The Beauty of God's Creation

Hello everyone! Welcome to another Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge! Kathy is our hostess today and she chose the following verse:

Genesis 1:26, And God said,"Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."

Kathy's challenge today is:
Make a card/project that has some kind of animal on it. It could be a fish, bird, or land mammal, or a bug.:)

It's an amazing thought that God actually made man in HIS image! There's a wealth of things that could be said just about that! There's also much to be said about His putting man in dominion over His creation and the responsibility we bear in that! But as I pondered this verse and what I wanted to do for this challenge.... I knew I wanted to focus on the beauty of nature that God in all His CREATIVITY placed on the earth... and how He blessed man with it all! If you know me at all, you know I love birds... especially Chickadees.... but I find all of God's creatures so amazing! From the wonders of reproduction, to the instincts that all living creatures have, I just stand in awe of the mind of our God! Just think about the process a butterfly goes through before he becomes a butterfly!!! How does that caterpillar that crawls along the ground cocoon himself up and emerge a most beautiful creature that flits from flower to flower, helping to perform yet another function God designed him to do? Could that process ever occur just by chance? I think it's amazing to consider the instincts that God put in His creatures, great and small!

A couple of weeks ago our neighbor saw a turtle lay her eggs up in their yard. She dug her hole, and then labored to lay her eggs, carefully covered up the eggs and then plodded back down to the lake. That may sound like no big deal, except that their house is a LONG way up hill from the lake!!! She had a long trip to make to find the perfect place to lay those eggs, and then instinct helped her find the water again. And you know what? I'm betting those babies will have no trouble finding their way to the water either! Was that turtle born with the knowledge to do that? A creative mind put within her the instinct to do what needed to be done to protect her young. Does a catepillar know when he cocoons up what will happen? What makes him go into that cocoon? Can anyone explain how this could happen but by design... and a very intricate intelligent design at that! You'll have to indulge me this week as I know that's not really the main thing this verse is talking about, but it's something I am still amazed at when I think of God's creativity!


I have a fun project to share with you today! I altered a Kaisercraft Memo Board. I have to tell you I absolutely LOVE how it came out! I started by painting my memo board with T Holtz Crackle Paint, and then cutting and adhering my papers. The dark chocolate is Papertrey and I punched the edge with a Martha Stewart Iron Around the page Punch. For the scallops I hand cut them to match the scallop of the wood. I then stamped lots of different butterflies out using my Layers of Color set "Butterfly Collector". I stamped some flowers from the Layers of Color set "Nature Walk". I colored with Copics and cut out everything, then I sprayed everything with Tattered Angel's Glimmer Mist in Iridescent Gold. There is such a pretty glimmer to everything! I added ZVA Creative pearls swirls, some page pebbles, and put in the hooks to hold the memo pad and the key hooks at the bottom. I just can't look at a butterfly without thinking about God! Do you still have those "awestruck" moments? Is your heart still stirred when you ponder this Creator... and are you amazed that He loves YOU? He does!!! I hope you feel that love all around you!

We'd love to have you play along... if you do, please place a link to the Stampin Sisters in Christ Blog in your post, and place a direct link to your project on the SSCC thread.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team for more inspiration for this week's challenge! Whether you use an animal image, a bird or fish image, or a humble little bug.... I hope you enjoy the moment and the beauty and that it brings your thoughts to Him!

Here's links to the rest of the team to make it easier for you!

Chris
Candace
Linda
Kathy
Randi
Peggysue

Lisa
Miesje
Rebekkah

Thanks for looking and I so appreciate your sweet comments! Have a blessed week!
Thanks also to our sponsor this week,

Wild Flower Kids Stamps - They are donating 5 digital stamps of the winner's choice
I am entering this in the following challenges:

Your Next Stamp-Use a border punch
Pixie Dust~ Punch it out
Delightful Sketches- texture
Daring Card Makers- pearl
Quixotic Challenge- Go Wild
Our Creative Corner-Summer inspired
The Pink Elephant #69 - bright colors
Papertake Weekly - summer fun
Paper Sundaes #21 - summer fun
Cupcake Craft #93: Summer Delights-Summer Colors
Charima Cardz #22: Flowers