Tuesday's {Tip} Big Shot Dies to Make Pin Cushions!

I think most of my subscribers know that I love to sew! I don't share my creations very often but once in a while I will. How many of you love to sew too? I think I tend to use my machine on paper more than fabric though lately. LOL!

Well today I wanted to share an awesome post I found by Angie Kennedy Juda. She shows how to make adorable pin cushions out of your Big Shot dies! And what a great way to use up your fabric scraps too! You can see her great post and instructional video here. I am definitely going to make a few of these. Such cute gifts! And be sure to look around her blog because she has other amazing fabric creations that you won't want to miss either! And since there are so many new subscribers to my blog, I thought I would take this moment to share again the Cuttlebug cover I made. Mom and I just adjusted a toaster pattern she had. I love my cover. Now I need to make one for my Big Shot! Storage Unit: Stampin' Things Elite Unit

Well, thanks for stopping by today, and I hope you enjoy looking at Angie's creations! Blessings to you!

{Scripture Challenge 2} Challenge Word #1, Hope

First, let me say how excited I am to get started on our new challenge for 2010! We have so many new participants this year, and I am very excited to see where the Lord leads each of us and how He grows us as we study! Welcome to each of you new and continuing participants alike!!!

Challenge Word #1: Hope

As I began looking at what we would study today, I could not believe that we had not looked at this word in our 2008 study! What exactly is hope? It's a word we seem to throw around a lot but what is it really? Well, Vine's Concise Dictionary says it is a "favorable and confident expectation. It has to do with the unseen future."

As Christians, we have hope in Christ. We have hope in the resurrection. What are you hoping for? Are you hoping for a better 2010 than a 2009? Maybe you had some difficult trials last year? Maybe you even felt hopeless at times, or maybe even today you are weary and you feel like you have no where to turn. Well, I am here to tell you that just as God has provided for you in the past, He will do the same today and in the year to come. Look back at those trials. Can you see His provision and blessings? You can trust that He is able and He will provide. God is our hope for the future and in all situations. Are you looking to Him or focusing on the difficulty?

In November 2009, my husband became very ill, and he was hospitalized on Nov. 9th. I had been up for 26 hours with him in the ER and then getting him settled in a hospital room. Around 5 a.m. on Nov. 10th, I drove home to take a shower, feed the pets, and then I returned to the hospital 3 hours later. As I drove back to the hospital, there was a gorgeous cloud formation in the sky. As I looked at it, God whispered to me the word “hope.” I clung to that word for the next 3 weeks. I had hope that God would heal him. I had hope that God would sustain me through this trial. I had hope that He would use this for His glory.

One day during those 3 weeks, I fell to my knees in tears, and in a loud voice I asked God if He would just allow my husband to wake up one morning and tell me that he was fine and that he would be okay. Then on the morning of Dec. 1st (exactly 3 weeks after God whispered 'hope' to me), my husband woke up and said to me “Honey, I have hope.” My husband never knew what the Lord whispered to me in the early morning hours of Nov. 10th. But that was a sign that his true recovery would begin. God not only answered my prayer in a mighty way but He used His precious hope to sustain me, to show me He is there with me, and that He is good in all things—even in those difficult times. Romans 15:13 says “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” I was filled with complete trust in Him during that trial. I was completely filled with His hope, and that is what sustained me.

Gien Korssen said "There is Someone who cares about us, who watches closely for each individual: God! Through Him we can find rest in spite of the catastrophes that harass the world. He offers us a place to stand, and hope, even in an apparently lost world. He offers a new beginning to those of us who return to Him." God's strength, hope, and power are available to those who trust in Him. Ask God to give you a renewed hope in Him! He will answer in a mighty way!

Today for my 6x6 page, I used Making Memories papers and the new release stamp set from Layers of Color--Rise and Shine. The sunshine stamp was perfect for this page because it reminds me of the cloud formation God gave me that morning of November 1oth. I also used Sketch #166 from Pencil Lines for fun! Papers: Making Memories Vintage Findings, Strathmore Watercolor paper
Stamps: Layers of Color Rise and Shine, JustRite 100 Year Dater
Stamp Ink: SU creamy caramel, Ranger Adirondack lemonade
Embellishments: Basic Grey Offbeat buttons, Distress Stickles spiced marmalade, Basic Grey white chocolate chip micro-chip alphas, Jillibean Soup bean seeds (felt flowers), hemp from Hobby Lobby, DMC floss
Sketch Used: Pencil Lines #166

The scriptures that were meaningful to me for today's study are:
Psalm 25:5 “Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.”
Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”

Remember to use Keyword SCRC210 when posting in galleries. It will be easier for people to find your work if you use our keyword. Also, feel free to leave a link here for others to see using Mister Linky. I hope it works as this is the first time I have tried to use it. Eeek!

And remember, you can find all studies in this post here. You may want to bookmark it for easy reference. As you study, remember He provides hope in times of difficulty, sadness, etc. Will you turn to Him and put your hope in Him? Have a blessed day, and enjoy your time in His word. Blessings,

{Scripture Challenge 2} Study Links

This year as we study, I will keep a list here in this post of all of our studies with links for easy reference! You may want to bookmark this link. It will be updated every time a new study is posted. Studies will be posted usually by 5 p.m. Central Standard Time every other Sunday. This will be your one resource page for the entire year's study! I hope this is helpful to you!

Scripture Challenge 2010 Study Information
Challenge Word 1: Hope
Challenge Word 2:

May the Lord bless you as you grow in the knowledge of Him. Blessings,

{Faith Journaling} Challenge #7

Welcome to the last day of 2009! I thought we should think about this year as we approach today's journaling question.

**What are you thankful for today and/or this year?

If you have just joined my blog, welcome!!! I am so excited to have you joining me! And if you would like more information on my Faith Journaling Challenge, you can see all information and previous questions in this post here. I pray that each of you have a blessed and joyous New Year ahead! See you in 2010 with your next journaling question! Blessings,

Tuesday's {Tip} Project 365, Project 52?

Okay, so raise your hand if you started Project 365 with me last year but quit after a month or so. Yes, I never finished. I LOVED the concept but it was way too much for me. And the kids LOVED looking at the photos in the album. Man, I let them down! Anyway, did any of you complete it? Wow, I would love to know if you did! So amazing if you were able to keep it up!

Well, as I said, I loved the concept; however, a picture a day with journaling was just too much. I have thought this year I might like to try Project 52. I can take a photo a week and journal what I want about that week. That MAY not be too much. I pray not! LOL! I think it is such a great idea, and I even found a great idea by Crystal (ScrappinAKA) on 2Peas. She said "It is awesome because I didn't just do pictures but also in place of some pics I did receipts, memorabilia from an event that day, scans of my sons artwork from school. Just stuff I want to remember from each day." Now what a cool idea! She DID complete Project 365. I like using her idea even for Project 52!

Of course there are many ideas all over the web (blogs and forums) for completing Project 365 or a Project 52. Becky Higgins has one called Project Life and is selling a kit. Scrapbook Graphics had a Project 365 for 2009 with free digi templates. I am not sure if they are doing it again this year but the 2009 challenge may be a good reference for you. Simple Stories by Memory Works has a Life Documented kit that you could use. I am going to use the same format I set up for 2009 using my Basic Grey papers with my We R Memory Keepers album and divided pages. I just cut the beautiful Basic Grey paper into 4x6 sheets, and then I stamped beautiful edges and the dates for each journaling sheet. I really like what I created for the short time I did this last year thus I will give it a try again. Here is how I started 2009: Wow, now looking back on my photos, I am really sad I didn't stick with it. Let's see if I can stick with Project 52! So, what will you be doing? Have a blessed day!

{Faith Journaling} Challenge #6

Wow, it's Christmas Eve! Hard to believe! This year has flown by for me! Are you ready for the big day tomorrow or for your special family gatherings this evening? Well, today is the perfect day to:

**Describe your Christmas Eve traditions.

I pray that your Christmas is filled with love, joy, and the celebration of Jesus beyond His birth remembering why He came--to save you and to save me. Merry Christmas to each of you!

Tuesday's {Tip} A Freebie From My Friend Norma!

Today, my friend Norma is offering a special treat to all of my blog friends. She created this gorgeous digi kit, and she is sharing it with all of you!This kit has two patterned papers, two textured cardstocks, upper and lowercase alphas, two quotes, a stamp tag, a sun sticker, and a journaling tag. This would certainly be a great kit to use for the Scripture Challenge 2 beginning on January 3rd!

To download, click both links below. Norma asks that you not share the link but send your friends here to my post or to her blog which you can find here.



It would also be great if you download the kit to leave a thank you for Norma on her blog. I know she would love to hear what you think about the kit or how you might use it! Be sure to look around her blog while you are there. Norma designs for My Little Shoebox, Cut Card Stock, and several other amazing places. She is an amazing designer, photographer, and child of God!

Thank you Norma, for your generosity and sweetness! And enjoy your Tuesday "freebie" everyone! Blessings,