Calms His Child....

I shared this 6 x 6 canvas over on the Creative Worship blog for Sweet N Sassy Stamps last week and wanted to share it here as well. Mostly because I love it and all of you.  It's Monday and I have a day of vacation after spending some time this weekend with one of my favorite people.

That's him.....last year as a senior doing one of the things he loves most.  This year, off to college!  Gosh, I love him so much!!  College has felt like a bit of a storm in my life so far.  The letting go.  It's hard.  It's all about redefining.  And, adjusting to what they call "new normal."  The kicker is, there just is no such thing as a normal.  Am I right? 

In this walk, I'm learning that nothing stays the same.  Just as soon as I think I'm used to something, it all changes.  But, really, that is the storm.  Sometimes, the storm is a breezy rain with patches of lightening and maybe a little hail.  Sometimes, it feels like a full blown hurricane and it rages on and on....

Praise God that He both calms the storm and His children--all in His infinite wisdom!!  Where would I be without Him?

I created my canvas by started by layering bible pages in a random pattern using mod podge. I had picked up a tattered and well loved Gideon bible at Goodwill a bit ago.  I love the idea of praying over my art and found it to be a calming piece to the over all art project.  I colored several pages by applying distress inks directly to my non-stick sheet and then dipping the pages until I got the right look.  Once dry, I was able to stamp and trim images from Fantastic Flowers and Scribble Flowers.  the center sentiment, Calms His Child, is a favorite of mine as well.  A few of the other textures that can be seen are the gold background created using texture paste and a stencil and some sequins. I've been in love with sequins for quite some time now and added just a few for a little bit of bling.

I hope you enjoy!!  TTFN, Jane

You Are Loved

Happy Monday, Sweet Friends!  I thought I'd try to start the week off with a little PSA (you are loved) for eveyone!

I think it's true that inspiration is everywhere.  One of my most favorite things to do is imagine a neat card that I might see here or there redone with images I already own.  Waaaay  back in the day, when I first started stamping, I would just buy the exact set, make the card once (maybe) and that would be enough to get it out of my system.  LOL!!  It sure explains why I. Have. So. Much. Stuff!!

I can no longer remember where I saw the card that inspired this one.  What I do remember is that it was mostly black and white with a leaf as the repeating image.  For my version, I used His Wings, from Sweet 'N Sassy stamps. 

The colorful feathers were created using water color paper and several different distress inks.  To finish things off, I used All About You and some sparkly sequins.

Have a great day and remember, you are loved!
TTFN, Jane

Snowman Soup Giftie

It's getting to be that time of year....gifting season!  One of my favorite sets over at Sweet N Sassy Stamps has always been Snowman Soup!  It is perfect for all things paper-cards, scrap book pages and sweet little gift packaging like this tote I crafted!

Inside the tote, are two little pockets just big enough for some cocoa and mini marshmallows.  Who wouldn't want a little something special like this?

I finished the backside with a sentiment from Christmas Tag Sentiments.  It's so cute....I can't wait to give it away!

Be Cozy--and Awesome!

Jane

That's the Ticket

Happy Birthday to someone!  I always find that I need birthday cards and as my kids (and their friends) age, I've had to age my designs as well.  The card I'm sharing today could easily be for a boy or girl.  It's funny how color alone can influence that!  It was fun creating it using some goodies from Sweet 'N Sassy stamps.  I finally broke out my Ticket Sentiments and matching dies .  On sale now and good news for you...the dies are FREE when you purchase Ticket Sentiments for yourself!  How cool is that?

 I used a bunch of paper scraps to create all of those fun tickets.  I find it easier to die cut the shape and then stamp on it.  This is such a fun set!

To finish off the whole card, I added a cupcake and sentiment from Birthday Bash (retired), also from Sweet N Sassy stamps.  

I hope you are enjoying  this fantastic day!  TTFN, Jane 

Christmas Time....

Happy Saturday, Sweet Friends!  I honestly cannot wrap my head around the idea that I am already making Christmas Cards!! It still feels like the dog days of summer--I'm wearing shorts for goodness sake!  BUT, the Sweet N Sassy  Christmas release makes it hard to resist!  You can see the full release HERE and you can order NOW and save! 

Coloring has always been therapeutic for me.  The various trees in the Christmas Topiaries set are just perfect for some focused art therapy.  On both cards, I've water colored using distress inks and Fabiano hot press water color paper.

I saw this fun idea--to create a shaker card using acetate and sewing--in an online video. After making an acetate pocket and filling with pretties, I sewed it closed, added a topiary and sentiment from Christmas Wishes....so easy, y'all.

My second card features another beautiful topiary, pretty paper and some messy sewing....my bobbin ran out and threatened a messy card, but I did what we crafter's do and pretended it was all part of the plan....

Thanks for stopping by!  Don't forget to check out the wonderful sales and deals going on right now over at Sweet N Sassy stamps!   

Be well---Jane

I got crafty with:

Success and Integrity

Our pastor preached a week or so ago on this passage from Nehemiah----about how given his success, much was expected of him.  Same for us.  It's easy to forget as we go through our day to day the ways in which God blesses and ordains our work.  I know this to be true.  I work in a tough environment.  It's hard for me sometimes not to be overly focused on the behaviors--some days, it's physical, other's it's attitudes.  Nevertheless, I've been blessed with opportunities to show the love of Christ for the Glory of God.  Just like Nehemiah.






I loved this message so much, I wanted to journal it so I could continue to go back and be reminded.  I've used lots of goodies from Sweet 'N Sassy stamps to journal with--you should check them out!

To complete my page, I used:  Words of Life-Action, Note This, He is Worthy (retired), Worship the Lord (retired) What's Up, Skinny Caps Alphabet, Mini Grunge Alphabet, Words of Life-Common Words (retired).

What are you dwelling on?

Be Awesome--Jane

I Adore You

Happy Wednesday!  Today, I have a card that features goodies from Sweet 'N Sassy stamps.

I've used Fantastic Flowers and a simple masking technique to create the left side panel.  Flowers are colored with distress inks with some oxide ink shading along the edge.  I added a simple sentiment from All About You to finish things off.  Sweet and simple--kinda my jam lately :)

TTFN, Jane