Friendships Rock!!!

Second Post... See below for The Paper Shelter Challenge!

Well...this afternoon I'll be going to my second counseling session. My life has been turned upside down. What I thought was, isn't. What I thought wasn't is... la-la-la-la... Can anyone relate? Let's face it...relationships are hard! Maybe someday I'll be able to share more, but until then, I think that my pain can and will help someone else who is in pain in a different way :) Although my mind and emotions are up and down, I KNOW the constant love and truth of Jesus Christ. He is the Author and Perfecter of our Faith! He is my closest friend who will always be available 24/7! His love is unconditional and His grace flows freely ♥

I dedicate this card to ALL my friends...that's YOU ♥ I love you!!!

"A friend gives hope when life is low, a friend is a place when you have nowhere to go, A friend is honest, a friend is true. A friend is precious and that my friend is you!"

This awesome sentiment is called A Friend Gives. It's a digi from Inky Impressions HERE.

This week's challenge at Inky Impressions is all about Things with Wings! If you're like me and don't have a winged image, you can also use some beautiful butterflies :) I couldn't wait to get my new butterfly die from Simon Says Stamp! It's my new fave!!!

The papers I've used for this card came as a freebie in a magazine... woo hoo! The lattice background is a cut file from Silhouette and topped with Pearl Pen pearls :)

I had to get on the FranTage bandwagon hee hee. I've had this for some time now, but didn't really know how to use it! This is it's debut lol! I covered the metal corner embellishment first with Distress Paint and then heat embossed the FranTage. Pretty cool... I got a little braver :) I dabbed here and there over the leaves and vine with Distress Paint and continued with the heat embossing.

Flowers are Wild Orchid. I've had these for a long time, but haven't used them much lately :( Gotta get them out more often!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Bearly Mine - Anything Goes

Paperminutes - Pastel Colors

Papertake Weekly - Occasion-ally (Friendship)

Tuesday Throwdown - Pastel Rainbows

Alphabet Challenge - Micro/Mini (butterflies/gems)

Delicious Doodles - Butterflies

Frosted Designs - Embossing
2 Sisters - Favorite Embellishment (Butterfly!)
One Stop Craft - Pastel Colors

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you've enjoyed your stay and will come back again soon ♥

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One more day until my $30 Saturated Canary Giveaway ends... 

You can find the post HERE.

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May God bless you, keep you and comfort your soul~

Always Bring Your Own Sunshine!

Yesterday was my birthday!!! I really didn't have a clue as to what the day would hold - but I must say that I was very, very blessed by the love and thoughtfulness of a few special people as well as the many friends and family who sent me birthday wishes. Oh my heart is full ♥ Thank you, sweet friends for making my day so wonderful!!!

Today begins a new challenge at Inky Impressions. This week we'd like to see your Holiday/Vacation projects. Here's my take on the challenge...

The sentiment isn't that big, so I thought I'd show it first. In case it's too small to read on your screen, it says, "Wherever you go, Regardless of the weather, Always bring your own Sunshine!" What a fabulous sentiment :) HERE.

Here's my bright and cheery card! It makes me happy lol!

I duplicated and altered the suitcase image by Inky Impressions HERE. They are colored with copics: E49 37 35 34 33 31 30; 100 C9  7 5 3 2 W3; 0 Blender; Silver Spica Pen. I used Mustard Seed, Dried Marigold and Festive Berries DI around the sentiment and Mustard Seed to color inside the pretty die cut frame.

The white panel is embossed with my Damask EF which is the really BIG one! I love that I can fit 5" wide cardstock in it (and I believe around 12" in length!).

The cream swirly piece is a Silhouette cut file, pearls in the corners from my stash and the smaller pearls were made using my Pearl Pen. I love the bright yellow ribbon which I picked up at Michael's.

Challenges Entered

A Little Bit Crafty - Summer Sun

Paper Playtime - Lots of Yellow

The Pink Elephant - Texture

Crafty Creations - Texture

The Crazy Challenge - Anything Goes

MarkerPOP - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

I hope that you've enjoyed my card. Thank you for stopping by!

My Saturated Canary Giveaway is still going on... you can find the post HERE.

May God bless you, keep you and comfort your soul~

Button Button Who's Got the Button?

Welcome back friends! I do hope that you've been having many, many good days :) As I get older, I realize that I simply can't take anything (or anyone) for granted. The truth is that tomorrow is not promised to us, but we can know Who holds the future if we belong to Jesus Christ ♥

I've been having some extremely hard days... I received some excruciating news about someone that I have no control over. BUT, I have Jesus by my side encouraging me and showing me step by step how to heal. I'll be going back to counseling (I'm a veteran by now lol!) hopefully soon and I KNOW that Godly Wisdom is going to help in many areas of my life!

As Jesus walks me through this next phase of my life, I'll be posting some insights. I KNOW that there are quite a few of you who struggle with depression and/or anxiety. I've got to tell you that I'm the Queen of this type of struggle. I'm definitely NOT where I used to be...praise God...but I DO know very well the darkness that exists in that place!

As always, feel free to skip over all this :) Does not apply...blah blah blah lol! Take what you need and leave the rest!

Let's go onto fun, crafty things!!! Inky Impressions has a new challenge up today. It's all about Buttons. I love buttons!!! You know me...I've got to have some in EVERY color LOL!!!

I've used the adorable, Angelica Crafting. She's colored up with copics - LOTS of copics lol...Skin - E25 E11 E000; Hair - YR24 Y26 Y23 E50; Pinks - R89 R83 R81 RV00 and RV04 RV02; Reds - R29 R27 R24 R22; Yellows - Y15 Y13 Y11; Pants - B97 B95 B93 B91 B00; Misc. - E33 E30; C7 C5 C4 C2 C1; Chalk for her cheeks.

To create the button behind Angelica, I simply die cut and embossed two circles, punching out the holes in the center with my huge hole punch and eyelet setter... duh... I can't remember what it's called hahaha. Anyway, don't look too close as this tool ate up my eyelets. No joke - they used to be white lol.

The cute li'l scissors charm is adhered with Glossy Accents. I have a confession to make... I never really believed that Glossy Accents would hold such an embellishment. I decided to give it a try though - guess what? I'm a believer now :)

I got brave and wrote the sentiment by hand! EEEK! Maybe could have used a thicker pen... Oh well! I am soooo pleased to be able to emboss a whole piece of 5"x5" cardstock now! I used my new Cuttlebug really BIG embossing folder :) It's called Polka Dot Page and is 5.5" x 12". I also have Damask Brocade which is very pretty.

Bling Bling Bling!!! Lots of Stickles on this card. LOVE ♥

I'd like to enter the following Challenges:

Craft Your Passion - 3D it

Kaboodle Doodles - Ink or Paint

MarkerPop - Lovely Locks

Oozak - Anything Goes with Texture

Inky Chicks - Summer Colors

Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes

Sister Act - Anything Goes
Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes
Simon Says - Anything Goes

Thanks so much for taking a peek! Stay strong... and let's grow together!!!

Would you like $30 to spend on Saturated Canary Digis? Find out more HERE.

May God bless you, keep you and comfort your soul~

Inky Impressions Birthday Challenge

I'm back with another GDT card for Inky Impressions. This week's challenge is all about Birthdays! Hmmm... too bad this wasn't scheduled for two weeks from now, as it will be my birthday lol! Oh well, who says you can't celebrate a little early :)

I've used the adorable Birthday Lili digi for my card. I love her! She's die cut and embossed with my new Spellbinders A2 Matting Basics A and Grand Scalloped Rectangles (smallest).

She's colored with copics: E30 31 33 34 35 37; E000 00 11 13; RV00 R81 83 85; G40 21 24 28; BG10 11 13 18 G00; B00. Glossy accents applied on the balloons, eyes and shoes; Stickles here and there for some party bling :)

I don't recall where this paper is from as it was in a scrap pile (so sorry!). The button, lace and ribbon are from my stash (I'm hittin' a home run here, huh?). But I DO know that the tag is a MS punch and the sentiment is from Papertrey :) Also the corner embellishments are an EK Success punch (Photo Corner Fancy) which has been embossed with Swiss Dots embossing folder and adorned with my (gooey from the weather) White Opal Pearl Pen.

Happy unbirthday to Me. Happy unbirthday to Me. Happy unbirthday to Me-eee. Happy unbirthday to Meeeeeeee!!! Ta Da :)

See you soon, my lovelies ♥

In case you missed it, my Saturated Canary Giveaway is HERE.

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

ALBC - Die-ing for it!

Creative Creations - Anything Goes

Sister Act - Anything Goes

Creative Fingers - Anything Goes

Brown Sugar - Anything Goes

May God bless you, keep you and comfort your soul~