with autumn colors. I used some long-retired CTMH autumn paper and Goldrush cardstock that was embossed with a Cuttlebug Japanese Scales embossing folder. I colored the many leaf shapes with Copics, trying to always keep colors different with adjacent leaves. Copics included: Y17, YR04, YR61, YR68; E27, E35, E43.  I made a horizontal windswept background, using E30 Bisque. A few bitty Mocha pearls were added to the wind-blown leaves.

I typed the portion of the hymn, "This is My Father's World," that  I used on the front of my card.

May you be blessed during the changing seasons and be filled with the awareness of how awesome is our God!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Craftin' Desert Diva's Linky Party #16 - Anything with a Sentiment
Creative Corner Challenge - The Great Outdoors
House of Gilli #54 - Anything Goes/Fall
Jellypark Friends Challenge - Use a Sentiment
Lunagirl Moonbeams - Autumn
Parade Your Crafts #5 - Fall
Repeat Impressions/House that Stamps Built DCC925 - Happy Fall Y'all
Simply Create Too #47 - Fall/Autumn
Word Art Wednesday #99 - Anything goes with Scripture or encouraging/uplifting verse