Keeping it simple with some Mint Wishes! Word Art Wednesday

Hello Delightful Friends and Family!

Well we are really on the count down for Christmas!  Are you ready? I wish I was but I still have to make my shopping list for about 3 different meals for the family, make some fun gifts for co-workers and cards for the grandkids! AND finish my Christmas shopping for some family members and our church volunteers, hopefully I will manage my time wisely to get those extra things done before Friday. 

Here is my card for this weeks Word Art Wednesday challenge.  I kept it really simple and I have to share how easy this was to do!!  I love the paper, it's KaiserCraft Mint Wishes Collection.  The top and bottom patterns are actually one piece of paper and I've add the center strip just for interest.  I will have to link up the paper for you because it's such a pretty collection and this picture just doesn't do it justice.  The background woodgrain and snow is also from the line. Here is a link to see the pretty papers but be warned, it's out of stock everywhere I looked, it was released October 2017.

I cut the paper to the A2 size and adhered it to my white card stock base, then added the middle strip of paper in the coordinating pattern, then I found this gray flower in my stash that matched the petal shape in the print perfectly.  I added the center bling with Multi Medium Matte and then added a drop of Liquid Pearls to the center (Mint green).  Then after printing the Scripture Art, I die cut it out using the Fancy Scallop Rectangle die from Lawn Fawn.  Easy peasy, quick and easy! Perfect for this busy week.  The Scripture Art is free to download and use! Hope you'll play along and link up with us and share your creations with us at Word Art Wednesday.  Remember it's a family friendly, anything goes challenge that last for two weeks. Thanks to our sponsor Simon Says Stamp for being so generous and providing the prize of a $25 gift card. Link up to 5 new projects for a chance to win!!! Be sure and visit the online store and blog for tons of inspiration!!

Here is this weeks Scripture Art: 

Love this verse, it's a truth that I can count on. The Lord's merciful kindness is great towards me! And His truth endures forever.  NOTHING can change that. Definitely praiseworthy, don't you think? Thank You, Lord for Your steadfast love and mercy! 

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful Christmas!

Christmas Tags - Smitten Mittens

Hello Delightful Friends and Family!

Just wanted to share these tags I made for our Ladies Ministry Christmas Party.  This is just a sampling, I made 30 tags and all of them were a little different except for the backside of the tag with the wording (picture 2).  I did a night sky on each of them, splattered with some white acrylic paint. Then I added a stitched hillside (Lawn Fawn die) which is mostly covered up by the Smitten Mittens (Stampin' Up!) This is a real fun set with lots of extras for designing unique mittens. It has a coordinating die set that was a real time saver for me!  I used Distress inks both the regular and Oxide pads for the sentiment "Smitten" and the night skies. I embossed with white embossing powder on a few, I embellished pattern paper, I did a lot of little extras to make each one special. (and so that I wouldn't get bored making the same thing over and over!) It was fun and the ladies really liked them, too! 😀

The wording on the back of the tags were words from a stamp set from SRM - Faith called I Am.

Our theme for the party was "Smitten with Jesus" and it was to keep in perspective why we have such a reason to celebrate the Christmas season.  I know it's not your typical Christmas theme, but even before Jesus was born it was God's plan for Jesus to be "smitten by God"(Isaiah 53:4) to redeem us from sin and it shows just how much we are loved by Him and we should be "smitten" with Him.  There were a couple of different definitions for the word smitten so it all tied in together nicely.  I like how the Lord always pulls everything together for me like that!! Anyway... we had a lovely day, good food, sweet fellowship and a gift exchange of "mittens" that was fun too!

 Hope you are inspired to get crafty!  Thanks for visiting!

"For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Fear not, I will help you.'"  Isaiah 41:13

O Little Town of Bethlehem - Word Art Wednesday Challenge

Hello Delightful friends and family!

It's time for our challenge from Word Art Wednesday! As always it's an Anything Goes/Family Friendly challenge (#312 & #313) and there are prizes to win!!  Our sponsors this week are Frantic Stamper and Imagine That.  Thanks so much to our sponsors and remember that you can link up 5 new projects that will be entered to win. 

 I was inspired from a lot of the night skies I've been seeing on Pinterest and so I've used the Distress Inks both regular and the Oxide line to make my card background.  I've been playing around with different color combos and hopefully soon I will be posting some tags I've made for our Ladies Ministry Christmas Luncheon (I've made 30 large tags!) The colors I've used in my background were Distress Ink Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Chipped Sapphire and the Oxide Inks were Black Soot, Salty Ocean and Worn Lipstick. I blended the colors on 140lb cold press Strathford watercolor paper. After the colors were layered, I spritzed it with water, dried, then splattered with white acrylic paint.

The Bethlehem border die is from Taylored Expressions and the star is an older punch that I've had for years. I added Distress Ink Squeezed Lemon to color it. A navy blue card stock is used to frame out the Scripture Art as well as the paper used on the border die. 

Our Scripture this week is from Luke 2.  It talks about a sign - the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger, the Lamb of God. Now we are waiting for the Lamb of God to return to us as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.  So many signs point to His return, it's what we  Christians call the "blessed hope".  We live with great expectation and anticipation (kinda like a little child waiting for Christmas!) we are living in exciting times that is for sure! 

Thanks so much for visiting and may you have a blessed week!

WAW Challenge #310 and #311

Happy Thanksgiving to all my Delightful friends and family!

I have so much to be thankful for and it's so important that we take time to reflect on that, not just today or this season but everyday.  Perhaps if we have a grateful mindset there would be more kindness in the world, especially if we keep in mind as believers that we are doing everything (word and deed) to bring glory and honor to the Lord Jesus Christ.  Our Scripture Art today expresses that very sentiment.  

Here is my card to share today for Word Art Wednesday and I'm a day late in posting so I apologize to my WAW Design team.  It's been crazy hectic here and I lost track of my days! 

This is a very simple card to reproduce and would make a nice gift set by just changing up the sentiment and ribbon or the color scheme.  I've use a stencil to create the background. The stencil is from Ranger a Dylusions small stencil called Fronds of Foliage and by using earthtone colors I've given this an Autumn feel.  The inks I've used are: Distress inks Crushed Olive, Shabby Shutters, Forest Moss, Fossilized Amber, Fired Brick and Vintage Photo to blend around the edges. I added a bow using Darice Hemp Cording and a brown gingham check.  The Scripture Art was printed then diecut using the Cross Stitched Square (Cottage Cutz), I've matted the Scripture with a dark brown card stock. The card base is Neenah Desert Storm card stock and it's an A2 size with a side fold.

I hope you'll take time to play along, the challenge is open for two weeks and there are prizes to win!! Check it out HERE.  Just remember that it's a family friendly anything goes challenge and you can link up to 5 new projects!

Thanks so much for visiting and have a blessed not stressed week!!

Giving Thanks - Word Art Wednesday Challenge

Hello Delightful friends and family!

I have so much to be thankful for and that is exactly what the Scripture Art for this weeks Word Art Wednesday expresses!  Give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good; For His mercy endures forever! Living out a life of thankfulness must start with the Lord, He is our Creator! He gives us our breath so that we can praise and thank Him! Thank You Lord for Your steadfast love and faithfulness. 

 Hope you play along this week with us and share your thankfulness with us too at the Anything Goes/Family Friendly Challenge at Word Art Wednesday! The new challenge starts today November 8th.

  

Here is my card:

I've been trying to use some of my watercolor backgrounds that I've made then set aside for a "rainy day".  This one was using a technique I learned in an Online Card Class I took last year. The colors were perfect for an Autumn card, I matted it in dark brown (the picture looks like a black mat but its a rich brown) and added a brown ribbon (American Crafts) and a die cut leaf (Lawn Fawn - small Stitched leaves), I used paper for the leaf from Doodlebug Design Flea Market (6x6 pad), I've added Oxide Distress ink to the edges (Vintage Photo). The watercolor paper is made by Ranger and is 118-lb; I'm not sure what watercolors I used, they probably were the Reeves brand that comes in a tube. I used a flat brush #1/2 also from Ranger. I've added a few drops of Nuvo Jewel Drops (Limoncello) to the leaf, just 'cause I could 😁 it didn't really add much to the final look so if I was to do it again I probably would have left it off.

Don't forget to play along with us at Word Art Wednesday, link up and perhaps you may win one of our prizes!! This challenge our sponsor is Simon Says Stamp! Most of the items I've used in my card you can get at Simon Says Stamp online store. You have 2 weeks to play and you can link up to 5 projects!  We had 290 entries last challenge! 

Thanks so much for visiting and have a blessed week!

Word Art Wednesday - Counted Faithful

Hello Delightful friends and family!

We are having a heat wave this week!  I can't believe it was as warm and balmy as it was and it's late October! I've been working on a couple of classes for December at Scrapper's Edge our local scrapbook store and of course they are Christmas cards but it feels like I should make a beach scene instead of a snow scene! But looking at the leaves on the trees outside bring me back to reality for they are beautifully changing colors and falling on the ground. The changing seasons most definitely shout out the glory of God. 

Today I have a card to share for Word Art Wednesday - Hope you will play along with us and link your project at the challenge blog.  We have sponsors and prizes so be sure and check us out HERE.  You can link up to 5 new projects!  This challenge is Anything Goes - Family Friendly.

I've pulled out my all time favorite Unity Stamp Co. pumpkin stamps.  It's probably retired but I just love it and pull it out every fall season. I've used a mix of regular Distress Inks with Oxide Distress inks on both watercolor paper and also on 80 lb Neenah bright white. I fussy cut out the leaves and pumpkins after coloring them and then popped up the smallest, added hemp cording and a button.

This Scripture Art this week is from 1 Timothy 1:12 and this card with Scripture would be ideal to give to someone in ministry (especially a pastor since it's Pastor Appreciation Month).  I know from experience how important it is to have an encouraging word from time to time, especially when we are right in the midst of the spiritual battle that we face when in the ministry.  It is so important to persevere and remain faithful, the Lord gives us the strength and truly does enable us to do the work He has called us to do. My prayer is that when I see my Savior face to face that He will say "well done, good and faithful servant." 

But I count my life of no value to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God's grace.  Acts 20:24

Have a blessed week and thanks for visiting!

Word Art Wednesday - Remembering without Ceasing

Hello Delightful friends and family!

Autumn is in full swing here! I'm not sure I'm ready to let go of the nice weather though.  Especially when having to get up early and the house is cold. Brrr! Well, I'm not here to talk  about the cooling weather but share a card for Word Art Wednesday 😇.  This is a Family Friendly/Anything Goes challenge #304 and #305, and our sponsor this challenge is Simon Says Stamp!!  Yay!! 

Here is my card:

I've use a couple of items that are Simon Says exclusive and they are the "Thanks on a Line" Die and the teeny tiny heart is a stamp from Wild About You set. I ordered this die last year and hadn't used it yet but it is the perfect embellishment.  I've used a piece of pattern paper to cut it out that was from a fall-themed 6x6 pad with fall colors and I love how it has turned out. The colors on the yellow gingham work perfectly. The leaf stamp is from Stampendous and I've stamped it on watercolor paper (Strathford 140lb cold press) that was diecut using the Lawn Fawn Simple Stitched Hillside die and then using Distress Inks and my MISTI, stamping it multiple times with different fall colored inks.  Once I got a nice combination of inks outlining the image, I began to add water and dropped in color.  After it was dry I stamped the heart, colored it red and added Glossy Accents. The Scripture Art is from 1 Thessalonians 1:3 and I've printed it on vellum. 

I already have a family that I will be sending this card to this week.  They shared their home with me over the weekend as I went to the Beth Moore Living Proof Event in Sacramento this past weekend.  To see their faith in action, their labor of love (hospitality) and the love and hope they have in our Lord Jesus Christ was a real blessing to me.  I will remember their sweet devotion to one another as well.  Thanks to: Jeff, Brandy and children (Katelyn, Hannah, Cody, Caleb, Zach, Grace, Levi, Aaron, Eliza & Maddie) those are the kids still home, the four oldest are either married or living away from home.  Yes, fourteen in all! Each of them exemplify this verse and seeing what God is doing in their family is truly amazing.  To God be all the glory!

Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.  1 Thessalonians 1:3

That's it for me today! Thanks for visiting.  Have a blessed week and please remember northern California in your prayers, we are being ravaged by fires. 

Set the Example - Word Art Wednesday 302 & 303 challenge

Hello Delight friends and family!

We've been enjoying our beautiful autumn weather here in northern California!  The leaves are changing with cool mornings and evenings and just delightful days!  My hubby and I just might hit the beach on Thursday morning to do a little bit of fishing for red tail perch in the surf before it turns too cold and windy.  Fall has inspired my card today for Word Art Wednesday.  I just love the Doodlebug Design Flea Market 6x6 paper, it's so cheerful! The pattern is pretty busy so I kept the design simple.  The scarecrow comes from a stamp set from Darcie's Heart & Home called Crow About, I've colored the image with Copic Markers and added a button and a hemp cording bow.

The Word Art this week is from 1 Timothy 4:12.  I know a lot of teachers focus in on the first part of this verse but I want to encourage you to live out the last part by being an example in the way you live, your speech, how you love/charity (agape), how you walk in the spirit by having a godly attitude, being faithful and being pure in the sight of men but especially in God's view. Paul was talking to a young man named Timothy but these instructions are perfect for us today no matter our age.  I want to be an example to believers and non-believers alike.  So if you are facing difficulties and living out your faith in Christ before people, just remember that they are watching you, so your attitude speaks volumes even without words. You will be pleasantly surprised when someone asks you about how you can be so at peace in the midst of turmoil or difficulties.  You can share the love of Jesus with them for you know it's what is sustaining you, sharing the Gospel message is really empowering and will give you boldness to share even more. It's such a blessing to minister God's love to others by sharing your testimony.

Thanks so much for visiting and please head over to the Word Art Wednesday Blog and link up your family friendly, Anything Goes Project and perhaps you will win the random drawing. The challenge lasts for two weeks and you can link 5 new projects!

Not to late to join us at Word Art Wednesday!

Hey Delightful Friends and Family!

It's not to late to play with us at Word Art Wednesday.  Join us by linking up a new card or project that's family friendly, Anything Goes is the theme!

Here is my card that I'm super late in sharing but my goodness life has decided to interfere with my craft time, as well as my blogging time.  God is good and an update on my husband: He is doing well after his heart attack and he is adjusting to the Cpap machine (finally) an answer to prayer for sure. We are really watching our diet being both heart healthy and diabetic friendly and we are getting some good results. Thank you for your continued prayers!!

Thanks again for visiting Word Art Wednesday and playing along!!  And thank you for stopping by!

May you have a blessed week and please pray for America!

Trials Will Come

Hello Delightful friends and family,

I been MIA here in blogland for the last couple of weeks.  My husband Kerry had a heart attack (he is doing great, thank the Lord!) but ended up being in the hospital for a couple of days and having 3 stints put in to open up the blockage in his arteries.  It's taking a little bit of adjusting due to some lifestyle changes (mainly his diet and also trying to sleep with a cpap mask, any tips to help him adjust to this mask? He's fighting it big time). 

Learning to keep meals and snacks heart healthy and diabetic friendly have been a little challenging and time consuming.  I want meals to taste good!  So... my focus has not been on crafting but counting calories, cholestrol, sodium, fat, protein, plus finding good recipes, etc.  But it's paying off for my sweetie, he has lost 10lbs and that's good but why did I only loose 3? Just doesn't seem fair! 😏

Well, it's time for another Word Art Wednesday challenge.  It's Anything Goes - Family Friendly. Our sponsors are Heartfelt Creations (product) and Cutting Cafe (digital).  Two prizes!! You'll have 2 weeks to play along and you can link up 5 new projects.

Here is my card for challenge 298 & 299:

I've used the Sizzix die (Tim Holtz Alterations Tree Line Thinlits) which I diecut using black cardstock and doubled it up for more dimension.  The background was created with watercolors on 140lb Strathmore cold press watercolor paper. Super easy to do.  Start with some light colors but lots of pigment on your paint brush.  Dry completely and then paint over it with black. I splattered the paper with white acrylic paint that I've had for ages!  I used a circle punch to create the moon and swiped some acrylic white paint across the yellow card stock to give it a shadowy effect. I've colored the banner with Wink of Stella Gold and a Spica gold pen.

Our Scripture Art is from the book of Job: "But He knoweth the way I take: when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold." Job 23:10

How appropriate for this week considering what we have been going through this week. The Lord knew exactly what kind of trial we would be facing. You see, since He knows, He can strengthen us to face each trial and as we submit to Him we are able to come forth as gold.  That means are faith which is more precious than gold has been purified through the heat of the trial.  Consider what the people in Texas and Lousianna are going through right now because of Hurricane Harvey. Our nation has an opportunity to come forth as gold, pleasing to our Lord by showing love to our neighbors no matter their political affiliation. Perhaps this disaster will bring healing to our nation. It touches all of us and I hope that we all step up and do the right thing to honor the Lord Jesus and help our brothers and sisters in need. I don't know about you but I sure want my faith to come forth as gold in the eyes of the Lord. Trials will come and go, learn to lean on our Creator and He will direct your path in a way that will be for your good and His glory.

Thanks for visiting and continued prayers for our friends in Texas and Louisiana.

God is Faithful - Word Art Wednesday

Hello and blessings to my delightful friends and family,

Time for another fun Anything Goes - Family Friendly challenge at Word Art Wednesday (#294-295)! 

Hope you've been able to play along and if not maybe this week you can join us.  You can link up to 5 new projects.  We would love for you to play along. This week our sponsors are Frantic Stamper (online store) and Craftin' Desert Diva's (2 digis) and there are lots to choose from! Thank you to our Sponsors! Be sure and visit their blogs and check out their shops!

Here is my card:

Our Scripture art is from 1 Corinthians 10:13 and it's not too clear in the photo (so sorry), you can grab it at Word Art Wednesday or here below (it's free to use!).

Paul reminds us in the verse that God is faithful when we are faced with temptation.  If we are willing, He will make a way out for us.  Notice I said "if we are willing" unfortunately we have a tendency to let our flesh nature get the best of us or we reason that what we are doing isn't so bad, but God definitely has higher standards for His children.  This is where His faithfulness comes into play for us.  Because we belong to Him and He loves us so much the Lord will make a way for us to escape the temptation which will lead to sin.  He makes us aware of it sometimes through a verse that comes to mind, or "a check" or "uneasiness" in our spirit, or the Lord will send someone our way (divine appointment!) to help us through whatever difficulty it may be.  BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL... such true and profound words.  I'm so glad I serve such a loving Father that has sent His Holy Spirit to walk alongside me not to trip me up or trick me but to encourage and help me stay on the path towards Him.  God is most definitely faithful!

Ingredients to my card:

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Gingham background and Wild Cuddly Critters; 

Dies: Lawn Fawn - Spring Showers and Stitched Hillside borders;

Taylored Expressions - Rolling Clouds die;

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black; Distress Oxide Broken China

Copic Markers to color.

Thanks so much for visiting and have a blessed week!

Keepin' it Simple - Word Art Wednesday (Challenge #292 & 293)

Hello Delightful Friends and Family,

Sharing a card  for Word Art Wednesday (Challenge #292 & #293) that is super simple, no stamping, only pattern paper, a Lawn Fawn Die, a dimensional sticker and  Scripture art digi. I'm so happy this came together so quickly I've not managed my time well as of late (Hmmm is it because it's summer?? Good excuse as any I suppose!) So I'm running a bit behind getting this blog post completed. So let's get to the basic details.  The challenge is Anything Goes - family friendly,  our fabulous sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp! You can link up to 5 new projects (many of you do and you are awesome!) There is always a lovely devotional to read that corresponds with the Scripture Art so be sure and check it out. The challenge runs for two weeks, which gives you more time to play with us!!

Here is my card: (see I told you it was simple)

Pattern Paper: Penny Black (Beau Jardin); Lawn Fawn Die (Stitched Simple Hillsides);Flower embellishment is from Crate Paper called Pretty Party.

Here is the free digital art you can use if you'd like to:

I am so grateful for the forgiveness of my sins and that God has removed them far from me. God who is all knowing and ever present chooses not to remember our sins.  If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us of all of our sins. He has done this because of the atonement at the cross. Jesus gave His life for us so that we could live and be reconciled to the Father. A simple but awe-inspiring truth.  Oh the steadfast love and mercy and abundant grace of our Lord is so humbling.  I love Him so! 

Have a blessed week and thanks for visiting.

Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge

Hello Delightful friends and family!
A belated Happy 4th of July! Hope everyone had a safe and fun day. We are just getting back from a quick trip to Oregon for my nephews wedding reception and we stayed a couple extra days for some R&R and a jet boat trip to Hellsgate on the Rogue River from Grants Pass.  It was a blast.😁

I have to start out my blog by apologizing that I have the wrong Scripture Art on my card for this weeks challenge.  I didn't realize I hadn't printed out the July word art and when I searched for it in my email the 2016 July art came up because I hadn't received the 2017 word art, so I used it without realizing the error. But I do have a card, that's the good news and the scripture is a good one to use anyway! So really there is no loss here in my opinion 😊 and I'm excited because I was able to use my new Koi watercolors on the flowers on this card.
So without further ado here is my card for Word Art Wednesday Challenge 290 & 291:

My background was made with Distress Inks Fired Brick and Peeled Paint and a mini mister and a wet-on-wet technique on 140lb cold press Strathmore watercolor paper. I did some very loose watercoloring of the flowers and leaves from this stamp set called Doodlebuds from WPlus9. They are one of my all time favorite stamps sets! After loosely coloring them, I let them dry naturally then fussy cut them out and arranged them and adhered them after I positioned the Scripture that had been diecut using the Cottage Cutz Cross stitched square die.

Here below is the Scripture art that should have been used today and you are more than welcome to use it and play along with us at Word Art Wednesday!! You can link up to 5 new projects and have a chance to win a prize from our sponsors this week!! This challenge is a family friendly Anything Goes challenge.

Hope you have a great week and are enjoying your summer!!

Thanks for visiting!

It's Summer! WAW challenge 288 and 289

Hello Delightful friends and family!!

Happy summer! Time to turn up the AC and pull out the sun screen!  Now I must admit, we don't have AC because it doesn't get that hot here in northern California.  We open the windows and back door to get a bit of a breeze to go through the house! But we sure don't have to go far to get into the extreme heat! Of course there are a couple of big lakes to jump into if it gets too hot and locally we have the river and ocean to cool off in.

Well, it's time for another Word Art Wednesday Challenge with a fabulous sponsor in Simon Says Stamp! So be sure and link up your project for a chance to win a $25 gift card!  Thanks to everyone who plays along, I'm amazed how many entries we have each challenge and all the beautiful creations.

Here is my card, I didn't use an exclusive Simon Says Stamp but you could get this stamp and die from their online store.  I have a list of my ingredients below the card.

Ingredients - Stamp: Floral Bouquet from Avery Elle, Die: Horizontal Stripes, Avery Elle-ments.

Colored with Tombow Markers. Embellished with Liquid Pearls (buttercup); Strathmore 140lb cold press watercolor paper; Neenah white card stock (base); Pink card stock (stash). Scripture Art (digi from Karen Murray).  I've stamped the largest image once, two of the smaller blossoms, a spray and 4 leaves and assembled them on the card after I watercolored and fussy cut them out.

The Scripture Art is from the book of Jeremiah (chapter 31 and verse 3) and is all about the lovingkindness of the Lord.  Even at times when we are rebellious and stubborn, the Lord goes to extraordinary lengths to extend grace and mercy.  Is that a reason to continue in sin, absolutely not! He gently reminds us to get back on the right path many times before discipline comes to us.  But what good father doesn't discipline his children, right?  There is another Scripture that comes to mind that I read the other day in the book of Psalms that I would like to share. If we would just remember to give God the glory and praise Him for His faithfulness, it helps us to stay the course and be blessed of the Lord. He only wants what is best for us and is always there to help us to endure through whatever comes our way.

It is good to give thanks to the LORD, And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High. To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, And Your faithfulness every night;    Psalm 92:2

Thanks so much for visiting! Have a blessed week and enjoy the summer!

Mustard Seed Challenge #7 and CAS-ual Friday#175 Challenge

Hello Delightful friends and family (again!) this is my second post!

I'm playing along with the Mustard Seed Challenge Blog - the challenge is to make a card that features relationships.  I thought that the sentiment fit perfectly for this challenge. Not only do we thank our friends but we give thanks for our friends!  I will also be linking up at CAS-ual Fridays #175 (use those pattern papers).

I've colored this using Zig Clean Color Brushes. The stamp sets I've used are Sweet n Sassy Pretty Potted Florals set and Hampton Arts Happy set. I've used the Cottage Cutz Cross Stitched Oval Die.  The Designer Paper is Bella Blvd Barn Yard (green) and Doodlebug Design Fun in the Sun.  This card is a sample of one of the cards we will be making in my CrafterNoon card class at Scrapper's Edge in July.

Thanks so much for visiting!

A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.  Proverbs 18:24

Word Art Wednesday - They shall be filled!

Hello Delightful friends and family!

Just a quick post to share a card for the challenge at Word Art Wednesday this week.
It's an Anything Goes - Family Friendly challenge featuring Scripture Art that each design team member uses to share a project and to share God's Word!  Hope you will play along with us, remember you can link up 5 new projects and you have two weeks to play.  This challenge sponsors are Lawn Fawn (6x6 paper pad and stamp set)  and All Dressed Up (they have some of the cutest digitals).  Two wonderful prizes to play for!!
This weeks Scripture Art is from the Gospel of Matthew 5:6.  It is free to download!  You can grab it at Word Art Wednesday, this weeks challenge is #286 and #287.

Here is my card:

Using my MISTI I stamped this image from the Avery Elle stamp set called  Floral Frame. This is the largest stamp in the set and I first stamped in the top right corner, then flipped my paper and stamped on the opposite side bottom. I used Memento Gray Flannel to stamp the floral frame then colored with my Copic Markers and then added Prismacolor Pencils (White, Orange and Process Red) to add some finishing touches.  It was then matted on black card stock and adhered to a white card base.  Super simple and the coloring was very simple too, very little shading.  I did outline everything with Copic N1 and N0 for added depth.  Should be very easy to pop into an envelope and sent to a friend in need, it's flat and I didn't add any dimensional embellishments.

The Scripture art from Matthew 5:6 is from the Beatitudes that Jesus taught, you find them in what's know as the Sermon on the Mount.  This teaching is about the Christian life, both present and future, it shows that God is sovereign over all. The word beatitude means supreme blessedness or happiness.  The blessings promised in the beatitudes are directly related to our obedience to Christ Jesus our Lord. They develop our Christ-likeness by producing a godly character. If we are going to be "filled" we must hunger and thirst after righteousness, this will help us to develop humility, meekness, compassion, holiness, obedience, sensitivity and a growing commitment to Jesus Christ. These are to be evident in our lives and show that we are truly blessed and are born again of the Spirit. Remember we were bought at a price; therefore we glorify God with our body and our spirit which belong to our sovereign God.  To God be all the glory!

Thanks so much for visiting! Have an excellent week!

Longing For the Lord - Word Art Wednesday #284 & #285

Hello Delightful friends and family!

Enjoying some nice weather and watching all four of the grand munchkins playing baseball and softball.  Thankfully I only have to divide myself between 3 teams since the two youngest are on the same softball team.  But sometimes two teams are playing at the same time at the same park (isn't that fun). I've got to learn to clone myself! 😎

 So inbetween games, work, church etc. I was able to make this card for Word Art Wednesday.  This weeks sponsor is Simon Says Stamps so I was pleased to be able to use these pretty stamps called Roses For You a stamp set from the Simon Says Stamp line. Remember you can link up 5 new projects to share with us at WAW.  It is an Anything Goes - Family Friendly Challenge!

Thanks to everyone playing last challenge there were over 360 entries! That's just incredible!

I've stamped the images with Versamark and then heat embossed with Gold embossing powder and colored the roses, leaves and background with Peerless watercolors on 140lb cold press watercolor paper.

Our Scripture art this week is from Psalm 42:1.  I love the book of Psalms (in reality I love ALL the Bible!) it teaches us redemption, it teaches us to seek the Lord with all of our hearts plus there is great encouragement from the Lord through the writers of Psalms. But what speaks to my heart loudly and teaches me so vividly is how to seek the Lord and be a woman after God's heart.  This verse today uses the natural desire of a thirsty deer, a deer seeking water perhaps due to a drought or perhaps it has been pursued by a hunter and needs water to continue it's flight. It gives us the picture of how we should be longing after our Lord Jesus. 

 The Word of God refreshes us just as a deep drink of cold water when thirsty and I'm talking about being really parched and then being satisfied. Seeking/longing to know God can truly satisfy, meditating on His Word brings about contentment, a sense of satisfaction that the world cannot give. Can I encourage you to take a deep drink of God's Word so that you too can be satisfied?  Here is another verse in Psalms that David wrote:

O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.  Psalm 63:1

Seek and trust God wholeheartedly and be satisfied!

Well, that's it for me today! I think I might be able to prep for my card class which is next week since there won't be anymore games until after Memorial Day weekend.  Maybe I can get ahead! (ha!)

Enjoy the rest of the week and thanks so much for visiting!  Don't forget to visit the Word Art Wednesday Blog and play along with us.  It's a two week challenge!

Happy Thoughts! Mustard Seed Faith Challenge

Hello Delightful friends and family!

Just a quick post to share a card. I will be entering this at the Mustard Seed Faith Blog - God as Creator is the challenge as well as a sketch (which I didn't follow this time). The ladies shared the lyrics to the song by Big Daddy Weave called Overwhelmed. It talks about how overwhelming God is in His power, His mercy and of course His creation.  You don't have to go far to see His creation (just look in the mirror!).  I think of the saying about stopping and smelling the roses, well this card doesn't have roses but it has flowers and when you stop and look at each flower and realize they had to have a designer and that designer is God, it is overwhelming!  Flowers most definitely shout out about the glory of God!

The flower stamps I've used are a set by Sweet 'n Sassy called Pretty Potted Florals (which were designed by NinaB Designs who incidentally years ago designed my blog signature and I don't want to ever replace it! I love it!)

The sentiment is from the set called Happy by Hampton Arts.

I've colored with Tombow Markers and stamped with Archival Jet Black ink.  The watercolor paper is Strathmore 140lb cold press. The card stock is Neenah bright white 80lb and I've cut it to be a 4.25" square card.  The die is from Spellbinders.

I double stamped two of the flowers and one leaf that hangs over the framed die. The butterfly is from a stamp set called Floral Silhouettes One (JustRite Papercrafts) which I used my Tombow markers to ink up on the watercolor paper. I've popped up the main image with dimensional adhesive as well as the two extra flowers.

Well that's it for me today!  Have a great weekend. Thanks for visiting.

PS Just found out I won a prize at MSF blog for the last challenge!  Thank you!!

Praise the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, You are very great; You are clothed with splendor and majesty.  Psalm 104:1

He Keeps His Promises - Word Art Wednesday (282 & 283)

Hello Delightful friends and family!
I have a fun digital image to share today for the Word Art Wednesday Challenge. It is one of our sponsor's Bugaboo Stamps cute creation called Fun Flowers.  I teamed it up with an older stamp from Gina K Designs that I love and haven't used nearly enough called Holiday Baskets.  I pulled out my Prismacolor Pencils for this one!  Hope you will link up and play along with our Anything Goes - Family Friendly Challenge, you can link  up to 5 different projects!

Additional supplies on card:

Neenah white card stock

Ribbon - American Crafts

Uniball Signa white gel pen

Lawn Fawn Stitched Rectangle die

Odorless Mineral Spirits and blender

The Scripture art on the card is from Genesis 28:15 "And, behold, I am with thee and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoke to thee of."

God is making a promise to Jacob and tells him that He will bring him back to the land. The land which God had made a covenant promise with Abraham and Isaac.  When you think about the state that Jacob is in when God renews the covenant promise you realize the faithfulness of God.  Jacob has just lied to his father Isaac, agrees to a deceitful plan with his mother (Jacob was her favorite) and is running from his family in fear of his brothers revenge for stealing away his inheritance.  It was a real mess. This was one very dysfunctional family!  But isn't that the time the Lord shows up? Right in the midst of our messes? Indeed! It shows the lengths that God goes to keep us in the palm of His hand.  Jacob had to go through a lot of trials before returning to his homeland but it was a time of dealing with some very difficult strongholds in his life and he ends up years later wrestling with the Lord and finally is marked both spiritually and physically after that encounter.  He even gets a name change and faces his fears and the Lord truly shows His faithfulness to him.
Perhaps you feel your life is in a real mess right now.  You can know that the Lord will minister to your need and get you through it.  But you must trust Him and His sovereignty.  He wants you to have hope!  There must be a deliberate effort on your (and mine) part to trust the Lord to direct your path.  As a matter of fact He want us to be diligent in setting our minds on things above rather than on our circumstances and the distractions they cause.  The deeper you immerse yourself in God's Word and His promises the more you will grow in faith and in the knowledge of God. This knowledge isn't necessarily head knowledge but heart knowledge - know the Author of the Word! That's what Jacob experienced when he wrestled with the Lord. What a difference in our outlook when we begin to apply God's Word and see His faithfulness exhibited in our lives.
It all starts by humbling ourselves before Him and believing on the Lord Jesus Christ.  If you haven't done that perhaps that is why you are reading this right now.  The Lord is tugging on your heart to receive Him as Lord and Savior, please don't wait another minute! Once you invite Him into your heart it's important to tell someone. The Lord has made is simple for us, we must first admit we are sinners, then believe that God has raise Jesus from the dead, confess that He is Lord and then begin a journey with Him you will never regret. I know I have never regreted that decision, not once!

Thanks for visiting and have a blessed week!

Finding Joy - Word Art Wednesday (Challenge 280 & 281)

Hello Delightful friends and family!

Just a quick post to share my card for Word Art Wednesday.  I've been doing lots of experimenting with watercolors and my card this week is no exception.  I've used layering stamps, a Distress Ink, a Marvy Brush Marker and a Zig Clean Color Marker for this card.

Hope you'll link up this week (and next) at WAW, share your project with us! This weeks generous sponsor is Simon Says Stamp!! Also welcome to Diane Hover who has been our  Guest Designer this month!  Be sure and visit the challenge site and read the devotional plus see all the fun creations by the design team!

 Above is this weeks free Word Art digi.

Ingredients to card:

Hampton Art Layering Stamp "Happy"

Distress ink - Worn Lipstick

Marvy Brush Marker - Olive (stamped off once)

Zig Clean Color marker - orange

140lb Strathmore cold press watercolor paper

pink gingham ribbon (my stash)

Green card stock

Neenah bright white 80lb card stock (base and digi sentiment)

Our scripture art this week features Psalm 5:11.  This is one of my favorites for personal reasons but I have to add the following verse 12 to make it complete for me.  I even wrote a worship song for our church based on these verses.
Here is verse 12 in the NKJV:
"For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield."
I would have to look back at some old journaling notebooks of mine to see why exactly these verses ministered to me so much but I do know that I pray for God's favor to surround me as a shield. Verses 11 and 12 remind me that joy, protection and blessing will surround me because I put my trust and faith in the Lord.  Just imagine that large shield designed to surround us completely with God's benefits.  If that doesn't create a bit of joy in the soul then I don't know what will!!  Chapter 5 is a great prayer for guidance that David penned and in my bible notes it says "To the Chief Musician, with flutes, a Psalm of David" perhaps that is why I was inspired to pen my own song after reading these verses! But I must admit, I do not play the flute, I play the keyboards, however, I believe there is a flute function on it! 😁
Well that's all for me, I pray you all have a fantastic week and trust that you will be delighted by God's Word and as you seek Him early each day you will feel that joy and peace that surrounds you like a shield.

Thanks so much for visiting!

Mustard Seed Faith Challenge - Traveling Mercies and Seize the Birthday Challenge

Hello Delightful friends and family!  Happy Resurrection Sunday to you all!

Just found this new Christian Challenge blog called Mustard Seed Faith Challenge I just want to give a shout out to them, I recognize a few of the names and what a blessed group of talented ladies on the Design Team! Be sure and visit and link up and read their devotional too.  This weeks theme is "Traveling Mercies" (MSFC #3) so the card below I finished yesterday definitely qualifies!

I've been playing in my craftroom the last couple of days and trying to get some samples done for a class in June at Scrapper's Edge.  So I've got my theme for one class:  "Lovin' Summer" instead of Summer Lovin' which reminds me of the song from Grease! Not really sure if that's the title of the song 😀

 It will be a combination masculine/summer cards. I think this will be one of  the three cards. I've watercolored the background sky and sand/road and also the VW bus and used this cute paper from Doodlebug Designs called Fun in the Sun Collection. I wish the photo was better, the colors on the water color paper are more vivid than what's showing. I used Tombow Markers for all of the coloring and a #12 round brush on the background and a #3 round brush on the van and palm trees. I've also used a black Copic small brush marker for touch ups around the tires.

I think I will add Glossy Accents to the windows and a sequin or two or three (I like odd numbers)around the sentiment and this will be complete. The stamp set I've used is called Surf's Up from Avery Elle.

I haven't played over at Seize the Birthday  in a long while so I will be linking up there too! The challenge is to use 2 different pattern papers.

Have a blessed week! Thanks for visiting.

“And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” Matthew 28:7