Friday, January 30, 2015

A Daniel's Diet or "Supper Bowl"

Hello Viewers, Followers and Friends,
 The countdown is on.  We have only 2 days (not counting today) before Super Bowl.  This Sunday, February 1, 2015, the New England Patriots will face off against the Seattle Seahawks.   Some churches host viewing parties to reach out to their community. Some serve food for the occasion. The preparation for this game day ranks right up there with Thanksgiving.  The planning, the cooking and the football.  However, are you aware that churches need to stay within certain boundaries without fear of penalties and interference from the NFL when hosting a party. Google "churches and the Super Bowl" and find out some information.  What a lesson I learned on this "big" game.
Our lesson for Sunday is coming from the book of Daniel 1:5, 8-17 and Matthew 6: 16-18.  Its title is "Feasting and Fasting".  What an appropriate title for this Sunday and the Super Bowl.  Therefore, my title is Daniel's Diet or "Supper Bowl".  No, I did not misspell "Super".  I intended to use "supper".
sup·per
noun \ˈsə-pər\
: the evening meal
 a social event especially for raising money that takes place in the evening and includes a meal
: a light meal or snack that is eaten late in the evening
Many who started the 2015 year on a "Daniel's Diet" may find themselves in a compromising position on Sunday if they attend the "Supper Bowl" at there local church. When it comes to dinner on the grounds, celebrating feast and fellowship, the diet goes out the window.  Daniel and his three friends took an uncompromising stand on the absolutes of the Word of God and made a commitment to God not to defile themselves. 
Take a look at my latest card creations:
Taking A Stand
K & Company patterned paper for mats
Scrap piece of Recollections Steampunk Botanica for die cut heart shape
You're too Kind
All scrap paper from my stash
 Flower: Essentials sticker
2" piece of red burlap

Enjoy your weekend and the Super or Supper Bowl.  Thanks for taking a little time to view today.  Don't forget to join, follow or leave a comment!
Lois

Thursday, January 29, 2015

CAS Just Because

Hello Friends, Followers and Viewers,
Today feels like a "just because" day.  It doesn't hurt.  It is not overly excited.  It is not expensive. It is not an immediate problem. It is not a day like any other day.  It is "just because"!
What would you do on a "just because" day?  Sing with the window open.  Skip instead of walking. Extend your nap time.  Eat a little extra dessert.  Kick up your feet and relax a little.  Hug someone. Call someone you haven't heard from in a while.  Send someone a card.  Fill in the blank: Today, I am going to __________________just because.  This is the way I'm feeling today "just because".  I don't want to wait until August 27 to celebrate the National Just Because Day.  Yes, that's correct.  There is a Just Because Day that you can celebrate.  Who knew?

Some ideas for a greeting card are:
Here is my latest creation of a "Just Because" card  I'm sending  to someone in the mail today:
GP cardstock for the base and top mat.
Bazzil cardstock for the pink mat with Just Because printed using the printer
two Martha Stewart butterfly stickers
It is really clean and simple!

Here is another clean and simple card made with GP cardstock for the base and mat; a sheet of mix paper floral mat stack for the center; a die cut puzzle piece with the word "hello" written on it.  This one will be sent out in the mail to someone, "just because"  I want to keep in touch.
Have yourself a "just because" day any day.  Remember, you don't have to wait until August 27th to do so.
Thanks for viewing.  Come back again!  You may join, follow or make a comment.  I want to hear from you.

Lois

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Quotes

Hello Friends, Followers and Viewers,
As the commercial on the TV says,  Do you know what day it is?  "It's Hump Day"! We have made it to the middle of the week.  Many things have already happened.  Some that you wish had not happen but they were out  of our control.  One of our church members lost his mother-in-law.  We send our heartfelt sympathy to him and his wife.  One of the ladies that I follow, communicated on her blog that she had a mini stroke last week.  I'm sending prayers to her and her family.
Do you like quotes?  I do.  Sometimes I keep them written down in a notebook so I can used them on or in a greeting card.  Some of my Facebook friends send me quotes of things they like.   Here are a few that were given today:

  • Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.

Helen Keller
  • I never called my work an 'art'. It's part of show business, the business of building entertainment.
Walt Disney
  • There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.
Edith Wharton...This quote has an impact on me today.  I've often been told by others that what I do or something I said  was/is a reflection to their soul or mind.  It helps them to be a better person or to do something different than what they intended to do.  If in any small way that I can help someone, I usually try to do it.  I don't do things to be placed on a pedestal but instead to help someone else along the way.
Here are my latest creations:
Bazzil Cardstock for the base, pink
DCWV (Heirloom Stack) patterned paper
Offray ribbon
CTMH Happy Birthday stamp
Embossing powder




Bazzil Cardstock for the base, purple
K & Company patterned paper for the mat
Offray ribbon; sentiment printed on vellum
EK Success dimensional stickers
Entrance: Splitcoast Stampers Sketch 525
Thanks for your view today.  Take a little time and do something for someone else today.  You can still join, follow or comment.
Love, 
Lois

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Tall and Skinny

Hello My Friends, Followers and Viewers,
Guess what?  It is snowing in my area.  I'm so excited because I love to see snow falling. Every since I was a child, snow has always been beautiful to me.  Yes, it can be dangerous to those who don't know how to drive in it.  It was reported this morning about the many accidents that had occurred due to the snow.  That's the "tall and skinny" about the snow:
 

Speaking of "tall and skinny", what comes to your mind?  A person, a pair of  jeans, a discussion, a greeting card, embellishment, etc.?  On the MojoMonday blog post for this week, their challenge is called "tall and skinny".  I made a card with their suggested measurement, however, I had to use my own creativity to make the card.  This card measure 3.5" by 5.5".  I've used smooth cardstock for the base and corrugated cardstock for the mats and heart.  The sentiment was cut from Artfully Sent cartridge, and the rose is a Recollections dimensional sticker:
MOJO 382
Since I was working with the corrugated cardstock, I went ahead and added a second card. This one has the smooth cardstock for the base; the corrugated cardstock for the mat; a lacy ribbon topped with a smooth ribbon; a corrugated "tall and skinny heart" with a die cut pattern paper heart layered on top of it; a Recollection rose with a dried fern underneath; a hand written sentiment on a scrap piece of designer paper:
SOC Blogger Challenge: Valentine/LOVE
I hope you enjoyed your view.  Please come back to visit again.  Join with me, follow me  (at the top on the right) or just make a comment in the box below.  Have a great day and enjoy the snow!
Lois



Monday, January 26, 2015

Using Acetate and Vellum

Hello Followers, Friends and Viewers,
Welcome to Monday.  We are back at work or still relaxing from the weekend.  Some of us are watching the weather for that SNOW!  In my area the prediction is only for a few inches.  We may or may not see any at all.  What about the areas that will be getting the wind gust as well as three or more feet of snow?  Go grocery shopping!  We don't want you at home without something to eat (smile).
To my crafting friends...do you like using acetate, heavy plastic or vellum on your cards or scrapbook layouts?  There are many ways to use acetate in your card making as well as scrap booking. Perhaps you want a clear box lid, an aperture or shaker card. Or maybe you want a free standing card.
This is just a couple of  ways to make that acetate or vellum work for you and the result is a very beautiful card.
 
Use a 5 1/2" by 12"  piece of cardstock.  Score at 4" and 8".  Fold down the 8" fold to meet the 4" score line. Keep  these two pieces folded while you measure and cut out  a section 3 3/4" by 3" from card.  Replace this section with a piece of acetate or vellum that is 1/4" wider than the piece you cut out.  Attach the vellum or acetate to the card base with glue or score tape. Cut out a second piece of card base 5 1/2" by 8". Fold in half, and while folded, cut out a section 3 3/4" by 3". Glue or use score tape to adhere this to the inside to where you have placed your acetate or vellum.  Use a piece of designer paper cut 1/8" smaller than the last section of your card. Adhere this to your card.  Decorate to your pleasure!
Here is a second look:




 The same concept was used with a little more of the card base cut out and eliminating the third piece
















This last card shows vellum. The vellum was cut slightly larger (3/4") than the card front so that it could be curved.
 

This last card is an addition to the Valentine stack I'm working on.  I will call it "A Vintage Valentine" card in the box.
Thanks for viewing today.  If there are any questions, please e-mail me or leave a comment below.
For my viewers, yes, you can leave a comment, you may join or follow me.  I'm waiting for you!
Lois




Friday, January 23, 2015

You Are In My Thoughts and Prayers

Hello to All (Friends, Viewers and Followers),
I'm ready for the weekend with no immediate plans.  I think we're going to be spontaneous and do something outside the box.  I've found out that I have the best time when we "just do" instead of planning.  Of course, any day I go shopping is a great day.  What do you have on your agenda, a planned event or spontaneity?
Lesson for January 25, 2015:  Do you often pray for others as  you pray for yourself?  Do you pray for others when you know they are sick and going through suffering or when they ask you to pray for them? Have you ever confessed your sin to someone else?  All of these questions center around the topic " We Pray For One Another": James 5:13-18.  Our lesson reminds us to pray regardless if our lives are going through difficulties or if situations and or events are making our lives easier.  Praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ will keep us sensitive to one another. Through prayer, we can stay connected to our power source: God.  He strengthens us to endure the intrusions that appear in life that we never imagined we would encounter.
My take on this lesson is depicted in the following cards. I will also submit the first card to WordArtWednesday, Any Thing Goes Challenge #167.  I hope you enjoy your view:
WordArtWednesday #127


Whatever your plans and wherever they lead you, have fun and enjoy.


                                      Love,
                          Lois

Thursday, January 22, 2015

From Mistake To Art

Hello Friends, Followers and Viewers,
It's Thursday.  One more workday before the weekend.

I'm not a football junkie, but I'm wondering what  is your take on the deflated ball used by the Patriots?  Do you think they should be allowed to play in the Super Bowl?

"Mistake" is a word I used in my post title for today because we all make them.  Maybe someone on that team made a mistake. Mistakes are an unavoidable part of life. We are not perfect. We are going to make mistakes repeatedly…yearly, monthly, weekly, DAILY!  If we never make mistakes, then we are probably not making any decisions. Our mistakes have value; we can learn from them. But we are often embarrassed about our mistakes or ashamed of failures.  Do you ever make stupid mistakes that make you wish you had an undo button for your life? Things that make you cringe when you realize what you did? 

 Many times what we perceive as an error or failure is actually a gift. And eventually we find that lessons learned from that discouraging experience prove to be of great worth.  I did. I'm posting these "works of art" that at some point had been scrapped because of a mistake that occurred. Part of the paper was still good and it was not ready for the trash.  I either covered up the mistake as with the 1st project;  used paint to enhance the mistake as with the 2nd project;  cut the mistake into a box shape as with the 3rd project and just add die cut flowers as with the 4th project. You see them here and you may also see them  in "Embrace Your Art 365".
 


 
All mistakes are not mistakes.  Sometimes you have to take a second look and make it a "gift".
Love,
Lois




Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Embrace the Challenges and Just Have Fun

Hello Viewers, Friends and Followers,
God Bless You Today for being able to view this post and to see what I'm doing on this end.  I offer my heartfelt thanks,  first to God for  giving me the privilege of creating things from paper and second to you for viewing.  The weather is so beautiful outside.  It looks and feels good.  Just think, in my part of the world, it is a prediction of snow for this weekend.

I'm participating in the challenge at Mojo Monday (I know today is Tuesday) and this is what I made: (Click on photos for larger view).
 

This is another take on the sketch :

For Embrace Your Art  365,  here is prompt #20 Diamonds & Pearls:
 

For SplitcoastStampers here is what I made:
 

Thanks once again for taking a little time to view my post today.
I love to hear from you.  Send a comment, join or follow.
Love,
Lois






Monday, January 19, 2015

I've Got My Mojo Working

Hello Everyone,
What a fantastic day for a holiday.  It is Monday and I'm not feeling lazy.  I've got my mojo back and  I did a lot over the weekend with catching up on "Embrace Your Art 365".


 Take a look and see for yourself: (Click on each picture for a larger view).
 #1 pastel paint & ink;  #2 bloom;  #3 your hand;  #4 intuition;  #5 numbers;  #6 pick 3 colors & draw something;  #7 zen tangle;  #8 a pop of color;  #9 postcard;  #10 trees and hearts;  #11 flying things
 
# 10 & 11

Here is today's prompt and  picture: # 19 Bubbles


Hope you like the view.
Don't forget to join, follow or comment.  It's free!
Love,
Lois