Samuel's Creations

This is one of Samuel's favorite stamps. He had lots of fun making cards the other day.

Here is his favorite truck some where in Paris...LOL! With two eiffle towers..(chuckle!)

Here is the last of Samuel's creations for this time around. I have a budding artist on my hands. Samuel likes to experiment with all the different art mediums and the cards above are some the results.

We just picked Jeremy up from Jr. Camp and his tired but had lots of fun.

Hope you all have a super fantastic weekend!!!

Many Blessings,

Mary

Worship

I hope you don't get tired of the Photoshop pictures. This picture my eldest son, Jeremy took. He is becoming quite the photographer. He's taken some very fun pictures. He plays around with all the different settings on the camera and is having lots of fun. Where I tend to be so boring and not as adventurous with my photography. I tend to use 2-3 settings, why you may ask....because I know those setting work! So I am thankful that Jeremy has his adventurous side...he is teaching me a lot.

This picture he took was from the very first Oshkosh church service (in March of this year) and the picture is of Jeremy's youth Pastor, Bro. Drexel. He is leading worship. I still remember that very first service and God moved in a mighty, special way and he is continuing to move each and every service. My cousin and her husband Pastor the Oshkosh church and they are doing a wonderful job! God is manifesting himself in a mighty way and it is beautiful to hear about all the lives that are being changed!

Since Jeremy took the picture I had him help me come up with what to do. He suggested that I uses some textures (3 were used and applied with softlight.) He choose the frame and I choose the font. I am slowing teaching Jeremy what I am learning in Photoshop. He thought it was so cool.

So what do you think? Jeremy did pretty good....=) He really does have an eye for art. Different from mine and I am loving it. Jeremy has a natural ability to capture things as they are in their natural setting and highlight those emotions in his photos....it's amazing to me. He even does it when he is photographing landscapes. He also has a very fun and funky side to him to...it's great to see the talents God has given him coming to the surface and I want to encourage him to keep growing.

Have a super splendiferous day and many blessings!!!

Mary

Delight

Happy Tuesday to you! This is my week 3 submission for the CHF Summer Challenge. This week we were to use a Resist technique. Lots of fun!!!

I re purposed an old skirt and stitched it to the front of my card and I think it added a nice shabby chic feel. I stamped one of my favorite scriptures....

"Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.
Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."

Psalm 37:4-6

These scriptures were very encouraging to me today and I hope they will encourage you as well.

I am still taking the online Photoshop coarse and it is sooo much fun!!! You will see some more pictures on my blog very soon. I am learning so much! You've got to check out Jessica Sprague, her classes are awesome. I will be saving up to take another one of her Photoshop classes.

Well I need to go. My youngest is without his older brother this week and he is wanting some one on one mommy time! Gotta love that!!!! I do. Of coarse I miss bubba too...but he is having a blast at Jr. Camp.

Many Blessings,

Mary

Photoshop Fun!!!

This is my before picture. This lesson we added textures. How fun is that!!!!

This is my finished photo. How do you like it?

We just got home from Madison. We had lots of fun and I'll have some fun pictures to share with you very soon!

I also started playing with a new stamp from The Greeting Farms called Annika. She is totally cute and I will have some cards to share with you as well.

My eldest boy is leaving for Jr. Bible Camp tomorrow and since we just got home, I need to get him prepared for this week.

Have a great Sunday!!!

Mary

Teapot Trio

First off I want to apologize for the quality of the photo. This was a Birthday gift and I can no longer retake the photo...UGH!!! Oh well....the colors are Aqua Mist and Pure Poppy from PTI.

I used the Tea for Two stamp set and the Desktop Stationary from My Timeless Templates to make this Birthday gift.

Some personal thoughts to share....

I have been reading a book on and off called Dare to Dream...then do it, by John C. Maxwell.

There is a quote that really speaks to me in this book. Like most people in the US we have had our ups and downs concerning job layoffs. I haven't share this on my blog, because I always want it to be upbeat and a place of encouragement.

The Lord reminded me that during our low times when our lives do not seem to be all put together, God can use those imperfections in our lives to encourage others. (And that is my prayer in sharing this with you.)

At the end of May, I was laid off from my job. This is a mixed blessings as I have been battling some health issues. I thanked God for knowing what is best. I have been able to be home and spend time with my boys as I search weekly for a job. I haven't had any success at being hired as of yet and not worried either. I have put all my trust and faith in God. He has never let me down and God always has our best insterests at hand, even when we don't understand what he is doing. (Philippians 4:7: And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.)

Last week I was a bit overwhelmed with circumstances. I had been praying for God to give me a word. He did. Last Sunday a gentleman from church walked up to me and said "I have a scripture for you." Praise God!!! God does hear and answer our ever prayer. He gave me Zachariah 4:7: (Amplified Bible)

For who are you, O great mountain [of human obstacles]? Before Zerubbabel [who with Joshua had led the return of the exiles from Babylon and was undertaking the rebuilding of the temple, before him] you shall become a plain [a mere [a]molehill]! And he shall bring forth the finishing gable stone [of the new temple] with loud shoutings of the people, crying, Grace, grace to it!

He said I want you to draw from this scripture and pray....to the Mountains in your life to be thou a molehill.

We truly serve a great God! God answered my request to receive a word of direction concerning the situations that we are facing.

This brings me back to my point...I was reading Maxwell's book and this quote spoke me.

"Never measure the height of a mountain until you have reached to top. Then you will see how low it was." Dag Hammarskjolo - Swedish Diplomat

So be encouraged if you are facing a mountain or two....you can also pray Zachariah 4:7 into your situation.

Many Blessings to you!

Mary

More Photoshop....Project #4

Today's lesson was on how to use masks in Photoshop and it is way cool...wow...again all the possibilities there are....it really gets the creative juices flowing. I can't wait to be able to play more and more with this software.

thanks for stopping by and have a great night!

Many Blessings,

Mary

Project #3 - Creating a Vintage - Hand tinted look

Ok how fun was today's homework.....I used the same photo from Christmas of last year.

Followed the instructions and hand tinted the boy's ties....seriously as each day passes, I am amazed at all the fun things that I can do now with Photoshop...Exciting!

Thanks for looking and have a great day! I do have some cards to share with you and I hope I'll be able to post some fun pictures tonight...

Mary