Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Some more Bird cards

Well, my Blog is not called 'Craft's Nest' for no reason - I just cannot get off the birds to the butterflies at the moment.

 

 I used a piece of patterned paper from the Graphics 45 design. Painted the roses and teapot with distress markers and water and attached one of my favorite bird stamps on top of the pot. I stamped the Hero Arts Postcard Stamp over the top and cut around it for the tag style.



A very quick card using another bird which was cut out from a scrap. I made the nest with the leaves from a stamp from Inkadinkado.


The same bird again, cut from a scrap. This is collage style.


A little stamping collage with two different stamp sets from SU, An Open Heart and Butterfly Basics.


Looked for a background of patterned paper to match these birds that were mounted onto a diecut. 

So I want to share something that spoke to me so profoundly, I want to share it for those who maybe going through a 'why me' time at the moment. I know it sounds so selfish to be busy with 'me' when there is so much to be grateful for, yet God knows we are but dust and still His heart beats for us with a passion!

Quote:
The desire for God
For reading & meditation: Psalms 42
"My soul thirsts for God, for the living God '" (v.2)

Yesterday we looked at the words: "Whom have I in heaven but you?" Now we examine the second part of that text: "And earth has nothing I desire besides you" (Ps. 73:25b). Personally, I find these some of the most enchanting words in the whole of the Old Testament. The first part of the verse is put in a negative, and the second in a positive form. Having looked around and seen that there is no satisfying substitute for the Almighty, the psalmist goes on to make the positive assertion that from the bottom of his heart he desires to know God. He has come to see (so I believe) that it is more important to desire God for who He is than for what He does or what He gives. In a sense, the psalmist's entire problem arose out of the fact that he had put what God gives in the place of God Himself. The ungodly were having a good time while he was having a bad time. Why was he having to suffer like this? His trouble was that he had become more interested in the things God gives than in God Himself, and when he didn't have the things he wanted, he began to doubt God's love. Now, however, he has come to the place where he desires God for Himself. The ultimate test of the Christian life is whether we desire God for Himself or for what He gives. Each one of us must ask ourselves: "Do I desire God more than forgiveness? More than release from my problems? More than healing of my condition? More than gifts and abilities?" How tragic that our prayers can be full of pleadings that show, when they are examined, that we are more interested in enjoying God's blessings than we are in enjoying God.
Prayer:

O Father, forgive me that so often I am concerned more with Your gifts than I am with You - the Giver. Help me to long after You, not because of what You give me, but because of who You are. In Jesus' Name I ask it Amen.

We are having rather bad weather at the moment, so wanting to see the sun again!
Have a great week!
Jacqueline


Tuesday, March 17, 2015

An Open Heart

Hello to all who visit me! I am sharing a favorite technique of mine which is stamping on patterned paper. I must say I am gravitating towards Stampin' Up stamps a lot these days.


This little bird and sentiment are from the 'An Open Heart' set.
This card reflects my heart at the moment, so much I would like to say... but just too tired to share.
That was it for today.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Butterfly Basics

Today I wanted to share a card for two challenges.


The first challenge is this sketch from the Challenge Blog, Case this sketch, which can be found here.


The second challenge is a from the blog ColorQ, which can be found here.


And this is my card - for the first sketch the three words of my sentiment count for the three tags bottom right. I used a scrap paper and embossed the butterfly in white. It is such an effective, decorative stamp.

Thank you for visiting me. Oh yes, these stamps are newly acquired Stampin' Up Stamps called Butterfly Basics. I love them and have always wanted a lace butterfly stamp.

Have a lovely weekend!

I have to share a little testimony. Yesterday I wasn't feeling too good and had some words with my DH, kind of doubting his love for me which is just ridiculous, and I noticed it hurt him. While I was making the meal I thought, Lord you know how much I love my son... just think if he said to me, Mum, I really don't believe that you love me as much as you say you do... it would shatter me. Now, think about how much God loves us! Just think how God must feel, having given everything, everything He had to bring you to Himself and we just say - yeah but I don't believe that you really love me that much.... Doubting the love He has for us - no, it is unthinkable, and still we do it. It gave me a lot to ponder on.