My final Swap items!!!

We had to do a 9 x 9 layout. I left it blank for everyone to add their own title. I think I will put BLOOM on the top and then add "where you are planted" below. I used Simple Stitches c1234 with hollyhock ink, stamped the cottage floral flower and cut it out. I stamped on our Just blooms flowers with the small flower stamp in autumn terracotta. I used our clear buttons for the flower center with a piece of patterned paper behind it, which I attatched with liquid glass. I used vanilla cream waxy flax for the button holes, and the new ric rac and of course boom di ada paper pack.
This is the 3 x 3 card. I random stamped some paper and used half the large stamped flower to off set the circle.

Supplies: (All CTMH) Friendship Word Puzzle D1258, Cottage Floral B1306, boom di ada PP
Ink: hollyhock, autumn terracotta

Bible Study Guide

Good morning friends!! I wanted to share a few things that the Lord had laid on my heart. For those of you who are prayer warriors I would like to ask you to please pray for my step son Dusty . He has been struggling with his walk and has been going through a rough time in his life. He is turning 21 this month and is desiring to know God, His will for his life and to gain understanding of the Word of God. Please pray that he would be diligent in searching out the scriptures, walking in the light and resisting those things that cause him to stumble.

As he has been attempting to study the Word he asked for any tips or advice on how to get the most from his reading. I sent him a bookmark that I was given at our ladies spring event last year that contains 5 questions to ask yourself after you have read the scriptures. While commentaries and dictionaries and concordances are amazing resources that I use often, sometimes we forget to allow scripture to reveal scripture, to hear what God has to say directly to us. So I thought this might be a blessing to some of you. I know that it has helped me.

ASK YOURSELF

1. WHAT DID I LEARN ABOUT GOD?

2. WHAT DID I LEARN ABOUT LIFE?

3. WHAT DID I LEARN ABOUT MYSELF, MY ATTITUDES, PRIORITIES, FEARS, FAILURES, OR DESIRES?

4. IS THERE A LESSON I CAN APPLY TODAY?

5. WHAT CAN I TAKE FROM MY READING AND PRAY BACK TO GOD FOR UNDERSTANDING, INSTRUCTION OR HELP?

This next section will be lengthy and is an example of how to apply these questions to your daily reading. This is taken from my personal journal from today's through the word reading.

2 Cor 4-5

1. What did I learn about God?

* I learned God has shone His light through Jesus Christ that we might have knowledge of Him * Jesus in us allows us to walk through the trials and not be destroyed. For He is our life and we'll be raised up with Him one day. * God doesn't want us to be hopeless, but filled with hope of the eternal. * God gave us the guarantee of the Holy Spirit. * God reconciled Himself to us through Jesus Christ.

2. What did I learn about life?

* Even though we may be hard pressed on every side struggling with things in life, we are not crushed or forsaken, we are not destroyed because Jesus is working life in us. He overcame the grave and He will raise us up with Him. Who else in history did this? NO ONE!!! * Even though our outward man is perishing our inward man is being renewed daily. Our affliction here on earth is temporary and is nothing compared to what awaits us - the eternal weight of glory. * We will be delivered from these earthly bodies and God wants us to live with that hope. * Life is short and temporary, we're just passing by.

3. What did I learn about myself, my attitudes, priorities, fears, failures, or desires?

* I need to be walking as light in the darkness of this world. * I don't need to be afraid because I have the Holy Spirit sent by God to assure and guarantee my place in this world. I'm only a passer by, RESIDENCE-HEAVEN! * I need to remember things which are seen are temporary, things unseen are eternal. * I must walk by faith, not by sight. * I must desire to be well pleasing to God. * I must WALK IN IT!! I am a new creation in Christ and my old ways are passed away and all things have become new.

4. Is there a lesson I can apply today?

* Look at everything through eternal glasses. When I need perspective I must remember I'm here temporarily, I'm here with the spirit of God to work in and through me and I need to walk by faith!

5. What can I take from my reading and pray back to God for understanding, instruction or help?

* Lord help me to live in the light and to be filled with the hope of eternal glory. Help me to overcome the struggles of this life by the power of Your Holy Spirit, to know you are with me always, that I am never forsaken. Help me to walk by faith and not by sight. In Jesus name, Amen

God bless you all and I pray that you would receive the blessing of God's personal message to you today.

By His grace,
Melanie

2 more boom di ada cards

This card was inspired by Marjorie a fellow CTMH consultant.

This was inspired by Vicki and the card she sent me which is posted below. Love the half circle cut and folded back. I used my CTMH stamps and boom di ada paper!

KINDNESS!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the beautiful card Sabrina sent me after she received her care package from me.
(click to enlarge)

Well, as I was lying in bed sick yesterday a package was delivered to me. It was from my new friend Sabrina from Japan. We met on SCS when she responded to my inquiry about joining the RAK (random act of kindness) group. We soon discovered we had much in common the best being the Lord.

Well, she sent me a care package that tickled me pink. She knew pink was my favorite color and well, that package was stocked with pink stuff. Everything from pink ribbon, flowers to earrings a change purse and many more goodies. All from Japan, might I add.

It was so cool to see the packaging in a different language. It's a good thing she wrote out the items for me. She sent a cool aqua pen that makes things 3-d and some round coasters, the cutest stamped images, bookmarks, storage bags, pink rhinestone bling and origami paper etc.

I was so excited when I saw the Bella images. I don't own any and I have been admiring them for some time now. How did she know??????????? God is so good, on my day of sickness he sent a little bit of sunshine to brighten my day. Thank you Sabrina for your kindness and God bless you!! You brought a smile to my face!!!!!!!!

HELLO!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi everyone, I have many things to post but I was super sick, Lexi and I came down with a wicked fever and virus Sun in the middle of the night. It's Tues now and I am feeling human

My expo went well and my girlfriend LeighAnn was an awesome blessing. It was very fast paced. We had 8 ladies at a time and we had 15 min to complete the project before the next rotation. I learned that I definitely need to have multiple supplies but other than that everyone seemed to be very pleased. I will post the sample along with instructions shortly.

I also was able to finish a couple more boom di ada cards that I will post as well.

It was good to hear from all of you and I am eager to get my posts up for you.

God bless you!!!!

Stamp Expo in Vegas!

Well today I will be representing CTMH at the Ice Cream Social at the big stamping expo at Cashman. I will be doing a make and take for about a gazillion women. No not really, but it is going to be fun. 3 hours of people stopping by in groups of 20 to sit and make their project. We will be making some really cute candy holder cards that my director prepared. I will post that with directions later. Have a blessed day and I'll catch y'all later!!!!

Smiles,
Melanie

More Boom di ada

Sorry I haven't posted, I've been busy catching up with homeschool, appointments and bible study. I finally created the second out of 4 cards for my team swap. What do ya think?

Papers: boom di ada
Stamps: blooming flourishes
accessories: rub n write pen, prisma glitter, white paint, new designer ric rac

If you haven't heard of the rub n write pen, it's a must have. You can write, detail or draw images with this fine tip glue pen and then rub the glitter right over it. Just give the glue a few seconds to dry until just tacky, then rub away!
Here is a piece of random stamped paper that I created with the new Cottage Floral Stamp set.

Stay tuned for the next 2 cards and 9x9 layout!