Merry Christmas!

Tis the season, right? I hope you're having an enjoyable season, despite all the chaos and busyness. Stop right now and breathe - deeply.

Labels to Love clear mount stamps. Old Olive cardstock. Gold ribbon.
Merry Little Christmas DSP. Basic Black Archival stamp pad.
Foil snowflakes. Everyday label punch.

Did you? Deep breathing really helps calm you and allows you to get re-centered so you can focus better.

I make cards to help me relax and focus better. Do you? What makes you most happy about the process? The designing? The assembling? The sending? Tell me what you love best!

Night in Bethlehem cling mount stamp and die bundle. Night of Navy ink pad. Night of Navy cardstock. Whisper White cardstock. Smokey Slate ink pad. MISTI tool.

In my frantic pace, the sending sometimes doesn't happen. It's so very important to send though. Just picture the look on your recipients face when they open something personal among the bills.

The card front used the eclipse technique.

A little tip I want to share with you. It's about physics. Did I just hear you groan? Didn't think so. Lots of people have trouble with intricate dies - there are special die platforms for intricate dies, but I've never found a need for one because of physics.

When your platen (the roller part of your Big Shot) moves across your sandwich of plates, it causes the top plate to curve because the platen is curved. The bottom plate does NOT move because it isn't in contact with the platen. If you flip your sandwich, placing your uncut plate on the platform and the plate you use for cutting on top, you'll find you get a clean cut every time. Make sure the die blade is facing up. Like this:

I made and mailed 120 cards this year. You know what I learned? I didn't start early enough! My last batch went in the mail on the 20th. Also, I didn't make enough Hanukkah cards. Yikes!! What was your favorite card you received this season?

Another tip: I couldn't make all those cards without the MISTI tool. Seriously - that thing has been a wonder that has extended all my card making work! I don't have to worry about crooked sentiments, partial stamping, or suffer through one card at a time. This allows you to put your rubber or photo-polymer stamps in place and they stamp repeatedly exactly where you want them. Buy them. Trust me. They pay for themselves in unwasted cardstock and ink. You'll thank me. I have 5 and really need one more.

Ok, 3 more. For classes... you know. So my students can be perfect right out of the gate. I want my students to be successful. Yes. I do.

To help you make the most of this season of giving, I'm offering a host code for orders on Stampin' Up! products. Whomever orders the largest pre-tax dollar amount gets the host goodies! So tell your friends! Have them order under your name! Steal Christmas like a Grinch! Ok. Not really, but, you know. Right?

The host code (R4STMXED) will remain open until January 2, and you can shop my SU! online store immediately. Product will ship directly to you from Stampin' Up! Merry Christmas!!

Looking for some great deals for Santa? Check these out:
(These are affiliate links - I get a small return, you get the great deals. I use these funds to travel to Africa to provide free medical clinics to the villagers. Win:Win.)

Benaiah Sets An Example

Hello friends! Welcome! I wanted to tell you a little story today. It's about tackling fears. Do you need help with that? I do, quite often. I'm always amazed by God's divine writing - every jot and tittle is critical.* You know, then, that even the boring genealogies are there for a purpose. Let's look at this little passage from 2 Samuel 23:20.

Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab’s two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.

Did you see it? That last little bit. Who does that? He went down (voluntarily) into a pit (an enclosed space) with a lion (hello, apex predator) on a snowy day (slippery when wet). Talk about facing your fears!?!

Ok, so my fears usually aren't that life-or-death. I still need courage, and God is the one I trust to bring it. This little revelation came to me through the reading of Mark Batterson's book.

Facing fears just for the sake of facing fears is one thing. However, not chasing the lion might be your biggest regret in the end. I've been told I was crazing for doing certain things - lighting fires out of a helicopter, walking the rim of the Grand Canyon in the dark, going to Africa with my health issues. Yet, if I hadn't done those things, I could be sitting here in retirement with a memory filled with regrets and shoulda's. I don't like the idea of coulda-shoulda-woulda-ing all over myself. So I jump! Besides, that's where God does His best business!

This revelation had to be captured in my journaling Bible. I started by sealing my page with clear gesso, then laid down yellow Frog tape to make a clean edge along the text.

I foam blended several colors of Distress Ink for the background. Then I put a diamond stencil over removed some of the Distress Ink with a damp paper towel, revealing a subtle pattern.

I used this image from the internet (credit to Philippines-based designer Kerby Rosanes) and traced it on the page. After tracing, I went over the image again with Copic multiliners. Getting all those lines and dots on there was a treat. I love that part! I followed that with General's carbon pencils and a smudging tortillon to smooth it over.

The letters are stickers that I shaded with carbon pencil and added white dots with my white Gelly Roll pen. I sealed it all with Mod Podge matte spray sealer.

I hope this inspires you to move out of your comfort zone a little, and into your Bible more. Feel free to join us on Splitcoast for the Mix-Ability challenge and our monthly Bible Journaling challenge! Have a great day!

~ky

*(A jot is like the dot of an "i", an iota; and tittle is the crossing of the "t". Reference link.) 

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Irreverent Rebel

I might have that tattooed somewhere someday. Or maybe it should just be attached to my business stamp! For example, November is a classic month for the daily thankfulness. You're supposed to go day by day. For whatever it is you're documenting. This year, I'm documenting gratitude in my art journaling bible using the prompts put out by Illustrated Faith.

However well intentioned I might be, I just can't do it. Cannot. I had everything ready to start Nov 1. I really did. But I didn't get time to start until the 3rd. I blame the calendar for my downfall. I do. At the very least, it's complicit.

This is how the month is *supposed* to go. See? All the numbers in order. Like when I was a kinder.

Property of Illustrated Faith - do not print. Don't even think it!

One of the things I'm learning is that God has a different idea about these prompts. You see, I made a really pretty, fun page a few days ago (I'll be sharing it soon), but I made it to please me. God called me on it. Anybody relate? Yeah. He said are you making art for the sake of art? Or are you going to sit with Me and watch what I show you?

Gulp. Oops. Never ever ever let yourself run off with yourself. It cost me a couple of very well-spent days. Totally. Worth. It. Now each page I do has a reason, a story, a lesson, and a wonderful journey through His amazing Word!

The bubbles at the top and bottom is the effect of unpigmented molding paste scraped over a circle stencil. (Affiliate links to all products below.)

Day 1 was supposed to be 1 Cor 8:6 as we document our thanks for God Himself. So I started this conversation with Him, (can you imagine? We can actually just sit down and talk with our Creator!) and He pointed me to Psalms 104, God the Creator.

The original reference in Corinthians spoke about food making us acceptable or unacceptable to God. While that's very important to understand, I wanted to speak to Him about some of His favorite things.

What are His favorite things? Why, you and me! All of creation! In fact, He said it over and over again in Genesis - it's all good! I loved reading this Psalm, imagining His face as He looked about. Do you realize just how much joy He finds in caring for the details of the smallest animal? How He delights in the PLAY of the leviathan in the vast deep ocean! This just makes me sing praises all the louder! (Sorry neighbors!)

That's it for this page. While we're having a blast each day of November, we really should carry this over the entire year. If you're wishing you'd known or started, there's really no need to fret. Jump in!

Hoppity!
~ky

I am now an Amazon Associate. Yippee!! If you purchase using these links, a small amount is returned to help me keep good going. It doesn't affect your price. Thank you so very much!

Other Supplies: Illustrated Faith Gratitude Documented monthly kit, Stampin' Up! Rotary date stamp (retired), misc letter stickers.

Thankful

Hello friends! It's been an incredible year for me. So many new experiences, lots of growing pains, but I am so very blessed! I'll keep this post short because we all have things to do and places to be.

I just want you to know, ya know, that I'm thankful for each of you. You've lifted me up, gone on crazy adventures, supported me when I wasn't sure, and shared your prayers for me with God. Do you know how incredible that is? You. Talking to God. About me! I feel extremely blessed.

So go on - get on with the celebrating for those doing the thanksgiving thing. For those who aren't, just know you are included in my celebrations in my heart. Thank you!

~ky

This card was created using the envelope punch board to make the notches, twine tied through the notches after stamping Butterfly Basics in So Saffron, Old Olive, and Cajun Craze. "Thankful" comes from Six Sayings (retired).