SSIC LOC The Birds of the Air

Hello again - I am happy to be home after a week in New Zealand with my Mum and family - I am always sorry to leave and yes, I am the first to cry at the Airport - we are resigned to the fact that with the 'hello's' follow the 'goodbyes' and make the most of the inbetween times! LOL!

This weeks Stampin' Sister's in Christ Challenge is brought to us by the lovely Kathy.  The scripture she has chosen is:

And God said,"Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." Genesis 1:26

This weeks challenge is to make a card/project that has some kind of animal on it. It could be a fish, bird, or land mammal, or a creeping bug.  I have chosen this gorgeous bird from Layers of Color art stamp set Backyard Birds

I have embossed some Basic Grey DP with the Stylised Flowers Embossing Folder .  The Image is coloured with SU Chalks using  a Blender Pen.  The lacey frames are from the Cuttlebug Vintage Corners Die - I have to be honest and say that this was not of favourite of the Dies, but after using it like this I am changing my mind - I am liking the effect they have!  What do you think!?!

I have added this recycled lave and a Prima, can you believe the brad - this was part of a RAK from my dear friend and SISTAH Pat Smethers - I love it and if course I had to add come bling to the flower centres!!

One of my favourite animals are birds - they bring me so much pleasure.  While in New Zealand walked through the Botanical Gardens and stopped at a beautiful waterfall and man made pond, it was picturesque, but the thing that caught my eye and stole my heart was this darling little bird...

...a sparrow!!  I just love the sparrows - the Scripture has so many references to the 'birds of the air' and I can relate to them so much!  We are also told in scripture that He created animals for our pleasure and I, for one, am so grateful as they are such a source of pleasure for me!  It just amazes me to think that our God, with all that He has created, and all that goes on every day, would take the time to create something simply for our pleasure - don't you just love that about Him - it makes me grateful that my Heavenly Father reminds me everyday how much He loves me and He in turn has given me a love for His creation!

We have many animals in our household, but one of my favourite is my hand tamed cockatiel called Paris!  I got him as a baby and was hand heading him for a few weeks, he loves to be out while I card make and often runs off with my scissors and other tools - I have to cover my work if I leave the table otherwise he leaves his 'calling card! ewww!!

Would you trust this face!?! LOL!!!

Thank you to our sponsor for this week

The Wild Flower Patch

I am linking this to:

Charisma Cardz - Flowers

Our Creative Corner - Summer Inspiration

Crafty Calendar Challenge - The Great Outdoors

Make sure you pop over and see the other DT's creations, you know there is plenty of inspiration from these talented girls:

*Lisa * Kathy * Chris * Candace * Grace * Peggysue * Randi * Miejse* Rebecca *

You can see more of my Faith Art Cards 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!

Thanks you for looking and for your encouraging comments, you make my day! God bless you!
{{{hugs}}}

SSIC LOC The Time is Come...

Hello everyone, it is time for this weeks Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge and I would like to start by wishing all of the Mum's happy Mother's Day!  I hope that you are feeling special!!

It is my pleasure to be hosting this weeks challenge and the scripture I am sharing is:

 'But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.' John 4:23

I love this scripture and it stirs me on the inside ...'to worship in spirit and in truth' isn't this the very thing we long for - my heart gets excited and longs for me to be one of those who the Father seeks.  I am sure we have all heard the term that 'worship is a lifestyle' and yes, I wholeheartedly agree with this, but for me personally I want to steer clear of it becoming 'Christian-ese' and just another statement we say as a standard answer.....it has to be more than that for me, to be the kind of worshipper the Father, our Heavenly Father seeks.....

How do we become those 'who the Father seeks,' in our everyday life - does it mean that everyday we have to have our hands raised and sing worship songs to the Lord, where ever we are - if this is the case, I have already failed - could it be that God wants us to have an attitude of worship, glorifying Him in all that we do, not just with our hands lifted to Him, but perhaps hands reaching OUT to those around us who are still finding their way....could He mean that when we get together in HIS name, rather than singing and lifting our hands in worship (for those that do) and get lost in the feeling that worship can create in us, we could be just that much more aware of our brother/sister sitting just down from us with their head hanging low and heart so heavy they can't bear it....would reaching out to them, putting a loving hand on their shoulder and helping them to 'lift up their heads', could this be my 'true act of worhsip' or perhaps ringing someone who has been on my mind just to encourage them, baking a meal for that family that is struggling .....and the list goes on...

God has always been interested in the heart - it is HIS territory, to me, it seems that this is where He would be looking for those who 'worship in spirit and in truth' more than through the actions we do.  I for one do not have all of the answers and know the day I do, I am in deep trouble....LOL!  But I do know that I my heart is to be one that He would be seeking after, and to bring along as many as I can on the way.  I would love to hear your thoughts on this.....

The challenge today, is to create something using any shades of brown, blue and white.  I look forward to seeing your creations and perhaps hearing your thoughts...God bless you!

Make sure you pop over and see the other DT's creations, you know there is plenty of inspiration form these talented girls:

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

A BIG thank you to this weeks sponsor:

Simon Says Stamp

one random winner will receive an fabulous set of stamps!  What a blessing!!!

We can't wait to see all of YOUR creations this week! You may enter as many times as you'd like!** Please link us to your actual card/project post(s), not just to your blog or gallery, by 11:59 pm PDT (GMT -8) on Saturday, May 15th.

I am linking this card to:

Crafty Card Makers - Distressing

Please feel free to pop on over to Layers of Color and stroll through my gallery there and also visit the other Designers, there is so much inspiration waiting there for you!  Laura has created the most incredible post up at the moment and you are going to want to see it - just click here

Thank you  for visiting today and for your lovely comments - you have made blogging such a great experience for me.  I love knowing that you stop by and take the time to leave a comment - I read each one and they make me smile - thank you - you ROCK!  God bless you!

{{{hugs}}}

LOC SSIC Sing of His Love

I am excited to bring you my first card as an official member of the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Design Team. Thank you for your congratulations and lovely comments, you have made it even more special for me!

 This weeks challenge is brought to us by the lovely Kathy and she has chosen

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

What a perfect Scripture to be sharing on Easter Sunday, it really is the Easter Message.  Kathy has challenged us to  have the word LOVE, or something that symbolizes love to you, somewhere on your card/layout or project.

You just have to know I would use the Layers of Colour art stamp set Fleur Hearts and Royal Birds, these images have been cut out, coloured with chalks and popped up on foam dots!

  The recycled page from an old  Hymnal has been distressed and the edges inked.  

 The gorgeous ribbon is part of a very generous RAK from my dear friend Melinda (aka Melinda80) and that fabulous buckle is from Laura of Layers of Color

As we are celebrating  Easter and how these three days changed history and it became ‘His-story’ I am reminded of a song I heard when I was a new Christian and was privileged to see Sandy Patti in concert and was deeply moved by her song ‘In His Love’, it still speaks to me today and I am relieved to know I am safe in the ‘Love of God!’  I searched the internet to find this song, but found every other song she sings but this one - I did find the lyrics and would love to share them with you now!

In His Love

In His love, there’s a place where you can always hide away

In His love, there’s no need to run, no need to be afraid.

If the worlds a sea of trouble, you can always rise above

If you know that you are safely, In His love.

In His love, where all pain and sorrow quickly fade away

In His love, there’s a bright tomorrow just beyond today

If your heart is filled with sorrow, if it’s all you can think of

Still there’ll be a new tomorrow, In His love

Chorus

His love is never far away, yet sometimes hard to see

If we would take the time to pray

His love would flow through you and me

In His love, there’s a place where you can watch the world go by

In His love, there’s no need to hurry, everything’s on time

When the worlds a sea of trouble, you can always rise above

If you know that you are safely, In His love

In His love, there’s a place where you can always hide away

In His love, there’s no need to run, no need to be afraid.

If your heart is filled with sorrow, if it’s all you can think of

Still there’ll be a new tomorrow, In His love

Aren't they the most beautiful and touching words - to be safe in the love of God puts my heart at rest.  There is so much that can pull our hearts in every direction, that I need to know that there is a 'safe place' for me...and you!! 

A special thank you to our sponsor Joni the Owner of Inktegrity - Digital stamps by Joni who is blessing a Random player from this weeks draw with a $10 Gift Certificate from her store - thank Joni!

To be entered in the drawing, your card must be linked to Mr. Linky by 11:50PM PDT (GMT-8) Saturday April 10th. The winner will be chosen by random and will be announced on Tues. April 13th.  Please be sure to make the link direct to your project, not just your blog or gallery, and please place a link to Stampin Sisters in Christ in your post!

I am linking this to:

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - It's So Distressing

Creative Card Crew - Vintage/Aged

Cute Card Thursday - Easter Theme/Egg

Crafty Creations - Anything Goes

Thank you for coming and for the lovely comments you have been leaving for me - I appreciate it that you take the time to leave a comment, it means so much.  I hope you get a moment to play along with this weeks Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge, there is so much inspiration to be had and I would love to come and visit you!  God bless you!  {{{hugs}}}

LOC Sneak Peek 2 - Joyful Noise

Hello everyone - nice to see you today - are you ready for another SNEAK PEEK from Layers of Color!!  Today we are showing you this fabulous art stamp set called "Joyful Noise'.

I have two projects for you today and here is the first...

I have gone for softer colours here and love the way it has turned out. I sponged the edges of the DP and then added a paper doily - these are great for cardmaking and I love the almost Retro Shabby look that it gives.  I have used the musical flourish and cut it out, popping it up on foam dots.

The gorgeous large flower from my dear friend Sabrina (aka okimom2girlz) has been sponged and attached next to the Flourish, I have used one of the music notes from the Joyful Noise set and made it the centre of the flower, adding a semi circle of pearls.  The adorable little birds from the Backyard Birds art stamp set have been added to the top of the flower - the second bird has been popped up on foam dots for dimension and finishing with the corners stamped with a flourish from the Touch of Elegance art stamp set and some YUMBLY Kaiser half pearls in Chocolate.

That is my first card, how are you liking the 'Joyful Noise' art stamp set so far!?!

I am linking this card to the:

Stampin' Sisters in Christ  - Joy or Joyfulness

 Crafty Calendar Challenge - Flower Power

Stampin'B - Spring or Easter

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My next card is in soft colours again and I am going to tell you HONESTLY how easy it is to make, it would have taken me 10 minutes at the most!!  I am going to share the REAL PROCESS with you....not the professional version - are you ready....

Okay I go to my desk and think 'Oh my giddy aunt what a mess,' pick up a piece of DP that is just lying there , it looks pretty so I reach across for the Distressing Ink and the Joyful Noise flourish, thinking how it would make a great frame - so stamp it and doesn't it make a great frame.  Look at the butterfly and realising  my scalloped circle Nestie from Kathy (aka Watlle) is too small for this, stamp the butterfly, carefully inking half of it onto the circle and then the same half onto some white cs and cut the top wing out.

I take my well used Blender Pen and add a few wipes, liking the colour add a few more wipes and yes, the wing is coloured, attached to the body with double sided tape and the tip of the wing popped up on a foam dot.  It is looking good and then realise that the DP is a bit short for the card ., but nothing that two inked scalloped borders can't fix and....wha-la - one pretty card!!  Not too shabby - what do you think!  I love the look of it and how quick it was AND how I have got a few more scraps off my desk!!!  It really was that easy and I enjoyed the 'not over thinking it' process - if only they were all this easy!

Thanks for coming by, you know I love seeing that you have visited - your comments  are so encouraging, thank you!!  Make sure you pop over to Layers of Color and see what they have happening.  The New Releases will be in the store on 15 March and you are able to win ALL of the New Releases - yes all four sets - don't be shy - check it out!!. I will have another 'Sneak Peek' for you tomorrow and would love you see you then!!

In the meantime make sure you check out the other DT's Blogs and see their fabulous creations with the 'Joyful Noise' set

* Heather of The Patchwork Heart

* Kristine of Ink Something

* Laura of Layers of Color

* Patter of Triple the Scraps

And don't forget to join us over on the Layers of Color  SNR Group...the Party is just beginning!!  We can't wait to show you the third set being released by Layers of Color - you are going to LOVE IT and we are going to LOVE seeing you!!

{{{HUGS}}}

LOC The Will of God

I LOVE Faith Art Friday at Layers of Color and this is our first one for 2010 - what a pleasure it is to make this card, especially as I am combining it with one of my favourite challenges - Stampin' Sisters in Christ !!

I am basing my card on the scripture:
'The world and its desires pass away but the man who does the Will of God, lives forever' 1 John 2:17 

The scripture is a RAK from a friend and is from Our Daily Bread Designs and has been cut out with a Nestie. I love the ODBD scriptures, they are great to use on cards and there is such a fabulous collection of them!  I am entering this in the Our Daily Bread Designs  Out of the Box Challenge.  It is also for the Twisted Sister Challenge from Pat Smethers - which is about reflection....I am reflecting on God's Word.
                  

I have combined my card for Faith Art Friday with the challenge from SSIC to use worship God with what we make.  I believe that Worship is not all about singing a song in Church, or at home - but it is a lifestyle.  I love the song 'Heart of Worship' and the words speak to my heart every time I hear it....this faith we share is so amazing - it all comes back to the heart - there is no avoiding it - God is interested in our heart, more than how loud we sing, or how many times we sing a chorus or even - dare I say it - if we lift our hands or HOW HIGH!!

I am using the Layers of Color images Royal Birds - I just love the symbolism of birds and the Holy Spirit....and you know how I love symbolism with my faith based cards.  Don't you just love the bird house, this template was given to me by Laura, the owner and Designer for LOC.  It is so easy to use and makes a great card, it made me think of how in God's house there are many rooms - room for us all, He is not limited by the boundaries we put on things in this life.

The fence is a border punch from Martha Stewart, I have inked it and added the satin ribbon along with the lovely chiffon bow (thank you BowEasy!)  The bow is attached with a large gold brad and then the bird popped up on a foam dot, which has been attached to the brad, so that it will stick properly!

I have also created this fabulous 3D envelope using the 'priscillastyles' Envelope Kit - don't you just love it, I could not resist using it here, especially as the majority of cards I make have layers and more layers on them - this way it keeps the card from being squashed and also makes it a gift, especially once the envelope is embellished to match the card.  You can find this kit and more here.

Make sure you pop over to Layers of Colour and check our Faith Art Friday,you can also have a stroll through my LOC Gallery which you can find here.  

Thank you for coming by and for your lovely comments!  I do appreciate your support, you make blogging such a pleasure! God bless you.

{{{HUGS}}}

SSIC Timely

Hello everyone - thank you so much for your lovely comments on my Altered Art Tutorial, I am glad so many of you loved the frame - and how easy is it!??!  I have been happily stamping away and creating some cards that you will get to see in a few weeks....but in the meantime I have created this card for a couple of challenges, both of them important to me - the first being the Twisted Sister Challenge, as we are taking turns to host it and this week is my week, so I thought I had better be on time!!!  I have challenged everyone to use distressing and lace - no surprises there is there!

The second challenge is the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge where this week the scripture is

Esther 4:14 “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this'

Laurie has challenged us to make a card or project using a time piece or in some way denoting time or the passage of time - this was not hard for me - I knew straight away I wanted to use my Nestibilities Watch along with the Layers of Color art stamp set Regal Wings. 

 I have stamped the wings and corwn with Tim Holtz Distressing Ink in Walnut Stain and coloured them with  SU Chalks, using a Blender Pen.  Nail Bling has been added to the crown....I love the size of Nail Bling, it doesn't shout 'look at me, look at me,' but adds that needed touch. 

Layers of Color have a special offer , exclusively for those those who belong to their Group on SNR - you can get a discount on their stamps - they are also offering free digis - you can check it out here!  What are you waiting for  - come on over and join us, we are goign tio have a lot happening over the next few months and would love YOU to be part of it!

The scripture is from the Close to My Heart set 'Make it Count' - this has been distressed and had lace added to the lower edge and Nail Bling added either side of the book of the Bible.

I love this scripture - what a truth, things certainly go in seasons, not just in the world around us but in our lives as well.  Some seasons are easier than others to go through, but one thing we can have confidence of it that every season will come to an end.  I have learned that every season has it's purpose too, we cannot rush them through but allow that which needs to be accomplished to be done, properly and look forward to the beauty and wonders of the next....the one thing that is sure is that it is all in HIS time, He makes all things beautiful in His Time - what a peace there is in knowing that!

I am linking this to the Corrisive Challenge Blog - Wings

Saturday Spotlight with Hidden Potential - Do the Mess Around

Cute Card Thursday - Touch of Metal

Lexis Creations - Anything Goes

SophistiCat Challenge Blog - Embossing

Flutter By Wednesday - Wings

Crafty Creations Challenge - Cut it Out & Pop it UP

Thank you for taking the time to stop by, your comments mean so much to me - you are so supportive and encouraging - thank you!  God bless you!!

{{{hugs}}}