}

Sunday, June 12, 2011

SSIC LOC It's a Man Thing!

My post for this weeks Stampin' Sisters on Christ Challenge is prescheduled as I am recovering from eye surgery on Thursday.  This weeks challenge is brought to you by Lisa who has chosen the scripture from Ephesians

 "Honor your father and mother"--this is the first commandment with a promise: {3} "so that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." {4} And, fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord
 (Eph 6:2-4 NRSV)


Lisa has challenged us to make a Father's Day card... or a card praising our Father in Heaven.

Now, you may have noticed that this is not a Father's Day card - but a birthday card...there is a reason for this - when creating for this challenge I thought it a masculine card, not specifically a Father's Day card - and my DD2 needed a birthday card for a friend who plays AFL - I must be honest and say I would not know one end of a football from another - so we resorted to Google (LOL)...and there began the motivation for the card!

I used my Spellbinders Grand Calibur and the Grand Ovals Nestie to cut the card shape and cut another oval in brown and then ran it through my Cuttlebug with a Tim Holtz embossing folder.
I have inked it and adhered it to the card base - at this point it looked more like an Easter Egg (LOL).  I added a faux lacing strip and a tag using the Layers of Color Happy Wishes art stamp set, cut out with the Spellbinders Labels 18- two gold brads and the card is finished!!  I am happy with this, as was my DD2 and her 'friend' loved it as well - so that has to be good!!
Fathers Day - we love to celebrate it BIG time here in Australia, but it is in September. Although the feminists say that families don't need Fathers, I would like to see a family start without one!!  LOL!  I grew up in a family where my Father was not a 'textbook' Father and came with his own challenges. 
Though the years this has brought many emotions along, but after losing him unexpectedly 11 years ago in September, I am so grateful to God that as I took it all to Him, He was able to help us build a new relationship and I did not know at the time, but Father's Day 2000 was the last time I would speak with him and my last words were 'I love you Dad!'
I know that many of us have not had the best experiences with family, but I do know that God is there and will bring us through with healed hearts - experience has shown me this.  I t is not easy to honour someone who you feel has let you down constantly and not given you any reason to respect them.  This was something that challenged me as I grew as a Christian...I did not see why this should apply to me BUT God is His wisdom showed me that I did not have to respect the behaviour but I had to respect the position of Father - a daunting task but a truth that was liberating!
I am am grateful to God that He did indeed give me 'beauty for ashes' with this relationship...I was blessed to have my Dad walk me down the aisle at my Wedding, to be able to build a new relationship and leave the past behind.  Since my Dad died I have often reflected on the role of a Father and thank God that He was able to bring healing in my life and bring restoration in a relationship that had left such an ache in my heart!
I am also grateful that my children have a Father who adores them and would give anything for them and me....what a blessing!!

This card is for the following challenges:
Card Creations and More by C - Shaped Card
Craft Your Days Away - Monochromatic
Crazy 4 Challenges - Masculine
Little Claire's - Cards for Men
Secret Crafter - A Male Card
Alphabet Challenge - Fathers Day or Card For a Male
Polkadoodle - Something for Dad
Stampman - Man and Boys
CCEE Stampers - Cards with a Sports Theme
Craft Us Crazy - Fathers Day and/or Masculine Colours/Theme
Just for Fun - Use at Least one Tim Holtz Product
Paper Play - Fathers Day/ Mans card
Some Odd Girl - Masculine
Amber's Crafts and Stuff - Special Man
Sisterhood of Crafters - Dad/Special Man
The Paper Variety - Father/ Special Man
Clearly Inspired - Distressing
Fussy and Fancy - Card for a Man
Guylou's Iminitability - Monochromatic
Art Impressions Stamp Challenge - Monochromatic
Stamp Insanity - Masculine
A BIG thank you to our sponsor Simon Says Stamp
We are grateful to Simon Says Stamp for their continued support!
You can see Lisa's devotional on over at the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge.
Make sure you stop by the Design Team Blogs and see that gorgeous 'works of the heart' they have created for you!!

*Lisa Chris Grace * Kristine * MariLynn * Peggysue * Randi  (on break)* Miejse * Rebekka * Sabrina*

You can see more of my projects in my Layers of Color Gallery, while you are there make sure you check out the other Design Team galleries there is so much inspiration waiting to be discovered, we are thrilled that Layers of Color is a Spellbinders Preferred Product Partner
You can also check out Layers of Color Art Stamps on our FACEBOOK GROUP  and  have a look at the Layers of Color Art Stamps FLICKR GROUP where you can upload your LOC artwork and be inspired by hundreds of fabulous LOC creations! You are going to LOVE it!!
Making your creative world more colorful with Layers of Color!
Thank you for your comments and all of the support you give me - you make blogging such an amazing place to be!!  Your encouragement is such a blessing for me  - it makes my day! I am keeping my computer time shorter these days - the glare plays havoc on my eyes - I have my other surgery on June 9 and after recovery time, I am hoping to come and spend some QUALITY time with you!  God bless you!
{{{hugs}}}

34 comments:

  1. Perfect male card! Love it!

    Thanks for joining us at Secret Crafter this week

    Bea

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  2. Lovely card Linda. Great use of the texture fade.

    Thanks for playing along with JFF this week.

    Sam xxx

    http://sam21ski.blogspot.com/

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  3. Linda, what an amazing woman you are. Having the organizational skills and talents to have posts done ahead of time prior to your eye surgery. This card is fabulous, what a great idea.

    Thank you for sharing this story about your dad, I know by opening up, it will help someone else with the same struggles.

    Praying for your healing.

    Abby

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  4. That texture fade has really bought the football to life :)
    Thank you for sharing with us at just for fun
    Von x

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  5. Good morning Linda!
    What a fabulous creation, I would not know one end of a football myself :). Wonderful insight into today's devotion. That was something the Lord showed me when I first got saved. To honor because of position.

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  6. really nice fathers day card, thanks for sharing with us at CYDA, Gaynor Dtx

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  7. Wonderful testament to fathers, especially your own, thanks for sharing that. I love the card, you did a fantastic job on that football! I hope someone is reading these comments to you, with a family like yours I'm sure they are helping you out!!!

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  8. Thank you for sharing your clever card with us. The texture fade for the football is really effective. Hope we will see you again at Just for fun XOXO Zoe

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  9. Your card made me smile and I don't doubt that what you shared from your heart brought joy and a smile to the heart of God... what a wonderful testimony Linda.

    Wendy M xx

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  10. Very cool, Linda! What a neat card! Thanks for playing along with the CIC :D

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  11. Fab Fathers Day cards Linda!!! Hope you are well and recovering from your surgery! Sending you love and hugs Chanelle xxx

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  12. Fabby card

    Thanks for joining our "Male Card" challenge this week on SECRET CRAFTER SATURDAY CHALLENGE :)

    Hugs Jane x

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  13. Wow! Wonderful card - wish I had it to give my hubby! Thanks for playing along at the Alphabet Challenge Blog.

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  14. Thanks for sharing so well Linda, you are an inspiration. Loved reading about your dad. Love that card too! Have a wonderful week and don't overdo it!

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  15. Great guy card Linda! You did a great job making the football! I'm sure it is treasured! Thanks for sharing your experience and journey! We all have different backgrounds and different wounds that need to be healed! I thank our Lord for His healing grace. Look at all these challenges!!! Glad you are doing so well!!!
    hugs,
    Grace

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  16. AWESOME football card. I never woudl hav thought to use that embossing to make the football. So creative!!!

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  17. What a fun manly football card Linda!! I love the texture! I am so sorry about the trials with your Dad. Thanks God for his presence during your time of need and always. TFS! There is blessing even during difficulties. Glad your eyes are improving.
    hugs,
    Chris

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  18. Great card Linda, and I love your testimony - I too have walked that path and it is not an easy one, but with God's help we can make it!
    Blessings
    M

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  19. Gorgeous card, adore the colours you have used!
    Thank you for joining us at Alphabet
    Hugs
    Tamara

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  20. This is a really great shaped card. Thanks for joining in with our challenge at Craft Your Days Away.

    Amanda

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  21. Oh my goodness! As a football fan, I absolutely adore this =) PERFECT for a manly card! Thanks for joining in the Sisterhood of Crafters challenge this week!

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  22. What a cool idea for a card. Thanks for playing along with us at Guylou's Inimitability!

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  23. A great card thanks for playing at StampinSanity this week
    Luv Jane xxx

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  24. Who's a clever girl then ! What an origional piece, love it !
    Marie

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  25. Linda, I love visiting your blog. Your work is always perfection!! Thanks for joining us at Guylou's Inimitability!! Bren

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  26. How cool. Wonderfull idea! I have made a football before, but not nearly as cool as yours ;)
    Thanks for sharing ar CRAFT US CRAZY
    Hugs,
    Maria

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  27. Fun project! Thanks for participating in our challenge at Guylou's. I noticed that this is your second entry in the challenge and we ask that participants enter only one. I just wanted to let you know that only your first entry will be entered in the draw.
    Cheers!
    Guylou

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  28. Thanks for sharing your story! This is a great card, you made a wonderful recreation of a football! Glad the recipient liked it. And so glad we have our heavenly father when earthly fathers stumble a bit.

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  29. Your card is awesome but your journaling is AMAZING!! What a great message to share and you never know who really needs to hear those words!
    Thanks for distressing with us at Clearly Inspired Challenge #29 at www.clearlyistamp.typepad.com

    Hope to see you Friday as challenge #30 comes out!

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  30. Wonderful card; thanks so much for playing along with us at StampInsanity this week :D

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  31. What a great card - it looks so effective.

    Thanks for joining us at Little Claire Designs and good luck!

    Helen x

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  32. Great card! Thanks for taking part in the Alphabet Challenge xx

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  33. Hello Linda, what a fabulous man card!!! That football is awesome and all of the detail....stunning!! Thanks for sharing this wonderful insight as well!! Hugs and blessings, Sabrina

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