The Digi Bells Blog Hop

Welcome sweet friends ♥ It's a very happy Friday as I have the privilege of participating in the fabulous Digi Bells Blog Hop today!!!

If you've come from Pops blog, you are definitely on the right track... If you've missed all the wonderful inspiration, you can find the beginning at Mary Lou's Blog! If you get lost along the way, the entire Hop List can be found at The Digi Bells Blog.

Now for the unveiling... here's the cutie you've been seeing along the way! You can find Apple Berry HERE.

I've colored her with the following Copics: Skin - E11 E01 E000; Hair - E37 YR24 Y26 Y23; Apples - R29 R27 R24 Y15; Leaves - YG17 YG03 YG01; Clothing - B04 B01 B00 B000 C3 C1 C0; Y38 Y15; Basket - E18 E17 E15 E13.

Awww... I'm quite disappointed that you can hardly tell in this photo that I scored the panel under the window to look like wainscoting :(

Oh well, I had fun creating this li'l scene!

I've used the Small Madison Window and Shutter dies by Poppy Stamps, edged with Tea Dye Distress Ink and a panel cut to 4 1/4" x 2" and scored every 1/4" for the wall.

Your next stop is the incredibly talented Julie!!!

Thanks so much for taking the time in your busy day to take a peek at my creation :)

Loads of love to you ♥

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

Winner's Post!

Thank you Thank you Thank you!!! You can't even imagine how much you've blessed me by your kind words and visits ♥ I really do cherish our friendship! I know... kinda weird, huh? Most of us have never met, but through our love of creating and this awesome crafting community... we can visit in our jammies with no make up and who knows???

Time to announce the Grand Prize Winner of my Dies & More Giveaway!!! Woot Woot :)

That's you, mary anne!!!

Please email me your address so I can get your prize in the mail :)

I'd also like to send a little surprise package as a token of my love and appreciation to the following friends chosen by Random.org...

Carmen

Amy A

Linda Dekker

Dianne

Sabrina Radican

Please email me your addresses if you'd like a surprise package!!!

If you didn't win this time, check back again... 

I have lots of giveaways throughout the year :)

Lots and lots of love, health and peace to all ♥

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

Elisabeth Bell's World Challenge

***Second Post***

Please scroll down for The Cutting Cafe and The Paper Shelter!!!

Oh my... it's a busy post day! I'm so glad I glanced at the date on my computer though cuz I thought this post was scheduled for tomorrow... EEK! Would someone please bring my mind back? I've seemed to misplace it...again haha!

I'm wondering if you've seen the Exclusive stamp set by Elisabeth Bell in Quick Cards magazine. I was at JoAnn's browsing the magazine section and saw them... I couldn't snatch it up fast enough! There are three clear stamps and all ADORABLE of course :)

My card today uses one of those stamps. I don't have a name for her... Maybe someday she'll be a digi - I don't know, but I love her!!!

She's stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copics: Skin - E11 E01 E000; Hair - E37 E34 YR24 Y26 Y23; Pinks - R85 R83 R81 RV00 RV0000; Flowers - Y11 Y15 Y19 Y38 R29; Hat - E37 E35 E33 E31 E30 Y23 Y21; Grass/Leaves - YG67 YG63 YG05 YG03 YG17 Y00; Sky - B00

My card today is for Elisabeth Bell's World Challenge as GDT. The challenge this month is "Shape it Up."

The base layer is die cut with Grand Circles; The lacy white layer is cut with a Silhouette file. The next layer is Kraft cardstock die cut and embossed with Scalloped Circle, and the image was stamped on X-press It Blending Card and die cut/embossed with Classic Circle.

I hand cut the clouds and masked the sky and image before using my new Copic Airbrush system! I finally got on the bandwagon :) Not sure how well I did, but it sure is FUN!!!

More dies... Picket Fence by Poppy Stamps and Butterfly by Simon Says. Roses are Wild Orchid, pearls are Ice White Pearl Pen, tag is MS punch with tiny sentiment by PTI.

****** Stay tuned for the WINNER of my Dies and More Giveaway ******

Post will be up tomorrow!!!

I'd like to enter the following challenges:

Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes (2nd Entry)

ABC Challenge - V for Very Cute

Creative Inspirations - Favorite Stamp Brand (♥ E Bell!)

The Hobby House - Hobby House Artists

Pile it On - Cool Colors
Oldie but a Goodie - Dies and Punches
Chocolate Coffee & Cards - Anything Goes
Simon Says - Anything Goes

Have a wonderful, crafty day sweet friends ♥

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

Fall Shaped Card with Autumn Leaves Digi

Well... I'm both excited and sad at the same time lol! This time it has nothing to do with my marriage, but about two wonderful design teams :)

Today is a sad farewell to The Paper Shelter. I've had a blast with the amazing and talented design team! Thank you, Veronica and Pedro for your fabulous images... thank you, Marie and Shirley for your awesome leadership ♥ May each of you enjoy and embrace the plans God has for your future!!! Also congratulations to the NEW DT :)

...and here's the reason for my excitement - I get to show you my latest card lol!

I really like how this shaped card turned out. I began with the Fall Word Shaped Card from The Cutting Cafe. Regina's files are so much fun to work with :)

I know these are not traditional Fall colors... but I decided to use the pre-colored image Autumn Leaves from The Paper Shelter and picked out the color of the coat. In my Silhouette software, I chose 'gradient fill' to fill in the letters and did a print and cut. The image was printed on Brochure Paper and cut out with my Silhouette as well. The colors really POP on the Brochure Paper!

*A word of warning on the brochure paper... don't use a cutting mat that is still pretty tacky as it sticks extremely well and will rip in shreds :(

The challenge at The Paper Shelter this week is "Stitching." I took this literally and machine stitched around the letters. Boy do I love the look of stitching :)

The sentiment I used comes with the Fall Shaped Word Card (along with other sentiments). The beautiful butterfly die cut is from Simon Says (LOVE!!!).

******Stay tuned for the WINNER of my Dies and More Giveaway******

Post will be up tomorrow!!!

I'd Like to enter the Following Challenges:

Crafty Cardmakers - Winged Things 

(did you notice the butterfly cradled in one of the leaves???)

Creative Craft - Use Ribbon

Inky Chicks - Pretty in Pink

Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes
Simon Says - Stamptember Use SSS product (DIE)
MarkerPop - Falling for You #31

Thanks so much for dropping by!

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

Oh Boy Overalls!!!

Hello lovelies ♥ I've just come home from a quick shopping spree at Michael's. I picked up a few desktop cubes for organizing...60% OFF!!! While I was there, I ran into a beautiful, young woman who I hadn't seen since she was in High School Youth Group. As God would have it, I mentioned my current journey of pain/forgiveness - and just like God does, she began to tell me of her own pain.

Again, God brings forth the truth about why we sometimes go through things... to help others ♥ She could trust what I was saying about the need to forgive because she knew that I could relate to what she was going through. There's nothing like personal experience to speak boldly on a subject...

Anyone who knows me, knows that it doesn't matter where I am when there's a Divine Appointment... I pray :) So in the middle of Michael's, I lifted up this sweet woman, asking Jesus to bring peace to her heart as she chooses to forgive!

I reminded her that forgiveness is for HER, not for the one she's forgiving. When we harbor unforgiveness, our relationship with God is broken. How do we restore that relationship? Make the choice to forgive... If you're like me, you won't FEEL like forgiving, but do it anyway. God will handle your emotions, bringing healing to your heart just like He did (and is doing) for me.

...the journey of healing continues ♥

This week at The Cutting Cafe, the amazing DT has a variety of projects to inspire your creativity! Here's my contribution... an adorable li'l Overalls Shaped Card!!!

I just adore the cute li'l football and stars! They make me happy lol! I was also overjoyed when I discovered these 'just the right color' button brads in my stash. How cool is that?

Papers are from an old stack I had waiting for this project (The Guy Stack by
DCWV). They are distressed with Brushed Corduroy DI.

Card base is Ivory Cardstock by Recollections 110 lb weight. It's my new 'go to' paper I also discovered at Michael's. Yay Michael's!!! Thank you :)

Tag punch is Martha Stewart with an old Stampin' Up! sentiment...tied with Doodlebug Twine. The card front is machine stitched - I must stitch more... I love the extra detail! Maybe I should have used a different color thread though. What do you think?

The countdown begins for my current Dies and More Giveaway...  

ends September 22. You can find it at THIS POST!

Thank you, again, for all your thoughts and prayers you've been sending my way! Prayer makes such a HUGE difference!!! I KNOW that God is indeed hearing and answering ♥ He is a faithful God who heals!!!

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

School Bus Shaped Card

Welcome back friends ♥ I pray you are having a wonderful day! The LORD is good... all the time; and all the time, the LORD is good :)

Today a small group of women met for Bible Study in a beautiful, warm and comfy home. We viewed the 1st session of "Believing God" by Beth Moore. This is not a new study, and a few of us had already gone through it, but we also knew that God's timing is always perfect...indeed right on time!!!

My faith has once again been challenged. Since going through my cancer journey almost 6 1/2 years ago, I've felt like I was struggling to get out of the darkness...the wilderness...a place that was just dry and felt so far away from God. It felt like once I was up, I was knocked back down with something else...my physical health, my mental health, my emotional health, and certainly my spiritual health!

So today, here's what I'm beginning to BELIEVE once again. I challenge you to do the same :)

1. God is who He says He is.
2. God can do what He says He can do.
3. I am who God says I am.
4. I can do all things through Christ.
5. God's Word is alive and active in me.

Update on counseling... I've decided to change counselors! Things just weren't quite right, so I've decided, "Off with her head!!!" hee hee. Hubby and I are now on a waiting list to see someone who has been highly recommended as a Christian counselor. I'm choosing to BELIEVE that God is in all of this and He certainly CAN DO what He says He can do!

God is faithful. Period. He continues to work out forgiveness in my heart ♥ It simply doesn't have the control and intensity it had 6 weeks ago. Am I 'done'? Noooo... remember, it's a process. I can choose to hold on to unforgiveness and remain bitter and angry, but I'm choosing to BELIEVE GOD is setting me free from my pain - and He is :)

Thank you for praying for me!!! He hears and is answering your prayers on my behalf. I'm incredibly grateful for YOU ♥

...and finally...

I'd like to share my latest project I created using Regina's adorable Bus Shaped Card which is available at The Cutting Cafe HERE.

I've altered the file a little bit by taking the window shapes and cutting out 'see through' windows on each layer using my Silhouette Designer's Edition Software. I substituted apples from the School Borders Printable Stamp Set for the center of the wheels, and spelled out S C H O O L from the same set.

The tag is a MS punch; stamped tag background and sentiment from PTI.

The Bus Shaped Card file also comes with an envelope which fits perfectly with this adorable card :) I used a 12 x 12 sheet of Yellow Pin Dots by Recollections to cut out the envelope.

So cute!

Time for me to celebrate my firstborn's birthday now... he's 27!!!

♥♥♥ I love you, Matthew ♥♥♥

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

Little Friends Altered Candle Holder

Hello everyone! Seems like ages since I've created anything... Things are moving along slowly here at my house, but I must say that even though it's difficult, I see progress and the beginning of healing in my marriage. Oh Praise God!!!

Change is soooo hard! Sometimes it's easier just to stay stuck in the pit than to do the work it takes to get out lol! I am determined NOT to stay stuck though. I know that God has much better plans for me than to wallow in the mud...

Yesterday, I had a much needed day of fun and shopping with a dear friend! I stumbled across this gorgeous candle holder at Yankee Candle in the Outlet Mall. When I saw it, I knew it would be perfect to showcase Elisabeth Bell's Little Friends from her Digital Collection :)

It's my turn as GDT to post on The Digi Bells DT Blog. If you haven't checked it out yet, The Digi Bells have some AMAZING creations to swoon over...

I've embellished the candle holder with pink lace, white pearls, Wild Orchid Roses (small) and pink and white roses from my winnings from Jacque's Sweet Stuff! Thanks again, Sweetie ♥

Copics used: E11 E01 E00 E000; YR24 Y26 Y23 E50; B97 B95 B93 B91 B000; B06 B000 B0000; BG000 B000; YG67 YG63 YG05 YG00.

For the background, I decided to do something different! I dripped Blending Solution to create an interesting pattern... and (although you can't see much here) I used Stormy Sky Distress Ink around the edges to create a little depth. You'll also find white gel pen and stickles accents!

Here you can take a peek at the cutouts on the back of the candle holder - sooo pretty!

I love the smell of sweet pea and the beautiful color of this candle :) It won't be long before I light it! I LOVE candles ♥

I'd like to enter into the following challenges:

The Hobby House - Hobby House Artists (E. Bell)

The Shabby Tea Room - Sweet Summertime/inspiration photo

MarkerPop - The Blues

Bearly Mine - Anything Goes

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

ABC - U for Unlimited

Penny's - Spooled Items (lace, pearls)

I pray you are well and enjoying your weekend!!! Happy crafting!!!

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

Boy and Girl Onesie Shaped Cards

Hello lovelies! Just a quick post from me today... lots on my heart and mind lately. It was a very emotional and draining weekend - and to top it off - it's my 31st Anniversary today... enough said about that!

This week at The Cutting Cafe, we were able to choose any file to work with. I chose this adorable Onesie Shaped Card which I transformed into a card for a baby boy and one for a baby girl ♥

The file comes with different shapes for the front. I obviously chose the heart for both... In Silhouette Designer's Edition, I created the blue trim on the boy Onesie. Not perfect by any means, but I think it adds a little bit more since I decided to have the main shape white!

Cute li'l lace trim for the girl is simply glued and folded over like pleats. Both cards are embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder with a dotted chevron pattern. I really like the texture :)

The Onesie Shaped Card comes with a variety of inserts... check these out!

I'd like to enter into the following Challenges:

Crafty Catz - Ribbon Pleating (I hope my lace counts!)

Sister Act - Anything Goes
Natalie and Amy's - Embossing

Stampin with the Dragon - Buttons n Bows

Crazy 4 Challenges - Buttons and Bows
Bearly Mine - Anything Goes

Hiding in My Craft Room - Freestyle
Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes
Incy Wincy - Hey Baby

Thanks so much for popping in my sweet friends ♥ If you think of me, please say a prayer... Hubby and I have LOTS to work out!

I love you dearly ♥

*** My current Giveaway can be found HERE! ***


 *** DT CALL ***

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