The love of cards!

I just love making cards, they are a quick and gratifying.

I love that it only takes a short while and I feel like I have released some of my creativity,

plus the best part is it will bless someone!

When I give cards I want that person to feel like they are special to me.

I have been making journal pages and that is very rewarding but

I don't always have the time that it takes.

Supplies used for this card:

Card stock: Rich Razzelberry, whisper white, Floral District

Tools: Big shot, polka dot embossing folder, beautiful butterflies dies

Stamp sets: Happiest birthday wishes, papillion Potpourri

Accessories: Rhinestones, buttons, daffodil delight ribbon



 

WOYWW #203

Last week was my first time to participate in WOYWW and it was so much fun, so I think I am hooked.  I loved looking at every ones work desk, it took all week but that was the fun of it.

Today I am only working on my journal.

I want to do a large canvas for over our couch in the living room

 so I thought I would try a smaller version in my art journal.

I like how she turned out but I am having a problem with the ink sprays bleeding through.

Her dress is white but after 30 minutes it started turning pink

 for this page it actually looks better pink but I would like to figure out how to stop it.

I sprayed the background with red and dark brown then I squirted some gold refill randomly

and then splattered alcohol. 

Then I sealed it with a spray sealer, then clear Gesso and it still bled through.

If anyone has any ideas please share, Thanks!!

 

I have shared this before but I will share again, I love to dance in worship.

There is no greater joy for me than when I feel connected to the Lord.

I feel real, even exposed because what I feel on the inside, in my soul,

gets released in expressive worship.

Everyone, be blessed this week and I look forward to seeing whats on your desk this Wednesday!

If you want to join the fun go over to,

What's on your workdesk Wednesday 

 

It is well...

This journal entry is inspired by our long Saskatchewan winter, just yesterday it was snowing.

I don't tend to get depressed by the weather but I know lots who do.

My area of weakness is worry!

Worry about money, kids, health, on and on.

I am better than I used to be, simply because if I am not careful, I break out in hives.

The thing that I have found that helps me is worship.

We have an example of this in the bible, David was always singing to lift his spirits.

 

"Why, my soul, are you downcast?

Why so disturbed within me?

 Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."

Psalm 42:11

 

The girl is painted on the Hymn, it is well with my soul.

As I was painting this page my 15 year was going around the kitchen singing, "it is well...."

So this page was worth it, you got to love when your teens sing old hymns, lol!

 

On a pratical note, I am having problems with my spray inks bleeding through the paint even though I have been spraying it with a sealer before I paint.

Does anyone know what I can do so this doesn't happen anymore?

 

 

Awaken the Dawn!

I haven't ever done this kind of card before.

It is my friends birthday in a couple of days and this is the scripture the Lord gave me for her

and I thought I would give the watercolors a try.

Normally I use the watercolors to color in a stamped image, so this is new.

It is a very simplistic watercolor which is what I wanted.

I really wanted the words to stand out.

For this card I used Watercolor paper and SU's watercolor crayons.

I did the lettering with Black paint and a script liner brush.

You need to seal watercolors with a good spray sealer, I use Kraylon matte finish.

 

Playing with ink sprays!

This journal page was quick and easy, when you spray the background it goes really fast!

In this picture I am spraying the page with SU ink refill mixed with water.  I bought these awesome empty spray bottles from Stampin Up.  They were 2 for $3.95, good deal, I want to get at least 4 more.  What I like is you can make as much or as little as you want for your project.  And if you are like me I have all the ink refills, so there are endless color possibilities.

As you can see in the above pictures, I first sprayed the background, randomly with three colors, pacific point, melon mambo, daffodil delight.  Then I took my paint brush and dropped alcohol to blend the colors and create a neat background.

Before I did any painting I sprayed the background with a sealer but I think I should of let it dry a bit longer because I found that the background still bled through.

 

I love Butterflies! 

They are symbolic of Freedom and rebirth.

To me, they speak of living a life that is led by the spirit.

To go where ever the Spirit leads blessing everyone, where ever we go.

They also speak to me of rebirth, we are a new creation in Christ Jesus, the old has passed away behold the new has come!

Be Strong and Courageous, arise and let the Spirit of the Lord carry you where ever He desires!

DIY Ink Sprays!

I got a Stampin Up' parcel yesterday and I have been chomping at the bit wanting to play!

I have been sick in bed for the last 2 days, with a pulled rib but I was able to make a few cards this afternoon.

I ordered the empty spritz bottles from Stampin Up.

All you do is add water or alcohol and some ink refill, shake and spray, that easy!

I didn't add much water or color because I will be changing the colors so I didn't want to waste it.

I tried spraying all different ways but I thought the ink running down worked the best for this stamp.

For all of the cards, I used paper towel to hold up the card and sprayed it so the ink would run down.

I am just now thinking my Spray box would have worked perfect, oh well!

For this one I used the polka dot embossing folder and the eyelet edge punch.

I also used the daffodil ribbon.

I used Glossy white cardstock for this card.

The pink Dollie in the background is from a paper pack that I got on the clearance rack.

Also, I finally broke down and bought the clear blocks and this hostess set is my first clear mount set and I loved it!!  I don't know why I waited so long.

 

 

 

 

WOYWW #202

 

This is my first time to do What's On Your Workdesk. 

I never think of it on Tuesday and by the time I have my work space all dirty it is late Wed.

So this is what I am up to on the table; my desk is not big enough.

 

And this is what's on my desk.  I am making bath bombs for my friend for her birthday. 

 I did Lavender and Green tea scent.

For my journal page, I found these wings at a thrift shop; love them!

 

There is so much sadness, I have been thinking of the families, affected by the bombings in Boston!

Praying that the Lord would cover them in the shelter of His wings.

Everywhere I look there is sadness and the safest place to be is under His covering!

I don't like storms in my life, who does, but I love that it draws me to the Lord!

I can't even fathom the pain and heartache, in Boston.

I do know that there is One who will give comfort!

 

Live as Children of Light

 

I really had in my heart to do something about being transparent.

Letting others see all the beautiful things, that God has put in us.

Then I saw this scripture and felt it fit what was in my heart.

When you live as children of light, you are letting all those things shine through.

To be able to live in such a way that you are not hiding things about yourself.

To be filled with so much light that you don't mind being transparent.

I love to dance before the Lord and there are moments that I get so lost in worship. 

I am not thinking about whether or not I look stupid or if I am offending someone

(basically I stop thinking about myself).

I just want to respond to the lover of my soul;

there is nothing in this world that compares to the joy of that moment.

I would love to get to a place in my spiritual walk that I am always filled with light.

Always ready to respond.

When you live as children of light, the darkness is dispelled, in you and in others!

 

This was the quickest journal entry yet but lots of fun.

I took my silk painting dyes and put them in a spray bottle and just sprayed randomly.

I then took some paper towel and soaked up the extra dye.

Pretty basic today!

Thanks for stopping by!!

The mind controlled by the ....

The trick to doing faces, is to pick someone without wrinkles, lol!

This face was much easier, then my own, it took a 1/8 of the time.

These journal pages really do something inside me; very healing!

I need to be controlled by the Spirit, not by my emotions.

I had a few days this week that were some what stressful.

I don't know if the two things are connected or not

but my stomach has been so sore day and night for 3 days. 

Stress is so hard on your body and I know that but in the middle of the storm how do we not worry?

So begins the quest, to get to the place, where I am Controlled by God's spirit!

To be like Jesus on the boat, in the middle of the storm, asleep, perfectly at peace.

For this layout I first Mod Podged, some designer paper.

 Then I painted a watered down ivory over the paper, I used paper towel to soak up the extra paint.

Then I painted the face right on the page.

Then I stamped randomly, using Staz On, Timber Brown!

I painted the chip board, them rubbed some of my gold oil stick on it (because it is oil, it is best to use the oil stick at the end because acrylic paint won;t stick to the oil and your paint could peel)

The pearls on the girl, are half pearls from Stampin Up.

 

Thanks for stopping by, leave me a comment!

 

Arise and Shine, your light has come!

 

There is a story with this!  First of all this is me, yikes.

Next time I am going to use a better subject!

Not quite the same but I am pretty proud.  I have never painted a real face before.

It is a lot harder than fake faces!

I can't believe that I am putting a picture of me on here, with no make up.

All to prove that the girl is a fairly good depiction of me!

I did the eyes a bit too big but how do you correct that without redoing everything?

This is just the beginning, I will get better!

I prepped the pages with Gesso and let it dry.  Then I covered, Winnie the Pooh with a light Ivory paint.  Then I had a brain wave. 

I thought, "I wonder if I could use my fabric dyes"?  Then I got giddy because I have Lots of, silk painting supplies!  It was like fireworks going off in my head and I giggled out loud, yes I did.  If anyone would have walked in on me, they would have thought, "she has lost her mind"!

I took an eye dropper and just started dropping dyes, here and there.



Then I took a paint brush and swirled the dye.  I pretty much just had fun and giggled lots.  Then I found out that, I could put the dye in a spray bottle and Spray.....So exciting!!

 Here is the beginning of the face.  I painted right on a bible page, next time I will just paint right on the journal.  Aren't you all proud of me I took lots of pictures!

I have been art Journaling for one week and what a week it has been.
  Normally my cards are all alike and when I did folk art,
 it was all very similar in style but looking over my journal every day is so different.
 I really feel I am coming out of my box, hence this journal page.

All the swirls and splotches are like fireworks, "Look out world, here I come"!

Nothing is going to hold me back anymore,
 I am free, empowered, more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus, Whoop! 

It is time to arise and shine for our light has come!!!

 

I get soooo excited when someone leaves a comment, so take a minute and tell me what you think.

Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

I

There is Hope!

Today was a grumpy day for me!

Maybe grumpy is the wrong word, I was stressed!

Doing this journal page helped refocus me!

When we moved, to our home 8 months ago, the Lord told us that our house would be a

 house of Hope!

In the natural things aren't very hopeful and sometimes I find things overwhelming;

today was one of those days!

I was praying the whole time I worked on this page and I could feel some hope rising!

Then I got a not so good phone call...but faith is believing when we don't see, right?

So I will Hope and believe for Hope for each one in my house!

For this page I prepped it with Gesso, then I Mod Podged, bible pages.

Then I smeared a tan color paint, then a light green.

I mixed some bronze paint in with the medium paste, then I used a palette knife and a stencil.

While the medium was still slightly wet I dabbed some blue pearl ex,

I also used my Versa marker in random places and then put on pearl ex.

Pearl Ex needs to be used with something sticky, or it won't stick.

I haven't used my pearl ex in years, I will be using them much more often now; love!

One thing that I learned and won't be doing again is using markers.

I used my SU marker and the spritzer and sprayed the page randomly but

when I put the Mod Podge on, the spritz all smeared and looked dumb!

So then I had to do other things to cover up that, hence the white bubbles!

Does anyone know how to get around this?

Resist technique!

I thought it was time to do some cards!

I still need to journal today because I am GRUMPY, oh my!!

Journaling seems to bring me peace but I am not even sure if I can go there today!

I do have reasons to be grumpy but I won't go into all the details but

those that have teenagers probably understand.

Lets just say I am counting down the days, lol!

I really don't get the parents that are all sad when their kids leave home;

it is a time to celebrate!!

The best part of parenting is the grand kids!

My grandson is sooooooo sweet and when he does something wrong it just makes me laugh!

Here he is in his Easter Outfit; isn't he the sweetest thing ever?

Okay I am feeling less grumpy now.

Back to the cards:

For these cards I stamped the image with Versa Mark,

then embossed the image with clear embossing powder.

Then I just smeared color, until I had the look I liked.

In this card I used Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight and Old Olive.

In the other two cards I used Tangerine Tango and Pumpkin Pie.

I also sprayed the card with, Gold Smooch Spritz.

 

 

Rooted and Established in Love!

I really have to work on painting people, yikes!

This is just my art journal, if it was on a canvas I might of redone her!

This is one of my favorite scripture, I love the whole passage!

For the background I used actual bible pages.

Then I smeared blue and green.

The hearts and butterfly, were made by, mixing paint with modeling paste.

The flowers are made, by twisting up tisue paper, at the same time, I gobbed mod podge, in with it.

 

They loved the darkness!

 

 

This is waaaay different then I have ever painted but it really felt it was from God!

I have been so sad for some teens in my life and I think and sometimes say,

"there is a better way!  You can have an amazing life filled with joy",

but they choose the darkness!

So many sad stories, some in my own home but there is a hope, there is a light!

When I was a teen, I also choose the darkness, why do we do that!

Not all do, thank goodness, but my heart breaks for those that do!

I have heard many people say that they think God is hateful, or that there are so many rules.

The truth of it is, when we make bad choices, he weeps for us.

Not because we aren't doing what he wants but because he wants to be close to us!

Each one of us is created with a hole, that can only be filled with a right relationship with Jesus!

When my 17 year old ran away from home, my heart longed for him!

I thought of how God's heart longs for His children to be close to him!

I wasn't mad about the choices my son was making, okay maybe a little mad!

I was broken because of the distance between us.

Sin does that, it separates us from God!

God doesn't ever leave us but we leave Him!

Just like in the beginning, Adam and Eve, hid from God because of their sin.

 

Well, this was a happy post wasn't it!

Maybe tomorrow will be happier!

Please share your story of coming out of darkness into the light,

or if you are still in the darkness, share that as well, I would love to talk with you!

 



Clothe yourselves with....

I can already tell that this won't be an everyday thing!

This page took me 4 hours to complete but this scripture is now in my heart and mind!

I was thinking this would be a good layout to put on a canvas.

I would hang it in my room and remember that these virtues are more important to put on, then clothes!

How often do we think of putting on compassion?

But there are so many people that need our compassion!

There is a hurting world out there!

I want to be clothed in these virtues and meet some of the needs that cross my path.

The most important, to recognize, when they cross my path.

I guess that's where compassion comes in!

I am so far from there...but today I will make an effort to be clothed differently!

 

Thanks for stopping by, leave me a comment!

First Journal Entry!

I LOVE journaling scripture!!

This passage of scripture has now come alive for me!

In the past I have always thought of this scripture in conjunction with freedom in the church

but that is only part of our freedom.

I love the message version,

"So we are transfigured much like the Messiah,

our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful,

as God enters our lives and we become like him".

Isn't that awesome!

The person on this journal page is me. 

My daughter said, "that doesn't look like you it looks like Jesus"!

Which is exactly what the scripture, is talking about!

So, I am like, "Awesome"!!

I did not take any before pictures, sorry!

I just get so immersed in what I am doing, I forget everything else!

I love how this turned out, I am just sad that it isn't on a canvas!

 

My Journal Book!

My Art Journal, I am a little excited!!

I have been looking on pinterest at art journals and just didn't know where to start!

Then I came across Erin Leigh! 

She takes old books and recycles them into art journals, wow, right!

Here is my start.

 

I got this book from our local Thrift store for .50 cents, the funny thing is,

when we moved, this was one of the books that I took there.

First thing I did was cover the books with Gesso,

this is suppose to dry for 24 hours but who can wait that long?

I missed a few steps, for taking pictures, I just got so into the process!

One of the things I love, is that I get to use all my old scraps of paper!

If you go on the link above, Erin has done an amazing job, on her tutorial!

After I Mod Podged, scrap paper onto the book cover, I randomly painted.

I just put globs of paint on the book and smeared it with my fingers.

I also took, paper towel and blotted the paint, to soak up the extra paint!

 

 

then I doodled with a permanent marker.

What I want to share is, what God spoke to me through this process;

I am hardly ever still!

As I was thinking about this scripture and creating my journal cover,

I realised that I was peaceful, still on the inside.

So being still is more about our spirit being at peace, being content!

Not worrying or striving in our own strength but trusting in the Lord!

I find when I am creating all I think about is what I am doing and that is my most,

 "Still", moments in my day!

I have a feeling, I am going to love this art journal, journey!

 

Thank you for stopping by, please leave a comment.

 

 

Card using Retiring colors!

I love using the modeling paste!  Sorry for not taking pictures during the process but I was having too much fun to stop.  I will take pictures on future cards, I promise!  For this card I used 2 of the retiring colors, Bashful Blue and Certainly Celery.  Also, you will notice that the Paste in the corner is blue, to do this, I mixed some Bashful Blue ink refill, in with the paste, before I put it on the card.  Yesterday I spent a lot of money at Micheals, on Stencils and then today I didn't even use them.  I made the stencil using a piece of card stock and the Dollie Sizzlet.  I also just used my palate knife and smeared some paste around randomly.  I am very excited to incorporate the sewing machine into this card, I am usually too lazy to get it out!

Spring Card!

 

I have been playing around this morning with some of my treasures, from my recent shopping trip!  I made a stencil, out of a window sheet and my crop-a-dile.  I then smeared, Modeling Paste, on the stencil, then viola, a new kind of texture!  I also smeared, the Modeling Paste, randomly.  Another tool that I used, was the Color Spritzer, with the Soft Suede marker.

I had to use one of the colors that are being discontinued, Certainly Celery, it has been around for as long as I can remember.  

Spring Craze!!

Spring is always fun with Stampin Up, new products, good sales on old products!  First of all from April 6-8 Stampin Up is offering

Wow,right!  Also

So you can take advantage of the free shipping and you can stock up on the discontinued colors!  Also, Water Color crayons and watercolor pencils will be discontinued; due to a manufacture problem.  So we have Free shipping, discontinued product, plus new product,

I am very excited about this product!  I love the new, creative way people are journaling.  It is like scrapbooking but also a journal, a little more personal to you.  I love Love it!  If you buy the bundle before April 30, you get 15% off; good deal!  This product will be available after that but not at a discount.  Also another favorite thing of mine, you have probably already noticed, Butterflies! 

This is the April, Best of 25 years, Stamp set!  The set is $17.95, only comes in clear mount.  To take advantage of any of these deals, click the, Shop Now button on the side, this will take you to my SU site, them click shop now again and there you go, happy shopping!





So proud of my girl!!



My 15 year old, ask me to paint a ocean theme canvas for her.  Much to my delight she decided to do it herself.  Isn't this first attempt at any kind of painting, AMAZING!!  And she said she wasn't creative, my foot!