Make a Difference

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands so that you might win the respect of outsiders and so you will not be dependent upon anybody. ~ I Thes. 4:11

It’s time for my monthly Divine Design upload. We’re posting on the 9th this month because the 8th fell to a Sunday. It wasn’t hard for me to find a verse to focus my attention to this month. With vacation, the end of school, committee work, church activities and my real job…we’ve been a flurry of activity. It’s so easy to get caught up in the race, isn’t it?

I’m praying that I can find that quiet life in the warm, still days of summer. Of course, I’m not so naive to think it will just pop in on me. It will take due diligence on my part: saying no, scheduling some quiet time, resisting the urge to sign up for many fun summer activities and a tough one for me, getting enough rest.  I hope that your summer will be about finding balance and a quiet life, as well.

I used my large rectangle scalloped Nestabilities to create this 5″ x 4″ card. It did require piecing to rectangles together, but with scallops and a little ribbon it’s easy to hide the ’seam’. Stamps from “Beautiful” and “Time to Stamp” made quick work of the main image panel. the flowers and corners are embellished with Latte Pearls from Kaiser Craft. (I got mine at eP.) The ribbon is May Arts, available from Jacksonbelle.

You can see other inspiration from Taylor, Nancy, Angel and Jami. Please feel free to participate, you can load to your blog or share in the Splitcoast gallery using keyword: BVC08. And, as an aside, when I went to grab the link for the SCS gallery, I was so humbled to see the vast number of ladies who are sharing in this challenge. May God be glorified through our desire to walk closer to Him.

Blessings ~ 

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. ~ Psalm 1:3

Divine Design again…the months are flyin’ by. If you’re just stopping by, you can read about the project HERE. This month, I chose a scripture that often comes to mind from my days in MOPS, but I can never remember it word for word. Fruit yielded in season, not the drop of a hat. I have to constantly keep that in mind when it comes to motherhood, too.

The tree and fruit are from a new Kim Hughes, available tomorrow called, The Landing Pad. It’s another cute one! I colored the images with Copics and then covered the apples with crystal accents to give them depth and shine. The patterened paper is from Wild Asparagus.

You can see other inspirations this month from Taylor, Nancy, Jami and Angel. I know you’ll be touched. If you upload to Splitcoast, which I encourage you to do! <wink>, use the keyword: BVC08. The SCS Master Thread for Divine Design is here. Many, many blessings!

If your adult Sunday school curriculum comes from Lifeway, your lesson this morning was the start of a month long focus on building relationships that matter. We spent a lot of time this morning talking about concern, contribution and gratitude. One of the suggestions in the teacher guide was to take paper and envelopes and have class members write a quick thank you note to someone they are grateful for. Well…do you think I could take plain white paper and envelopes???? I love it when stamping and church collide.

So we were getting ready to go this morning, and I had my little shoebox ready, complete with a man and a woman project. Wes looks at the box and says, ‘you did a make and take for Sunday School, didn’t you?’ Yep! Sure did! Since we team teach the class, he wasn’t at all surprised. There were about 20 in our class today and every single person made and wrote out their card. (Well, except for Chris who stole my sample! LOL! - I’ll forgive him!)

These little shimmery notecards and envies are something that I always keep on hand. I get mine from CutCardstock. At 3.5″ x 5″ they are the perfect size to recreate this wonderul idea that I stole from my stamping buddy, Stefanie several years ago. With a specialty paper and simple handwritten sentiment, they are just perfect to say, “I care. Thank you. You are special to me.”

Cindy at CutCardstock was sweet to send me some Shimmery (Poison) Ivory notes and envies to share. Leave me a comment between now and Tuesday - tell me who you need to send a thank you note to and why. I’ll draw for a winner and send these out on Wednesday morning. 

All stamps are Cornish Heritage Farms - Silhouette Blooms & CHF Wheat. Have a wonderful evening.

Here it is: Weekend Sketch 45! I loved this sketch from Beate! And, even though I’m a few minutes late, this card came together very quickly.

Yesterday, Julie Campbell (sweet, sweet spirit, Julie Campbell) told the CHF design team about a card she had made for a co-worker to encourage her and let her know that she had noticed some wonderful changes in over the last few months. I don’t want to breech her confidentialilty, but it was a sweet story and Julie was blessed by giving the card. She encouraged each of us to stamp a card to make a difference. You know I was all over that!

This is for Trace. A sweet, good-looking little guy - all of 6 years old. He’s a good family friend, and despite all his athletic prowess (and it’s a lot!), he managed to break a leg on the ski slopes last week. Man, right at the beginning of baseball season, too! What a bummer! So, we’re sending this to Trace along with some good ole baseball snacks like peanuts, sunflower seeds, big league chew and some twizzlers…good stuff! To let him know that his light shines! and he can be as much of an asset to the team on the bench,  cheering them on and having a good attitude as he can in the field. 

What about you? Can you take the CHF dt personal challenge in the next few days? Can you think of someone to actually send <gasp> a card to that will make a difference! Let me know when you do! I’d love to share that joy with you!

To get you going, check out these cool chicks and their sketch samples. I know you’ll love ‘em…week after week (all 45 of them!), I’m never disappointed and always inspired! Beate, Cambria, Charmaine, Jenn, Laurie, Mary Jo and Sharon.

• Stamps: Supah Star - Kim Hughes for Cornish Heritage Farms

• Cardstock: Intense Yellow, Intense Red and Black Prism

• Ink: Red Pepper, Sunshine Yellow and Pitch Black Adirondack

• Accs: Black Glitter - Martha Stewart collection, Nestabilities & Star Brads

Hear, Obey & Trust

Those close to us, know we’ve been so very excited about a new senior pastor at our church. Last week, the congregation had a ‘pounding’ for the new family. We were to bring a “pound” of a staple item to help them set up their new kitchen. Well, when you’re married to a Texan, salsa is a staple. The vegetables were grown in our garden, the salsa canned in our kitchen. I hope they’ll enjoy it.

Brother Mike’s motto is that you have to stay H.O.T. for Jesus. You have to hear, obey and trust.  So I figured that ‘warm wishes’ were appropriate.

The garden vegetables are from an old, very old Stampin’ Up! incentive stamp. Colored with Copics and cut with Nestabilities from Ellen Hutson, this went together - oh so quick!

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy  —think about such things.  ~ Philippians 4:8

Read the rest of this entry »

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new cration; the old has gone, the new has come!  ~ 2 Corinthians 5:17

Perhaps my very most favorite verse in the whole Bible! Perfect for babies, spring, healing in broken relationships, Easter, baptism, salvation, forgiveness and grace. In the power of Christ, ALL things are made new, not some, not a lot but ALL.

This is my April submission for Divine Design, and the months seem to be flying by. Thank you for your participation, the stories you share with me, the prayer requests, the blessings. This challenge is doing what I had prayed that it would. It is bringing a group of women who love Jesus together, and through a shared hobby, putting power to shared joys, hopes and needs in the Lord. YOU are a testament and to His infinite goodness and glory!

I’d love to see your creations this month, so after reviewing the other inspirations from Taylor, Nancy, Jami and Angel, get busy and link here so I can view your beautiful works. If you upload to Splitcoast, which I encourage you to do! <wink>, use the keyword: BVC08. The SCS Master Thread for Divine Design is here. Many, many blessings!

• Stamps: New Creation and Bloomin’ Beautiful by Cornish Heritage Farms

• Cardstock: Intense Pink Prism, Cryogen White and Honey Pie by Cosmo Cricket

• Ink: Watermelon & Espresso Adirondack

• Accs: Making Memories dotted ribbon, Spellbinders Square Scallop Die, Glitter and Copic Markers

I’ve been tagged a few times in the last few days. Thank you to those who thought of me. I’ll be posting this evening or in the morning to comply with your sweet wishes. Thanks!

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. ~ Galatians 6:14

Read the rest of this entry »

Read the rest of this entry »

We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.

                                                                 ~ I Corinthians 8:1

Here it is month 2 of the Divine Design Challenge. Anyone is free to join me and my friends Angel, Jami, Nancy and Taylor as we post a special scripture on the 8th of each month. The only rules are that it must be scripture, not quotes or inpirational thoughts IF you want to use the keyword when loading to the SCS Gallery - BVC08.

The scripture I chose this month is ALWAYS on my mind around Valentine’s Day. If you really like the backstory, you can read one of my very first blog posts HERE. When I think about this verse and it’s special Valentine sentiment, I am flying high. I guess that is how each of us should feel when we read the greatest love letter ever written. I hope that love fills your weekend as you prepare for the holiday that celebrates it.

Click below for supplies and answers to common questions about Divine Design.

Read the rest of this entry »