LOC SSIC I am Glad There is You...

It is time for this weeks Stampin' Sister in Christ Challenge - so many of you played along last week and what a treat it was visiting your blogs and seeing your gorgeous work - it is always so inspiring for us - thank you for playing along!  This week;s challenge is one that we can all identify with ......

Randi has chosen this well known scripture from Exodus:

Honor your father and your Mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you. Ex. 20:12

Our Challenge is to make a Mother's Day Card for your Mum or someone special you would like to honor this Mother's Day.

I have created something special for my Mum and I am giving you a sneak peek, Mum may even see this and I hope it leaves you wanting to see more....

I have created a Paper Bag Album and what a lot of fun I have had doing it, I never considered myself an 'off the page person' but call it 'Altered Art' and I am off and running with it! LOL!  This album is full of images from Layers of Color  (but you know that would be the case - didn't you!) they are just perfect for something like this album, as you can see from this gorgeous bird, ( my favourite image) from the Regal Wings art stamp set

I have cut it out and coloured lightly with SU Chalks and a Blender Pen, I always sponge around the edges of anything I have cut out, so I don't get the white edges, it gives a much nicer look!

I love these clips at the side of the album but sisn't want to have them as the only thing holding it together as there are 10 pages, plus a number of tags - imagine it falling apart!!!  So I punched some holes and threaded some lace through and then knotted some lace and ribbon to each clip.  I added a charm with thin gingham ribbon.  They finished off beautifully.

The frame on the fron is part of a fabulous RAK from Laura of Layers of Color, thanks Laura, that frame got the whole album happening.  The sentiment inside is a Rubon from a Blog Candy and is on a gift tag, I was given a number of them and they are gorgrous for projects like this - I have also used them on some of the tabs!

As you can see there is much more on the inside and I will show this all between now and Mother's Day - imagine if I showed it all now!!! 

Mother's Day - this is one day that we can all relate to, whether we are a Mum or not - we all have one.  My Mum is an amazing woman who has been a fabulous role model for me!  As a parent I appreciate her even more, understanding now those things I had no idea of as a child.  I always knew she was an amazing lady but I did not always understand her reasoning - now, I find myself sounding just like her!  LOL!

Mum was  raised her own children and then fostered 14 others.  We were not affluent, infact it would not be exaggerating to say we were at the other end of the spectrum, I have so many memories of the sacrifices Mum made, without a word of complaint, so that we would not be without - when asked why she took on all of those extra children Mum just commented, 'We have each other and they have no-one!'   How amazing, especially when although she was not a single parent during my childhood, she certainly bore the weight of doing it single handed. 

With Mother's Day approaching I find myself reflecting on what a Mother is and I keep coming back to the example that I have been blessed with in my life, my Mum.  I am so grateful for not only having her as a Mother, but also for the friend she is to me...I don't need a special day to celebrate my Mum...I celebrate her everyday - but I always honour her on this Day....Love you Mum, how blessed I am to have you!!

I am blessed to be a Mum of three fabulous people - it has been a role that I LOVE, I have always been passionate about my family.  Being a mother is a role that can take us to the heights of joy, but it can also challenge us far more than we ever anticipated.  How can it be possible to feel every emotion known to mankind in the short space on one day!  As I watch my children grow and are now becoming young adults, my prayer is that as they mature they will forget the times that are not of any value and those things that are valuable will be etched deeply into their hearts.  My hope is that they will remember this one thing, that is so powerful in any life - they are loved - so very deeply.

A big thank you to our sponsor this week for their generous prize to a random winner!

I am linking this to:

Stamp Something - Charmed Something

Our Daily Bread Designs - Mothers Day

Stamp with Fun - Animals

Our Creative Corner - Blossoms

My Time to Craft - Quotes

One Stop Craft Challenge - Metal - White Frame

S2G - Spring has Sprung with a Twist - Flowers

Creatilicious - Flowers and Wings

Charisma Cardz - Quotes

Alota - Mother's Day

Clearly I Stamp - All Tied Up - Lace & Ribbon

ABC - Sparkle

Simon Says - Things with Wings

DCRU - Earth day - Flowers

Paper Cutz Challenge - Mother's Day

Corrosive Card Challenge - Charms

Sentimental Sundays - Flowers and Sentiment

Thank you Randi, for this challenge today, I have loved 'where this has taken me' in my heart.  Make sure you stop by my Design Sisters Blogs and see how they have been inspired:

*Lisa * Kristine * Kathy * Chris * Candace * Grace * PeggySue * Randi *

We would love for you to join us this week at Stampin' Sisters in Christ, honouring our Mums. I look forward to visiting you and seeing your 'works of the heart' in honour of Mother's Day.

God bless you