I have decided to Follow Jesus

This week's WAW - Word Art Wednesday, was a paraphrase of Ruth 1:16 "Where you lead I will follow." My first thoughts were to the old song

"I have decided to Follow Jesus."

"Though I may wonder, still I will follow.

The world behind me the cross before me.

Though none go with me, still I will follow.

No turning back, no turning back"

I also really like the words to the hymn that I have as the second panel. It is called "I will follow thee" by James L. Elginburg. It was written in 1886. It says

" I will follow thee, my savior, whersoe'er my lot may be; where thou goest I will follow, yes my Lord, I'll follow thee.

Though the road be rough and stormy, trackless as the foaming sea; thou hast trod this way before me, and I gladly follow thee.

Though 'tis lone and dark and dreary, cheerless though my path may be, if thy voice I hear before me, fearlessly I'll follow thee.

Though I meet with tribulation, sorely tempted though I be; I remember thou wast tempted and rejoice to follow thee.

Though thou leadest through afflictions, poor, forsaken though I be; thou wast destitute, afflicted and I only follow thee.

I will follow thee my Savior, thou didst shed thy blood for me;

and though all men should forsake thee, by thy grace I'll follow thee.

God has set up a specific path for each one of us to follow. My path isn't the same as yours. But one thing I have learned is that each path has smooth areas, and difficult areas. I have friends this week who are going through one of the roughest areas on their path. They lost their 6 month old granddaughter in an apartment fire. The aunt of the little baby was saying yesterday how no one knows how she feels. My first thought was that she is right. We each have our own problems. We can sympathize with eachother, and we may go through similar things, but when it comes down to it, each of us has our own cross to pick up and follow Jesus. The comforting thought to me is that while no one knows what I am feeling or going through, God does. I thought of the old poem about the footprints. Where there were two sets of footprints and then one set of footprints, and it was during the one set of footprints that God was carrying them. I am thankful that God goes with me down my path and that He carrys me when I am too weak to make it on my own. My last thought was that each of our paths may be different but for Christians our paths all have the same destination... heaven.

My card uses this weeks scs sketch challenge, and scs ways to use it challenge. If you look at the paper behind the hymn, you will see something new for me. It is the digital paper that I won from last week's WAW sponsor Gail from Shabby Cottage Studio. It was a black and white cream background, but I made it green with my ink spray smash technique. I had so much fun making these coffee filter flowers. I also had fun using a stamp in a different way. I used the icicle stamp from Mark's Finest Papers set called Ice and snow. I turned the icicles upside down and stamped them on the top panel with light green ink. I then ink spray smashed the panel. I think it kinda looks like grass.

Great Spangled Fritillary- I think

The butterfly at the top of this post, was dead when it fluttered next to my daughter's feet. She was fueling her truck up at the gas station when she noticed it. She picked it up and brought it home to me. It is gorgeous with it's little spots of silver on the wing. Wow, what a wonderful creation that God made. I spent a lot of time looking at butterfly images trying to determine what kind of butterfly. I narrowed it down to a couple of choices and my son Joshua and I thought it most resembled the Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly. I really wish I knew an entemologist so I could know for sure. I made two cards using my Mark's Finest Papers butterfly from the set DAFFODIL AND ANISE. I tried to mimic the real thing. I really like how both of these cards turned out. The top card used SC339 sketch and the second one used MOJO197.

Apple blossoms for Spring

I saw this apple blossom tutorial the other day and knew I had to give these adorable flowers a try. I couldn't find crinoline like Linda used. I tried but my fabric store had none. I did buy some tulle. (I got 1/8th of a yard -$0.14 worth) When the lady went to cut the tulle, the edge was uneven so she cut it off and threw it in the trash can by the cutting table. It was a strip about 1 1/2 inches wide. All I could think of was that I could get several flowers out of it. So I asked her since she had thrown it away if I could have it. My kids rolled their eyes and were so embarrassed. They harrassed me all the way home from the store about the trash tulle. I have made 9 flowers and still haven't used up the trash tulle. I decided to use it up first before I started on the other tulle.

How my apple blossoms differ from Linda's is that I don't have crinoline, so I substituted what I had on hand. These flowers each have a layer of lace, typing paper, coffee filter, paper towel, tulle and cardstock.

This is for the sketch challenge at SCS. The dp was some I got on Saturday. It is from a K & Company pack. The bees and sentiments are from a Mark's Finest Papers set called HAPPY PANSIES. I stamped the bees on the card and colored them in with a yellow prisma colored pencil. I also stamped bees on the inside of the card as well as on the envelope. This is one of the first cards in a long time that I haven't sewn on. My daughter took my sewing machine last night to alter costumes for a muscial that she is in. My sacrifice for her art

Three cards- Three challenges

This is the card I made for Monday's Technique Lovers Challenge at SCS. Holly challenged us to make a card using newspaper. I made the roses on this card out of newspaper.

This is the card I made for Tuesday's Color Combination Challenge at SCS. The Daffodil is from the Mark's Finest Papers set called DAFFODIL AND ANISE.

This is the card I made for today's Sketch Challenge at SCS. I used the butterfly and peach paper from the DCWV Mariposa stack. The rust cardstock that I matted with was from my stash. I added ribbon and lace and a buckle. I usually have only one pair of shoes. They are what I wear to work, church, and everyday around the town. I was saddened when the strap that held this decorative buckle broke on my shoe. It was flapping around, so I cut the strap off. I am such a horder. I kept the buckle thinking that someday it would go on a card. Well today was that day. I put some sheer ribbon through it. It took a little planning to get the ribbon ends hidden in the panels.

Sympathy butterfly

This is the card that I made for the sketch challenge. It has the sketch, but the flowers to the left might take away from the sketch somewhat. I debated about adding them, but I ended up putting them because I like these daisies. I needed to make a sympathy for a coworker whose mother in law died yesterday. I used 3 Mark's Finest Papers sets. The butterfly is from Just Dandy set. The daisies are from Greet the Day with Gerber, and the sentiment is from A Walk in the Woods.

This photo shows a close up of the butterfly and it shows the dimension of the butterfly.

Here is a really close up view of the butterfly.

Ancient Words

Time have changed a lot since my grandparents were young. My Grandmother remembered driving a horse and buggy. What would she have thought of blogs, cell phones, facebook, skype...? They all would have been so foreign to her. I am a person who DOESN'T like change. I don't like to rearrange my furniture, I don't like trying new foods, and much to my kids embarrassment I have the same hair style that I did 25 years ago when I was in High School. My not liking change is one reason that I love that God doesn't change. He is the same yesterday today and today.

The song ANCIENT WORDS, sung by Michael W. Smith is a song that my VIEW Group loves to sing. What is a VIEW group? At our church we break up into small groups that meet in members homes on Sunday nights. We Visit, Instruct, Encourage, and Worship. (VIEW). When my grandparents were young, they had a Sunday night worship service, but meeting in people's homes would have been so strange to them. I really love the fellowship of my VIEW group, so I guess SOME change can be good.

Ancient Words

Lynn DeShazo

Holy words, long preserved

For our walk in this world

They resound with God's own heart

Oh let the ancient words impart

Words of Life, Words of Hope

Give us Strength, help us cope

In this world where e'er we roam

Ancient words will guide us home

Holy words of our Faith

handed down to this age

Came to us through sacrifice

Oh heed the faithful words of Christ.

Ancient Words, ever true

Changing me and changing you.

We have come with open hearts

Oh let the ancient words impart.

I used my computer to print the words to this song onto a piece of parchment. I then took a tea bag and stained it. I tore the edges and added chalk to the torn edges to distress it further. The cameo is sneek peek at a set that will be released next week by Mark's Finest Paper called Grandma's Boudior. I was blessed to have jewelry from my 4 great grandmothers. The actual cost of the jewelry would probably be less than $25, but to me it priceless. They didn't have carved cameos from Italy, but what they gave me means so much more, they gave me their FAITH.

Close up view of the cameo.

This was for today's sketch challenge at SCS which was based on a card I made 2 years ago. What an honor. Thanks Roxie!!

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.

Praise the Lord

Praise the Lord oh my soul, let all that is within me praise His holy name. When things are going good in my life it is so easy for my to Praise God, but what about when things are not going how I would like them to? I will still praise Him. I love this verse from Psalm 146:2 "I will praise the LORD all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live." It doesn't make any other conditions except that if I am living I will praise Him. This has been a hard week because our youth pastor-music director has resigned and he and his lovely wife are moving. I have served with Pastor Mitch on the Praise and Worship team for 6 months. I know that God has a plan for them as well as a plan for our Church, but it is hard to say goodbye. Tonight is the last night with the youth and my heart has been heavy all day, but I will still Praise the Lord. The old hymn on this card was written by Frances J. Crosby and publish in 1869. That was 142 years ago. The part of this hymn that I love is this... "Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children, In His arms He carries them all day long. Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness; Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!" I know that He carries me. It is the only way I make it through my days. I made this card for a wonderful lady who has blessed my life. This last fall, my mother in law gave me a devotional called GRACE BY THE CUP. It really blessed my heart to read it. My daughter also has been reading it. The other day I found out that the author makes cards and also is a member of SCS. I sent her a note letting her know how her book blessed me, and she continued to bless me because she sent me her next book called Faith-dipped Chocolate. I made this card to thank her for her generosity. I used the sketch challenge from SCS for my layout. This card came together really quickly because there was no stamping, no fussy cutting and no coloring. The papers were from the DCWV Mariposa stack. They were very similar to the colors from yesterday's color challenge.

Give thanks in ALL circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Hold to God's Unchanging Hand

For this card I used the sketch challenge at SCS. I love how it turned out. I lowered the butterfly panel just a smidge so that you could see the title of the hymn. I made this for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge to make a vintage style card. I used colors and papers that look vintage to me. I think the lace and the pearls also add to the vintage look. The butterflies are from the Mark's Finest Papers set called DAFFODILS and ANISE. The sentiment is from another Mark's Finest Papers set called A WALK IN THE WOODS. I made this for friends of mine from church. Their house was broken into last Saturday. The theives took their car, tvs, computers, money, camera with the sd cards still inside with photos that hadn't been downloaded yet.... but what the theives took that made me feel sad was their peace. They have been very anxious. That is why I wish them Peace. This hymn HOLD TO GOD'S UNCHANGING HAND has a line that says..."Covet not this world's vain riches... that so rapidly decay. Seek to gain the heav'nly treasures. They will never pass away." I hope this thought will encourage them. (side note... I usually edit my photos using Picasa 3. There is a new feature that connects to Picnic. It allowed me to frame my photo in picnic then send it back to picasa. I really like how it looks)

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.

Mark's Finest Papers sneak peek

For today's technique lovers challenge at SCS, we were to combine a recent technique challenge, color challenge and sketch challenge. This is what I came up with. I used a set called FLORAL TEA by Mark's Finest Papers. It will be released tomorrow along with 3 other fabulous sets. Make sure you come back tomorrow to see what I created for the Mark's Finest Papers January Blog Hop.

Tea Time

This is what I had in mind when I made my card yesterday for the sketch challenge. I wanted a pocket to slide a little tea bag into. This card was a remake and I love how this one turned out. I liked yesterdays card but I love today's card. So similar yet different.

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

Mark's Finest Papers Blog Hop day 2

Bold and Free

Not long after receiving this set, I was walking across the parking lot at work. I looked down and saw this feather. I knew right away that it was going to embellish my first card using this set.

Christmas Postage Due

Santa was colored with prisma colored pencils. I used gold smooch for his glasses. They are really shiny in real life. I also used gray colored pencils to give the glass part a reflection. It was hard to photograph. Both of these cards are also for the 2 Sketches 4 You challenge.

MFP Blog Hop Day #2 ( WEDNESDAY 11-10-10)
Welcome to the MFP November Bl og Hop! This month, we are releaseing 6 NEW SETS!

And…LOOK for a NEW LINK LIST TOMORROW!!!

We have 6 New Stamp Sets Released: Brick Wall, Bells on Bobtail, Christmas Postage Due, Bold & Free, Muscial Holiday and Welcome Home. For your convenience, all 6 stamp sets are available for purchase TODAY!

For your chance to win BLOG CANDY, (a set that will be released NEXT month), visit and comment on each of the following design team members' blogs TODAY. On Saturday, (November 13, 2010), a winner will be chosen from those participants who visited all the blogs listed for today. (There will be four different winners, one winner for each day of the blog hop. You DO NOT have to comment every day. However, the more days you comment, the more chances you have to win!) If you miss a day, you can go back and comment on each day's blogs, as the winners will be chosen Saturday morning.

Nancyruth - http://nancyruthat.blogspot.com/
Lois - http://clownmomcreations.blogspot.com
Vicky- http://www.villagestamperramblings.blogspot.com
Dawn L.- http://dawnanewday.blogspot.com/
Anne- http://inkinginred.blogspot.com/
Peggysue- http://rosesbymywindow.blogspot.com
Susan – http://simplicitybylateblossom.blogspot.com
Judi – http://paper-rose-petals.blogspot.com
Connie – http://sodakstamping.blogspot.com
Claudine- http://cardsbyclaudine.blogspot.com
Dawn- http://dawnmercedes.blogspot.com
Joanne T- http://sleepyinseattlestamps.blogspot.com
Nicole - http://nicolesbutterflyears.blogspot.com
Marilynn- http://mississippi-mcgyver.blogspot.com (ME)
Geri – http://geriscards.blogspot.com/
Lynn- http://confessionsofaleft-brainedstamper.blogspot.com/
Mark’s Finest Papers - http://marksfinestpapers.blogspot.com

Musical Holiday sneak peek

I made this card for yesterday's Splitcoast sketch challenge. I used a soon to be released set by Mark's Finest Papers called Musical Holiday. I love music and musical images, so I know that I will use this set a lot. I embossed the French Horn on the panel with gold ep. I burned the edges of the panels. I added lace from an old curtain for the one panel. I assembled the card and stitched the card together with my sewing machine. My daughter plays the French Horn, so I may be making some of these cards for her and her Horn friends for Christmas.

Snowman Country Sketch

This is a sneak peek of a soon to be released set by Mark's Finest Papers called Snowman country. My trees and snowman are popped up on dimensionals. I added glue and glitter to the trees.

Pumpkin time

For this card and tag, I stamped the pumpkin image from MFP's Thankful Mums and Pumpkin set on a thin piece of smooth cardboard. I colored them with my prisma colored pencils. When I went to blend them with baby oil, it soaked in a lot more than it usually does when I use cardstock, but it made a rich look.

This is for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge for a fall card.

Ransom - Pun

This card combines 3 challenges... sketch, ways to use it and free for all. The ways to use it challenge this week was to make a ransom note like card. I used my computer to make the letters in all different fonts and sizes. The free for all challenge was to make a card that had a pun. I am planning on sending this card to my sister who has been very sick for awhile. I am going to write this in the inside " Let's leave on a vacation." It would be nice if the two of us could go on a vacation somewhere together, but she has 8 kids that she homeschools, and I have my 4 kids and job. Several months ago, we went on a virtual vacation to Hawaii. Who knows where we will go this time? I think it would be fun to go find a little bed and breakfast in the mountains where the two of us could sit and drink hot apple cider and enjoy the coming of Fall.