Friday, January 29, 2016

Proclaim! (Bible Journaling With Paper Smooches)


Yesterday, I did a little bible journaling from my sermon notes on Sunday. Our church had a mission and ministry launch that day for 2016, and it seemed very appropriate that the sermon was from Luke 4, where Jesus announced and started his ministry.


Proclaim, proclaim, proclaim. The word appears three times in the scripture that Jesus reads in the temple from the scroll of Isaiah.


Pastor said something that really stuck with me. He said (and he may have been quoting from someone else here) "The church is not a purveyor of religious goods and services. The church is meant to go and proclaim the good news!"

From my notes:

God assigns each believer a powerful platform to proclaim the truth. (our homes, our jobs, our communities)

God's people proclaim the truth triumphantly!

It's extremely important how you live your life for the Lord.

Do I have a heart for the poor, the prisoners, the blind, and the oppressed? God does! We must have a heart for them to carry on what Jesus started until he comes again.


Here are some of the products I used for this page. Wow, this one came together so easily. Three squirts of Distress Stain, some stamping, a little marker, and done. Alphadots from Paper Smooches is one of my all time favorite alphabet stamps. So easy to use, and perfectly imperfect every time.

Thanks for visiting the cafe today! I hope to make quite a few cards at this weekend's crafting event, so hopefully I will have more to show you next week.

Thursday, January 28, 2016

What I've Been Prepping For This Week


Hello cafe friends! If some of you were wondering "Hey, where's my barrista? My coffee is getting cold!", well, fear not! I'm here! I've been a little preoccupied this week as I prepare for an event at our church this weekend.


Ladies Crafting Day is this Saturday, and I volunteered to give a demonstration on incorporating scripture into artwork and paper crafting.


I've been gathering together some articles and periodicals on bible journaling.


I'm bringing along some of my favorite books for inspiration.


I will have my journaling bible, along with a few of my art journals.


I also volunteered to put together a Make and Take for the ladies in attendance. I figured that we could make book marks that can be used in our bibles, but my plan is to show how these items can also be added to the pages with some washi tape.


{Today's Brew: Beautiful Butteflies (PTI), Beautiful Blessings (PTI), Hero Arts inks, Distress Spray, Glimmer Mist, Mister Huey Calico spray, corner rounder punch, hole punch, SU ribbon}

I'm so excited to have the chance to spend a full day crafting with other ladies! This is something that I really miss.

Now my next dilemma: how do I pack the entire contents of my craft room to take along with me? :)

Blessings, cafe friends!

Friday, January 22, 2016

Sending Hedgehugs

Happy Friday, cafe friends!

Where has the week gone? Time seems to fly when you are in the midst of home repairs and renovations. Sadly, none of them were photo worthy or bloggable. For example, we swapped out all of the nasty old toilet seats with new ones. But I'm guessing you probably don't want to see photos of that, am I right? We repaired some broken closet doors and hung some artwork. Again, nothing newsworthy. I painted the upstairs hallway, giving it a fresh clean coat of Accessible Beige (Sherwin Williams) to hide all of the nasty scrapes and dirty marks that came with the house. And can we all make a pinkie promise to never ever paint with flat paint ever?

These are all the little details that improve a house and make a good first impression. It just shows that a house is well loved and well cared for. Updating light fixtures, updating bathroom fixtures, paint. In the grand scheme of things, these are not costly updates, but boy do they make a difference when you are ready to put your house on the market.

I found some free time to pop into my craft space today!


I needed to make a card for my mom, who has a cold this week. Winter colds are no fun. It's the double whammy of being stuck indoors because it's winter AND being stuck indoors because she isn't feeling well.

I made a scalloped "lawn" for my critters, but wanted to give it a few heart flowers. So, I used the tulip stamp from Gleeful Gardens, cut off the tulip at the top, and glued a heart to the top instead.

I used some white craft ink to give the card base a heart-y background.



{Today's Brew: Sending Hedgehugs (Lawn Fawn), Gleeful Gardens (Lawn Fawn), stitched frame dies (Lawn Fawn), Let's Polka papers (Lawn Fawn), PTI card stock, watercolor paper, watercolors}


Now if I can only remember to get this one in the mailbox. Mom, I'm sending hedgehugs your way!

Saturday, January 16, 2016

Paper Smooches January Challenge: Four Colors

Hello, cafe friends! Today I have brewed up a sweet and simple card that's going to send you to the store for some awesome (and cheap!) crafting supplies.


I made this card for the Paper Smooches January challenge: use four colors on a card or creation. Here's a link to their site:

www.papersmooches.net

Here's my card:



Where, you may ask, did I find that awesome minty paper doily and pink washi tape? Target Dollar Spot! Isn't it sweet?


And where, you may ask, did I find that awesome vintage background paper? Well, I used a sheet from a Farmer's Almanac that I had saved for a while. (ahem! cough! cough! Four years?!)


So now when you are out running your Saturday errands, you can add these fun items to your shopping cart!


{Today's Brew: Needle Little Love stamp set (Paper Smooches), kraft card stock (PTI), Memories ink, COPIC markers, mint doily and pink washi tape (Target), DMC floss for stitching}

Lately, I find that I like my cards and other creations to be just a little imperfect. A little smudging outside the lines, slightly crooked stitching, imperfect fussy cutting. I think it adds that handmade and homey touch to the creation. It's kind of like the Amish women who make an imperfect stitch on their quilts to demonstrate that only God is perfect.

Thanks for visiting the cafe today!

Friday, January 15, 2016

Simple Stories Carpe Diem:A New Year, A New Planner


I like planners. That's no secret. But planners from Simple Stories? Be still my heart!


The Simple Stories Carpe Diem planner is really fantastic. An A5 size, packed with so much goodness...calendar pages, note pads, a section for everything. And accessories? Oh yeah. Magnetic page markers, stickers, washi aplenty.






I'm in love with this sweet puppy!




The washi tapes are lovely!

I included my 2016 bible verse on the top of the page. It's reminding me to be rooted in Christ...





...and overflowing with thankfulness! I added a little stamping this month with the coffee cup and the potted flower.



It's shaping up to be a very full month! I'm so glad I have a new planner to help me keep it all organized.

This week, I'll show my weekly pages as well.

Blessings on your weekend, cafe friends!

Monday, January 11, 2016

Glory Art Scripture Challenge January 2016: Limitless!


Good Monday, cafe friends! Today is an exciting day! Day one, month one of the Glory Art Scripture Challenge at Patter's blog, Triple The Scraps! (see link on right)

And in one of those awesome God ways, she chose a verse that was in my bible study and on my heart this week to highlight the power of our great and limitless God.

Limitless! Isn't that a comforting word?


Last week, I was in day one of a new bible study at church, and from the very beginning I was questioning the author of the study. That's probably not a good sign, right?  I think I need to pray on that. I don't want to have a hard heart for this study, but sometimes I have a little too much Berean in me, if you know what I mean. Question, question, question!

Anyhoo, the author used the story of the Rich Young Man ( see Matthew 19) to illustrate how we need to be careful about our wealth and where our hearts are. And I totally get that. I have been blessed beyond imagining, and I need to be reminded that I am blessed to be a blessing to others all the time. But here's the point of the story that she left out:


The rich young man came to Jesus and asked "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

Honestly, I love this young man. I can see why Jesus loved him, too ( see Mark 10:21). So very earnest and sincere. He knows he's lacking one thing in his life. And if he's like me, he's probably got a planner or two full of lists, trying to check off every important thing that needs to be done.

Just tell me what to do, Jesus! What can I do?


And that's where Jesus meets me, every day. I can't DO anything on my own. I can't get out of bed on my own. I can't get dressed on my own. I can't fix breakfast on my own. See? I've only made it to 9am, and already I am at the end of my limitations.

But praise be to God that where my limitations end, God's limitless power begins! He makes the impossible possible...every single day.

Jesus tells his disciples, in a nutshell, you can't be good enough. There's no one thing you can do. That's why you need me. That's why you need a savior.

"With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matt. 19:26

What can I do? I can follow hard and fast after Jesus. I can give him this messy day that seems impossible, and he can bring all things together for my good.

Done doin'! Grace accomplished! Amen!


For my bible page, I decided I wanted to try a full blown washi and sticker collage, with just a little handwriting thrown in to make it mine.


Thanks for visiting the cafe today!

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Storage, Soup, and Other Ways To Hibernate



On cold winter days in January, I like to put on the tea kettle and putter around the house. Make something in the craft room, throw in a load of laundry, hand wash those sweaters, invent a new soup. It's a great time to burrow in and hibernate.


I've been spending some time in my craft room this weekend, sorting through what I have and discovering sets I forgot I'd purchased. As it turns out, I own the stamp set Ruby Rose from Papertrey Ink...AND the dies to match. Huh. I must have bought that one from the buy/sell forums and completely forgot about it.

Shopping through one's own stash can be quite enlightening.

That's when I decided that I really needed to sort my PTI dies. Hopefully, it will help me find what I'm looking for, and remember what I already have in my stash.

But I just hate to spend money on ways to organize the stuff I've spent money on...know what I mean? Money spent on crafting storage is money I could spend on something new from winter CHA! So instead, I used some paper scraps, a tab punch, and some washi tape, and came up with a system that I am calling "good enough!"



A flip through file system to help me stay organized. Perfect. Cost= zero!

I made a really good knock off version of Panera's Turkey Chili last night. My family loved it, and it was serious comfort food on a cold winter's night. A great mix of beans and lots of veggies make this a fiber filled, protein packed meal!

Turkey Chili

1 lb. ground turkey
2 ribs celery, chopped
1 cup carrots, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 T. olive oil
1 can diced tomatoes (Rotel, or seasoned works well)
1 small can mild green chilies
1 c. sweet corn
1 c. chick peas, rinsed and drained
1 can mild chili beans
1 can kidney beans
2 c. tomato sauce ( I was out, so I substituted with 2 c. water and added tomato paste)
cumin, chili powder, salt, pepper to taste

In a separate pan, cook ground turkey. In stock pot, add olive oil, celery, carrots, onion and garlic until tender. Add tomatoes, mild chilies, corn, chick peas, beans, and tomato sauce or paste. Add turkey. Season to taste and let simmer for approximately 30 minutes. Serve with garlic toast, and enjoy!

I would have taken a photo of this colorful chili, but my family quickly ate the leftovers today. Yes, it was that good. :)

Blessings on your hibernation time, friends!




Friday, January 8, 2016

Splattery and Doodly

I have a problem with flowers. I can never have enough of them.

Look in my closet. I bet three-quarters of my blouses have a flower print.

Jewelry? Flowers.

Home furnishings? Flowers.

And don't even get me started on my garden. Two hundred flower bulbs planted last fall? Sheesh. My parents obviously named me appropriately when they stuck a flower to me forever.

When it comes to flowers, I'm a firm believer that more is more.

Which is why I have a hard time passing up a flower stamp set. They are all so lovely, and each one beckons me "Come! Come and plant me in your garden of stamp sets!"

I've seen some really super cute doodly stamp sets lately, and I want them all. ALL, I tell you! But then that ugly F word pops into my head.

No, not that F word, silly. Frugal. That F word.

So yesterday, I looked at my stamp sets that I already own, the ones that I gloss over in my pursuit of the next great thing, and I asked myself "Can't I turn one of these into an awesome doodly stamp set?"

Yes I can!


I used the stamp set Bold Blooms from Paper Smooches. After I stamped the flowers and leaves, I went back with a fine point marker and got a little doodly. And then I got a little splattery. And finally, a little sparkly.


{Today's Brew: Bold Blooms (Paper Smooches), sentiment from Folkal Points (Paper Smooches), stitched die (Lawn Fawn), card stock and ink (PTI), amuse twinkle rhinestones, Glimmer Mist, Prismacolor marker}


Thanks for visiting the cafe today!

Thursday, January 7, 2016

One Word 2016: Rooted



For quite a few years, I've asked God to give me a word or verse to meditate on for the coming year. I've found this to be a wonderful exercise. And without fail, after I have settled on the word or verse, it will pop up again and again and again over the year as it unfolds.

As 2015 came to a close, I felt that God was prompting me to get rooted. And then I found this verse in Colossians 2:6:


"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." (NIV)


Rooted.

Here's the funny thing about plants and flowers. If you transplant them frequently, and water infrequently, they have a tendency to develop shallow roots. Everything is on the surface of the soil. And it may be good for that hour, but it's not beneficial to the plant in the long run.


It's easy to see that I've been transplanted...a lot. And consequently, I have a tendency to develop some shallow roots because, quite frankly, it hurts too much to have deep roots yanked out of firmly established soil.

I think of it as my safety mechanism. And it might be a comfort zone where I want to be, but it's not the zone where God wants me to be.


I love this translation in the ESV as well. "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in him."

Yes, I need to walk in him, daily, in so many ways, not the least of them being actual physical walking again. It's one of my most tangible forms of meditation and prayer time. And it's been sorely lacking since I moved.

And "overflowing/abounding in thankfulness." Yes, God showed me at the close of 2015 how much I needed this.

And this verse continues in verses nine and ten:

"For in Christ, all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority."

I think that deeply rooted and fullness go hand in hand. God wants me to be rooted because He wants me to have life, and have it to the full. Rooted in the Word, rooted in community, rooted in family, rooted in faith. And over all of it, a generous watering of thankfulness.


Rooted. My word for 2016.

Do you have a word for the new year?

{Today's Brew: Papertrey Ink Petite Pots stamp set, PTI inks, micron marker, date stamp from SMASH}

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

The Relocated Craft Room


Yesterday, I showed you that I moved the craft stuff out of the family fun zone to the other side of the basement. And here it is...the other side of the basement.


I like the cozy space on this side, but the problem is that the water softener and electrical stuff were totally exposed. One trip to IKEA solved that. I bought an Akerkulla shower curtain to hide the softener, and an Akerkulla curtain panel to hide electrical. I guess that's one of the benefits of the drop ceiling: I can "drop" things from it!



I finally got the Raskog cart that is much loved by crafters everywhere! It is very handy to be able to wheel my tools right next to me as I work.



And when you consider that my work table surface is about eighteen inches deep, then you can see why I need that Raskog. I seriously need a new craft table, but in the meantime I am using this folding banquet table and calling it good enough.


My dream space would have a wall of pegboard, where I can sort and hang some items and get them off the table.


This is the cleanest it's been in months! I have a problem with keeping all flat surfaces uncluttered in my house, and my craft table is no exception!

The lighting on this side of the basement is not optimal, but I hope to fix that in the future with an Ott lite.


If you sit at my craft table and turn around, you can see the wall of the stairwell. This wall divides the family fun zone and the craft zone, and keeps the clutter hidden.






I'm just happy that I have a place for everything, and everything in its place. No built ins or closets, like my last craft room, but it functions just fine.

Hmm...that table is way too clean. Time to get crafty!