believing ...

that seasons will continue to come as God has promised...

These past months it has seemed that spring would never arrive. Mr Winter just did not seem to want to believe us when we said he could come again next year! LOL

Of course, once he did leave, spring arrived with a vengeance. We had a few beautiful days and then the rain came. Not only did we receive rain, but with that rain came flooding and our city was hit with a major flood. We had a flood in 2005 but this was much worse. Thousands and thousands of people were evacuated and many lost their homes and with that all their precious valuables.

It has been devastating for our community. However, it's not just us, but communities around also were flooded. Some are slowly being allowed to re-enter their homes but only to determine the extent of damage. Many have yet to be allowed back.

As I reflected on all this, I thought it fitting to combine some images to create my seasonal challenge card. The challenge was to create a project reflecting what is going on in my "neck of the woods" this second quarter of the year, April - June. It's one of several challenges that have been running for the past few months over at CDAC. So what exactly has been going on this season? snow, rain, flooding, and now finally some warmer temperatures LOL. The images were provided by:  Inger Harding (winter girl) and a freebie friday image from Digital Delights by Louby Loo (beach girl).

smooth sailing

At CDAC, there was an inspiration challenge that ran Mar-Jun. I loved the colors and thought I'd try a new-to-me technique using acrylic paint to create a color block. I borrowed some of my daughter's art supplies and worked at this for a while. I quite like the result.

The image is from Beyond The Fringe.

While we have been in a local state of emergency these past two weeks due to flooding, I still love the serenity that I sense when I gaze upon this card - it opens my thoughts to sailing on the open ocean and the vastness that one would see. Of course, the flood here has reminded me of the power of water and that power, unleashed, on the ocean isn't for the faint of heart.

But then my mind also goes back to when we took a family vacation along the coast of Oregon. I loved sitting at the water's edge watching the relentless waves... never ending... crashing against the rocks.. the salty spray like a mist against my face... I drank it all in and thought of God. Not only did He make it all, but the winds and waves still obey Him. That, my friends, is powerful!!

Again, thanks for stopping by and 'listening' to some of where my thoughts have traveled today.

mix and match

This took me way outside my comfort zone today. The challenge?  Mix & Match at Moxie Fab World. The rule was to create a paper crafted project that incorporates pattern mixing in an innovative way.  You can read more about it and see what others created here at the Mixy-Matchy Style Challenge in the Moxie Fab World.

For my attempt, I used two different dotted papers tying them together with striped ribbon. I think it works as the ribbon seems to (in my mind) pull the two papers together.

In addition to this, the June Blog Challenge among the Stamping Flybabies at Splitcoaststamperswas to use scraps, as many or as few as you want!  I went with fewer, using a total of 3 scraps!

Finally, I wanted to complete the CDAC Progressive Challenge using the Hawaiian Girl image provided by Back To Paper.

Finally, I am submitting this also to A.R.T. where they are running an Anything Goes challenge for this week.

It was a fun attempt to see if I could combine these three challenges; I spent the better part of my afternoon looking for patterned scraps that would work together. Coloring the image was the easiest part this time LOL

Live with Grace...

I spent the two days working on this card that fits with the Anything Goes Challenge at CDAC. As the name implies, the challenge is to create a project but anything goes.

I thought I'd combine it also with the June Blog Challenge which was to Get Scrappy. The definition of scrappy is: consisting of disorganized, untidy, or incomplete parts. Thus, the challenge was to use scraps on your card/project, as many or as few as you want. I found several that I thought would work together. Even the ribbon was a loose piece in my box which was just long enough to use for this card!!

The digital sentiment was one of Ginger's House. What does it mean to live your life with grace?

As I've watched my DDIL, I see that she's figured this out. I told her recently when we celebrated her birthday that it's something that she is teaching me. I love that about my kids - even though I'm older, they have so much that they can teach me, if I'm willing to learn.

a golf course perk

The last two summers, I have been the recipient of flats of annuals because my daughter works at a private golf course. Once all the planting is done, the staff are given opportunity to take home the extra flowers.
Last year, I got a couple of flats of annuals, but this year... my daughter really outdid herself and 9 flats of annuals, several 6" potted geraniums, and 3 dahlias. It really was a very kind gesture on the par of the horticulturalist to give my daughter first choice of the leftovers.

I thought it only appropriate then to make a card expressing my thanks.

Tamara's response when the girls gave her the card?  "Oh your mom is so cute!?"  Well, I don't know about being cute but I was thankful and wanted her to know that her generosity did not go unnoticed nor was it taken for granted.

created by God. . .

I had time today for one more card. Again, I'm working through the CDAC Progressive Challenge. The free image this time is one of NanaVic's digitial images, Woodland Baby. I had so much fun coloring and playing with it today!

The layout is using Red Hot Stampers Sketch that I found on Pinterest.

In the back of my mind I was thinking of the sentiment that this week's Scripture / Word Art file at WordArt Wednesday, from Ephesians 6:10.  I cropped and manipulated the image a little so it would work with the idea that I had in my head.

We are all created in the image of God; is there anyone better to portray this than a newborn baby? They in all their sweetness and softness are stamped with God's image!

I love how it turned out!

believe...

It's a sunny day today and as I was contemplating the CDAC Progressive Challenge with the Back to Paper image set, I kept coming back to the promise that God gave long ago. In the midst of all the devastation that our city and province has experienced this past week, God's promises are still true. We need to believe that.

So, with those thoughts, I made this card:

This card also fits with the CAS226 challenge on Splitcoast using this image as inspiration for the colors of the rainbow.

a 1-2-3 Challenge

so now that I've finished my course, I'm allowing myself to spend some time making cards. CDAC has a Progressive Challenge running from Mar through June so I'm trying to see how many of the challenges I can complete in the next few days.

This card is for the 1-2-3 challenge:
1 Sentiment
2 Design Papers
3 Embellishments

I am also submitting it as an entry for Word Art Wednesday, a challenge blog which is all about sharing the love of Jesus through what we create.

I used an image from Stamping Boutique as a focal point and the sentiment is from McMahon Five Design. The sentiment is from Deuteronomy 33:27, "The eternal God is your refuge and underneath are the everlasting arms"; I used only the first part of it. It's giving me pause for thought as I further contemplate Jesus' words in Matthew 6:26, "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?"
Working on this was a great way to spend my evening today and I know that I will be thinking about these verses for a while as I learn to trust those everlasting arms.


Thanks for stopping by to take a look.