Sunflower Blessings

Good Monday Morning everyone! What a month July was for us.... BUSY! But so fun! But now it's Aug. and time to get back into my routine! LOL!

It felt so good to get into my craft room last night and make another card using the newly released Our Daily Bread designs sets Happy Fall and Harvest Blessings. I just love sunflowers and had to make another card while the release blog hop is still going on!

If you are here for the ODBD Blog hop, please see the post below, and if you are here for the Stampin Sisters in Christ, please see 2 posts below.

This card uses the Our Daily Bread designs sunflower images from Happy Fall and part of the sentiment from Harvest Blessings. It is colored with Copics and the papers are: Chatter Box (checked), The Paper Patch (Sunflowers) and Bazzill base. I used this week's Midnight Madneses Sketch for my layout. I used these amazing die cuts by Nellies from Terryfic Times. All the layers of the die are connected so you cut several at a time, but to make new frames for my focal point I also used SB circles to cut the inner edges and layered up my dies. All the die cuts were done on GPW and then sponged with Distress Inks. I repurposed some raffia and added a sunflower charm and some sewing. The trim is made from natural rope and is by Fancy Fashion from Hobby Lobby.

Thanks so much for looking and please check out this month's release and blog hop! You have until 8PM tonight to complete the hop for three chances to win! Also, ODBD now has great dies that precisely cut out the images in Harvest Blessings and Happy Fall, and some new frames for those old favorites, Scripture Collections 1 & 2. You will love them!

I am entering this in the following challenges:
Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light (charm, ribbon +one)
Midnight Madness (Sketch)
Cute Card Thursday (Text)
Delightful Sketches (1. Great Outdoors, 2. Dps, 3. embellies - raffia, charm, rope trim)
Paperplay - (Anything goes)
Sew Many Challenges Anything Goes

Our Daily Bread Designs Aug. Release Blog Hop!

Hello everyone and welcome to Our Daily Bread design's Aug 1 release blog hop! If you are looking for the Stampin Sisters in Christ post, it is one post below.

I am the first stop on the hop today, so if you get lost along the way or any links are broken, just return to the ODBD Blog for the next person in line! We hope you enjoy this months sets as much as we do!!! I can tell you that these will be among my favorites for sure!

This month Kelley is giving away THREE Gift Certificates of $15.00 toward stamps at the ODBD Store! To make it a little more fun ... the prizes are hidden on three different blogs and you won't know which ones, so be sure to leave a comment on each DT blog, because three blog owners will be choosing a winner from their commenters now through Aug 2, 8pm Eastern! So grab your favorite beverage and enjoy the hop! Be sure to return to the ODBD Blog and leave a comment there that you completed the hop and left comments for everyone, noting there if there were any you could not comment on. The hop will close at 8pm eastern tomorrow night (Aug 2). The winners will be announced Tues. on the ODBD Blog!

For my card today, I used the new ODBD set called Harvest Blessings. I just love these sunflowers and they are so easy to color! I used Copics for mine and then highlighted with Stickles on the flower centers. My border frame is a Spellbinders Borderability, Lotus Blossom. I had to cut and piece it a bit to get it to fit. I cut it out twice: once in wheat and once in chocolate and then put the chocolate pieces in the centers of the wheat lotus die cuts to replicate sunflowers.

Here are the supplies I used on this card:
Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Harvest Blessings
Ink: Memento
Paper: Memory Box Wheat, Papertrey Dark Chocolate, SU! Mellow Moss, Neenah white
Accessories: Spellbinders Lotus Blossom Borderability and Fancy Tags, Stickles, Gold Pearls, May Arts Ribbon

Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoyed my project today. From here, hop over to the talented and sweet Angie to be inspired and blessed!

CAS Swans

Hello everyone! It's Sunday and time for another Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge! I have either been away or had family here for almost the whole month of July and I've really had little time to create! So I really thank you my "faithful" friends who have faithfully stayed with me through this time of very little blog activity! Today's post is going to be short because I still have company and am just trying to post real quickly here... and I have another one to post in 2 hours.... so forgive me if the details are few today!

Today's hostess on Stampin Sisters in Christ is the talented and sweet Rebekkah! She has chosen Is. 40:31

But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength,

they shall mount up on wings like eagles,

they shall run and not be weary

they shall walk and not faint.

What a wonderful verse to cling to! I am so encouraged to think of being renewed in strength! We have the pleasure of occasionally seeing eagles soaring over our home here and it's always such a thrill to see! I can't see them without thinking of this verse!!!

Rebekkah's challenge this week is to create a card or project with birds on it.

This week's sponsor is Digi Doodle Shop and the prize is a $10.00 gift certificate to the shop. I used one of the wonderful images there for today's card. To be honest, I didn't think I was going to be able to create a card this week but this card start to finish was about 20 minutes! The new Cuttlebug Embossing Plus made the perfect background for this lovely swan image. I decided not to color it at all, but rather to just use the black and white theme for a super CAS design. My May Arts silk ribbon is my only embellishment and I think the image would be perfect for so many occasions, even a wedding or anniversary! I punched out a white liner for the inside where I will put my sentiment when I know what I need.

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 SSIC thread.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team for more inspiration for this week's challenge!

We're so excited that Miesje, Cindy and Rebekkah will be staying on as Design Team Members!

Chris
Cindy
Linda
Randi
Peggysue
Lisa
Miesje
Rebekkah

Have a blessed week and I hope to see you back here at 8am today for the Aug 1 Release Blog Hop!

Honoring MariLynn with butterflies and roses

Hello everyone!  I know I've been absent in blogland this week but my Grandkids are here and I didn't have a minute to spare!  I had started this before they came and just now had a minute to finish it up, but my post will be short as we are about to go have some more fun!
I made this card to honor MariLynn for being Queen for the day #19.  I also used last week's Our Creative Corner Sketch.  I used a JOY Craft die for the embossing of the circle card.  The flowers are hand made with cream cs and spritzed with Copic R59, and then TA Glimmer Mist in Irredescent Gold.

The butterfly is from  Layers of Color Butterfly Collector Art Stamps set and I love this set.  It's colored with Copics and popped up at the top.  The embossing is sponged with TH Distress Ink in Scattered Straw. The ribbon is May Arts.

Thanks for looking today.... sorry for the short post but I'm flying out the door!

See you Aug 1 for the ODBD Blog hop!

Let your Light Shine

Hello everyone! Happy Sunday! I hope you have been having a wonderful Summer! I have been away and my last several posts were pre-scheduled, but I am back now and my family is here for the week! We are having a wonderful time enjoying the lake, day trips, and lots of fun time together!

Today's Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge has really been a fun one for me, and I hope it will be for you as well! Our hostess is Peggysue and she has chosen the verse from Luke 8:16

"No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lamp stand, that those who enter may see the light."

The challenge is to make a votive holder or a card/project depicting a candle (light).

My Thoughts on this challenge

John 8:12 says "When Jesus spoke again to the people He said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life."

As we think about these verses about the true light, which is Jesus, we realize that when we know the Savior, we HAVE the Light of the world within us, and it is our responsibility to shine that light forth in all that we do, say and even think. As we strive to let the light of Jesus shine through us... people will be drawn to that Light... out of the darkness that is all around us in this world.

In Matt 5:14-16 Jesus says "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven". Our greatest desire should be to help bring people to that Light that can save them from the darkness of sin and it's penalty, which is death. When we have the Light of Jesus in us, we have the forgiveness of sins, the promise of heaven and eternity with Him, and the joy of an abundant life here on earth! Why wouldn't we want to shine that light for all to see and be drawn to?

For this week's challenge, I made a votive holder using the wonderful light house image from Our Daily Bread design's very first set, Light of the World. Having lived near the east coast for most of my life, I have a love of light houses, and I can't see one without thinking of these verses! If you have ever been on the water in the darkness of night when you cannot see anything... dangers are all around you but you cannot see them. But when you see that light house, shining out a beam of light to warn of dangers and make your course clear, you are filled with relief and thankfulness. In the same way.... when you look on the light of Jesus, you will be not only able to see the path before you clearly, but you will be filled with His light and life! I hope you are basking in the joy of His light today!

Card Details:
Stamps: Our Daily Bread designs "Light of the World"
Designer Paper: Paper House Products "Sea Scapes"
Accessories: Martha Stewart Shell Punch, Copics to color image (stamped and colored 4)
Vellum for the windows, Spellbinder's long oval die cut for windows, tutorial on SCS, battery operated votive candle

Our Sponsor this week is Karen's Doodles
Be sure to check out the Stampin Sisters in Christ Blog for all the details!

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 SSIC thread.

Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team for more inspiration for this week's challenge!

We're so excited that Miesje, Cindy and Rebekkah will be staying on as Design Team Members!
Chris
Cindy
Linda
Randi
Peggysue
Lisa
Miesje
Rebekkah

Have a blessed week and I hope to see you on Aug 1st when we reveal the brand new Our Daily Bread designs sets with a fun blog hop and prizes!

Don't Worry Sneak Peek

Hello everyone! I know it's been a while since my last post! I have been away and had the last several posts prescheduled, but getting home again and working on DT requirements for NEXT week when I will have my family here has kept me busy with things I couldn't show you quite yet! I am thrilled today however to be able to share with you a sneak peek at a new Our Daily Bread designs set by Dina Kowl that will be released on Aug. 1. It's called "Don't Worry". I love this set and I believe you will too! Since one of my besetting sins is anxiety.... this set has verses that speak directly to me! I love this quote from Corrie Ten Boom.... it's so true!!!

I stamped my image which is 2 flowers, then masked and added a third with Memento on Neenah, then colored with Copics. My frame is made with the Spellbinder's Lotus Blossom die cut edgeability and cut to fit. My sketch is this week's Midnight Madness Sketch#63. For my butterfly I stamped it once on my main panel and then again, cutting out just the front wing and popping it up. After coloring with Copics I painted with Shimmerz Candlelight for a shimmer.

Card Details:
Stamps: Our Daily Bread desings "Don't Worry"
Paper: Bazzill base, Stamping Station (dotted light blue), Memory Box Frond (green), Francis Meyer (dark blue)
Accessories: SB Lotus Blossom die cut borderability, Sheer ribbon, EK Success edge punch, Blue bling and butterfly charm from Hobby Lobby

I am linking this to the following challenges:
Midnight Madness
Practical Scrappers- my ribbon and bling are over a year old
Stampavie - anything goes
Paper Play - blue, cream + one
Mami Doodles - anything goes
Additionally I am adding this to the following Dirty Girl challenges which I am late to start, but here goes:
DTGD10flowergal36 Winged Things butterfly
DTGD10notimetostamp Passionate for Patterns 3 patterned papers used
DTGD10cindy_haffner Dies and Punches SB die, EK Success punch
DTGD10gbedwright Strut Ur Stuff (dies, punch, ribbon, bling, charm)
DTGD10SweetMissDaisy Keepin' it Rural (Chickory grows wild in the country)
DTGD10kittie747 Lost and Found (Shimmerz was almost dried up, bling and charm are ancient!)
DTGD10melmel How Does Your Garden Grow flowers/weeds grow!

Thanks so much for looking and have a most blessed weekend! I hope to see you Sunday for another Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge with something a little different for you!

Built according to the plan

Hello everyone! Happy Sunday! Today, It's time for another Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge and I am the hostess today. I chose Psalm 127:1a for today's Scripture:

Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.

I wrote a devotional which is on the Stampin Sisters in Christ Blog, and I hope you'll stop by there and read it. The" short" version is basically that God is our Master Builder. He has a blueprint (plans) for each one of us. If we go off on our own, building our lives without consulting or knowing the master plan, we're going to make a mess of things! When we carefully follow the Master's plan, He makes something beautiful out of our lives. We need to humbly admit that we NEED the guidance and direction of our Master Builder. Matt. 7:24 tells us that the wise man builds his house on the rock of God's Word and obeys Him. When the rains fall and the floods come, and the winds blow, that house will not fall, for it has a firm foundation on the rock. Let's make sure we are following God's plan for our lives!

My challenge is: Use an image of something that is "built" using a set of plans ... a house, church, school, automobile, even a bird house, swing set ...anything that would be built according to a set of plans. There's lots of room for interpretation here... so I can't wait to see what you come up with!

For my take on the challenge, I used the July Our Daily Bread designs release "Bless This Home". The card is 5 x 7. The image is stamped with Memento and colored with Copics. I used my new CB Brocade Window Embossing Plus Plate on GPWhite. I matted with green Bazzill and mounted on Gray Bling Bazzill. I added some CB Victorian corners, a Spellbinder's Label 4 for the sentiment which is embossed in silver and matted with a CB Ironworks die cut. A sheer silver bow finishes it off.

Our Sponsor this week is Wink Wink Ink. Be sure to check out the Stampin Sisters in Christ Blog for all the details!

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!

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

Chris
Cindy
Linda
Randi
Peggysue
Lisa
Miesje
Rebekkah

Thank you so much for looking and for your sweet comments! They mean so much! Have a blessed week! I will be returning home tomorrow after a wonderful visit with my sister!