Blog Candy ending

Don't forget that my blog candy opportunity ends TODAY! Go here for more info!
Blessings!
~H

Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge...And a Birthday Blog Hop!!!

Thank you for joining us for this week's Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge and for Lisa's Birthday Blog Hop!!! We're going to start out with Lisa's party, then we'll head into this week's challenge! If you came to my blog from Ceal's blog, then you're on the right track, if not, please head back to SSCC if you want to join in the birthday fun!

First, we've got balloons for Lisa's party! We picked green because it's Lisa's favorite color!

Next is the cake!!! Isn't this cake so much fun?!? I just love these fun designs of cakes! They can be awesome inspirations for great cards, too!

I made this card for Lisa's birthday and it's also the card for our challenge this week, which is hosted by the lovely Randi!

Here are the details of the challenge:

Scripture:
Matthew 2:11 "After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh."
Matthew 7:7-11: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in Heaven give what is good to those who ask it."

Challenge:
Make a card, LO, or project that includes an image of gift/s or giving gifts somewhere in it

Sponsor and Guest Designer:
La-La-Land Crafts featuring Irina Blount
You just HAVE to visit La-La-Land! They have the most adorable stamps!!!

Next stop on your birthday blog hop is to Kathy and don't forget to stop by and wish Lisa a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I'm looking forward to seeing your card at the Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge blog this week!

Blessings!

~H

Volunteering & Holiday Cards for My Mom

My mom came up this week for Thanksgiving so she could go with us and volunteer at the community center serving dinner. It was such a fun day! This is the second year that we've been able to volunteer and this year my 15 yr old got to serve lunches with us (last year he was pouring drinks behind a counter). I can't begin to explain to you how it feels to see the greatful faces of people who probably haven't had a decent dinner like that in a long time. It's incredible! One young man, probably about 12 yrs old, stopped my husband outside as we were leaving and thanked him, again, for serving him dinner. It was so sweet. We were there on our feet for about 2 hours, but it only felt like 20 minutes! We were not ready to be done, because we were having such a great time! We also got to meet some of the Disney on Ice travelers, some who are in the show and some who are behind the scenes workers. They helped serve as well. If you ever get the opportunity to do something like this, I encourage you to do it. You will be blessed beyond measure!

Now, my mom & cards! My mom always wants some cards made when she's here! She wanted 4 cards made, and she made one, but I only finished the other 2. I thought I'd share the shadow box card I made.



Ingredients:
DP/CS-SU & I belive the snowflake one is from My Minds Eye
Stamps-Magnolia (trees), The Greeting Farm, Studio G, Judith
Extras-Snowflake from the dollar shop, snowflake border punch by Martha Stewart, Liquid Applique, Stickles, Fun Flock, SU chalk, nestabilities

It's hard to tell, but we used a clear sheet of paper attached to the "frame" which we dotted stickles on to look kind of like falling snow. We also used chalk to "blotch" on the sky & sun by the trees. I love this card and she almost didn't get to take it with her!!! I'm going to enter this at the KLSNS blog snowflake challenge, too!

Don't forget to check out my blog candy & shout-outs here! There's only a couple more days to enter!

Blessings!
~H

These are a few of my favorite things...

Blogs and stores and candy, OH MY!!!

Hi there! Today I wanted to share some awesome and uber talented people and their blogs with you! These ladies have been HUGE inspirations to me through their blogs and their stores/inventions. Most of these I've found through my college friend, Kristine of Ink Something. Because of her encouragement, I've been able to break out of my tiny little world of Topeka, KS and venture all over the world with my love for stamping! I've gotten so many ideas and so much encouragement from her. Re-connecting with her has been such a wonderful blessing! Thanks, Kris!

Now, on to the SHOUT-OUTS!
Please take the time to visit these sites this week. You will be so happy you did!

Kristine of Ink Something Awesome friend, crafting mentor and also a DT sister at Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge Blog You will LOVE her! She's truly wonderful!

Kelly of KL Stampin N Scrappin Store and KL Stampin N Scrappin Blog She's a sweetheart with a huge heart and awesomly talented, too! Her DT is awesome and they have fun challenges every month, too!

Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge Blog and my lovely DT sisters, who are becoming more than just DT sisters, they are becoming great friends as well. We have new challenges each Sunday, so join us! It's so much fun! Each of these ladies bring a different style and inspiration to the table each week and it's awesome to see how such different people come together with one common goal, sharing Christ through their stamping.

Kathy of Winter Creations by Kathy Winter
Peggusue of Roses by my Window
Pamela of Pamela's World of Scrap
Randi of Randi's A New Creation
Ceal of Simply Beautiful
Lisa of The Craft's Meow
Candace of Candid Candace
Laurie of Ministering Hands...Loving Hearts

Suzanne Dean of Scrap Bitz um, BOW EASY! It IS so easy! Suzanne sent me one of these early on in my blogging career and I'm so thankful she did! I've been able to make stunning bows for various projects because of her generosity! She's super talented and updates her blog daily with new and exciting cards & projects!

Sparkle of Sparkle Creations Another sweetheart! Her style is fun, too! She's one of the first I became acquainted with on blogging and I've been a fan ever since!

Cheryl of Cottage Creations My New York friend who makes the most beautiful Christmas cards ever! She is the first person I won "Blog Candy" from and she sent me a Magnolia stamp as well as a stunning Christmas card!

Carolina of Carolina's Creative Pad Very unique style with lots of fun tutorials!

Diana Crick with Magnolia-Licious and Scor-Pal Diana created the Scor-Pal, which has become one of my best friends EVER! I use it to make the perfect scores on all my cards and projects. It makes it EASY!

Magnolia-licious Highlights Blog This is another challenge blog I like to visit. Their DT is awesome and they have fun challenges every month, too.

I also mentioned CANDY! I'll randomly choose a winner on December 1st so you have until November 30th to enter!

Here's what will get you into the drawing:

1) Visit the sites mentioned above and leave a comment on my post to tell me something from one of the blogs that inspired you
2) Become a follower of my blog
3) Post a link to this post on your blog,

What to know what you're playing for?
INDIVIDUAL IMMUNITY!!! No, wait, that's reality TV...

How about a brand new "Waiting Tilda" Magnolia stamp and a surprise stamp from High Hopes donated by the wonderful Kelly of KL Stampin N Scrappin Store AND some stamped images and some embellishments! Whatever fun stuff I can fit into the package I have!

Join the fun and get some inspiration as well as the chance to win some fun stuff!!!

Blessings!
~H

Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge...

Good Sunday morning to you!

This week's Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge was picked by none other than...ME. The verse I chose was Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (NIV) and the challenge is to make a Thanksgiving card or card of thankfulness.

This verse reminds me that we are to do good and though it might not feel as though we're being "rewarded" or that anyone really carest that we're doing right, God sees and God cares and we WILL be blessed if we do not give up. We have to complete that job God gave us. If a farmer only worked half his field when he felt like it, would there be much to harvest? I would think not. A farmer has many challenges that he faces while working his crops. The weather, bugs, animals, the soil, broken equipment, etc. yet, he does what he has to so that his crops can grow and at harvest time, if he does as he should, he will reap a very blessed harvest. That is how God wants us to be, determined to do the right thing no matter what, and he's promised to bless us.

I chose a Thanksgiving card because this week in the US we will celebrate our Thanksgiving Day. If you're not in the US, please still join us by making a card of thankfulness. There's always a reason to give thanks to our Lord for how wonderful He is to us!

And don't forget to check out our sponsor this week! Our Daily Bread Designs is going to send one very blessed person this gorgeous stamp set this week!

Here's the card I made this week. Isn't Tilda just adorable?!?

Ingredients:

CS-SU-Really Rust & Hobby Lobby-Brown

Stamps-Magnolia; G Studios (pumpkins were printed)

Ink-Colorbox Fluid Chalk-Black; SU-Really Rust; SU-Green

Accessories-Stickles, Glossy Accents, Nestabilities

Coloring-Water colors; SU ink (on pumpkins using a paint brush)

Join us this week at Stampin Sisters in Christ and let us know what you're thankful for!

Blessings!

~H

Jam Tilda

I made this card for one of my sister's birthdays! Enjoy!

Ingredients:

CS-SU

DP-My Minds Eye

Stamps-Magnolia, Clear set from Michaels

Extras-K & Co flowers, Nestabilities, Stickles, Ribbon from Michaels

Have a wonderful week-end and doen't forget to check out my "Favorite Things/Shout Out/Candy" post from yesterday!

Blessings!

~H

Stampin Sisters in Christ Blog Challenge #13...

Please accept my apologies for not getting this post up earlier today! Let's get on with it...

Today's challenge at Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge Blog was to create a shadow box card. Interesting, (I thought)... Peggysue , our awesome hostess this week, is REALLY trying to challenge me now! Stretch beyond my capabilities, or what I though were my capapbilities! Sometimes we need challenges in our lives to move us forward, don't you think? We are all capable of being great! God created us in His image, didn't He? So, there! We all have that greatness in us, and a good stretching challenge is just what I needed this week! Thanks, Peggysue!

Here are the details of our challenge-

SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 13:12 (King James Version): "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known."

CHALLENGE: Peggysue's stamping challenge was to create one of her favorite layouts, the shadowbox card. She says, "No more shadows, no more dim reflections when we get to heaven!"

You can find a tutorial for creating a shadowbox on Splitcoaststampers.

SPONSOR: Laura at Layers of Color Art Stamps is offering a beautiful set of butterfly stamps. Be sure to visit her, too!

You know how sometimes we think we're up against a major challenge, but when it gets right to it, the challenge isn't near the mountain you've made it out to be? Well, this card was one of those! I was worried that I wouldn't get it right, so I set out with several scrap papers and started following the tutorial Peggysue gave to us and oh my goodness! It turned out to be the easiest card I've ever made! And when you use dp in cardstock, there's no layers or anything needed! Anyway, here's my card: (I was into snowflakes this week!)

Ingredients:
DP-Bo Bunny
Stamps-Magnolia & SU
Extras-Stickles, Snowflake Sequins, Snowflake punches by MS

So, let this be my challenge to you this week: Along with joining our challenge at Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge Blog, let God use the greatness He designed in YOU this week, do something that stretches you and helps you grow. And let me know how it goes! :)

Blessings!

~H

Thankful for Friends Blog Hop...

Today is Scrapbook News and Review Magazine's

"A Faith Perspective: Thankful for Friends Faith Blog Hop."

Join in the fun by clicking HERE!

Lots of prizes and awesome inspiration!

Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge Blog is in the line-up, too!

Have a blessed week-end and don't forget to come by

Stampin Sisters in Christ Challenge Blog

tomorrow for our new challenge!

Blessings!

~H

Waiting Tilda with Snowflakes and several challenges!

I think I am in love with this card that I made to use for 3 different challenges! It just turned out cuter than I ever expected!

Here are the challenges I'm entering it in:
Friday Sketchers challenge was to follow their sketch. You can see that sketch here.

KLSNS challenge was to use snowflakes. Obviously, I used snowflakes! The dp that I used for the large snowflake, has snowflakes on it, too! You can only see part of some, though.

La-la Land Crafts Blog challenge is to use punches or die cuts. I used punches for my snowflakes and nestabilities for the white circles.

If you look closely, you can see that I traced the large snowflake in stickles, as well as put it on the smaller snowflakes, over the words in the sentiment, on the brads, on Tilda's hat, gloves, bottom of shoes, bows, & cuffs and dotted it around the scallops of the circles. It looked like snow to me. :)


Ingredients:
DP-Bo Bunny (snowflake, too!)
Stamp-Magnolia
Sentiment-SU
Extras-Snowflake punch by Martha Stewart; Stickles, Brads from JoAnn's

I had so much fun making this card! I'm thinking about making my boss buy it for his daughter, though, because it kind of looks like her. :) Think he'll go for it? Probably! lol

Have a wonderful day!

Blessings!
~H

Mission Possible...

MISSION: MAKE CARD/PROJECT FOR HEROS
PARTNER: STAMPIN SISTERS IN CHRIST CHALLENGE
HOSTESS: CANDACE
SCRIPTURE: JOHN 15:13
SPONSOR: PAPER PRETTIES

Good morning! No chit chat today, we're getting right down to our mission!

Today's Stampin Sisters in Christ challenge is from the lovely Candace. Here's what she has to say: "The challenge for this week is to make a patriotic-themed card for a soldier and as a bonus, donate it to Operation Write Home, so that a soldier may be encouraged by your words of thanks. Write a special message of gratitude on the inside and sign your name. They will be distributed to soldiers who rarely get mail, or just need encouragement. Be sure to put your card in an envelope and write “Any Hero” on the front. For more information on how to make a card for “Any Hero,” click here."

The verse she chose is John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." WOW! Now seriously, think about that...who in this world is going to lay down his life for YOU? Our soldiers are laying their lives on the line every day for us. For our nation to be free. You know who else laid down Hhis life for you? Jesus. He died so that we could be set free from our sins. He loves us so much that he did this, without asking for anything in return. All we have to do is accept His gift of salvation. Many people reading my blog know the love that Christ has for them, but for the one reading this that doesn't, please feel free to e-mail any of our DT sisters and ask them about this gift of love.

Here's the card I created:

Ingredients:

Stamp-Tilda with a bow & stairs by Magnolia; star by SU; sentiment by Studio G; printed dog from clip art and printed the verse

Paper-scraps I had laying around, not sure who the dp is by because I'd already used the corner with their name on it!

Others: rhinestones by Studio 18; stickles; colored with water colors

Visit SSCC and see what the other DT ladies have made! I'm sure you'll be blessed! Don't forget to join in the challenge and let a "hero" know you're thinking about them!

Blessings!

~H