Know Ye That the Lord He is God

This week's focus verse at Word Art Wednesday is Psalm 100:3, "Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is He that hath made us and not we ourselves; we are his people and the sheep of his pasture."   This verse was chosen weeks if not months ago to be used on this particular week.  However, the Lord knew that this reminder would be very good for me this exact week.  A good friend found out she had cancer two weeks ago but the doctor thought he'd gotten it all during her surgery.  However, a follow-up visit this week revealed that the cancer was much more extensive than previously thought.  She's facing some pretty dark waters.  This verse is just the reminder I needed that the Lord is still in control.  This week's news did not take Him by surprise.  Because my friend has accepted Christ as her personal Savior, she's one of His people, one of His sheep.  Why is He allowing her to travel thru this dark valley?  I don't know.  But I know God can see all of the details that we can't see and that for reasons I definitely don't understand now, this is what is best.   I needed this reminder.  While yes, I am most certainly praying for healing for my friend, I'm also praying that she will experience the Lord's comfort, peace and strength in the days ahead like she never has before.

One of this week's sponsors is Deedee's Digis.  Deedee generously provided the design team with some digis to use.  I was able to play with the Bloom and Grow set.   When I saw the set, I knew I wanted a clean, feminine feel to my card. We are having special meetings at church this week so my crafting time was limited.  For that reason, I chose to use some of the pre-colored flowers included in the set.  I printed and then fussy cut 5 flowers and two extra 1/2 flowers so that I would have extra leaves.  I tucked an extra leaf behind the top flower and layered two flowers together for dimension.  In the bottom trio, an extra leaf was tucked behind the center flower.  All flowers were accented with a pearl center and some stickles.

Behind the flower is a die cut fancy tag that was cut in half.  Each half was adhered to the back of the sentiment oval and accented with more pearls. A shimmery, sheer ribbon was added behind the sentiment panel. The card base was die cut along the bottom edge. The back ground panel was embossed and then adhered to the card base.  A row of pearls hides the line where they join.  The centers of the flowers in the embossed panel are accented with more stickles. The interior is lined with a piece of yellow patterned paper that just peeks out behind the scalloped edge of the card.  The shimmery ribbon, the stickles and the pearls give this card a feminine and sparkly look.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen, Deedee's Digis (Bloom & Grow)
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders (Petite Ovals Large, Fancy Tags 3, M'bossabilities - Splendid B), pearls (Recollections, The Paper Studio, Queen & Company), Stickles (Star Dust), ribbon (Michael's)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Tuesday Throwdown #166 - Clean & Simple
Crafty Ribbons Challenge #62 - Anything Goes with Ribbon
Chocolate Coffee & Cards Challenges #48 - Anything Goes (must be a card)
Wags 'n Whiskers Challenge #113 - Sparkle (bling or glitter - my card has lots of glittery via stickles)
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today.  I hope you'll stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog to see what the rest of the design team has made and to grab your free digi.

Owl Gift Tag

My Once in a While card was chosen as a Winning Recipe at Catered Crop this past Sunday.  As a result, I have the honor of being a guest designer for them during their current recipe challenge.   This time they want us to take a break from cards and feature gift packaging, tags, bows and/or treat holders.  I chose to make a tag.

One of this week's sponsors at Word Art Wednesday is Diane's Daydream Designs.  She has several adorable owl sets.  One of her newest ones is Falling For You Owls.  Diane generously provided digis for the Design Team to use this week so, of course, I had to choose this new owl set.

I printed out one of the digis from the owl digi set and fussy cut it.  I then inked the edges.  I used an embossing folder to emboss the burnt orange cardstock and then inked it with the direct-to-paper technique.  I finished this layer off with some faux stitching.  I used some brads to attach the owl digi to the burnt orange layer and then adhered them to a kraft tag.

Another piece of the burnt orange cardstock was used on the card back.  "To" and "From" stamps were heat embossed with white emobssing powder.  This layer was then attached to the tag base.  A few ribbons were added so that the tag can be tied onto a package.  An added bonus is that the tag can also be used by the recipient as a bookmark.  I really like making tag do double-duty.  It kind of makes them part of the gift.

This was a very simple project and Diane's pre-colored digi made it even easier. 

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, Bazzill, Recollections
Ink:  Memento (Toffee Crunch)
Stamps:  Diane's Daydream Designs (Falling For You Owls), Studio G
Embellishments/Tools:  VersaMarker, Stampendous White Opaque embossing powder, Crop-o-dile, Uniball Signo White pen, Cuttlebug embossing folder (Distressed Stripes), Zutter Round-it-all (1/2"), Offray ribbon, Doodlebug Designs brads

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sentimental Sunday #172 - Humorous
Crafting When We Can #53 - Seasons
Craft Your Passion #180 - Fall Colors
Digi Darla #80 - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown #165 - Something with Wings

Thanks for stopping by for a visit today.

Graceful Speech

This week's focus at Word Art Wednesday is Colossians 4:6, "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."  This verse is one of those that makes me say, "Ouch!" According to Dictionary.com, some synonyms for grace are: forgiveness, charity, mercifulness, kindness, love, and leniency.  I know my speech is not always full of grace. Many times I'm too quick to be critical or harsh (antonyms of grace).  In Bible times, salt was valuable and sometimes used as currency.  So for something to be seasoned with salt meant it was valuable.  To apply this to our speech, it means what we say should be of value to those that hear us.  Another "Ouch!"  How often is what I say worth hearing?  Not often enough! I don't know about you, but I need this reminder to let my speech be full of grace and to speak things of value.   I should post it where I can see it often.

For my card this week I chose to use this new digi by Deedee's Digis.  I thought this little kitty and his bird and butterfly friends looked like they were very friendly and kind.  After all, in real life, it would take a very kind cat to let a bird perch on its head and smile about it.  :)  Want to know something else very kind about this kitty image?  He's a freebie on the Deedee's Digi Blog!!  You can find him here.

 I really like easel cards and decided to try my hand at making a circle easel card.  I kept it monochromatic by using papers in various shades of green.  The grass, bird and butterfly make me feel like I've just stepped outside on a sunny day and am spending some time enjoying the wonders of nature.

Rows of green gems set off the verse and the top row acts as a stopper for the image panel.  I used faux stitching around the circles to add a finishing touch to the edges.  I added some stickles to the butterfly and bird for a little additional sparkle.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  Studio G
Digi Stamps:  WordArt By Karen (Scripture), Deedee's Digis (Cat and Bird)
Copics:  R20, 81, 83, 85; Y11, 13, 17; YG03, 05; N0, 1, 3, 5
Tools/Embellishments:  Staedtler Fineliner (green), Uni-ball Signo (white), Sakura Glaze pen (on kitty's nose), Stickles (Star Dust), gems (Studio G), Spellbinders (Grand Circles, Lacey Circles, Standard Circles Large and Small)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sentimental Sunday #171 - Something Tweet (have a bird or birds on your card)
Digi Darla's Challenge #79 - Anything Goes
Twist of Faith #54 - Monochromatic
Inky Chicks #12 - Stitching (real or faux)
Cuttlebug Mania - Back to nature
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #144 - Anything Goes
Scrapbook Blessings Club Tutorial Challenge #2 - Circle Easel Card

Thanks for stopping by to visit for a few minutes.  I hope you'll go by the Word Art Wednesday blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has to show you and to pick up your free digi.  I also hope you'll be able to link up some projects (up to 5 are allowed) this week.  Our sponsors for this challenge are Digi Darla's and Nice Crane Designs.  They both have a nice prize to be given to random winners.

A Drop of Ink....

I have another "Back to School" card to share with you today.  Now, this card does not specifically have the words "Back to School" on it but it was sent to a grad student for that purpose.  :)  It also has a lot of school-themed elements...books, pencils, pens, and owls.  Owls just seem like an "education" bird to me.  I also used my favorite "Back to School" paper - Basic Grey's Oxford collection.

I saw this cool fold on this German lady's blog.  As you know I love fancy folds and just had to give this one a try.  I converted her measurements to inches and made my interior folded piece 7"x7".  The card base is a standard 4.25" x 5.5" card.  I used good cardstock for the interior and added matting & patterned paper.  While I like the look, it does mean the card ends up quite thick when folded up and it definitely will not go flat.  I mailed it (with extra postage of course) in a envelope for a 5"x7" card.

I have had this box of "Proverbs to Go" by K & Company for years.  I was looking through it recently and found this great quote.  Since the card is going to a writer in grad school, I thought it so appropriate.  Writers have such a unique tool to influence so many people by what they write.  It can be both a reminder and an encouragement.

On one of the recent challenges at Word Art Wednesday, May Pack posted a card that had a book embellishment on the front that she had made.  You can see her book embellishment here.  I loved it and had to try it out for myself.  I had some tissue-paper script paper that I used for the book's pages.  A piece of cardstock made the cover and some leather thread tied up the book. A Stampin' Up! owl punch adds to the school theme.  I added red Stickles to the heart and a black pen for his pupils.

I used a Spellbinders Owl die for my interior image and stamped two of the sentiments from the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Across the Miles set on him. I used the eyes and heart from the Stampin' Up! punch for his eyes and drew his nose and outlined him with a white gel pen.  I left the bottom square blank so that I could write a message.

The card will stand up on its own and folds up well.  I waited until I had the folded square completely done before cutting off the points that stuck over the card edge.  Next time I think I'll cut them off before doing all the decorating. This card fold has a cool look but really isn't hard.  If you have any questions about it, leave me a comment below and I'll try to help.

Supplies:
Cardstock  Bazzill, Recollection
Patterned Paper:  Basic Grey (Oxford), Recollections (Script Tissue-Paper)
Ink:  VersaFine (Vintage Sepia)
Stamps:  Sweet 'n Sassy (Across the Miles)
Tools/Embellishments:  Creative Memories fine point black pen, Sharpie Ultra Fine Point brown pen, Uni-Ball Signo white pen, thread (Silver Creek Leather Co.), brads (American Crafts), sticker behind owl on front (Basic Grey Oxford), Stickles (Christmas Red), Spellbinders (Owls), Stampin' Up! Owl punch, Proverbs to Go (K & Company)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Terrifically Thrilling Thursday - Roll 'em (3-Die or punch, 4-Kraft paper, 2-border)
Basic Grey Challenge #101 - Back to School/Good Luck
Aud Sentiments #88 - Any Sentiment
Milk Coffee Challenge - Back to School
Shopping Our Stash #117 - Back to School
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Going Grey with Scrap Creations - Back to School
Inky Chicks #12 - Stiching - Real or Faux

Thanks for stopping by to visit today.  

Back to School

It's time for another challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  This week's focus verse is Isaiah 40:31, "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."  I think it's an appropriate "Back to School" verse, especially for college students.  With a grad student in the family, we have college on the brain.  :)  School, college or otherwise, sometimes is an endurance contest.  Those students {and teachers :) } who are able to wait on the Lord and let Him work things out, are able to endure to the end because the Lord will renew their strength.

This week's card has a lot of distressing and inking on it. I actually pulled out my distressing tool.  I used to use it all the time but lately it's not been out of its pocket. If I had it to do over, I would have used a lighter ink  - I think it's a bit dark but I'll have to live with it on this one.  I colored the student with Copics and fussy cut him. He is actually part of a digi set that was generously provided to the Word Art Wednesday Design Team by Jellypark.  They are one of our sponsors this week.  Be sure to check them out - they have so many adorable digis. I used a Basic Grey layered sticker on my focus panel. But where's this week's focus verse you ask?  Glad you asked.  :)

I did quite a bit of interior decorating on this card and used the verse on the interior.  Again, I did some sponging (and again I'm wishing it was a lighter ink).  In keeping with the school theme and because it's a Bible verse, I die cut the verse with a book shaped die.  I traced around the outside of the die and hand cut the mat.

I really like this ruler paper.  I think it's perfect for back to school type projects and/or masculine cards.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Recollections
Patterned Paper:  Crate Paper (Farmhouse 6x6 pad)
Ink:  Memento (Espresso Truffle)
Stamps:  WordArt by Karen, Jellypark (Let's Fly Away)
Copics:  E00, 07, 11, 25, 29, 31, 35, 37, 50; B000, 26, 39; R20, 27, 29; 100
Tools/Embellishments:  Creative Memories fine point black pen, Uni-Ball Signo white pen, Offray ribbon, Basic Grey Oxford Pop-Up, DMC Floss (ecru), buttons from my stash, Spellbinders (Deckeled Rectangle Small, Labels 7), Heidi Swapp Edge Distresser

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Really Reasonable Ribbon #79 - Back to School + ribbon
Wags 'n Whiskers #111 - Back to School
Crafty Ribbons #59 - Back to School
Crazy 4 Challenges #201 (C4C201) - Buttons and bows
2 Sisters Challenge #159 - Sketch
Milk Coffee Challenge - Back to School
Shopping Our Stash #117 - School or Office/Workplace
Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes
Going Gray with Scrap Creations - Back to School
Inky Chicks Challenge #12 - Stitching (Real or Faux)
Just Us Girls #204 - Distressing

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope your week is going well and that you'll have time to share your newest project(s) with us at Word Art Wednesday.

Once in a While...

I like the celebrate the "little" things in my relationship with my husband.  This summer marked the 30th anniversary of the day we met.  I decided a card was in order.  :)

Short version of our meeting:  My dad was a pastor.  The Christian college I was attending had a summer traveling ensemble and Dad scheduled them to have a concert at our church on a Saturday night.  When the group arrived, I quickly noticed the handsome baritone.  My best friend arranged for us to sit across from each other at dinner (Thanks, Carol!!) and we chatted throughout the evening.  That night, before going to sleep, I prayed, "Lord, he knows who I am now.  If it's Your will that we date, please have him ask me out when we get back to school."  A few weeks after arriving back on campus, Tim did just that.  :)  We were married about 15 mos. later.

I used Sketch #80 from Papertake Weekly for the card design.  This sketch has something I love...lots of layers.  I embossed the solid white panel for some added interest.  I stayed pretty true to the sketch (unusual, I know!) and it's a pretty simple construction. My card is 5.5" square.  I accented the flourishes above & below the sentiment with stickles.

Since I know Tim likes interior decorating on my cards, I made sure to add some.  I used some washi tape as part of the decorations.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, Bazzill
Patterned Paper:  Bo Bunny
Stamp: Stampabilities
Ink:  Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Tools/Embellishments:  Cuttlebug Embossing Folder (Victoria), Stickles (Star Dust), ribbon (Offray), washi tape (Freckled Fawn)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Papertake Weekly - Sketchie Free for All (I used #80)
Catered Crop - Sentimental focus
4 Crafty Chicks (4CCC #157) - Squares
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge (PPWC273) - Black & White + 1 additional color
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
Aud Sentiments - Any Sentiment

Thanks for visiting with me today and bearing with me while I did a bit of reminiscing.  :)