With Every Breath

"Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!.....Today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts." Psalm 95

Friends!  Are you listening?  Our God is alive and active and He hears our prayers; He answers them!  I work with school age kids in a mental health day treatment program.  It's not an environment in which I routinely am able to speak the name of Jesus, but I pray for the kids we serve.  Sometimes, I pray very specifically for a child who has particularly grabbed my heart.  Will you join me in prayer for "my kiddos"?  God is working!  About a week or so ago, I prayed specifically that He would open a door that I am not able to open myself.  Today, that prayer was answered when my client showed me a self made tattoo of a cross.  I don't approve of the method (really thought I'd be doing a safety assessment) but the next words I heard were "Jesus loves me!"  Just the door I had prayed for and the ability to speak His name.  I needed that door just as much as my client.

How precious is our Great God?  In answering my prayer for another, He gifted me with the real and present proof that He hears me.  You know, sometimes, I just need that.  And, I'm grateful.  Grateful to bury another reminder of His love for me in my heart.  A reminder I'll draw from when the desert comes again.  Because it does.  But God.  He's always there; working even when I don't see it or feel it.  Sing Praise!!

I spent some time in my Psalm Journal using a bunch of goodies from Sweet N Sassy Stamps.  My layout features the Happy Scarecrow, Texture Tiles 1, Incredibly Blessed, Forever & Always, Sing Loud and the October Stamp of the Month, Grateful Heart.

Sing!  Be Blessed, Jane

October Blog Hop--Sweet N Sassy Stamps

Hello, Sweet Friends!!  It's time for another blog hop from the Sweet N Sassy Stamps team where we will share our hearts and inspiration featuring our October release!  It's a good one, my friends!!  If you haven't started from the very beginning, now would be a good time to do that.  I'm sharing the whole hop list to make it easier and to make sure you don't miss any of the inspiration!

Sweet 'n Sassy Blog

Julee Tilman

Cathy McCauley

Ceal Pritchett

Diane Zechman

Jane Bosi (you are here)

Lee Ann Barrett

Lucinde van Ballegooijen

Lyn Tomlin



Wayyy back in 2016, I made my first Rolodex card featuring the Sweet N Sassy Stamps set His Wings (I still love that set!).   Little did I know then this would be the next great wave in Creative Worship!  Armed with a few new rolodex dies (Heidi Swapp), and Fall in Love with Jesus, I am all in for this new stampy trend!  I love the smaller format and, especially, the focus I've decided to use to store my favorite scriptures!  The back of this faith-dex card bears the scripture from Jeremiah 31:3

"the Lord appeared to him from far away.  I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you."



For this non-traditionally colored Thanksgiving card, I've combined the leafy elements from Fall in Love with Jesus and a sentiment from So Grateful.  I used a distress ink technique to add color directly to each image, then spritzed with water to create a loose water colored look.

Finally, I used those same leafy images along with Rhubarb's Harvest, Texture Tiles 1 and the Chunky Alphabet to adorn this page in my hymnal.  The colorful background was created by dragging different colors of oxide inks across the page.  Simple, colorful--makes me happy!

You'll save 15% all month on all of the sets in our Autumn catagory--check those out here!  And, have yourself a great, inky day and enjoy the inspiration shared in our hop!  Be sure to leave a comment at each stop for a chance to WIN a $10 gift code for the SNSS store!

The next stop is Lee Ann's fabulous blog--enjoy!

TTFN--Jane

Loved A Latte

Happy Sunday, Sweet Friends!  Today, I'm sharing one of my favorite kinds of cards....a coffee card.  There is just something about a dark, savory cup of black coffee that soothes my soul!  I've been without and thought I'd not go back, but something just pulls me back in!  I do prefer mine black, however, I'm trying to add more protein to my diet and just recently discovered pea milk--I buy the unsweetened vanilla flavor and it is delicious!!  It's a nice way to add nutrition and cool my cup off so I can drink it right away!  Sweet Cocoa Mouse approves!

I created my background using the Sweet N Sassy Stamp's SOTM--Donut Worry  along with a few texture stamps from Texture Tiles and Grunge Elements 2.  Cocoa's Cups is the perfect "hot drink" set that includes images for coffee, tea and hot cocoa drinkers alike!  There's only a few days left to get Donut Worry FREE with your qualifying purchase--donut wait!!  Fill Me Up, with some help from His Love, makes for a perfect sentiment on this card!

Have a great day and do something that soothes YOUR soul!!  TTFN, Jane

Shadows and Sunshine--Sentimental September

Happy Saturday, Friends!  What a great day it has been so far!!  I wanted to pop in to quick remind you that there are only a few more days left for the Sweet N Sassy Stamps Sentimental September sale!!  You can check out the details and shop (the more you buy, the more you SAVE!!) RIGHT HERE!

I created this card after seeing a similar card on pinterest.  The crosses are cut using dies from Paper Smooches.   I added some watercolor smoosh to the piece of water color paper of the card front.  Layered pattern paper scraps behind each cross completely makes this card!!  But, finally, the sentiment, from Sweet N Sassy Stamps, is the finishing touch that pulls it all together!  You'll find this wonderful sentiment along with many more in the set called The Future.  It's a great encouragement set--something we all need!

Have a great rest of your day, looking forward to the sunshine of tomorrow!!  TTFN, Jane

September Blog Hop--SNSS: Trust In The Lord!

-->Welcome to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps September Release Hop! There's another fabulous release in the SNSS shop that we've been stamping with and we're so excited to share our projects with you! Hop along and leave a little comment love for the designers linked below and you might just be a lucky winner! One lucky comment from all the comments along the hop will win a $10 gift voucher to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps shop. Winner will be announced on the SNSS blog, Wednesday, September 25.

Sweet 'n Sassy Blog

Julee Tilman

Cathy McCauley

Ceal Pritchett

Diane Zechman

Jane Bosi

Lee Ann Barrett

Lucinde van Ballegooijen

Lyn Tomlin

Sheri Gilson

My word for this year is surrender.  I've learned a lot about surrender--true surrender and the way in which it is life giving.  We live in a culture that demands the opposite--a world that tells us we are entitled to "have it our way" and "never say surrender."  True surrender, however, gives life and is grounded in the trustworthiness of our Great God.

Psalm 91: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say to the Lord, "my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."  (v1,2)

He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler (v4)

Imagine what that little bird must do to be covered under the wings of the larger bird? If I am to dwell in the shelter of the Most High and be covered under His wings,  I must be still.  I must remain in Him and go where He goes or else I will lose my covering.  To remain in Him and go where He goes, I must surrender my will, my way and, Be. Still.

Life giving still.  We tend to think that we have to do more, try harder.  But, that is not what His word says.  When we are able to stop our unhealthy striving and dwell in the shelter of the Most High, when we seek His plan and purpose--that is when the unhealthy striving ceases and we are free to abide in the life giving presence of the Almighty.  With all your heart, you can trust in His promises!

I wanted to use my gelli plate since all the cool kids are doing it!  LOL!  I've been inspired by my team mates and the art they've been sharing lately with this handy little tool!   I'm stoked that Sweet N Sassy Stamps is now offering it in the store!!  Be sure to grab yours!  My project for the hop are two pages in my Psalms Journal.  Both in Psalm 91.  Both pages were started with some distress inks and my gelli plate.  Next, some stencils and ink.  Finally, I am featuring Trust in the Lord from the new release, as well as Singing Praises.

I hope you are inspired by our art and hearts as you journey through the hop!  Your next stop is Lee Ann's blog.  I just know she's going to blow your socks off!  Make sure to leave everyone a little comment love so you have a chance at winning some good love of your own!

TTFN, Jane

Flying By The Seat of My Pants....

Y'all!!  Happy Thursday!  That's what I do....fly by the seat of my pants...BUT for those of you who like to plan ahead and get a jump on things...this month's release from Sweet N Sassy Stamps is going to get your Christmas card mojo going for sure!!  There are three new Christmas sets, CHECK them out!!

I'm sharing a few ideas, today, using Warmth of Christmas.  The front panel is tucked behind an adorable gate, held closed with an evergreen wreath:

The inside panel includes a sentiment and peaceful snowy bench scene.

My second card, also features Warmth of Christmas and Thrill of Hope.  This card makes me think of my nephew and his love of ski hills.  It feels a little weird to be thinking about snow already, but....here in Wisconsin, it's inevitable!!

That's all for me today--make it a great week!  Get inky and be kind,
TTFN Jane

Sweet September

Happy Monday!!  This month, the Sweet N Sassy Stamps challenge is called Sweet September--c'mon and join in the fun!! 

Just pull out your sweet/sugary stamps (candy, fruit, dessert, drinks, etc).  If you aren't already a member, join the facebook group Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps VIP.  You'll find a yummy FREEBIE there to use!  Then, share your projects in the group.  If you use SNSS stamps, you will be entered for a chance to win a $10 gift code for use in the SNSS shop--how sweet is that?  One random winner will be picked and announced on October 1st.

Please use tag #snssvip919 when uploading projects, in the VIP group, and sharing on Instagram!

My SWEET card features one of my all time favorite sweet SNSS stamps sets, Sweet As Candy.  I water colored the images and card front, then added some glittery stickles--sweet!

I hope your day is sweet!  TTFN, Jane