One Cup at a Time for WAW

The Christmas season brings many special things.  First, and foremost, God showed His love as He sent His only Son Jesus  who would one day die a sacrificial death for the sins of the entire world.  Jesus is the only way to have peace and reconciliation with God.  I pray that you have a saving relationship with Jesus and that you are resting in the peace He came to bring.

Christmas also brings the Word Art Wednesday blog hop that includes not only our regular prize but lots more.   To be eligible to win the Stamp Simply prize, just enter your art in our gallery as usual.  The winner of this prize will be selected  by random draw from our entries.  To be eligible to win the prizes from Tonic Studios and other goodies, simply leave a comment on each blog to be eligible for that prize.  When you've completed the blog hop, leave a comment at Word Art Wednesday saying that you've completed the hop.

My card was created using a set from our sponsor, Stamp Simply.  I actually won this set as a prize when playing along at WAW in the days before joining the DT.  I love paper piecing and embellishing the pretty cups with sentiments and other images.  I recently broke into a new Echo Park paper pad and had lots of fun choosing prints and solids for the design.  

Below you will see the prize available from my blog and the links for the hop.  Have fun and remember to "take life one cup at a time" during the holiday season so you can experience all God's best for you.

Blessings,

Christine

Prize from Christine's Blog:

Die Cut, Embellishment Package, Dare 2B Artzy Stamp Set

Natalie Houston

JoAnn Atterbury

Christine Miller

Ginny Maxam

Gail Scott

Cynthia Olheiser

Esther Asbury

Karen Letchworth

Word Art Wednesday

God Sent His Son for Word Art Wednesday

Rabbit Hole Designs  is sponsoring the current Word Art Wednesday Challenge, and the blog features this beautifully prepared scripture that reminds exactly why we celebrate Christmas.  In His great mercy and love, God sent His dear, holy Son Jesus to die a sacrificial death that we might find peace with God.

Please stop by Word Art Wednesday to obtain a copy of this sweet verse, to read the associated devotion, and to find a little inspiration.  There's a wonderful prize for one of our participants.

Blessings,

Christine

Fabulous "Purse-N"

I am using a favorite stamp set from the current Word Art Wednesday prize sponsor, Waffle Flower.  I am a lover of purses, puns, and encouragement cards, so I was quickly sold on this set.  The purse images come with three fun pattern stamps, or the outlines can be used as they are here for paper piecing.  Both ways are lots of fun!

Please stop by Word Art Wednesday to share your projects, to download some fabulous digital scriptures, and to read the devotion.  There's also a Waffle Flower prize available to win.

Blessings,

Christine
 

Festive Birds Mug

 I always fall for the next cute coffee mug....doesn't matter if it's ceramic or made for paper crafting.  This die from Papertrey Ink is lots of fun to cut from patterned paper and to adorn with stamps or die cuts. For this card, the smaller of the Festive Birds dies decorates the mug, and it's filled with Into the Blooms Poinsettias.  I am not sure if it will end up being for a December birthday or used as a thank you note, so there's no sentiment on the outside.

Thanks for visiting,

Christine

Linking to:

Coffee Lovers Blog Hop

Double D Challenge

Peace with Into the Blooms Poinsettias

I am overjoyed to see a challenge on the Papertrey Ink Blog, and it's especially fun because it includes inspiration by Melissa Phillips and the opportunity to CASE her sweet card!

Melissa's Fab Friday Feature

Rainbow Floral Wreath~Thanks

 

I was blessed with a generous win on WCMD and ordered the Rainbow Flowers Product Suite from Pink Fresh Studio.  I love how the stamps, stencils, and dies all work together!  It's such fun to see the flowers come to life as the layers are added!

Thanks for visiting,

Christine

Double D Challenge   Thankful-Blessings-Grateful

Autumn Flower Spray by DRS Designs

 DRS Designs is sponsoring the current Word Art Wednesday Challenge, and I selected the Autumn Flower Spray as the focal image for my card.  DRS generously supplied the stamps for us, and I found it stamped easily and clearly!  Just a note for those who may be unfamiliar with red rubber stamps:  the one I used was 'unmounted' ---which is a great way to economize on  supplies and on storage space.  To use it, I applied a little white glue on the back, spread it into a thin layer, and allowed it to get tacky before affixing it to the door of the MISTI.  The impression was marvelous, and the glue cleaned up from both surfaces with ease!

Please stop by Word Art Wednesday for inspiration of the Biblical kind and of the crafting kind, as well. It's a pleasure to see your projects, and there are wonderful prizes to be won!

Blessings,

Christine

Thankful Bouquet

 Another card made from bits and bobs in the little bowl that holds extra die cuts and images.  It was fun to create using things that had been at rest for a while, and it's good to have another thank-you card for my stash!

Linking to:  SSS Wednesday Challenge (Thanksgiving/Thanks)

Thankful Wreath

 This is my favorite type of card for two reasons.  It's for a sweet friend I really want to thank, and all the die cuts were found in the small bowl that holds 'extras'.  The Echo Park paper made a nice background that coordinated with the items in my bowl.

Thanks for looking,

Christine

Linking to:  SSS Wednesday Challenge (Thanks/Thanksgiving)

Double D Challenge   Thankful-Blessings-Grateful

You are a shield about Me

 Continuing to play with my newest stamp-stencil-die combination.  It's called Rainbow Florals by Pink Fresh Studio, and I am having such fun.  After experimenting with shades of pink, I used purples, and they are even prettier.  Sharing them with a fellow card maker who loves purple.

Linking to SSS Wednesday Challenge A/G

Be Still and Know that I am God

I received the gorgeous Rainbow Floral product suite after winning a generous gift Card from Pink Fresh Studio.  It was such fun to experiment with a panel of florals and to make a card using some of  them--there is plenty of pink loveliness for another card!  I am so grateful for this sweet gift and for a little time to enjoy crafting.

Blessings,

Christine

Linking to:  SSS Wednesday Challenge A/G

 

Merry and Bright

 Playing along with the SSS A/G challenge while making a few Christmas cards.  The poinsettia dies are a new acquisition from Papertrey Ink, and the sentiment and patterned paper are from Echo Park.

The Lord Grant You Peace

 I fell in love with this MFT dove die, and while it was winging its way toward my mailbox, I saw a beautiful card by Lyn Brandyberry.  If you looked at Lyn's card, it's obvious that this one is a CASE.  I  created all the elements and assembled ten while we were watching the baseball playoffs.  Then my husband said, "Is that like Merry Christmas?"  My 'peace on earth stamp' was not the right scale for the card and I went with what I have....oh, well.....

Thanks for visiting,

Christine

Linking to:  SSS A/G

Job 1:21 for Word Art Wednesday

 This sweet scripture is being shared as a download  on the Word Art Wednesday Blog   it was a bit of a challenge to decide how to use this verse perhaps because I recall the struggle of internalizing and understanding it.  Hearts are used to remind of the truth that God gives from His sovereign goodness, and that He takes away using that same wise love, working all things together for our good.

This explanation of the verse is from an online commentary called Got Questions:

Job teaches us that, in all events, God is sovereign. “The LORD gave”—and we praise Him for His good and undeserved blessings. “The LORD has taken away”—and we praise Him that our loss is for our good and that He still has our best interests at heart. In all things, then, we say, “Blessed be the name of the LORD”.

Thanks for visiting,

Christine

Surprise!

 

I love the MFT sketches because they are so open to interpretation.  This time, I used Birthday Bears, watercolored with Distress Inks and layered the cute images over a fun tag with lots of stitched detailing.

Thanks or taking a look,

Christine

MFT Sketch Challenge 615

Autumn Blessings

Writing thank-you notes has always been important to me, and I am extra excited bout this card because my husband actually requested it!  Being grateful just helps our attitudes, I believe.  We are going through a challenging season, and I am ever so happy that hubs desires to say thank-you in the midst of this time!  God is always good, and we see that through clearer lenses when we are grateful.

Blessings,

Christine

Linking to: SSS Wednesday Challenge (Fall Colors)

Four Seasons (Mood board below)

 

I Thess. 5:24 for Word Art Wednesday

 I pray that this scripture will both encourage and delight you.  It is so comforting to know that God equips us for the things He calls us to do, and it is a joy to see Him provide!

This scripture is available on the Word Art Wednesday blog for all to download.  There is a wonderful devotion to read and a prize to win.  Hope you will join in the blessings!

Christine

Happy Birthday with Layered Bouquet

 Happy WCMD!  I am playing along with the MFT Color Challenge using their Flower Bouquet dies.  Love how the color combination worked out!

Happy Card Making,

Christine

MFT Color Challenge

SSS Wednesday Challenge A/G

Happy Birthday with Layered Bouquet

 Pink Fresh Studio is celebrating World Card Making Day with a fun anything-goes challenge.  Perfect timing for the creation of a card for the next birthday on my calendar.  I used Layered Bouquet and Ornate Banner dies for my card and am crossing my fingers for luck in the draw!

Happy WCMD,

Christine

Linking to PFS WCMD Challenge

SSS Wednesday Challenge

Cutest Pumpkin in the Patch

 The card features some fun autumn papers by Echo park and the super cute Pumpkin Face-off set by Paper Sweeties.  I am enjoying the beauty of this slightly cooler day by spending a little time with paper and ink.  

Blessings,

Christine

Linking to SSS Wednesday Challenge A/G

Romans 10:15 for Word Art Wednesday

 This sweet scripture is perfect for Pastor Appreciation during the month of October. I am so grateful for our dear pastor!  He is an excellent teacher, handling the word of God with integrity.  He loves lost souls and the Body of Christ.  I so appreciate his kindness and love.  He is truly a good shepherd.  I pray you have a pastor and church home like ours!

This scripture is available for crafters to download at Word Art Wednesday.  Along with the scripture word art, you will find a meaningful devotion, some inspiration, a place to share your own art, and generous prizes to earn.

Blessings,

Christine

Psalm 16:1 for Word Art Wednesday

 

What a wonderful prayer:  Preserve me, O God, for in thee do I put my trust.  This verse echoes one of my favorite Psalms:  God will preserve us from all evil, He will preserve our souls, He will preserve our going out and our coming in ~ Psalm 121.  God's very character makes Him worthy of our trust in all things.

Please visit Word Art Wednesday to download this sweet scripture for your own use.  While you are visiting, take time to read Karen's devotion and take a look at the inspiration pieces.  There's always a great prize to win, too!

Blessings,

Christine

Birthday Bears --MFT Sketch

 

We are having a belated birthday celebration for someone special today, and MFT's sweet Birthday Bears set seemed perfect for the greeting.  The layout is a loose and flipped interpretation of the current MFT sketch.  

Have a blessed day,

Christine

Linking to:  MFT Sketch Challenge

SSS Wednesday Challenge (Stamp It)

Global Design Challenge: Fall

 I've been seeing the loveliest cards posted for the Global Design Challenge and have been looking forward to an opportunity to play along.  The current challenge theme is Fall, and I love creating with this set of images.  (Mine is a retired Verve set, but Julee has released a very similar set with Sweet-n-Sassy that can be found here.)  I blended, sprayed, and splattered soft shades of Distress Oxide inks and used the inked panel to stamp and cut the leaves.

Thanks for visiting,

Christine

Also linking to SSS Wednesday Challenge

Flower Bouquet with Love (Color Challenge)

 

I recently ordered MFT's Flower Bouquet dies and am thrilled with them!  The die cut shapes have beautiful detailing and were such fun to cut from Bristol paper and to shade with a blending brush.  The current color challenge is a little different than my normal go-to colors, but I am happy with the soft look of the blended shades!

Linking to the MFT Color Challenge

Sneaking this into the SSS Wednesday Challenge as the tiny tag is stamped with a sentiment.

Peony Thanks

 I always enjoy watercoloring this pretty image from Reverse Confetti.  It was especially pleasant since the peony was for a card to express deep gratitude.

Linking to:  SSS Wednesday Challenge A/G

Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord

 Our church choir shared the most beautiful concert of praise last Sunday evening. It was an incredible blessing.  This card is for our minister of music. 

Ingredients:  Flower Builder Dies from Reverse Confetti, scripture stamp from Verve,  papers from an on-sale stack that I found at a great price :)

Linking to SSS Wednesday Challenge (A/G)

3 John 1:4 for Word Art Wednesday

I love using Word Art Wednesday Scriptures to create cards for the Heidi Swapp Memory Dex on my craft table.  This one was created using an assortment of tiny scraps from a 6x6 pad that I have really enjoyed using.  The flowers are extras from a Pink Fresh Layered Bouquet stamped in Harvest Gold and Summer Sunrise.

 

Thankful for You Tag

 I baked several loaves of "thank-you" bread for folks who have been so very kind to us lately.  I am so pleased that the yeast bread baked into even, pretty loaves, but as a crafter, it's hard to wrap a loaf of bread in cling wrap and leave it alone.  I keep kraft bags on hand and love to add little tags.  This new die set from Reverse Confetti (Flower Builder) is a delight to use. After cutting the floral pieces from white card, I added some warm yellow inks and cut the center from gold mirror card stock.

Linking to SSS Wednesday Challenge (Shimmer and Shine...with a little gold mirror card stock)

Kindness Matters

 We have so much to be thankful following my husband's recent surgery.  We are trusting God for positive news and are so very grateful for many friends who stepped up to encourage, to pray, and to help.  Glad hubs is feeling well enough that I can craft and he can write thank-you notes.

Just received the Reverse Confetti Flower Builder dies yesterday.  They get a five-star rating; love the detail, and they cut like butter!

Linking to SSS Wednesday Challenge (Sparkle and Shine with gold glitter EP)

Deepest Sympathy

Yesterday, I stopped by Hobby Lobby and was pleasantly surprised that LOTS of Spellbinders sets were on sale for 2/3 off!  I picked up this sweet floral set with delicate frames that I'd had my eye on for a while.  When hubs indicated a need for a sympathy card for a co-worker I was busy cutting frames from mirror card stock, but I felt that the dark colors and the Verve sentiment would carry the proper tone for somber card despite the bit of shimmer.  

Highly recommend this set:  The little blooms layer easily, and I love the delicate frames and sprays of foliage for an elegant touch.  

Linking to SSS Wednesday Challenge (with a hint of silver card stock for shimmer and shine)

Joy to the World

 This time last year, my Christmas cards were completed.  This year, I am just starting.  No matter how the world or my circumstances may change, I am so thankful that the Lord is my source of joy.  Looking forward to sharing these cards during the Christmas season.

All the products are PTI, and the card is a shameless CASE of one by Laurie Schmidlin that inspired me to buy all the PTI things in order to recreate it.

Linking to SSS Wednesday Challenge:  Christmas

Isaiah 55:11for Word Art Wednesday

 What a wonderful promise about the power of God's Word!  I chose to feature the scripture on a cover plate by Papertrey Ink and tucked in a single hydrangea from a collection by The Greetery.  It is so much fun to watch these flowers 'bloom' as the detail layers are stamped!

Please stop by Word Art Wednesday to get a copy of this sweet promise.  There is a great prize to be won, and you can enter up to ten times in the two week challenge window.

The Smallest Things

 Sometimes it's just fun to create with one's favorites:  I love the linen/checked paper from Doodlebugs, the PTI heart coverplate, and stitched heart die, and what could be sweeter than that quote from our beloved Winnie the Pooh?  The little buggy is from a Lawn Fawn set, and I couldn't resist  the button wheels.

SSS Wednesday Challenge (Summertime Blues)

Zephaniah 3:17

 When I saw this gorgeous card by Kelley Lunceford, I was inspired to CAS it!  Most of the products are similar ones from Papertrey Ink, and the scripture is a favorite of mine...both in my heart and in my stamp collection.  (It's a retired Verve Plain Jane.)

Linking to SSS Wednesday Challenge (Summertime Blues)

Be Strong and Take Heart

 I am so blessed with the opportunity to teach a parenting class at a local Christian agency and am just thrilled that the teachers are expected to send cards of encouragement to the students.  I made these cards for the couples expecting baby boys, feeling that the sweet scripture would be encouraging to new parents and befitting of the lessons we have shared.  The parents of girls will receive a pink version, but the blue card fits this week's SSS Wednesday Challenge which is titled Summertime Blues.

Psalm 52:9 for Word Art Wednesday

 As I prepare this post for an upcoming Word Art Wednesday Challenge, this verse blesses me.  This afternoon, we will learn of God's decision to a long-term and urgent prayer.  No matter how He answers, His name is good and He is worthy of praise.

Please stop by Word Art Wednesday for an opportunity to read Karen's devotion, to get a copy of this verse for your own use, and to share your art with us.

Blessings,

Christine

Thinking of You with Into the Blooms II

 This card features Papertrey Ink's Into the Blooms II dies.  I love to ink them with a blending brush and arrange them over a softly  inked background.  

Linking to:  SSS Wednesday Challenge--A/G