Life is a Beach Center Step Card---It's Another Challenge Week at our Neighborhood---613 Avenue Create!

Hi there!  It's another Sunday morning and I would like to highlight the first of the 2 cards I'm set to post today Watch out for the other one later on today).  But before that, just want to thank the Lord for the rain (lots and lots of it!) that came pouring down here a few hours ago.  Growing up, rain usually makes me sad.  I remember as a kid, we would occasionally asked my parents if we could all head out and have some family fun.  My Dad usually tells me, "Let's see, if it does not rain, we'll head out and have some fun." My brother and I would be so excited but after a few hours, the sky would go dark and the cold wind blew and we would end up sitting in front of the window just hoping that rain would not come, but it did!  We were so upset as that rain meant a cancelled plan.  In case you're wondering, I was born in the Philippines and rain is very common there.  We only enjoy 2 seasons---wet or dry!  It comes usually in the form of typhoon for most of the time and I remember praying to the Lord (As a believer) to spare our home from flooding.  It happened quite often (my last experience was many years ago---it was waist deep inside our home) that rain just gave me some "not so wonderful" memories.  That childhood experience shaped my life in a way that I became so determined to not allow any rain or calamity (even the earthquake I experienced which registered  over 7  in the Richter scale when I was 19) to hinder me from fulfilling a plan or a promise.  I remember going to the university on different occasions and had to go against my Mom's advise not to proceed due to flooding.  I told her that until I hear of any news suspending classes, I would have to find a way to go especially during final exams and such.   You see, the way we were brought up affects our character, decisions, passions and personalities.   My experience in life taught me that if I give my word to somebody, that I fulfill my word no matter what.  If I couldn't, that I'd have the courtesy to inform that someone before any trust is broken.  Everything that we encounter in life has a purpose and if we come under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and have established a personal relationship with Him by trusting His finished work on the Cross, we will view every experience that comes our way to work towards the fulfillment of His purpose.  A wonderful Pastor told me once, "God is not just concerned about your salvation but He's more interested in developing your character."   That was awesome!  Just want to share with you the following scriptures which tells us that  as we trust God with out lives, both the good and bad things we encounter along the way has a purpose---to bring glory to Jesus in whom all blessings flow.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."  (Romans 8:28)

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9)

"In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,  in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.  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 1:11-14)

Anyway, speaking of going somewhere, this is what I want to share with you through this card I created.  It's all about vacation and having fun at the Beach.  We have an "Anything Goes with Picture Inspiration Challenge" at 613 Avenue Create and our sponsor for this week is Shelly's Images.  I was able to use this wonderful "Beach Signs" image from them (love it!).  To add fun to the card, I included another favorite image from Mo Manning's Digi Stamps called "Summer Girl" (Isn't she cute?!).  I colored both images with my ProMarker/Prismacolor/Spectrum Noir and Sharpie markers.  I used a Kraft base card cut at 5.5-inches center step card design.  All the DP's are from my scraps (Recollections/K & Company/Heidi Grace).  The perfect sentiment is a freebie from Create with TLC (thanks, Paulette).  I added glossy accents to the glasses of the girl image, applied some glitters (Stickles-Orange Peel) to the image's Popsicle and my favorite white gems from Imaginisce.  I also used Distress Ink (Tim Holtz-Tumbled Glass) to the Beach Image's horizon and it worked out great.  Lastly, I went ahead and stitched all over this card.  I just love the fun vacation conveyed by this card and makes me want to head over to the nearest beach...LOL  Hope you like it too. 

 LIFE IS A BEACH CENTER STEP CARD:

 LIFE IS A BEACH CENTER STEP CARD SIDE VIEW:

 LIFE IS A BEACH CENTER STEP CARD LAYERS:

 LIFE IS A BEACH CENTER STEP CARD INSIDE:

LIFE IS A BEACH CENTER STEP CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX:


*** WANT THIS CARD?  AVAILABLE AT MY ETSY---HERE! *** 

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Simon Says Stamp---Anything Goes
Sisterhood of Crafters---Free for All
Penny's Paper-Crafty---Anything Goes
Creative Belli---Spring
Craft-room---So Sentimental
Paper Crafting Journey---Use a Sentiment
Bearly-Mine---Digi Days
QKR Stampede---Favorite Things (I love this card design and the white gems)
TTCRD---Anything Goes
Crafting By Designs---Anything Goes
Pumpkin Spice---Nature
Art Impressions---Layer it Up
Crafty Calendar---Sunshine and Showers
Crafts for Eternity---Perfect Papers
Make It Monday---Anything Goes
My Time to Craft---Kraft
Paper Pretties---Fabulous Folds
Sandy's Crafty Creations---Anything Goes with Stitching
Ecclectic Ellapu---Anything Goes
Sparkle N Sprinkle---Use a Digital Image
Inspire Me Fridays---Anything Goes
Sister Act---Anything Goes
Challenges 4 Everybody---Anything Goes

Have an awesome day, everyone and praying that the blessings of our Almighty God in Christ shower your lives this week.  It is good to be in the presence of the Lord and to rely upon Him every moment of my life here where it's temporary and the eternal future.  I thank the Lord Jesus---for my everyday is certain in Him!  Don't spend another day without Him.  He is calling you to His arms of love---I pray you respond...