Friday, March 30, 2012

Easter Dove

Hi Stamping Friends!!


Sorry I've been MIA for awhile. It's so hard to find the balance between all my regular wife and mom responsibilities and still make room for some stamping fun. Lately I've been trying to focus on being a good homeschool mom. I've got an 8th grader still at home who is ready to spread her wings and head to high school in the fall. And I have my 6yo DS at home who is struggling his way through reading. Can I tell you how frustrating the English language can be?!!


I did have some fun this weekend with my Spring Hostess Stamp Club. I just love getting together with these ladies!!! We always have a good time.


EASTER DOVE

Stamps:  Easter Dove
Paper:  Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery
Accessories:  Vintage Wallpaper EF, Sweet Stems Embosslit, Decorative Label Punch, Lattice Die, Basic Pearls

I've seen lots of cards on the net using the Lattice die to make a cross. This is my version of it. Instead of the traditional "brown" cross, I wanted to make mine white. Trying to keep things simple and elegant. I think I accomplished that.

I'm excited to announce that the Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge has returned!! We will be offering a once-a-month challenge on the 1st of each month. I hope you will stop by this Sunday, April 1st and see what we are celebrating!!

Can you believe there is only one day left of Sale-A-Bration?!!! If you want to get exclusive FREE Sale-A-Bration products, make sure you visit my online store and place your order by March 31st: KRYSTAL'S CARDS



Stop back by on Sunday and celebrate the return of the Stampin' Celebration Inspiration Challenge!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stamping!

Friday, March 2, 2012

Psalm 9 For Real Friday

Hi Friends!
"I will praise you, O Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders.
I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High."
Psalm 9:1-2


KINDNESS MATTERS

Stamps: Kindness Matters
Paper: Poppy Parade, Crumb Cake, Certainly Celery, Everyday Enchantment DSP, First Edition DSP
Accessories: Fun Flowers die, Elegant Bouquet EF, Vanilla Seam Binding, Vintage Brads, Spritzer Tool

This week's Psalms Bible Study with Wendy Pope looks at Psalms 9. Here is what my NIV Life Application Study Bible says about verse 1:
"Praise is expressing to God our appreciation and understanding of His worth. It is saying "thank you" for each aspect of His divine nature. Our inward attitude becomes outward expression. When we praise God, we help ourselves by expanding our awareness of who He is. In each Psalm you read, look for an attribute or characteristic of God for which you can thank Him."

Wendy pointed out how, in this Psalm, David modeled prayer with praise first, thankfulness second, and finally with the "asking". So often our prayers are all about the asking, that we forget about the praise and thanksgiving (why I created a "thank you" card for today). "Praise lifts up the name of God for who He is, thanks celebrates what He has done." 

Right now I am reading Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts. I highly recommend it. Such a beautiful read. Her writing is so poetic. In it Ann talk about how before many miracles that Jesus performed, he thanked God FIRST and then the miracle happened. Like with the loaves and the fish. "And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves." Matt. 14:19 First the thanks, then the joy of the miracle. Ann's premise is if we can live in thanksgiving, we will live in joy.

Here is what Matthew Henry has to say about Psalm 9:1...
"Holy joy is the life of thankful praise, as thankful praise is the language of holy joy: I will be glad and rejoice in thee. Whatever occurs to make us glad, our joy must pass through it, and terminate in God only: I will be glad and rejoice in thee, not in the gift so much as in the giver."

With praise and thanksgiving to God, we will find joy. "Our inward attitude becomes our outward expression."

This past Tuesday I had the privilege of participating in Challenge Day at our local high school. Challenge Day is a secular workshop that focuses on having every child feel safe, loved, and celebrated. What a powerful experience! It broke my heart to see all the "ugly" that kids face everyday. Many do not receive any love or encouragement at home. The stories I heard were heart breaking. They have no hope. I never realized just how blessed I was to live in a caring home, where I knew that someone would always love me no matter what. I wanted to hug each and every student and tell them that they do have hope. Hope in Jesus Christ who came to take away their brokenness. I did get to tell my "family group" of five students how very special they were. That they were created in God's very own image and that He created them for a purpose. I only had two minutes to talk, but I tried my hardest to share from my heart. If you think of it, would you please pray for Bardo, Francisco, Anna, Aurora, and Rosie this week. They could sure use your prayers.



Had to make a few "guy" cards for my 40 Days of Lent challenge. I need to send out a few more cards this weekend. What about you? When is the last time you sent a smile through the mail? :)

Thanks for stopping by today!
I pray you've been blessed!