For Today...October 16, 2009

Notice the quart size Ziploc bag filled with toothpase, etc. and the lunch boxes? When I was headed out to CHA, the boys decided they were going to "pack their bags" as well and come along! Ali Edwards had a neat post today that I thought I'd copy...It is based upon inspriation from The Simple Women's Day Book. Outside my window...A blanket of pine needles and seven hundred million acorns and pine cones. I am thinking...about what 2010 will bring and how in the world I'm ever going to find time to decorate our new house. Hey...I unpacked the clothes... I am thankful for...my children and my husband. It's too easy to get bogged down in the every day details and chaos involved in running a household and a business but I am so thankful that God has blessed me with a loving husband and two dear children and I need to remember that each and every moment of every day. From the kitchen...Lately, it's been filled with Rice Krispie treats...They're evil I tell you, pure evil...but I can't stay away from them...I might even steal them from my children's hands if they're not paying attention... I am wearing...Jeans, that are finally looser after dropping a few pounds, and a big comfty sweater because it's getting far too old outside! I am creating...my class supplies for a stamping class I'm teaching at Wholly Scrap tomorrow! I am going...to the scrapbook store in a few minutes - yippee! I am reading...Feelings and Faith by Brian S. Borgman, a book that weaves together biblical exposition and practical application to demonstrate how emotions relate to the Christian life. I am hoping...that I can learn from recent mistakes . I am hearing...my boys arguing over who has what cars. Good thing Grammie is with them!

One of my favorite things...watching my children sleep and spending quality alone with my hubby. A picture to share...I love how handsome and mature my boy looks here. This was a completely unposed shot. Enjoy your weekend! And why not play along with these questions for today...This exercise would make for a great scrapbook page too!

SALT Challenge - Confidence in God

"The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever leans on, trusts in and puts his confidence in the Lord is safe and set on high." Proverbs 29:25

This is one of the verses that Hazel shared on the SALT blog supporting her challenge for this week - confidence in God. A thought provoking verse that can bring much comfort to those who are facing difficult circumstances in their lives or who are prone to anxiety over certain situations. Hazel shared many other excellent verses and comments on the blog, I encourage you to read her thoughts on this week's challenge. When searching for a Scripture text for me to use on my ATC, this one from Verve was a perfect fit. Such a powerful statement for believers to "be still..." God is still on the throne, no matter how things may appear on this earth. Matthew Henry, in this commentary, had this to say about Psalm 46, "This psalm encourages us to hope and trust in God, and His power, and providence, and gracious presence with His church in the worst of times, and directs us to give Him the glory for what He has done for us and what He will do. We are here taught to take comfort in God when things look very black and threatening, to mention, to His praise, the great things he has wrought for His church against its enemies, to assure ourselves that God who has glorified His own name will glorify it yet again, and to comfort ourselves with that. We may, in singing it, apply it either to our spiritual enemies, and be more than conquerors over them, or to the public enemies of Christ's kingdom in the world and their threatening insults, endeavouring to preserve a holy security and serenity of mind when they seem most formidable. It is said of Luther that, when he heard any discouraging news, would say, "Come, let us sing the forth-sixth psalm."

If we trust that God is the Creator of all things, then we can surely trust that He knows about all the details of our lives (even those that may seem insignificant), and is in control of what happens in the world and in each of our particular situations. Though we may never know why certain things happen, we can rest assured that "all things work together for good, to them that love God." May we be comforted by knowing that He is God... Supply List: Stamps - Papertryink, Verve Paper - SU! Ribbon - Papertryink

Another WCMD Sample

Here's my second card that I completed for one of the WCMD SCS challenges, which was to create a thank you card, follow a certain layout, and use the color brown. This is the first time I've inked up this amazing floral image from Papertreyink. I kept eyeing this set while we were at the CHA Super Craft Show but decided I had enough floral images and left the show without it. But...I just couldn't not get it!! And I don't any regrets about adding another flower to the collection! The image was stamped, colored with Copics and cut out before being mounted with dimensional tape onto my cardbase. The orange layer was also stamped with two Papertreyink sets, Polka Dot Basics II and Text Style. Enjoy!

Keep it Simple Sunday

Greetings all! Tonight's post is going to be a quick one...It's 10pm and I just got home and into my PJ's after seeing Julie's new, sweet, smoochie, wonderful baby boy!! Check out her blog, she has a picture posted. It was hard to leave the hospital since I was so cozy and sleepy snuggling with baby Owen. Ah...I just adore the "fresh out of the oven" stage! :-) This is another card that was published in last month's Scrapbook News and Review online magazine (the Cards and Stamping section), using Our Daily Bread stamps. This was a super easy card; I only used patterned paper (isn't that orange star paper fun?) and three large grommets to add a little drama to the kraft cardstock. This was one of my favorite cards using this set and the layout is one I'll need to keep in my back pocket to use again in the future! That's it for me tonight...I'm off for a snack...I'm starving!! Enjoy!

Tim Holtz Creativity

Why hello Wednesday, when did you get here? Someone slow down the clock...I can't believe the week is half over or that it's been almost three days since I last posted on my blog! I simply need more than 24 hours in each day... So...a few weeks ago a friend of mine came over for a visit and she brought with her a big 'ol bag of Ranger goodies and some Tim Holtz tips and techniques. And did I ever have a great time! We worked with distress inks, crackle medium, rock candle stickles, embossing plates and paste, glitter...let's just say we went hog wild! In the above photo my friend is demonstrating a way to add ink to a tag. Using a craft sheet, which is one of the most amazing things ever...you can put ink on it, use your heat gun on it, it's indestructible! Go to eclectic Paperie and buy one right now! OK, commercial over...Using the craft sheet, apply ink directly on to the sheet. Spritz the craft sheet with water until the ink has beaded (you can see that in the photo). Then slap a tag right down on the wet ink and smoosh (that's a technical term) it all around. Use a heat gun to set and then add more ink, if desired. The finished result is aged and vintage...fabulous! Here's my tag in progress with the ink applied as well as a few other images from Unity and Papertryink. Isn't that fantastic!! This is another technique we tried where we crinkled up the tag and then used distress ink to drag the page across the tag for aging. (I have yet to finish my tag with this technique!) We also played with some inks and glossy paper...I need to make something with the paper we created. My kids even got in on the act and created their own tags. Great fun!

Finally, here's a close up on my tag, where you can see the detail on the heart image (isn't that such a Tim Holtz type of image...Love it! It's from Unity's KOTM). You can also see the layers of images on the tags...all my favorite things; words, swirls, polka dots, and lots of aged edges! WooHoo!! We're already planning our next crafting playdate...I can't wait...maybe we'll do videos next time around...I should also mention that you can purchase all of your Tim Holtz and Ranger products at eclectic Paperie! Enjoy!

Unity WCMD Challenge

Thanks to a heavy, all day downpour yesterday I was able to actually participate in a few World Card Making Day challenge...yeah! This is the first time I've ever had the time to actually make cards for this fun event! I focused on challenges posted on Splitcoast Stampers, even though I wish I could have participated in them all! This card is for the Unity challenge, which was the first one of the day. The challenge was to use a quote as the focal point on our cards. Since my Unity KOTM stamps have been far too neglected, I knew it was high time for them to get dusted off and inked up! I loved this bird image and knew it would be perfect for a....drum roll, please....Michelle Zindorf inspired card! Anyone weary of my MZ cards yet? :-) Not me...I just adore this style and it is far too much fun to create...I am a mess by the time I'm finished with one of these cards, my hands are covered in ink and I've got sponges and ink pads all over the place. I love it! This card is meant to look a bit like a tree branch over water (I say that because my husband didn't have a clue...hee hee) The moon was added with the negative space of a circle punch and white ink. I also added some text and swirls on the right side of my card for a little extra visual interest. :-) You can also click on the photo for a larger view. Oh, and the card size...isn't this fun, it's 4x8". Well folks I am off to relax for the evening...all that stamping yesterday wore me out! LOL! Enjoy!

World Card Making Day with Odd Bird Planet

Welcome to the Odd Bird Planet World Card Making Day blog hop!!

The OBP design team have come up with a wonderful list of challenges for today's hop! My challenge is to create a tag and/or create a scene on a card or tag. I went for creating a scene on a tag! :-) You will have 24 hours to complete any or all of challenges and post your creation(s) on your blog. Be sure to leave a comment on the DT blogs with a link back to your blog or gallery so that you'll be entered into the contest to win....

An awesome A La Tarte Halloween kit, which contains cardstock, patterned paper, embellishments, a chipboard book, and the OBP Bat Gate stamp!! (International participants can win a $50 Gift Certificate to the OBP Store.) Here's a list of what's included in the kit: Pattern Paper: Bo Bunny Friends Bo Bunny Haunted Making Memories Dot Black Making Memories Dot Stripe Embellishments: Doodlebug Sugared Brads Bazzill Black Prima Flowers Beetle Black Sugared Glitter Black Cheeky Alphabet Stickers Other: Ghost book Cardstock: Bazzill cardstock - 1 each of Marigold, Raven, Jubilee, and Limeade Stamp: Bat Gate by Odd Bird Planet You should have arrived here from Karrie's blog and after visiting here, hop on over to Laura's blog. Here is the entire list of those on the blog hop: Godelieve Dianne Karrie Kim Laura Marnie Teresa Tiffany Tracy You can also share chatter and your completed projects at Odd Bird Planeteer's Flickr Group. Thanks for playing along and enjoy this special day set aside for card makers all over the world!