Big Eyes Handmade Card

Click on the image to enlarge.

"Alas! you complain that your soul is out of tune.
Then ask the Master to tune the heart-strings."
Charles Spurgeon

I made this card to encourage the recipient during difficult times. The butterfly symbolizes the hope that is always available to those who seek it.

The base for this project is a blank kraft cardstock card that measures 5" by 6.5".

The background cardstock is from the Tim Holtz Abandoned paper pad. This paper was available at Michaels during the Halloween season in 2019. 

I chose the digital stamp "Woe is Fay" from Mo's Digital Pencil. I printed the image on white cardstock and colored the image with Copic Sketch markers. I die cut the image with a "Dotted Squares" die from Sizzix. I used a butterfly die from the "Floral Banner" set from Sizzix.

I assembled the card with double-sided tape. I used Artist-tac permanent dry adhesive to attach the butterfly.

I will enter this card in the following challenges;
Digi Choosday Crafting Challenge Wk 26 - Anything Goes
Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge #292 - Anything Goes

Thank you for visiting my blog. Please FOLLOW and share your thoughts in the COMMENTS section below.

Life is Like a Balloon Card

Click on the image to enlarge. 

"Life is like a balloon...if you never let yourself go, you will never know how far you can rise."

Isn't this an uplifting quotation? It is perfect for birthdays, graduations and other occasions where encouragement is appropriate.

The base of this card is a light pink blank Recollections card (Michaels) that measures 5" by 6.5".

The background paper is from the Que Sera Sera paper pad by K and Company.

I chose the digital stamp/sentiment "Life is like a balloon" from Mo's Digital Pencil. I used Microsoft Word software to merge and resize the images and sentiment. This was a little tricky, but I think it turned out OK. If I make another card with this image, I might make the girl a little larger.

I hand-colored the images with Copic Sketch markers and Winsor and Newton Promarkers/Brush markers. I cut/embossed the image with my die cutting machine and mounted it on a piece of dark pink patterned paper. I then attached it to the card.

I embellished the card with a balloon die cut from Recollections Signature Glitter Paper and attached it in the upper right corner of the card. I made a paper flower and attached it to the lower left side of the card. The balloon and flower dies are by Sizzix (thrift shop finds). 

I will enter this card in the following challenges:
A Bit More Time To Craft Challenge #98
Craft-Dee Bowz August 2019 Challenge
Crafts Galore Encore Challenge #66
The Creative Crafters Challenge #19
Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge #282
Sweet Stampers Challenge #35

Thank you for visiting my blog. Please FOLLOW and share your thoughts in the COMMENTS section below.

Book Review: Is This Seat Taken? by Kristin Kaufman

ONE WORD BOOK REVIEW: REASSURANCE

 Is This Seat Taken?: It's Never Too Late to Find the  Right Seat

 Author: Kristin S. Kaufman

 Publisher: Greenleaf Book Group Press

Publication Date: January 13, 2015

Print Length: 145 Pages

About The Author
Kristin S. Kaufman is the founder of Alignment, Inc., formed in 2007 to serve
individuals, corporations, boards of directors and nonprofits in finding alignment
within themselves and their organizations.

Hope, Encouragement and Reassurance
"Now, what am I going to do?!"

This book is for those individuals who have come to a fork in the road, taken a path, and found themselves twenty to thirty years later in a place they didn't quite recognize.

Ms. Kaufman has written fifteen short biographies of men and women who have found success after the age of 50. Some of those included in this book are: 

• Laura Ingalls Wilder (Writer)
• Anna Mary Robertson (Grandma Moses)
• Harland Sanders (Kentucky Fried Chicken)
• Ray Kroc (McDonald's)
• Ninfa Laurenzo (Ninfa's Mexican Restaurants)
• Bill Wilson (Alcoholics Anonymous)

Each chapter ends with a series of "Alignment Lessons" that highlight the life lessons that can be learned from the subject of the biography.

"Let's face it: everyone on this planet is aging. The universal law is that we are in a constant, never-ending state of entropy. However, the comforting lesson is that our human spirit, our life force, does not age. Despite the ongoing phenomenon of our bodies' aging, our spirits continue to grow, expand, and evolve. There is such power in knowing and embracing this fact. As long as we have breath, we have the ability to contribute and to make an impact on the world". 

My Thoughts 
I love to read biographies of successful people. The stories in this book are brief and accentuate the highlights in the lives of these late bloomers. I read this book in a couple of sessions and enjoyed every minute. 

The American population is aging and many people will be looking forward to retirement. This book will inspire and motivate people to think about their options and keep moving forward. 

I highly recommend this book to people who are facing a fork in the road. It is never too late to reach for the stars.

MY RATING: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley to read and review.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below. 

Kindle Books For Kids: The Snake Who Wanted To Be A Horse by Valerie Harmon

The Snake Who Wanted to Be a Horse (Wants To Be)

Author: Valerie Harmon
Illustrator: Carol Stevens

Publisher: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Date: February 10, 2013



About The Author And Illustrator
The concept for the WantsToBe Series (and this is book #1 in that series) came about when the illustrator, Carol Stevens, told bedtime stories to her youngest son. He'd pick two animals and she'd make up a story about them, ending with a mashup of the two animals. He loved those stories and they turned out so hilarious that Stevens wanted to share the story with more children.

She approached author Valerie Harmon, and together they are writing and illustrating stories about animals who imaginatively solve their problem with lots of hard work and sacrifice.

A Snake and a Horse
A colorful snake is not happy with his life. He has a tender tummy and he hates to crawl on rough and rocky roads.

One day the snake meets a friendly horse. The snake thinks that if he could become a horse, he could travel across the dirt and stones without any pain. The horse tells the snake that he needs to eat grass, neigh and gallop if he wants to be a horse. It is very hard for the snake to change but he is very determined to be a horse.

The snake is just about to give up when something magical happens! He does not exactly change into a horse, but he is much closer than he was before. The snake's hard work and determination pays off and he lives happily ever after as a "Snorse".

My Thoughts
This is a very imaginative story about a snake and a horse. Kids always love to read about these animals and I believe this story will be very popular with young readers.

The color illustrations are excellent and add a great deal of value to the text. I read this ebook on my Kindle Fire. The illustrations filled half the screen on my ereader. I would love to see this book formatted so that the illustrations fill the entire screen. 

The determination of the snake and the encouragement of the horse are great examples for young readers. I look forward to reading more books in the "WantsToBe" Series. Highly Recommended!

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I received a digital copy of this book during a free promotion on Amazon.Com. Please check the current price before purchasing.

I would love for you to FOLLOW this blog. You may use Google Friend Connect or the Networked Blog widget to show your support and encouragement.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below. 


Book Review: The God Who Sees You

The God Who Sees You; Look To Him When You Feel Discouraged, Forgotten or Invisible.

Written by Tammy Maltby

With Anne Christian Buchanan.

Published by

David C. Cook.

Copyright
2012.

Do you remember a time in your life when you felt forgotten, ignored, rejected, or simply invisible?

About The Author

Tammy Maltby's multifaceted ministry can be summed up in one word: encouragement. Through her books, speaking events, and broadcasts, this Emmy-winning TV cohost encourages women to live more beautifully and transparently.

God Really Sees You

This book begins with the story of Hagar from Genesis 16 and 21. Hagar was a maidservant in the camp of Abram and Sarai. Sarai is unable to bear a son for Abram, so she compels Hagar to sleep with Abram in the hopes that the servant will produce a son for Sarai to raise. But when Hagar obeys and becomes pregnant, Sarai becomes jealous and abusive. Hagar runs away to the desert.

An angel appears to Hagar bringing a message from a God she barely knows. The angel says, "The Lord has heard of your misery."

He tells her to return to Abram and Sarai, have her baby, and name him Ishmael.

Ms. Maltby took the title of this book from the following Scripture;

She gave this name to the LORD who spoke to her:
"You are the God who sees me,"
for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me."
Genesis 16: 13 

Tammy Maltby wants women to know their lives matter.  She invites you to explore the real-life implications of knowing God sees you, He loves you passionately, and He's intimately involved with every aspect of your life.

My Thoughts

I have been reading this book right before I go to bed for the past week. The book really opened my eyes and helped me understand that God sees me and cares about me ALL THE TIME.  He loves me and he wants to participate in my life.

This book will encourage those who feel like no one notices them, no one cares. I think we all feel like that at times. You will find hope and comfort in the pages of this book.

There is a section of "questions for thought and sharing" at the end of the book. These questions are excellent for individual or group study and meditation. This book is ideal for a women's group study or individual growth and fulfillment.

The author challenges readers with the following questions;

What would it take for you to say, "I have seen the God who sees me"?

What would it take to share this message with someone else?

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I ordered a digital copy of this book from Amazon.Com when it was offered as a FREE download. Please check the current price before ordering.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.



Book Review: Ten - How Would You Rate Your Life?

How would you rate your life on a fulfillment scale of one to ten?  "Ten; How Would You Rate Your Life"?, by Terry Smith, offers you a pathway to level-TEN living.

This book reminds us that God has a special future for each of us. Are you ready for your life to be a TEN?


About the Author
Terry A. Smith has served as a lead pastor of the Life Christian Church for twenty years. TLCC is a nondenominational faith community in West Orange, NJ, serving the New York City metro area. Terry is a co-founder of the New York City Leadership Center and an instructor in its Leadership Fellows program. A gifted communicator, Terry speaks in a variety of venues nationally and internationally. He is passionate about challenging, developing, and encouraging leaders.-

A Guidebook for the Journey
Pastor Smith has written a vibrant, inspiring book about how to find and live God's will for our lives. He believes that God has more in store for us than we realize and we must strive to create the best possible future for ourselves and others.

The book is divided into the following seven sections that instruct and guide the reader in living a TEN life;

• Awaken
• Discover
• Imagine
• Grow
• Act
• Lead
• Go

The author believes that people do not want enough. Not more stuff. More life. And not just for ourselves but also for others. Jesus Christ said that His purpose is to give us more "life - life in all its fullness" or "more and better life than [you] ever dreamed of" (John 10:10, NCV, MSG).

The author challenges and provokes the reader to go after the more and better life that God wants for you. The world needs people who would never be satisfied with anything less than a TEN.

My Thoughts
This book is written and organized in a very professional manner. The author makes a strong case for living your best life and he uses Scripture from the Bible as a foundation for his message.

There are "Reflection Questions" at the end of each of the seven sections. These questions are great for individual or group reflection and meditation. This book would be a very helpful resource for a Bible study group.

I love the enthusiasm and passion that the author communicates in this book. I can tell that this is a man who really "walks the talk" and "practices what he preaches". 

Pastor Smith believes we must have more than a dream. Our grand vision needs to be turned into an actionable plan. I recommend this book to anyone who is ready to start living a TEN life.

My Rating: 5 Stars Out Of 5

FYI ~ I received a complimentary hardback copy of this  book to read and review from Audra Jennings of The B & B Media Group.

Please share your thoughts in the Comments Section below.

Showing Love and Hospitality To Others

I would like to share this guest post by Roxanne Packham, author of "Inspired Design".  This article will inspire you to reach out to others in a spirit of caring, sharing and love.

Before we are inspired about how to show love to others, we must first ask why?

Quite simply it is because in Romans 12:10 & 13 we are told to be devoted to one another in brotherly love, to honor one another above ourselves. We are also told to share with God’s people who are in need and to practice hospitality. Notice the vocabulary: practice, not perfect.

In America, as a culture and as individuals, we are suffering in part because popular media gears everything to perfection. We are bombarded with messages that if we aren’t the very best at something, we just shouldn’t bother. We compare ourselves to others, rather than knowing our worth in God’s eyes.

I suffer from insecurity and wonder if I can be creative enough to inspire. Are my tips original? Are the photographs beautiful enough? Are my suggestions too simple for some, but too fancy for another? The problem: my thoughts revolve completely around me. My creativity, my skills, my ability. This is not about me but about God’s purpose for me. I suddenly realize the bigger picture; I can’t do it, but I can through Christ who strengthens me.

This dance in my mind between my preciousness in His sight and the enemy’s interjections has slowed me down at times, but God showed me this dance is the very reason for us to love others; to encourage each other. Because we are human we suffer from doubt, insecurity, and rejection of one sort or another. We are God’s tool to encourage others. God uses us as His hands to love others, but make no mistake it is His power, His grace and the Holy Spirit that do the real work, not ours.

God’s path of creativity in me began with a family history of silversmithing eight generations back, a degree from USC, design school in Paris, then design school in Los Angeles. Call them spiritual or otherwise, but they were the gifts God saw fit to give to me. Who am I to argue with my Creator? They are unique and I celebrate them. What are your magnificent and unique gifts that you can use to inspire others?

I do not want the gifts received as a blessing from God to “turn into spiritual dry rot,” as Ann Voscamp suggests in her book One Thousand Gifts, as the manna did when it was hoarded in Exodus 16:20. I want to use my blessings.

Inadequacies and all, imperfections and all: I want to inspire others to practice Hospitality and to LOVE others.

Creative Ways to Encourage Others on Valentine’s Day

KIND WORDS

A handwritten note with quotes, scriptures and words of encouragement is a wonderful thing to find in the mailbox.

Leave a sticky note on your child/husband’s pillow or be bold and write your note on the bathroom mirror or car window in red lipstick saying “I love you”.

Even an email just to say “thank you for your hard work, you bless me” can make a person’s day. A cute poem, scripture or old photograph will remind them they are remembered.

If someone has lost a loved one, kind words of some way that loved one inspired you to do something better will let them know that their loved one’s legacy is living on.

AN INVITATION, TIME

Take some time out of your days to meet someone for coffee, lunch, a long walk, or even just leave a phone message with a sweet sentiment. If you have more time, take a picnic basket to their home. Set up a lunch, tea or coffee, with all your tea cups and a candle. It is a lovely surprise! Just rinse when you finish and pack back up so they don’t even have to do dishes. They will have a lovely memory of a special time.

THOUGHTFUL GESTURE

Hang flowers on the front door handle, leave a pretty tiny package in the mailbox with a beautiful red bow, or cookies delivered to the front door. Create a breakfast plate for your child that says you are special . This is especially significant if your child has struggled with something recently.

A BEAUTIFUL DINNER

Of course this takes more time, but try for a beautiful table setting complete with candles, fresh greens or flowers and a lovely menu either handwritten or printed out on your computer. Don’t concentrate on the gourmet or complicated quality of the meal: remember it is about relationship and encouragement!

VALENTINE’S DINNER

A beautiful table for Valentine’s simply consists of reds, pinks and perhaps some purple. (Although it could be beautiful in all white too.) Of course, it has to have some hearts and some colorful candles. Leave kind words of some sort on each place setting. Every Valentine’s table should have its share of sparkle, of course!

 Visit Roxanne Packham’s blog at www.InspiredDesignPublications.blogspot.com

for more pictures and Inspired Design ideas for Valentine’s Day.

Please share your thoughts in the Comment Section below.

Encourage Your Friends

I have been thinking about all the ways that my friends have used Facebook to encourage me. "Encourage" is defined in the Webster's Dictionary is this way; "to give courage or hope to; make feel more confident. To give help to; aid; promote."

How Important Is Encouragement?

The truth is that everything that can be accomplished by showing a person when he's wrong, ten times as much can be accomplished by showing him where he is right. The reason we don't do it so often is that it's more fun to throw a rock through a window than to put in a pane of glass. ~ Robert T. Allen

Our workaday lives are filled with opportunities to bless others. The power of a single glance or an encouraging smile must never be underestimated. ~ G. Richard Rieger

Here are some of my favorite ways to bless others on Facebook;

1. Always remember birthdays. I love the way Facebook helps me remember my friend's birthdays. It just takes a few seconds to post a birthday greeting on a Facebook page. Little things like this really mean a lot.
2. Respond to prayer requests. If a friend asks for prayers, I try to respond to the request. I then take time immediately to pray for the request. Prayer changes things.
3. Comment on pictures and videos. People love to share their experiences with pictures. I really enjoy keeping up with my far-away friends by viewing picutres. If I don't write a comment, I leave a "Like" on the photos so my friend knows that I viewed them.
4. Answer questions. When a friend asks a question, I try to leave an answer. Facebook now allows people to post Polls to quiz their friends on different subjects. I think this is a fun way for people to express their opinions and preferences.
5. Express sympathy. I found the expressions of sympathy that I received when my dad died very comforting. It means so much just to offer a few simple words of condolence.
6. Celebrate. It is so nice to celebrate births, graduations, new jobs and other happy occasions with friends on Facebook. A happy occasion is multiplied when shared with friends.
7. Having a bad day. When my friends are having a bad day, it is a perfect opportunity to post an encouraging comment.  "Hang in there" or "Things will get better" ~ Positive comments can make things better.
8. Personal messages. I no longer try to keep track of email addresses. It is so easy to send personal messages through Facebook. I have used this feature to send messages to people who are not my Facebook friends as well as friends.

I am sure there are many other ways to encourage friends on Facebook. I am reminded of the following children's verse;

Make new friends,

But keep the old.

One is silver

And the other gold.

How do you use Facebook and other social media sites to encourage your friends? Please post your thoughts in the comments section below.