Sunday, May 27, 2012

Purple Posies



Good Sunday morning! Today we have another challenge on the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog by Candace.
This week's scripture challenge:

Psalm 118:6

"The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

The challenge: Do something on your card that you are afraid of. For example: Clean and Simple style, stitching, a vintage look, etc...Just do something you would not normally do!

Two fears I faced with my card today: First, using this Fleur de Lis Rectangle die. I have had it for quite awhile, but usually have a very difficult time getting it to pop out of the die without tearing it somewhere...so I used a magnetic plate this time and it helped. Also, I used purple, which I actually love, but am a little intimidated by. Purple has a tendency to look cheap if it isn't done right...so I went with an elegant look with just a bit of bling!
I did not take this challenge too seriously, meaning I just had fun with it, and thought, what have I not done in a long time that I would like to try? This was such a fun challenge!
For my card:
Flourishes stamps: From the Garden
Ink: Memento Black, versafine black
Copics for Coloring, C1, C3, C5, C7, V000, V04, V17, G20, G40, G82
Nestabilities, Fleur de Lis Rectangles, Fancy Tags
Pretty wrinkled ribbon from Flourishes
**I am also entering this card in this week's Flourishes challenge to use a flower on your card! You can view this challenge here.http://flourishes.org/2012/05/timeless-tuesday-170/

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

My Daughters on Graduation!




My youngest daughter, Erin, right on top, center on bottom...graduated this May from Colorado State University.  I realize she is missing her graduation cap...these were taken afterwards, and she took her cap off. I am so proud of Erin...she graduated with "high honors" with a degree in Business and an emphasis in International Business and Marketing. She also accomplished this in four years, including a semester abroad in Barcelona, Spain last Spring. Her older sister, Caitlyn, came from Denver and we spent the day together. Our daughters have always been close, and the first photo is one of them being slightly silly doing what they call the "prom pose."
I love these pictures, it reminds me how blessed I am and how very proud I am to be the Mom of my two girls...well, I guess young women would be a better term!! And of course, my sweet husband was the one taking the pictures. He does not like to be in them, though, so I will spare him that.
This is our back deck with the neighborhood pond in the back...this Spring has been so lovely with all the green buds and some fresh rain.
So just wanted to share this happy moment...and praising God for it!! Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Build up Your Card!

Today is my day to share this week's devotional at Stampin' Sisters in Christ!!


Ephesians 4:29

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."



There is a fire raging near my town of Fort Collins, Colorado, in the mountains of the Poudre Canyon. It began earlier this week, with a spark that got out of control. Firefighters have been working around the clock, trying to form a barrier to stop the flames and save the homes in the canyon. Residents in eighty of the homes were called to evacuate the area this afternoon. The first night I opened our front door to the distinct scent of a bonfire; the smoke swirled around the street lamp giving off an eerie red light. I stepped outside, my eyes stinging from the smoke, and quickly closed it and said a prayer. That was three nights ago. The fire that has burned and destroyed over 7,000 acres of forest as of tonight…was intentionally started.


James 3:5 reminds us, “Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”

Who of us has not been singed by fire? Words flung in carelessness by another… a spark that ignites and encircles us with a heaviness of spirit that is hard to quench. We may spend a lifetime putting up barriers, man made boundaries to keep the toxic words from causing further damage…the fire from eventually destroying us. If you were a child that grew up with a verbally abusive parent, you know what I am speaking of. A long time child advocate, nothing breaks my heart more than overhearing a parent degrade a child verbally. And unfortunately, this abuse does not stop with children. It touches all stages of life, including the elderly. Not one of us escapes the smoke getting in our eyes!

In contrast, this verse in Ephesians tells us not to let any unwholesome talk proceed from our mouths. The word “unwholesome,” is the same word used to describe fruit that is rotting…decayed, putrid. It refers to obscenities, foolish talk, or coarse joking. Rotten, wormy apples protruding from our lips is anything but a pretty picture! Instead, our speech is to be marked by edification…that is the building up of others. These are words that minister grace to the hearers. They are not frivolous or false flattery. The Proverbs 31 woman is an example of this. “She opens her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” This woman’s tongue is governed by a higher authority…the “Law of kindness.” Her speech is kind and tender, exhorting others using Christ’s kindness as her example. These words build us up…they draw us close and encourage us out of love to love others better. What a blessing to have someone like this in our childhoods! Or adulthood's for that matter! My Nana was this kind of loving person in my life who set a Godly example with her tongue. What a blessing this beautiful woman was in my life. I never felt more safe, loved, happy and delighted in than when I was with her. I am sure her influence in my early childhood years shielded me from many of the damaging words spoken so casually and carelessly to my brothers and I growing up.

Proverbs 18:21” The tongue has the power of life and death…and those that love it will eat its fruit.” I hope by the time this is read I may report the fires contained, the damage minimal, and no casualties! Oh, may we say the same thing about our own tongues. “He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. “ Proverbs 21:23

This week's sponsor is featured on the SSiC blog: Traci Mayberry!

So for my card, and the reason it is not posted at the top of the page, I CASED this card from Lynn Putt, that I had saved on Pinterest. I wanted to make a card using these stacked flowers, buttons, pearls, ever since I saw this sweet beauty a few weeks ago. I changed the background paper and added buttons and pearls, other than that the flower dies and layout, colors, are pretty much the same. You can visit her blog here.
My challenge: "Build" up your card using paper piecing, paper tole technique, layers, stacked elements...you name it!!

This is for our daughter's  college graduation...she is off celebrating (she doesn't need any help with that part,) so I have not given it to her yet. I will be posting a few pictures this week from that day on my blog.
Thanks so much for stopping in...I hope you have a blessed week!

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Organic it Is!



Good Sunday morning!
Before I get to today's challenge, I wanted to let you know that we have six new design team "sisters' on our blog debuting today. We have already been busy getting to know each other, and this is such a blessing to have us all on a team together. So I hope you will visit the blog this week and give them a nice welcome! All of the Design team blogs are featured on my sidebar also!
Today our wonderful  Stampin' Sisters in Christ sister, Miesje, is challenging us to make a card using natural materials. (Twine, seashells, sand, burlap, sticks...etc...). I had bought a large burlap spool of ribbon last Christmas, so decided to use it as the backdrop of this image. This was the third or fourth attempt at a card, and after a mishap involving a dozen or more "flying ink pads," this is what you get. That is what I get for trying to keep it simple!
Our verse this week is:
1 John 2:4-6
"Whoever says, 'I know him," but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him."

I don't have a lot to add to this already packed scripture. It speaks for itself. I know some people say they believe in God, yet they do not read their bible or make it a priority to learn his commands. How can you "know" someone that you don't have time for? How can you say you love God, and yet continue to live your life as though you are your own God? God's word is so amazing...as many years as I have been privileged to sit in a bible study...it is always fresh, new, and the applications are there for me in my situation in my life today!! No one likes to be called a "liar," that is such a strong word...but John is saying that is what we are if we say we know him, yet don't obey him. Love and obedience always go hand in hand. An authentic Christian follower will always be evidenced by their love for God and his word, and their desire to obey him. It does not mean we do not disobey at times, but the pattern of our life is one of wanting to know God and follow Him above all else!
The challenge sponsor this week is : Our Daily Bread Designs~a 15.00 gift credit.
My sentiment on this card is from ODBD, I love their fonts and beautiful scripture selections!
Thanks so much  for stopping in...I can't say I love this card, but it uses natural elements, and looks like it will be a good fit for a male sympathy card.