The Perfect Valentine: God is Love

 

          It’s been a while since I’ve had time or felt like playing in my craft room.  The flu definitely got me behind and down for a while.  I’m feeling better now and hope to be putting the winter doldrums behind me.  With Valentine Day coming up it is time to start thinking about making something special for my family.  These are headed for my two beautiful daughters.  I hope that they don’t read this blog and ruin the surprise. :-)  I don’t always send them cards any more for Valentine’s but this year is special.  Last May Rachel received her Master’s Degree, and this May Rebecca will receive her Master’s Degree.  I’m so proud of both of them.  They are both beautiful young Christian women who seek to serve Him.  I just wanted to send them a note of encouragement and love especially from their mom!  My card is 4¼” by 5½” with a left side fold.

·       Stamp set(s):  Stampin’ Up! – My Little Valentine (ret.) and Trust God

·       Ink(s):  Stampin’ Up! – Raspberry Ripple (sentiments) Primrose Petals (edges)

·       Paper:  Stampin’ Up! – Raspberry Ripple, Primrose Petals & Very Vanilla CS; The Paper Studio – Mirabella Plaid & Solid Glitter CS in Light Pink & Champagne

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Stampin’ Up! – Hearts Collection & Chalk Talk Framelits; Heartfelt Creations Decorative Dutch Iris Die; Spellbinders – Classic Circles Large/Standard & Classic Scalloped Circles Large   

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  iCraft – Easy-Cut Adhesive Sheets (double-sided); Prima Floral Embellishments; Stampin’ Up! – Brads Brights Collection (ret.) and Denim Ribbon Artichoke (ret.; ) & Basic Jewels Rhinestones; Recollections - Pearls

I ran across the patterned paper when I was at Hobby Lobby – love that place – when I was looking for glitter cardstock for another project which I was also able to use here for some additional glam & glitz.  I have quite a bit of burlap and wanted to make some embellishments with some double-sided adhesive sheets.  The patterned paper is light weight so I decided to add some texture with the burlap rather than by embossing it.  In the pictures of the two cards you can see that the burlap flourish is oriented differently and one is trimmed in rhinestones and one in pearls to reflect my girls’ personality.  This will be my first card in the Viva la Verve Challenge for this month.  I hope to get a few more cards made and entered before the 6^th.  We’ve had some snow here this week in central NC, so I’m going to be at home tomorrow and might as well get creative!

Thank you so much for stopping by and taking a look.  Please feel free to leave me a comment and sign up to follow me so that you’ll be notified when I post something new.  I am doing an On-line Bible Study from Proverbs 31 Ministry so there might be a few non-crafty posts from now until early March 2014.

Many Blessings,

Donna

PS:  Do you prefer pearls or rhinestones?

Feeling Empowered and its flip side Pride!

     As I started this week's bible study - a little late due to a hectic schedule and slow recovery from the flu last week, I did feel empowered.  I had every intention of joining everyone on the FB page on Thursday.  The week was going well.  I was caught up with the reading and reflection questions.  I had spent the evening at home on Tuesday and had successfully battled temptation to eat outside of my plan with prayer and walking away from the kitchen.  Even after I weighed myself at home for the first time in months on Thursday morning things were going well.  I am following a heart healthy eating plan and controlling portions by using Weight Watchers Points Plus program.  Then time at home by myself again while my husband was working his part-time job.  (We are both retired from our careers.)  I binged on crackers with my tune salad.
     I was so frustrated, but the idea that the  Lord loves me anyway when I fail, that I don't have to perform to earn his love and attention was a comfort and got back on track on Friday.  But I was too ashamed to join in with the FB meeting.  The Holy Spirit is our "Empowerment" Coach.  When I turn to Him - which I did on Tuesday and not on Thursday, I can do all things with His gentle guidance and encouragement.  He will show me when I remember to stop and listen (and not let pride get in the way like I did when I ignored him on Thursday) how to battle the flesh and "the little devil whispering in my ear on my shoulder".  It's very easy when you think you are empowered to fall into pride and try to do this without the help of Jesus.  There is a thin line between pride and empowerment.  Let me not fall into that trap, Jesus.  I need your help and encouragement daily as I walk this walk of eating to live and not living to eat.

Many Blessings,
Donna

Why Now & Why Made To Crave

          This is not my usual kind of post.  I don't have a new card creations to share with you today.  Today I'm giving you some "inklings" about why I joined an on-line bible study!  So bear with me, please!?
          I have struggled my whole life - I just turned 62 the end of December - with my weight and body image problems.  I have done nearly every diet in the book.  I've had some success, but not lasting success.  I almost made it 10 years ago, but fell off the cliff 3.5 years ago when some health issues and hormone imbalance issues crept up behind me and widened my hips! 
          I want to be at peace with food and my food choices.  I also want to eat healthy and maintain a good weight.  When I weigh too much and it affects how I feel about myself -" I'm a failure" and how I feel inside my body.
         I need help, and as a believer in Jesus, my Lord and Savior, the only help that will be lasting is to admit the defeat of my own self efforts and learn to call upon the name of Jesus.  I need help and encouragement to make the lasting changes that I need to eat healthy, exercise - which I already do when there is a water aerobics class at the gym, and maintain a healthy weight for me.  I need the support of a community of believers to finally DO this!  That's why I've joined an on-line bible study.  I've read Lisa book and am doing the devotional, but I have gone on carb binges 2 times this week when I turned to food instead of my Savior.  So Jesus, I want you to walk with me and be my companion as I turn this area of sin - gluttony is sin - over to you.  Help me, Jesus, to lay this down once and for all!

Under the weather

Hi, there bloggers!  I have not dropped off the face of the planet.  I have come down with the flu.  I have so many ideas for cards to do and not enough strength or energy to do it.  I hope to be back on track towards the end of the week.  Please stay on the look out for more goodness and inklings later!  And pray that the Tamiflu works for me to shorten the duration of this awful mess and for my dear husband not come down  with even though the Tamiflu he is taking is supposed to do that!

Many Blessings to All!
Donna

Sweetest Gift

 

           Hi, there bloggers!  This is my first post of 2014.  I’m off to a slow start.  I think the Christmas Holidays took all of my mojo!  It took a mojo to get me back in the swing of things.  Since I was in need of a baby shower card for my lovely step-daughter that I helped to raise, I decided to go with blue since we are welcoming next month a cute little boy to be named Mason.  I used the MOJO327 sketch and will be posting this card there as well as the Verve's January 2014 Diva Dare - Smitten and Verve's January Diva Inspirations Hop - Shimmer & Shine! Don't you love Shimmer & Shine and Smitten?

·       Stamp set(s):  Stampin’ Up – Sweetest Gift; Verve – Surely Goodness; Our Daily Bread Designs – Gingham Background

·       Ink(s):  Stampin' Up! - Marina Mist 

·       Paper:  Stampin’ Up – Marina Mist & Whisper White CS; the Paper Studio – Solid Glitter Light Blue

·       Dies & Embossing folders:  Spellbinders – Classic Rectangles Large  

·       Embellishments/Other things of note:  Fiskars – Heart Punches

I didn’t have any baby shower type of paper so I decided to make my own.  I stamped off the cute little stork from the Sweetest Gift SS to get the two colors of storks and then stamped the ODBD Gingham Background.  Gingham is so perfect in blue this time for a soft baby look.  I was looking for a scripture stamp to use for the focal of this card and choose this particular one.  What a special scripture to pray over the soon to be mother of three and her newborn baby.  We all need the Lord’s goodness and mercy to follow us all the days of our lives.

I want to wish all of my readers a very “Happy New Year” and pray the Lord’s blessings over you and your family.  I hope that this year is a truly crafty year for you and may you get inspiration for a wonderful year of raising spirits and creating and maintaining memories for you and your family!

Many Blessings,

Donna