A Cup of Encouragement, Just for You.

Gifts of Encouragement

Does someone in your life need to be encouraged? I have been thinking for a long time about how I can be a better encourager.  The first two cards that I made for someone elicited a very emotional response.  The first person was in tears and the second gave me a hug.  They were totally surprised that someone had their welfare in mind so much that they took the time to make a home made card.  That was a long time and many cards ago.  Today, sometimes I am better at making cards than I am at giving them.  I'm working on that. :)  Thoughts of encouragement are what inspired today's craft.  This was made with a cup from Michaels and the Cricut cartridge "Just Because".  A little styrofoam and a wooden skewer.  I have a few more pictures to follow.

Glorious Words from Spurgeon

I stopped cold in deep conviction at these words from the blog Faithfully Yours today. I could not refrain from sharing them.

Of course I see it now, why didn't I see this before? The analogy of Sarah's miracle Child in her feeble and aged body and the mystery of the miracle that Jesus resides in us on a daily basis. I am reminded again of how God takes the dead, the useless, the unusable and transforms it into life with honor and abundance.

Another gem from the Bible treasure chest. Spurgeon says it so well...

"It was far above the power of nature, and even contrary to its laws, that the aged Sarah should be honoured with a son; and even so it is beyond all ordinary rules that I, a poor, helpless, undone sinner, should find grace to bear about in my soul the indwelling Spirit of the Lord Jesus. I, who once despaired, as well I might, for my nature was as dry, and withered, and barren, and accursed as a howling wilderness, even I have been made to bring forth fruit unto holiness. Well may my mouth be filled with joyous laughter, because of the singular, surprising grace which I have received of the Lord, for I have found Jesus, the promised seed, and He is mine for ever. This day will I lift up psalms of triumph unto the Lord who has remembered my low estate, for “my heart rejoiceth in the Lord; mine horn is exalted in the Lord; my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies, because I rejoice in Thy salvation.” I would have all those that hear of my great deliverance from hell, and my most blessed visitation from on high, laugh for joy with me."
~Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening.

These many years later I can take pause and still rejoice with him in his salvation and mine. God is so very good.

Friends of mine had the occasion to have some work done in their home by a contractor who turned out to be Charles Spurgeon's descendant. This spiritual orphan had no idea that his ancestor was such an important man in the history of Christianity and he listened carefully to this Pentecostal Pastor tell him of the greatness of this spiritual giant. God is faithful to watch over our families throught the generations.

My "other" hobby genealogy has shown me this. When I do interviews and query those who do remember their ancestors they are always very quick to tell me (unsolicited) of the character of their family member. I have heard how they were "very religous", "carried their Bible," "were faithful church attenders" as well as, "they were mean", "scandalous" and a "scoundrel". Be very sure that the reputation of your spiritual health will live well beyond your physical years.

As the workday was coming to a close on Friday I was informed by a young knowledgable father that this was Father's Day WEEKEND, not just Father's Day! I'm not sure what he was expecting on his arrival home, but Fathers Rule! this weekend. I made this card with paper from My Mind's Eye. I love the colors and I especially like the white impressions on the paper. The shape stamps are Tim Holtz. The brad is a covered brad daddy made with an i*top brad maker from imagninisce. The border at the bottom is a Fiskars edge punch. To all Fathers everywhere we appreciate all that you are and all that you do and have done investing in your children's lives, enjoy your weekend!

This card was created with Stampscapes, Tweety Jill and many other brands of stamps. I airbrushed the background with Copics, B02, B04 and B08. Greens are YG07 , YG 09 and Y 08. I used a little bottle cap to mask for the sun.

I have been on several excursions in the past couple of months some of which included a short jaunt to Dayton Ohio and another longer trip to Schaumburg Il. Of course when I travel I check out the local craft suppliers for Rubber Stamps, Cardstock and unusual items of interest.

While in Dayton, I made my first trip to Marco's Paper in the Kettering/Dayton area. I was interested in purchasing some Nina cardstock to use with the Copic markers alcohol ink.

Upon entering the store, I was pleasantly greeted by a display of Tweety Jill's Rubber Stamp Collection by TJ Designs. These are deeply etched red rubber stamps mounted on cling foam and made to use with acrylic blocks. These collections are sets of themed rubber stamps in clear cases. There are coordinating designed paper for each theme. The colors in these designs took my breath away. They are beautiful.

While on the Schaumburg trip I had a lot of free time in the evenings. I was very blessed on this trip as I was able to stay in a large room. The room was able to accomodate two banquet luncheon tables. I brought my stamping materials with me and so I was able to spend every evening and two weekends creating cards!

Rubber Stamped Mini Bird House

Today I decided to try rubber stamping a mini birdhouse. First I painted it white . I used Joann's Essential Acrylics. Next I painted the base Leaf Green and the roof trim Lilac.

I used stamps from Rubber Stamp Tapestry. They are lovely realistic tiny foliage and flowers. They can be ordered online at www.rubberstamptapestry.com/

I used Versa Magic Chalk ink

I used the Cuttlebug swiss dot folder to give a very delicate texture to the roof. That is my favorite folder.

Loggin On

We needed to send some birthday wishes across several states and I found just the team to do it. On this Copic airbrushed Sunny day with blue skies and green grass these ants are Loggin On to Missouri with love in their hearts and special birthday greetings. Happy Birthday Samantha!

This card was made using Stampscapes for the landscape portions. The guitar player is from Ala Art. The inks are dye inks. First stamp the guitar player then stamp him separately on a piece of thin scrap paper and cut him out. Lay the cut out on top of the stamped image and then stamp your tree over top. Take off the paper and voila! He is leaning against the tree. Stamp in the extra trees and color your grass and images. I mounted this off center on black cardstock. Then I stamped a border with the tree boughs to finish it with a dimension look. If you really want to do this well, Eclipse paper makes the best paper for masking. Paper of a regular thickness tends to leave a halo.

Handmade Paper used in Card

I used a piece of my handmade paper for the first layer on this card. This paper consisted of junk mail envelopes, parsley, potpourri, grape hyacinth, and peanut shells! It has a very natural look to it so I paired it up with greens and browns and used nature stamps and and a bird punch to keep the simple look. I inked the edges of the scallop square with Distress inks. The punch is a Martha Stewart stamp and punch. The square and scallop puncheds are Marvy. The paper was purchased at Joanns, but I do not have the name of the line or manufacturer.

Today I'm featuring the work of another crafty Bobb, my husband! Larry has a natural talent for wood carving which he has now applied to a watermelon. He created this baby carriage for a shower that our Daughter-in-Love (she's too nice to be a Daughter-in-law) was having for a friend of hers. It's so cute! I especially like how he used the star fruit for the wheels and the scallops look like little ruffles. Beautiful work Larry !

Handmade Paper

Recently, I have added a new craft to my list of things I enjoy. I have been making handmade paper. Each piece is a one of a kind, depending on what I find to put in it. My sister was visiting and we had been to a craft show where they demonstrated paper making. We bought our paper making accessories together. We came home and set up shop and went to work. The grape hyacinths were blooming. The little purple flowers that remind you of a grape bunch. My husband picked a handful and we threw them in the blender and poured the pulp into the frame to see what it would look like. They turned out like little purple dots, very pretty. Each concoction is a new treasure. We robbed the pantry of the parsley, we finely chopped peanut shells. We used glitter, paper towels, chopped up ribbon...anything that won't rot is fare game. Ii think the one with peanut shells is my favorite. We had quite a complex recipe for the last one we made that night, peanut shells, glitter, parsley, angel wings, potpourri and a little scrap of napkin for color we poured the pulp in the tray and my sister squealed with delight. "Ooooh, this one is going to be pretty!"

Shine like Stars in the Universe

Here is another attempt at the photo. I should also add that I used Sakura gel pens and a white Galaxy marker for the background stars. The cardstock is Cryogen white.

I have not mastered the use of the digital camera yet, but here is a graduation card that I made for a friend. Inside is a note referring to the scripture in Philipians 2:15 "shine like stars in the universe..." The saying is from Tim Holtz, the background is air brushed with Copics. Spiral and dot and dash stamps are from: Inkadinkadoo, Nikki Silva and one unknown .

Mini Birdhouses

More Mini Birdhouse photos

Birdhouse Blast

You know those cute little birdhouses that you see at the Craft Stores for a dollar? I was in Michaels in Chicago and saw a basket full of them. They have such cute designs. I have always loved miniatures and these appealed to my sense of fun. I decided that I had a bookshelf that needed a little color and so I picked out five of them. This bookshelf holds a very large flower arrangement of orange tiger lilies and purple petunias and trailing green vines. I wanted to add another touch of those colors to the room. I began work on one of these birdhouses and was amazed at how fast that it was to complete and so I kept going and had all five of them finished before the day was out.

Here is a final picture of the birdhouses in their place on the shelf.