Antoinette has really outdone herself with the newInspired Stamps Spring Releases! I have the privilege of introducing the fabulous God's Creatures:Pets Stamp Set. This set will be available after noon on Friday in the Inspired Stamps on-line store. I was beside myself trying to decide which furry animal to share with you from this versatile set. I finally chose the adorable beagle for the outside of the card and the precious rendering of Antoinette's real life pup on the inside.
There are terrific scriptures and sentiments in this set as well and I knew I had to use this beautiful quote on the outside and sweet sentiment on the inside.
I know you can't wait to see the other cute critters on this set, you'll find cats, a rabbit and more! Now be sure to check out Chere's take on this set, she just might have chosen a different pet to highlight! Also, check on the rest of the team's blogs for other sneak peeks this week!
other supplies: Simple Stories paper, I-Rock flat gems, CTMH cardstock/ink & scallop punch, My Craft Place ribbon, Copics
God’s Word Ecclesiastes 7:14-15 “When times are good, be happy;but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other.Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future. In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: the righteous perishing in their righteousness,and the wicked living long in their wickedness.
My Thoughts
After a decade of living with weakness and disease, you would think I would tire of asking the question “Why?”.It is true that I ask it far less than in the beginning.But some moments it reverberates in my soul and mind.I no longer shout it to the heavens in anguish as often happened in the first days of my disability.There are times when I see someone in seemingly perfect health but in obvious rebellion to God and I whisper, “why”.Even the wisest man known to exist, King Solomon, asked “why?” repeatedly in the book of Ecclesiastes. He had the same thoughts I had-why do the righteous, the good, perish and the wicked are allowed a long life?
But, as the song says, “The healing doesn’t come from the explained”.Even if God were to speak from heaven and give me the answers to my every “why?”, I would not find my healing in the answers.So to find my purpose and to make sense of my suffering, I must turn to Him and say, “Jesus please don’t let this go in vain.”In other words, let my pain have a purpose.Let my life of praise despite disability minister to another soul.
And how does He answer that prayer?“Even though a part of me has died, Hetakes my heart and breathes it back to life.”!He wants to do that for each of His children who suffer.To those who say“Breathe, sometimes I feel it’s all that I can do. (I have) pain so deep that I can hardly move.”He says, just keep your eyes completely fixed on Me!”My friend, that is “the moment when humanity is overcome by majesty.When grace is ushered in for goodand all our scars are understood.”In other words, “when the hurt and the healer collide.”
What is causing hurt in your life?Do you think it caught God by surprise?Did He fall off His throne because your world was shattered?No, my Father saw your beginning to end even before you breathed your first breath.He knows the answers to your “why?”.He has already seen the day “when mercy takes its rightful place and all these questions (will) fade away”.He has seen the moment “When out of (our) weakness we (will) bow and hear (Him) say ‘It’s over now’.”
Dear one,I wait for that day when my full healing comes.As I’ve said before, if that healing is accomplished on this earth or perfected in heaven, it matters not one whit to my faith.To quote another beloved song, my God “holds my every moment and calms my every fear.He walks with me through fire and He heals all my disease.”*I trust in Him, I trust in Him!
Your Response The end of this song offers the perfect prayer for you today, “Jesus come and break my fear, awake my heart and take my tears.Find Your glory even here”.
This is our dining room before we started remodeling it this year. Cozy, comfy and country. Apparently my husband has hated my favorite blue and white color scheme for 11 years without telling me! He suggested a new bold color scheme of red, black and gray. Since it meant a new kitchen as well, I said yes:)
Here's the same corner after. We haven't finished the floor or putting in the wainscoting at the bottom. That corner cabinet used to be blue and white. I painted it charcoal and then lined it with scrapbook paper and ribbon.
This is the gray wall with our new clock from Hobby Lobby. It's embossed metal and I love it! This will be a slow remodel as we are only buying materials as we can afford it and not using credit for anything. Stay tuned!
This week's assignment at Inspired Stamps was to use a character stamp.I decided if 1 was good then 2 would be better. I've always been an overachiever! I found these great over sized tags this past weekend and knew I could use them for lots of projects.
After folding the tag, the front is about 3 1/2" x 4". I used the Thankful Girl stamp I featured last week and had her adorable twin, Thankful Boy, join her. Aren't they just precious in their Easter finery? They are enjoying a beautiful Spring morning with a happy little friend ( from Eye on the Sparrow) serenading them. Our blue bird has made his home in the tree from the Ask, Seek, Knockset. For the flowers in the tree and at the base, I used a little bit of the Flower Soft that's been in my stash for far too long!
The inside has a scripture I stand on each day. It's from the By His Woundsstamp set and the front sentiment is from His Crossstamp set. Please take a look at the rest of the team's creations! Have a blessed week!
other supplies: Copics, Simple Stories paper, CTMH Liquid Glass, ink and Bronze Glitz, Liquid Pearls, baker's twine and Flower Soft
I am sharing an abbreviated Devotional this week due to my being out of town for Spring Break. Bless you!
The Texas wildflowers are beginning to bloom in North Texas. Soon they will be in full bloom despite our extremely warm winter. The beautiful bluebonnets that blanket the roadsides and pastures this time of year remind me of an important truth.
The bluebonnets can normally be relied upon to bloom every March but a few years ago, you would have been hard pressed to find one small blue-purple bloom of the Texas state flower or even one stroke of the vibrant orange Indian Paintbrush. We were smack dab in the middle of a drought and those hearty bursts of color weren’t about to poke their heads out of the hardened, packed dirt of the Texas countryside.
Many thought the flowers had all been killed by the lack of moisture. Some were concerned the blooms would not be seen for years to come. But God sent a little moisture the following Fall and early Spring. That little bit of nourishing rain allowed the seeds that lay dormant, the previous year, to burst into a lush carpet of color. This year's blooms appear as though they will be spectacular.
What’s the lesson I discovered in this beautiful season? When your soul lies dormant and when it seems your purpose and ministry is dying from thirst, just hold on through this season and remember who we serve. God hasn’t forsaken you and hasn’t given up on you. This could just be a time for you to wait on the Lord so you will be ready for Him to use you in a mighty way in the next season of your life. Get ready to BLOOM!
Isn't she lovely? Isn't she wonderful? My apologies to Stevie Wonder for borrowing his lyric but those are the words that came to mind as I posted this photo! I just love how this sweet little girl fromInspired Stamps turned out. Even though she was created for another season, I chose to "dress up"HLO: Thankful Girl in all her Easter best!
I just love the versatility of Inspired Stamps. On the inside of the card, I used a sentiment from the By His Wounds stamp set. Aren't you thankful for the redeeming power of the cross?
Please take time to visit my fellow Design Teams' blogs for their wonderful creations. Also, Inspired Stamps is offering a wonderful coupon this month! Be blessed!
This week at Inspired Stamps we were asked to share an Easter project. As I looked through my card bases, I just couldn't find anything that appealed to me. I dug deeper into my stash and discovered this library pocket card that I've had for literally years! Don't judge me! You know you hoard supplies too;)
The colors of the pocket and card started my creativity wheels and this card is the result. The scripture stamp I used is from the His Crossstamp set. This is a scripture I stand on for my healing from MS! The sentiment on the bottom edge is from the same set. I stamped it 3 times.
This is the top of the inside card as you pull it out. The sentiment on it is from the By His Wounds stamp set. Both of these sets are great to use together and must haves for the Easter season. The bottom of the card is simply stamped with a cross from the His Cross set.
Thank you for stopping today. Be sure you check out the rest of the team's beautiful creations!
other supplies: CTMH Glitz Gel, CTMH Moonlight ink, CTMH Stella and Lucy paper, from stash: pocket card, flower ribbon, epoxy flower
I have had these Close To My Heart Collage Cubes for MONTHS! I just could not decide exactly what I wanted to do with them. When this creative block happens, I like to just keep the project sitting in my craft room for me to see every day. Eventually I have an "AH HA" moment and can put the project together.
That moment came on Sunday when I noticed the cubes sitting next to these great family papers from Simple Stories. They seem meant to go together! After completing the cubes and holder, I still felt the project needed something and then I remembered the Tim Holtz "feet" I had stuck away! A little E6000 glue on the four corners, add the feet and a nice project became a little more special!
I'm taking a break from my Monday Musing today to ask for your help. On March 31 I will be participating in Walk MS for the tenth time to raise vital funds for multiple sclerosis research and assistance to clients. I was diagnosed with MS in November 2001. MS was described as a disease for the first time in 1868. For 125 years (1868-1993) there was NO TREATMENT available to slow the progression of the disease.
However, with the funding of the National MS Society, in the last few years EIGHT drugs have been approved to reduce disease activity or slow the progression. Just last year, I was able to cease weekly shots when the first pill was introduced to slow progression. We still do not have a cure, so each dollar is needed.
This week atInspired Stamps we are sharing cards made with some of the fun shape stamps. I am usingJournal Shapes.This set of stamps was created with the Art Journalers out there but it can be used for any project or journal.
I created this cozy card using the words and the honeycomb shape. It was easy peasy to create the flower with the shape and then after stamping the words on the petals, I just cut it out and adhered it to the background with foam adhesive. I stamped and cut out another of the shapes with contrasting paper for the center and then added a couple of paper flowers with flower soft in the center.
There are so many shapes and words to use on this stamp set. You could even make lots of background paper with the shapes or words. Please take time to check out the rest of the teams offerings!
