Strawberry-Banana Bread Kind of Day...

Winner!! If you are GOCANUCKS go, please send me an email to marycollins.at.windstream.net (sorry, had to type it that way to prevent spam) with your email address and name! You have won a small gift certificate to Lauren Meader's new store, My Time Made Easy!

Yumm.... Last night I baked some homemade strawberry-banana bread... so nice and fresh, we are eating this loaf without the topping :o) I guess that just means we'll have to force ourselves to make another loaf to try the topping!

Today I'm combining some challenges in my projects! First you will see my card!

This card was made with clear cardstock, PTI paper, Unity Stamp, etc... The challenge for DCRU this week is to NOT use DP or Patterned Paper. Even though it was hard, I drug out the cuttlebug and used my new floral screen folder to do a little embossing, The fabulous sketch come from the ever-so talented 2Sketches4You and the glitz and glimmer you see on the church house, well that's part of the challenge over at Christian Paper Crafts today for Fun on Friday! We have a special guest host and you'll want to click over there and find out more!!

Next is a layout that I made of my sweet little girl on Christmas morning! The layout was part of a challenge for our local scrapbook store, and the glitter that is showered about the snowflakes is for Fun on Friday today as well!

I hope you have a wonderful day and blessed weekend. My sweet hubby has minister's conference tonight, so I guess me and the little one are going to have a night to ourselves!

Don't forget to check out {Ippity} Kisses! There are some MAGNIFICENT Grand Opening Sales there and remember, this {ippity} chick does it for charity!!

God Bless You,

The Silence of Snow...

Okay - I openly admit that while most people think the silent snowfall is peaceful, I think it's eerie! I do not like snow and to think that something is piling up outside that causes the roads to be so dangerous, the loss of power, and requires cold weather to happen - and all silently - I just don't like it! Now that I've confessed - we'll move on :o)

Since it's so cold out, I have really enjoyed being couped up in my scrapbook room, hoping to get caught up on some things... My mind works faster than my hands can and makes a LOT of plans that take time to get to paper!

First today is for Scripture Saturday here and over at Christian Paper Crafts. Today's verse is Proverbs 16:3. I chose to use Gloria's Sketch #40 over at Christian Paper Crafts to fix a page for my husband's scrapbook. Shhh...it's a secret, and I am hoping to take pictures as he is preaching to give to him for Christmas this year! I think I need to get to work on it more and what better way than using the wonderful sketches and Scripture Saturdays as motivation!! Oh, and Cindy's challenge for Fun on Friday yesterday was to use your nestabilities to emboss with! I really did it...finally... Although the picture doesn't do it justice, I was so tickled with the result of the embossing, it really gave it an added touch!!

On to CASE Artist Saturday over at Christian Paper Crafts, where our featured artist today is Deedee. Click here to see the card in her gallery that I chose to CASE the basic layout of, and below is my interpretation and creation!

I hadn't made a clear card in quiet some time and I added a layer with the silloute stamped image!

God Bless You & Have a Wonderful Saturday,

Sweet Saturday!

Happy Saturday everyone! I can't believe it is the end of September already, can you? It has rained all day here, so my pictures had to be taken inside...ugh - I love outside and natural light so much better for photographing my goodies!
I was so happy to be able to have the time to play along with the 2Sketches4You sketch today! It seems like forever since I have been able to fit it in! However, with school comes even more responsibilities. Oh, and so tooting God's horn because He is the one that led me through it - received an "A" in the last nursing class :) Without further adue - Valentine in September!

(Clear card, My Mind's Eye dp, CTMH ink, PTI Heart Prints stamp, cuttlebug hearts embossing folder)

This next card is for 2 challenges! The SSS25 over at the Sweet Spot is where the wonderfully fun sketch came from and SSC5 or Stampin Sister's in Christ is where the theme for season (I chose Fall of course) is from! I was about to sit this week out over at SSIC, but I have participated every week so far, it seemed a shame to not play along this week!

(BoBunny dp, Unity stamps, copics, CTMH ink, buttons, jute, stickles)

Have a wonderful weekend and a blessed new week!

God Bless You,

Remember...

The first thing I would like to do today is ask everyone to remember the HEROS of September 11th, those who were lost that day and those who are still fighting for our freedom. May God Bless.

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Today's project is a replacement for Sunday's post which did not end up happening. Keeping with the theme of Sunday school Teachers Appreciation, and since the challenge over at Stampin Sisters in Christ is to thank teachers....


I give you framed art and a card! Now in the framed art you will see small writing, it really isn't that small in real life, but it is the Beatitudes. I think this would look great in a Sunday School room that uses bright colors, as all the papers are from Cosmo Cricket Early Bird, except the cardstock which is from Papertrey Ink.

The card is made from scraps left over after the framed art was made! Although I had originally intended this for my Sunday School room, I have decided to place it in a pile for when our Sunday School rooms at church are redecorated! I will let someone else have it for their class since the colors are not what I picked out for my paint :o) And with a 2Sketches4You challenge as the layout of the card - why not add it on there too!

And since it is Friday - how about an extra card for good measure! The sketch from this one comes from the wonderful Card Positioning Systems Blog! And you know what else? It is the first time I have used my sewing machine on a card!!!! I love the result, even for a first attempt!

Have a wonderful weekend and God Bless You. Don't forget to stop back by tomorrow for Scripture Saturday and CASE artist Saturday! You also don't want to miss the last of the prizes going on at Christian Paper Crafts all this week!!


God Bless You,

CASE'ing Chelsea

Good morning! Saturday was CASE artist Saturday over at CPC and although my card was made for that day, I was unable to get it to upload until now! Here is the card of Chelsea's I chose to CASE! Oh, and there are ALL KINDS of prizes being given away over at CPC this week. Click here to go there and find out what all the fun is about!

God Bless You,

Pretty as a Pumpkin

I just love fall. It really is my facorite season and I am sure I have mentioned that on here many times before. Something about the crisp smell of the air makes me want to have pumpkins sitting around and piles of leafs to jump in! Fall pictures of Abby turned out so gorgeous last year that I can't wait to do it again!
This little card follows a Sweet and Sassy sketch SSS18, but other than that, it was made from stuff lying around the scrapbook nook! Have a wonderful day everyone & don't forget about the membership drive challenge going on over at Christian Paper Crafts!

God Bless You,

Sketchin it for Stampin Sisters

What a mouthful of a title! Since there is no challenge over at CPC on Wednesdays, I decided to use my time to play with Tuesday's sketch again and add it in with Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge for this week, which was to make a card for your significant other and actually give it to them! I will give my honey his card this weekend. We are having a breakfast at church Saturday where the men are doing the cooking as a fundraiser. I will be giving him the card as a thank you :o)

{Cosmo Cricket Papers, Button, Jute, CTMH ink, PTI Heart Prints, PTI Autumn Tags, PTI Kraft cardstock}

God Bless You,

Bible Verse Thursday

Hey y'all! Today is Bible verse Thursday over at CPC. Now when you look at my challenge, it does not match this weeks challenge, wanna know why? It's because I am just now getting around to last weeks!! Due to some lovely sinus issues we have all had in my family - needless to say, there was not much paper-crafting getting done!! But, without further adue, here is one of my FAVORITE cards!! The challenge was to pair a Bible verse with a cross of some sort on your card! I looked high and low and could not find a cross one in my stash, so... I made one with buttons :o) Oh, and I also followed The Sweet Spot's SSS16 from a couple of weeks ago for my sketch layout!!

(Making Memories Chloe collection of Paper and ribbon, Kraft cardstock and buttons from PTI)

God Bless You,

Scripture Saturday - Joshua 10:25 - SS003

Good afternoon everyone! I hope everyone that drops by the blog regularly has not dropped off since I have not posted in a week! I was having some major computer trouble... Well, really not major, but my computer would not type correctly in Internet Explorer and Firefox would not submit things properly! Long story made short, Abby (yes the 2 year old), hit some buttons on Thursday that caused me to have to sit down and work on the computer for almost 2 hours (it locked up EVERYTHING - Windows would not open), and after that we have been working fine!!

Today's Scripture Saturday scripture is from Joshua chapter 10 verse 25. I only used part of the verse on my page, which is of my dear Uncle John who passed away this past June. He and I were very close so this was a difficult page to make. If you notice, I have not done any journaling on the page yet except the verse. Perhaps one day I will be able to write my journaling on there, if not, I think the verse sums it all up. He was very strong and courageous all throughout his fight with brain cancer. He battled it over 4 years before going home to be with the Lord. Very strong and courageous if you ask me for a brain cancer that the medical field only gives a year life expectancy for!!

Come play along over at Christian Paper Crafts! Remember, there is no time limit, but please use SS003 and let us know if you upload or blog it anywhere!!

(My Minds Eye Papers, Buttons, Cricut)

This project is my card for 2Sketches4You this week! I used Cosmo Cricut papers and the stamp set is an oldie from SU Long Time Friend I think... The papers are all included in the His Princess Scrapbook Kits kit for this month!

God Bless You,

Button Spin Off

PTI introduced a new stamp set this month called Bitty Button Basics. Although I decided to wait until later to order it, I decided to play around with some of the stamps I already have to come up with some creations for my buttons! This little card is made from scraps and of course, buttons!! The sketch is just my take on an old Sweet Spot sketch from Korin at Sweet n Sassy :o)

God Bless You,

2 Sketches 4 FRIDAY!!

Yippee!! I am so glad that it is Friday! We are heading out for the lake this evening and I am so excited! I love these little weekend get-a-ways with the family :o) So without further a due, here are my takes on the 2 Sketches 4 You sketches for this week!
Yes, I do admit that I have a total obsession with clear cards and probably do make them too much! So sorry if you are growing tired of them! Head over to Christian Paper Crafts and see what's going on there this weekend!!


God Bless You,

2 Sketches 4 You Time

Wow! How long has it been since I have done a 2Sketches4You sketch? Too long - that's what I thought, too! The Lord blessed me with the time to make this today while my sweet little Abby was watching Veggie Tales! We are truly so blessed that God sent her to us!

I loved making this card, of course again, it is clear! I used Around and About Sentiments by PTI, Heavenly Medley by PTI, Garden Green ink by SU, Pure Poppy Ink by PTI, a random button and some jute!! Hope you like it!!

If you have not stopped by the Christian Paper Crafts site, please do so - there is a link to the right as well as if you click on the name! There are a lot of fun and exciting things going on over there!!

God Bless You,

Grillin & Relaxin

Happy Memorial Day weekend! I am enjoying the splendor of the Lord as I sit here on my mom & dad's porch swing to blog! Isn't God so good to us. We grilled out Friday to celebrate mom's birthday (how wonderful that the Lord has allowed her to have ANOTHER 29th birthday), yesterday just because, and today because we are so blessed to be together and have each other.

Today's card is one made for my mom's birthday. I am tickled to let you know that my little two year old picked out the colors on here! I have no fears in asking her to chose colors though, I know they will always be shades of pink!

(Sweet 'n Sassy digi stamp, Transparency sheet for card base, Copic markers, Martha Stewart glitter, PTI cardstock, CTMH ink)

Thank You for stopping in today and continue to have a happy, safe, and blessed weekend with your loved ones, remembering our military and those who went on before us!

God Bless You

Sweet n Sassy Sketch

Okay, I admit, I have fallen head over hills for the stamps at the Sweet 'n Sassy site! Let me tell you, not only are these girls amazing stampers/crafters/card makers, they are awesome women of the Lord!
The challenge was to make a "manly" card using the sketch. Since men cards are my trouble area, and Father's Day is coming up, this was a great way to play! Here is what I came up with.

Of course, the card base is clear since I seem to be fascinated by that lately, the stamp and sentiment are from My Punny Valentine (PTI), ink for edges is Close to Cocoa (CTMH), cardstock is all from PTI.

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you all have a happy and safe holiday weekend! I think we are planning to spend it at home catching up on some of my homework ;)

God Bless You

?Sunshine Sunday?

At least I hope so, it would sure be nice to go a day or two WITHOUT rain... Speaking of rain, my card today is of a little critter... You know you always seem to find more of God's little critter creations after a rain ;)

(PTI cardstock, SweetnSassy stamp, Copic Markers, Transparency Sheet, Jute, Misc Button)

I just love the look of a clear card lately. I don't really know what it is about it, but I think they are so fun. And anyone who has ever looked at my blog knows jute and buttons usually find their way into every project. SweetnSassy stamps are line art and I am enjoying that so much because I can practice with my copics!

Have a wonderful Sunday with the ones you love. We will be going to church (speaking of which, I need to be getting ready)!

God Bless You

Sunshine and Swing Sets...

Today was such a pretty sunshiney day compared to yesterday. A sweet friend and I took a walk for lunch and it was very refreshing. It is amazing how good nice weather can make you feel. After work I took the little one to the park where I got in a two mile walk and she and I played on the swings and slide. My sweet mom was kind enough to go along and spend the evening with us. Lately I have been trying to lose weight and it has been quiet harder than I imagined it would be, enough talk about that already :)

On one of my last posts I mentioned cutting back drastically on scrapping supplies. I will admit I did this, but you know what I found out? I stopped creating all together. I missed the me time. Although it was more like me & Abby playing and I would run and work on something while she takes a nap, I missed it! Being busy with working 40 hours a week, full time housewife & mommy (best job ever - no complaints at all), and going to school full time, I needed something for me to unwind. I decided to start back buying if it means I will start back creating! I did and it does! (I even gave the blog a little face lift and found time to remove the Christmas deco!)



Here is my 2 Sketches Card! Can you believe that I am THIS early! I must be serious ;)

Clear transparency, PTI My Punny Valentine, Offray Ribbon, PTI vintage button, Papers from February Paper Playground kit.

God Bless You,