Love Inspired Series: Everlasting Love Center Step Card---Join our Bi-Weekly Inspirational/Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hello there, friends!  I'm back to feature the second card I made for our Challenge happening at Word rt Wednesday (WAW).  As always, we featured a Scripture Word Art which I highlighted HERE and you can download free at the WAW site.  However, this card features a stamp from our Challenge sponsor, Stamp Simply which highlights God's Truth in Jeremiah 31:3 which says, "The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness."

As a child of God (Born-again, John 3:3), I was justified (made righteous) through faith in Jesus Christ.  Not of my own works nor efforts.  Is is solely by trusting in what Jesus Christ accomplished for me at the Cross.  Philippians 3:20-21 says, "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."  My position (while here on earth till the day I see Jesus face to face) is firmly planted in the truth that Jesus justified me.  All of Jesus' victory is my victory.  Jesus is perfect and so is everyone who trusted in Him.  Not only did Jesus justified us but He also sanctified us (set us apart for His will and purpose).  Though many times we find ourselves failing to show the likeness of God in our lives as we go through the daily struggles and old habits in this fallen world, God is changing us from glory to glory.  Our transformation doesn't happen overnight and we go though the process our entire earthly life.  The process of sanctification continues and is not based on what we see and feel but by the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.   Therefore, we shouldn't allow momentary failures and transgressions to define who we are in the sight of God.  God's love for us is immeasurable and His forgiveness is boundless to those who repent and seek after Him.  We couldn't place God's love in a box---within the limits of our understanding.  He is God and we're not!  The sacrifice of Jesus Christ, God's  only begotten Son, is enough proof of what God is willing to give to bring us back into His presence.  Each waking moment, remember that JESUS CHRIST is the OBJECT of everything we received from God, the CROSS is the MEANS by which we received them, FAITH is the KEY to access God's blessings and the HOLY SPIRIT is our POWER SOURCE to accomplish everything.  His Holy Spirit inside of us seals us in His love both now and forever.  I would like to share with you this chapter from 2 Corinthians to empower us as representatives of our Lord in this world:

"Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.  It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."  (2 Corinthians 4)

For this Card, I used an image from Mo Manning called "Valerie In Love" and colored it with my ProMarker/Hobby Colour/Prismacolor markers.  The base is a white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches center step design.  The DP's are from Paper Studio and the brads are from Recollections. The sentiment is from the set called "Farmhouse Scriptural Thoughts" by Stamp Simply.  Finally, I stitched all over this card for added dimension. I am totally loving everything about this creation. 

 EVERLASTING LOVE CENTER STEP CARD

 EVERLASTING LOVE CENTER STEP CARD LAYERS

 EVERLASTING LOVE CENTER STEP CARD SIDE VIEW

 EVERLASTING LOVE CENTER STEP CARD INSIDE

EVERLASTING LOVE CENTER STEP CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges: 

Addicted to Stamps---Lots of Layers

Angie's Digital---ATG/Easter

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends---ATG

Pile It On---ATG/Lots of Layers

Corrosive---ATG

A Perfect Time---ATG

A Place to Start---ATG/Three, Four or Five

a2z---Fun Folds

Classic DT---ATG

Crafts Galore---ATG

Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper

Color Create Show it Off---ATG

Daisy Chain---Make it Feminine

Digi Doodle---ATG (Handcolored Image)

Happy Craft---ATG

LeAnns---ATG

Lets Craft and Create---ATG/Butterflies

Morgan's Artworld---ATG

Not Just Cards---ATG

YSP---ATG

Make sure you join us at WAW Challenge.  You can use the free Word Art in your creation and link it to our Challenge but is not a requirement.  As long as it's family-friendly, uplifting and inspirational, you can enter up to 5 times this week.  Such a wonderful prize coming from our sponsor this Challenge---Stamp Simply (stamps and or dies of your choice).  So excited to see what you come up with. Remember, nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).

Ready to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior? Find out how on the sidebar...

Love Inspired Series: Being With You Upright Z-Fold Card---Join Us for Another Monthly Challenge at 613 Avenue Create!

Hi everyone!  A couple of days ago, we just started another monthly Challenge at 613 Avenue Create.  So sorry for posting my featured card so late.  Our optional theme is "Love" and you are invited to link your Anything Goes/Love inspired project with us.

You see, in my Church, we always take a few minutes each Sunday service to acknowledge those who have come for the first time, those who have Birthdays and those who are celebrating Wedding Anniversaries.  I think it's very important for us as the Body of Christ to acknowledge one another and share with the important milestones in our walk with the Lord.  My favorite part is when married couples tell us how long they've been married. Some two, ten, fifteen and thirty while others are more than fifty years married.  It's amazing to think of how much joy and happiness the couples shared as well as the sacrifices and pain they went through all those years.  Being married for nearly 17 years myself,  I can say that a lasting marriage need more than physical attraction and emotional satisfaction.  Physical attraction and intimacy are important factors in a relationship but can/may be subjective. Imagine a man and a woman with different needs and wants suddenly coming together under the bond of marriage to live under one roof,  committed to each other 24/7.  No longer would each one be free to do what he/she decides to do but are now accountable to each other all day, everyday.  It may be easy in the early years but it gets tougher as your family grows and years passing.  Let's face it, when you are upset/frustrated with your spouse for any number of reasons, you can't help  but think of him/her as your enemy and just wanted him/her out of your sight (at least for a brief moment).  No wonder we hear of many marriages ending up in divorce/legal separation.  Apart from death, adultery, abandonment and physical abuse, people have added petty reasons for terminating their marriages.  Hollywood/Movie Industry is one of the worst influences in our world today.  Infidelity and fornication (all kinds of sexual relationship outside of marriage) along with all kinds of selfishness and self gratification have been major themes in almost every movie produced nowadays.   It's really sad.

However,  marriage does not look like the shallow marriages shown to us by the Entertainment world.  True biblical marriage between one man and one woman has God in it.  God instituted marriage in Genesis 2:24 when He said, "For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh."  We know that God is Love and as believers (Born-again, John 3:3) of Jesus Christ, we are instructed by God in 1 John 4:7-9, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.  The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him."  Therefore, the most important member of a marital relationship is God (Jesus) who gives us the desire, strength and ability to fulfill our marital covenant with Him and our spouse.  A marriage centered in Christ is not the kind that easily breaks.  Jesus is the strongest/unbreakable string in that union and as long as we are intertwined/connected in Him, we will always see his love, joy and peace in our union despite the many trials we have to face.  1 Corinthians 13:4-7 tells us, "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres."  We can accomplish everything that God and His unselfish love requires if Jesus lives and leads inside of us. 

For this Card, I used an image/sentiment from Art Impressions Stamp called "Love Birds" that I colored using my Prismacolor markers and paper-pieced with some DP's from my scraps.  The base is Kraft, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches Z-fold design.  I used an MS Punch to shape the sides,  a couple of Nesties dies for the lacy oval, a Recollection brad, a Paper Studio washi tape and some Imaginisce hearts.  Finally, I ran some panels in my sewing machine for a more complete look.  I've been wanting to try the upright Z-fold card design but couldn't find the time.  At last, I've done it in this design with some variation.  Here's the VIDEO that inspired me. 

 BEING WITH YOU UPRIGHT Z-FOLD CARD

 BEING WITH YOU UPRIGHT Z-FOLD CARD LAYERS

 BEING WITH YOU UPRIGHT Z-FOLD CARD SIDE VIEW

 BEING WITH YOU UPRIGHT Z-FOLD CARD MESSAGE SPACE

BEING WITH YOU UPRIGHT Z-FOLD CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Art Impressions---Sweet Treats
As You Like It---Fave Way to Add Stitching (Real of course)
Aud Sentiment---Valentine/Love
CCEE Stampers---Old Broad's Day
CRAFT---Three of a Kind (Hearts)
Craft Rocket---Love
Crafting with Attitude---ATG
Little Miss Muffet---ATG
MAWTT---Love
Star Stampz---Valentine/Lots of Pink or Red
Crafty Creations---ATG
Crafty Gals Corner---ATG
Inspiration Destination---ATG
Simon Says---ATG
A Bit More Time---ATG
A Perfect Time---ATG
Create with TLC---ATG/Love
Card Mania---Red and Hearts
Ching-Chou Kuik---All You Need is Love
Classic DT---ATG
Crafter's Cafe---Humorous
Crafts Galore Encore---ATG
Crafty Awesomeness---ATG
Crafty Girls---ATG
Craftyhazelnut's---ATG with Patterned Paper
Creatalicious---ATG/Love
Createful Heart---ATG/Add a Heart
Daisy Chain---Add a Heart
Die-Cut Divas---Love is in the Air
Dies R Us---For the One I Love
Digi Doodle---Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Digistamps 4 Joy---ATG/I Love You
Eclectic Ellapu---ATG
Fabrika Fantasy---Love
Lets Craft and Create---ATG/Mother/Mother's Day
Love to Craft---ATG
Love to Scrap---I Love You
Scor-Pal---More than One Score
Not Just Cards---ATG
One Crazy Stamper---ATG
Paru's Card Making---Love
Sunsational---Love
Creative Studio---We Love You
Scrapbook and Cardmaking---Valentine/Love
Worldwide Open DT---ATG
YSP---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 (Love) 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 week, everyone! 

Love Inspired Series: Once in a Lifetime Center Step Card---Join th Fun at our Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create and Higlighting Simon Says Stamp "You Have my Heart" New Release...

Hello Crafty Friends! It's another busy---soooo busy week for me so this is coming out a day late.  This is going to be a short and sweet post but want to take the opportunity to wish ya'll a BLESSED AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!   I hope you join me in celebrating the true meaning of this season---the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  Though the exact day of His birth was not specifically revealed in His Word, we all know that He came to bear witness to the Truth (reality in God's perspective) as we see in John 1:18, "No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known."  Because of God's great love for us, He had to send His Only Son to free us from the bondage of Sin and get us back into God's righteousness as stated in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  No amount of gifts or act of giving and commercialization of this season can come close to the Gift that our Father in Heaven gave us in the Person of His Son---JESUS CHRIST!  So, whatever you choose to do this season, as child of God and saved by His grace (Born-again, John 3:3), we are to share what Christ has done for us in every meeting and get together.  Along with our time with our families and friends across a wonderful meal and fellowship, let Him receive the glory!  Do not allow political correctness and tolerance to reduce our celebration to something worth absolutely nothing. Today, we have hope because the Messiah (Savior) came one faithful day---paid the price for our sins through the Cross and will one day come back to literally rule the world.  Everyone who placed their lives through faith in Him will take part in His rulership forever.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!  Leaving you with wonderful verses as to why we are to celebrate this wonderful season:

"We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."  (1 John 5:20)

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors,  but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.  He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.  Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God." (1 Peter 1:18-21)

"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,  who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory."  (Ephesians 1:13-14)

For our weekly Challenge at 613 Avenue Create, I used a wonderful image from one of our sponsors, Bugaboo Digi Stamps called "Puppy Girl" and colored it with my ProMarker/Prismacolors/Spectrum Noir markers.  The base is a white CS, cut and scored to make a 5. 5 inches center step design.  The DP's came from Recollections, the sparkly gems from Imaginisce, glitters from Stickles (Crystal), the awesome sentiment is from Stampabilities and for added dimension, I added some stitching.  The gorgeous "Heart Banner" is courtesy of Simon Says Stamp who sent me this beautiful wafer die to explore and make awesome projects.  I'm very impressed as it "cuts like butter" with the aid of my Cuttlebug.  All I did was to make 2 cuts using a burgundy CS and adhere them together for stability and strength and walah, an awesome banner for my girly girl card.  In the next few weeks, you will see more samples of this new release as highlighted by their DT's in their BLOG...I am grateful to be given the opportunity to try one.  God bless this wonderful company for their trust and generosity to share their products to avid Crafters like me.

                                           ONCE IN A LIFETIME CENTER STEP CARD:

                                      ONCE IN A LIFETIME CENTER STEP CARD LAYERS:

                                   ONCE IN A LIFETIME CENTER STEP CARD SIDE VIEW:

                                     ONCE IN A LIFETIME CENTER STEP CARD INSIDE:

                            ONCE IN A LIFETIME CENTER STEP CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:


This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Country View---Make a Scene
Crafts Galore---ATG
Crafting Musketeers---Use a Sentiment
Craftyhazelnut's---Patterned Paper
Crafty Time---ATG
Creative Craft---Add Sparkle
CCC---ATG
Digistamps4Joy---ATG
Doodle Pantry---ATG
Lia Stampz---ATG
Petal Lu---ATG
Your Scrapbook Place---ATG (I used a Bugaboo Image)
2 Crafty Girls---ATG
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Love to Scrap---ATG
Not Just Cards---ATG
Our Crafty Corner---ATG/Winter
Paper Nest Dolls---ATG
Lacy Sunshine---ATG
Great Impressions---ATG
Allsorts---ATG but Christmas
Crafty Friends---ATG
Inkspirational---ATG but Christmas


There you have it, folks!  Don't miss the opportunity to join our Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create.  There's wonderful prizes awaiting the winners from our lovely sponsors for this week---Bugaboo Digi Stamps, Stamplorations and the Cutting Cafe.  Can't wait to see what fabulous projects you're going to highlight this week.  I hope you have a wonderful week and know that through faith in what Jesus accomplished through the Cross, we have complete victory always!