Spring is here!

This week's Shining the Light challenge is our 200th challenge! We want you to celebrate with us this week and create a card or project that uses spring colors and any ODBD image or sentiment. 

Living in South Florida is like spring much of the year (and summer the other half). We plant zinnias in the spring, so I used the Zinnia and stamped the smaller blossom five times, colored the layers, and fussy-cut each one (even though there is a wonderful die for this flower). I cut the petals apart, embossed them with a stylus and curled them up a bit, added some gold glitter, and layered them all together, popping the center. For the sentiment I used The Lord Has Risen in one of the Antique Labels & Border dies. I used paper from the Blooming Garden Collection, paper-pierced, and added one of the Beautiful Borders dies that I embossed with ink and threaded with some pearl cotton.   

Yes, spring is here, and flowers are appearing once again as the sun returns with its warmth after a long winter. Solomon's Song of Songs is a beautiful and poetic book in the Old Testament that is often used by pastors when speaking with married couples. But on a deeper level, it reminds us that the marriage covenant between a man and a woman is a "picture" for us of the relationship between Christ (the Groom) and His bride, the church -- we who believe in Jesus as Savior. What a beautiful book I encourage you to read. 

To see all the creations in one place or join the challenge, please visit Our Daily Bread Designs Blog. You have until May 4 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. 

May we remember that we are to point others to Christ and that our "gown" is the righteousness bought with His blood. I am so very grateful for the grace of God and what Christ has done for me.

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Zinnia and The Lord Has Risen (ODBD)

Paper: Blooming Garden Paper Collection (ODBD), Solar White (Neenah), White (PTI), So Saffron and Pear Pizzazz (SU)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Black (Versafine), So Saffron (SU)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Antique Labels & Border dies (ODBD), Zinnia & Leaves dies (ODBD), Beautiful Borders dies (ODBD), Pearl Cotton 3348 (DMC), Gold glitter pen (Spica), Perfect Layers tool, stylus, 3M dimensional tape, red tape
Techniques: Paper-piercing and sponging
Card Size:  A-6

Precious Boy

This week's Shining the Light challenge is a Sketch Challenge.  

I have been wanting to use this Precious Boy image and decided it fit this week's sketch using Elegant Oval dies. I added the sentiment in this set using one of the tags from Recipe & Tags dies and added the ribbon on top of an embossed layer and the patterned paper layer. I paper-pierced, sponged, and also paper-pieced his little pajamas!

This card has special meaning to me because we have just celebrated the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ, Who, because of His sacrifice, made it possible for all believers to approach the throne of God in prayer (symbolized by the tearing of the curtain in the temple in Matthew 27:51). Therefore, as God's children, we are called to pray to our Heavenly Father in Jesus' name. It's a joy to praise Him, thank Him, and lift up each others' needs in prayer to God. I am so thankful for the privilege of praying for so many of you. 

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, 
give thanks in all circumstances; 
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

To see all the creations in one place or join the challenge, please visit Our Daily Bread Designs Blog. You have until April 27 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 opportunity to pray for you and for you to pray for me!  Thank you!

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Precious Boy (ODBD)

Paper: Solar White (Neenah), White (PTI), Baja Breeze (SU), Portabello Road Specialty Paper Pad (K&Company)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Black (Versafine), Baja Breeze (SU)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Elegant Oval dies and Recipe & Tags dies (ODBD), Dainty Dots M-Bossabilities reversible embossing folder (Spellbinders), Baja Breeze grosgrain ribbon (SU), Perfect Layers tool, 3M dimensional tape, red tape, dental floss
Techniques:  Sponging, paper-piecing, and paper-piercing
Card Size:  5 3/4" square

Christ Is Risen Indeed!

Today we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Who did not remain in the tomb but defeated sin and death and bodily rose from the dead. Praise God, He is risen indeed! 

I wanted to share a card with you today after hearing a wonderful Easter sermon reminding me of Christ's love, a love like no other.

For my card, I used a quote from The Cross and added one of the crosses along with some flowers from ODBD's new Ornamental Crosses dies with pearls. I used a sheet from ODBD's Christian Faith Paper Collection for my background, added some ribbon and floss to finish it.

One of my Facebook friends posted this wonderful song by Keith and Kristyn Getty, "Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed."  I trust you will enjoy it. Here's a portion of the chorus:

Christ is risen, He is risen indeed!
Oh, sing hallelujah.
Join the chorus, sing with the redeemed:
Christ is risen, He is risen indeed.

What a glorious week it has been as we've considered all that Christ has done for us. He was crucified on the cross, buried, and endured the wrath of God, but defeated sin and death and rose from the dead. "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep" (1 Corinthians 15:20). He has taken the sting out of death when we trust Christ and Christ alone for our salvation.

Thanks so much for "stopping by" and leaving a comment or sharing a thought. 

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  The Cross (ODBD)

Paper: White (PTI), Pale Plum (SU), Christian Faith Paper Collection (ODBD)

Ink: Black (Versafine), Perfect Plum (SU)
Tools/Accessories: Ornamental Crosses dies (ODBD), Plain Ovals dies (Spellbinders), Lavender Moon satin ribbon (PTI), pearls (Recollections), Perfect Layers tool, Glue n' Seal adhesive, 3M dimensional tape, red tape, DMC floss 3835
Techniques: Sponging
Card Size:  5 1/4" square

Lead me to the Cross...

This week's challenge is to create a card or project displaying a cross, verse, or sentiment about the true meaning of Easter, not commercialized and no bunnies.

For my card, I used the lily of the valley from Easter Blessings and the sentiment from The Cross. For my background, I used the Chalkboard Vine Background, sponged the edges, added a matting, and paper-pieced it. I added one of the borders from Beautiful Borders dies, a satin ribbon, and my tag using one of the Antique Vintage Labels & Border dies. 

This week is often referred to as Passion Week or Holy Week, as we trace the events leading up to the cross where Jesus died, bearing all our grief and shame. He was buried and three days later rose from the grave, defeating sin and death. When I think of all that Christ endured for me, doing for me what I could never do, I am beyond grateful for His sacrifice. It is His grace alone that has given me the assurance of eternal life.

One of my favorite songs was written nearly 150 yeas ago (in 1865), Jesus Paid It All, by Elvina Hall. Here is the refrain that I love to sing as I remember what Christ has done for me. It's nothing that I have done or could ever do to make myself right before God. It's through Christ alone. (When I sing it, I often sing the last line "He washed me white as snow.)

Jesus paid it all
All to Him I owe
Sin had left a crimson stain
He washed it white as snow

To see all the creations in one place or join the challenge, please visit Our Daily Bread Designs Blog. You have until April 20 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. 

This week, I pray that as we remember the events leading up to Resurrection Sunday (Easter) we realize there is nothing we can do to save ourselves from eternal death...it is through Christ alone. 

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Easter Blessings,  The Cross, Chalkboard Vine Background (ODBD)

Paper: Solar White (Neenah), White (PTI), Certainly Celery and Lavender Lace (SU)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Black (Versafine), Lavender Lace (SU)
Tools/Accessories: Antique Labels & Borders dies (ODBD), Beautiful Borders dies (ODBD), Large Scallop Ovals dies (Spellbinders), Copic markers, satin ribbon (Wrights), Perfect Layers tool, Glue n' Seal adhesive, 3M dimensional tape, red tape
Techniques: Sponging and paper-piercing
Card Size:  5 1/2" square

Touches Your Heart...

This week's Shining the Light challenge is to create a card or project that includes an image with water, uses a technique with water, or is primarily "aqua" in color.

One of my favorite sentiments is from Quote Collection 4, and I decided to use it with the beautiful new Vintage Flourish Pattern die. I chose to use a shade of aqua for this week's challenge, and I kept it simple by sponging around the sentiment, adding some ribbon and pearls in the corners, and popping it up on the card base with dimensionals. How nice that the die does the piercing!

I am blessed to have so many special friendships, and they truly do touch my heart! 

Jesus is the finest example of a true Christian friend who was never selfish and sacrificed His life for us to make us righteous before God when we accept Him as Savior. If we choose our friends based only on what they have to offer, we will rarely discover the blessings of a genuine friendship.  

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, 
but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
Philippians 2:3

To see all the creations in one place or join the challenge, please visit Our Daily Bread Designs Blog. You have until April 13 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. This week may we each think of ways to be better friends and be more like Christ...and touch a heart or two!

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Quote Collection 4 (ODBD)

Paper:  White (PTI), Bermuda Bay (SU)

Ink: Black (Versafine), Bermuda Bay (SU)
Tools/Accessories: ODBD Vintage Flourish Pattern dies, Bermuda Bay ribbon (SU), pearls (Martha Stewart), sponging, 3M dimensional tape
Card Size:  A-2

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