Fun/Humor Series: Friend Brings a Camera Card---Join the Fun in our Neighborhood, 613 Avenue Create, for Another Anything Goes Challenge!

Hi there, everyone!  I'm here to feature the project I made for this week's Anything Goes Challenge with Optional Theme (Use orange and blue and two neutral colors) at 613 Avenue Create.  Since I started making cards, I seldom used an image twice. What happened was that I meant to color this image just for practice.  I was amazed at how the watercolor came out perfectly so, I decided to feature this stamp again.   I love these Girlfriends stamp as it reminded me of all the wonderful friendships I had in the past.

I am sure each of us can name people who became a huge part of our existence.  They are those who shared with us in the good times but more importantly, remained with us during the painful/trying times.  God created each and everyone of us to interact with one another.  Some for a short period of time, some longer, others for a lifetime.  We often hear this saying, "No man is an island," and it simply means that not one of us can survive this world all on our own.  Each person that comes our way can influence or have tremendous impact in our lives.  It is critically important to know who you hang out with. The Scripture warned us  in 1 Corinthians 15:33-34 and it says, "Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame."  

Before we came to know the Lord Jesus, we were guided by the many beliefs, traditions and systems of this world.  We based our relationships on the advantages and disadvantages our connections would bring us.  When people resembles our belief system and emotionally connects with us, we embrace them wholeheartedly and allow them to influence our lives to a certain degree.  We can agree that some of those connections didn't turn out well and became instrumental to a series of many bad choices that further led us astray.  Many of us had to reach our life's lowest point to answer God's call to repentance.  I am very grateful that after I received Jesus into my heart and was Born-again (John 3:3) to His Kingdom, my entire outlook on true and meaningful friendship changed.  No longer am I content with emotional connections but more importantly, I now view friendship as opportunities to bless others.  The purpose of every Spirit led connections we encounter is to demonstrate the Father's love based upon His Word (without compromise) and if needed, that we may correct people in love and snatch them away from the deception they were bound.  God has provided us His written Word (Scripture) and its purpose is perfectly described in  2 Timothy 3:16-17.  It says,  "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

It is such an amazing experience to find friends who also love the Lord.  They are the ones who  encourages you but can also keep you grounded to the Truth when you are out of line.  They genuinely love you and are not intimidated by your occasional stubbornness.  Sadly, it's very hard to find true friends nowadays.  In this world that constantly changes and have exchanged the Truth for a lie (considered "political correctness" in our time), I find myself even more vigilant on who I allow myself to associate with.  I ask the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead me to those He wanted me to bless---believers or unbelievers!  With Him leading the way, I know that I am covered.  On the other hand, let us not make the mistake of considering any of our earthly friendships greater than our intimate relationship with Jesus.  You may have the most faithful of friends but they cannot provide for your every need.  I've known many that did just that and became frustrated/disappointed.  There's a lot of them out there that left their churches because they were offended or hurt by someone they depended upon. If we are going to live like that, then we must prepare ourselves to a life of frustration because people are people.  Each of us are in different levels of faith and maturity in the Lord.  Until we come face to face with our Savior, we are far from being perfect.  Our focus should always be on what Jesus accomplished on our behalf!  We may be surrounded by wonderful faces each day but in our alone time, only God remains!  He is with us 24/7 and His faithfulness to His covenant through the finished work of Jesus Christ stands forever.  I would like to encourage you with the following verses that tells of our wonderful relationship with our Father through Jesus Christ:

"I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."  (1 Corinthians 1:4-9)

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other." (John 15:9-17)

For this Card, I used a wonderful image from Art Impressions Stamps called "Girlfriends Picture Perfect" that I watercolored using my Marvy Uchida markers.  The sentiment is also from Art Impressions.  The base is a white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square card.  The DP's are from Heidi Grace and Recollections.  The flowers were stamped using Inque stamps and fussy cut,  the scribble border stamp is from Stampabilities, the washi tape from Tape Works and the nail head gems from Imaginisce.  I also used a border punch from Fiskars and finished it up with some fancy and regular stitching.  

                                                FRIEND BRINGS A CAMERA CARD

                                           FRIEND BRINGS A CAMERA CARD LAYERS

                                   FRIEND BRINGS A CAMERA CARD WITH STAMPS USED

                                             FRIEND BRINGS A CAMERA CARD INSIDE

                                  FRIEND BRINGS A CAMERA CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX


This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Art Impressions---Show Off Your Stamp
Craft Your Passion---ATG
Let's Color Linky---ATG/Something Colored
Corrosive---Girls/Ladies/Women
Not Just Cards---ATG
Our Crafty Corner---ATG
Lacy Sunshine---Color My World
Amusing---ATG
Glitter N Sparkle---ATG
Great Impressions---Ladies Night
Artistic Inspiration---ATG
Aurora Wings---Say It with Flowers
Craftin' Desert Divas---In the Garden
Eureka---Add Some Bling
Love to Scrap---ATG
Simon Says---Add Metal
Where the Heart Is---ATG/Sparkle and Bling
Crafty Girls---ATG
Cre8tive Hands---ATG 
Little Miss Muffet---ATG


There you have it, folks!  Don't miss the opportunity to join our Anything Goes Challenge with an optional Twist at 613 Avenue Create.  There's wonderful prizes awaiting the winners from our lovely sponsor---Alicia Bell.  Can't wait to see what fabulous projects you're going to highlight.  I hope you have a wonderful week filled with the divine inspiration of God's Word and be able to share the Hope you have in you to bring light to the dark places in your sphere of influence.  Would love to hear your comments too.   Hugs, always!