You are who you are!

Hi! I haven't felt that I had anything to share the last couple of weeks - what I had made was all a repetition of what I had already made before and I felt if I didn't have anything new to offer, any new insight to share, then I would just let it go.

But don't we all feel like that in certain periods of our lives? A bit empty, frustrated and the rest? So I am going to continue sharing, even though it might seem a bit dry because we have to be who we ARE, not who we would want to be.

So, yes, another grid, just because it seems to be the puzzles I make when I'm thinking about life and pondering on the Lord and what He has on His Heart for us all!

I want to share a little something someone sent me today which was found  on the Internet and it so encouraged me!! Her name is Holly Gerth and I think she says it just how I would have loved too have said it! If you see your life like this today - let these words encourage you too!

The world only gets one you.

You with your gifts.

You with your smile.

You with those things you do.

So take your place,

take your chances,

take this moment to know...

You’ve got something to offer.

Something good and right and true.

Something God-given,

Heart-of-Heaven created.

And the rest of us need it, need you.

Oh, you think it’s no big deal.

Anyone could be that way.

Anyone could do it.

Nope.

Not true.

There’s just one irreplaceable you.

Have a lovely, sunny weekend!
Jacqueline x

Indian Summer

No inspiration has left my blog barren for a while - but as it is the time for harvesting the grapes I thought I would share a photo of some grapevines which still carry them. I haven't been out and about to take photos of the grape pickers so these are pictures just outside our fence. The weather is absolutely beautiful at the moment, a real Indian Summer and I'm getting exercise in the pool in the evenings. Now is the time to take a little vacation to the Mediterranean, with all the summer tourists gone home, a place by the Sea would be just gorgeous!

Funny, no inspiration in the craft room but I did so much want to bake an apple pie with all the apples we got from the Orchid in a nearby village. This is the first time I baked a cake like this, truly (you can tell can't you)!

I have lots of cards I've never shared so I will share this Autumn colored card today.

Still needing lots of rest to recover from the onslaught from the chemo-therapy, hoping to get better every day.
See you soon dear friends and thank you for your visit!

Moxie Fab Tuesday Trigger - Delightfully random

I loved this Trigger picture and it triggered the card I made below. The challenge can be found here.

I used a left-over piece of vellum to represent the doily texture and the banner shape,  also a Hero Arts mini stitch stamp to get the effect of the stitching from the inspiration picture. I also cut out two mini stamped hearts to represent the heart doily shape.

We are enjoying some beautiful clear sunny weather here, just as it should be in these parts :) I have all puffy eyes at the moment but the strength is returning in my legs and arms which I'm thankful for! Thank you once again for your continued support, it so lightens my load!

I received this poem today inside a card and wanted to share it - I hope it blesses those who are going through a hard time at the moment!

He Giveth More Grace

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

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father's full giving is only begun.

Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.

His love has no limit; His grace has no measure.
His pow'r has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus,
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again!

Annie Johnson Flint

2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: 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.

Unquote

Have you ever really thought about this verse - to glory in infirmities??? Its worth thinking about!

Joining in the CCC Blog challenge

Hello! I have not been up to much again lately, still so weak and tired. I have had three months off of work up until now and have come to the conclusion that with the coming radio therapy which will take six weeks (33 sessions) I will start work again probably in January 2012. So I have a lot of time to rest and prepare.

The theme is 'Let's face the music' and I have incorporated music in the roof of the birdhouse and the backdrop. The challenge can be found here. Thanks to the ladies that organize it. I have used bright colors as it is for a young girl's birthday.

This is another one I made, but not for the challenge.

God bless!

Less is More - Anything CAS goes - 1000 Challenge

The link to this challenge can be found here - the goal is to try and get 1000 submissions on the blog, so I'm joining in.

This is my simple CAS card, one layer stamping with a floral image (distress inks direct to stamp and then spritz with water) and a large sentiment, both from Hero Arts with a Kraft card stock base.

Good luck to Chrissi and Mandi.

PDCC 99 and update

Hello dear ladies! I have not been well this last week, very weak in the legs and totally drained. No inspiration and no strength. The weather has been very hot and now it is a bit sticky which doesn't help.

But I did want to have a go at the colors this week on the PDCC blog, the challenge being lavender, yellow and white. In fact it was the beautiful inspiration picture which is very Mediterranean orientated that drew me in.

This is my card, which will be going to somebody next week who is recovering from an operation. I used the Hero Arts Friends definition for the background and my panel has been dimensioned. I brought the distress inks directly to the Floral stamp and sprayed with water before stamping the image, which is also Hero Arts.

A bit short today, but have a lovely weekend!

Tuesday Trigger -Garden Glory

I loved the fresh colors of the Moxie Fab TT challenge this week, here is the inspiration photo.

and this is my CAS take using a Hero Arts cling that I hardly ever use. They always come in handy.

We are having some lovely Indian Summer weather here and in over a month's time I can go in the sun again - can't wait!!
Love to you all.

I crossed the finishing line this morning!

Yes, the sixth and final session is behind me! I am so grateful that my white blood count was above normal just in time for today! Do you remember I lanced a prayer request - so glad I did - THANK YOU for the prayers dear ladies of the Crafting Community, friends and family!
I thank God for his sustaining Grace during the weeks, the horrible days when I thought I would never get my strength back and still the good days always came! How He lifted me out of the negative oppressive moods which weighed me down when I stood fast and said NO to the devil through the truth of His Word. Father God I THANK YOU! He has shown me not to believe the lies that stuck as arrows in my soul.
I thank my husband who stuck by me, whose arms were a comfort and whose prayers never ceased. He also has learned a lot - especially how to cook and hang out and fold the laundry!
And I thank you dear friends who have cheered me on from the start, never failing to send supportive words of comfort and prayers to help me along. You have truly been a ray of sunshine and warmth!
God bless you all and draw you to Himself more and more!

Now, on a different note, via Lin's blog I found out there was a challenge going on at Our Creative Corner calling for stamping on Patterned Paper. So, as I had an idea after getting inspired by some Stampington magazines, I'm entering in this card.

and my second one

Stamped the Hero Arts stamp Dogwood on Butterfly gardens PP from Pink Paislee. The other items all come from my Scrap basket. Thanks Brenda for the tag!


Crafting and blogging are definitely good therapy in such times!
Thank you all again!
Jacqueline x

Autumn colors

I was inspired by the colors of this gorgeous card, made by Chris in England and it made me think of the vineyards that turn these colors in the Autumn.

I used distress inks and the acylic block technique and embossed the Dogwood with bronze.

This background of this second card went wrong actually, I tried a technique where you iron off the embossing powder but it didn't leave a white trace so I stamped over the top with this Collage Bird stamp from Hero Arts. I made a mistake though... you will probably see it, I didn't get a straight edge at the top and that bothers me, but it was too late to change it!
Have a lovely sunday!

Teusday Trigger Moxie Fab

Hi girls - hope your day is going well - here I am feeling a bit better. Because of a throat infection I am on antibiotics and that is helping me. I thought that a low in the white blood cells caused tiredness, but that is not the case. There is danger of infection as the defense system is down, that is why I have medicine. The tiredness is a result of the general chemo treatment and that has to take its time. I have rest about it.

The new Trigger challenge called for neutrals. I might be disqualified with the blue - but I loved it as a background for the neutrals on the inspiration photo which is here, thats why I used it.

This morning I received my prize for the Summer themed contest from Her Arts - so happy! This dogwood stamp was one of my choices, (as well as the Pool card stock), I think it will prove versatile. I have admired it so much when the girls on the HA Flickr gallery used it. This is a simple CAS card.

So appreciate your sunny visits - keeps me connected and tuned in with the world!

Have a lovely day!
Jacqueline