Job 13:15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.
This is the scripture that Rebekkah, my wonderful stampin' sister in Christ choose for this week.
This verse, to live out, takes tremendous faith. My kids were at a youth retreat this weekend where they were talking and learning about the persecuted church. The leaders had toy guns that they used to "kill" the students because they were Christians. They would grab the students at random and question them and when the students would say that they were Christians, they would put the gun to their head or to their friends head and say renounce Christ or die. To my kids and the other kids from our church it was just an exercise, but there are Christians throughout this world who on a daily basis have the possibility of being killed for their faith. What is my excuse for not sharing Christ more, praising God more, giving more?... I am challenged to not take my freedom to express my faith in God casually, but to thank God everyday for that freedom and I am also challenged to pray for those who don't have that freedom.

Rebekkah's challenge is to : make a card of praise,using music, stamp, or design paper or just the word praise.

I used the sheet music for this old hymn, and a soon to be released Mark's Finest Papers set called Peaceful Nuthatch. I also used Layers of Color "Joyful noise" set in the background.



Hallelujah, praise Jehovah,
From the heavens praise His name;
Praise Jehovah in the highest,
All His angels praise proclaim.
All His hosts together praise Him,
Sun, and moon, and stars on high;
Praise Him, O ye heav’n of heavens,
And ye floods above the sky.

Let them praises give Jehovah,
They were made at His command,
Them forever He established;
His decree shall ever stand.
From the earth, oh, praise Jehovah,
All ye floods, ye dragons all;
Fire, and hail, and snow, and vapors,
Stormy winds that hear His call.

All ye fruitful trees and cedars,
All ye hills and mountains high,
Creeping things, and beasts, and cattle,
Birds that in the heavens fly.
Kings of earth, and all ye people,
Princes great, earth’s judges all,
Praise His name, young men and maidens,
Aged men and children small.

Let them praises give Jehovah,
For His name alone is high,
And His glory is exalted,
And His glory is exalted,
And His glory is exalted,
Far above the earth and sky.

Check out what my stampin' sisters have created and read Rebekkah's devotion on the STAMPIN' SISTERS IN CHRIST challenge blog.

Our sponsor this week is :Pizzazz Aplenty.

Layers of Color- Vintage butterfly orb

I was inspired by the Layers of Color ornament blog hop. Laura shared a template for this ornament on her blog. I used dp that made me think of vintage wall paper. I used beads and gold cording to hang my ornament. I took a gold leaf pen and drew on the beads as well as little dots and squiggles on the dp. I then stamped and heat embossed with gold ep several butterflies using Layers of Color Flutterescent Set.

Petal card with LOC gold butterfly

The technique lovers challenge at SCS today was to make a petal card. I saw this technique when Beate released it as the Wednesday tutorial. I was hesitant to try it at first because I don't have any circle dies. I ended up using labels four and love how easy this card was to make. I used 2 sided dp. I gold heat embossed my Layers of Color butterfly. The scripture on the inside was Karen's WORDart. I think it still fits the SSIC challenge this week to have wings and a scripture.

I am blessed to have the opportunity to be the hostess for this week's Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge.

One of the songs that I have been listening to lately is by JJ Heller called HAVE MERCY ON ME. There is a line in the song that says… “I’m tired of being afraid…” It made me think about the topic of fear. Last week my daughters and I experienced FEAR as we tried to get a possum out of our garage. I had just gone to bed when I heard a terrifying scream. I jumped out of bed when I heard the scream and went to see what was wrong. My daughters had been going outside to my oldest daughter’s truck. They had opened the door between the garage and the house and turned on the light. There inches away from their feet was a possum that hissed at them. I armed myself with a broom, while my daughters grabbed a stick and a golf club and we went into the garage to make sure our unwanted guest left. When that was done, the adrenaline was rushing through my body and it was hard to fall back to sleep.

What are you afraid of?

Some fears come from our past experiences. When I was little we lived in an apartment that had tarantula spiders that climbed over the doorways and they would drop on you when you opened the door. When I was in high school I had a black widow spider in my hair. I was also bit by a brown recluse spider. When I see spiders, I know in my mind that I am bigger than they are, I am stronger than they are and I can kill them, but I am still afraid of them. Note to self don’t watch the old movie Arachnaphobia.

What happens when little ordinary fears become so big that they become the focus of our lives? Fear in the extreme we call phobias. I looked on the internet at a list of phobias. The list was too long to even count. Some of them sounded kind of funny to me. Neophobia – fear of something new. Koniophobia – fear of dust (if any of you have this fear don’t visit my house) and the one I thought I might try with my family is Mageirocophobia – the fear of cooking. (I can just see it now… I think we will have to go out to eat I have Mageirocophobia!) I am sure to those who suffer from these phobias it is not a laughing matter.

I did a computer search (King James Version) and the phrase “FEAR NOT” was used 68 times.



This is the verse that I picked to share with you today:



2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind



I can’t even find the words to describe what an awesome gift this is. I often say this verse at night when I am struggling with my fears. It seems like the middle of the night is when Satan like to wage battle, using my fears against me.



There are a few more verses that go along with the one I picked.



Isaiah 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.



Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends, all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.



John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.



My challenge to you this week is to try something that you may have been afraid to do before…a new technique, a new color combo, a new sketch, a new style…





Our sponsor this week is Paper Fashions Etc.



For my card I tried a new technique, (inspired by my sister in Christ, Linda) called resist. I also went with a CAS style.

Check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created:

Kris Linda Miesje Pegggysue Rebekka Teresa Traci

Sing to the Lord

Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.


This is the wonderful scripture that my Stampin' Sister in Christ, Grace choose for this week.

When my kids were little they went through the "WHY" stage. Where every couple of minutes they would ask WHY? At first it was cute then it got a little annoying having to explain WHY all the time. I wonder if that is how God feels when we ask why.

It seems to me I ask WHY? more when bad things happen then when good things happen. When I see bad circumstances, I think "Why did God allow that to happen?" Are you like me? I think the verse Grace picks explains the reasons I can't understand. His thoughts and his ways are so different from mine.

I love this song by Laura Story called Blessings. This scripture goes along so well with this song. I hope you will go listen to it.

Blessings



The challenge for Stampin' Sisters in Christ was to make a card that shows contrast of black and white. Our Sponsor this week is Layers of Color. I just love Layers of Color images. I used a Layers of Color set to make my card. This music set called Joyful Noise, from the moment I saw it, made me happy. I have a very musical family and this is one of my all time favorite sets.
This card is very CAS for me, but I felt that the musical flourish needed nothing more. I printed the scripture on my computer.

Check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created.

Chris Grace Kris Linda Lisa Miesje Pegggysue Rebekka Sabrina

What is missing?

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.

What a great reminder to be still and spend time with God. I know that my summer has been BUSY! Some of that business is just wasted time, and some of it is doing good things, but even good things if they keep me too busy to spend time with God are not good. Lord help me to make spending time with you this week a priority!

Outside

Inside

The challenge this week was to make a CAS card. I really struggled with this. I tend to make life more complicated than it needs to be. I used my Layers of Color creative flourish stamp on some ink spray and smashed paper and used my puzzle die cut to make the card. The sentiments were made using my computer.
This last week we had VBS at our Church. We shared the gospel simply with the kids.

1. We are all sinners.

2.We deserved death.

3. God loves us.

4.God sent Jesus to live a perfect life.

5. Jesus took our punishment by dying for us.

6. God brought Jesus back to life.

7. We can have salvation by asking Jesus to be our Savior.

8. Live for God.

Check out what my Stampin' Sisters in Christ have created.

Chris Grace Kris Linda Lisa Miesje Pegggysue Rebekka Sabrina

Card Patterns sketch

This is the card that I made for the Card Patterns Sketch 113. I used this butterfly from Layers of Color Butterfly Collector Set.

Thank you card

I made some pink flowers for Thursday's ways to use it challenge. I used my LAYERS OF COLOR art stencil to stencil the vine to the plaid dp. I glued the flowers in the corner and added a butterfly from Mark's Finest Papers set called Daffodil and Anise. Sentiment is from Mark's Finest Papers set called Thankful for you.

Apple blossoms- butterfly hair clip

For my learners for life group project last night we made hair clips. This is my sample that I made for them. I hot glued a strip of lace over the clip. I added 3 apple blossoms, leaves and a Layers of Color butterfly. The little girls loved making these.

Layers of Color butterfly flew to the teaparty

Mothermark's teaparty today was to make a card with music and a frame. I used my music butterfly and framed it with the green square. The green square started out as a piece of white cardstock. I punched the edges, sprayed it with Honey Dew Gimmer mist, ran it through my cuttlebug using the script embossing folder. Then all the elements were stitched to the card. It looks like it took a long time, but start to finish on this card was about 30 mins. which for me is a quick card.

Layers of Color Butterflies for Blog Hop

I already shared a card that used a Mark's Finest Paper butterfly for the butterfly blog hop, but I didn't see anyone share Layers of Color butterflies. Laura Campbell has some of the most amazing butterflies. So I'm sharing these cards that I made this afternoon.

This card uses a Layers of Color Butterfly Collector butterfly.

This is another Layers of Color butterfly from the Flutterescent set.

This is a sample of some of the butterflies I have. Can you tell I love butterflies?

Bargello cards

I made this daisy bargello card for a dear friend of mine named Sue. She owns a quilt shop in our local mall, and today there was a fire in her shop. I am sickend and sorry about what she has lost due to this fire.

I made this bargello card using the sheet music for an old hymn called Help Somebody Today.

Here are the lyrics for that hymn...

Help Somebody Today

by Carrie E Breck and Charles H. Gabriel 1904

Look all around you, find someone in need, help somebody today! Though it be little, a a neighborly deed, help somebody today! Many are waiting a kind loving word, help somebody today! Thou hast a message oh let it be heard, help somebody today! Many have burdens too heavy to bear, help somebody today! Grief is the portion of some everywhere, help somebody today! Some are discourage and weary in heart, help somebody today! Someone the journey to heaven should start, help somebody today! Help somebody today, somebody along life's way; let sorrow be ended, the friendless befriended, oh help somebody today!!

My top card is for the stampin' sisters in Christ challenge to make a card with green .

Peggy Sue shared this scripture with us.

Exodus 8:9-11 "Moses said to Pharaoh, 'I leave to you the honor of setting the time for me to pray for you and your officials and your people that you and your houses may be rid of the frogs, except for those that remain in the Nile.' 'Tomorrow," Pharaoh said. Moses replied, 'It will be as you say, so that you may know there is no one like the Lord our God, The frogs will leave you and your houses, your officials and your people; they will remain only in the Nile.'"

Peggy Sue pointed out how Pharoah wanted to wait until Tomorrow. I was reminded that we are never promised tomorrow, all we have is TODAY. Today to serve the Lord!

More sketch cards

I really liked how easy today's sketch was. I decided to make two more. One using Mark's Finest Papers - Greet the day with Gerber and Daffodil and Anise sets. I used black magic technique. I stitched the panels and added pearls.

This card was made using Layers of Color set called Joyful noise. I stamped the images with black stazon ink. I watercolored the butterfly. I stitched the panels, added black brads and finished it off with a black satin ribbon.

Mariposa Flying

Layers of Color is the sponsor for Card Patterns Sketch Challenge. What a fun sketch. I used cardstock from DCMV The Mariposa Stack. I love this paper. It looks especially great with my Layers of Color FLUTTERESCENT butterfly. I love all the sparkle and gold in the papers. I embossed the Layers of Color butterfly with gold ep to coordinate. I watercolored the butterfly after it was embossed. I cut it out and gave it dimension by rolling it over my fingers. I stitched a lace panel at the bottom. I used a stampin' up border punch at the top. Instead of a ribbon at the top, I used a piece of decorative trim. I used the sentiment from Mark's Finest Papers HAPPY PANSIES set.

It is well with my Soul

I made this card for a friend who is suffering from depression, and struggling with financial difficulties. I wanted to remind her that no matter what the circumstances, that God is with her and that it IS WELL with her soul. It was also a reminder to me as well. I wanted this card to look "RICH". I used Gold ribbon, gold ep on the butterfly, the hymn was printed on gold tissue paper. You can't see it from the photo, and I tried taking several photos, there is a gold sparkle and shimmer to the tissue paper. I also used gold foil from a candy bar. I glued the foil to cardstock and embossed. My sons were selling candy bars to raise money for boy scout camp. I bought one and gave it to my daughter. I told her she could eat all the chocolate, but had to give me the wrapper. She thought she made out better on that deal. I used dp from DCWV the mariposa stack. I added lace and pearls. I stitched the card together with my sewing machine. The butterfly was a LAYERS of COLOR butterfly.

Close up of the butterfly.

Great is Thy Faithfulnes

This card is for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge to make a NEW card. A card that represents New to us.
We all love something NEW. New baby, New car, New clothes, New stamps, New designer paper.... but to me the BEST new is the mercy of God. I love the song Great is thy Faithfulness. My favorite part is...MORNING BY MORNING NEW MERCIES I SEE. Everything in this world that is new gets old. Little babies become teenagers, adults, middle-agers, seniors... new cars become old cars, new clothes become old-out of fashion clothes (unless you keep them long enough then they become new again, just ask my daughter who says my clothes from the 80's are "IN" now) new stamps and paper are fun until we see the new releases, then our "new stamps and paper" don't satisfy anymore and we need to get new toys. Isn't is wonderful that we can have a new start with God each and everyday? I think it is!! He suprises me all the time with the New things He is doing in my life.

Great is thy faithfulness, O God my father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou for ever will be
Great is thy faithfulness
Great is thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me
Great is thy faithfulness

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To thy great faithfulness, mercy and love

Great is thy faithfulness
Great is thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me
Great is thy faithfulness

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside

Great is thy faithfulness
Great is thy faithfulness
All I have needed thy hand hath provided
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me


The new for me on this card was a new sketch #316 and new dp. I got the DCWV mariposa stack for Christmas from a dear friend. I just had to use some of this gorgeous paper. I can see me wanting to hoard this paper and that wouldn't do anyone any good, so I forced myself to cut it up for this card. I printed sheet music for the classic hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness" onto the floral cardstock. I also printed the sentiment using microsoft word art. The dimensional butterflies are from LAYERS OF COLOR. I stamped them on peach colored paper and embossed with gold ep. I added lace and pearls and stitched the card together to finish it.

Close up of big Layers of Color butterfly.

Close up of little Layers of Color butterfly.

Sketch challenge

I loved the sketch for this weeks SCS sketch challenge. The top card used Layers of Color butterfly from the set called "JOYFUL NOISE" and the bottom card used a little teapot from Mark's Finest Papers set to be released next week called "FLORAL TEA".

Sketch challenge 313

For SCS's sketch challenge 313, I made 3 cards. Two were for male co-workers who share January 1 as their birthday. They were so much fun to make, and all three have their own unique qualities.

Layers of Color- Joyful Noise

Unknown stamp set that I got at a rummage sale. "Groovy"

Mark's Finest Papers - Bold and Free

Birthday card for Dot

This card took me most of the day to make because I wanted it to be a very special card. I made it for one of my former employees, named Dot. I knew her health was not the greatest, but I had no idea how sick she was. Today she quit because she is going home to die. She told one of my other employees that her organs are shutting down and she only has a very short time left. Her birthday is this Saturday. This will probably be one of the last cards she will ever recieve. I've been so close to tears all day. I W.I.S.H.ed the background and sponged the vine. I used my Layers of Color stencil for that. I had started quilling these flowers last night. This porcelain paper butterfly (from Layers of color -flutterescent set) had been sitting on my desk for weeks. I decided to add beads and wrap his wings with gold wire. I added stitching around the edges and gold brads in the corners. I used the Happy Birthday Sentiment from Mark's Finest Papers Take a Peek set. Just last week I was talking with Dot and showing her Splitcoast and we spent a long time talking about stamping, and the cards that I make. I hope she will feel all the love that went into making this card. I plan to print out the lyrics for Ordinary Miracle to put on the inside. This card is also for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge to make a card to encourage someone. I don't usually put birthday cards in that category, but this time I will.

SUITE DREAMS

The free for all challenge was to make a card base on the Nutcracker Suite. I grew up in a musical family and knew the music for the Nutcracker Suite long before I ever saw the ballet. I was very disturbed by the fight between the Mouse King and the Nutcracker the first time I saw the ballet. I went with a collage look for my card. I printed the title and ballet shoes using Microsoft word. I stamped and cut out the ticket. I added sparkly lace for the sugar plum fairy. The Nutcracker is from a Mark's Finest Papers set called Christmas Postage Due. Did you see the tail of the Mouse King in the corner? The gold music notes are from a Layers of Color set called Joyful Noise.