A Picture speaks a Thousand Words!

Good morning, blogging friends!! I could tell you where I am...but I imagine you can guess by the above photograph...which by the way, took forever to upload from my hotel room!! But here it is, and it is really beautiful!! Right now I am tucked away in a beautiful but secluded hotel outside of Chantilly, France. Since I have no car, I am relaxing in the room while my husband attends some planning meetings. Our room is surrounded by a miniature forest...so I think a walk exploring the grounds is in order. When I return home, I will upload more pictures from our trip.
The best thing about Paris...Rue de Cler...a quaint street with vendors and sidewalk cafes. If you walk to the end and around a corner, you'll have a great view of the above!!
The least favorite thing about Paris...shopping on the Champs de Lysse...(I think that is misspelled)...so crowded and people walk right through you...I had to get out of there without a single souvenir. I am thinking the streets of New York city may be similiar, at least that is what I've been told!
Missing: Starbucks coffee.

The Church Door~Stamin' Sisters in Christ 106

Good morning! Today at Stampin' Sisters in Christ we have a new challenge!! This week, Rebekkah is our challenge host. You can read her devotional on the SSIC blog or on Rebekkah's blog, "A Diamond in the Rough."  Rebekkah has chosen this verse:

Matthew 7:7-8

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks the door will be opened."

The challenge on your cards this week is : To us a door or window on your card!
One card will be chosen winner and receive a special stamp set from Simon Says Stamp!

I searched and searched for a stamp that had a door on it...and remembered this lovely Flourishes image from "Christmas Postcard," which had a small church in the background of this dreamy winter scene. I thought it appropriate for this challenge...you could use a door of a building, a door image, make a small door in your card, use designer paper with a door on it, whatever you wish!! And if you can't find a door, use a window!
I wanted to use my new fleur de lis rectangles to frame this image. I stamped this initially on some Jovial designer paper to give it more of an antique feel. (Leslie from Running with Scissors gave me that idea!) I then used frosted lace and diamond stickles to add snow, colored it in with various copics in soft colors, added a wrinkled distressed ribbon and gold cording...and have one Christmas card done!! Or this could be a winter birthday card, I used the "Warm winter wishes" so my card could be used for any winter occasion! Of course, today is a sunny day in Colorado, and this picture may be hard to capture the winter feel and all the sparkle, but it is there!
So...please jump in and join the challenge this week!! In my week the church is a door I enter through frequently...it is a place of worship, study of God's word, a place of renewal, friendships, encouragement, and a place to be real with others who are earnestly seeking God and want to know Him better!!
Thank you so much for coming by...have a blessed week!



A Quiet Life~ SSIC Challenge #105

Welcome to today's Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge! This week's verse and devotional was chosen by the wonderfully talented  Peggysue at Roses by my Window! Her devotional and all the design team cards will be featured on the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog also!

I will be traveling to the mountains over the weekend...which was part of the inspiration for today's card. I wanted a scene that depicts living a quiet life...so I combined two Flourishes stamps and did a distressed ink tutorial for my sky background. I have to say, I like the way it turned out...though a bit bright for the muted colors of today's challenge...I am pretending that this is a Seattle blue sky and anyone who has ever visited there knows that when the sun is shining, the sky will be blue!!

The verse:

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

"Make it your aim to live a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to earn your own living, just as we told you before. 12 In this way you will win the respect of those who are not believers, and you will not have to depend on anyone for what you need."

The challenge:Nothing bright. Use quiet colors in your card creation; either pastels or earth tones; soft muted shades of neutrals

The Prize:  Clear Dollar Stamps GC

My card recipe:

Stamps: Flourishes Kids at Play, Forest of Trees

Paper: SU! Always Artichoke, SU! other, PTI Rustic

Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia, Ranger Peeled Paint, Scattered Straw, Spiced Marmalade, Broken China

Accessories: Twill ribbon, Metal Nailheads colored with copic marker, Circle Nestabilites, Dimensional

Thanks so much for visiting today...and your kind comments! I can't wait to see what you create with today's challenge if you play along!! Have a wonderful weekend!