Stamin' Sisters in Christ #167

Good morning dear friends.  It's Sunday again, so that means it's time for another challenge over at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.  This week our hostess is our most beautiful and gracious Coordinator, Kris.  She has chosen the verse and challenge for us this week.

"They rejoiced with exceedingly great joy.  And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshipped Him.  And...presented gifts to Him."  Matthew 2:10-11

Can you imagine seeing the Christ child in person?  The wise men came a long distance.  Some believe they were descendants of men who sat under Daniel and were well schooled in the scriptures.  They knew the scriptures.  They knew the Messiah was coming.  They knew a Star would announce His arrival.  They knew, and they wanted to worship Him.  They traveled a long way.  In fact, if you read the accounts in the gospels you realize they were no longer in a stable when the wise men arrived.  They were in a house.  And He isn't called a baby.  He's called a young child.  They traveled for months, maybe as many as 24 months to find the Messiah.  Can you imagine that?  How great this Child must have been to cause these men to travel so far and so long to find Him.  And quite honestly, it probably wasn't just 3 men.  Herod wouldn't have cared if it was only 3 men.  It was probably a large number of them.  (Yes, only 3 gifts were given, that still doesn't mean it was only 3 men)  What must Mary and Joseph thought when this huge group of very important men showed up at her door?  The Bible tells us when they took Jesus to the temple to be dedicated according to the Levitical law, Mary "kept these things and pondered them in her heart."  What an amazing, amazing event in the history of the world.  The God of the universe left His throne above, became a baby, and lived 33 years on this earth so He could suffer and die on the cross for our sins.  It overwhelms my heart every time to think about that.  What a tremendous love that is.  I am so undeserving of His gift.  His gift to me of salvation.  I can be assured of my entrance into heaven simply by believing in Jesus as my Lord and Savior.  Simple as that.  It is a gift to me by my heavenly Father.

In remembrance of His great love and His amazing gift, we give gifts to each other on Christmas.  We can never give anything like what He gives us, but we can remember Him.  That is why we celebrate Christmas, because without a baby in a manger, there would never be a Savior on a cross, offering us a free gift.

Kris has asked us to make a Christmas card or project.  Our sponsor this week is Doodle Pantry who is offering 3 digital images to our randomly drawn winner.

I chose a very simple and elegant design for my card.

 I used a sentiment from Inkadinkadoo.  The papers are from Kaiser Craft, so vintage and elegant.  I inked the edges a bit and did some sewing.  My only embellishments are the pearls in the corners.

I used the same sketch on the inside for the writing panel.

I hope you'll decide to join us this week.  We would love to see what you create.

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Stampin' Sisters in Christ #164

Good morning dear friends.  It's Sunday so that means its time for another challenge over at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.

This week our lovely hostess is Helen.  She chose Psalm 147:3 for our challenge this week:

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

What image do you have of God?

Distant?  Friendly?  Out-of-reach?  Loving?

All too often we give God human-like qualities.  We think He is cruel, or stand-offish.  We think He doesn't care about our every day lives.  But if we are faithful to be in the Word, all of it, not just select portions, we get a more accurate picture of who God is.  When God sent Elijah into the wilderness He also sent the ravens to bring him food.  He didn't abandon him.  When people came in faith to Jesus for healing, He healed them.  He cared about them and He cares about us.  He cares about all of us.  Every single part of our lives.  Luke tells us every hair on our heads are numbered.  How intimate is that?  I personally have seen many many times how God is concerned about all the details of my life.  Not just the big ones, but little ones like when our cow was having trouble delivering.  We had no idea what we were doing and every time we started to panic I stopped my husband and we prayed.  God answered each of those prayers with lightning speed.  (Not that He always does that, but a laboring cow doesn't have days or weeks to wait for an answer right??)  (Quite honestly I have no idea why that example popped into my brain, but I'm just going with it.  God must have a reason....)  God heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.  He cares about our hearts, our feelings, our emotions.  He cares about our wounds (physical, mental or spiritual) and He binds them up.  He doesn't laugh at us.  He doesn't ignore us.  He doesn't pour salt on our wounds.  He loves us.  He cares for us.

  Thinking about our Heavenly Physician, Helen would like to see us use something "broken and put back together" on our cards this week.  

I have to admit I have used the "illusion" of something broken and put back together (I'll explain).  I used a great tag from Iralamija.  The set is New Yuletide Tags.  There are 12 images and I had a hard time choosing which one I would use first.  But I did choose!!

Here is the adorable image I chose to work with.  I cut out the tag and added some seam binding to the top.  I also glued some lace to the bottom.

Here's  my card.  I used my favorite paper from MME.  I only had a scrap left (need to get to Hobby Lobby for more!) so the inside is not done as it usually is.  I used the sketch at CLP Challenge Blog.  I added pearls at the top along with a small piece of lace (from my scrap jar).  It's hard to see but for the one layer in the sketch I actually used cheesecloth.  

I added a tree die cut from Memory Box.  The pink flowers were from Joanns.  They were by-the-yard.  I added the pearls to their centers.  The pompom trim is also from Joanns.  Behind the flowers I added a small strip of pink tulle that I gathered slightly.

 OK here is my "illusion" of something broken.  I used Distress Crackle Paint from Tim Holtz in clear.  After it dried thoroughly I rubbed walnut stain ink over the top to darken the cracks.  This looks so vintage, I really love how it turned out. 

Our sponsor this week is Clear Dollar Stamps.  They are offering one randomly drawn winner a $15 gift certificate to their store.  I hope you break something and put it back together for us this week! 

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

CLP Challenge Blog - Sketch
My Time to Craft - Vintage
Crafty Calendar - Wrap Up Warm for Winter
Totally Gorjuss - Pastel Christmas
Alphabet Challenge Blog - T is for Tag
Brown Sugar Challenge Blog - Bingo (flowers, pink, ribbon)
Christmas Stampin' All Year Long - Anything Goes
Crafts for Eternity - Tags
Crafty Catz - Anything Goes
Fussy and Fancy - Pearls and Flowers
Inspire Me Fridays - Anything Goes

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Stampin' Sisters in Christ #164

Good morning sweet friends.  It's Sunday so that means its time for another challenge over at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.

This week our hostess is the beautiful and gracious Diane and she has chosen our verse and challenge.

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge."  1 Corinthians 1:3-5

Diane would like to see us create a card/project showing thankfulness and/or prayer.

Our prize this week was donated by a very generous sponsor, we have a grab bag of stamps for our randomly draw winner.

My card is quite a bit different from what I normally make, but I am falling more and more in love with the collage sheets I am finding on etsy.  I bought a couple sets this week and had such fun time working with them.

I used two sets from iralamija.  The first set is Floral Postcards, the other is Bella Rose Background.  I am still learning how to work with them but they are so gorgeous they make up for any mistakes I make.  I inked and sewed the edges of both layers.  I added a sheer ribbon bow, a charm and a few pearls.

This sentiment is from an old SU set and is perfect for these images.  (I apologize that its blurry, it says "The fragrance lingers in the hand that gives the rose.")  I think it is an elegant way to express thankfulness to someone.

The inside is more simple than usual, with a "Thank You" also from an old SU set.

I had so much fun creating my Thank You card.  Won't you consider joining us this week?

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Stampin' Sisters in Christ #

Good morning dear friends.  I hope you have a blessed day today.

It's Sunday so that means it's time for another challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.  The very sweet and lovely, Sandie, is our hostess this week.  She chose our verse and challenge.

Sandie chose Ecclesiastes 3:1-8.  I'm sure you are familiar with this portion of scripture.  The author speaks how there is a time for everything under heaven.  Sandie would like to see us use a clock on our projects or use black and white to illustrate the vast differences in the scriptures.  As I was contemplating the verses and our challenge (and wandering around the paper-crafting section at Joanns)  I discovered a great stamp set from Tim Holtz.  The two sentiments in the set really spoke to my heart (and it had a clock face) so I simply had to bring it home with me.

With the possibility of being redundant I began thinking about my life since January 3, 2012.  God knew I would be in an accident.  He knew my injuries.  He knew how He would heal me.  And I know it was His will for me to grow in Him through all this.  There was a purpose for what happened and it is my responsibility to figure out what that purpose was/is.

I have decided that I AM NOT a victim.  I WILL BE in control.  I WILL take charge of my life.  The accident WILL NOT be the reason for any negative thoughts in my life.  God chose to heal me when the doctors said there was nothing they could do.  God gave me the strength to get out of bed everyday when I didn't want to.  God gave me 2 young boys who still need their mom.  God pushed me out the door to start running with my daughter so I could get in shape.  God has put many desires and dreams in my heart.  Dreams and desires that have been there a long time.  I have 3 extra children who need the love I can give them.  I WILL succeed.  I WILL be strong.  And I WILL love with all the love God has put in my heart.  I WILL go back to Brazil and share the gospel on the Amazon.  And I WILL live my life sold out for Jesus everyday.  There is a time for every purpose under heaven.  It is TIME (again) to stand up and proclaim what Jesus has done for me.

This was, obviously, all about me.  These were the things that filled my mind as I though about these verses and our challenge.  So, I made something for me.

Like I said, I picked a new stamp set from Tim Holtz, Life's Possibilities.  The sentiment I used for the front is so inspiring.  It's what I want to remind myself when I get discouraged.  God has a plan and a purpose for me.  I can choose to be defeated or not.  If I keep my eyes looking up and not on my circumstances I can do more, I can reach for more, I can be more.

I sort of used both of Sandies challenge ideas.  My colors are shades of black and white  ;)  I used a clock face paper and the clock face stamp to stamp the black paper in black.  I stapled a piece of vintage twill tape to the top.   I plan to use this in my Bible, the only book I read everyday, for inspiration and encouragement.

I used the other sentiment from the set on the back.  

The lovely people at Inspired Stamps are our sponsors this week.  They are offering a $15 gift card to one randomly chosen winner this week.

I think that's about it.  Be sure to stop by every one's blog this week and see what they have created for you.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Stampin' Sisters in Christ #162

Good morning, dear friends.  I hope you have a blessed day.

It's Sunday so that means another challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.  Our hostess this week is the lovely and so very sweet Peggysue.  She has chosen our verse and challenge this week.

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  John 16:33

What an amazing promise.  God has overcome the world.  In the midst of everything going on around us we can have peace.  If you have been following my blog for any time you may know I was in a very bad accident in January.  (Bad enough that the doctors asked my husband and mother which of them would make the decision to remove me from life support if that decision needed to be made.)  I don't remember anything but of course my husband and children do.  My husband has told me that in the midst of emergency vehicles up and down our road, my boys in separate ambulances, me completely unaware of my surroundings, the emergency workers telling my husband I needed to be airlifted to the hospital, all of these things, and the peace of the Lord was surrounding his heart.  He was trusting the Lord.  He knew the Lord was in control.  He said the peace in the midst of all that was amazing.  To someone that doesn't know the Lord it is inconceivable.  But when you know the Lord, when you spend time in His presence, you can begin to know His great love for us.  He promises to never leave us or forsake us.  That is the most wonderful promise.  The Lord of the universe will walk beside us, holding our hands.  I hope you are aware of His presence today.  Allow His peace to surround you.  It is the greatest comfort in all our tribulations.

Our sponsor is Daydream Designs and Diane is offering our winner $20 to spend in her shop!

This is a very simple card for me.  I thought and thought about this card and what I wanted to do.  Peace.  What says peace to me?  The first thing I thought of and what kept coming to mind was snow.  Snow gently falling.  The peace and beauty of God's creation after a snowfall.

I chose a simple blue and white color scheme.  I used a snowflake embossing folder to emboss a piece of vellum.  I matted it with blue and sewed the edges.  I used a thin white satin ribbon and some silver embroidery floss to tie a simple knot.  I stamped "peace" and embossed it with silver and used silver brads in the corners.

Here's the inside.  Again, very simple for me.  I used the same sketch for the writing panel.

I think that's about it.  Check out all my Sisters and see what peaceful creations they have for you this week.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Stampin' Sisters in Christ #161

Good morning sweet friends.  It's Sunday, so that means it's time for another challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.  Our hostess this week is the very sweet Miesje.  She has chosen our verse and challenge this week.

"But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever."  Psalm 52:8

I know I usually give my thoughts on the verse, but for some reason I am crazy tired today after 10 hours of sleep last night.  I know Miesje  will share with you why she picked this verse and her devotional will be on the SSiC blog.  I will leave it at that.

Miesje has asked us to create something with an image of a tree.

 I saw this card on Pinterest and fell in love.  It is gorgeous and I so totally Cased it!  Her original was so amazing there wasn't anything I could do differently to make it any better.  I used 4 embossing folders on my card.  I added silver glitter to some of the "snow".  That piece of ribbon was the exact size I needed for my card.  One more piece used up!  The sentiment came from PTI.

 I kept the inside pretty simple.  The die cut snowflake is from a MS punch.

Make sure you check out every one's blog today.  We have a very talented group of ladies and you don't want to miss what they have for you.

I think that's about it.  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle

Stampin' Sisters in Christ #160

Good morning and many blessings to you today!  Grab a cuppa and stay awhile.

Today it is time for a new challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.  This week I am the hostess.  That means I chose the scripture for our challenge.  That means I also spent time praying about what the Lord would have me share with you.  My verses are:

"that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge."  Ephesians 3:17-18

I have walked with the Lord a long time and I have always believed that He loves me.  But this year everything has been stripped away and I have allowed myself to sink into the everlasting arms of my Heavenly Father.  I have let Him love me.  Have you ever read the gospel according to John?  Do you know how he refers to himself?  John 13:23 says: "Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved."  John refers to himself that way more than once.  Think about that.  He doesn't say Jesus loved him more.  He says "the disciple whom Jesus loved".  John allowed Jesus to love him.  To understand that think about children.  Some of them let you love on them and some hold you at a distance.  You may love two people the same but they may respond differently to you.  John allowed Jesus to love him.  What does that mean?  Again, think of a small child.  When they are scared, hurt, worried or lonely you want to comfort them.  The one that lets you love them will climb into your arms trusting that you are going to take care of them, that everything will be ok.  And that is what I have learned to do this year.  I have taken my head knowledge of Jesus and let it become heart knowledge.  I was brought to the very end of myself and I chose to say "I love You, Lord and I will allow You to have Your way and work in me.  I will glorify You and I will let You show me the grandeur of Your love."  And He has.  More than I can say.  I am experiencing the width, length, depth and height of His love.

Thinking about how great the love of the Lord is, I want you to create something that shows length, width, depth and height.  In other words I would like to see you make a box, or alter a box.  (you could also simply use an image of a box if you prefer...like a gift...?)  So get your creative juices flowing and make something amazing for us this week!  We can't wait to see what you come up with!!

A while back I was blog surfing and I landed on the most beautiful blog.  I think her name is Wenche.  She has the most beautiful things over there.  She had made this box and then given a tutorial here.  Her directions were excellent and my box went together so easily following her directions.  I used my current favorite paper from MME.  I can't get enough of this stuff! 

I inked all my edges of both the box and the DP.  The roses were from my stash as well as my pearls.  (You can't have too big a stash of pearls I'm thinking)

The DP is double sided so I used the gingham on the back for some of the panels.

Here is the great thing about this box!  When you open it the sides can slide out so you can see the inside better.  I added some old SU stamps to the plain panels.

I think that's about it.  Be sure to stop by all my Sister's blogs and see what lovely treasures they have for you this week!  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs

Michelle

SSiC #159

Good morning friends!  May you be abundantly blessed today!

Today its time for a new challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.  This week Marilynn is our lovely hostess.  She chose our challenge to go with this verse:

"speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."  Ephesians 5:19-20

My youngest child loves music.  LOVES MUSIC!  I remember when he was 2 and 3 years old.  I would be busy home schooling his older siblings and I always knew where he was because he was always singing.  ALWAYS!  Sometimes with great gusto and volume!  I would remind him to keep it a little quieter and he would.  For a short time.  Then it was full force all over again.  When he decided at age 4 that he wanted to do school too I readily agreed because it was quieter!  ;)  My little guy (now age 10) still loves to sing and listen to music.  And he loves worship songs.  What a blessing it is to my heart to hear him worshipping the Lord.  As I think about that I wonder what it must be like for our heavenly Father to hear us worshipping Him?  He is so worthy to receive all our praise and worship.  I love having a worship song flowing through my head.  I find it makes me think more about Jesus and less about me.  God has shown Himself faithful to me over and over and I have learned to rest in Him and allow Him to work in and through me.  He sent His Son to die for me.   He blessed me with a loving husband and 4 amazing children.  He has blessed me with other children who sleep on my couch and eat my food (and whack me with pillows and bring me diet coke).  He sent His angels to protect me in my sledding accident this year and allowed me to now only walk away from it, but (after several months) has healed me nearly 100%.  (a walking miracle is what my doctor called me this week)  How can I not praise Him?  He worthy of so much more than what I can humbly offer Him.

Marilynn is focusing on the music part of the verse this week and wants us to create anything that reflects music.  

This week I used this amazing image from Shabby Cottage Studio.  You can find the image here.  (And wowzers!!!  they have a sale going on right now!!!  I'm gonna scoot over there and get some more goodies!!)  My daughter's birthday was the 25th of this month and she loves anything with the Eiffel tower.  I covered a small composition book a couple weeks ago and she is still wanting it, so I decide to make her her own.  This is what I came up with:

 I used a piece of DP that looks like sheet music for the background.  I added some wide lace from my stash, inked all the edges and did some crazy sewing in the background.  I used a French script stamp from SU (an old one) for the paper on the spine.  The brads are all from The Paper Studio.  They have been in my stash for a while and they matched perfectly!  Yeah for me!!

 Here's the image a little closer.  Isn't the whole thing gorgeous?!?

 I used my Spellbinder die (Rose Creations) to make my flowers out of the same sheet music paper.  I inked the edges and curled them.  I love the feathers behind it.  I could add them to every card!

Here's another view where you can see the spine.

I think that's about it.  Check out the other Sister's blogs then get busy and join us this week.  We love to see what you create!  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs,

Michelle