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.

a seasonal card. . .

for the CDAC Progressive Challenge. This one for the Seasonal Fun Challenge. I CASEd this card using an image from Beccy's Place.

Today was one of those crazy weather days. It started out gloomy and gray; then the sun came out and it seemed that spring would be right around the corner, melting the remaining snow and ice. That was short lived as it got dark and blustery - hail mixed with snow - not falling gently, but blowing sideways. Fortunately, that didn't last long before the sky turned blue and the sun shone warmly once again. Ack. Once again... gray skies, blustery, windy...  I wish the weather would make up its mind!!!  and now as I write, I see blue sky in the distance once again. What kind of season is this?

I certainly couldn't keep up with changing my card to depict the current weather so chose instead to use Beccy's image, Family Reunion. I'm missing some important people today and look forward to having at least DD2 come home in 45 days!!  It won't be a true family reunion, but it'll be wonderful to have her home and to hear all her stories from these past months that she's been away.  With that in mind...  a snowy day card....  one that I will send to her to remind her of all the wonderful winter wonderland that she's missed this year :)

three cards today

and they are all for the CDAC Progressive Digi Challenges:

The first is a gift card holder that I made for my son for his birthday and meets the requirements for the Anything Goes Challenge. The gift card is for Phil & Sebastian's coffee - a coffee that he loves but doesn't purchase very often. This will be a nice treat for him. The digital image is a free one that I found on an online colouring page; the sentiment is computer generated.

Then I had a couple tougher cards to make. This was for a friend who had to address the congregation today as her resignation was announced. She has served in the capacity of Children's Ministry director for the past 8 years - this was a tough day for her This is a good step for her yet difficult; I wanted to let her know that I would be praying for her. It is for the Inspiration Challenge - I used the paint chip colors as my inspiration and CASEd a card on SCS found here.

The last card was for a friend of mine whose father-in-law passed away this weekend. While they were expecting the call for a few days already, it is still always a tough thing when it comes. I used it for the 1-2-3 Challenge, using two 1 digital image, 2 design papers and 3 pieces of bling.

Thanks for coming to see what I've been doing lately. Now I need to get back to some serious studying!!


blessings for this day,

back to crafting...

for today, anyway.  I have had such a crazy last few months and missed having time for some sort of creative outlet. I never realized how much I need that to keep some measure of perspective. That said, I took this evening to work on a card for the Progressive Challenge at CDAC. These are free images and you have until  end of March to create something.

My daughter is in Germany and having a real rough go of it lately. We discovered a gluten intolerance just before she left and she's been able to avoid the nasty food for most of her time there. However, over the Christmas break she wasn't so fortunate and is now living with the painful consequences. She has been on my mind a lot these last days - well, it seems we have been focused on her health this whole month!  Between text messages and researching gluten intolerance and researching foods that will help with a detox and then more text messages... it's been crazy.

Anyway. I hope that this card will bring a bit of a smile when she receives it and hopefully by then she will be feeling a little better?  In the meantime, prayers will continue to lifted and carried on her behalf.


Thanks for stopping in today.

a bird song

My heart is heavy today - it has been a while since I've checked in with some of my cyber friends and just tonight as I came to post this blog entry, my eye drifted to my reader feed.  There I saw an entry that sucked the wind right out of my sails - my friend has been diagnosed with cancer and is currently undergoing chemo treatments.

Brings back memories. Prayers. Disbelief. Struggle to live through with integrity. Sitting with my husband as we watched the toxic chemicals slowly enter his vein - toxins that would slay the dragon that had invaded his world - our world.

I had been working on this card today - no idea for whom it might be - but now I know. I will be popping it into the mail first thing in the morning.

Details:  I'm submitting it for Challenge 16 at CDAC using an image provided by NanaVic (altered by adding a bird to sit atop the cage, and re-colored to sepia toning). The edges were burned and then curled to give it a weathered look/feel. Prima flowers & ribbon add a bit of extra detail.

That's about it for today. Thanks for stopping by. And, if you have friends fighting cancer, maybe try to find a way to encourage them in some way. As for me, I'll send this card, but more importantly, I'll be praying for Jennifer - for strength and courage to face each moment - for God's presence to surround her - for His peace to flood over her - that in the midst of this battle she will continue to enjoy the songs of the birds and the warmth of the sun.

cherish

It's round 3 with another challenge at CDAC, "It's All About Bears". This time I used one of the provided images without any drastic modifications.; simply added the sentiment "Cherish". This image was generously provided by Inked Treasures.

I worked on the image for days - it sat on my study desk staring at me. It's been a nice diversion from studying LOL! I used Sketch 254 and yesterday I finally put the whole thing together while listening the election debate. Colored with copics; patterned papers & prima flowers are from blog candy - thanks Jennifer!!

We are heading in to a provincial election in ten days. I'm not sure any leader "won" the debate last night - at least it certainly didn't help me get a much clearer picture of where the candidates stand. It does seem that everyone thinks they can fix the current problems by throwing tons of money at them, without a clear indication of just how they intend to grow these money trees. oy.

Anyway, the image was fun to use and, without a specific purpose for the card, it will go into my stash until needed.

Thanks for coming by today and blessings for the remainder of your day.

it took me a week . . .

to sit with this image before coming up with a layout that would work with the ideas I had floating in my head... I wanted to make a card for a dear friend who has just not bounced back from surgery as quickly as expected. I had all the pieces sitting on my study table for days but a suitable layout was eluding me.

This morning I spent a few minutes on SCS looking through various sketches to see if that would help... eureka! I found one that would work perfectly: SC377 Quick! Off I went to my craft desk to put the pieces together - this is the final result.

This will be my entry for the current CDAC progressive challenge, Baskets or Bunnies? The image is Mr. Bunny from Spectacular Printable.
I altered the image slightly, replacing the basket of eggs with a medic bag and coloured him to look like a professional.
The sentiment was computer generated.

Paper: BasicGrey (crude), PatternPaper (ambrosia), Neenah
Accessories: copics

I'm glad that my ideas came together this morning. The card is now finally ready for him and hopefully he gets it in a timely manner.

a spring birthday card

for my mom - I hope she will like it. She absolutely loves her garden and flowers bloom all summer long. Then in the fall, she brings them indoors to enjoy them for as long as she can.

It also used one of the free images provided by the CDAC challenge. I used the image provided by Pattie Gomez at PattiesCreations. Colored with copics and layered on various papers.

I love the green as it reminds me today that spring is around the corner. I can hardly wait. While we have been enjoying an incredibly mild winter with very little snow, I am so very ready to bask in the warm sun and, alternately, breathe in the fresh air after the spring rain...

Again, thanks for stopping by, and may the sun today shine brightly in your world...

a quick card this morning

I thought of an idea yesterday but didn't get around to actually doing anything with it except print the images. During the night, the ideas came together enough that it didn't take me long to put it together this morning. I got up just a bit earlier than usual so I'd have time enough to have it ready for church when I could give to my dear friend - she's going through some tough days.

The images were provided by various artists at Crafters Digital Art Center. I used an image provided by Shelly's Images and the sentiment provided by Happileigh Scrappin'. It was super easy to colour this morning using my copic markers. A few layers of coloured cardstock (SU), ribbon from the Dollar Store, design paper & a heart embellishment that I was given as part of blog candy from Jennifer, and voila... a card ready for my dear friend.

With many thanks, the inspiration for the card came from Jamie Moore.

And as I always appreciate the time you took to visit, thanks for stopping by today.

another birthday to celebrate. . .

which means I needed a card :)

I looked through the images offered at CDAC for their progressive challenge and thought that the sweet image provided by Lauretta would work quite well. I had to adjust it a little - make it less about a Valentine Sweet and more suitable for my son. As much as he attempts to maintain a healthy diet, he does have the occasional craving for delicious ice cream!! A root beer or perhaps Coke float would have him delirious for days!!

With that in mind, I altered Lauretta's image a little and made him a float for his birthday card.

The image is coloured with copics; layered on a coloured panel. This was the first time in a l-o-n-g time that I actually inked up a stamp for the sentiment. :shock: The image was a set that had not yet seen ink - but now that I've opened the package, I'm quite pleased with the 10 sentiments that it contains - I just may find more opportunities for them to real ink :grin:

May you have a great day... thanks for stopping by.

a journal marker...

to hold my place in my journal. There's nothing more frustrating than having to flip to the next blank page...

The image is a free one provided by Digis by Phooka. I altered it slightly, adding a book. The title of the book, "The Camino". I went to see The Way this weekend with my daughter and while the movie wasn't the greatest, it did get me thinking about what it might be like to walk the Camino de Santiago. I spent Sunday afternoon reading about the Way of St. James and then in the evening put together this journal marker.

A close-up view:

The image is coloured with my copic markers. I distressed the edges to symbolize the fatigue and weariness that a pilgrim might feel when walking The Way. Image is layered on panels of black to coordinate with the black elastic.

This journal marker is my entry in CDAC's Progressive Challenge.

Again, thanks for stopping by. It's always pleasure to have you visit!!

Blessings to you on this day.

and this is how I spent...

my Sunday afternoon. I had received an image from when I was on the Gingerloft DT and hadn't used it yet. I felt guilty for not having used it on something so had been thinking about it for the last while. Then today, during the sermon, something that was said caused my thoughts to wander and I began to think about using a door along with The Crafter's Corner challenge for new beginnings.

Doors open to new things. Doors opened for me this past year to start something completely different - something completely new. In that sense, doors symbolize new beginnings.

As I searched for an appropriate sentiment, my thoughts took a slightly different turn. I found a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson, "God enters by a private door into every individual". How true. It is a private door that each of us have - and when God knocks, we each have a choice. We can open the door to Him, or not. If we allow Him to enter, we have the opportunity of a new beginning.

With those thoughts rambling about in my head, I began to piece together this card.

With thanks to:

• Glenda for giving me something to CASE
• Tami at Gingerloft for the image
• Emerson for the quote
• and most of all, to God for leading me through open doors.

took some time this evening. . .

to relax. It's been a crazy busy couple of days as I tried to tackle a whole lot that had been " back-burner-ed" this fall. Among some of that was sorting through, tossing & filing the many stacks of paper that I had everywhere. I had some awesome help from my daughters as they sat on the floor with me, sorting through everything. It feels good to start the next semester with some of that under control.

Then today I spent the afternoon with my sister and my brother, shopping thrift stores and Costco. His cargo van is packed to the brim; he heads back home in the morning. It was good to see him, even if only for a short while.

After dinner I took some time to work on a card that I had wanted to start. It's for a challenge at The Crafter's Cafe. The challenge was to use the theme New Year/New Beginnings. You could interpret that any way you wanted. That was a challenge in itself. Which way should I go with it? In the end, I decided on a baby card knowing that there are a number of young moms in our church that are expecting another baby this year. In fact, the daughter of my friend is due shortly. She already has a daughter - I'm hoping her baby will be a girl and that I can use this card for her :)

The sentiment is an altered version of Lindsay's Stamp Stuff; the image is from Firecracker Designs by Pamela.

Again, thanks for dropping in!