You have never forsaken

Happy Sunday my  blogging friends!  It's time for another Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge!  This week our sweet and faithful Rebekah is our hostess!  She has chosen James 2:18,19 "But someone will say, You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble."

Becky's challenge this week is 

"What works for you" use your favorite item for stamping, it could be a stamp,embossing folder, favorite spellbinder shape.

I have used a LOT of favorites that work for me on my card!  I used the newly released Sweet William Small set, ODBD Scripture Collection 7 (the verse that I submitted for this set), Cherry Lynn French Pastry Doily Die, Spellbinders Blossom 3 (for which both sizes of the Sweet William sets are custom made for), 7 Gypsies Victoria dp, T Holtz Coredinations card stock, MS bough punch (one of my all time faves), MS seam binding ribbon, ZVA Creative pearl flourishes, and some old lace seam binding from my sewing basket.  I also sewed my layers and did lots of sponging.

This flower was made by stamping 2 of each of the 3 sizes in the Sweet William Small set with Stazon onto white satin fabric.  I then spritzed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Sunflower and Suede.  When that dried, I cut them with the Spellbinders Blossom Three dies, along with 2 layers of brown tulle for each layer.  It's so easy to cut the tulle right along with the satin!  I used a shim of heavy cs in my sandwich to give a little more for the die to cut into and then all the layers came out clean and easy!  I used a candle to seal the edges of my bloom.  I also added some copper beads to the center of the flower after I had layered it up.  To give the bloom a little extra life I sewed these layers together and took little tiny tucks here and there to draw up a petal here and there.  I love how it came out!  My Scripture is stamped with Stazon Saddle Brown onto the doily I had cut out of a scrap of tan dp.  I sponged to age.  The pearls were taupe and my flower is much more coppery in tones so I sponged the pearls with the same Stazon and it worked perfectly!  Gave just that extra little golden tone to the taupe!

Today's Scripture serves as a great reminder that if we say we are Christians, we need to walk the walk, not just talk the talk.  Many say they believe, but their faith does not translate into a changed life. Even the demons and Satan himself "believe" in God... in fact they know for certain that He is God, and He will reign!   True saving faith however, will result in actions that please God and draw others to Him.  I think of an old chorus that was big when I was in High School.  "They'll Know we are Christians by our love".  I can't say it any better!  We should live a life that shows others the hope we have within us, shows the peace and joy that is ours in Christ, and we should be intentionally seeking  ways to bless others!

 Our sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp!

The prize is a fabulous set "Deer with Forest Family"

We thank Simon Says Stamp for their continued support of SSIC!

Please be sure to stop by the Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge Blog for the full devotional and challenge details.

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

Thank you so much for stopping  by today!  You bless me with your comments and emails!  Thank you... and have a blessed week!

I am submitting this to the following challenges:

Art Impressions Stamps Challenge - Use something from your stash (lace), Aud Sentiments Challenge - Sentiment with at least two words, Charisma Cardz -All about flowers, Stamp Insanity - Anything goes, Play Date Cafe - Color >
 Creative Belli - #121 handmade embellishments, Divas by Design - #5 die cuts/punches, Little Darlings Challenges -  #2 favorite colors, Simon Says Stamp - stitching, Stampavie and More -#146 more than 3 layers, A Spoonful Of Sugar -  #159 Sewing, Jac-Inks Papercraft Challenges - must stamp -  Die-cuts Plus Texture, Partytime Tuesdays  - PTT#23 Square Cards, Try It On Tuesday  -  Flower Power,  Mark's Finest Papers - use die cut as background mat, All Sorts- Free and Easy, Gingerloft - add beads (to the flower)  

Picnic Basket Tutorial

Here is the much requested tutorial for the Picnic Basket I made for the May 1 ODBD Blog Hop. I used a different color card stock this time just to show a different look for it. I hope you enjoy it and find it helpful!

Materials Needed:

Good quality card stock (I used Papertrey Vintage Cream here)
Our Daily Bread designs Vintage Border Embossing Plate
4 small brads
Ribbon and Embellishments as desired
Ink for sponging if desired ( I used VersaColor Laurel Leaf 1" cube)
Hole Punch
Strong Adhesive (Red tacky tape or TomBow Metal Glue work great)
Snips

Instructions:

Along the long side of your card stock:
Cut 1 strip of card stock to 1 1/2" wide x 11" long
Cut 2 strips 3/4" wide x 8" long (handles)
Cut 1 strip 3/4" wide x 5 7/8" long (top strip)
Cut 1 strip 3/4" wide x 11" long (top strip)
With what's left of your 8.5 x 11" cs, cut two pieces about 4 1/2" x 5 1/2".

Emboss the two 4.5" x 5.5" pieces with the Vintage Border Embossing Plate.

Trim them to 4 x 5". (Embossing can shrink your size just a bit so I like to emboss a slightly larger piece and then trim it to the exact size I need.)

Score these 4 x 5" pieces at 1" along the long side. (This will form the fold that goes inside the basket and hides the backs of the brads) So your basket will be 3 x 5" when this 1" is folded inside.

Score the 1.5" x 11" strip along the LONG sides, in 1/4" from each side.

Score this same strip 3" from each short side and with snips slit in to the long score mark at the 3" scores

Fold and burnish all score lines

If you want to apply any ink to your basket, this would be a good time to do so. I used a 1" cube and applied directly to the card stock, trying for a streaky effect on the solid parts.

With scored line at the top of your 4 x 5" pieces, start adhering your 1/4" folds of the 1.5 x 11" strip to the back side of the front and back of the basket. Work one side at a time. (Be sure to use a strong adhesive. I use TomBow Metal as it gives me a little wiggle time, but holds FIRM! It does NOT need much, so don't worry about complete coverage if using the TomBow.) * NOTE: Begin from the bottom of the basket and work up. The sides will end at the point of your 1" score line that runs across the top of the basket.

Sorry about this photo.. it's actually got the score line at the bottom, as I turned it after assembling it, but it is easiest to assemble from the bottom up as described... it's just the photo that's upside down! :(

Repeat for the other side and your basket will now look like this:

Score the 3/4" x 5 7/8" strip at 7/8" (This is the short top strip)

Score the 3/4" x 11" strip at 1", 6 ", and 7 1/8" (This is the long top strip and will just have squared ends) ** This is the only tricky part. If you prefer you can wrap the strip around the basket and mark with a pencil where the 3 folds will come, and score there. My measurements worked exactly but if you are just a tad different on your measurements than mine, you might need to tweek the folds so they fit snugly around the corners of the basket

Trim the ends of the handles (3/4 x 8" strips) to a point/ or squared off triangle shape if desired. To do this, I draw the shape I want and cut one, then use that one as a template for the others.

Trim both ends of the 3/4 x 5 7/8" top strip in the same way.

Adhere your longest top strip (3/4 x 11") to top of your score line on the basket, (NOT the edge of the paper. If easier, fold that top flap into the basket while doing this step)

NOTE: This strip will start at one end of the 1" side, wrap the entire front side, the second 1" side and part of the back side. Then adhere your shortest top strip (3/4" x 5 7/8") overlapping the trimmed ends over the first longer strip. (This way both ends that show are trimmed... see photo below)

Now your basket will look like this:

Punch holes 1/2" from each end of your handles (for brad)

Measure 2" in from both ends of basket, make a tiny mark and punch a hole there on both sides. Put brad through handle, then hole in basket and secure on all four spots.

Put brads through each handle and then the basket body, securing on inside.

Fold top flap of basket to inside of basket, adhere.

This finishes off the inside nicely and covers the brads.

Embellish as desired.

For mine, I decided to make this one a Get Well Basket, so I used Our Daily Bread designs Mini Tags 2, Spellbinders Ribbon Tag Trio Three, Our Daily Bread designs Scripture Collection 6 (for a bookmark I added to my basket). I used SU! Baja Breeze ink and Grossgrain Ribbon, and Martha Stewart ribbon for the bookmark. I used Crafty Secrets designer paper to make wraps for a travel pack of tissues, a bundle of tea bags, and a pack of throat lozenges. I tucked in a few cough drops and some Dark Chocolate to lift the spirits.

In case you missed my original basket....

Here are the pictures of the Picnic Basket I made for the May 1st ODBD Blog Hop. You can see the list of materials for that on this post.

For this one I made Scripture cards for the inside of the basket, and used more traditional picnic basket colors. There are so many possibilities.

I hope this has been helpful. If you try it, please let me know so I can see it! Also... please tell your readers where you got the instructions and link my blog. This will be filed on my Tutorials Page.

Thanks for stopping and leaving me a comment!  It always means so much!
I am entering this into the following challenges:
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes, KB Cute Monday - Anything Goes, Make it Monday - Anything Goes, Sentimental Sundays - must include a Sentiment -  Anything goes plus a sentiment, Catch The Bug -  Anything Goes, Creations by Gill M -  #10 Blue, One Stop Craft - #138 Make a Tag or include Tag in Project, Inspire Me Fridays - Always anything goes, Art Impressions Stamps- use something from your stash (Baja Breeze ribbon for starters... lot of papers too)

Thanks for stopping and leaving me a comment! I love knowing you were here!

Fight the Good Fight

Hello everyone!  I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!  We just came in from watching the 4th of July Fireworks out over the lake!  It's always beautiful!  Tonight the air was very heavy and damp as we got about an inch and a third of rain in early evening.  It made for an interesting effect of all the smoke and fog coming off the water!  It's a great time to be on the lake!

Anyhoo... today's card is made with this month's release by Our Daily Bread designs called "Not Forgotten".  It's one of my most favorite patriotic sets... I love the sentiment in it that says "You are not Forgotten"!  I  also love these Scriptures in the set and I can see so many great uses for this set!  I have paired it with a little bit of the I Pledge Allegiance single on a gray base and some K&Co Americana designer paper.  I added a chain with what I was trying to look like dog tags... with the sentiment on it.  I stamped with Memento on gray cs, then with a VersaMark Pen I edged the tag with silver embossing powder.  The twill is from a bundle of towels I bought.  I folded it in half to fit the buckle.  I used the CB Distressed Stripes folder and also a QuicKutz corner die.  I took the coloring of these fatigues from my hubby's uniform. The picture is colored with Prisma Pencils.

Thanks so much for looking and Happy Independence Day, United States of America!
I am linking this to the following challenges:
Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes, KB Cute Monday - Anything Goes, Paper Creations Ink -  Red, white and blue, Pink Elephant -  Red, white and blue, Pollycraft - SIO - Celebrations (Stars/stripes optional), Scrapbookaholic -  Red, white and blue, Come and Get It Challenges - Patriotic Theme, Creative Inspirations - Red, white and blue, I Did It Creations - Patriotic, Sentimental Sundays - must include a Sentiment -  Anything goes plus a sentiment, Catch The Bug -  Anything Goes, Ellephantastic - July: Celebrations, Marks Finest Papers -#62 Patriotic, One Stop Craft - #138 Make a Tag or include Tag in Project, Our Creative Corner -   4th Of July or Christmas in July Project, Our Daily Bread Designs - 1E, SIO -  ODBDSLC66  Anything Goes using ODBD Stamps, Stamp, Scrap and Doodle -   Stars & Stripes, Sugar Creek Hollow  - 3Patriotic, Celebrate with Your Countries Colours, Sweet Stampin -  must Stamp -  Use something not normally used on cards (chain)

A CAS Banner Hello!

Happy Sunday blogging friends, and Happy Fourth of July to all my friends in the United States!  It's time for another Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge!  This week our hostess is the sweet Peggysue!  She has chosen one of my favorite verses for this week's Scripture:

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.

Peggysue's challenge is to make a CAS (Clean and Simple) card or project

I used this fabulous set called "Sending You Sunshine" (Nina B designs) from The  Craft's Meow.  I just love this set!  The card is made with Flourishes White cs and Prima Sparkling Springs, as well as a couple scraps of green and yellow.  I paper pieced the trees, sun and ground.  I sewed around the card and added a shabby seam binding bow I had colored using Honey Dew Glimmer Mist, and a crocheted flower I had won.  I added a button from my stash and done.  They say CAS is whatever clean and simple is to you.  To me... I think of  white space when I think of CAS.  I resisted the urge to color my sky and left it pretty simple.  I added no pearls, no brads, no fancy sketch with tons of layers.... so to me, this is CAS.  What is CAS to you?

Our verse today pretty much says it all, doesn't it?  Our lives today tend to get so cluttered with "busy-ness"!  I used to think that after I stopped working that I'd have more time.... well.... quite the opposite I think!  I know for myself that my life can get filled up with all well intentioned things.... but the one thing we need the most is often the one thing that gets squeezed out by all the clutter of our lives.  We need that quiet time when we just focus our  hearts and minds on God.  Reading His Word and spending time with Him in prayer are critical to our relationship with Him.... but sometimes, I think just sitting still and meditating  on Who He is.... reminding ourselves that He is God, and He is sovereign and really rejoicing in that is what we need most!  I find so much peace in doing that!  I hope you can take some time to just be still and know..... that He is God! 

Our sponsor this week is Clear Dollar Stamps.

The prize is a $15.00 Gift Certificate!

We want to thank Lori for her generosity and continued support of SSIC!

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

I am entering this in the following challenges:

Allsorts -  #110 July long Free & Easy, Catch The Bug -   Anything Goes, Secret Crafter - #141 Here Comes Summer, Really Reasonable Ribbon - posts on the 1st, 15th - Must use ribbon -  Picnic/ Summer Fun,   The Craft Garden -  - Use a bird on your creation,  Crafty Ann's -  Get well/ Thinking of you/ Just Because, Crafty Catz -   Colors of Summer, Inspire Me Fridays - Always anything goes, Stampin For The Weekend - My favourite things (seam binding ribbon, crocheted flower, paper piecing, sewing), Wags 'n Whiskers -  Summertime, 4 Crafty Chicks - Stitching, Just For Fun -  Anything goes, Moving Along With The Times - Here comes the summer sun, Pals Paper Arts - Your favourite technique (paper piecing), Fab 'n' Funky - #79 triangles, Little Darlings Challenges - #2 favorite colors, My Mum's Craft shop -  #12 something old, something new New stamps, old button), Paper Shelter Challenge -  #20 anything goes, Ruby's Rainbow -  flowers, Scrapbook Sisters - #42 summer fun, Truly Scrumptious - #60 things with wings, Bearly Mine -  #13 2nd W - Summer Time, 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I love knowing you were here!!!

 

July 1 Release Our Daily Bread designs Blog Hop

Hello friends of ODBD!  Welcome to the July 1 release blog hop!  If you got here from Sandee's blog, you are in the right place!  If not, you might want to start at the ODBD Blog where you will see the entire list with links just in case any are broken along the way! 

The Hop will run 8am EDT July 1 til 8pm EDT July 2. 

The winners will be announced on the ODBD Blog on July 3.

There will be FOUR great prizes! 

Three Prizes of One Free Set of Choice 

AND

One Grand Prize of the complete Bread Basket Bundle!

Here is what you have to do to be qualified to win one of these prizes:

• Hop to each designer's blog and leave a comment
• Return to the Our Daily Bread designs blog and leave a comment telling us that you completed the hop, making note if there were any you could not comment on.
• Answer the question on the ODBD blog in your comment on the ODBD blog (not all the designers blogs)

 Now on to my project details!
I used the fabulous Hydrangea image to make this card, which is the latest in the Garden Collection.  I stamped with Memento Ink and colored with Copics, then cut out the image.  I drew out my vase, hand cut it and embossed with a Sizzix embossing folder.  I shaded the edges a bit with Copic W-0 and then sponged with Mellow Moss.  The card base is also Mellow Moss, and the dp is Kaisercraft English Rose 6 x 6 pad.  The ribbon is from M's and is laced through Our Daily Bread designs Mini Tags 1 and cut with Spellbinder's Ribbon Tag Trio Three.  I added a bow made on the small Bow Easy and some bling.

Now I know you want to continue on the hop....so from here you should hop to the uber talented and sweetest.... Angie's Blog!  Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day!

Just one note... for those who asked for a tutorial on the picnic basket I made for last month's ODBD release.... check back here or on the ODBD Blog on Thurs. the 7th.  I have it ready for you!  Hope you'll enjoy using it for some summer picnic ideas!!!
hugs,

Sneak Peek: You are not forgotten

Hello friends!  I have a sneaky peek for you today!  I am using two new wonderful sets from Our Daily Bread designs and two older sets as well.  I used the Old Flag Background stamp and Not Forgotten, which are being released on July 1, and if you look carefully you can see the words from I Pledge of Allegiance on the left side.  I also used my Thank You sentiment from the ODBD Mini Tags Two. 

For the flag background stamp, I colored with Prisma Pencils and Odor Free Mineral Spirits to blend.  I found this image very easy to color as there is lots of shading in it to help you along, but I didn't want to use that much ink from my Copics.... so the Prismas worked fine!  I then did a lot of distressing by sponging with TH Distress Walnut Stain and Antique Linen on the insides.  I stamped You are not forgotten on a speckled bookmark I had, cut it to length, spritzed it with water, crumpled it up, rubbed distress ink directly on it to pick up those lines, then I stamped parts of the image from this set on it, picking up the postal mark and some print.  I sponged Antique Linen all over it and sponged the edges with Walnut Stain.  The lined paper is from a K&Co called Flora & Fauna Ledger Paper.  I love this pad!  It has a loose leaf binding and I tore a piece and used all the little torn edges that remained, sponging and distressing some more after stamping the main image and the thank you sentiment, and tearing the pieces  to shape.  The base is Gina K Craft.  The bracket die on the left is THoltz and the File Closures were from the wedding dept. at M's.  I did some stitching and added a couple brads.

I am excited about these new sets!  I can't wait to show you more!  July 1.... 8am at the ODBD Blog will be our Release Blog Hop!  Great prizes and inspiration... hope to see you then!

I am entering this in the following challenges:
Bows 'n Berries - Thankyou/Appreciation, Cards For Men - 2 must be masculine - Stars, Craft Your Passion - Seeing Red (use Red), Daisy Doodles Creative Challenge - Stars and Stripes, Die Cut Dreams -  Red, White and Blue, Happileigh Scrappin - Stars and Stripes, Make it Monday - Anything Goes, Make it Monday with Kraft Outlet - must include Kraft cardstock - Something Old, Something New, Scrapbookaholic -  Red, white and blue, Squigglefly -  Red, white and blue, The Outlawz - Sentiment required - Red, white and blue, Woodware USA -  Patriotic, Kenny K Krafty Girlz -  Red, white and blue, Sentimental Sundays - must include a Sentiment - Patriotic/use the colours of your nations flag, Stampin' Sisters in Christ - Red, white and blue plus Thank You, Stamptacular Sunday - Must use a stamp - Stars and Stripes, Craft Your Days Away  - #23 Vintage, Designed 2 Delight - Red, White & Blue and /or Christmas too, Just Us Girls - #90 3D Project with Patriotic Theme, Paper Creator's Crafts  - For The Men, Sweet Stampin - must Stamp -   Use Something Old with Something New, Class Act Insider -  use rubber stamp - Vintage, Fun with Shapes & More - , must include die cut/punch , Stamp Something - Celebrate with red, white & blue, Craft Us Crazy -  Red, white & blue, Meljens Designs -Stripes and/or plaid, Paper Play  – Stars & stripes, Shelly's Images -  Patriotic stars & stripes, Stamp Insanity -  Stars & stripes, Crafts and Me - #40 stitches, My Mum's Craft shop - #11 for a male, Penny's Paper-Crafty - red white and blue and, Our Daily Bread designs Shining The Light - anything goes with ODBD stamps! 


Thanks so much for stopping by!!!  Have a wonderful week!!!
 

Red White and Blue Thank You!

Hello everyone!  Happy Sunday!  It's time for another Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge!  Today, our hostess is the sweet and gifted Miesje!  She has chosen 

Galatians 5:1

"It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. 

Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery". 

Her challenge is to make a Red, White and Blue Thank You card.

I decided to use the sketch from Lily Pad Lovely Lucy's Lines.  

  This is definitely THE most CAS card I've ever made but the white does make the colors pop!  LOL!  When I saw the sketch I immediately thought of this great little set from The Craft's Meow.  It's called You've Got Star Quality.  I used a base of SU! craft and then layers on SU! white.  I stamped the stars with SU! Real Red and Night of Navy.  I used SU! hemp twine and Spellbinders Grommet tags for the sentiment which is from Our Daily Bread designs Mini Tags 2.  I had these cute star brads in my stash and decided to just do a little piercing in the corners and a little bling in the center of each star to keep it CAS.  

I'm so thankful for all the freedoms I enjoy!  In America, we have enjoyed many freedoms that many people in the rest of the world have not enjoyed... but even greater than that is the fact that in Christ, we are a new creation, and we no longer are in bondage to sin. This passage reminds us that now we are children of God's grace and no longer are we bound by the yoke of the many laws which until Christ's life, death and resurrection was the way people strove to obtain God's favor.  Paul is reminding us that we are not to go back to that thinking and be enslaved by it again, because Christ fulfilled the law!   We now need to understand that it is by grace we are saved, not through works. It's not that we no longer try to obey the principles of the moral laws...  but our salvation is not dependent on our doing so!  The law showed the need for a perfect Savior.  Our accepting HIM as our Savior and perfect sacrifice frees us from the law of sin and secures our future with Him in heaven.  Yes, we do still sin... but Christ's death, burial and resurrection proved Him victorious over sin, and His blood sacrifice is applied to everyone who believes and receives Him!  His blood covers all our transgressions and God sees us as righteous because Christ has cleansed us.  No longer are we doomed to spiritual death.... but as new creatures in Christ, we have a Savior who is preparing a place for us in heaven because of the price He paid to remove our sins as far as the east is from the west.  Christians are not perfect.... we are just forgiven!!!  Thank the Lord for His forgiveness and His grace!

Our sponsor this week is Gingerloft

The prize is four free digis from their site!  We want to thank them for their generosity!

Please be sure to stop by the Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge Blog for the full devotional and challenge details.

For more inspirationplease visit my DT Sisters:
Chris, Linda, Peggysue, Miesje, Rebecca, Lisa , Kris, Sabrina, & MariLynn
Randi (on leave)

I am entering this in the following challenges:

 Card Creations & More By C - 2 Something Patriotic, Designed 2 Delight - 3E - Red, White & Blue and /or Christmas too  Craft Us Crazy -  Red, white & blue, Dutch Dare Card Challenge - Clean & simple, Moving Along With The Times -  Clean & simple, Pals Paper Arts - Stars, Some Odd Girl -  All white or kraft with 2 pops of colour, Penny's Paper-Crafty - red white and blue, Scrapbook Sisters -  anything goes, Everybody-Art-Challenge - #147 Anything Goes, Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT Challenge -  Use Red Somewhere, Sweet Stamps -  #20 Red, White & Blue, Bows 'n Berries - Thankyou/Appreciation, Cards For Men -  Stars, Die Cut Dreams - Red, White and Blue, Hooked on Crafts - 2Anything goes, Simon Says Stamp and Show... - some Metal(brads), Stamping Scrapping Central - Red, white and blue, Just Us Girls - #90 3D Project with Patriotic Theme, Stamp Something - red, white and blue


Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a wonderful week!