Expressing Thanks

Even though I have become a very grateful person and preach about having an attitude of gratitude,  I still fall short expressing thanks and gratitude to individuals.  It is so nice to have someone say "thank you".  It helps debunk some of those insecure feelings, gives me a shot of reality that someone noticed me and some of my behind the scenes work, that I really do have some significance.  I know that others must feel the same.  So,  I am getting better about sending thank you cards.  Here is one I made to let a person know how much I appreciate her unselfish acts of kindness.

I used the sketch at Stamplorations:

I used my new Stamploration stencil.
After inking a portion of the stencil with Tim Holtz Distress Oxide inks, I stamped and heat embossed the sentiment. Everything good so far and then a smudge from the dark pigment embossing powder - ugh.  Thus the splatters. I thought that was a better option than starting over. 

Challenges:
Stamploration theme and/or sketch 
Stamploration CAS 

Stamploration Anything Goes

 Stamploration  Giving Thanks Blog Hop

A Five Year Anniversary

Not my wedding anniversary ( that will be 50 years in March)  but five years ago today that I had open heart surgery.   I've shared before and I'm sure I will share again how grateful I am that the Lord not only spared my life but how He showed His love and His amazing Sovereignty that week.  I was sent next door to the hospital after a consultation with a Cardiologist that Monday morning and scheduled for the first surgery the next morning.  I was very upset.  I didn't know how we would pay for the angiogram let alone an open heart surgery.  I cried to the Lord, not understanding why He would not prevent this for 10 more days when we would have full insurance coverage.  You know from previous posts that Psalms 34 is one of my favorite passages in the Bible. Example November 8 post. 
But some of the other verses in that Psalm are verses 17 and 18 "The righteous cry and the Lord hears and delivers them out of their troubles. The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."  Well my (physical) heart was definitely broken and I was very discouraged.
But after tears and prayer and more tears, I finally gave it up to the Lord.  "Lord, even if it means that we have to sell our house to pay for this, You know and You will take care of us.  'I will praise You no matter what happens and I will constantly speak of Your glories and Your grace.' "
After my surgery, my husband went home to pick up the mail and feed the dogs.  In the mail was a letter explaining Cobra Insurance.  Bottom line is we could self pay our back 3 months of insurance (Sept, Oct., November) even though it was November 20.  Our insurance covered over $150,000.00 of my surgery and hospital stay !   God knew all along.  Why do I doubt His goodness ever?
I know some of you don't believe in God, our Creator and Sovereign Lord.  I know some of you have big questions like why He does wonders for some and not for others.  I don't know all the answers but I do know that He loves each one of you. 

Ironic

Isn't it funny that we draw and use so many drawings of mice when most of us hate the little critters in real life. (my apologies to those of you who have pet mice) They are dirty, disease ridden little rodents that do thousands of dollars worth of damage to our homes and cars.  But we continue to draw them and use them and love them on our cards.  This drawing is a great example - so cute.

Sketch used:

The digital stamp is by DigiDesigns.  You've got to admit, they are cute.  They are colored with Copics and Prisma pencils.  Rectangle is a Die-namics Stitched Rectangle.
Snowflake is cut with my Silhouette.
Sentiment banner is hand cut.
Card base and backing to sentiment is Stampin Up Blue Bayou (sorry it looks black in photo)

Challenges:
MFT - sketch
Crop Stop - anything
2 Critter Crazies - anything with a critter
7 Kids College Fund - anything
Simon Wednesday - furry friends (?)
Dies R Us - anything with snow
Cardz TV - anything

Poinsettia and Pain

It is that time of year when I am torn between Thanksgiving cards and Christmas cards. But both need to be made so today I am posting a Christmas card.
I love poinsettias.  I have one plant that is 5 years old and has bloomed twice - just not close to Christmas.  Oh well, I'm excited each time it does.
The Elizabeth Crafts Design Poinsettia dies are some of my favorite.  I really enjoy working with each petal and creating this dimensional flower but with the chronic pain in my thumb, by the time I was done making it, I was not enjoying it so much.  (I do love how it turned out though)

I used the sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketch:

As if I was not uncomfortable enough after making the flower, I punched out the green border (ouch!) then made the unwise decision to do some piercing in the corner (ouch again!)
I iced my hand several time yesterday evening so at least I am able to type this morning.  I think the next card I made better be CAS, maybe one layer!

Challenges:
Tuesday Morning Sketches
Scrapyland - anything with dies
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Crop Stop - anything
7 Kids College Fund - anything

Thanksgiving Card

Thanksgiving Day is just a week away.  I realized that yesterday evening so I made a card that I want to send to our best friends.  It should get there by next week. (crossing fingers)
I really liked the sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketch so that is what I used to make this.

The cluster of leaves are Spellbinder dies that I cut, embossed, and inked.  The fern like cuts are Elizabeth Craft Design dies.
Stamped leaf in upper right corner is Stampin' Up.
Border cut is an ek punch.

Challenges:
Die Cuttin Divas - thanks
Tuesday Morning Sketch
All Sorts - colors of Autumn
Scrapyland - anything
Die Cut Divas - thankful
Crop Stop - anything
Joy Clair - photo inspiration
7 Kids College Fund - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
Words 2 Craft By - abundance
I am also entering this card in the Stamploration Thanksgiving Blop Hop and Wish List Linky Party 
Here is my wish list

Poinsettia Christmas Tag

Glitter is my least favorite craft medium.  If I ever use it, then I find it on my clothes, on my skin, in my food, on my carpets. During this past weekend some of the grands and I put together some boxes for Operation Christmas Child  then made Christmas tree ornaments and cut out cookies.  You guessed it - some of the glitter for the ornaments found its way into our cookies!
So with my dislike of glitter, I was quite upset that some beautiful sparkly ribbon I just purchased had the same evil habit as that of loose glitter. It looks so pretty and innocent until you touch it.  This may be the only tag I use the ribbon on!

I love the Elizabeth Crafts Designs Poinsettia die set and wanted to make a few more tags with it.  Erum Tasneem's tag for the 25 Days of Christmas Tags inspired me to add some sequins and unfortunately (!) some sparkly ribbon.

BTW - here is a pic of one of the Christmas Ornaments we made.   Fun and easy.

Scrapyland - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
7 Kids College Fund - anything
25 Days of Christmas Tags

Snow People

With all the political correctness and the new thinking about gender, do we have to say Snow People instead of Snowmen?  I sure hope not.   I, for one, will not cave -  these are snowmen! 

Musical embossing folder is by Darice.  Musical note is a die cut using a Cuttlebug die.  The snowflakes on the Copic colored digital stamped image are cut with a Birch Press die.  Circles - Die-namics Circle Stax.
Sketch is MFT:

 Challenges:
Simon Wednesday - snow
Word Art Wednesday - anything
7 Kids College Fund - anything
Crop Stop - anything
Send a Smile 4 Kids - holidays
Cardz TV - anything

Continual Thanks

The definition of bless: express or feel gratitude to; thank
The definition of praise: the act of expressing approval or admiration; commendation; laudation. the offering of grateful homage in words or song, as an act of worship.
I am so excited to use my new stamp from Stamploration.  I was one of the winners last month and knew which stamp I would choose if I won - one of the new Typografia in Faith stamps, Bless The Lord.
This verse from Psalms 34 is a favorite of mine. The whole psalm helped me get through some difficult times in my life (more than once). I memorized it in a modern translation: "I will bless the Lord no matter what happens.  I will constantly speak of His glories and grace."

Even though our weather turned cold, I gave this card an Autumn background and die cuts. (Autumn is my favorite time and I am NOT willing to give up on it yet!)

After choosing the background paper, I stamped the verse in brown then stamped 'at all times' again in Rust so I could fussy cut it and adhere it over the original brown.
The oval cuts are Spellbinder.  The silhouette cuts are Tim Holtz Alterations by Sizzix.
Bow is brown twine.   Card base is the same Dark Chocolate cardstock by Gina K that I used to cut out the silhouette shapes.
I'm not willing to send this card to anyone just yet.  Right now I have it on an easel on my desk -  a visual reminder to be grateful, to be constantly aware of God's goodness.

Challenges:
Simon Monday - thankful
Scrapyland - anything
Cut It Up - thank you
7 Kids - anything
Double D - feeling fallish
Dies R Us - Fall
Die Cut Divas - thankful
Joy Clair - photo inspiration
Stamploration Never ending challenge

Snow Family

Snow on the ground and 40 mph winds - yep, it feels like winter!

Another cute digi stamp by Dearie Dolls colored with Copics and bordered with a frame cut out with a Spellbinder Labels One die. Snow flake is Cuttlebug.

MFT sketch:

Other Challenges:
Crop Stop - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
7 Kids - anything
CardzTV - anything 

Early Winter?

When I posted my winter card yesterday, I really thought I was working out of season but we had snow and 50 mph Northeast winds yesterday afternoon.  How can the temperature go from 68 at 4pm on Monday to 34 at 4pm on Thursday?  I AM NOT READY FOR WINTER!
As long as we are talking about snow (way too early for this part of the nation), here is a gift tag with a snow flake.

I love these beautiful snowflakes by Birch Press.  The sentiment is Verve. My tag is similar to Carol Mayne's tag with the scallop edge; mine being cut with decorative scissors (although I love her tag die cut.)

Challenges:
25 Days of Christmas Tags 
Simon Wednesday - gift tag
CardzTV - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything

Littlest Tree

It is a good thing I took photos when I did because after a few days of rain and wind, some of the trees are bare.  Because I love Autumn so much and because Thanksgiving is in three weeks, I will make a few more Autumn cards but because I am trying to get a package of cards ready for the Caring Hearts Card drive, I have been focused on Christmas the past few days.
Here is one made with a Dearie Doll digital stamp and the MFT sketch for this week.

The image is colored with Copics.  Red frame and sentiment (Stampin'Up) is cut with MFT Stitched Rectangle Stax dies.  The mitten designer paper is Echo Park.

Challenges:
MFT sketch
Scrapyland - anything
Word Art Wednesday - anything
7 Kids - anything
Joy Clair - anything
Cardz TV - anything