The Rainbow Connection

Hey Friends!  I'm playing along with the Sweet N Sassy Stamps VIP challenge for May!  I'm sneaking in during the last days of the challenge, because that's just how I roll!

I have my own rendition of the popular rainbow wash card above....I've seen this concept in a lot of places featuring many different companies.  For my card, I used a rainbow assortment of Ranger distress inks to create my colorful background.  Stamps from Go God's Way and God Is Bigger make this a simple and fun card!

For my second card, I created a rainbow panel using various Ranger Distress Oxide inks.  Maybe you've already gathered that the distress inks are some of my favorite. I generally do most of my water coloring with distress inks.  They have good color saturation and are easy to work with.  The oxide version is more chalky and blends beautifully with the other colors.  The ink's reactivity with water is the other point of high interest. You can see the water marks in my skyline created with a misting of water. 

I completed my card using Landscape Silhouettes and a sentiment from Keep In Touch, Too.

Thanks for stopping by!  

TTFN, Jane

Verse Mapping: Proverbs 22:6

Happy Sweet Sunday, Friends!  I'm taking a few moments out of an already fun holiday weekend to share a new creative love of mine--verse mapping!  Nothing can pull me in quicker that an opportunity to combine stamping with God's Word!  I've been learning about this form of study and process for digging deeper into God's Word in a facebook group called Sacra Via. It has truly transformed the way I study and therefore, I wanted to share it with you!

I started this on Mother's Day.  It's a brand new art journal and I couldn't think of a verse more dear to a parental heart than Proverbs 22:6  "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."

The first part of the study involves looking at a specific scripture using a variety of translations.  I generally read from the ESV, but also like to look at other translations which can add to the richness of a particular verse.  Some of my other favorite translations are the New King James Version (NKJV), The Orthodox Jewish Bible (OJB) and The Message Bible (MSG).  Another fan favorite is the New International Version (NIV).  I use a few apps, including the Blue Letter Bible app, to look up translations, commentaries, cross references and word definitions.

I particularly like the OJB since I have a strong desire to know the Hebrew language.  We lose something in the translation from Hebrew to English.  I find it fascinating and enriching to look at the full meaning of the Hebrew words. 

The next steps is to look at cross references--other places in God's Word where the same notion or words are used.

The framework looks at the foundation of the verse--the book, it's author, the context and culture in which the writing first occurred.  The final step leads to application of the verse in my own life; what I learned and it's purpose.  

From a purely creative viewpoint, this form of study makes a great case for hoarding alphabets and beautiful images!  In this two page layout, I've used the following stamp sets from Sweet N Sassy Stamps:  Shake it Off Caps, Shake it Off Lowercase, Skinny Caps, Cold Coffee Alpha, Teeny Alpha, Happy Day, Fantastic Flowers, Seek Him, All in All and Surrounded In Prayer.  Rather than linking to each individual set, you can see the whole store HERE using my affiliate link.

Have a great rest of your weekend--TTFN, Jane

Awesome Unicorn

Happy Thursday, Friends!  Today, I'm sharing a birthday card I made for a very special little lady!  I've just started binge watching Once Upon a Time with my youngest daughter and.....I am all abut the fairy tale, right now!! 

One of the things I love most about Sweet N Sassy Stamps is the incredible versatility of each set.  I can use them in my Bible and on a card for a 10 year old....and a 50 year old and all the year olds between and after!

This card features images from Be Unique and Mighty Fortress.  Super fun and a little sparkly with some sequin embellishments.  Both images are colored with copic markers and tucked in some cloud like die cuts. 

Thanks for stopping by! Have a awesome day--Jane

The Brokenhearted

Hello, Friends!! Today, I am sharing several projects featuring Peony Cluster, a new release from Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps--the Stamp of the Month (free with purchase!).  I'm also sharing my heart and a prayer journal I'm working in.  I'm glad that you've stopped by today!!

How grateful I am that the Lord is near to me when I am brokenhearted!  My heart breaks over a lot of things.  Sometimes, it's things in my own life and other times, it is broken over the children I serve in my day job or other stories in the world around me.

His Word, in Psalm 34, reminds us that He is near to us all the time, especially in our brokenness; when our spirit is crushed, when we feel cut off, when we are in pieces, and when we are hurt or torn--both in body and in spirit.  The word used in this verse--"near"-- is the Hebrew word qarowb (ka.rove').  It is used to describe place, time and relationship.  How awesome that we see very clearly that we are never alone?  Never.  He is close by.  He is right now!  We can have a personal relationship with the One who is Creator of all!!  He loves you deeply, wholly, eternally, personally!  Rest in that oh, weary souls!

I created my card (above) using alcohol based markers and sponging some distress inks for an overall shabby look.  The new Peony Cluster set, from Sweet N Sassy Stamps, is a versatile set that is really perfect for any occassion--birthday, anniversary, encouragement, sympathy--it's gorgeous and fun to color!

That said, I'm not really a flower person--I mean, I like them, I just  don't know anything about them. I have no idea what color actual peonies are.  This gives me great freedom.  I can color them however I wish!

I picked up this super cool prayer journal at a thrift store for a few dollars. I can't tell you what a treasure I have found this to be!! It's called The Weekly Prayer Project:  A Challenge to Journal, Pray, Reflect and Connect with God--that last part always gets me.  It was absolutely spotless....but not for long!

I used a variety of stamp sets and inks.  It rather evolved as I went along.  Stamp sets used:  Peony Cluster, Jesus & Coffee, God Is Bigger, and Sunshine Girl Alphabet.  So much wisdom in all of God's Word (obviously!) but I am continually struck and grateful when He places, in front of me, the exact Word I need in the most unexpected and ordinary ways.  When you look, you will see God's hand in everything!

Be Blessed!  Jane

Sweet N Sassy Stamps May Release Hop!

Welcome to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps May Release Hop! I'm excited that you've stopped by and can't wait to share my projects with you.  The hop is full of inspiration that the whole team has been working on.  We're so excited about the new stamps available in the shop this month!  Be sure to start at the very beginning.  Hop along to the blogs linked below for all sorts of paper crafting inspiration! Plus, there's a GIVEAWAY! Leave a little comment love on each stop along the way for a chance to win a $10 gift voucher to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps shop.

Sweet 'n Sassy Blog

Julee Tilman

Cathy McCauley

Ceal Pritchett

Diane Zechman

Jane Bosi--that's me!

Lucinde van Ballegooijen

Lyn Tomlin

Monika Davis

Sheri Gilson

Stephanie Serrano

I've created two projects which feature the new set, Paw-some Pals.  It is such a sweet set!

My first card contrasts the simply stamped black and white images with the cute little brown chihuahua.  Combined with some encouraging sentiments, it's a great card for any day!

This card uses images/sentiments from God Is Bigger and Scene Silhouette: Trees

My second card features the adorable bulldog and sentiments from Cheerful Hexies and So Happy.

Enjoy the rest of the hop and be inspired!  Please note, I've linked to all of the stamp sets I've used using affiliate links.  To shop the whole store, go HERE.  And, keep in mind, there's a GIVEAWAY! Leave a little comment love on each stop along the way for a chance to win a $10 gift voucher to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps shop.  Good Luck!

TTFN, Jane

Coffee & Puppies

Happy Friday!! Today, I'm participating in the Spring/Summer Coffee Lover's Blog Hop.  To see more about this, visit the hop HERE.   I'm featuring a brand new goodie from Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps along with a tried and true favorite set!!

Paw-some Pals is a brand new set full of kitty and puppy images to meet all your pet needs!  How sweet is that bull dog? And, those kittens...... I chose to combine the little chihuahua with the coffee cup from  Fill Me Up for a couple of reasons.

I love coffee, but hadn't had any in a good long while, until recently.  When I went through chemotherapy, I stopped a lot of stuff and coffee was one of those things.  As I continue to recover and my body continues to receive God's healing grace, I've started to consider the health benefits of a dark roast once again!  YUM!  I recently went to a fair trade expo and bought a bag of Guatemalan beans.  You guys, this is the BEST coffee!  I've only had it on a few occasions so, it could be an "absence makes the heart grow fonder" situation, but still.........YUM!

I have a not so secret fantasy of having a pocket puppy--a cute little pupper who will fit in the front pocket of my overalls--LOL, I don't really have overalls, but would totally get some if I had a puppy to put in the pocket!  I love this cute little chihuahua for that reason!  I stamped him first and then masked him off and added the coffee cup.  I added some distress ink water coloring around the main image, also coloring the rest with distress inks.  It's my favorite way to color these days.  To finish off my card, I added a tab and some stitching--super simple ways to add that little extra interest!

I appreciate it when you shop Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps using my affiliate links :)  http://www.sweetnsassystamps.com/?aff=24

TTFN, Jane

Spring has Sprung?

Happy Wednesday, Sweet Friends!!  I have a quick card share for today featuring Made New from Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps. 

On a recent shopping trip, my daughter and I saw a huge wall hanging of various butterflies pinned to a board at Earth Bound.  It was beautiful, and yet a little "ick" as I think they were actual butterflies.  If you are a lepidopterist I guess it's no biggie, but this common folk girl found it both fascinating and....well, not.  I prefer my butterflies fluttering around on a gorgeous spring/summer day!  I sure hope to see that soon in my little neck of the woods.  Our recent weather makes it hard to believe spring has actually sprung!

To create my card, I stamped and colored each of the butterflies from the Made New set and then masked them with a liquid masking fluid.  When that had dried completely, I created a water color wash on my non-stick sheet and began dipping the art piece into it, drying between dippings to create the multi-layered water color look.

You can check out the Made New set using my affiliate link HERE.  As always, I appreciate your support!

Have a great day!  TTFN, Jane