Treasures from the heart

Hello everyone! It's Sunday and time for another Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge! Today our hostess is the very lovely Linda! The Scripture she has chosen this week is

Mat 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. "

Linda's challenge is:
Use something you treasure on your card - whether it be bling, flowers, something new or have been saving for a long time - show us your treasures!

The two verses before vs. 21 tell us not to store up for ourselves treasures on earth, fo(r they will all be gone one day)... but rather to store up treasures in heaven, (for those things have eternal value).

Our time here is so short, yet we strive to hold on to all the "stuff" of this life with all our strength. We work longer hours so we can buy more, have more, and then we need to spend more time taking care of all the stuff we have accumulated. When we look at life through spiritual eyes, we realize that we came into this world with no "things" and we will leave this life with no "things"... and the only time spent during this life that will matter for anything in eternity is that time spent doing God's work... whatever He wants us to be doing. We need to be about His kingdom and doing things that will matter for eternity. If we're not sure whether we are doing that or not... this verse tells us.... where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. If you find yourself totally wrapped up in this world, the things of this world, and find little time for God or doing things that bring honor and glory to Him, chances are your treasures are here on earth... and they are temporal. I don't know about you, but I really want to hear Him say "Well done, good and faithful servant". I know I fail often in this area... but it certainly is the desire of my heart to make a difference that will last for eternity.

I have used Layers of Color Flutterescent Clear Art Stamp set and Our Daily Bread designs Happy Birthday set for this card. The butterfly is stamped with Color Box Paintbox Pigment Variated Pad, and then sprayed with Pearl Glimmer Mist and distressed with T Holtz Walnut Stain Ink. The Birthday sentiment was stamped with Groovy Guava (SU!) directly on the panel. I embossed the upper part of the panel with a Cuttlebug folder (sorry I can't remember the name) which I had inked with Groovy Guava. I wrapped my ribbon around and adhered my main panel to the SU! Very Vanilla base.

My treasured item is the pretty crocheted element saved from a dear loved one's sewing box. It actually looks like the old shade pulls they used to make with solid plastic rings inside, but she had started to attach them together to make perhaps a dresser scarf or something. There is a cluster of about 10 of these. I carefully disassembled it and used one on my card today. I treasure it because of the loving hands that created it tenderly many years ago.

My leaves and boughs are punched with Martha Stewart punches. For the leaves I used my embossing stylus to create veins and then sponged distress ink on the edges. I made the ribbon rose after watching a YouTube Video and I love how it came out. It is made from the same ribbon I wrapped around the card. The amount of ribbon it takes depends on the size you make your rose. I made several small ones, and then this one was the largest I made. I think I used about 22" for this one.

Our Sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp~
They are donating this adorable Cat Dog Best Friend set

We want to thank Simon Says Stamp for their continued support of Stampin Sisters in Christ! Please stop by their store for the best selection of stamps on line!

For more inspiration on today's challenge, please visit my DT Sisters:
Chris, Linda, Peggysue, Miesje, Rebecca, Lisa , Kris, Sabrina, & MariLynn
Randi (is on leave)

I wanted to enter Eva's Butterfly blog hop with this card... she has some incredible prizes up and some absolutely stunning cards so if you love butterflies... hop on over to her Blog!

I have incorporated the following challenges in this card:
Fun with Shapes & More - must include die cut/punch - happy birthday, Simply Create - monochromatic, Stampin For The Weekend - monochrome, Crafty Purple Frog -things with wings, Delightful Challenges - Delightful Butterflies, The Outlawz - Prisma & Other Mediums - no Copics - Monochromatic, Paper Crafting Journey -Things with Wings, Samuel Taylor's Challenge - Butterflies, Southern Girls - Use Flowers, A Spoonful Of Sugar - Anything Vintage/Shabby, Bearly Mine -2nd week - Birthday card, Top Tip Tuesday - Happy Birthday, Incy Wincy Designs - pastel colors, Little Claire's - Flowers
Sugar Creek Hollow - Hand Made Flowers

Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you have a blessed week!