Encouragement Series: One Cup at a Time Card---Join Us for our November Anything Goes Challenge at Word Art Wednesday!

Hello there, guys!  Time to highlight another inspirational card for our Anything Goes Challenge at 613 Avenue Create.  We have an optional theme of "Christmas and/or Winter" for this month.  But like always, you're free to be as creative or simple so there's no reason for you to miss our fun challenge.

I can't  believe we are almost at the end of this year.  But my fave part of being in this season is the cool temperature we have here in Texas.  After many months of just temperatures near and over hundred degrees, I am thanking God for the chill.  And I can't help but relate that to seasons we go through in our lives.  Sometimes too hot, sometimes too cold and at times, in between.  When there's no rain, we are out and about, doing a lot of things outdoors  on vacation.  We're on a past-faced mode just enjoying the no hassle, everything going well kind of days.  We are able to accomplish a lot of things and visit places we've never been.  But on rainy days, we tend to postpone things and stay home, trying to avoid the inconvenience and the hassles of driving in the rain, the puddles, the mud and also the strong winds.  We hide and slow down even more during the winter.  We are very picky where to go and only head out when necessary.  Where I live, temperatures can go from very hot to really cold in one day so, we have to have strong immune system in order to withstand the drastic changes in the environment.  Like what many of us do dealing with life in general.

But the good news is, God is present in all of our seasons! As we go through it physically and spiritually, He is always there to see us through.  Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 says, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:  a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time.  He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.  I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God."  When we truly acknowledge the hand of God in our daily circumstances and willingly put our trust in His divine wisdom and love for us, His creation, we have a safe place to go to no matter what circumstances we encounter in this life.  By having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ (Born-again, John 3:3), I can handle everything life throws at me knowing He is with me/in me always.  Galatians 2:20 says, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."  I consider this my life verse for it is in this Truth that I can go through each day with confidence. Whether it's summer or winter, hot or cold, dry  or wet and everything in between, He navigates His life in me and through me.  All I needed to do is to give Him the driver's seat and go along for the ride.  And because He has given me a blueprint of His plan, His Word (the Bible), I can understand the signs and takes note of His instructions while He empowers me with wisdom to lead myself and others to this special and wonderful place that He prepared for all who trusted in Him.  His Name be praised forever.

For this Card, I used an image from Art Impressions Stamps called "Latte Love" that I watercolored using Tim Holtz Distress Inks.  The base is white CS, cut and scored to make a 5.5 inches square card.  The DP's are from DCWV and Recollections, the layered flowers are from Prima with the center embellishment from Heidi Grace, the white nail head gems from Imaginisce and the glitters from Stickles (Crystal).  I also use Nestabilites die for the Scalloped circle.  Lastly, I stitched all over this project. 

ONE CUP AT A TIME CARD

 ONE CUP AT A TIME CARD SIDE VIEW

 ONE CUP AT A TIME CARD LAYERS

 ONE CUP AT A TIME CARD INSIDE

ONE CUP AT A TIME CARD WITH ENVELOPE-BOX

This Card is entered into the following Challenges:

Art Impressions---Lots of Layers
Always Fun---Watercolors
Crafting from the Heart---ATG
Path to Positivity---Anything Positive/Shades of Green
Scrapbook Stamp Society---ATG
Paper Nest Dolls---ATG
Dragonfly Dreams---ATG
Lil' Patch of Crafty Friends---ATG
Penny Black---Make Someone Smile
Gem of a Challenge---ATG
All Sorts---Pretty Papers
Catch the Bug---ATG
Crafty Friends---2 or More Patterned Papers
Colour Crazy---Coloring
Crafty Catz---ATG
Creative Fingers---ATG
Jo's Scrap Shack---ATG
QKR---ATG
Quick Quotes---ATG


This is it for now, guys.  Make sure to join us at our neighborhood---613 Avenue Create---for an Anything Goes Challenge with optional theme, "Christmas and/or Winter.  If you want to be challenged more, take on our Optional Twist.  But there's really no reason for you to miss it. Can't wait to see what you create. The Cross of Christ is more than the just a story passed on from generation to generation.  It's a story of love, grace and hope that is good for today and all of eternity.