Once in a while, we visit this wonderful city to view the ocean and feel the waves on our feet. We also love the cool breeze and awesome blue skies by the coast. And we've experienced all of that last week. We were also blessed with cool and windy weather with a spectacular view of the lake while we rented a screened shelter at the Corpus Christi State Park for several days. My hubby and son love their superb fishing facility out there. So while the boys were out fishing for hours , I stayed behind to start another crochet project. It relaxed me while the birds with their wonderful noises kept me company in the shelter. One bird in particular (a red cardinal) was always there to wake and greet us every morning while providing us with wonderful chirping sounds all throughout our stay. Everything is just so beautiful there. Oh, and the stars were out in full display each night. At one point, they reminded me of the light that shines inside every believer's (Born-again, John 3:3) life. Each of them giving glory to the One who created them and are a beacon of hope in the midst of vast darkness. I love it! Big things or small things, there is always something in nature that reminds and assures me of God's faithfulness and His abiding presence wherever I go. Spending time with God---to breakaway from life's normal hustle and bustle, is an essential part of a believer's life. In this crazy world, we need a quiet time to reflect. I am grateful to God for the opportunity. But whether you go out of town for days or just find a local park in your neighborhood for several hours, go and take the time! What could inspire us more than God's natural creation surrounding us? Though others may find it fun and ideal to spend their time at Amusement Parks with all its exciting and fun rides, or attend sporting events, or book a Cruise or a Resort vacation which are very costly and frankly---way out of my budget, there is always something special in simple and quiet family time that does not break the bank. We are looking forward for yet another great adventure with the Lord next time. I want to leave you with the following passages that tells us of the faithfulness of God we can experience through His creation:
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth." (Psalm 19:1-6)
"When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!" (Psalm 8:3-9)
“Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths, lightning and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding, you mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars, wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds, kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and women, old men and children.” (Psalm 148:7-12)
For this first card, I used a clear stamp from Deasy Designs and colored it using my Touch Five markers. The base is an A2 pre-cut card that comes with an envelope (The same size used for all cards here). With some fussy cutting, this card came out awesome.
ADVENTUROUS BIRTHDAY CARD
ADVENTUROUS BIRTHDAY CARD INSIDE
ADVENTUROUS BIRTHDAY CARD WITH ENVELOPE
For my second card, I used rubber cling stamps from 2 coordinating sets of Stampers Anonymous namely Bird Crazy and Crazy Things sets. I also colored it using my Touch Five markers and incorporated some scrap DP's to create the banner. Sentiment is by Printworks.
AGE UNLISTED BIRD CARD
AGE UNLISTED BIRD CARD INSIDE
AGE UNLISTED BIRD CARD WITH ENVELOPE
For my third card, I used an image from Hampton Art Footlongs (retired) Clear Stamps and colored it using my Touch Five markers. I incorporated some inking to the clouds using Tumbled Glass Distress Ink and some Liquid Pearls (White Opal) for added dimension. I added some googly eyes and glitters (Stickles-Crystal) to complete this design.
MAKE A WISH BIRTHDAY CARD
MAKE A WISH BIRTHDAY CARD INSIDE
MAKE A WISH BIRTHDAY CARD WITH ENVELOPE
For my fourth and final card for this post, I used an image and sentiment from Stampendous Clear Stamps featuring my favorite Changito monkey and colored it using my Touch Five markers. I also used a couple of stencils from Hero Arts to create the clouds and the stars by inking them with Distress Inks (Tumbled Glass and Hickory Smoke). Pretty out of this world, huh!
YOU ROCKET CHANGITO BIRTHDAY CARD
YOU ROCKET CHANGITO BIRTHDAY CARD INSIDE
YOU ROCKET CHANGITO BIRTHDAY CARD WITH ENVELOPE
This Card/s is/are entered into the following Challenges:
AAA---Shiny Spring
Addicted to Stamps---Stamped Image and Sentiment
Dragonfly Dreams---ATG
Fashionable Stamping---Mode of Transport
Heartful Stamping---ATG with a Stamp
International Art and Soul---Distressing
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends---ATG
Crafty Friends---B is for ___ (Boy/Birthday)
Scrapper's Delights---ATG
Colour Crazy---ATG
Crafting with Friends---ATG
Creative Fingers---ATG
Jo's Scrap Shack---ATG
Just Add Ink---Add Critters
Morgan's Artworld---ATG
Pattie's Creations---Anything with Wings
PDE Linky Party---Spring
QKR Stampede---ATG/Up Up and Away
Simply Papercraft---ATG
This it all for now, guys. Make sure to join us at our neighborhood---613 Avenue Create---for an Anything Goes Challenge. You can take on the Optional Twist (Spring) or just do what you do best. There's really no reason for you to miss it. Can't wait to see what you create. Have a blessed and wonderful day, everyone!
Fabulous collection of cards xx
ReplyDeleteSo glad you had a wonderful and refreshing time away Jo Ann - and yes, God is always present, but we can appreciate it so much more when we are outdoors.
ReplyDeleteLove your cards - they are all gorgeous and have a fun element to them
Blessings
Maxine
Oh Wow these are so cool. I love them all. Nice work here. Thank you for sharing with us over here at Morgan's Artworld Challenge, best of luck with your entry.
ReplyDeleteAnnette DT for http://morgansartworld.blogspot.com.au/<br
Nice collection of cards they all look great. Thank you for entering our challenge. greetings, Veerle DT-ATSC
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards Jo! Fabulous coloring with the CAS designs! The rocket is perfect for our challenge! Thanks for joining us this week at QKR Stampede!
ReplyDeleteBrenda DT
very nice. Thank you for joining us at Crafty Friends
ReplyDeleteGreetings Geesje (DT)
The card for Fashionable Stamping Challenges is beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAlso the other cards are great.
Greetings Carola
Hello... it’s so lovely to see you have shared your gorgeous cards with us. Thank you for entering your Boy's Birthday card into our ‘B is for…’ Challenge. Good luck in the draw and hope you will come back again soon.
ReplyDelete[Diane Louise, Team Leader for Crafty Friends Challenge Blog]
A very stylish collection of cards but with a real fun hint using the great images, many thanks for sharing with us at Fashionable Stamping and Stamping Sensations April challenge (please add and link to the latter so you are eligible for the prize).
ReplyDeleteB x
B x
ALL your cards are FABulous! They made me smile, so much fun on each and every one.. Thank you so much for joining us this week at
ReplyDeleteQKR Stampede.
Nice bunch of cards. Thanks for sharing at AAA Cards Challenge.
ReplyDeleteAll such cute and fun cards! Thanks for sharing with us at Morgan's ArtWorld!
ReplyDeleteTotally gorgeous Jo Ann, love the addition of the googlie eyes, the perfect finishing touch :) :) . Thank you for joining us and sharing your art work at International Art & Soul and good luck. xxxxx
ReplyDeleteYou have been busy making all these wonderful cards. They all look great and a good idea making matching enveloppes. Thanks for joining our challenge at Addicted to Stamps. Marlies
ReplyDeleteAll of these are adorable. Love the whole set. Thanks for playing along with us this week at Jo's Fun Friday. AJ DT JSS
ReplyDeleteCute! I love the matching stamped envelope. Thanks for sharing at PDE Linky Party.
ReplyDelete~Owner/DT Janis
Such a fun set of cards, brilliant images and beautifully coloured. Thanks for linking up at AAA Cards with one of them.
ReplyDeleteSuper fun, Jo Ann. Love that Crazy Bird! Thanks for playing along at AAA Cards with your cute Clean And Simple creation.
ReplyDeleteYou have created lovely cards. I love your colouring and your layout. Thanks for joining us at Addicted to stamps challenge,Alma
ReplyDeleteA lovely selection of CAS cards, very pretty. Thank you so much for sharing this with us over at Simply Papercraft. Sue DT xx
ReplyDeleteGreat array of cards. I love them all. TFS and joining us at Jo's for Funday Friday
ReplyDeleteJo Ann, those are adorable and great cards. Love the fun scenes on them. Thank you for visiting my blog and leaving me an encouragement word the other day.
ReplyDeleteLovely card thanks for joining us at Crafting with Friends.DT Louise x
ReplyDeleteJo Ann, super collection you have been busy. Thank you for playing along this week at International Art & Soul. I sure hope to see you back again very soon!!!
ReplyDeleteTTFN,
CraftyGirl
International Art & Soul DT
craftygirlcardsandcrafts.blogspot.com
Fabulous makes. Thanks for joining us in our Anything Goes challenge at Colour Crazy Challenge
ReplyDeleteAnjie (DT)
Your blog is always a delight and uplifting read. Not just for the adorable cards - and this is an incredibly cute bunch! - but also for your words. I wanted to thank you for playing along with my heARTful stamping challenge during April - sorry that I am just stopping by today!
ReplyDelete