Stampin' Sisters in Christ Birthday Blog Hop

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Welcome to Stampin' Sisters in Christ's Birthday Blog Hop! The celebration begins at the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog, so be sure to start there. You won't want to miss a stop along the way... abundant blessings await! Plus, there's a chance to win a $50 Gift Certificate to the sponsor of your choice!

Each of us participating in today's blog hop are featuring a favorite scripture. Although I have many favorites, Jeremiah 29:11 is currently the most near and dear to my heart. For the past couple of years, I've faced many challenges...lots of stress, lots of change, lots of uncertainties. I'm not going to lie and say I never falter in my faith. I think we all do. There have been times I've felt depressed, worried, angry, fearful. But by faith... faith and trust in God's promises... I am able to rise up with renewed confidence and peace of mind, knowing that God is working in my life and that I need not worry.

I know the Lord has plans for me... plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future. I know He has the same for you, and I pray you will be comforted and strengthened by that knowledge.

The next stop on the hop is back to Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog where you can leave a comment for a chance to win a $50 Gift Certificate! We look forward to hearing which scripture(s) touched you the most today. And we hope you have been blessed by your fellowship with us. Please join us for our weekly scripture-inspired challenges. We'd love to have you!

Blessings to you, dear friends.

Stamp: Jeremiah 29:11 by Verve Stamps
Paper: So Sophie Graceful collection by My Mind's Eye
Roses: Prima
Brads: Stampin' Up
Sketch: Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 81 (turned upside down)

I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Strengthens Me

True words, my friends. True words!

Today's challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ is hosted by our Southern Belle Candace Mitchell. Sadly, it's Candace's last challenge with us on the design team. Please be sure to click over to the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog to read all about what's ahead for Candace and to read her thoughts on this week's inspiration scripture. We are surely going to miss her!

Candace chose as the inspiration scripture Psalm 119:105, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." The challenge is no stamped images...make a card with just words (a sentiment/verse).

My card features one of my favorite verses, Philippians 4:13. I came to especially love it while reading the Mitford series of books by Jan Karon, where it was often quoted, almost as a mantra to keep going in the face of difficulties. I can't think of a better thing to say out loud when we're feeling stressed or afraid!

The verse is a stamp by Verve, and the flourish stamp is from the Very Vintage Labels No. 1 stamp set by Waltzingmouse Stamps. That wonderful DP is from the brand new Olivia collection by Basic Grey, as are the border stickers and chipboard. I followed Fall To Layout 95 at Clean & Simple Stamping.

I hope you'll join us at Stampin' Sisters in Christ this week. Our sponsor is Paper Jewels, with a chance to win a $15 Gift Certificate to spend in their store!

Have a blessed day, my friends!

I'm Positive It's Friday... TGIF!

Happy Friday everyone! Today we have a very special challenge for the Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #101.

Taylor is kicking off a card drive today to benefit the Neo-natal Unit at Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls SD. Taylor has both a friend and a sister-in-law who work as labor and delivery nurses at SMC where they use the dragonfly as a symbol of hope for families who have lost a child during delivery or in the early stages of life, and they have requested hand-made cards featuring dragonfly images. This was one of the driving forces behind the design of Taylored Expressions Discover Your Wings stamp set.

And now we need your help. Would you consider making and donating some cards that feature a dragonfly? You may use stamps from any company - they do not need to be from TE. As a thank you for participating Taylor will enter your name into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate to the TE Store. For details, click on over to Taylor's blog.


I personally own and LOVE Discover Your Wings, but Taylor asked some of us to use a variety of stamp brands so that no one would think it necessary to use that particular set to create a card for this wonderful cause. I plan to make more cards for SMC... and will no doubt use Discover Your Wings.

This was the only other dragonfly I could find in my collection... it's from Unity... part of a KOTM... and the greeting is by Verve. I figure in such a terrible circumstance, the only real comfort would come from the Prince of Peace Himself, who said, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." AMEN! (Matt 11:28) The DP is from the Bloom & Grow collection by My Minds Eye.

I hope you'll consider donating a card for this worthy cause. Before you run off to your craft room, be sure to stop by and see what the rest of the Sketch Crew has created:

Jami Sibley: More is More
Lynn Mercurio: Stamperosity
Monika Davis: M.A.D. Stamper
Sherrie Siemens: Card Creme

Melissa Sauls: In Stamping Mode
Rachel Sztonyk: Gingerbread Gallery
Alice Lihsuan-Wertz: Alice's Little Wonderland
Lori Craig: Make a Difference
and of course Taylor herself: Taylored Expressions

I can't wait to see you back here tomorrow for some fun fun fun!!! Have a wonderful day!

A Gorgeous Sunday

Even a die-hard winter gal like myself can't deny it's a beautiful day here in So Cal, albeit a bit on the warm side (low 90's F, mid-30's C). The skies are a wonderful blue with a few white whispy clouds. I was just out in the backyard for a moment with the dogs and snapped this picture.

We live at the bottom of a fairly steep street, so this is looking up toward our neighbors yards to the back and side. I sure wish we could get something to grow on that slope made of granite. Ha!

Anyway, I did manage to make a card or two this weekend. The one I'm sharing today is for Mojo Monday Week 82. Since Julee Tilman is the designer of those great sketches, I thought I'd use my new Verve stamp set Miracles Blossom.I haven't even begun to discover all the possibilities with this beautiful stamp set! Julee's artistry is so unique... elegant and simple all at once. I don't even know if that makes sense, but I do know that I love her art... and her cards. No matter what stamps she uses, she turns each card into a lovely thing to behold.

The card base is SU's Sahara Sand, which I'm rediscovering, and the mats are Tempting Turquoise. I'm loving those colors with the Flock Together DSP. I hope you can see the sparkle in that gorgeous ribbon... it's Turquoise Glimmer from Taylored Expressions. Since I didn't have much space to work with, rather than matting the main image, I used a black Sharpie and a ruler to draw a faux mat around the edge. I also stamped an extra flower and drew the stem to the pot. The pot was stamped separately and then positioned and tacked down over the stems.

Question of the day: do you play an instrument?

Sadly, no, I don't, but I wish I could play the piano... besides Chopsticks and Heart and Soul, that is. {LOL} I played clarinet in junior high school, oh so many years ago. I'm quite sure I couldn't blow a note now if my life depended on it!

Thanks for stopping by for a visit! I love to hear from you.

Happy Anniversary Helen and Harry!

Some dear friends, Harry and Helen, are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. Yes, 60 years! The coolest thing is that they are going to stay at the same hotel at which they spent their honeymoon. That hotel has since become fairly pricey, but they've invited H&H to come at a discount (I think it should be free), and they will be treated to a nice dinner and such. For the life of me, I cannot remember the name of the hotel, but I think it's in the Monterrey area.

Anyway, they are such a nice couple (the parents and in-laws of very close friends) and I wish them many more wonderful years together. The Verve Anniversary Birds set had the perfect sentiment: "Together, the perfect way to spend a lifetime." Amen!

The two birds were stamped in Night of Navy craft ink and then embossed with clear powder to make them stand out a bit more. I popped them up with Dimensionals. I couldn't resist some fun fur for the "ribbon" because it reminds me of bird feathers. I'm also loving the new Stampin Up filigree brads... and the scallop edge punch. Must haves!

Recipe:
Stamps: Verve Anniversary Birds
Paper: SU Creamy Caramel,Night of Navy and Natural Ivory cardstock, K&Company DP
Ink: Night of Navy Craft Ink, Creamy Caramel and Night of Navy Classic Ink pads
Accessories: Misc heart charm, fun fur, SU Filigree brads, SU corner punch and scallop edge punch

Well, I'm on my way to Atlanta tomorrow for a conference (work related). I'll be back on Wednesday night. I probably won't have a chance to post anything new for about a week, but I'll be back! Maybe I'll have a picture or two to share of Atlanta. While it is a conference, we always get a bit of free time and a couple of special tours. I've signed up for The World of Coca Cola tour. Why not? It's an American tradition! Besides, maybe I can get some Christmas shopping done for my son Collin and brother-in-law Gary... both huge Coke fans.

I've decided to take Marianne Walker's advice and take some stamped images and my Copic markers along for something to do on the plane or in the hotel room... try to practice some of the things I'm trying to learn from her blog! At least that way I won't go through stamping withdrawals. {LOL}

I hope you have a wonderful week. Thanks for stopping by! I'm off to pack my bags...