SSIC Seasons

This weeks Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge has been brought to us by our very own Chris Olsen

who has brought us the well known scripture:

 'To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven' Ecclesiastes 3:1

Chris has challenged us to use fall colors or leaves on your creation, you can read Chris' message over at  SSIC - I used the SU Set Lovely as a Tree - I just had to get this set and this is only the second time I have inked it up - so it was a nice feeling to be using it!

I used Distressing Inks in Peeled Pain and Walnut Stain - I think the technique I did was called 'Rock'n Roll'   I like the effect it has in this lightly textured card stock.

The larger tree image has been stamped on the outside of the card - all images have been coloured with SU Chalks and had some Kindy Glitz added for a touch of shimmer - you can see it more in the photo below!

Here in Australia we are changing from Winter to Spring and what a welcome relief that has been for us!  Seasons are inevitable and one thing we know is that every season is followed by another, it has a beginning and an end, so will not go on forever!  There is always a progression with each season preparing us for what the next brings - each with it's own purpose.

If we look at our lives we can see this to be true - so often we sail through life without noticing the changes that are slowly happening around us and then all of a sudden we are hit with the cold stark reality that winter has arrived.  Along the way we often fail to see the signs and are prepared for the cold days ahead, or the hard times that we experience.

'there is a time for everything as Ecclesiastes tells us so clearly:

 For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.

 A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.

A time to kill and a time to heal. A time to tear down and a time to build up.

A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance. 

A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.

A time to embrace and a time to turn away.

 A time to search and a time to quit searching.

 A time to keep and a time to throw away. 

A time to tear and a time to mend.

A time to be quiet and a time to speak.

 A time to love and a time to hate.

A time for war and a time for peace.

Ecc3:1-8

The chapter goes on to tell us that we cannot see all of God's work from beginning to end, we cant see the big picture we just see what is immediately before us -  we know that whatever God does is final - nothing can be added to it or taken from it.  God is in control of the seasons and He will make it all beautiful in it's time!  Each season will come and bring with it a beginning and an end - we  need to go through each season and glean the beauty that lies within it, for your lives, building and preparing for the next!   Our journey is not a matter of standing still and seeing what life brings, but to walk with God in and out of season!

Thank you to our sponsor

Our Daily Bread Designs

This card is for the following challenges:

The Secret Crafter - Anything Goes

Alphabet Challenge - U for Unused  Stash - Stamps

Creative Card Crew - Autumn or Fall

IncyWincy Designs - Fall Colours

Aly Sunday Challenge - Sparkle and Glitter

The Stamp Man - Distressing ( I used Ink to distress)

ABC Challenge - D is for Distressing

The Shabby Tea Room - Inspired by Nature and/or the colour Green
A Spoon Full of Sugar - Autumn Colours
Pollycraft Challenge - Autumn Colours 

For more inspiration make sure you visit each of the Design Team:

*Lisa * Chris * Cindy * Grace * Patti J * Peggysue * Randi * Miejse * Rebekkah *

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.  You are invited to join us on our SNR Group where there is lots of fun and chatter (No surprises there I know! LOL)  There are also discounts and previews that are exclusive for the Group Members - come and join us!!

Thank you for your comments and all of the encouragement you leave me here, it is appreciated!!!  I love seeing that you have visited - it makes my day!  God bless you!

{{{hugs}}}

LOC Faith Art Friday - All Things

It is my priviledge to be hosting Faith Art Friday over at Layers of Color today and this week I decided to get out of my comfort zone and try some different card styles, the first being this Side Step Card- and I am loving it!

  Faith Art Friday is always a highlight of the week for me - it is great to be able to combine my passion for paper with my passion for God.

The scripture I have used on this card comes from my dear friend Sabrina (aka okimom2girlz) I love this scripture and it fitted perfectly with this card! 

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Phillipians 4:13 (NKJV)

This is one of those scriptures that gets quoted so often, or sadly - misquoted and I have to wonder if we really understand  what it is saying.  In my Youth Group days  we used to quote it and say that we can do whatever we wanted  (as in 'I can do all things'), as  though we have the POWER to do it.  BUT the reality is this is not the true meaning

To understand it better we need to read the scripture beforehand to keep it in context.  The Good News Bible tells us in Philippians 4:12-13 that

I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned this secret, so that anywhere, at any time, I am content, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little.  I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me. 

Rather, we can do whatever task is before us THROUGH CHRIST JESUS, it is not in our own strength or ability, but in Christ...and only through Him.   Whatever situation we are in whether it be in richness or poorness, health, in our jobs or even in our homes, whatever state we are in, we are to be content in that as it is!  'I can do all things', it is not saying that we can do whatever we desire, but is telling us, whatever lies before us, we can meet the challenge through HIS strength!  We need HIS strength to be content in very condition!

This is for the following Challenges:

ABC Change - Distressing

Creative Belli - B Theme - Brads

Everybody Art Challenge - Other Card form - shape

2 Sisters - Monochromatic

Our Creative Corner - Folds

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.  You are invited to join us on our SNR Group where there is lots of fun and chatter (No surprises there I know! LOL)  There are also discounts and previews that are exclusive for the Group Members - come and join us!!

Thank you for taking the time to visit with me today, I love knowing you have been and appreciate the comments and encouragement you leave me - it makes my day!  It is Friday night here and we all knows that means it is officially the weekend!! Wahoo!!  I am so-o-o looking forward to it  I hope you have a great weekend and get to spend it with those you love!  God bless you!

{{{hugs}}}

MMSC71

Can you believe it is time for the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge - we have been busy with life while Priscilla and Carol have been living the HIGH LIFE cruising with some other MMSC players - what a life!! LOL!

This week I have used one of  'priscillastyles' images - Victorian Rose, from a set of three, they are fabulous to use ad such great value as well!!  I coloured the rose yellow, as it was the first rose my DH ever gave me (awww, how romantic!!)  I dried the rose and still have it today!!

It is layered onto some embossed wallpaper that has been cut into a circle, I love the deep embossing this has. A row of vintage lace is added and finished off with the square of the wallpaper and a Kaiser large square brad added - easy peasy!!

My next card is also using an image from Priscilla - the gorgeous Chandelier from the Retro Gown and Chandelier Set

 - I used a Die from the Spellbinders Doodle Parts ( my kids think that name is hilarious) and created a frame for the image.and added nail bling to each 'doodle'

Chiffon ribbon has been threaded through a pearl buckle/slider and added above this adorable recycled lace!

I these cards are for the following challenges:
Incy Wincy Designs - Autumn Colours - card 1
Lexi's Creations - Flower Power - card 1
Pollycraft Challenge - Autumn Colours - card 1
Allsorts Challenge - Autumn Colours - card 1
Drunken Stampers - Use Circles - both cards
Marks Finest Papers - Fall Colours - card 1
Fairy Fun Fridays - Embossing - both cards
The Stamp Man - Distress - both cards
Creative Inspirations - Lace and Sparkle - card 2
Fab'n' Funky - Anything Goes - both cards

.

This weeks sketch...it's "YOUR PICK" Make it fancy, clean and simple, or somewhere in-between. Remember to click on the sneak peek button on the side bar for the following weeks sketch each Friday.

"YOUR CHOICE"

Our MMSC70 Gold Star Award goes to

***PENDING***

Our Remarkables Awards this week go to

*** PENDING***

Please grab your award logos from the side bar and display them proudly :)

A  BIG Thank you to

 Our MMSC71 Bonus Weekly Sponsor

Gurlee Girl Craft Store

and

Our September Monthly Sponsor

Sunshine and Giggles

Thank you so much for coming to visit and for the constant lovely comments you leave for me!  I love seeing that you have been!  We would love to see you play along this week at the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge and also at the Crafter's Digital Art Centre - where things are moving along at a great pace now, new challenges have just started - it is so much fun - Priscilla has a Group there too - it is PARTY CENTRAL!  LOL!  God bless you!

{{{hugs}}}

SSIC Abundance

It is time for the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge.  What a pleasure it is to have so many of you play along with us each week - we love visiting your blogs and being inspired by your creations - we look forward to seeing you play along again this week! 

Our challenge is brought to us by our very own Peggysue who has brought the following scripture to share with us:

"I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly."  John 10:10

The Challenge Peggysue has given us this week is to use real or faux stitching somewhere on your card/project.

What do you think of when you read the word ABUNDANT - I would say that most of us think of having lots and lots!  How do we measure ABUNDANCE, if you were to ask everyone you know the majority of people would say that it is by the assets we have and in one sense they would be right.

As Christians we know that when Jesus came to give us ABUNDANT life, it has nothing to so with materialism or assets.  It is infact the fullness of life.  before I was a Christian I existed, but since receiving that abundant life I LIVE!!!  Our abundance, or wealth is not measured by the things we own - infact my youngest daughter said it so well a few years ago - she climbed into her bed after a soak in a bubblebath, having had clean sheets put in her bed that day that had been dried in the sun and a gentle breeze!  She shut her eyes and smiled and declared 'I AM RICH!'

 How right she is - Jesus did not come to clutter our lives with Designer labels or huge mansions on the best street in the town, rather He came that our lives may be full, even overflowing with those things that have more value - those things that we will take with us into eternity.......

I have used my Layers of Color Flowering Gems Clear Art Stamps to create this card!  The flowers are coloured with Chalks and popped up on foam tape.  I have added faux stitching around two of the DP panels!!

This is for the following challenges'

Marks Finest Papers - Autumn Colours

Paper Play Challenge - Autumn is coming

Southern Girls Challenge - Anything Goes

Fab'n'Funky - What'eva

Stampin' for the Weekend - Shabby or Vintage

The Craft Den - Autumn

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge - Distress It

Artful Inkables - Distressed Out

My Time to Craft - Jewelled

Crafts and Me Challenge - Gems and Sparkle

Lexis Creations - Flower Power

Creative Inspiration - Lace and Sparkle

Gingerloft Challenge - Anything Goes

Crafty Emmas - Floral Frenzy

Pocket Full of Posies - Floral Fantasy

A special Thank you to our sponsor this week

Simon Says Stamp

For more inspiration make sure you visit each of the Design Team:

*Lisa * Chris * Cindy * Grace * Patti J * Peggysue * Randi * Miejse * Rebekkah *

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.  You are invited to join us on our SNR Group where there is lots of fun and chatter (No surprises there I know! LOL)  There are also discounts and previews that are exclusive for the Group Members - come and join us!!

Thank you for your comments and all of the encouragement you leave me here, it is appreciated!!!  I love seeing that you have visited - it makes my day!  God bless you!

{{{hugs}}}

LOC Vintage Bird

I have had fun creating my own DP using the Layers of Color Touch of Elegance Clear Art Stamps.  I used three shades of Distressing Inks - Scattered Straw, Walnut Stain and  a blue, stamping some of the images from the set randomly onto the page

 

The Backyard Bird has been cut out using the Oval Nestibililtie the bird is coloured with SU Chalks and has had Kindy Glitz lightly added to give the bird some shimmer!  This is then layered onto the Labels 4 Nestibilitie that has been embossed with the Textiles Embossing Folder.

A gorgeous flower from Wild Orchid Flowers is added and some lace flowers which are part of a RAK from Gunn placed either side, followed by some Chocolate Kaiser half pearls

The final touch is this gorgeous lace that was sent to me by my Mum Lesley Aka SuperNan - it belonged to my Great Grandmother - beautiful isn't it!

This is for the following challenges:

Cowgirl's Sunday Stampen Challenge - Anything Goes

Stamptacular Snnday Challenge - Distress It

Pile It On - Layers

Pocket Full of Posies - Floral Fantasy

Artful Inkables - Distressed Out

Marks Finest Papers - Five if Something - pearls

Fab'n'Funky Challenges - "What'eva"

Creatalicious - Vintage

Dutch Dare Card Challenge - Vintage Summer

Stampin for the Weekend - Shabby or Vintage

Flourishes Bring Back Beautiful - Rustic Beauty

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.  You are invited to join us on our SNR Group where there is lots of fun and chatter (No surprises there I know! LOL)  There are also discounts and previews that are exclusive for the Group Members - come and join us!!

Thank you for your comments and all of the encouragement you leave me here, it is appreciated!!!  I love seeing that you have visited - it makes my day!  It is Friday night here  - a wet and cold one, great for crafting while the family watches a movie and I listen to it!  I love being around the family when I craft, it is always such a nice place to be!!  God bless you I hope you have a great weekend ahead of you!!

{{{hugs}}}

LOC Lady Marmalade

I have enjoyed doing some scrapbooking and what better place t start then with this photo of my youngest daughter.  Her dramatic look is the result some 'sister time' in the form of a makeover by her 14 year old sister - definitely a photo moment - just as well we have at least 4 cameras in the house!

This came together very quickly - as soon as I saw the colours in the photo I reached for this delightful flocked DP given to me in a RAK from my dear friend and Layers of Color artist and owner Laura.

This gorgeous Prima was a natural addition and is part of the divine Candy I won from Steph, along with the doily - I have always admired the large Prima's and now thanks to Steph I have quite a few to work with - wahoo!!  It is attached with foam tape to a Tim Holtz Grungeboard flourish that has been sprayed with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist - you gotta love that stuff!!

Next I added my favourite butterfly of ALL TIME - from the Layers of Color Flutterescent Clear Art Stamps and lightly coloured it with SU Chalks, addling light touches of Kindy Glitz to give it some shimmer!

I have always been a fan of tags and love them in scrapbooking!  I added the sentiment 'A flair for the dramatic' - if you knew this girl you would add it too!  LOL! The gorgeous dove was also part of the RAK I received from Steph.

The finishing touch is the sentiment added to the sponged doily, I sponged around the edges to soften the white.  I was careful not to so too much as I love the contrast of the white doily.

This is for the following challenges:

Bee Crafty - Anything Goes

Stamp Something - Something Cute - my DD of course!  LOL!

ABC Challenge - S for Scallops

Pile it On - Pile on the Layers

Oh Alice - Sparkle

Twisted Thursday - Flocking or Feathers

Cowgirl's Sunday - Anything Goes

Thank you for looking and always leaving me such lovely comments - it makes my day!  God bless you! 

 {{{hugs}}}

MMSC70

The week has flown by and it is time for the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge and what fun we have for you this week!  It has been so much fun having so many of you playing along - you are so inspiring!!  Are you ready for this weeks cards and sketch!

My first card is using Priscilla's gorgeous Fan with Rose image you can see it here at "priscillastyles" store.  I have coloured it with both Chalks and Prismacolor Pencils.
 

I cut around part of the rose and kept the rest as the rectangle, you can see it in the photo below and added a pearl to the fan and some lace down the side.  This panel has been popped up on foam dots!

My next photo is using the "priscillastlyes" image The Trunk - this was fabulous to colour, using my Prismacolors, for those of you who are wondering, I have not given up my 'trusty' Chalks, I have just been familiarising myself with the Prisma's - and I do love them!!

This image has so much potential and so much detail.  The Argyle Embossing Folder was used on the back ground panels, it has been sponged around the edges.

This week I have another card - a fun one with one of Priscilla's new images....how cute is this dog...

Here is a close up of all of the shimmer - I just had to do that to this dog!!

This week Priscilla will be leaving for the Midnight Madness Crafting Cruise, she will be taking some pictures and share with us here!  What a rough life - kicking in the Caribbean with a cool drink in hand overlooking the blue waters. Just a quick reminder: When linking up to inlinks for our challenges, please remember to do “direct post” links on your blog and not just the blog link. you can see how here!   Now you know while Priscilla is away the Design Team will be taking care of you - we always do!!

This weeks sketch...it's "YOUR PICK" Make it fancy, clean and simple, or somewhere in-between. Remember to click on the sneak peek button on the side bar for the following weeks sketch each Friday.

"YOUR CHOICE"

Our MMSC69 Gold Star Award goes to...

Gudrun/Artesania #52

Our Remarkables Awards this week go to...
 
Lena #36
Annika #46
Mona Eidhammer #51


Please grab your award logos from the side bar and display them proudly :)

Our MMSC70 weekly Bonus sponsor is.....


http://www.mcmahonfivedesign.com/

Our September Monthly Sponsor is....

Sunshine and Giggles

We want to give you a heads up on the up coming CDAC Digital Artists BLOG HOP!! We have some amazingly talented artist that have groups on CDAC and many of them are getting all geared up for the coming seasons with some remarkable new digis. You won't want to miss all the new images and prizes that will be involved in this groundbreaking first ever CDAC Blog Hop event.

If you are not in the hop line up and would like to be, please feel free to contact one of the directors. They will be happy to help.

Thank you so much for coming to visit and for the constant lovely comments you leave for me!  I love seeing that you have been!  We would love to see you play along this week at the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge and also at the Crafter's Digital Art Centre - where the membership is over 3000 now - it is so much fun - Priscilla has a Group there too - it is PARTY CENTRAL!  LOL!  God bless you!

{{{hugs}}}

SSIC Living Water

This weeks Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge is brought to us by our very own Grace who has shared this scripture:

 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal \life."John 4:10, 13-14 (NIV)

Grace has challenged us to Create a card or project that refers to water in some way, whether in image or sentiment

I have had this image from Our Daily Bread Designs for some time, in a RAK from a friend....and have finally coloured it, using my Prismacolor Pencils, I am slowly getting the 'hang of them!'

The sentiment is from Stampin' Up and has been punched out using an oval punch, inked around the edges and popped up on foam tape onto a Die from Sabrina (aka okimom2girlz) Sabrina - I love these with the oval - I am always looking for something new with the supplies I have.

Finishing off with some Vintage Corners using the Cuttlebug Die (thanks Mum!) and a pink brad in the centre of them!  This was a relatively quick card - the colouring took the longest and I loved that, I have always loved to colour in - must be from my childhood!!!

This is for the following Challenges:

A Crafty Little Place - Anything Goes

Our Daily Bread Designs - Forgotten Embellishments - Brads

The Craft Den Anything Goes Challenge - Say it with Flowers

My Time to Craft - In the Garden

Bee Crafty - Anything Goes

Pollycraft - Add a Little Nature

This is a short post today as it is Father's day here in Australia and we are having some 'family time' with my DH!  I always make a cake for him and this year he requested a 'Baked New York Toblerone Cheesecake' - totally WICKED! 

 LOL! I thought I would share a slice with you....

For more inspiration make sure you visit each of the Design Team:

*Lisa * Chris * Cindy * Grace * Patti J * Peggysue * Randi * Miejse * Rebekkah *

Thank you for your comments and all of the encouragement you leave me here!  I love seeing that you have visited - it makes my day!  God bless you!

{{{hugs}}}