Almost Friday...

Has this week been long in your world?  It sure seems like it has in mine!  Perhaps it is because I am pretty excited for the weekend.  Abby, Mom, and I have a little of a girls day planned for Saturday and I simply can't wait!  It doesn't matter if we were just all together this past Saturday doing the same thing at the house - it's always a blessing!  The following cards are some little pretties I whipped up for our Church's Prayer Shawl Ministry using the Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge sketch!  Love me some TE!  All the pretty papers you see used are from the kits, with the exception of the kraft and white cardstock, which is from PaperTreyInk

Have a great Thursday!!

God Bless You,

Merry Christmas &a Pig...Say What?!

Well, I know that it is Summer time, but Christmas challenges seem to be popping up everywhere! Have you noticed it too? I figured that I may as well jump on the band-wagon, that way I would have at least one card done come Christmas time!

(Paper: PaperTreyInk, Basic Grey; Ink: Copics, Distress Ink, White Ink; Image: Deedee’s Digis; Accessories: Fiskars Punch, Edge Distressing Tool, CuttleBug Snowflake Embossing Folder, Jute, Buttons, Acetate Sheets)

I decided to combine multiple challenges into this one though! First of all, the Christmas challenge is from The Cuttlebug Spot – notice the snowflake embossing done on kraft and highlighted with a little white ink! The colors, well they are from Color Throwdown #102, so pretty, and although they were chosen to be Summer Colors, I think they worked great for a Cool Winter card. The corners of the card have paper piercing added as a result of the Tuesday Throwdown challenge. And last, but not least, Midnight Madness is responsible for the awesome sketch! If you notice the snowflakes on the card in the corner, my dear friend Candace was looking for some “Ghost Snowflakes by Heidi Swapp”, so I decided to see if I could create them… Not sure if I am happy with them or not LOL It’s sure not something I would be happy enough with to give LOL

Next up is a cute little pig card that I made to go along with a Prayer Shawl that I am working on. The cute little image is from Deedee’s Digis and you can find him in the Dollar Digi bin over there at the Deedee’s Digi’s Store!  The wonderful sketch is from Sweet Sketches.

(Image: Deedee’s Digis; Paper: PaperTreyInk, BasicGrey; Ink: Copics, Distress Ink; Accessories: Ribbon, Prima, Stickles)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

God Bless You,

Mary

Case Artist Day @ CPC

It's Wednesday, so you know what that means, right?  Of course, it's time for the Wednesday CASE Artist over at Christian Paper Crafts!  Today the CPC site is being a tad bit silly, so we are directing everyone to the Creative Blog for the day!

Today's featured artist is Janaria.  Take a peak at that gallery and see what you want to CASE.  I chose and layout as inspiration this week and the card below is what I came up with!  This cute little bear from Deedee's Digis was the perfect touch! I did try to use the color's from the Curtain Call Color Challenge again, because they were just so fun - but had to add in a little splash of blue and purple on the parachute!  :o)

(Paper: PaperTreyInk, BoBunny; Image: Deedee's Digis; Accessories: Nestabilities, Lace, Jute, Buttons, cuttlebug; Ink: Tattered Angel's Glimmer Mist, Copics, Distress Ink - Tea Stain)

Hope your week is absolutely fabulous!

God Bless You,

...Relay Wrap Up...

Tonight is our "Relay Wrap Up" meeting, which also means it is time to start planning again for next year!

I have a little card that fits into a couple of challenges to share with you today:

(Paper: PaperTreyInk, BoBunny; Accessories: Ribbon, Button, Jute, Flower, Pin, Cork, Nestabilities; Stamp: Paper Trey Ink; Ink: Copics, Momento Rich Cocoa, Distress Ink - Tea Stain)

This little number is for the sketch challenge over at Christian Paper Crafts this week and the Stampin Sisters In Christ Challenge!

God Bless You,

Welcome to the Luau!

The Luau with Deedee's Digi's that is!  Just think - in your mind you can be anywhere you want, and now with these new awesome digi's from Deedee's Digis, well, you can go there in your paper-crafting too!  Just sit back and relax - there's a party going on!

First up, I have to tell you I fell in love with this pineapple!  Now, I know it sounds silly because I don't know *why* I love it, maybe because as soon as I saw it, I *knew* the card I wanted to make!  And Miss Candace, although I sure love you, your tutorial has given my hot glue gun a workout girlie!  I am pleating ribbon on everything!

(Cardstock: PTI, American Crafts, Image: Deedee's Digi, Cuttlebug, jute, button, edge distresser, copics, distress ink)

Next, I decided to do a card with the super cute TIKI man that comes as a free gift for playing along today!  So, the truth is, we are all about parties at my house!  All in good,clean, fun that is!  Everyone gathers at my house for their birthday, cookout, etc...  So next year I want to build a "porch" on the side of my yard (sounds crazy, I know), but I explained it all to hubby and told him I would have to throw a big "porch party" when it is complete!  Wouldn't this be the cutest invite?

(Paper:PaperTreyInk, Cosmo Cricket, Image: Deedee's Digi's, buttons, jute, copic spika marker, lace, ribbon, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, distress ink)

However, I am all about a card with more than one purpose and I hated to think of waiting until next year to use this cute little feller, so I transformed him into a card for the Prayer Shawl Ministry at church.  See, not all of our shawl recipients are adults, and the kiddos of all ages need cards, too!  So, the sentiment says: "Dude - Get to know the 'Living Water' -John 4:1-26"  I can soo imagine him saying that!!!

(Paper: PaperTreyInk, CosmoCricket, Image: Deedee's Digis, ribbon, lace, buttons, jute, copic spika marker, edge distresser, Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Distress Ink)

And last, but certainly not least, these little flip flops were the freebie on Monday, but what would a good luau be without a new pair of "flops"?

(Paper: PaperTreyInk, Ribbon, Buttons, Image: Deedee's Digis, copics, distress ink, bling, edge distresser)

Have a wonderful day!  Don't forget to stop by the party at the Crafter's Digital Art Center and check out what the rest of the DT has created for you today!

Ceal Pritchett

Candace Mitchell

Darsie Bruno

Dana Colbourne

Jeanine DuBose

Jerusha Borden

Kelly Santi

Leanne Garner

Melissa Craig

Paula Bloom

Sandy Domelle

God Bless You,

Truckin' On through the Work Week

You know, I'm totally girl. I don't care to admit it either! I can deal with shades of blue and green, but chances are, there's some pink thrown in there and definately some bling. So.... this little card was a true challenge!

I took the plunge and made it anyways! I'm not too dissapointed in it either! See, as we give the Prayer Shawls away at church, we are also doing blankets for children who are ill. As I have been making adult and girly cards, I admit the cards for boys have been store bought! (It's okay - I make sure to find out their favorite characters!!)

The stamp set used on here is an oldie from Stampin Up called Little Trucks. I actually purchased this one off of eBay to make a birthday card for my little nephew Cole a few years back! And yes, that's the kind of Aunt I am - I'll buy a whole stamp set for ONE card for the babies :o) The papers are PTI cardstock and Cosmo Cricket the Boyfriend pp line. Making Memories mesh star brads, Tim Holtz distress ink, copics, nestabilities, and jute!! The card is also for the Fun on Friday challenge over at Christian Paper Crafts from last week when we were out of town. One stamp set, two embellishments, and three different pp's!

Have a wonderful wednesday - Half way through the work week!!

God Bless You,

Mary

Pretty Toes and Headache Woes

Hello and Happy Saturday everyone! I hope that everyone's weekend is off to a wonderful start! Although I have been dealing with a headache, I have to say it has been a great weekend so far! Right now I am blessed to be getting a pedicure as I type this blog...well, my hubby is the one doing it, but that's the best :o) I love having some pretty toes to peep out of new sandals!
This yucky headache has lingered for a couple of days, therefore so did this card. I still don't think I am totally satisfied with it, but as much as I will ever be, I suppose. Since I didn't feel too well, I tried to combine as many things as possible! The sketch is from the lovely 2Sketches4You, while the Bible verse using the word "paths" is from the Bible Verse Thursday challenge #55 over at Christian Paper Crafts. Also, the heart is colored using copic markers, the challenge for Fun on Friday #54 over at Christan Paper Crafts as well!
Supplies: PTI cardstock, Georgia Pacific cardstock, Basic Grey pp, Wright's Creative Classic Trim, American Crafts Slick Writer, Ippity Stamps (Music of My Hearts), SU Real Red Ink, PTI Hibiscus ink, Bubblegum glimmermist
Also, this card was my first ever attempt at using glimmer mist.
With that being said, it led into this:
Now this was F-U-N and right up my ally!! The Scripture 1 Timothy 2:1 is for Scripture Saturday #47 also at CPC. After using the glimmer mist on the card prior to this one, I had to break it out again and spritz some around! Add some jute, trim, and a button, along with distressing the edges of the stamped image to shabby it up a bit! The stamp of the birdhouses is from a Unity KOM from this year, although I cannot remember which month, and the background is stamped with music which is the challenge over at Stampin' Sisters In Christ this week! I used CTMH inks Pansy Purple and Sunflower. This sketch is from MOJO Monday, Sketch 139, and although I always want to play along, I usually forget the sketch and use it too late to add it to the link list - not this week...almost, but I'm making it in time :o)
Well, I'm off to add these cards to the Prayer Shawl Ministry Basket! Thank you for stopping by, I sure hope you come back soon!

God Bless You,

Rockin' Thursday

As busy as my agenda is for today, I didn't know what to call Thursday, but I thought since I am starting it off crafty, it must be pretty 'rockin'!

The Christian Paper Crafts Blog Hop yesterday where we featured Magenta Style Products was a total hit! If you missed it, just scroll down one post, or click here.

I usually do not like to use my own handwriting on a card if it is a whole verse or something more than one word, however I decided to go ahead and give it a whirl on here. All of my cards lately are going to the Prayer Shawl Ministry at our church, so I think a little personalization might be just the key :o) Plus, making all of these cards for the shawls has been an EXCELLENT excuse to paper-craft and buy more supplies!

As you see, the verse on the card is Matthew 8:3, which is talking about Jesus' healing hand. The Bible Verse Thursday challenge over at Christian Paper Crafts today is about "hands", so I thought this would be a wonderful verse to use on a card accompanying a Prayer Shawl. My wonderful sketch came from DigiDoodles and the colors are from the Stampin Sisters In Christ blog.

Items used: Randon Paper Scraps, PTI Kraft, Brown, and Rustic Cream CardStock, fabric trim, cuttlebug, CTMH ink, Ippity Stamp, bling, edge distressing tool.

Have a wonderful day! Remember, it's almost Friday! :o)

God Bless You,

Saturday Joys...

Today I have a couple of little creations to share with you. The Prayer Shawl ministry at church is such a blessing not only to those of us who are creating the shawls, but also to those who are receiving them. Here is another shawl that I created with prayer this week. I am not sure who it will go to, but it is full of prayers.

I created it using Peaches and Cream brand yarn. I had never worked with it before and it was oh so easy to use!

Over at Christian Paper Crafts, today is both Scripture Saturday and CASE Artist Saturday. For Scripture Saturday, our verse is Psalm 29:11. I decided to make an ATC for my ATC holder that sits on my desk at work. I thought this little verse is a great reminded of what God does for us, especially on days we need reminded the most. "The Lord will give strength unto His people; the Lord will bless Hid people with peace".

The featured artists today for CASE artist Saturday is Rose Miller. You can see Rose's gallery at CPC by clicking here. The card I decided to CASE today can be seen by clicking here.

After I started on this card, I realized that I used the same color combo and papers that I did for last weeks CASE that I did!! I guess it just shows that I am in a "Summer time" mood and these colors scream Summer to me and beg to be used!!

Last, but definitely not least is something that I did not get to do as often as I would have liked while in school... Play with the sketch over at 2Sketches4You!! It was such fun to create with them again! :o)

I hope that you have a wonderful weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all of the women out there! My mommy's gift is sitting in my bedroom, begging to be given to her today, but I will *try* to wait until tomorrow ;o)

God Bless You,

Happy Graduation Day!

Yes, that would be today! I am officially a graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University with my Bachelor's of Science in Nursing degree. Although I have been a nurse for years, finishing my Bachelor's degree was the first step in achieving my dream of obtaining my Masters to be a Nurse Practitioner! IWU is a Christian school, which was so cool because the first college I went to also had a Christian emphasis. If you couldn't tell, I'm a little excited!

Being in school, having a family, and working full time was enough to make the blog take a back seat every now and again, but when you coupled that with the fact that I decided to take all accelerated courses to finish quicker (what was I thinking?) and having technical issues, well.... The techno issues won out and I didn't have as much time to fight with them :o( Back now though :o)

Some things that have been going on before we get to the crafty business of it. The church where I attend now has a Prayer Shawl Ministry that I am blessed to be a part of. Here is one of the shawls that I crocheted for the ministry. We present them to those who have a need, whether it is physical sickness, emotional, those suffering loss, etc. This one is made for a special friend's sister-in-law who is fighting breast cancer. She is a courageous Christian and is trusting in God for her healing. Please join me in praying for her, especially as she is only 35 and has three young children as well as a spouse.

And my scrapbook room got an updo! I never really knew what to call it to be honest because it didn't have a door or even a doorway, it was just sort of an extension or bonus space off to the side of our family room that the contractor never finished converting into a bathroom (before we purchased the house), so my sweet hubby decided to build me a wall and buy me some french doors for the place and call it my office! He thinks office is a good term since I am waiting to hear whether or not I am accepted into grad school for the fall! I love the new color and furniture! Finally, everything matches and it is not a messy hodge podge of stuff! (I looked for a "before" picture, but was unable to find one....it was a horrid mess, so I am not sure I would have wanted to post it if I would have found it!) The area is very small as you can tell, I think the room is around 8x8, but it is serving it's purpose :o)

Now, on to the paper-crafty goodness! Today is of course Scripture Saturday and CASE Artist Saturday over at Christian Paper Crafts! If you have not stopped by and become a member, I urge you to do so. If you are unfamiliar with CPC, check it out, you will not regret it!

Our featured artist today is Bernadette. The card of hers that I decided to CASE can be seen by clicking here. When I saw the little squares, I immediately thought of quilting and fell in love! This card also follows along with Cindy's Fun on Friday challenge for yesterday (FOF51). You can read all about that here.

In the picture below, you can see a better close up of some of the detail! I used PTI cardstock along with Cosmo Cricket! Unity Stamps and copic markers.

Next is what I created for Scripture Saturday. I love to keep verse close by whether in my office at work or my new office at home. I find that if I begin to get aggravated, I can grab my ATC holder and look through it... A smile and prayer comes up in no time after that! Today's Scripture is Proverbs 3:13, from any version you chose. I am more familiar with the King James or New King James version, so those are what I use the most. I also decided to use a little Fun on Friday theme on here as well! I hope you enjoy!

Have a wonderfully blessed weekend,

God Bless You,