My dear friend Patti J Gilliam is our challenge hostess this week at Stampin' Sisters in Christ. Patti chose as her inspiration scripture Hebrews 13:5 "Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.'" Since it's Valentine's Week, Patti's challenge is to make a KISS Card (Keep it simple, Sisters!) - a one-layer card.
I took the challenge literally, thinking it a great opportunity for me to practice my coloring skills while trying to emulate the beautiful work done by Sherrie Siemens. I saw Sherrie at the Copic booth at CHA once again this year and never cease to marvel over her coloring skills, especially with the cute Pure Innocence images. Plus, she is the SWEETEST person.
I CASEd Sherrie's coloring of Butterfly Kisses shown on her blog here. Obviously I still need some practice, especially with shadowing and feathering, but it's a start. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. Thank you Sherrie!
Tip: if you want to use your Copics on a single layer card like mine then you need Gina K's Pure Luxury Heavy Base Weight cardstock. The Copics don't bleed through.
Today's scripture resonates with me. I used to envy the gorgeous homes and fine cars some of my wealthier friends have until I nearly lost my own home. They say you never know what you have until you lose it, but I'm here to tell you that it doesn't have to go that far for you to take a step back. If you find yourself constantly wishing you had what someone else does, or more than what you do have, then stop to consider what you'd do if you didn't have what you have. Other folks probably envy you! And most importantly, when you aren't satisfied with what you have and are always longing for something more, you're missing out on enjoying the many blessings you do have. Right there is probably the key to many people's unhappiness... always wishing they had something else besides what they do have, thinking the grass is greener somewhere else.
Please please don't go on a guilt trip about what you have or what you wish you had. There's nothing wrong with striving for more in your life. But I'm pretty sure you'll be happier if you were to count your blessings... truly revel in them. And if you find yourself obsessing over what you don't have, then you've created an impossibly unhappy situation for yourself.
What God is telling us in this scripture is that his love for us, his presence in our lives, his promises to us are greater than anything money can buy.
I encourage you to come and play with us this week at Stampin' Sisters in Christ. Be sure to stop by our blog to see what the rest of the design team have created for your inspiration... and visit their blogs. I promise you will be blessed!
Have a wonderful day!
