Amazing Grace

This is our fourth and last challenge in celebration of the sixth anniversary of Our Daily Bread Designs. This week's challenge is to use your favorites or any ODBD stamp you wish, but it must only be ODBD stamps.  

One of my favorite stamp sets is Grow in Grace. I love the dogwood and the wonderful sentiments about God's grace. I stamped the Amazing Grace Hymn in a softer than usual color and stamped the dogwood repeatedly over the background, being careful to avoid the hymn title. Then I colored the dogwoods with Copic markers, matted it, and added the sweet Fence die that I also love. 

"Amazing Grace" is probably the most recorded of Christian hymns, and the text is by English poet and Anglican clergyman John Newton. John Newton, a former slave trader, came to realize that he was "wretched and miserable until saved by a grace that forever transformed his life." Chris Tomlin performed the song, Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone), for the popular movie, "Amazing Grace," based on the life of anti-slavery pioneer William Wilberforce. John Newton was his mentor, confidant, and close friend as well as co-compaigner in the anti-slavery movement. It's an amazing movie. 

But even more amazing is the grace God extends to us through His Son Jesus. As one of the sentiments in this stamp set says, it's God's Riches At Christ's Expense. It's a gift from God:

For by grace you have been saved through faith.
And this is not of your own doing;
it is the gift of God, not a result of works, 
so that no one may boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9

To see all the creations in one place or join the challenge, please visit Our Daily Bread Designs Blog. You have until April 6 to join us. You may use any stamps to enter, but if you have any Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we would love to see you use them. If you participate, you have an opportunity to win a $15 certificate toward ODBD stamps or to be "spotlighted" for the Shining the Light Award (the SLC award is only for those who use ODBD stamps). We would love to see your creations!

For more beautiful inspiration ideas for this challenge, please visit my precious design team sisters:

Chris Olsen * Diana Nguyen * DJ Rants * Elizabeth Whisson
Linda Carson * Robin Clendenning

I have also entered this card for this week's Word Art Wednesday challenge.  

Thanks so much for "stopping by" and leaving a comment or sharing a thought. I am so very grateful for the grace of God and that I am His child...through Christ alone.

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Grow in Grace and Amazing Grace Hymn (ODBD)

Paper: Solar White (Neenah), White (PTI), Pistachio Pudding and Sahara Sand (SU)

Ink: Sahara Sand (SU)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Fence die (ODBD), PerfectLayers tool, Glue n' Seal adhesive
Card Size:  A-6

New Every Morning

Well, today started out slowly for me and turned into a clean and simple day. To get my "mojo" going, I found this small zinnia colored as a leftover from a previous card idea and decided to use it in this week's CAS challenge and added buttons for the Ways to Use It challenge...a double-hitter for me! 

This is such a precious sentiment - His mercies are new every morning! It reminds me of the wonderful hymn about God's great faithfulness no matter what my situation is. 

Great is Your faithfulness, O God my Father

There is no shadow of turning with Thee

Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not

As Thou hast been, Thou for ever will be 

Great is thy faithfulness
Great is thy faithfulness

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed thy hand hath provided

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To thy great faithfulness, mercy and love 

Great is thy faithfulness

Great is thy faithfulness

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed thy hand hath provided

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me

Great is thy faithfulness 

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside 

Great is thy faithfulness

Great is thy faithfulness

All I have needed thy hand hath provided

Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me

There are days when we forget just how faithful our God is in every aspect of our lives. May you join me in remembering just what a faithful and loving God He is to us...every day...and that His mercies are new each and every morning!

I have also entered this card for this week's Word Art Wednesday challenge.  

Thanks so much for "stopping by" and leaving a comment or sharing a thought. I always enjoy reading your comments and hope to encourage you today in some small way.

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Zinnia and Sentiment Collection 3 (ODBD)

Paper: Solar White (Neenah), White (PTI), Marvelous Magenta and Pear Pizzazz (SU)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Black (Versafine)
Tools/Accessories:  Copic markers, ODBD Custom Zinnia and Leaves dies, PerfectLayers tool, tiny buttons, Diamond Glaze adhesive, 3M dimensional tape, sponging
Card Size:  A-2

Sweet Little Hummer

This is the third week of our celebration of the sixth anniversary of Our Daily Bread Designs. This week marks the anniversary Our Daily Bread Designs opened for business. So let's celebrate by using six of one item on your card (such as 6 layers, 6 yes, 6 patterns, 6 words, 6 letters, 6 scallops, 6 items from ODBD).  Be creative and have fun! 

I decided to use six ODBD items, but it also qualifies for six layers if you include this cute little hummingbird! I used the Bee Balm Flower inside the Seed Packet stamp with another sentiment from that set at the bottom. I used "thinking of you" from All Occasion Sentiments and then added the sweet Hummingbird with matching Hummingbird die.

More than six years ago, a seed was planted in Kelley's mind to start a Christian stamp company, and I actually purchased the very first stamp set, The Light of the World in April 2008. Over the last six years, with lots of hard work and God's help, ODBD has grown and its products are sold throughout the world, spreading the Word of God through beautiful Scripture verses and images. Thank you, Kelley, for all that you and Rick have done over the years to make ODBD what it is and for allowing all of us to be able to make cards that share God's love. Like the hummingbird is attracted to the sweetness of flower nectar, so we should be attracted to God's Word. May we all desire the sweetness of God's Word.

How sweet are Thy words to my taste!
Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth.
Psalm 119:103

To see all the creations in one place or join the challenge, please visit Our Daily Bread Designs Blog. You have until March 23 to join us. You may use any stamps to enter, but if you have any Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we would love to see you use them. If you participate, you have an opportunity to win a $15 certificate toward ODBD stamps or to be "spotlighted" for the Shining the Light Award (the SLC award is only for those who use ODBD stamps). We would love to see your creations!

For more beautiful inspiration ideas for this challenge, please visit my precious design team sisters:

Chris Olsen * Diana Nguyen * DJ Rants * Elizabeth Whisson
Linda Carson * Robin Clendenning

I have also entered this card for this week's Word Art Wednesday challenge.  

Thanks so much for "stopping by" and leaving a comment or sharing a thought. Have a wonderful week, and may we continue to share God's Word with others we meet throughout this week!

For His glory,

P. S. If you want a special treat, be sure to visit ODBD's blog post about "How Rubber is Made." It's filled with photos on a wonderful tour of where ODBD's orchid rubber is made!

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Bee Balm Flower, Hummingbird, Seed Packet, All Occasion Sentiments (ODBD)

Paper: Solar White (Neenah, White (PTI) and Strawberry Slush (SU)

Ink: Tuxedo Black and Pistachio (Memento), Black (Versafine)
Tools/Accessories: ODBD Custom Hummingbird die, Mystic M-Bossibilities reversible embossing folder (Spellbinders), PerfectLayers tool, red tape, Glue-Dot
Card Size:  A-2

Happy Sixth Anniversary to Our Daily Bread Designs

Today ODBD is celebrating its sixth anniversary with a release of stamps including quotes, sentiments, and Scripture verses selected by the Bread Basket (ODBD team)! In honor of this release and anniversary, each team member is using their selection on their hop projects. You will totally enjoy the blog hop and see some amazing creations the team has designed!

Three winners will be chosen randomly from the comments left on the designers' blogs to receive a $25 gift certificate to the ODBD store to be used toward the purchase of ODBD stamps! One random commenter will be randomly chosen to win the entire 2014 Anniversary Bundle! You have until March 18, 2014, at 9 p.m. EDT, to leave your comments, and the winners will be posted on the ODBD Blog on March 19. So be sure to check back to see whether you won! Enjoy the blog hop!

My first card uses Scripture Collection 13 with my favorite verse (2 Corinthians 1:3). 

My second card uses another verse from Scripture Collection 13.

The verse I chose (2 Corinthians 1:3) is special to me because it's one verse of a passage that was given to me by my pastor after my dad died, and it gave me great comfort and is one I share with others who have suffered a loss. 

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For jus as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
2 Corinthians 1:3-5

So on to the rest of the team for the blog hop!

Julie * Wanda * Chris * Stacy * Lisa
Grace * Dawn * Diana * Sandee
Sabrina * Silke * Cathy
Angie * Linda * Lori * Audrey * Robin

Thanks so much for "stopping by" and leaving a comment or sharing a thought. Have a wonderful week and I hope you enjoy the blog hop, and don't forget to check back for the winners on the ODBD blog!

For His glory,

Card 1 Recipe:

Stamps:  Scripture Collection 13 and Crocus (ODBD)

Paper: Solar White (Neenah, ODBD Blooming Garden Collection Paper, Midnight Muse (SU)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Black (Versafine), Midnight Muse (SU)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, ODBD Custom Fancy Foliage dies, ODBD Custom Beautiful Borders dies, ODBD Custom Antique Labels and Border dies, Grand Labels One dies (Spellbinders), paper-piercing, pearls (Jolee), Diamond glaze adhesive, Glue-Dots, Glue n' Seal adhesive
Card Size:  6"

Card 2 Recipe:

Stamps:  Scripture Collection 13 (ODBD)

Paper: Classic White (Neenah), Primrose Petal (SU), Verona Pattern Botanical Print paper with gold leaf (Kartos from Italy)

Ink: Jet Black (Archival Ink)
Tools/Accessories: Labels Four dies and Gold Labels Four dies (Spellbinders), PerfectLayers tool, 3M dimensional tape, Glue n' Adhesive
Card Size:  A-2

Friends are Flowers

This is week two of our celebration of the sixth anniversary of Our Daily Bread Designs. Since the gemstone for the sixth anniversary is amethyst, this week's challenge is to use amethyst, lavender, or purple as your main color. 

I wanted to use the new Zinnia set and found a host of beautiful colors similar to the shade I used. It was a delight to color and to use the great matching Zinnia and Leaves dies. I used the Brocade Background for my base and then used one of the Beautiful Borders dies for the sides of the white piece but used a smaller part of it for a different look. After paper piecing both layers, I dyed some seam binding, added the lovely sentiment, and sprinkled a few pearls to finish it.

This sentiment is so precious, since friends add such sweetness to our lives. There is also a wonderful Scripture verse in this beautiful set that I love:

A friend loves at all times.
Proverbs 17:17

The full verse is, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." While a friend loves at all times, she is born to comfort and support a sister (obviously, most of my viewers are women, hence my use of sister; but the same applies to brothers). So I ask myself this week, whom can I support and offer comfort through Christ?

To see all the creations in one place or join the challenge, please visit Our Daily Bread Designs Blog. You have until March 16 to join us. You may use any stamps to enter, but if you have any Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we would love to see you use them. If you participate, you have an opportunity to win a $15 certificate toward ODBD stamps or to be "spotlighted" for the Shining the Light Award (the SLC award is only for those who use ODBD stamps). We would love to see your creations!

For more beautiful inspiration ideas for this challenge, please visit my wonderful design team sisters:

Chris Olsen * Diana Nguyen * DJ Rants * Elizabeth Whisson
Linda Carson * Robin Clendenning

I have also entered this card for this week's Word Art Wednesday challenge.  

Thanks so much for "stopping by" and leaving a comment or sharing a thought. I trust you will think of at least one or two friends who need comfort and support this week, and I suspect we all may think of more than a couple of friends who need our love and prayers.

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Zinnia and Brocade Background (ODBD)

Paper: Solar White (Neenah), White (PTI), Marvelous Magenta (SU)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Black (Versafine), Eggplant Envy (SU)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Zinnia and Leaves dies and Beautiful Borders dies (ODBD), seam binding dyed with Copic V15, pearls (Jolee), paper-piercing, Diamond Glaze adhesive, 3M dimensional tape, Stampin' dimensionals (SU), brayer
Card Size:  A-2

Berry Sweet!

Congratulations, Our Daily Bread Designs! This month marks the sixth anniversary of Our Daily Bread Designs, and the Shining the Light challenge team is celebrating this anniversary with a series of special challenges. This first week's challenge is to use Metal or Sweets. Since the traditional anniversary gift is iron or sweets, let's see you use any image that is sweet or include metal on your creation.

I decided to go with sweet and chose the Strawberries stamp set for the focal image with a lacy border and my sentiment using the ODBD Elegant Oval dies. On top of my Kraft card base, I stamped Gingham Background in green and used a white embossed piece on the left. Then I finished it off with some jute and a red button...all to give it a country feel.

As I think of sweetness this week, I am reminded of a verse about how important our words are:

Pleasant words are like honey. They are sweet to the spirit
 and bring healing to the body.
Proverbs 16:24

What a precious gift we give to others when we guard our words and use them to encourage others at home, work, church, and anywhere God takes us through life. Sweet words can bring life and healing to people's hearts. What a wonderful opportunity to consider this week!

To see all the creations in one place or join the challenge, please visit Our Daily Bread Designs Blog. You have until March 9 to join us. You may use any stamps to enter, but if you have any Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we would love to see you use them. If you participate, you have an opportunity to win a $15 certificate toward ODBD stamps or to be "spotlighted" for the Shining the Light Award (the SLC award is only for those who use ODBD stamps). We would love to see your creations!

For more beautiful inspiration ideas for this challenge, please visit my precious design team sisters:

Chris Olsen * Diana Nguyen * DJ Rants * Elizabeth Whisson
Linda Carson * Robin Clendenning

I have also entered this card for this week's Word Art Wednesday challenge.  

Thanks so much for "stopping by" and leaving a comment or sharing a thought. Hope we all enjoy the opportunities God gives us this week to encourage and lift up others by our sweet and kind words. Watch for a smile or two!

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Strawberries and Gingham Background (ODBD)

Paper: Solar White (Neenah), Kraft and Poppy Red (PTI)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Black (Versafine), Wild Wasabi (SU)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers; Custom Elegant Oval Dies (ODBD); Circles dies, Lacey Circles dies, and Dainty Dots M-Bossabilities reversible embossing folder (Spellbinders); white gel pen (Signo); Perfect Layers; jute (May Arts); button (PTI); red tape; 3M dimensional tape
Card Size:  A-2