~First Masculine Card~

It's time for Amy's

Flashback Friday 24.0 Blog Hop

First Masculine Card

I called this my Grunge CD Card.

It's still one of my favorites..."born" in April 2011.

Unfortunately, it looked too realistic. 

I had to stop almost everyone from ripping that "CD" out...it was glued to the cover. 

That stamp set is still one of my favorites too!

Thank you for stopping by today, I always appreciate the company. ;)

~Aloha!~

I picked up this stamp in Hawaii years ago...before I even knew how to stamp! ;)

I know, ink and paper....

but embossing helps too.

So does fringe scissors!

This is recycled paper...the center of the wrapping paper I had.

It curled naturally, so that helps for dimension.

When I saw FYI Challenge #30...I was inspired!

I immediately thought of ukeleles,sea water aroma and blinding sunshine!

ALOHA!

~The Scoop~

Less Is More Week 69 Recipe: Not a Square

I made this card as a tribute to the little years.

When we would pull over to the shaved ice store...

I couldn't resist ordering the rainbow.

JUST BECAUSE

 

Have a great weekend~JUST BECAUSE!

Stamp:K&Company Citronella Clear stamps sentiment

Ink:Memento ink tuxedo black

Die:Spellbinders classic circles

Memento and Copic markers

~Life~

I enjoyed combining a few challenges today.

This one is going out as soon as possible-so I kept it "mailable".

The following challenges were helpful:

DYSU Challenge Blog #73

Color Throwdown #193

Retro Sketches #12

Thank you for stopping by today~I appreciate it!

Stamps: BoBunny Alora bird,BoBunny Welcome Home sentiment,The Craft's Meow Owl Be Thinking of You hearts

Ink:Memento sweet plum and tangelo,Papertrey Ink true black

Paper:Bazzill,BoBunny Ambrosia,Georgia Pacific white

Other:Zig orange pen,Crop-A-Dile corner chomper,sewing machine

~Heartfelt Thanks~

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday #170

Use a flower image on your project.

I was blessed to win the gorgeous Hydrangea set from Flourishes.

It came in the mail yesterday and I wanted to use it NOW!

Some help came from Colour Q Challenge #138

and Card Patterns Sketch 166.

Since this is "layered up" more than my usual cards, I am also entering this into

Stampin' Sisters In Christ Challenge 140

Build up your card: by adding layers, paper tole, paper piecing, stacking flowers...you name it!!

I love the scripture they are highlighting there:

Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

This is an excellent reminder for all women~myself included!


Women are relational...we tend to bond verbally.


I catch myself, more than once, wanting to unburden my heart when I'm hurt or insecure.


Unfortunately, it can lower the value of individuals (like the bad publicity of a product).  It really does a lot of damage.



I remember a Godly woman once telling me that the worst thing a Christian can do, is talk about other Christians as if God isn't there listening to the whole conversation.


Hmmm.


I really try to remember that when I'm tempted to unload.

I pray your week is continuing well...right now I'm loving "normal".

I even welcome boring! LOL. ;)

I just thank God for this fulfilling hobby and you wonderful visitors~you always encourage me.


Thank you so much!

Take care now.

Stamps:Flourishes Hydrangea

Ink:Papertrey Ink true black,Ranger Tim Holtz mustard seed and Memento desert sand for edging

Dies:Spellbinders Label eleven,Spellbinders classic circles cut in half,Creative Memories oval cutter

Paper:Authentique Carefree pack,BoBunny Country Garden,Teresa Collins Everyday Moments,Georgia Pacific white,Bazzill brown

 Other:sewing machine,Uni-ball white pen,Copic aqua mint,Memento marker new sprout

~A Sound Mind~

Last week I had to face one of my worst fears...worse than facing

  my worst bear fear two weeks ago,

one of my girlies had to be admitted into the hospital.

The littlest girlie.

I didn't share this last week, because by the time I could catch my breath ...it was over and she was home again.

When I saw this week's Word Art Wednesday Challenge #28 verse,


I knew that I had to tell all:


 how GOOD AND MERCIFUL GOD IS;


and how HE was there with us last week.

When I read 2 Timothy 1 up to verse 1:9 ...

I recognize that Paul is encouraging Timothy with these words.

Timothy needed to hear how powerful God is, and that HE GIVES US this spirit of power, love, and sound mind...

just like we need to hear it now.

We don't just FEEL IT because we are God's children.

We shouldn't even ACT AS IF we feel it, if we don't.

Honestly, we have a natural tendency to fear..at least I do.

I freely admit that I am a fragile being...not brave or strong.

I couldn't pretend to be... even if I wanted to.

 

So, to have my daughter at church, ringing bells with our handbell choir, singing on Sunday morning a mother's day song...healthy as can be...

then have her laying in a hospital bed hooked up to an IV and receiving breathing treatments two days later...too sick to be at home...

well, it was one of those things that I imagined would have SHUT ME DOWN.

She had a slight cold last Monday and the next day, she was grabbing her throat, saying she couldn't breathe.

She had croup.


Odd for an eleven year old.


Odd, because she didn't have a cough.


Odd enough for them to admit her into the hospital and keep her for over a day.


My husband stayed the night with her...

I took the day shift.

Throughout all this...God gave me peace.

He gave me a sound mind.

He continuously let me know,

it was going to be ok.

To me, that was the WORLD.

It was EVERYTHING.

When I became a Christian, I didn't become a braver soul...ready to take on anything that came my way.


Instead, I have a great God who I can lean on, talk to, and confide in. A God who truly can handle anything that comes my way~including my fears.

I have peace and a sound mind.

Not because of who I am now,

but because of who HE is, and where He stands in my life.



I thank Him for meeting my fears, every time,


and renewing my faith and sound mind.


Thanks for letting me share this personal situation with you~I trust your mind is sound.


If not, you know where to go, don't you?

________

As for technical card details:

The Play Date Cafe PDCC 132

Spatter Technique Challenge in the Moxie Fab World

 Paper Crafts 2012 Gallery Idol 

Sentiment: Word Art Wednesday

Stamp:  I Heart Papers Mint Motif Beyond Borders

Ink:Papertrey Ink true black,Ranger Tim Holtz Distress ink mustard seed

Dies: Lifestyle Crafts Nesting Maple Leaves dies

Paper: Georgia Pacific white

Paints:Adirondack Acrylics butterscotch and espresso

Other:stapler