SSCC 19 Happy New Year!!!

Blessed Sunday everyone,  I trust that your Christmas was a joyous one.   We had ours a little early and so Christmas day was rather uneventful yet joyous just the same. 
Today our challenge is from, Lisa, one our challenge coordinator at SSCC.  This is one busy and mega talented lady and has based our challenge today on...

Psalm 25:4-5

"Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior and my hope is in you all day long."

What a great verse to start the year and to use as a year long challenge.   I'm wondering how different I would be after a year of learning and applying more Truth.  Lisa's craft challenge this week is to create a New Year's Card.  She has asked that as we embark on the new year, let all of our resolutions include focusing on God's word and teachings and following the path He has laid for us.  As this resolution goes I am off to a great start as my Christmas present from my DD and her DH is several Precept Upon Precept Bible studies. I received so many that I may (most likely) not be able to finish this year.....but a great challenge any way!   As hobby resolutions go I would like to post nearly every day.  Short and sweet but just to stay in touch with my creative side.  We will see how far this one goes as it is a big bite.
My card today is made with a present from Regina Easter, owner of The Cutting Cafe, and donor of this week's challenge prize.  She so gererously sent the DT several images for us to use with this challenge.  This is my first digi endeavor and I didn't take the time to learn how to resize them....SO.....I used them right out of the "wrapper" and was able to incorporate 3 in this card alone!!  Two of the images I used are as is and the third I used my Copics to add color around the border so that it would transition into the flower a little better.   Thank you Regina!

Note to self- get studio printer reloaded onto laptop so that I have all technical "things" on one floor....using colored paper would have enhanced the use of these images.

Can you tell I am in a my "Bright" phase?    I've taken notice of my stampin' sisters as their cards seem to pack a punch of color so I am s-t-r-e-t-c-h-ing my paper color world to include more brights.  I also stepped back in time with this one and pulled out my Coluzzle to make the half circle from a new (to me) DCWV paper pad called Music.  The papers are vibrant, glittery, and thoughts of New Year's parties came to mind as I searched of papers to use today.   With all the Christmas activity I had a hard time sketching this card but email presents came to the rescue again  The Little Paper Shop sent out a link of their 24 sketches of the year.  You can find it here.  It really helped with the mind mush.


Today's Blessing: 
1.  DD is arriving again tomorrow to pick up her DD, dear doggie, before she heads back home.  I will have seen her 3 times in 2 months.  YEAH!!!  Blessings upon Blessings
2.  I still have one more Christmas to go!   YEAH!!! DH and I along with  DS's family will have Christmas at their house later.  Grandkids and presents .....way too much fun!!! 

Thanks for stoping by, may you have a wonderful and safe new year,

Randi

Recipe:
Stamps:  The Cutting Cafe
Paper:  DCWV-Music, SU
Ink:  Copics
Embellishments:   Flowers-Imaginisce
Tools: Coluzzle
Sketch:  The Little Paper Shop

Luke 1:26-32 and Other Great News

Good Morning, SSCC followers!!! This is the last Sunday before Christmas and what a busy and blessed week this is for all of us.  Before I begin the SSCC challenge I have to share my good fortune.  I have been asked to be a January Guest Design Team Member for Christain Paper Crafts.

This wonderful site works much like SCS, but is faith based.  I love to visit  here because it not only provides challenges, tips, general stamping/scrapbooking talk, but also provides a place for bible study, and sharing of prayer requests, all in a supportive and fun atmosphere with ladies that seek to give glory to God.  Stop by and take a tour. You will love it.

Also Kristine, a fellow SSCC teammate, alerted all of the DT to a (new to me) digi stamp shop called Designed 2Delight . The owner, Faith, has a stamp that is made just for fellow SSC challengers.   I don't think that it was made just for us but it fits so well that it just seems that way.  Check it out here!   It is my first digi stamp but I won't be getting to it until after that first of the year.   My DD came in the other day and we have been having so much fun shopping, sewing, and baking. (She sewed and baked and I just helped in the shopping).  ;D  On Monday we are hosting the family party and gift exchange this year.  By tonight we will be sleeping 6 “out of town-ers” so.......the party really starts on today and will continue until Tuesday. Then….the house will be calm again.

 Our challenge this week is a Sketch Challenge from Kathy, a sweet and talented sister in Christ.  The scripture that Kathy has chosen for us is from Luke 1:26-32

The Scripture

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name is Mary. 28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. 30 The angel said to her,” Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.” (NASB)

I loved typing these words for today’s challenge. It was good to pause and peak into Mary’s heart. I can’t imagine what was going through her mind. Being approached by an angel is so scary when this is not your usual method of Godly communication. “Perplexed” by the salutation understates the emotion of the moment to me.  This was God’s plan to bring salvation to a needy world and Mary was His mother of choice. Knowing God’s plan is what brings us to our challenge today; a paper plan to follow, a sketch.  As we do, let us ponder the awesome plan of Christ’s birth and salvation.

The Challenge

Our sketch to follow is found below. Don’t forget that Ann House from AFP/SNR will give one lucky participant a 3 mo. subscription to their magazine.  FANTASTIC!!! 

My card today is taken from this sketch. Your project doesn’t have to be a Christmas card just the sketch.

I love to follow sketches as it seems to start the story off on my head.  The manger scene is an old stamp from SU and the Grapic 45 paper seems to depict the clothes that were worn at that time.  I have not researched this in depth so........ it could also be what the "shepherds" wore at all the church manger scenes from my childhood that is stuck in my head.  *grin*

Today's Blessing:  One of my dearest of friends has had health issues for many years.  We often talk of how we take turns being ill.  Last summer she had a difficult bout with her heart; a condition that was created from cancer treatment.  The doctors told her children that she had only a couple of days to live.  But this week she was given such a fantastic bill of health.  She does not even need to use her oxygen.   We all know that God has touched her in a mighty way.

Merry Christmas friends! and thank you for stopping by on this busiest of weeks,

Randi

Recipe:

Stamps:  Taylored Expressions-Christmas Blessing (sentiment);  SU- Heavenly Peace

Paper: SU-Dusty Durango;  DCWV, Graphic 45

Ink:  Memento-Tuxedo Black;  Copics

Embellishments:  Button-Jo-Ann's;  Ribbon-SU

Tools: Punches-SU and Fiskers

SSCC 17 and Finally a Picture

I apologize for this post not going out at the proper time.  I had set it so it would post at 3AM but that did not happen.  I supose the reason is the same reason why I couldn't get my picture to load. Please forgive my technical problems.  I am in contact with my internet provider.

Did this week go by fast for you?  It surely did for me.  I planned to post more than once and to make more things than I did but the days got away from me.  Today is another story, SSCC has another great challenge to tickle your creative juices.  As always a random participant will receive a prize.  This week our sponsor is Simon Says Stamp. 

Our stampin' sister Kristine from Ink Something has created a super fun challenge using the scripture:

Matthew 6:21

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

The Challenge:

Use [crafty] "treasures" on your card or other project... in other words, BLING IT UP!

(ie. bling = gems, pearls, dazzling diamonds, charms, etc.)

Last week we were asked to create a card with an image of a person on it.  Today's card was to be that card.  As I was making it, I got a little carried away making sure she looked good.  I added glitter to her earrings and to the flower in her hat.  By the time I finished I had to move her into today's challenge.  :o)  It was fun to make this one and play with all my BLING.

I was able to finally upload my card; enjoy the sassy Miss Emerson wishing you a Merry Christmas. Due to technical difficulties I am not able to upload my card today.  I have been trying to upload it for 4 hours and no luck.  I will try tomorrow to add it in.  If you are interested you can see it here at Stampin' Sisters in Christ.  While there, take a peek at all the other sister's creations.

Today's Blessing:  Well ....it is not the computer/internet!  But I will being seeing those sweet little grandkids this week...now that is a blessing.

Enjoy the Sabbaath,

Randi

Recipe:

Stamps: Our Daily Bread-Blessed Christmas; American Art Stamps

Paper: BG-Eskimo Kisses

Ink:  Momento-Tuxedo Black

Embellishments: Ribbon-Personal Stash; Gems-Studio 18; Glitter

Heartfelt Sympathy

Just a quick post today as I have been working all day in the studio getting some Christmas presents done.  These two cards are for a former co-worker and his DD.  His wife died Saturday after a long struggle with several diseases.  She and I worked together as Steven Ministers years ago.  She will be missed, but we will meet again some day.

 I know that dogwoods are not pink but I so wanted to use my new Melon Mambo.  :-)

This is another masculine card.  It seems plain but I didn't want to cover up too much of the flourish.

I hope you are all doing well and that your week is a great one!

Today's  Blessing:  I made 12 cards today and ten copic colored images!!!  
A new company standard. ;D  Yes, I was able to spend most of the day in my studio listening to Christmas music and crafting to my hearts content.

Hugs,
Randi

Recipe:
Card One:
Stamps: ODB- With Heartfelt Sympathy, Grow in Grace
Paper: The Paper Studio-Boho Chic; SU Basic Black, Melon Mambo
Ink: Memento-Tuxedo Black, Copics
Embellishments: Ribbon-Stash
Tools: Spellbinders-Fancy Tags

Card Two:
Stamps:  ODB-With Heartfelt Sympathy
Paper:  The Paper Studio-Boho Chic; SU-Basic Gray, Ballet Blue
Inks: Memento-Tuxedo Black
Embellishments: Ribbon-Offray; Metal Dots-Colorbok
Tools: Spellbinders-Labels Eight
Technique: traced around label Eight as a border.

SSCC 16 and RAK

Good Sunday Morning, it is time again for another Stampin' Sisiters in Christ Challenge. This week our challenge is brought to you by Ceal. She has a super blog and I love stopping by to see all her creations.  The scripture that Ceal has chosen for this week is

2 Chronicles 7:14

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

If ever there was a time that our country could heed these words is now! I can only imagine what America would look like if we took this scripture to heart. It makes me think of our founding fathers and their vision for our country.

The Challenge

Make a card or project letting someone know you are praying for them and it must include an image of people (ie..children, men, women) on it.

Thank you, Ceal this is a wonderful challenge this week. There are so many people I could send my card to this week. I am sure that you feel this way too. It strengthens us when we know that our friends and family are praying for us. The past few weeks I have had the bountiful blessing to have many people send prayers to our Father on my behalf. My last CT scan showed a couple of spots in my lungs. They have been there for a l-o-n-g time but have started to grow. Thus, I needed more testing and while the family was here for Thanksgiving, I had a PET scan. Ugh. The results are finally in and I am happy to say that there is no cancer in my lungs!...or anywhere for that matter. I give praises to God once again.

Don't forget that one random participant will receive a gift from our sponsor this week Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps.  Great online store.

I like my card this week.  I don't have many people stamps and this one was picked out my my little granddaughter.  I paper pieced her dress and added a bit of Copics for shading and chose to surround her in my new (to me) Melon Mambo.  I also chose to use ODB's Flourished Christain Symbols set for the sentiment.

My SU demonstrator brought my new goodies before TG so I reached for them often on this card.  I love that little flower brad and I attached it to a button and tied them together with silver cording.  To balance that out I added a bit cording near Stampingbella's Charlotte Ketto .  I also tried out my new scallop punch that so many of you use (and I  n-e-e-d-e-d, too).  When I finished I added a liberal amount of Pearl Glimmer Mist.  I can't seem to stop making everything sparkle these days!!

Today's Blessing: All the friends that have prayed for me this past month.  You have blessed my heart beyond measure.  A special thank you to the gals at SSCC for all your prayers this month.  Helen Phelps is one such sister.  She sent me a card this week and I wanted to share it with you.  I have never physically met any of these dear gals but what a bond we have.  I feel that way about you all.  We could have lunch together and never stop talking!!! LOL Thank you all again for your prayers!

Thanks for stopping by today and enjoy the Sabbath,

Randi

Recipe:

Stamps: ODB-Flourished Christain Symbols; Stampingbella-Charlotte Ketto

Paper: Basic Grey-Indial Summer (Nov, TE KI); SU-Basic Brown, Melon Mambo

Ink: Copics; Memento-Rich Cocoa

Embellishments:  SU-brad, silver cord; Rhonna Farrer- button (bought at TE); Glimmer Mist-Pearl (bought at ODB)

Tools: MS punch;

Technique: Copics; Paper Piecing