For You... Play Date Cafe Challenge

Hello Delightful Friends and Family!

I had fun with this color challenge after I finally found some papers to work! It took me a while to get a design going, but after all is said and done, I'm pretty happy with the results AND it's already in the mail off to someone... just in case they stumble across this post I will not reveal to whom.

Here are the fabbie colors for Play Date Cafe (#114)

Here is my card:  Mimi in Paris (Penny Black stamps)

Inside: Taylored Expressions Stamp set:  Buddy Bear (New release last week)

Here is the list of my supplies:   Designer paper: My Minds Eye - Stella Rose (beret) and 29th Street Market; Card Stock: Bazzill and Neenah; Ink: Palette, black; Distress Ink, Milled Lavendar; Accessories: American Crafts ribbon; Taylored Expressions, tiny twinklettes;  Ranger, Liquid Pearls (Bisque); Spica Pens: gold, lavendar and garnet; Tools:  ProvoCraft Embossing Folder, Cassie's Brocade; Cuttlebug; Spellbinders Nestabilities, Lacey Circles; Marvy Uchida Scallop Heart punch;  Copics: Y00, Y02, Y11, Y21, Y26, Y28, YR23, W1, E35, R000, R00, R11, R21, R59, BV02, V04, V09, V17.  Finished card A2 size.

Thanks so much for looking and I appreciate the delightful comments!!  Have a blessed weekend.

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."  Hebrews 11:6

HELLO! BLD #22 & CPS #250

Hi Delightful Friends and Family! 

Today I'm sharing a card for fun.  Two challenges, a sketch and a color challenge.

Lori Boyd is starting up her challenges again (yay!!) This week is a color challenge and I'm using one of her digis from the Sugar Sticks Collection named Sallie (isn't she adorable?!)

Yummy colors!

Here is my card using the sketch from Card Positioning Systems #250

I'm trying really hard to only use paper from my scrap basket so unfortunately I cannot tell you what designer paper I've used.  The card stock is Bazzill and Neenah (bright white).  I've used the Marvy Uchida punch to punch out the image and the Fiskars border punch (Upper Crest) for the side border, EK Success Corner punch (one of my fav tools) rounded the bottom edges of the card base.  The sentiment stamp is from Taylored Expressions (Bugabee set) and the ink is Palette, black, I've used my scissors to cut the ends of the paper.   I've accented Sallie's dress, bow and shoes using Smooch pearlized accent ink (moonlit, sassy pink).  The Copic markers used are: E09, E15, E18, E35; R000, R00, R11, R21, R81, R83, R85;   The finished card is A2 size.

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful week!  God bless.

"The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."   2 Peter 3:9

Winter Birthday Card using Card Patterns Sketch 147

Hello Delightful friends and family!

I've been on a roll the last few days and have been able to get some cards made for some birthdays and thank you cards that needed to get sent out.  I'm almost done with the ones I need for the first half of the month!  Sean liked his card a lot! (read last post) His wife, Amy has a birthday at the end of the month so I'll be searching for just the right stamp to make her card soon.  Here is the latest sketch challenge I found to play along to get the crafty juices flowing!  Here is the link to the Card Patterns Blog.

And here is my card, the sentiment inside is from Taylored Expressions which I didn't take a pic of but all the paper and the buttons on the front are from the Key Ingredient Kit from December from TE.  This cute image is from By Lori Designs and she is a Puddle Jumper named Winter Dana and her friend Penny.

Here is the rest of the ingredients:  Designer paper: Bella Blvd - Christmas Wishes; Card Stock: Bazzill, Neenah; Ink: HP computer generated; Spellbinders Nestabilities Deckled Rectangle; Spica Pens: Melon (scarf) Red (bow and zipper);  This image was colored by Copic markers:  R000, R00, R14, R20, R22, R32, R46; YG67, YG03, YG63; E00, E31, E13, E51; Y19; BLACK 100; Distress Ink, worn lipstick was used to soften the bright white edges of the card stock; American Crafts ribbon was used to embellish this A2 card.

Thanks for looking and may God bless you this week!

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33

Happy Birthday Card with Just Us Girls Sketch 118

Hey Delightful Friends and Family! 

I found a fun sketch at the Just Us Girls blog which I've been following but have never played. I thought it would be perfect for the card I was making for my son's birthday (on Monday!).  As far as I know Sean does not read my blog so I'm safe to post it a day early!  He was quite the football player in high school. So when I saw this fun digi from By Lori Boyd (Puddle Jumpers Gavin)  I couldn't resist, especially since it's football season!  The Happy Birthday sentiment is from Taylored Expressions (Jess - The Moka Collection).

Here are the rest of the ingredients:  Designer Paper: Basic Grey; Card Stock: Neenah and Bazzill; Ink: Palette, Black;  Distress Inks - Antique Linen and Vintage Photo; Spellbinders Nestabilities Petite Scallop Oval; Cuttlebug; Copic Markers: R000, R00, R21, R39; B18, B41, B45; YR12; Y28; E09, E15, E18, E19.

Thanks for looking!  Have a blessed day and take time to be grateful. 

 "This is the day that the Lord has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it."  Psalm 118:24

It's Friday! "Just Scootin by" with a Couple of Challenges

Hello Delightful Friends and Family!! 

You all are probably excited because it's FRIDAY!!  (It's also payday, double YAY!!)  Hope you've all had a great week.  I have my house de-Christmasized with the help of my dear hubby and it's back to normal (somewhat normal, I still have the Christmas tablecloth under the "stuff" on the kitchen table that will be next on the list today to take care of!) And I must admit, there are dishes in the sink because I spent the evening after Bible Study in my craft room.  I've a number of birthdays this month and I needed to get a start on some cards!  So I let it slide.... It's so like me :-)

 I was inspired by a couple of challenges and I was excited to use my Sweet Stamp Shop stamps (Scootin' By set) since they are sponsoring the prize at the Play Date Cafe Challenge blog AND I could incorporate some Kraft paper (which I love to use!)

1. Play Date Cafe Challenge (#113) - Color challenge (see picture)

2. Make It Monday With Kraft "Anything Goes Challenge" - The Kraft Journal

I paper pieced, did some fussy cutting and colored with my Copic Markers.  The finished card is A2 (4.25 x 5.5)

(Inside)

Ingredients:  Paper: Bazzill and Neenah card stock; Designer Paper: My Minds Eye - Stella Rose collection; Inks: Palette, Black and Distress Ink: Antique Linen (used to sponge around the mint green and white card stock); Dies: Spellbinders Nestabilities Reversed Wonky Rectangle; Cuttlebug (ProvoCraft) Fiskars Upper Crest Border Punch; Copic Markers: BG0000, BG53; YG00, YG41; CO; Spica Pens, Melon and Turquoise;

Thanks for looking and God bless!!

Here is a verse from Philippians 4:8(KJV) to encourage you:

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Bonjour! (PDCC#112)

Hello Delightful Friends and Family!

Wow, two posts in one day!  It's been a while since I've played along in a challenge so it's fun to start the new year with one of my favorite challenge sites - The Play Date Cafe!   It's a color challenge (#112)   

Details:  Designer Paper: My Minds Eye (Stella Rose) and Doodlebug Designs (Petite Prints - Grasshopper); Card Stock, Bazzill;  Stamps:  Taylored Expressions - Birds of a Feather and Labels of Love; Ink: Palette Black; Ribbon (American Crafts); Copic Markers G000, C0; Kenmore Sewing Machine; Cuttlebug (ProvoCraft); Spellbinders Nestablities Labels Sixteen (part of my Christmas gift from my dear hubby!) Finished card is A2. 

I'm loving my new camera lense another Christmas gift from my sweet hubs!! 

Thanks so much for looking and leaving a delightful comment!  Have a fabulous day!

Gospel Of John Bible Study - Chapter 14 verses 7-11

Hello and Happy New Year to all my delightful friends and family!

We are still experiencing technical difficulties at Our Daily Bread Designs Forum and so I'll be posting the Gospel of John Bible Study here until further notice.  We are in chapter 14 and I've been writing this study for over 2 years now.  If you are new to this blog just a little info about me and this study.  I was on the Christian Paper Crafts Design team and part of my service to the Christian Paper Crafts site was teaching the Bible Study and it was open for everyone to see but the site was sold to Kelley Holland who owns ODBD Stamps and my services on the DT were no longer needed since they already had two DT's already in place but Kelley was kind enough to allow me to continue to teach the Bible Study and post it there.  I'm still posting it on that site, but it is not open to the public at this time.

( I'm going to post it just as it is written at ODBD Forum and please feel free to comment! I did do a little editing but nothing significant from the original)

We are continuing the Gospel of John Bible Study today and hopefully you are ready to be challenged to grow in faith.  So then, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 10:17)

Please take a moment to pray and prepare your heart and may there be a willingness to be instructed by the Holy Spirit as you study this weeks lesson! God’s blessing to you.

The Father Revealed

John 14:7-11

"If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him." Philip said to Him, "Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? "Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. "Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.”

The Lord seems to be rebuking the disciples for their lack of understanding here in this first verse (verse 7) We have already read in John chapter 8 that Jesus had taught that God was His Father and it created quite an uproar with the Pharisees.  Fortunately, Jesus was working on God’s timetable and was not arrested, (remember, His time had not yet come – I encourage you to reread John 8).  For these Jewish disciples this teaching is still very new and without the Holy Spirit to reveal these truths to them, I can only imagine the confusion they may have been experiencing.

Remember what John 14:6  says  “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me”.

In those next verses, Jesus asks the disciples  “Do you not believe….”

#1  …He is in the Father

 #2   The words that He speaks are the Father’s 

 #3  The works that He does are the Father’s.

Then He says “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me,”

And then  He says, “Or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.”

Jesus wants the disciples to get this!  We cannot separate the words or the works of Jesus because both come from the Father and reveal the Father to us.  He is our Creator, our Father, no wonder we have no need to have troubled hearts!!  We can have reassured hearts that we are His children and are in His hands.

 Have you ever read the Bible and you just don’t quite grasp what is being stated?  Sometimes it is so easy to understand and then other times it just goes over your head?  When this happens, then we must continue to pray and read the Word, do not give up.  If you keep studying and proving Scripture with Scripture, the understanding will come, the Lord knows what we have need of and will reveal His Word to us.  I believe the Holy Spirit plays a huge part in our learning, especially when we put forth the effort and have a desire to learn and a willing heart to listen to Him.  He wants to reveal the Word to us. The Holy Spirit was given to us so that we can know Jesus better!  (John 14:26; 1 Corinthians 2:13)

I believe that our attitudes play a big part in learning, too.  Here are three keys to successful studying.  Add prayer to each one and have a journal and pen in hand and watch yourself grow in the Lord!  It should be each of our goals to be more like Jesus, in our words and actions. We must apply what we are learning to be fruitful for the Kingdom.  Trust me when I say it can be quite an adventure!

(Have the heart of the Psalmist! Read Psalm 119)

#1. Desire to learn

Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your law.   Psalms 119:18

2.  A willing heart to listen: we are instructed throughout Scripture to “hear”

I will hear what God the LORD will speak, For He will speak peace To His people and to His saints; But let them not turn back to folly. Psalm 85:8

If you have time this week do a word study on “listen or hear” it can be a real eye opener!! 

3.  Put forth the effort.  

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.   2 Timothy 2:15

In the days which we are living it is so important to know the Father.  Not just facts although that certainly is part of it.  But to know Him in an intimate relational way.  It is having a deeper communion with our Heavenly Father, it is not a religious duty, it is a delight!  Paul said it well in Philippians 3:8-17 ( …that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection,… verse 10)

The burning desire of every believer should be to know God better.  That is why we do Bible studies, read devotionals, pray, and worship the Lord… That I may know Him.

May this year be a new beginning of growth for you in your relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Please do not let the cares of this world stumble you.  God is faithful and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6) That is a promise with wonderful strings attached!! :-)  To God be the glory!

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6

I would love to hear your comments and remember something you share may be just the thing someone needs to read today to encourage them in the faith!  Thank you for your continued prayer support!  I truly covet your prayers.

With affection,

Natalie