Wednesday, December 31, 2014

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2015

Let Him Order Your Step...
Luke 22:42, NKJV
Like most people at this time of year, you are probably thinking about some pretty big dreams and goals. That’s great. We should. But no matter what has happened in the past or what you’re dreaming for in the future, why don’t you let your New Year’s prayer be, “God, not my will, but Yours be done.” 
Maybe you’ve gone through a disappointment. You don’t understand it. You could easily be bitter and give up on your dreams. Realize today that God is at work in your life. He is directing your steps. What you thought was a setback is going to turn out to be a setup for a comeback! When you surrender your will to Him, when you humble yourself before Him, that’s when God can take you to another level. Let your prayer be, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”
Today, as we finish the last day of 2014, know that God has you in the palm of His hand. He has good plans in store for your future! Surrender to His will, trust Him with your whole heart, and let Him order your steps in the New Year!
A Prayer for today...
Father, today I surrender every area of my heart, mind and life to You. Have Your way in me. Order my steps and let everything I am bring glory to You in Jesus’ name! Amen.

Sending you a hug!
Love,
Lois

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Reindeer or Clydesdales

Hello Friends, Followers and Viewers,
Have you accomplished your 2014 goals?  You only have today and tomorrow before thinking of what you want to do for 2015.
We are still in the holiday season.  Did you hear the clatter of hooves this holiday season?  Little children were excited about the eight tiny reindeer bringing Santa across the USA.  What about a horse lover at heart, one who could be a "cowgirl" or pioneer woman?  Reindeer don't really get cowgirls excited but eight beautiful Clydesdales can and they did in a mighty huge way.
Surprise, surprise, surprise (in my Gomer Pyle voice) when I encountered the news that while I was visiting Old Town USA Theme Park the  Budweiser Clydesdales would be making their appearance.
Here are a few of the many pictures I took.




 










 
Sending you a hug!
Love,
Lois

Friday, December 26, 2014

In Awe of Christ's Power

Hello to all my friends and followers,
You have notice that on Friday I give you a summary of our Sunday school lesson . This week's lesson is from,
Matthew 14:22-36:
This lesson is a strong reminder to have faith in God during the storms of life.   We can all learn from Peter's example, and we can all probably relate to experiencing from time to time the same doubt that he had.  "Faith is not being able to walk on water---only God can do that---but daring to believe, in face of all the evidence, that God is with us in the boat, made real in the community of faith as it makes way through the storm, battered by the waves".  As Christians,we must never forget that no matter how disruptive the winds and waves of the storms of life might become, Jesus is always with us every step of the way.

Question For Thought...Why was Jesus still dependent on God even if He was the Son of God?
Jesus praying on the mountain showed how much He vitally depended on God for strength.  One must never forget that Jesus was fully human while being fully God at the same time.  Jesus felt the same emotions and pains that all men and women feel.  Therefore, it should surprise no one to see that Jesus sought the comfort that only His Heavenly Father could give.

Sending you a hug!

Love,
Lois

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!

MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your family!
Thanks for being a part of my life.  God placed you in it for a reason. Let's enjoy and keep sharing His good news.

Sending You a Hug!

Love,
Lois

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

New Hope Church

Enjoy this with me!  Share with others!

Christmas at newhope starts tomorrow and runs through Wednesday! Feel free to witness to your friends by forwarding this newsletter on to all of them, hitting them up on social media and extending personal invites. There is room at the manger for all. Please visit newhopechurch.org for more information and directions to our campuses. MerryChristmas and don't forget to arrive early!
Additionally, if you are unable to join us at one of our campus locations, you may watch the Christmas services on iCampus from December 24th - 27th at 8:00 am10:00 am, noon, 2:00 pm

Sending you hugs!
Love,
Lois

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Quote For Christmas

Hello Friends and Followers,
I'm without my card making supplies today but I'm still thinking about you.
The best for today is a quote from Oren Arnold:
                 "Christmas Gift Suggestions:
                    To your enemy, forgiveness
                     To an opponent, tolerance
                     To a friend, your heart
                     To a customer, service
                      To all, charity
                       To every child, a good example
                       To yourself, respect".

Thanks for taking a little time to view today.  Your comments are appreciated!
If you haven't join, please do so on the right.  Or, you may follow this blog also on the right.

            Sending you a hug!
            Wishing you happiness and peace,
                 Love,
                 Lois

Friday, December 19, 2014

Glory To God in the Highest

Hello Friends and Followers,
Welcome, welcome, welcome the weekend.  Relax, refocus, no work next week just getting ready for  Christmas Day.
I don't have any serious plans for this weekend.  What about you?

Our lesson for this Sunday comes from Luke 2: 8-20.  Verses 8-14, The Angel of the Lord delivers a message.  Verses 15-18, The Shepherds spread the message.  Verses 19-20, Mary and the Shepherds respond.
In the second chapter of Luke, the first seven verses describe for us the birth of Jesus Christ, born to the virgin Mary.  Born in a little village of Bethlehem, no place for them in the inn so that basically they were having to lay the child in a feed trough in a stable.  The birth of Jesus Christ was anonymous at first.  Nobody really knew anything about this child, as far as people around were concerned.  It was just another young couple and another baby born.  No one at first really understood what was going on.
It didn't take long, however, because we come to the text of Luke 2:8, on the very same day that the Lord Jesus Christ was born and this is where all heaven breaks loose.  They can only be restrained for so long.  The birth of this child having been laid in the feed trough in anonymity at first and then this monumental announcement to the angels that even involves a whole heavenly host of angels praising God and affirming peace on earth toward men with whom God is pleased.  A Savior to save us from sin and guilt.  Everybody falls into this category. This is good news.  The good news of great joy is for all the people.  That is to say it's for everybody and anybody.

Here are the cards that represents this lesson:
Thanks for taking a view. Take a little time to enjoy your weekend.  Don't forget to write a comment, join, or follow this blog.




Thursday, December 18, 2014

Too Funny!

Hello Friends and Followers,
Just when I thought all my Christmas card making was finish, I had to spend part of my day making more.  This is the story:
On Tuesday, my husband decided to do his list of people (family and friends) that he wanted to send cards to for this year.  So, I got out the stash of boxed Christmas cards that had been left over from previous years and placed them on the writing table for him.  When he went in to start his task the very first thing from his mouth was "where are the cards you made?"  Do you just want to see them or do you intend to use them, I asked?   Just put them on the table he responded. When I went into the room to check on his progress, he had pushed the boxed cards out of his way and was selecting the handmade cards that he wanted to use.  His response, which was very funny and appreciative was: "These are better than Hallmark" and I thought I would use these (my handmade cards).  Too Funny!

I started working on some replacements today.  Didn't get as many done as I had wanted to because of some other things I had to do.
Take a look:


Thanks for taking the time to view.  Don't forget to comment, join or follow.





Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Artfully Sent and CAS

Hello My Friends and Followers,
I'm glad you are taking a peek today and as always your comments are welcomed.
Speaking of comments, I made two cards based on some positive comments that I have received.  I love to participate in challenges for card making on other blogs but today I'm doing cards based on private challenges received from some viewers.
I posted a card a while back with a Julie Nutting doll inside of a telephone booth.  The card was cut from the Artfully Sent Cricut cartridge.  A viewer on Pinterest wanted to see Superman in the booth.
Here is what I did:


Another viewer answered the question from the post CAS or NOT.  The response was that the cards still were not CAS (clean and simple) enough.
Here is what I did based on that response.  Again, is it CAS or NOT?

Please do not stop making comments or taking a little time to enjoy my creativity.  Responses do produce other cards.  Remember, I love what I'm doing and want you to keep up the good work.




Monday, December 15, 2014

Count Down to Christmas

Hello My Friends and Followers,
I hope you enjoyed your weekend.  Did you spend time with the family?  Go shopping?  Clean the house? Relax? Craft? Paint?  I could fill up this page with ideas.
It is only ten days before Christmas.  To those that are still out in the malls shopping, I hope you can maintain your sanity with the long lines and crowds.  To those who waited until today to order and have something shipped, today is your last day if you want it to get there before next Thursday.
It's the count down.  My friends in the teaching profession are all counting down until Friday.
 " Happy Holidays and New Year", we will say on Friday.  See you next year!
I did some cards that I'm going to post to some challenges:


  #1       http://www.casethissketch.blogspot.com/2014/12/case-this-sketch-103.html




# 2   http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/2014/12/mojo-Monday-376.html







#3 These are some cards I made for SplitcoastStampers:


As always, thanks for viewing and don't forget to leave a comment, join or become a follower.
Love,
Lois


Friday, December 12, 2014

Make A Joyful Noise

Hello To All,
It's Friday and a good day to be on this side!
Last week I shared our lesson for our Sunday school class.  Today, I'm doing the same thing.  I know some people who view this site but will not commit to joining or following.  They like what they see and read.  Some voiced their thankfulness for the summary of the lesson.  This is all it is because there is so much more that can be written and discussed.
This Sunday we will have Psalm 95:1-7, "Make A Joyful Noise" for our class.
Many people realize that a power beyond them gives meaning to their lives.  How do they respond to this knowledge?  The psalmist declares that God is the rock of their salvation and is worthy of praise and worship.
Psalm 95 begins: "Come..."  God longs for us to come into His presence. He's not concerned about laying down a bunch of rules and requirements.  Instead, John 4:23 tells us that God is seeking worshipers who will adore Him in spirit and in truth.  He sends out the invitation to each of us.  He wants us to come without hesitation.  You and I are invited into His very presence. In verses 1-5, we are called to Rejoice.  In verses 6-7a, we are called to Reverence and verses 7b-ll is a call to Respond.
My card based on the lesson for this week:

Thank you for viewing today.  Your comments are always welcome!
Love
Lois


Thursday, December 11, 2014

CAS or NOT

Hello Friends and Followers,
What a great day it has been if you like the wind and cold.  I know some of you are having snow.  I like snow but if I could put a date to when it would fall, I would choose January.  There are a few things and a few places I would like to get to before, during and after Christmas.
If you are a  crafter, have you heard or have you seen CAS? I know many of you have.  It means Clean And Simple.  Not a lot of frills and thrills (my words) or bling.
I started out yesterday with the idea of making some CAS cards.  Did I stick with my intentions or did I stray away just to add that "touch" to make it "pop"?  I want you to be the judge and tell me what you think.
Card #1:
Card #2


Card #3

Card #4

Card #5
Thanks for viewing my work.  Don't forget to enjoy this day and make the most out of it.
Love,
Lois


Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Black & White Card

Hello Friends and Followers,
Happy Tuesday and I hope you are having a beautiful day or evening.
Question:  What is black and white with a little color and or bling?
Answer:  It's the cards I made today that I would like to feature on the following blogs:

  • thepaperplayers.blogspot.com
  • casethissketch.blogspot.com
  • splitcoaststampers.com
Black Tie Theme Challenge #225
The Paper Players CTS #102
These are the other cards that were made today:

Thanks for viewing.  Don't forget to make a comment.


Monday, December 8, 2014

Stamping 101

Hello.
Good morning, afternoon, evening, etc., depending on where you are in this world.  With confidence, I'm going to say you had a good weekend and you enjoyed yourself.  Not being selfish, I did.  Yesterday was a great time in Sunday School, our Worship Service and just being with family and friends.
I was surprised when I opened an email from a lovely lady from
Splitcoast Stampers yesterday:
 Great news! JBgreendawn loves your project, and has posted a comment about this photo:
""Frozen" Card in a box"
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/2587371


Sun, Dec 07, 2014 @ 6:12 AM


Congratulations! In the General Stamping forum, you're in the FAVORITES for the week ending December 7, 2014. See post #5
Here is post #5   (I am Mom42Grand41 on this site)

Glitter Guru




Join Date: Apr 2008

Location: Midwestern U.S.A.

Posts: 5,070

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Hope everyone is doing well this week. Here are my favorites:



"Frozen" Card in a box by Mom42Grand41



Thanks for all the inspiration ladies, and thanks bunches to the ladies who work so hard to notify everyone. Have a great weekend


What an awesome surprise!
On Saturday, I tampered with stamping and heat embossing for the first time without making a major mistake.  I have many stamps that came with other purchases but it  has never been my number one thing to pick up when I make a card. After the way this card came out, I think I will continue to practice until I have a love for it.
I heat embossed "Peace & Joy to you & yours" using white embossing powder.  
When you think you have Christmas cards for everyone on your list, someone else pops up.  I made these this morning:

MOJO375


Thanks for taking the time to view!



Friday, December 5, 2014

God Has Spoken

Hello My Friends,
I'm a Sunday School Teacher along with many other titles. So, while  preparing for our lesson for Sunday, "Worship Christ's Majesty", I made this card from one of many thoughts that was on my mind. Our lesson comes form Hebrews 1:1-9.  The first four verses deals with God speaking and the last five verses deals with  Christ being better than the angels.
We grow weary in our faith sometimes and may think that God is not going to keep his promise of never leaving or forsaking us.  Through the beautiful person and work of Christ, our dark days will see the light at the end of the tunnel.  There are brighter days ahead. God has spoken and His words are true.
Here is a card from my thoughts today:

Have a great weekend.  Continue to shop and have fun. Thanks for viewing!

Thursday, December 4, 2014

"Frozen" Card In A Box

Hello My Friends,
Yesterday I used Olaf from the movie "Frozen" on a card I made for grown-ups.  I had promised my granddaughter that I would make her something with the characters from this movie. I'm posting the project I made for her  along with a tutorial (card in the box):
These are some of the supplies I used:

  • Cricut Explore along with Design Space and a computer (to cut out characters using print and cut)
  • cardstock and pattern paper
  • paper cutter and score board
  • adhesive
  • For this project I also used a snowflake punch


  • Cut cardstock to  6" by 11" (card) and cut a 1" strip from left over (set aside for later use)
  • Score cardstock at 2 3/4", 5 1/2", and 8 1/4"
  • Turn cardstock to short side and score at 3 1/4"

  • Cut cardstock to the  3 1/4" line on the short side (this will make your flaps on the box)
  • The 1" strip should now be cut into 3 1/2" (you will need two pieces to be used in the middle of the box to place your items on). Score 1/2" on both ends of the strip.  Turn the ends in opposite directions.
  • You will also need a 1" piece cut to 3 1/2" folded in half  this will be used to connect both ends of the box.

  • While the box is still flat, decorate with pattern paper.
  • Use the 3 1/2 " of cardstock that is folded in the middle...put adhesive on both sides and connect the box.
  • Add adhesive to the 1/2 flaps on the 3 1/2" pieces. Adhere to the middle section of the box.
  • Place your cut-outs to those flaps with adhesive or glue,. 
  • Decorate the flaps with other pictures or sentiments.


I previously made a Christmas card in the box that has received a lot of reviews. This one is similar to the first one I made and will be given to the person who requested it.
front view

right side view

left side view


Thank you for taking a little time out of your day to view my work.  If you have questions, please email me.