Fill your Day with Happy!

I have always loved this stamp set from SU...the little critters with their banner...and today is Teapot Tuesday's challenge to make a card that is easy to make and flat to mail. I had already colored this image, so it didn't take any time at all to assemble this. It is for a fellow SCS'er who mails cards to kids who need some cheering up due to illness.

I am happy to make this card that will be mailed to children in a locall burn center to hopefully bring some cheer for them!! For the Teapot tuesday thread, click on the polka dotted teapot in my sidebar.

Thanks for looking, and make your day happy today by cheering someone else up. That is the best kind of happy there is!!

Two Challenge Cards

Today's cards are two that are combined challenges. Why do I do this? I want to "play along," but with the time it takes me to decide on a layout, stamps, colors, accessories...the only way to participate is to combine!!

So the first one here is this pretty little SnowLady whom I love, this time with gold buttons and white puffy sleeves...she is for this week's Stamping Sisters in Christ challenge. This week is hosted by the gracious Grace, and her devotional regarding the verse along with the challenge can be found on the SSIC blog here. The challenge was to use a stamp as your focal point that requires some thought to construction. I thought of quilts, cabins, houses...etc...then decided what I really needed was an early start to Christmas cards. And this lil lady, just like me, needs some work everyday to look good!! Which reminds me I need to go find my blush...

And both cards are submissions for "Dare to Get Dirty" challenges hosted by the Dirty dozen design team on SCS...which I am not allowed to share specific challenges here, but you can look them up on the home page of SCS if you're a Fan Club member!!

The challenges were:

DTGD10CraftyCaro

DTGD10notimetostamp

DTGD10flowergal36

DTGD10sketch '

and one more I forget...

And last, but not least by any means....Mothermark's Teapot Tuesday challenge this week was to bring hearts to a little girl in need of a bit of cheer. The little girl has one heart to add to the collection this week~~You can see this week's Teapot Tuesday challenge by clicking on the button on my sidebar!! Such a wonderful group of teapotters and lots of fun too!

Whew, I think I did it...

Bless you for reading through this!! I so enjoy your comments and hope you are having a great day!!

Chocolate~Dipped Strawberry Recipe

This month the Flourishes blog issued a recipe challenge. I made my 6x6 recipe card using a variety of designer papers, paper-pieced my Strawberry Tilda image by Magnolia and added another stamped Heading perfect for recipe cards.



You can view the challenge here on the Flourishes blog:
http://www.flourishes.org/blog/page/2/
I have really enjoyed seeing the variety of recipes and even tried one for dinner last night...it was delish!
Please remember you can click on the picture to see it in more detail and also view the recipe. I find chocolate dipped strawberries are easy to make with just a couple of helpful tips...make sure your berries are cleaned and totally dry before beginning...and use a wooden skewer through the top of the stem (leaves attached for pretty contrast)...to dip. Dip and twirl to keep the chocolate on, and lay on waxed paper lined cookie sheet to set. The coating stays on better if you don't refrigerate for too long. Serve same day. You can also drizzle white chocolate over the semisweet chocolate for a fancier look. Just melt a few chips in a freezer ziplock bag in the microwave. (About 45-60 seconds for 1/2 cup) and then snip the corner of the bag with scissors. A perfect little tool to drizzle the chocolate!!
Thanks for coming by , hope this Tilda gives you a smile and happy cooking!!

A Place of Rest

First off I just want to thank you who visited my blog and left such encouraging comments last week!! I do not like to "complain" on my blog, but I have to be my authentic self, even if that means at times sharing the burdens of my heart...so thanks for understanding and the uplifting comments.
I value my friends so much!!
An update on our daughter's surgery and a little bit of "history" which might explain my anxiety over it. Our youngest daughter had a ruptured appendix about 7 years ago that due to the displacement of the appendix and her symptoms which came and went for SEVERAL weeks...was left undiagnosed and treated as an ulcer by our doctor even after repeated visits. By the time I took her to the emergency room, she had an infection raging in her system that was affecting all her organs. The surgeon informed us she had only hours left to live had we not brought her in when we did, she would not have survived. The result was a 10 day hospital stay and another 3 months of very slow recovery.
Now, I am so grateful to say, our daughter is the picture of health. She takes good care of herself, exercises, watches her diet...but she was left with a very unsightly scar that she had wanted to have "revised." While I am not a fan of her going in for another surgery, I could understand her desire to have a cleaner scar and hopefully little reminder of what was left from this difficult time in her life. She went in Friday and even though it was a more traumatic surgery than she had thought it would be, the scar looks clean and it should heal very well. She is recovering very nicely and I've enjoyed the past 4 days of taking care of her.

This card was made for the Stamping Sisters in Chirst challenge this week. The verse is from Matthew 11:28: "Come to me you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest."

For me this week, the ease of my burdens, the rest in my soul, has come primarily through seeing my daughter's invigorated health and seeing her rest easily inspite of the pain. I have much comfort in just seeing her, having her here on this Earth, as in not losing her at an early age...I am grateful to God for giving her life and extending her days, and thus my joy!
This image reminds me of her in our garden. One year she planted sunflowers and they grew taller than her. And the sunflowers remind me of the sunshine she brings to my life!!

Hope you are enjoying your summer, and thanks again for your friendship!

Teapot Tuesday and Patented Bird Feeders

Have you ever had a week/day/month/year that just seemed to be discombobulated? Definition: to throw into a state of confusion, upset.

My week has definitely been that way...I can not explain all the variables and factors that have entered in to make my normal world tilt off it's axis, but it is discomforting to me. So today, because I was home, because I had 2 dogs instead of one, because I had no car because my daughter was in a car accident and needed mine, because I am taking my other daughter into a surgery that I am not even sure is a good idea tomorrow, and because she is coming in on a plane this afternoon from a 3 day Las Vegas stint that I don't approve of for a girl her age, and because the exterminator called at the last minute and was in the area and could he spray the house, and because my tummy still hurts...I decided to stamp.

I wish I could say I feel all better now, but if nothing else, this card made me smile. It reminded me of simpler times when I could control at least a few of the circumstances life threw my way, and I could laugh at our kid's humor.

My card was made for my wonderful friend, Cindy's 101 Teapot Tuesday cards celebration. The assignment was to bring dots or spots...and so in an effort to add to this dotty card, I ran the sweet puppy image through the CB swiss dots folder. After I looked at this dog, now all covered with what looked to be a bad rash, I was reminded of my oldest daughter's run-in with a moderate case of chicken pox. She was covered in those dots, and her little sister, always the mischievous one...giggled with glee and demanded some "chicken pops" of her own. It made me laugh, and still makes me smile to think of it.

If you click on the first picture, you can see the hummingbird "in flight." I received this patented "Best Hummingbird Feeder" from a family member from Virginia as a hostess gift. We had talked a lot about our love of bird-watching, and living in Virginia, she has a wider variety of colorful songbirds than we do here in Colorado. I was so delighted to receive this in the mail, and hung it up immediately when we got to our mountain condo this past weekend. I must say, it is pretty cool to watch the hummers, they can actually "perch" on the lips edge which is flatter and wider than most hummingbird feeders. I just took this with my little Kodak camera, so was happy it came out so well.

So tomorrow I will be helping with my daughter's convalescing and hoping that the surgery goes well..

I wish you a happy, even though possibly, discombobulated day~~

Hello "Tweet" Friend!!

Hi, and hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday!

Yesterday was my anniversary to my fairly wonderful husband of 28 years. It is odd even to see that in writing, as it doesn't seem possible it has been that long. I sometimes think the longer you stay married, the more interesting your bond becomes, as two people are always evolving. So ther person you are married to after 28 years may not seem like the person you married, but if we let God enter in, then what we are both becoming is more of what we were created to be...and my husband means even more to me now than when we were first wed. I don't think God could have chosen a better mate and lifelong partner for me!! We had a nice day and it felt good to have some time together to celebrate our marriage. We went to see the movie, Knight and Day, and out to dinner at one of our favorite restaurants here, Carrabba's. Our youngest daughter works there, so she was able to be our server and as always, it did my heart good to see her on our special day!!

Today my card is a CASE for SCS's featured stamper on Sundays, Debbie. (debbiemom23cs).

I used her basic layout for this card, and changed pretty much everything else. Congratulations Debbie!

And on my favorite blog, Stamping Sisters in Christ, Randi challenged us to use stripes on our cards. This paper is a scrap piece and was just the one I was looking for, and of course, all that is left of this design, but it had stripes, and it had the exact colors I wanted for this sweet mailbox image. The lil bluebird perched on the top of the mailbox is a brad, I just colored the wing with a copic marker to blend it in to the papers.

I may be back to comment on this verse, but for now, just wanted to get this card posted.

Have a blessed Sunday!!

Ribbon, Shimmer, Bling...a little bit of Everything!!

For today's Teapot Tuesday challenge...(click on the black and white teapot on my sidebar to read all about it!) ...and using this week's Flourishes sketch by Silke.

After I made the card, I looked again at the sketch and noticed the ribbon running through the lower panel with something on the side...thankfully was able to pry this oval up and added some ribbon under it and more bling!! So this card is a little blingy, but I still like it!

Wanted to join my friend, Cindy, and the Teapot Tuesday gang...but alas, today I am not having luck uploading my card...so hopefully they can bop on in here on the birdbrain train!

Thanks for looking!! Come join in the fun on today's Teapot Tuesday!!

Do you like my hat?

This Strawberry Tilda from Magnolia caught my eye the minute I saw her...she has the cutest hat on, don't you think?? It reminds me of my online friends on SCS...the Travelin' Dork Sisters, who on many occasion, say silly things like, "Do you like my hat?" To which there will be some type of Dr. Seuss reply that makes us all giggle...

Anyhow...I hope you like my Tilda, her hat, and the strawberry center I made by cutting the strawberry out from the paper and adding crystal effects. Then I stuck my finger smack dab in the middle of it...and after trying so many other embellishment centers and removing them, I just stuck it on and thought, yes, I do, I do like this strawberry with the thumbprint in the middle. Hee..

The Just Magnolia challenge is "In the Garden," and I thought this image fit!

I spent way too long on this card, but it is summer, and no one is here to work on landscaping, or painting, or anything...and I just needed a day to relax and play for awhile.

The flower was made from some heavy cardboard packaging material that I ran through my CB with some Papertrey Ink flower dies (love those!!)

I am going to list the copics for you who like to know these things, this is the first time I have been able to keep track of them.

Copics Used:

E000, E00, E11

E53, E25, E59

G20, G40, G82

R00, R20,R22,R46

C1,C3,C5

Thanks for popping in, and hope Tilda brings a bit of summer your way...It is supposed to be high 80's here all week, so we are definitely getting our dose of sunshine after last week's rain!

Happy Father's Day

Last night at my monthly stamp class, we made three cards...all of them fun and with totally different looks!
This was my favorite, it uses this set which I love but don't know the name and makes one really dramatic Father's Day card. I love the colors and the tree and the elk were stamped in Versamark ink and then embossed with black embossing powder. The moon was masked with a punched out circle and then blue ink was sponged on for the sky.
I am going to go ahead and enter this on the SSIC challenge this week to make a masculine card because I rarely make them...and maybe it will inspire someone else! I did not come up with this design, my SU demo, Carn, did! Thanks Carn, if you're reading this!!
And thanks for looking...I hope to have the final landscaping pictures updated here in a couple of days. They still need to finish the step and are waiting for the quarry to cut the slab for that. Then it will be done!
Thanks for stopping in...hope you are having a good day!

Two Little Chickadees Sitting in a Tree...

The Shabby Tea Room is having a DT call and I am answering it!!

This ornament was made with the inspiration from the Victorian Teapot shown in the following post...I have two projects today, so please scroll down for the card.

I love Chickadees...and I love Christmas! When I saw the deep red and white from the teapot...I had two immediate thoughts, and one of them was Christmas!

The image of these adorable chickadees was an old note card I had and did not want to throw away. So I decoupaged it on to these glass ornaments. I followed up making a frosty scene with some TH crackle paint, flower soft for snow and white fluffy pom poms. I added a narrow line of glitter to finish off the edges and Pearl Glimmer mist to give it even more shimmer. The bow is three parts, white crochet lace formed into a bow, tied off with a button from PTI and crochet linen thread and hung with some pretty silk ribbon.

I am excited to submit this for The Shabby Tea Room challenge...and hope you will make a comment if you think I have a chance. Either way, I love these projects and have made something I truly enjoy and will use!!

Thanks so much for dropping in...have a blessed Sunday!!

Not Too Shabby!!

Good morning!

One of my favorite places to visit, "The Shabby Tea Room," is having a Design Team challenge this month!! The inspiration is a photograph of this antique Victorian teapot featured in the first frame.

When I "see red," I visually hone in on toile, a favorite design element! This card was created using the floral image in the SU "Elements of Style." The image was stamped first in Cranberry Crisp dye ink, and then each line was traced with a blender pen to give it a very softened effect.

There is a wonderful tutorial on the Flourishes blog from Julie showing just how to do this technique!

The teapot had a centered focal point, so that was recreated using the Nestabilities Labels 9 die and a Verve stamped verse. My favorite shabby crochet ribbon was added with a strip of cranberry ribbon over it and then a simple pearl accent for Victorian embellishment.

I think this card captures the essence of the photograph...don't you?

Thank you so much for stopping in, and especially on such a rainy cool and cloudy afternoon. I have the teakettle on and some pretty cups to serve from, what's your preference?

Special Delivery

I just received this stamp set from Flourishes using a gift certificate so graciously donated from the company. On release day, if you go to the Forums on SCS and play in the games, you just might win a prize!!

I received a card with this stamp set from my friend Dawn, (flowergal36 on SCS)...and I liked the layout so much, I copied it. Well, actually, I loved the entire card...but I didn't copy the card...The colors and overall "feel" are very different...this is using white, yellow and blue for the Flourishes month's challenge, "Sunshine and Blue Skies." And wouldn't you know it, today it is overcast and cloudy?!! Well, if you click on the picture, maybe you can get a better idea of the colors....one of my favorite combinations!!

And this week's challenge on the Stamping Sister's in Christ blog is taken from the verse Genesis 1:26. "And God said, 'Let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the Earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the Earth."

So for this card, I chose the "fowl of the air..." which I am very fond of. The Stamping Sisters In Christ Challenge blog is featured on my sidebar, click on that and you will be able to view all the DT cards!!

Thanks so much for your visit today...hope you are having a good summer.

Scroll down if you'd like to see the progress of our landscaping. Going on week 3 and looking good!!

Work In Progress...

Good afternoon!

As promised, this is a photo update of our landscaping project. As you can see, the crew is working hard on the front porch and front walkways. Last week was pretty much taken up with just laying the stone and the grid, leveling, and the slate border of the front porch and step. The beginning of this week, they added grout to the porch and began the front walkway. Seeing the tediousness of the exactness used in laying out the front porch makes me think of stamping and the time we put into a layout and measuring. It makes me feel a little better about the time it takes me to get a card just right!

Thanks for coming by...I'll update again in a few days. They are supposed to be adding the plants, flowers, and trees later this week. I think that will make this all come together!!

Inspired Christmas

Good afternoon!

This week Splitcoast Stampers' Queen for the Day was Grace (aka:scrapingramma2). Grace has a gallery full of gorgeous heartfelt artwork. I have always admired her cards so this was my feeble attempt at a tribute in her honor.

This card follows Flourishes' blog's Christmas Spirit Challenge for the month of June as well. The inspiration was a beautiful room decorated for Christmas. (See top photo.) I chose the red, silver, and white as my theme for this card.

Also for this week's Stamping Sisters in Christ the Lovely Linda hosted with a Bible passage from Hebrews 11:6. You can visit the blog (on my sidebar) to read her wonderful devotional this week. Linda challenged us to make a card with a heart...could be an image, paper, or embellishment. I chose a tiny heart charm that has the word, "love" engraved on it.

I used the fancy tags and cut them up for the borders of my focal image. The ribbon is offray, and the tiny shimmery flowers are from the wedding department of Michael's. Silver pearls were added, along with the heart charm.

Recipe:

Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs

Paper: PTI white, Bravo Burgundy, and Designer paper

Ink: Versamark

Access: Silver Embossing Powder, silver cord, silver heart charm, Offray ribbon, flowers, silver pearls, Fancy Tags by Spellbinders, Labels 4 Nestabilities

Pretty Poppies

Just wanted to share a favorite picture of mine from our mountain home in Steamboat Springs at the Botanical Park. This is the loveliest color of poppies! My card is one post down if you'd like to see it. Thanks for stopping by!

Hip and Hippier

So, this is my version of a CAS (Clean and Simple) card inspired by the blog, "Simplicity." Except that it was supposed to be one layer and a repeated image. I got the repeat...but two layers for this baby...oh well.

I have to say, I think CAS is difficult, because placement is key. Exactness is mandatory. I am going to continue to work on this concept, because I need some calm and order in my life right now, and fussy just doesn't do it.

I think this is kind of a hip card...don't you? It uses colors that are in right now in the decorating world...orange, lime green, and blue. Not my normal color repertoire. And I imagine these cups on a painted black table, also hip. Not me, I still have cherry wood with brass hardware. But I can be hip in my cards...and that black and white gingham is the cool table runner I'd have my cups sitting on...my mocha non-fat lattes with a shot of espresso. Made with my black espresso machine sitting on my hip countertop.

And the" hippier"...you ask? That is what I see when I look in the mirror. Which is why I should not stamp until I start exercising.

Thanks for looking, won't you join me for a latte? It's fat free and oh, so hip!!

Want to see my dirt and rock collection?

Just want to give you some dirt on what's going on in my little corner of the world...hee...I don't like to gossip but this kind of dirt, I am happy to share!

We are doing a major overhaul (another bad pun) here at the Major household...a lot of dirt being hauled around. It all started with a few junipers that needed to be replaced. Once we had landscapers out, of course, it turned into the drainage was wrong and needed improvement, the sidewalk and front porch had cracking due to settling and so that meant more changes...

so what started as a small project is turning into a big one.

The first picture frames are following day one of pulling up plants and delivering boulders. The boulders scared me..they are BIG!! I mean, a little much...but they assured me that it would look good when it was all in place. The last frames show day 3 and what an improvement. We still have 2 weeks left...and I intend to show progress along the way.

All I can say is those men worked really hard...and I am glad I didn't have to try to move one of those rocks!!

Ok, if you get to the end of this, do me a favor and scroll down to my next post where I have something prettier than dirt for you. Thanks for sharing in my excitement!!

A Little Challenge

Happy weekend to all you lovely stampers!

This is a 3 day weekend, and I should be doing something else...so shh...don't tell anyone I'm frittering away my day making paper flowers, adding glitter, distressing, smudging and fudging and otherwise making a bit of a mess...but this is what I came up with!

This is my take on this week's " The Shabby Tea Room"inspiration picture and also "Stamping Sister's in Christ"(distressing), and "Flourishes" monthly challenge to make your own flower.

The size of this card is 3 x6 inches...the design just seemed to dictate the size. I wanted to incorporate the little tea party in a nest image with the teapot...what do you think?

Thanks for stopping by!!

Stamp a Petal

Good morning! Do you ever have the need for a few birthday cards just to have on hand? I am trying to come up with some simple yet make a little impact cards...and this is for my daughter's friend who is about to turn 21! So not too cutsie I hope!

This is a 5" square card...the main image was embossed in white craft ink on melon mambo paper. This is the first time I have grabbed that color, and I really like it framed in black!!

This is embossed white on white and then the inside greeting is from Papertrey Ink signature greetings. A little pink bling from my sweet friend, Dawn...made just the little statement I needed in that corner.

Hope you like it...and thanks for stopping by today!!

Mo's Challenge 32, Shabby Tea Room Week # 10

Okay, this background doesn't look as blue as it actually is...it's a hazy blue and a really pretty bright red and white for The Shabby Tea Room's challenge this week to make a card using those colors/or stars and stripes. I included the stripes on my bottom panel but in place of stars, I have these cute little flowers.

You can view the Shabby Tea Room challenges here:

http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/

This is also for Mo's Digital Challenge #32 to make a card using one of Mo's irresistable images with the theme "All About Love." I decided to use this image with the sheep grazing on a hillside.

I love sheep...sheep remind me of so many things, but mostly that we are Christ's sheep and he is our loving Shepherd. There are many Bible verses that refer to sheep. I am reminded that the sheep are totally reliant on their shepherd, and the Good Shepherd loves them and will not lose even one. As my oldest daughter ventures out to her first big job in the city of Denver, this is such a comforting reminder to me.

Thanks so much for the visit, I enjoyed making this card for these challenges...hope it gives you a smile today!

SSIC Challenge 39 , ODBDSlC13

This week's sketch challenge on SCS was the starting point of the first card here for Stamping Sisters in Christ challenge blog. This week the scripture verse was :
Psalms 95:1-3 a
"O Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord, let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving, let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is a great God..."
You can read Grace's wonderful words by clicking on the SSIC blog (see sidebar). When our girls were little I always had Christian music playing and my sweet daughters would twirl and dance in their dress up clothes or holding their dolls. Many of those songs still run through my head, and have helped me evn now to memorize scripture because they are set to a tune. What a wonderful gift music is to us...it can elevate a mood, recall a memory, and sometimes aids in healing with our tears.

This is an encouragement card made with some of the same paper on my desk from the last one. I used one of my very first stamp sets, Feathered Friends for this. I love birds, and bird-watching, and have been enjoying their music lately. Well, except for the 5 a.m. variety show that wakes me up too early!

Thanks to Grace from ODBD, I decided to submit the second card to Our Daily Bread Design's blog challenge this week to use flowers. I love ODBD stamps, but don't think I have any with flowers on it, so am using this set from SU, "Vintage Vogue."


Thanks for stopping by my blog today...hope you are enjoying some uplifting music. For me it is the birds singing outside our windows...they seem to be very happy and making all kinds of racket out there!!

A Teacup full of Sunshine!!

Just trying to warm up the Bat Cave for Auntie's visit!! To view the fun, click on the Polka Dotted Teacup on my sidebar and join us for my friend, Mothermark's Teapot Tuesday challenges! Cindy always has a hoot of a story to share and lots of fun and laughs!
This is for the Stampavie Challenge to use glitter on your card. I am so enamored with these Stampavie images...they bring me such a smile and are fun to color up and adorn. You can read about the Stampavie challenges here: www.stampavie.com/dt/


This one fit especially well with the Teapot Tuesdays, don't you think??
The glue is not even dry, sorry about that, but I am in a hurry to get this in. I do not know what time Colorado time is converted to Central Europe Time, so I hope I didn't miss the deadline.
Thanks for coming by...I always enjoy your visits and love reading your comments! Sweet friends are all of you!
Oh, that reminds me, I need to add a sentiment to this, but am waiting to see where I will mail it first!

Stamping Sisters in Christ Card Challenge

This card is made to meet this weeks SSIC blog challenge to make a card in the colors brown, blue, and white. I fashioned this with the inspiration of some pretty SU designer paper, then colored some pearls with a baby blue copic marker for accent. I had lots of tiny pearls flying as I tried to detach them and add, then finally gave in and just used a string of tiny pearls to the border. I hope you like it. Now, if you want, you can continue to read my thoughts on this week's scripture...

Good morning! Every Sunday I eagerly anticipate stopping in to the Stamping Sister's In Christ blog to see the scripture and read the thoughts and discover the week's challenges. This week, the lovely Linda has chosen the verse : John 4:23 "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for the Father seeketh such to worship him." Linda has some very insightful thoughts on this verse, please stop by the Stamping Sisters in Christ (just click on the SSIC on my sidebar) to visit!

As a long time Bible study student in Inductive Studies, I have a habit of looking up the Biblical definition of the word before drawing some kind of conclusion to its meaning. The definition of worship: to ascribe worth to something.

In the case of a believer, worship is to ascribe worth to God. Why? Is God in need of our worship? Does he sit on His throne in need of the sentimental strokes of sappy worshipers here as we lift up our feeble hands to the King of Kings? I don't think so. God is all sufficient...He is complete and needs nothing. So why then does he seek true worshipers? While I know worship brings God glory, the advantage for us is that it elevates us from an earthly limited view of God to a heavenward focus that is limitless. We can not worship that which we do not know. So as we spend time in God's word, being transformed by the renewing of our minds...then we are able to offer ourselves as living sacrifices...which is our spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1-2 says, "Therefore I urge you , brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

Worship involves an act of selflessness...which in our self-centeredness brings such sweet relief. I really liked this definition I read while researching the meaning of worship:

"Worship is the submission of all nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness; the nourishment of mind with His truth; the purifying of imagination by His beauty; the opening of the heart to His love; the surrender of will to His purpose-and all of this gathered up in adoration, the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable and therefore the chief remedy for that self-centeredness which is our original sin and the source of all actual sin. :William Temples 1881-1944

As a believer, I hope my worship extends beyond a chorus sang (however lovely and moving) on a Sunday morning to an act of worship...which involves my mind, my soul, my spirit and will being conformed to His.

Thanks so much for stopping by...I so appreciate you!!

Shabby Tea Room and Flourishes Challenge Cards

There is something so comforting and homey about quilts...and I was inspired immediately upon viewing this photograph which was the inspiration for this week's challenge at The Shabby Tea Room. http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/2010/04/week-7-comforts-of-home.html

I also am entering this as my submission for Flourishe's weekly challenge to go "vintage."

I used Webster's Pages as the backdrop of my card. It framed the scripture well, and in order to make the frame work, I sliced the paper in half lengthwise and used ribbon to hide that. The pattern on the sides matched up well. I antiqued these white prima roses using distress inks.

This card was made for a young woman who was baptized at our church last weekend. I was so moved at her testimony of Christ and the deep desire and commitment she had to follow him that I wanted to send her a card in celebration of her baptism. Hearing others talk of their stories of faith always strengthens my own.

Thank you for stopping by this Sunday, and hope you have a blessed week!

My card:

Stamps: ODBD

Paper: PTI vanilla, PTI blue, SU soft suede, SU blush blossom, Webster's DP

Ink: Versafine Vintage Sepia. Tim Holtz Tea Dye

Accessories: Flourishes store crochet lace, Glimmer mist in Pearl, Prima Roses, May Arts 1/4 inch silk ribbon, champagne pearls, Nestabilities, MS butterfly punch

Crazy for Daisies!

Today is Teapot Tuesday on SCS, and my friend, Mothermark, asked me to make a sample for this week's Daisy teapot. I fell in love with the softness and prettiness of Cindy's teapot choice...which you can view if you visit her blog (on my sidebar, "This is my Story.")

While there, you have to read the entire story that goes with the teapot to get in on all the fun, but this week we (the tea-partiers) are on their way to help Miss Sadie who is a master gardener in dire need of more daisy petals. It turns out that there is a suitor, Sir Pluckapetal who is up to no good in Sadie's garden night after night.

I had to search for the song, Daisy, Daisy, (we used to sing that all the time as kids)...

and here is the first chorus:

"There is a flower within my heart,

Daisy, Daisy!

Planted one day by a glancing dart,

Planted by Daisy Bell!

Whether she loves me, or loves me not,

Sometimes it's hard to tell:

Yet I am longing to share the lot

Of beautiful Daisy Bell."

~Harry Dacre, 1892

And then we break into the chorus,

"Daisy, Daisy,

give me your answer do!

I'm half-crazy all for the love of you!

It won't be a stylish marriage.

I can't afford a carriage.

But you'll look sweet, upon the seat

Of a bicycle built for two."

Now do you remember Daisy's reply? I don't know if I made it up one day with a bunch of girlfriends or if this is written somewhere , but I always sang the second verse:

"Andy, Andy,

Here is my answer true!

You're half-crazy,

If you think I will marry you!

It won't be a stylish marriage,

You can't afford a carriage~

And I'll be beat,

if I sit on the seat,

Of a bicycle built for two. "

Thanks for coming by today and hope you can play along in this week's Teapot Tuesday! This week is for the "softer side" and the cards may be sent to encourage a fellow stamper. You can read more about that on Mothermark's blog, or in the Challenge Forums on Splitcoast Stampers under Teapot Tuesday.

Honor your Mother

Today on Stamping Sisters in Christ the verse for this week is from Exodus 20:12 "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the Lord your God gives you."

My card this week was inspired by Silke on her blog, "My Life" (on my sidebar). I used her arrangement of flowers on the top note die, but changed the colors, and then made this into an easel card, adding the designer paper from Melissa Frances and the fence with the word, "Mother" on it. I did not have a specific Mother's Day sentiment, but this will work. I love the colors in this paper, and used Bashful Blue, Regal Rose, and Summer sun stamped off to mimic the paper.

In my life, I had two mothers. I can't say it didn't make my life complicated and uncomfortable many times, but over the years I learned to perceive the blessings that came from both and find a way to bring honor to them or to their memories. I know in my life, motherhood is the one thing I cherish...it is such a gift!! So for all those who are mothers, who have mothers, or who have had the tremendous blessing of nurturing children or mentoring youth...Happy Mother's Day!!