Hope You Perk Up

Last weekend I went to a Stamp & Scrap Expo in my area with my best crafting buddy.  It was the first time I had gone to one of these and I had a great time!  I came back with a lot of new toys including the Technique Junkie stamp featured on this card.  

This stamp is a new addition to my coffee-themed stamp collection, which is still growing.  I first stamped the cute little owl with Versafine and stamped it again with Versamark in my MISTI, then heat embossed it with clear embossing powder.  I colored her with  Altenew Watercolors that I also got at the Expo.  I struggle with water coloring but these Altenew colors blended so easily.  Next, I die-cut the image with Nestabilities and mounted it on DP.  I accented with Nuvo Crystal dots and roughly traced around the DP with Early Espresso marker.  The sketch is from the Coffee Loving Cardmakers blog.

Recipe:

Stamps: Perk Up Soon - Technique Junkies

Paper: Strathmore Watercolor paper, Delightful Dijon, Early Espresso, DP

Ink:  Versafine Black, Versamark

Accessories:  Clear EP, Nestabilities, Early Espresso Marker, Waterbrush, Altenew Watercolors, Nuvo Crystal Drops

Lotus Blossom Birthday

Hi Everyone!  I'm getting more settled into my new home and crafting space.  One of my dear friends celebrated a birthday recently and this is the card I made for her.  I CASE'd it from this card I saw on Pinterest.  I changed it up a little with the bow, sentiment, and addition of a gem.  I love this design and will be using it again to make thank you cards in different colors.  

Recipe:

Stamps: Lotus Blossom - SU, Birthday Suprise -Verve

Paper:  Blushing Bride, WW

Ink:  Blushing Bride, Rose Red, Blackberry Bliss, Garden Green, Gumball Green

Accessories:  MISTI, Ribbon, Bowdabra, Gem

Great is the Lord's Faithfulness

Hi Everyone, I'm back!  My last post in March I was jobless and homeless, and in a really tough spot. About a week after that post I found a new job and was fast-tracked by the HR department to start in a few days. A couple weeks after that I was offered an even better job that allowed me to go to settlement on my new home.  God provided for me in that time of great need and surrounded me with friends who encouraged and helped me. 

I have been in my home for a little over 3 months now and have pretty much settled in.  My new craft space is set up enough for me to make cards again.  This past weekend I had a crafting open house for my friends to just drop in and get their fingers inky.  This card was one of the make and takes I demonstrated.  I chose the sentiment from Verve's New Mercies set.  It is true that God's mercies for us are new everyday and He is faithful to keep His promises to us.  Even with the trials I went through early this year, God never abandoned me.  He provided for all my needs and still is. God's love, grace, and mercy are unfailing!

Recipe:
Stamps:  Vintage Leaves - SU, New Mercies - Verve
Paper:  Georgia Pacific White CS, Gumball Green, Close to Cocoa
Ink: Fossilized Amber, Mowed Lawn, Brushed Corduroy, - TH Distress Inks; Tangerine Tango - SU; Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Dies, MISTI

The Lord is My Helper

I haven't posted a card in several months.  A few events have kept me too busy to make cards.  In fact, I didn't even get to make Christmas cards.  I took an online class in August and September.   Then I was offered what I thought was a new and exciting opportunity at work.  I also started the process to purchase a new home.  The opportunity at work was a disaster and I ended up losing my job.  I have been looking for a new job since but I haven't been hired anywhere yet.  I am supposed to settle on the new home in April but that is dependent on if I can find employment in the next couple of weeks.  In preparation for purchasing a home, I gave the notice to vacate my apartment a couple months before I lost my job.  The leasing office found new renters in less than a month, so I had to leave by the date I had indicated on the intent to vacate notice.  Oh, and I started a relationship with a guy in the fall, but he decided to end it about a week after I lost my job.  

When people ask me how I am dealing with all of this, my response has often been from Job 1:21 "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”  I'm not bitter about it, as it is true that everything I have (or had) really belongs to God and is used for His purpose.  Through this time of difficulty, I believe my relationship with God has grown stronger as He is providing for everything that I need.  A very good friend has taken me into her home and is letting me stay for as long as I need to find a new job.  Other friends have treated me to meals and other outings.  I have some money in savings to pay some bills and other needs.  I was able to refill all of my prescriptions for the next few months using my FSA and did not have to pay out of pocket.  The loan officer for the new home is a believer and praying for me to find a new job soon.  She is giving me more time to find a job so I can still get the house. 

I do not understand why all of this is happening to me, but I know that God is carrying me through this.  He is my helper and is always faithful to care for His children.  This card uses verses from Psalm 121.  I wish I had a stamp that had the entire chapter as it is one of the many reminders that God is always with me and never fails to help me.

Psalm 121

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

2 My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot be moved;

He who keeps you will not slumber.

4 Behold, He who keeps Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper;

the Lord is your shade on your right hand.

6 The sun shall not strike you by day,

nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;

He will keep your life.

8 The Lord will keep

your going out and your coming in

from this time forth and forevermore.

Recipe:

Stamps:  Psalm 121:1-2 - ODBD

Paper:  WW, Bermuda Bay, Raspberry Ripple

Ink:  Tuxedo Black - Memento, Distressed Cracked Pistachio, Distressed Mermaid Lagoon, Distressed Seedless Preserves - TH

Accessories:  Brother Scan n Cut, Butterfly Embossing Folder, Butterfly Embossilits, TH Blending Tool, MISTI, Sequins