Never will I leaf you

My late contribution to this week's SALT challenge 'His Presence, what does God's presence mean to you? Does it mean Comfort in time of loss, Strength when you face a battle, Reassurance that you Walk the Good Walk...or is it something you need to accept,is it something you want to be more open too.Joshua 1:5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life.As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.'

I love this verse because it reminds me of God's faithfulness and promise

I used this photograph that I took of a white leaf that was set amongst all the these other brown ones. It reminded me of the artist Andy Goldsworthy that takes a lot of photos using nature. It was so tempting to keep adding to this piece, but I soon realised that it would detract from the picture and the words, so I kept it simple using white lettering and white stazon to ink the edges and stamp the leaf images around the border.

Looks Can Be Decieving

I have acquired this hand made card display unit, which was in a shop. Unfortunately the unit had been abandoned and left outside in all weathers, so it has suffered from damp and mould, but with a bit of TLC and a damp soapy cloth, I plan on restoring it back to life and make it part of the furniture! It will live in the dinning room with my craft area and I hope to use it as a permanent display for my cards. I added a batch of cards on to it to see what it looks like. There is even a draw underneath for storage!

Ruby, Ruby, Ruby!

Latest commission for another Ruby Wedding Anniversary- seems to be the year for it this year?...This is a slightly belated card made for my Auntie who likes butterflies, so thought I would incorporate one into the design. Annoyingly I couldn't locate my water colour pens so ended up coloring the butterfly with watered down ink pads.

Many Magnolia's

I used Edwins boots, and the star from his jumper, to incorporate it into the other Edwin, his mix and match name; Edtwin!

I am amazed how many unique and different designs can be produced from the same style of stamp! Namely the gorgeous Magnolia's. Here are a couple of recent cards, including on for there latest intriguing challenge- to mix and match existing Magnolias to produce a slightly different outcomI have just noticed this card ties in nicely with DCM's midweek challenge os pastels! Bonus!

And this is a commission for a baptismal card for a 13year old girl.

Pin & Party

The latest DCM challenge is to use pins or needles, I was going to pin a tag or charm to the lace but decided to go for something a bit different and pierced it through the prima instead!

I used my new papermania papers- (sorry I did think they were dovecraft sorry for misleading anyone before!) The lace is from local cheap shop! with self adhesive backing, inked with distressed inks to blend the colour. Primas, stick on pearls and safety pin from Lakeland, handmade with love charm, local haberdashery. ribbon from stash

Here is a snapshot also of another succesful card party, this was only a few of the cards, had over 200 to sell! Not many people turned up but it was worth my while in sales.

Plans & Promises

My turn for this weeks Salt challenge 'This week's main topic is 'Believe', but I also wanted to share with you a verse that has particularly struck me recently which is taken from Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

If only we truly believed in God's promises- we would worry so much less. It is such a reassurance to know that we have a great God who is in control of all things.

I used this Urban Lily paper to inspire the colours that iI used to colour the chipboard letters, then stamped them in black, and printed the verse.

Farewell, Friend!

The more I make books the more I wish I had a bind it all! This book has been compiled for a friend from the netherlands who has lived here for a couple of years and is due to migrate with her family to Kenya. This is a small token from the Christian toddler group that we go to, including, photos, the childrens drawings, recipes and questions that have been answered from all the mums. Like what we are goingto miss about her, and our favourite bible verses and hymns or song. I wanted to keep an old English style to it, to remind her of England.

Signed, Sealed & Delivered

This ATC (Artist Trading Card) is for the latest Salt Challenge.'This fortnight at SALT, I (Casey) want you all to think about and maybe create a piece of art that conveys a message of being His princess! When I first heard that term (HIS PRINCESS) I thought it sounded a bit over the top...but then after reading the Bible and listening to other messages, I realised that we are daughters of THE King. So, daughters of a King are referred to as princesses. So, how does it feel for you to be His Princess? We'd love for you to share your "HIS PRINCESS" creations with us.' I took on the theme of Royalty and worked with the ideal of royal seals, hence the signed sealed and deliverd from sin motto! And as you can see I used a real wax seal and stamped the letter 'E' into it. I had an idea in my head what I wanted to do, and it turned out better than I expected.

Over Do-dooling it!

Cor made a mamouth 11 cards yesterday! Some which I have shown you already, and some were duplicated designs, and there was this one also. I kept making mistakes with this one, like putting too much doodling then trying out different doodles thatdidnt work, so I stuck with the same doodle design- why the doodling? Well I was trying to complete the challenge for the Arty Girlz Challenge Blog. In fact this card is winging it's way to my dear friend called 'Arty'!

Striving for Simplicity

Hmm simple does not come easy for me! But sometime the papers say it all and there is no need to add too much. So here are today's efforts of trying to be simple, the first being an Easter card for the DCM mid-week challenge. Used some new papers, by...Dovecraft me thinks? and some new primas too!