{Scripture Challenge 2} Challenge Word #11, Purpose

Challenge Word #11: Purpose

Dictionary.com defines purpose as “the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.”

So, what is your purpose in life? Is it to glorify God in all you do? Do you know God’s purpose for your life or are you constantly searching for something? We are to bring glory to God in all we do thus leading others to Him. God will use every person for His purpose and to display His glory. He will use our obedience and our disobedience. Think of how God used even Pharaoh to display His purpose and power. Exodus 9:16 says “But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” As God sent each of the plagues, His power was displayed and His name was proclaimed. If you have time, I encourage you to read Exodus 9-12:30.

We can plan all we want. Some of us would even love to see God’s billboard that tells us His purpose for us but as Proverbs 19:21 says “Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.” Are you a planner? Do you know where you are going each day? Are you seeking His purpose or are you busy, busy, busy but not really getting anywhere?

And how about suffering? Even in our suffering, He has a purpose. Do you look “up” when you suffer or do you turn to the world? Do you seek His purpose for the suffering or do you wallow in self pity and complain to others? There is no doubt that suffering is painful but it is temporary, and the delights of God’s glory will last forever. Romans 8:18 says “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

God has a purpose in everything He does and in every life He creates. He gives each of us gifts, talents, and abilities. We are to use them for His purpose and His glory. Are you doing that? Will you ask Him where He wants to use you in the days and months ahead? Ask Him to help you follow His purpose for you. He will do that; just ask! Philippians 2:13 says “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.”

For my page this week, I used several different paper companies (Webster's Pages, October Afternoon, and Paper Trey Ink). I also used three different stamp sets from Layers of Colors--Butterfly Collector, Flutterescent, and Creative Flourish. I used Versamark to decorate the PTI cardstock with the Creative Flourish stamp.
Papers: Webster's Pages Seaside Retreat & Garden Gala pack, Paper Trey Ink kraft cs, October Afternoon Thrift Shop
Stamps: Layers of Color Butterfly Collector, Layers of Color Flutterescent, Layers of Color Creative Flourish
Stamp Ink: Versamark, Tim Holtz Distress Ink vintage photo, SU creamy caramel
Embellishments: Stickles platinum, Melissa Frances lace, Basic Grey Piper microchip alpha stickers, Hero Arts flowers, SEI rhinestone brads, sewing machine

For my scriptures, I chose Proverbs 19:21 and Philippians 2:13 (both listed above). And if you have read this far, then you will be excited to know that for this challenge I am giving away a RAK! For anyone that completes a page for {Challenge 11, Purpose} and uploads it via Inlinkz below by Saturday, June 5th, at 11:59 p.m. CST, you will be entered in a drawing to win the following goodies:
This might be your first week joining in on the challenge or it may be your third year following these challenges. Whatever it is--awesome! Just upload your page for this challenge, and be entered to win!

Now remember, when sharing your page for this challenge be sure to use Keyword SCRC210 when posting in galleries. Also, please leave a link here using our new link system by Inlinkz!

I pray you enjoy seeking God and His purpose for you! And remember to see all of our previous lessons, visit this post here. I will be back with another study on June 6th along with the name of our RAK winner! Joyfully in Jesus,

{Scripture Challenge 2} Challenge Word #9, Quiet

Challenge Word #9: Quiet

Do you still have kids at home? Do you work and have a very demanding schedule? Maybe you have a house full of extended family or have guests often. Maybe you have all of this! How often in your busy life do you truly get a moment of quiet? And when you do get that rare moment, how do you spend it? Do you spend it with the Lord?

We need to have a moment of quiet each day, and we need to spend quiet time with the Lord each day. Charles Stanley describes a quiet time as “giving God your undivided attention for a predetermined amount of time for the purpose of talking to and hearing from Him.” As Christians, we need to have a daily time with Him and not just for the purpose of laying our requests at His feet. We don’t want to just talk, we need to listen too. Relationships don’t grow and we don’t learn if we are always the one talking. Make a daily appointment with Him. He is waiting like the patient Father He is!

Think of how busy Jesus was and how the crowds seemed to always follow Him. Yet, as our perfect example, He always withdrew to pray. Luke 5:16 says “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”

Charles Stanley said “Jesus knew that time alone with the heavenly Father was essential. He could not—would not—go without it. By escaping the noise of His day, Jesus established a discipline all believers should follow. After all, if it was necessary for Jesus, it is vital for those who profess to follow Him.”

For the past few years, my quiet time has been at either 7 or 7:30 a.m. Recently, I have found that time slipping away from me. Then as I would miss the time, I would be upset with myself. How could I miss an appointment with God? So, I decided it was time for a change. Now before turning on my laptop, before doing anything else each morning, I have my quiet time. It’s still dark out, the family is still asleep, and it is becoming a precious time to me each day! I am finding I love this time much better than my “old quiet time.” Sometimes we just need to change things up a little. Maybe you need to change your quiet time—study a new book of the Bible, journal your thoughts and prayers, start a new devotional, move your quiet time to a new place in your home. Change it up a bit. Don’t stop because you are in a rut; you just might need a change.

For my page this week as I thought about “quiet,” I thought about things that are peaceful—a warm quilt (thus my quilted paper), Spring butterflies, flowers, sun, etc. I tried to bring that quiet and peacefulness to my page. And then I used the clock so that I remember and think about the time I have alone with the Lord each day. I also used three amazing stamp sets from Layers of Color—Butterfly Collector, Flutterescent, and Merci Bouquet. Can you find all 3 sets on my page? :) :)
Papers: Basic Grey Kioshi, Paper Trey Ink, Aquarelle watercolor paper
Stamps: Layers of Color Butterfly Collector, Layers of Color Flutterescent, Layers of Color Merci Bouquet
Stamp Ink: Versafine onyx black, Ranger clear ep, SU creamy caramel
Embellishments: Heidi Swapp XL clock ghost shape, American Crafts ribbon, Basic Grey micro-chip alpha stickers, Jolee's flowers, Prima flowers, Spellbinders Labels Twelve, Derwent watercolor pencils

The verse I chose was the Luke verse I mentioned above. I did find several verses with the word "quiet" that I loved too but this verse seemed to fit what I was looking for best.

Remember to use Keyword SCRC210 when posting in galleries. Also, feel free to leave a link here using our new link system by Inlinkz! This will show a thumbnail of your creation along with your name and the link for everyone to follow to leave comments in your gallery or on your blog. We use this at Our Daily Bread Designs, and I think I like it a lot better than Mister Linky. We will try it this time and see how everyone likes it. Please let me know what ya think! :)

So, do you have a quiet time with the Lord? If you don’t, now is the perfect time to start. And if your quiet time is becoming dull, make a change but don’t give it up. Will you commit to spending time with Him daily this week? For those of you new to a quiet time, start small. Soon you will find you desire more time with Him each day. Enjoy your quiet moments with the Lord, and remember to see all of our previous lessons, visit this post here. I will be back with another study on May 9th. Blessings to each of you,

Welcome to our New LOC Designer!

There is such exciting news going on over at Layers of Color Art Stamps! We have a new designer joining us--Grace Nywening! Many of you know Grace and have seen her on other teams. I now work with her on two teams! What a blessing! Grace is a sweetheart, an amazing Christian woman, and she creates stunning papercrafts! You can see Grace's LOC gallery here and her gorgeous fan here in Laura's blog post. Be sure to visit her blog here to congratulate her too! I am sure she would be blessed by your comments! Welcome to the LOC Team, Grace! We are blessed to have you!

{Scripture Challenge 2} Challenge Word #8, Hymn

Challenge Word #8: Hymn

Do you like to sing? Notice I didn’t ask if you can sing. We are not all blessed with voices that we want to share with others but singing hymns to our precious Lord and praising Him can be done and should be done by all believers. Where is your heart when you sing? Are you truly praising Him and worshipping Him or worried about what everyone thinks about your singing? Our greatest privilege is to know God, worship Him, fellowship with Him, and to give Him the glory in all things. We can certainly get so many truths about our Lord through hymns, and it is just an amazing way to worship Him!

What exactly is a hymn? Dictionary.com says “a song or ode in praise or honor of God.” And a song is “a short metrical composition intended or adapted for singing, esp. one in rhymed stanzas; a lyric; a ballad.” I prefer the word hymn because as I sing I want to give praise and honor to my precious Lord not just sing a song!

As I studied the Gospel of Matthew this week, I was struck by this verse:

Matthew 26:30 “When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives."

How had I missed this before? I don’t ever remember seeing that Jesus and the disciples sang a hymn before they went out to the Mount of Olives. Can you just imagine Jesus singing a hymn with His precious disciples? I wonder what hymn they sang? Wow! Jesus and the disciples are an example to us. We too should be singing our hymns and praises to our Lord.

What music do you align yourself with? What do your children listen to? I will be the first to admit I love music of all kinds—country, good ‘ol rock from the 1970’s, old hymns, contemporary Christian, instrumental, etc. But as a Christian, I need to make sure that I listen to things that will help me live by God’s standards, and I need to stay clear of the music that could steer me wrong. We also need to be that same example to our children. I don’t know about you but when I listen to good Christ-filled music, I am filled with such joy, such happiness, such excitement for the Lord, and my focus remains on Him not the sinful things that I could so easily be swayed to take part in.

For my page this week, I used the new Layers of Color set called “Joyful Noise.” It is a perfect stamp set for my page! Papers: Basic Grey Kioshi, Paper Trey Ink
Stamps: Layers of Color Joyful Noise
Stamp Ink: Adirondack espresso
Embellishments: misc. ribbon, Basic Grey micro-chip alpha stickers, Distress Stickles walnut stain and firebrick red, SEI rhinestone brad, Prima flowers, Martha Stewart double scallop border punch

The scripture I chose was Psalm 40:3a “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. . .”

I pray that you will go out this week and think about how you are representing the Lord by the music you listen to and how it affects your mood and your thoughts.

When searching for your scripture this week, you may also want to search on the word “song.” If you search the NIV version, you will find only 8 verses in the Bible with the word “hymn” in it but I found 115 verses with the word “song.” Search and find the verse(s) that speak to you.

Remember to use Keyword SCRC210 when posting in galleries. Also, feel free to leave a link here for others to see using Mister Linky. I pray you all are still enjoying the study. I don't hear much so I am not sure what my bloggers are feeling about the study. :) Thank you to those that send e-mails and leave your comments. They truly are a blessing to me. Enjoy your time of study, and remember to see all of our previous lessons, visit this post here. I will be back with another study on April 25th. Blessings to each of you,

{Scripture Challenge 2} Challenge Word #7, Perfect

Challenge Word #7: Perfect

As I was driving last week with my daughter, the song “Perfect People” by Natalie Grant came on the radio. I love that song, and as she sang, the word “perfect” really stood out to me. I asked God, “Lord, is this what you want me to share this next week?” Then the next day, we saw something on TV about perfection so I thought then and there that God was confirming that He wants us to look at this word for our study today.

First, if you haven’t heard Natalie’s song, I encourage you to find it on the web and listen to it. It is an amazing song. Here is a look at the first verse and the chorus:

“Perfect People”
Never let 'em see you when you're breaking
Never let 'em see you when you fall
That's how we live and that's how we try
Tell the world you've got it all together
Never let them see what's underneath
Cover it up with a crooked smile
But it only lasts for a little while

{CHORUS}
There's no such thing as perfect people
There's no such thing as a perfect life
So come as you are, broken and scared
Lift up your heart and be amazed
And be changed by a perfect God.

Oh such wonderful truth in those words! Have you ever heard someone say that they don’t like Christians because Christians think they are perfect? I know it breaks my heart when I hear it or read it on the web. I know I am not perfect by any means. I am a sinner, and I sin daily. Only in Christ am I made perfect in Him. I love how my Life Application Bible talks about “Perfect Progress.” It says:

“We can grow and mature spiritually as we continue to trust Christ, learn more about Him, draw closer to Him, and obey Him. Our progress is changeable because it depends on our daily walk—at times in life we mature more than at other times. But we are growing toward perfection if we ‘press on’ (Philippians 3:12). These good deeds do not perfect us; rather, as God perfects us, we do good deeds for Him. (see Philippians 3:1-15). All phases of perfection are grounded in faith in Christ and what He has done, not what we can do for Him. We cannot perfect ourselves; only God can work in and through us to ‘carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 1:6).”

We are made perfect in Him. That doesn’t mean we don’t sin; we certainly do daily. We stumble and make wrong choices. I love what James 3:2 says “We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.” Are you never at fault in what you say? Ouch, I know I certainly stumble there and have to apologize daily and ask for forgiveness daily. I also love what Max Lucado says “When it comes to our position before God, we’re perfect. When He sees each of us, He sees one who has been made perfect through the One who is perfect­—Jesus Christ.”

In our human bodies, we cannot be perfect; however, with God’s help we can try to become more like Him daily as we walk with Him and live for Him. Again, my Life Application Bible says “We can be perfect if our behavior is appropriate for our maturity level­—perfect, yet with much room to grow. Our tendency to sin must never deter us from striving to be more like Christ.” Are you striving to know God more each day and become more like Him? Jesus was sinless and perfect, and He is our perfect example.

For my page today, I chose to use papers from several manufacturers. Be sure to look at my supply list below the photos. I also use the Layers of Color Touch of Elegance stamp set. I stamped my pieces in black ink onto my Basic Grey paper. Then I embossed each piece with clear embossing powder. Papers: Pink Paislee Tinsel Town, Making Memories Flower Ledge Journaling Book, Basic Grey Euphoria, Basic Grey Ambrosia
Stamps: Layers of Color Touch of Elegance
Stamp Ink: Ranger clear EP, Memento tuxedo black, VersaFine onyx black
Embellishments: misc. twill, Making Memories black staples, KaiserCraft rhinestones, Basic Grey micro-chip alpha stickers, Stickles black diamond

The verses I chose for this week are:

2 Samuel 22:33 (and also found in Psalm 18:32) “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect.”

Philippians 3:12 “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.”

I pray that you will look to the Lord daily for Him to change you and grow you into His image. Remember to use Keyword SCRC210 when posting in galleries. Also, feel free to leave a link here for others to see using Mister Linky. I hope you are looking at everyone's work. I know I truly try to and leave comments. Sometimes I get behind but there is SUCH inspiration, and there is nothing like lifting each other up by sharing a little love with each other! Enjoy your time of study, and remember to see all of our previous lessons, visit this post here. I will be back with another study on April 11th. Blessings to each of you,

Organizational {Friday} Revisiting Stamp Sorting

Okay, don't anyone have a stroke. I am NOT changing my stamp storage! LOL! I LOVE how I store my stamps. If you missed my post on the Univenture binders I use and how I store my stamps, please see my post here. And I physically do not break apart my stamp sets; however, for this category reference system you will see below, I do break these "stamped cards" apart and do not keep the sets together in my reference system. Now, once you reference my storage post linked above, get a cup of coffee, a large sweet tea, or whatever your fancy because today's post is long!

What I want to share today is how I sort and find my stamps. When you get a large collection of stamps, it is very easy to forget what you have. Then not only do you forget about them, you certainly then cannot find what you are looking for. If you looked at my post referenced above, you saw my Excel file that I use in sorting, categorizing, and finding my stamps. Well, as much as I love my Excel file, sometimes it is not the fastest way to find what I am looking for. So, several weeks before my "room move," I decided to start stamping every new stamp I received onto Rolodex cards before putting them away. And, as I have time, I am going back and stamping the stamps I already have in binders. Now, I am going to use my Rolodex to categorize ALL of my stamps (clear, unmounted rubber, and wood mounted stamps) so I can easily find what I want to use. Let's look at what I am doing.

First, here is a photo of my Rolodex. Isn't it cute? Of course, it HAD to be pink. Not my favorite shade of pink but it will do! :)
If you want this particular Rolodex, you can find it here at Office Depot. They also make one in yellow, white, black, and mahogany. Click on the color name to see it at the Office Depot site. I much prefer the rotary Rolodex because it makes flipping though the cards very easy!

Categories
As of February 2015, I now have three Rolodex files and these are the categories I have:

• Alpha/Number 
• Animals 
• Arrows 
• Backgrounds 
• Birds 
• Birthday 
• Border/Frame 
• Christian Images 
• Circles 
• Clothing 
• Day/Date 
• Easter 
• Floral 
• Food/Kitchen 
• Handmade Stamps 
• Leaves 
• Love/Wedding 
• Magnolia 
• Mail/Postage 
• Masculine 
• Mixed Media 
• Music 
• Patriotic 
• Photo Corners 
• PL Stamps 
• Planner Stamps 
• Quotes 
• Scenery 
• Scripture (one whole Rolodex full sorted by the books of the Bible) 
• Sentiment Christian 
• Sentiment General 
• Sentiment Single Word 
• Sewing and Crafts 
• Tickets and Tags 
• Wheel Stamps

Now, just a note about the categories. First, some stamps can fit into several different categories. For instance, a "Happy Birthday" stamp could be put into 'Sentiments--General' but I feel it more appropriately fits into the 'Birthday' category so that is where I put that particular stamp. I have categories that make sense to me and where I know I can find things. You will want to adjust your categories as you see fit and that will work for you!

Also, for scripture stamps in the 'Scripture' category, I file all of the scripture verses in order of the books of the Bible. It makes it VERY easy to find a scripture within that category. Now I can easily find if I have a stamp with a certain verse.

You may also be wondering why I have separate 'Bird' and 'Animal' categories. I have a lot of bird and parrot stamps so I personally wanted to break them out from the 'Animal' category. That's just my personal preference. :)

I will add more categories as I complete this project. I will try to keep this post up-to-date with my category list so that you can reference it if you would like. Just remember to bookmark this post or come back and check it periodically. :)

Creating My Category Dividers
To create my cute cagetory divider cards, I just cut 2x4 pieces of kraft cardstock. I then punched 1 1/4" inch circles out of the same cardstock. Then I stamped a cute decorative piece (the LOC Touch of Elegance set) onto each circle and added ribbon and the category name and attached it to the card.
I do keep a stash of pre-cut ribbons, cards, and circles in a baggie. I also have a note to myself on how I made them so I can quickly make more when I run out. It's easy to make these in mass production!
Individual Card Notations Okay, so what are the notations on each individual card? What do they mean, and how does it help me find a stamp?

Well, in the upper left corner I write either UM, WM, or CL. That tells me if it is an umounted rubber stamp, a wood-mounted stamp, or a clear stamp. My wood-mounted stamps are not kept in my binders (see below). I have drawers for them, and I will label my cards with drawer numbers once I get to those stamps. I haven't tackled them yet. :)

In the upper right corner, I write which Univenture binder contains the stamps. For instance, PL-1 means "Plaid 1." All of my clear stamps are kept in the "plaid tagged" binders. So, the particular stamp above, "LOC Joyful Noise," can be found in the first plaid box of my clear stamp binders. I also have boxes with the prefix 'H' for houndstooth (the boxes with the houndstooth tags), and 'BG' for the boxes with the tags made out of Basic Grey papers. Here are a few of my houndstooth boxes and my Basic Grey boxes are shown below the first photo.
The bottom left corner is the name of the stamp manufacturer, and the bottom right corner is the name of the individual stamp or the stamp set name (whichever applies).

Larger Stamps
So, what do you do if your stamp is larger than 2x4? Well, I either stamp it sideways (which isn't my favorite way to do it) or I just stamp what fits. The portion that shows on my card will remind me of the complete image. That's all I need anyway. I don't worry about it if the entire image does not fit. :) Here are a couple of examples of larger stamps: And Finally
This system is very easy to keep up wtih if you get in the habit of stamping and categorizing your stamps as soon as you purchase them! After that, put them away. Easy fast, and now you have a great reference that is quick and easy to use as you create. You will also find you use more of your stamps and can find them super easy!

I hope this has helped. Please feel free to ask questions in the comment box. Just be sure to check back for my responses there also. :) Have a blessed weekend ahead, and Happy Organizing!

LOC Release Day is Finally Here!!!!!

Okay, so last week I shared sneaks of all of the new releases from Layers of Color. Well, today, Laura has all four sets up on the LOC blog for your viewing pleasure! Not only can you see the full sets, you can order them, AND enter to win all four sets!!!!!! Be sure to jump on over to this post so that you can see the sets, find out how to order, and get a chance to win! How very fun!!!! Enjoy, and good luck to all of you! I hope to see one of my blog subscribers win the sets! :) Have a blessed Monday everyone!

{Scripture Challenge 2} Challenge Word #6, Neighbor

Challenge Word #6: Neighbor

Are you new to your neighborhood or do you know someone new that has moved in? Are you a neighbor that acts neighborly? Do you even know your neighbors? Are you asking yourself as Jesus was asked in Luke 10:29 “. . . so he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’” Just who is your neighbor?

I love how dictionary.com defines “neighbor.” It says “a person who lives near another; a person who shows kindliness or helpfulness toward his or her fellow humans.” Do you just think of your neighbor as someone who lives near you? We also should be looking at those around us everywhere as our “neighbors.”

I really began to think about “neighbors” as my husband was away in Asia recently. Our dog got into the neighbor’s yard at 6:45 a.m. I didn’t even know them. They back up to our house so they really are on a street behind us. Well, the husband ended up driving over to our house that early morning. We ended up speaking for 30 minutes and getting to know each other’s families. It was a true and amazing blessing! I was filled with such joy that day. Had our dog not gotten into their yard, I still would not know them. God can use anything and turn it to His good. There was a blessing behind us I didn’t even know. I am now excited to see where God will take our families as we get to know each other.

What blessings are waiting in your neighborhood? Could it be that God is calling you to reach out to a neighbor (near or far) to bless them--even if you don't know them? Maybe you know of a neighbor that is struggling in some way. You could invite them to your church or to a Bible study. You could even anonymously provide a bag of groceries or a gift card, or you could mail a card with uplifting scripture. Watch for opportunities to help your neighbors either in your neighborhood or those you pass in your day-to-day outings. Pray about it. God will open your eyes and bring you those opportunities.

For my page this week, I used the amazing Webster’s Pages papers along with the new release from Layers of Color called “Vintage Rose.” I loved the awning on the paper and thought of it as my window looking out to my neighbors. For the roses, I stamped them onto watercolor paper and used my Derwent watercolor pencils to color them in. Papers: Bazzill, Webster's Pages Petite Pages Postcards from Paris & Sweet as Cherry Pie, Aquarelle watercolor paper
Stamps: Layers of Color Vintage Rose
Stamp Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink vintage photo, VersaFine sepia, Ranger clear EP
Embellishments: Quickutz blossom, Distress Stickles frayed burlap, Distress Stickles scattered straw, Stickles diamond, sewing machine, Derwent watercolor pencils

The three scriptures I used were:

Leviticus 19:18 “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.”

Mark 12:31 “The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

Romans 15:2 “Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up.”

I pray that with God you will open your eyes, hearts, and minds to all of the neighbors around you and those you pass. How might God use you to reach out to them this week?

Remember to use Keyword SCRC210 when posting in galleries. Also, feel free to leave a link here for others to see using Mister Linky. Also, if any of you are looking for a 6x6 wooden stand for this challenge or any other challenge, Cherie (one of our participants), has them for sale for $5 here. Enjoy your time of study, and remember to see all of our previous lessons, visit this post here. Blessings to each of you, and see you with a new study again on March 28th. In Him,

Layers of Color New Release {Fruitful Harvest}

Today is our final day of sneak peeks with the new Layers of Color releases! I hope you have enjoyed everything the design team has shared!!! Now, just because today is the final day of "sneaks," don't forget about our huge release day party on Monday, March 15th!!! On Monday, you will be able to see all of the stamp sets in full and have a chance to win all four new sets!! Now how can you possibly miss that? :)

For today's creation using the new set Fruitful Harvest, I decided to make a round card for fun! I haven't made one in a while, and I thought this shape was perfect for the fruit basket! I stamped the image onto watercolor paper, heat embossed the image, and then used my watercolor pencils to color it in. I used pop dots to adhere it to the card to give it dimension! Papers: Webster's Pages Petite Papers Magical Wishes & A Sweet Life, Creative Memories CS, Aquarelle watercolor paper
Stamps: Layers of Color Fruitful Harvest
Stamp Ink: VersaFine vintage sepia, Tim Holtz Distress Ink vintage photo, Ranger clear EP
Embellishments: misc. ribbon, sewing machine, Stickles cinammon

To see the final day of sneaks using this new set, please be sure you visit the other design team blogs:

Heather
Kristine
Linda
Laura & Jessica on the LOC Blog
The LOC Designer Galleries

And be sure to join us on the SNR Group. Laura is increasing your chances to win the 4 new sets by joining us over there. :) Thanks for joining our 4-day "sneak peek" party! Have a blessed day, and I will see you soon!! Blessings,

Layers of Color New Release {Fleur de Leaves}

Today's release is another amazing piece of hand-drawn art by Laura of Layers of Color! I can't wait for you to see these gorgeous stamps! This new release set is called Fleur de Leaves. Look for the leaves at the end of the flourishes. So, so pretty and unique!

For my card today, I placed one sheet of Webster's Pages paper onto Bazzill cardstock. I distressed the edges of the designer paper and used a tight zig-zag stitch around the edges. For the gorgeous Fleur de Leaves stamped image, I used my Spellbinders die to cut it out and inked the inside before I colored it in with my Derwent watercolor pencils. I did not use a sentiment on my card today. Sometimes it's nice to just have a card to use for all occasions. :)
Papers: Webster's Pages Petite Papers, Bazzill, Aquarelle watercolor paper
Stamps: Layers of Color Fleur de Leaves
Stamp Ink: VersaFine sepia, Tim Holtz Distress Ink vintage photo
Embellishments: Derwent Watercolor pencils, sewing machine, Kaiser Craft pearls, Ribbon Retreat satin ribbon, Spellbinders Nestabilities blossom

To continue today's party, be sure you visit the other designers to see what they have created with this new set!

Kristine
Linda
Laura & Jessica on the LOC Blog
The LOC Designer Galleries

And be sure to join us on the SNR Group. Lots of party fun to be had there also! Tomorrow, we will share sneaks of the fourth and final set being released by Layers of Color. Then on Monday, March 15th, we will have our big release party where you can see all of the images and have a chance to win all four sets! You won't want to miss it! Enjoy, and see you tomorrow.

Layers of Color New Release {Make a Joyful Noise}

So did you enjoy your first day at the party? I know we all had lots of fun! Now it's time to move onto Day 2!! Today we bring you a sneak peak of the Layers of Color new release--Make a Joyful Noise! For those of you that love music, are in choir or orchestra, have children in band, etc., this set is for you! This set will work perfectly for everything paper--scrapbook pages, cards, and altered art! You can see the full reveal on Monday, March 15th. Don't miss it!

For my card today, I used two stamps out of this new set. Both are stamped on the left hand side of my card. The first is the "music flourish." And my little "tease" here is that you don't see the full flourish because it is covered by the flower and the second stamp from the set. If you want to see the full flourish you either have to wait until Monday or hope that one of the other designers shared the entire image. LOL! :) It is super pretty as is the entire set! After stamping the images, I heat embossed them with clear embossing powder. It gives such a pretty look to the stamping.
Papers: Webster's Pages Petite Papers Lullaby Lane & Lifes Portrait, Creative Memories CS
Stamps: Layers of Color Make a Joyful Noise, Stampin' Up (sentiment)
Stamp Ink: VersaFine onyx black, Tim Holtz Distress Ink black soot, Ranger clear EP
Embellishments: Glitz Icing, sewing machine, Spellbinders Nestabilities Small and Large Scalloped Octagons

Okay, so now that you have seen two images from this new set--Make a Joyful Noise--it's time to visit the other designers to see what other images you might catch a glimpse of! You can visit the other Layers of Color designers here:

Heather
Kristine
Linda
Laura & Jessica on the LOC Blog
The LOC Designer Galleries

And be sure to join us on the SNR Group. Lots of party fun to be had there also! Tomorrow, we will share sneaks of the third set being released by Layers of Color. You won't want to miss it! Enjoy, and see you tomorrow. Blessings to each of you, and thanks for stopping by!

Layers of Color New Release {Vintage Rose} & Guest Designer

Happy Wednesday! Let's get this party week started! :) If you missed my post yesterday about the big party week ahead, see my post here. Layers of Colors is releasing 4 new amazing stamp sets. Today you can see "snippets" of the new set called Vintage Rose. Each of the designers are sharing something they have created with this new, amazing set! On Monday, March 15th, you will be able to see all of the stamps in this set along with the other complete new sets too!

For my Vintage Rose card today, I colored in some of the roses from the set with my Derwent watercolor pencils to match the flowers on the Webster's Pages paper. I then cut out the roses and used several Mini Dots to attach them and raise them up a bit. Imagine how pretty these roses would be sprinkled on a layout!!! :) Papers: Webster's Pages Petite Papers Lullaby Lane & Lifes Portrait, Creative Memories CS, Aquarelle watercolor paper
Stamps: Layers of Color Vintage Rose, Stampin' Up (sentiment)
Stamp Ink: Memento rich cocoa, Tim Holtz Distress Ink vintage photo
Embellishments: Stickles fruit punch, Derwent Watercolor pencils, sewing machine, Kaiser Craft pearls

Now, aren't you excited to see the rest of the roses in this set? To get a glimpse of more of them, visit the other Layers of Color designers:

Heather
Kristine
Linda
Laura & Jessica on the LOC Blog
The LOC Designer Galleries
SNR Group
Abby (guest designer)

I hope you enjoy looking at the creations. And if you noticed we have a new guest designer--Abby! We are so glad to have her, and you won't want to miss her blog. It is full of yummy goodness!

Now, be sure to join me tomorrow for sneaks of the second set being released by Layers of Color. You won't want to miss it! Enjoy, and see you tomorrow. Blessings to each of you, and thanks for stopping by!

Party News & New Releases!

Happy Tuesday!!! I wanted to share with you the HUGE week we have ahead here on my blog and on two stamp company blogs! Big news and LOTS of fun in store! First, Layers of Color Art Stamps will be having their Spring 2010 release. The sneak peaks will begin tomorrow, March 10th. We will then have sneak peaks every day until the huge release day on Monday, March 15th. You will also have a chance to win ALL of the new releases so be sure to stay tuned! You can find details on my blog and on the Layers of Color blog! Be sure to check in daily!

Next, Our Daily Bread Designs will be having a huge Second Anniversary party! The festivities will begin this Saturday, March 13th. There will be daily challenges, blog candy, special Second Anniversary New Releases, and other prizes. You will NOT want to miss out! The challenges are currently listed on the ODBD blog so that you can go ahead and get your supplies and ideas together! You can see all of the details here!

I hope you will join in all of the festivities everywhere! I don't think I have ever been part of two parties at once so it is going to be lots of fun especially since I am still operating in an "incomplete" craft room! :) Please join me!!!! You truly won't want to miss any of the fun and prizes! Have a blessed day, and see you tomorrow with the first "party post." :)

{Scripture Challenge 2} Challenge Word #4, Home

Happy Valentines Day, and welcome to our 4th challenge! I had another word picked out for this week but after preparing an expository lecture that I delivered last Tuesday night on John 13:31-14:14 and then hearing about the loss of a high school friend on Sunday, the loss of a young stampers husband Monday, and my uncle going into hospice care on Friday, I really felt God wanted us to look at the word “home.”

Challenge Word #4: Home

Do you ever travel on business or take an extended trip away from home? How much do you miss your home when you are gone? My husband travels to China, India, Taiwan, Ireland, and other places many times a year. One of the things he always says when he is gone is “I can’t wait to get home to see you and the girls.” Do you truly miss your home when you are gone? How do you feel when you get back? Ingrid Trobisch said “If there is such joy when we return to our earthly homes, imagine the joy of our reaching our heavenly home!”

Well, in John 14:1-4, Jesus says “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Jesus calms the hearts of the disciples as He tells them He is leaving, and we can be calmed by it also. He is going to prepare a permanent home for them in His Father’s house—Heaven. He is also coming back for us. What a great comfort! According to scripture, Heaven is a place God dwells, and Jesus sits at the right-hand of the Father. It is described as a kingdom (2 Peter 1:11), an inheritance (1 Peter 1:4), a city and a country (Hebrews 11:16), and a home (John 14:2). I encourage you to look up those scriptures.

Heaven is a home for God’s children. The KJV calls it “a house with many mansions.” He is preparing that home for me and for those of you that believe in Him. How reassuring it is to know that I have a permanent home in Heaven with Jesus! It is a place reserved and made especially for me and for you as a believer. No one else can take it and Satan cannot follow. It is permanent! It is an exclusive place for those who have trusted in Jesus. Wouldn’t you like to know that you have a permanent home? And if you don’t have a place reserved in His permanent home will you make that choice to believe and trust in Him today?

After hearing about these unexpected tragedies this week and finding out my uncle has entered hospice care, I wanted to tell you that one of the most amazing gifts you can give your family is the assurance of your salvation. If you haven’t told them your salvation story and how you came to Christ, and that you know you will be at home with Jesus in Heaven when you die, will you do that this week? That is one of the greatest gifts you can give your family! Let them how they can find you after you die. That is a comfort and a gift that is immeasurable. If you don’t know a family member’s salvation story, ask them! And if they don’t know Christ, that is the perfect opportunity to share.

Most of us fear the unknown, and as Max Lucado says “death is the great unknown.” Jesus tells us in John 14:1 to “Trust in God; trust also in me.” We shouldn’t fear life at home with Him in Heaven. The best is yet to come. Does your family know that? Do they know where to find you?

For my page this week, I used lots of pearls and Stickles as I thought of how beautiful I image Heaven to be. I also included a crown from the Layers of Color Granny's Jewelry stamp set as I thought about going home to His Kingdom. The photo corners around the scripture are from the Layers of Color Touch of Elegance set. I added Stickles to the photo corners too to add even more sparkle. Papers: Memory Box Spearmint, Cut Cardstock aquamarine metallic, KI Memories Flower Child die cut paper
Stamps: Layers of Color Touch of Elegance (photo corners), Layers of Color Granny's Jewelry (crown)
Stamp Ink: SU bashful blue and close to cocoa, Ranger clear EP, VersaMark
Embellishments: My Mind's Eye button, KaiserCraft pearls, Thickers darling, Stickles platinum, Bazzill blossom, Spellbinder Nestabilities Labels 4

The scripture I used was:
2 Peter 3:13 “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.”

And just a note about your study this week. If you use Biblegateway, some words you might search on include:
*Home
*House
*Heaven
*Father's House

Some of these searches will yield MANY verses. You can limit your search to a certain book of the Bible too if that helps you.

Remember to use Keyword SCRC210 when posting in galleries. It will be easier for people to find your work if you use our keyword. Also, feel free to leave a link here for others to see using Mister Linky. I hope you all are looking at everyone's pages. There truly are some amazing creations, verses, and journaling! You don't want to miss out. Enjoy the time you spend in His Word. Blessings,

Organizational {Friday} Sponges & Daubers

A couple of weeks ago, someone posted this amazing storage for sponges on Splitcoaststampers. It looks so colorful and beautiful, doesn't it? Well, I don't use that many sponges, and I really wanted to see what the ink looks like sponged. It certainly looks different than when it is stamped and different than a piece of cardstock in the same color. So, today I want to share how I organize my sponges and daubers so that I also get a sampling of the ink.

First, I found this great storage box in my daughter's room. I think I had purchased it a long time ago from Michael's but never used it. She wasn't using it either, so I took it for this great organizational purpose. LOL! Now let's look at each section in detail. The sponges I purchased at Michaels some time ago. I don't use too many different colors so I only bought one package. The package contained two circular sponges. In my box you only see one circular sponge cut into pieces. First, I cut out several "tickets" using my Quickutz ticket die and PaperTrey Ink cardstock.Then I folded each ticket half. I wrote the name of the ink one one side of the ticket and also sponged the ticket in that ink color so that I can see how it looks sponged. Next, I used the cute little flower stamp from the Layers of Color Touch of Elegance stamp set to stamp a sample of the color. After creating each ticket, I stapled them to each appropriate sponge. This way I now have a sample of both the stamped ink and the sponged ink.
I only have a few daubers, and they fit perfectly in one section. I labeled each dauber with the ink name using my labeler and store them in a section of the box.And lastly, my Tim Holtz ink blender tool along with the felt and sponge refills also fit perfectly in my box. I have never had a convenient place for this tool and refills so it was SO nice to see them fit so beautifully in this box.And just a note, sponges and daubers give a very different look. You may even want to store a sponge and a dauber using the same ink color so that you can achieve different looks. Also, cosmetic sponges are great to use too and give yet a different look. So, lots of fun things to play with and organize. I hope this has been helpful. And remember, to see all of my previous organizational posts, see this post here with the full listing. Have fun!