MMSC110-Midnight Madness Tuesday! Let's Play!

Vintage Auto by priscillastyles

Welcome to another fun sketch Tuesday at Midnight Madness! This week we are on challenge #110, here is a look at the sketch we are working with this week:

The wonderful thing about these sketches is you get to chose if you want to do a clean and simple card (CAS) or if you want to do a fancy card, or if you want to do something somewhere in between. The most important thing is to have fun and show off your mojo!

My cards always seem to land pretty much in the middle; does that mean I can't make up my mind....hmmm?? Whatever the reason and whichever my card ends up being, I always have fun playing with Priscilla's sketches. This week I am using a new image called Vintage Auto, don't you love the look of this old car? I'm not quite old enough to remember them personally but photos of them have always intrigued me! Vintage is my middle name, :) You can find all of Priscilla's images at priscillastyles Store along with some other goodies.

Thanks for dropping by, don't forget to visit all the teammates to see what inspirational eye candy they have come up with, all their names are listed right over on the side bar! Also, if you haven't checked into CDAC recently, you will definitely want to take a browse through, there is a HUGE ANNIVERSARY celebration going on with prizes and challenges and lots and lots of fun. I look forward to seeing your creations posted so I can come visit!!

challenges:
Midnight Madness-MMSC110
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Craft Your Days Away - Vintage

IT'S A Party!! Join in the Fun at CDAC!!

Wow, can you  believe it's already been a year, CDAC is celebrating their first year anniversary and YOU are invited! Great giveaways, lots of challenges, great inspiration, really nice people, gosh, what more could you ask for? Click on the banner on the side bar or HERE to find out all about the party! See you there!

Sharing a few more photos

The lilies around the farm have finally begun to bloom. I have been enjoying them immensely and would like to share a few photos.

 

And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Matthew 6: 28-29 

How very true!!

MMSC108

Tuesday is Midnight Madness day and today begins challenge #108!! Are you ready, here is this week's challenge for all you fans out there!

Take a look and decide how you will be "creating" this week, Fancy, CAS or somewhere in between!  Here is my take on this weeks sketch, hope you like it and will play along....we love for you to participate!!

I am using Priscilla's Grapes digital stamp this week. You can find this luscious image in Priscilla's store along with all her other amazing images!!  I chose to go for green grapes this week because my purple grapes always look weird to me, I can never get the color correct! :)  Playing it safe...YEP! I am definitely "purple challenged"!!
Here is a close up of the grape cluster:

This image is so beautiful, filled with all kinds of refreshing thoughts and promises of  tasty goodness!  Let's take a look at the inside:

  Promises made, promises kept!

Thank your for visiting today, I hope you will leave a comment and visit all the blogs of the design team. We are all listed on the side bar. I will leave you with one more look for this week; I hope you have a wonderful rest of the week and will join us in our challenge!!

challenges:
MMSC108
Make it Monday - Anything Goes
Lexi's Creations - #42 No Sentiment
Totally Paper Crafts - Challenge #70 Summer

Kings Trust Ministries - One Day At A Time
Waiting on the Lord with joy
1 Samuel 1:18
"And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad."

Hannah so badly wanted a child, but the scripture says that the Lord kept Hannah from having a child. Her heart and soul was extremely sore concerning this. She lost her joy for life; she even lost her appetite for food. One day in the temple she cried out in desperation to the Lord. A priest, Eli, heard her and prayed that the Lord be merciful and grant her heart’s desire. She left the temple that day with a new attitude of heart, an attitude of quite trust. In her heart was a deep peace and an attitude of praise. Immediately she regained her appetite and ate a meal and went about her daily life joyfully as she waited for the Lord to do the miracle in her life.

The Lord also kept Sarah (Abraham’s wife) from having children. After many years of waiting for God to open her womb, Sarah, feeling desperate to provide a child for Abraham, decided to make a plan and suggested to Abraham that he take her maidservant and have a child with her. Of course we know that wasn’t part of God’s plan and so much bitterness and hardship came into Sarah’s life when Ishmael was born. Even after the promised child ‘Isaac’ was born to Sarah, she endured much heartache because of the maidservant and the boy Ishmael.

Here is a picture of two women, both kept by God from having children, yet having received a promise from God that he would prove Himself faithful, they had to wait for the miracle. The difference was their attitude of heart while they waited.

At times we may be faced with the challenge of having to wait for something for which we are praying and hoping for. The encouragement is that while we wait, let us do so with the right attitude of heart. Like Hannah, even while we are waiting we can live each day with the peace and assurance that the Lord is in control and that He will provide our daily bread in His time, in His way and in His perfect will. We don't need to make our own way like Sarah, all we need to do is to trust and not waver in our belief and to continue worshipping and rejoicing while we wait..... no matter how long it takes!

That’s the challenge. God does not always answer our prayer in one day, one week or even one year. It could be a long wait. So are we in for the wait? Be encouraged today to keep rejoicing as you trust and wait for the Lord, one day at a time and only by the Grace of God.

Psalm 27:14 - "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

Additional scripture for reading:
Genesis 49:18; Psalm 40:1; Psalm 62:5; Psalm 130:5; 2 Thessalonians 3:5

MMSC106.....Midnight Madness Challenge!

I hope you all had a lovely long weekend and were able to say "thank you" to our veterans for all they have done. We all know that freedom isn't free! With Memorial Day and then the Fourth of July coming up, I was feeling a bit patriotic so I decided to say Happy Birthday to America! What better way to do it than with an American favorite......the Golden Retriever! Priscilla has the most adorable image that was perfect for my idea, she is part of the set called Easter Egg Hunt Dog set! There are four (4) images in this set, take a look here!!

For this weeks challenge (MMSC106), I am using the girl with the bow in her hair.....my personal favorite!!

 As always, you choose, CAS or fancy......or somewhere in between!!  Here is my card!

Isn't she absolutely adorable??!!! My paper is a digital set from Gina Jane called Land of Liberty.

The inside :

 the envelope and another view of the card front:

A special thank you to all veterans past, present and future, and a very special thank you to the veterans who have influenced my life.

challenges:
MMSC106
Digital Tuesday - Animals/use a digital element
Party Time Tuesdays - Anything Goes
Sweet Stamps - Masculine Card
The Cheerful Stamp Pad - A Special Reason
OLLCB - Challenge 81- Happy Birthday

Photo Excursion

My daughter has gotten very big into photography, so while she was home between semesters we went out on a lot of photo excursions. This was after our trip to the beach and my initial photos of the swans.
She, with her camera and me with my point and shoot, off we went to hunt down subjects. :)  Surprisingly, by watching her and mimicking her style of composition I was able to get a few good shots. I thought I would share a couple of my favorites. I hope you enjoy them.

 

Sharing Today's Devotional!

May 27, 2011 Keep Watch! Gwen Smith Today's Truth Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith... (1 Peter 5:8-9, NIV). Friend to Friend I was really excited that evening because I actually had a fun dinner plan ... which is not always the case. There was some grilled chicken left over from dinner the night before, so I decided to bust out my griddle and whip up some yummy grilled chicken quesadillas - a simple, yet very popular Smith-family delicacy. I know: it's a crazy-easy make, but for some reason my kids think I'm a genius when quesadillas are on the menu. Go figure.             I grabbed a knife, a chopping board, and the leftover chicken from the fridge. Minutes later, the chicken was ready for it's cheese and tortilla companions. While the griddle was heating up, I turned my attention to a few other family matters. I don't even remember what those matters were. It might have been a buzzer, noising from laundry room - alerting me of dry clothes that needed hung. I might have turned away to set the table or perhaps I had to intervene between my children who perpetually struggle to keep their hands to themselves. Whatever it was that drew my attention away from dinner prep was innocent - normal stuff - nothing out of the ordinary.             When I turned back to the business of quesadilla making, confusion gripped me as an empty cutting board glared at me. With an eyebrow raised quizzically, I asked my husband if he had moved my chicken.             "No Honey. I haven't touched your chicken." He replied, with a twinkle in his eye.             Hmmmmm. A chicken mystery. How odd.             I grew a bit anxious and quickly began to interview each of my children, "Did you take the chicken off the cutting board?"             "No Mom. I didn't touch the chicken." They said one after another.             I wondered, "If I didn't move the chicken and my family didn't move the chicken, then where is my chicken?" I looked around the room once more just to be sure that I hadn't simply placed the chicken somewhere else.             Then I saw it ... a look of guilt. A look that screamed and pleaded, "Yes! I took your chicken, but please don't be angry with me. It smelled so good and ... and ... I'm a big dog - I need my nourishment. Was it wrong? Okay. I know it was wrong. Please forgive me. I did it. I ate your chicken. I'm sorry. I'd like to go to my crate now..." His ears lowered as my eyes met his. My brows furrowed. "Rocky! YOU ate my chicken! Bad dog!" I lamented in frustration as I began to make a new dinner plan...             Rocky's just a dog. He's not out to get me and he didn't mean to mess up our dinner plans, but he did prey on our family meal that night. He came and took what wasn't his because I had let my guard down. I wasn't watching over my chicken. As believers in Jesus Christ, you and I must guard our hearts and watch over our homes. The Bible warns Christians to keep watch. Beyond things seen, there are spiritual battles taking place around us continually. If you are a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, then you have an enemy and his name is Satan. If you live to listen to the voice of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, then strap on your battle gear, girlfriend, because your enemy has a mission to destroy you. Beware!             In the New Testament book of John, chapter 10, Jesus identified himself as the exclusive way to our salvation - as the Gate for the sheep of God - as the One who loves, leads and rescues us. In John 10:10, Jesus warns that though His plan for us is protection, love and help, the enemy ... Satan ... "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full."             The Bible has a lot to say about this. It tells us time and time again to be alert to the schemes of Satan. To keep watch. "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith..." (1 Peter 5:8-9, NIV).             Though we have an enemy with a real plan to mess with our emotions, our health, our marriages, our children, our relationships and our thoughts, we are not without help or hope. We have both. God's power and protection are readily available to believers, 24/7. "But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one" (2 Thessalonians 3:3, NIV). "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people" (Ephesians 6:10-18, NIV). I was caught off guard the night that my dog took the chicken off my counter, and there have been times when I've been caught off guard in the midst of spiritual battles. As Christian women, let's remember to keep watch - over our hearts, our minds, and our homes. Let's purpose to proactively pray for protection, power and perseverance. May we always keep watch. Let's Pray Dear Lord, You are all-powerful and mighty to save. I praise you and delight in your plan for me to have abundant life through Jesus. Please cover me in Your Spirit today and equip me to fend off attacks from the enemy in your power and help. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen. Now it's your turn What came to your mind/heart as you read this devotion? Can you identify an area where you feel the enemy is attacking you? Grab your journal and write about it. Pray for specific people and relationships that you feel need protection. More from the Girlfriends Are you an armed and dangerous Girlfriend in God? Be that woman! Let's pray for one another today. If you want to link arms with GiGs from across the globe and stand unified in prayer against the schemes of the devil, click over to my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/GwenSmithMusic. Check out Gwen's new CD, Uncluttered. The songs of Uncluttered are purposed to sweep you away from life-noise and to focus your heart and mind on the one thing that matters: your relationship with Jesus Christ. Seeking God? Click HERE to find out more about how to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Girlfriends in God P.O. Box 725 Matthews, NC 28106 info@girlfriendsingod.com www.girlfriendsingod.com

Surfside Beach, SC

A couple of weeks ago I was able to sneak down to Surfside Beach with my daughter for a couple of days. We had a great between doing our editing jobs and relaxing. In our off time we went around looking for photo opportunities. I thought I would share a couple of my favorites!

 

MMSC104 - Midnight Madness Tuesday!

It is Tuesday and Tuesday can only mean one thing.......It is Midnight Madness time!  Below are two versions of this weeks sketch, CAS and Fancy, whichever you chose we want to see what you come up with!

This week I am using Prisicilla's Sweet Pea Flower Digital Stamp. This is such an intricate and beautiful image!  I sort of mixed the two choices for this weeks sketch together to come up with this:

I made the digital background paper from a wallpaper pattern, I selected a portion that had the peacock on it and used the circle selection tool adding texture to it. I thought this texture which is called "tiles" in PSP9 made it look like needlepoint. I loved the look it gave, hope you can see it!  Below is a close up, what do you  think? I then cut out the sweet pea and mounted it on top of the circle which was cut out with a nestie using "out of the box" technique so the tail of the peacock would hang over the sweet pea image. One more circle for a mat, a rectangle with a torn bottom texturized with a cuttlebug folder and inked and that just about does it!

Here is a shot of the inside:

Don't forget to visit all the team members to see their creations and get inspired by their creativity! (listed on the side bar under Priscillastyles Design Team) Be sure to pop into Priscilla's store for a look at her newest images and to browse through the store for you next digital treasure! Thank you so much for spending time here, I love your visits! I hope you will be able to take a minute to leave a comment. May your day be filled with joy and peace! :)

challenges:
MMSC104
Crafty Cardmakers - #46 Embossing
Make it Monday -Anything Goes
Paper Cupcakes There's Magic in the Air - Embossing