Welcome to Our New Designers at CPC!

This past week has brought several amazing changes to Christian Paper Crafts! We have THREE new designers joining the team! I am so excited to announce that:

Chelsea Cook
Mary Collins
Natalie Houston

are all joining us on the design team. They each bring their amazing talent and love for the Lord to the Design Team! Christian Paper Crafts is continuing to grow, and we are blessed to have them join us on the team. Please be sure to visit their blogs and congratulate them! Congrats girls! We are overjoyed to have you with us.

And be sure to join us at CPC. We have daily challenges, Bible verse challenges, CASE challenges, etc., not to mention the sharing of our love for the Lord and being able to pray for our members. I hope to see you there! Have a blessed Tuesday!

Join Us in Writing a Faith Journal!

Some of you may remember that last year I created journaling jars and questions for my mom and two aunts for Christmas. My friend Shanna Vineyard hosted a challenge on Create My Keepsake to create these; however, Shanna's questions were not necessarily faith related. Here are the jars and journals I created: I know my mom has been writing in hers, and loves it. I can't wait to read it someday! Well, I want to leave a faith legacy, and I have created faith-related questions for our journals. I am going to be hosting a challenge on the Christian Papercrafts Community where I will post these faith questions two times a week (Wednesdays and Saturdays). You will create a faith journal to leave for your family some day! We are not altering a journal; we are not creating jars. I will "pull" the question and you will journal about it. You can see complete details in this thread here. I hope you will join us in writing your faith legacy! Have a blessed day!

Vera Bradley {Goodness} A Prayer Box

Okay, I love Vera Bradley; however, I must admit I am drawn to the pink fabrics. Well, I got a new mouse pad, and it happens to be a pink Vera Bradley mouse pad. It also came with a pad of paper. Here is what it looks like:

Well, I decided to make a prayer box out of about 3 sheets of the note paper. Gosh I wish they would make scrapbook paper and fabric! Anyway, on the Christian Paper Crafts forum, we have a challenge to make a prayer journal. Well, I decided to make a prayer box with 3x5 cards. I always have trouble with my prayer journals--either I don't leave enough space for the praise or I end up flipping through 15 pages because there are a few prayers still waiting for answers on each page. I have never found the perfect solution. I am hoping this is going to be awesome.

First, I bought a wooden box at Michael's. I can't remember how much it cost because I have had it for a while in my stash. It was very inexpensive though. Then I painted it with white acrylic paint. After painting, I began decorating and covering in Modge Podge. I used a LOT of different products (I will post a product list below). I am disappointed in my pictures of it though. It looks SO cute in person, and ALL of the pinks match. In these pictures, the Vera Bradley paper looks dark (look at the mousepad above to see what the true color is). The Jillibean Soup felt flowers look almost red, and they actually match the pink paper perfectly! And the Stampin' Up! ink looks dreadful. It matches in real life too. Oh well! At least you get the idea anyway.Papers: Paper Trey Ink, Vera Bradley Cupcake Pink
Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Ask, Seek, Knock; Our Daily Bread Designs The Cross of Christ
Stamp ink: Memento tuxedo black, SU pink passion
Paints: Making Memories spotlight, LuminArte H20 forest green
Embellishments: Jillibean Soup bean seeds (felt flowers), misc. button, Stickles black diamond, Stickles diamond, Creative Imaginations black felt trim & green felt brads, KI hip chip chipboard (black & white), Doodlebug flowers, Kaisercraft rhinestones, Deluxe Designs chipboard flourish, Glitz frosting (black)

I created four sections in my box--petition, BSF, Scripture, and praise. I will use the "petition" section for most prayer requests, the "BSF" section for BSF prayer requests, "scripture" section for scriptures I love and I want to pray, and then of course "praise" for prayers as they are answered. The 3x5 cards inside will make it easy to have enough room for the request on one side and the praise on the back. Then I can move them around easily in the box. I think this will be much better for me in the long run. I can also keep blank cards with me to jot down requests I get when I am out. Or I can take requests with me to pray. Make sense? I hope you enjoy it, and again sorry for the poor photos. Have a blessed 4th!

My New Signature & Some {Memory Box} Creations!

Yesterday, I was asked about my new signature here on my blog. It's beautiful, isn't it? :) Nina, one of our amazing members at Christian Paper Crafts Magazine, makes them. All she asks is for a donation to their church in Croatia. Nina's design earnings help pay for specific needs in their women's ministry. Isn't that awesome? I am going to even order another one. :) I just love them and want to be able to switch them out. Now, it would be great if she could turn these into personalized stamps too. Hey Nina, are you listening? LOL! :) Anyway, to get more information and see Nina's samples, look at the post on her blog here.

I also wanted to share a few other creations from my Memory Box blog that I don't think I have shared here yet.
I am loving all of the newest releases of bird stamps in the Sparkly Bird Bonanza release! I will be playing a lot more with those stamps in the coming weeks ahead! :) Well, have a blessed Wednesday, and thanks for stopping by!

$100 Product Contest & the new CPCM Message Board!

Wow, is it really Thursday already? I need my clock to slow down! :) I am SO behind from our trip, I don't see myself ever catching up. Plus not to mention my "May" is filled, literally! We have two orchestra concerts this weekend and next weekend that we are performing in, Mother's Day, a few day trips, lots of DT work due, etc. I am ready for things to slow down in June! Whew! But like our pastor said--"Everyone is given the same 24 hours. We don't need more time. We need to use what God gives us more efficiently." I've gotta remember that one!

Anyway, I wanted to update you on a few things just in case you haven't seen them. First, Memory Box is having another $100 Memory Box Bucks contest. We will now be holding this EVERY month. Each month a different Memory Box designer will host the contest. This month Jean is hosting! You don't want to miss out on this prize because if you win, YOU get to pick the store where you order your $100 worth of product, and YOU get to pick the product you win!!!!!! You can see Jean's requirements for this month's contest here. And if you sign up for our mailing list here, you will be notified of each contest each month!!!!! Memory Box goodies are AMAZING if you haven't tried them. Come on over and play. I sure would love to see one of my subscribers win! :)

And have you seen our new message board and gallery at Christian Paper Crafts Magazine? Look here, and then select "Community." May is a free month to come and see what we are all about. To read about the different membership levels and how to get access to the online or print magazine, look at this thread here. We have lots of fun challenges, discussions, etc., going on so come on over! We would love to have you join in!

And lastly, I will leave you with a fun card I created for Memory Box. For details on how I created this card, look here. :) I pray you have a blessed Thursday. Today is our music day so we will be off to private lessons and orchestra rehearsals! :) Blessings everyone!

Things are a Changin'

Happy Friday everyone! I thought I would share a little update about me and my design work. I have been praying for some time for God's direction in my work. I need to be using my work to glorify Him in all things! I thought I had my answer a few weeks ago but wasn't sure. You know how you want to see that "billboard" sometimes. :) LOL! Anyway, He clearly showed me this week what I am to be doing for Him. Of course, the His Holy Name and Scripture Challenges will continue as they have been. In fact, He has already given me thoughts for 2010. How awesome is that? I am SO excited. These challenges are one of my favorite things I am blessed and able to do!

Second, He has called me to step down from my design team position with Unity Stamp Co. It has been a fun journey but I must go where the Lord leads. Thank you Angela for an amazing 9 months on the team! My last day should be our Hip Hop {Thursday} this coming week, April 9th.

Third, He has called me to be part of a new publication--Christian Paper Crafts Magazine. Our first pub will be out in August 2009! You can find out more about it here. Please know that this is a work in progress so be sure to bookmark it and check the website often! :) I am SO excited.

And fourth, He has called me to one more thing that I cannot share just yet. I was approached this week, and it was truly the "billboard" that set these changes in motion! Praise God for His clear guidance, and I will share as soon as I can. :)

There will be a few other changes in the month or so ahead but my work for Memory Box Co. will continue also. I am SO excited about that venture too! Dave is amazing to work for! I will also share some guest design team work for Cut Card Stock next week and in July for Jillibean Soup! Yum!

Thank you to all of my subscribers for your comments, your support, and prayers. My other posts (Tuesday's Tips, Organizational Friday, etc.) will also stay the same. I guess I just want to let you know where I am going and how the Lord is leading me. I pray you will continue to join me on my journey of papercrafting for Him! Have a blessed and joyous Friday everyone!