Surfs Up

My boys have tons of birthday parties to go this month between family and friends.

I feel so guilty buying cards, when I have a whole closet full stamps and supplies to make a bazillion cards...... But I am finding it difficult to make some "cool" boy cards and at times get frustrated and go buy a store bought card....

I am challenging myself to think outside the box and make a few boy cards that are "cool". Which means super duper simple...My 11 year old will be helping me, since it's his friends that are getting older. I hope to share a few creations with you this weekend.

If you have some simple, clean, outside the box cards for boys, please leave me a comment with a link to your card for some inspiration.

Deets:
Stamps: Surfafella by Stampingbella, PTI - Birthday Basics, CHF Grid Paper BG
Ink: Jet Black Staz-on, SU! Re-inkers, Copic glitter pens
Accessories: 3 small circles for the side of the image.

Have a great day!!!


Mary

Cast all your cares

Things have been super duper crazy around here. =) A lot of fun super duper crazy stuff though, so absolutely no complaints!!!

I have some thoughts for you today.... A scripture that speaks to me about faith and trust.

"My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," declares the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

This scripture challenges me to put all of my faith and trust in God. It also brings me great peace. Because I tend to make a muck of things when I'm in charge of my future. Regardless of storms, trials, and valleys that come and go, God is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb. 13:8) and if His ways are higher than my ways and his ways are perfect than that takes pressure off of me.

Also Jeremiah 29:11 says:

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. "

If His thoughts are higher than my thoughts and His thoughts towards me are of peace and not of evil.....than what do I need to worry about when adversity does come?!?!?!?

I need to put my faith and trust in Him and not in my own ablities.

Excerpt from: Encouragement for Life by Charles R. Swindoll

Who wants to be shipwrecked? No one. But the reality is, it happens, not only on the open sea, but also in life.

The secret of victory at sea is what you do ahead of time in calmer waters. If your life is storm-free as you read this, I urge you to take advantage of the peaceful lull. Spend time in God's Word. Deepen you walk with Him through prayer and personal worship. Then, when the inevitable winds of adversity begin to blow you'll be ready to respond in faith, rather than fear.

I hope you are having a fantabulous week and will talk soon!

Deets on Card:

Stamps: Woodland cottage (SU!), Paper Trey Ink - Everyday Blessings

Ink: Timber Brown Staz-On, SU! Re-inkers

Paper: Certainly Celery and Choco chip

Many Blessings to you!

Mary

Happy Monday

I hope you have the greatest Monday evah!

I have been doing a lot of reading and creating. I hope to share an encouraging story with you this week.

Not much to say....(I know it's a BIG shocker!!!!) I normally have lots to say...=)

Thanks for stopping by and many, many, blessings to you!

Deets:
Stamps: Whipper Snapper Eiffle tower, Amuse sentiment
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, SU-Ranger Re-inkers
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Choco chip
Accessories: May Arts ribbon

Mary

Happy Sunday

Good Morning!!! I have been MIA this week. Sorry!!! =) Way to busy.....I have been creating new projects that I hope to share with you in the very near future.....I need to make the time to photograph and upload.

Have a wonderful day!!!

The Deets:

Stamps: Present Bella by Stampingbella

Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, SU! Re-inkers, Pink Copic Glitter Pen

Paper: Soft Sky, Regal Rose

Accessories: Clear Rhine Stones and my fav. May arts ribbon.

Many Blessings!

Mary

Thinking of You!

I know I posted a card using this image last week. I just lovey the vintage feel I get when I stamp with her. =) Not feeling very chatty today. So have a great week!

Deets:

Stamps: Paper Impressions - Gibson girl, Sentiment, SU! French Script

Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, Sky Blue, SU! Re-inkers

Paper: Sky Blue, Choco Chip CS

Accesories: May Arts Polka Dot ribbon

Thanks for Stopping by and I hope everyone has a wonderful Monday!

You're Udderly Awesome!

The cow and the frog crack me up! I think this image is adorable, it's by Penny Black.

My best friend Melodie and I have a type of inside joke on cows. We try and find each other cow things from scriptures in the Bible to cards. It's too funny! I thank God for blessing me with wonderful friends and family and I am so thankful for Melodies friendship! God is soo good!

Have you been checking out the Cornish Heritage Farms shop and designer blogs? If not you must!!! Check out Kim Hughes Blog....she has designed her own paper that CHF manufactures and CHF has new Thomas Kinkade DP....They are beautiful and there ares so many more things they are revealing that I am soooo excited about!!! You've got to check out their Designers Blogs.

Also have you seen Anna Wights blog. She is releasing 5 new cling mounts sets and she informed us that Whipper Snapper is now selling their wonderful images in Cling Mount!!! Whoo Hoo can anyone say saving space!

***Note: I am NOT affiliated with Cornish Heritage Farms or Whipper Snapper. ***
Deets on Card:
Stamps: Penny Black- Cow & Frog, Sentiment - Victorine Orginals, Grid Paper Backgrounder by Cornish Heritage Farms.
Ink: Jet Black - Staz-On, SU! Re-inker
Paper: SU! Choco Chip, Certainly Celery CS
Accessories: May Arts polka dot ribbon (my favorite, if you can't tell.)

Have a great day! Many Blessings!!

Mary

Relaxing

I hope you have a very relaxing day! I am meeting some friends in a little bit for some coffee and that will be a Huge treat and relaxing for me. My boys will be with their Grandma while I steal away for an hour or so.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mary

Whoo Hoo it's Friday

A Pink Paris Birthday is the title for this little card. I don't have too much to say so I hope you have FANTABULOUS weekend!

Deets:
Stamps: Effile Tower - Whipper Snapper, Birthday Blessings - Paper Trey Ink
Ink: SU! Re-inkers, Black Staz-On
Paper: Fabriano 140# Watercolor Paper, Basic Grey, and Regal Rose CS
Accessories: My all time favorite May Arts White Polka Dot Ribbon

Thanks for Stopping by !!

Mary

Cast All Your Cares

I found this wonderful stamp set in my collection. I used it a few times and then put it away and forgot about it. Well I pulled this set out again and I love it! All the images in this set are beautiful and fun to watercolor!

I just love 1 Peter 5:7. Paper Trey Ink has so many wonderful stamp sets and I seem to keep going back to Everyday Blessings again and again.

Thoughs for the day:

The word PEACE comes to mind when I see this cottage. I see myself in Ireland at this little cottage near the coast relaxing, talking with the locals, listening to their stories and then the word "REALITY" comes crashing in as I hear the alarm going off, and then we're off getting the kids fed and ready to go to school, traffic jams, deadlines, homework, and oh my goodness I need to make dinner. This can sometime be a snap shot of our lives. It seems hard to have Peace in our lives when we are going 95 mph every second of the day.

Did you know that we can have Peace on the inside when there is chaos all around us on the outside?!?!?

But how? The Bible gives the answer: "In quietness and confidence shall be your strength" Isaiah 30:15 (NKJV)

True Peace comes when we take the time to sit down with God and allow Him to calm us. We seek God's face to spend time with Him and Him alone. We pour out our concerns to Him and wait for His reply. And as he comforts and assures us, that He has everything under control, we know that all will okay. Then and only then can we have His Peace.

It sounds so simple, doesn't it? The hard part is doing it. So many things compete for our attention. At times it may feel impossible. But God would never ask us to do something that we are unable to do. John 14:27 says, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

If we seek His face and not his hand, and thank Him for His faithfulness, then His Peace will flood us. That supernatural peace will even guard our minds and hearts.

What a blessing when we are calm and our minds are not whirling with all kinds of anxious thoughts.

Want peace? Jesus said, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest" Matthew 11:28

I hope you have a peaceful day in the midst of your busy life!

Card Deets:

Stamps; Woodland Cottage-SU!, Everyday Blessings - Paper Trey Ink

Ink: SU! Reinkers

Paper: Wild Wasabi, Choco Chip CS

Many Blessings to you!!

Mary

A Very Cherry Day!!

I have seen so many bowls of cherry stamps on the market and none of our local Craft Stores carry them...and plus I wanted a bowl on a pedestal....so I decided to doodle on up. I see lots of flaws in the doodle and will make a few more. I am pleased how the card turned out despite the flaws. =)

Card Deets:

Stamps: Amuse Art Stamps - Sentiment

Ink: SU! Re-inkers

Paper: Sky Blue, Real Red CS

Accesories: May Arts White Polka Dotted Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by today and many, many Blessings to you!!

Mary

Good Morning!

Good Morning Fellow Bloggers! I am home taking care of my eldest son, he isn't feeling well. He caught the nasty strep bug.

I read a story during my devotional time and wanted to share with you. Have you ever felt like you were at the end of your rope? Are there circumstances that you are facing that seem overwhelming? Well I believe this short story will bless you as it has blessed me.

"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on." Franklin D. Roosevelt

Endurance

During a commuter flight from Portland, Maine, to Boston several years ago, the pilot, Henry Dempsey, heard an unusual noise near the rear of the small aircraft. He turned the controls over to his copilot and went back to investigate.
As he reached the tail section, the plane hit an air pocket, and Dempsey was tossed against the rear door. He quickly discovered the source of the mysterious noise. The rear door had not be properly latched prior to takeoff, and it flew open. He was instantly sucked out the jet.
The copilot, seeing the red light that indicated an open door, radioed the nearest airport, requesting permission to make an emergency landing. He reported that the pilot had fallen out of the plane, and he requested a helicopter search of that area of the ocean.
After the plane landed, they found Henry Dempsey - holding on to the outdoor ladder of the aircraft. Somehow he had caught the ladder, held on for ten minutes as the plane flew 200 mph at an altitude of 4,000 feet, and then, at landing, kept his head from hitting the runway. It took airport personnel several minutes to pry Dempsey's finders from the ladder.
Things in life may feel turbulent, and you may not feel like holding on. But, like Henry Dempsey, have you considered the alternative? Sometimes all you can do is hold on as tightly as you can and try to enjoy the ride!
Hebrews 10:36 says, "You have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise" (NKJV) No matter what you are facing, with God's help you can endure the situation - and receive His amazing promises as a result.

The Details on the Card:
Stamps: Gibson Girl - Paper Impressions, Thinking of You- Stamp A Mania, French Script- Stampin Up!
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, SU! Re-inkers
Paper: Kraft CS, Choco. Chip CS, 140# Watercolor Paper
Accessories: Ribbon from Lesley Langdon, Stickers from Penny Black-Sticeroos - Italy.

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Many Blessings!

Mary

Happy 4th of July!

I hope you have a wonderful and safe 4th of July! God has truly blessed us as a Nation. I am so thankful to God for the foundation our country was built upon and am praying for God to move in our Nation in a mighty way. We need God more than ever before!

We are blessed with Freedom and Liberty that comes at a heavy cost to those who serve and have served in our Armed Forces.

A song keeps running through my mind.

God bless America,

Land that I love,

Stand beside her and guide her Thru the night with a light from above;

From the mountains, to the prairies,

To the oceans white with foam,

God bless America,

My home, sweet home.

God bless America,

My home, sweet home.

God has truly blessed us and many blessings to you!

Vicki Chrisman - Crafty Secrets

Vicki Chrisman from This art that makes me happy sent 20 people a small kit with some paper, ribbon, and embellishments (Lots of good stuff in my kit! and what a blessing too!!). She asked us to make a card or an altered project from the items she sent. Most of the items are from Crafty Secrets.

**********************************************************************************

The information is from Vicki's Blog:

Each card kit is different in some way.. either image, paper, embellishments ..something, so this time no ones has exactly the same thing. Here’s all you do

1) Make a card (or layout, altered project, or whatever you wish), with what’s in the bag. You don’t have to use everything in the bag, by any means.. ( I just tossed in some extras for you to choose from). Some may not even match each other, I just added different things so you had the option, as far as color ect.. You can use any solid cardstock colors you choose… for the base of your card or anywhere on it. Of course if you were doing a layout or altered project..you’d have to use much more cardstock..and that’s fine . You can also add a sentiment of your own..using a stamp, font , rubon ect. Also.. Paint..ink… anything like that is fine.

2) After you finish your card (or other project.. it’s your s to keep of course..but just send me a scan or photo of it by July 7th. ( I will upload each of the 20 cards through out that week.. a few each day… along with your name and a link to your blog ..if you have one)

3) Other than that the only other thing is .. if you have a blog , it would be great if you would post sometime that week.. about the challenge , your card, and post a link to my blog on yours … so readers can come see everyone’s creations. Also a link to Crafty Secrets, as it is their products we’ll all be using. http://www.craftysecrets.com/

****************************

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!!

Mary

Hugs!

Another doodle to share. I hope you are not bored with them! This is my last one for a bit, that I will share with you. I have so many ideas floating around in my head. I am so excited that I have finally realized what my drawing style is.... As you can see I am self taught....(So don't be so rough...LOL!)
I am going to be seeking someone to teach me some more principals of color and proportions. I am a total principal person. Plus I have read many, many books over the years and I do better if there is a live person showing me and teaching me the principals and then I can practice what was taught. (silly I know, but that's me.)
I have set a few goals for myself in the area of my doodles becoming characters. I am excited!!! This is something that I have always wanted to do and I am not getting younger, so I have started setting some small goals in this area.

Well that's enough for today.

Many Blessings!