Friday, January 30, 2015

Rejoice: God’s Providence {Bible Journaling}

Sometimes when I do a page in my Journaling Bible, it seems too simple to photograph or “record” on my blog. Maybe instead of hand-lettering the words, I use stamps. Maybe instead of sketching flowers, I use a stamp. Recently it has come to my attention that many gals who are doing art in the margins of their Bibles (whom I have met online) are discouraged when they see mainly the beautiful semi-professional work of some. While I love seeing those pages, sometimes it can be intimidating and discouraging for those of us who are beginners at expressing our thoughts in art and who are not skilled at beautiful hand lettering. SO, I will post some of my “simple pages” because I want to be an encouragement.

I Can Do All Things Bible Journal

I did this page a few weeks ago. I used stamps, even for the flowers. The background is paint. When I cover the words of the Bible, I do so with transparent colors, such as Prisma Colored Pencils, like I used here for the sun. This page was fun because it contains two of my favorite verses!

Rejoice in the Lord Bible Journal

This page happens to be on the facing page of the picture at the top of this post. In the margin on the back side of the “Rejoice” art is a piece that bled through badly. So I had already painted this margin (gesso and yellow watercolor) a few weeks ago, to cover the bleed-through. Today, I stamped the word rejoice, hand sketched a vine and flower. I’ve always been challenged by the verse that says we should always rejoice. Sometimes it’s easy. Sometimes I want to respond, “Really? Now? In this?”

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Glory Art Scripture Challenge #2 {Scripture Cards}

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Glory Art Scripture Challenge #2 is a Bible Study about how we are representatives (ambassadors) of Christ.

I used watercolor paper for the foundation of these cards. I covered the paper first with book paper. Then I used several scrap pieces cut from the underpaper (newsprint) from previous projects.

These cards are cut at 3.5 x 5 each, to fit in a photo album pocket page. My Scripture Cards will likely eventually be pulled out to use in scrapbook layouts. I used a lot of stamps, watercolor paints, stencils, and Distress Ink for edges.

When I was growing up in the Baptist church, there was an organization for the girls and one for the boys. The girls’ organization was called Girls’ Auxiliary (later changed to Girls in Action). But I was envious of the name of the boys’ organization: Royal Ambassadors. How cool was that, to be called Ambassadors of the King!! I thought how boring was the name of the girls’ group, in comparison!!

My very small high school band had a director for a short time who was strict, about everything really. He would not allow us to be seen in public in PART of our uniform. If we had performed in uniform, when the bus stopped at McDonald’s, we could not go inside without full uniform. If it was marching band uniform, that included the ridiculous hat. He believed that if we were in public in uniform, we represented our band and our school, and we were to always be aware that we were ambassadors.

How much more are we who claim the name of Jesus always to be “in full uniform” all the time.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

“This is Amazing Grace” {Praise Walk}

Here in Ridgefield, Washington, it is 55 degrees and sunny, right in the middle of the time we have been told to expect daily rain. Actually, there have been several of these days this month. Such a beautiful day for a walk! I used my iPhone 6 Plus to take pictures and to listen to Praise and Worship Music as I walked. (I tried to restrict the hand-raising to the times when no houses were in sight!!—don’t want people to think I’m crazier than I actually am!)

My favorite song from today’s Praise Walk is just one of my favorites overall right now.

"This Is Amazing Grace" (Phil Wickham)

Who breaks the power of sin and darkness
Whose love is mighty and so much stronger
The King of Glory, the King above all kings
Who shakes the whole earth with holy thunder
And leaves us breathless in awe and wonder
The King of Glory, the King above all kings

This is amazing grace
This is unfailing love
That You would take my place
That You would bear my cross
You lay down Your life
That I would be set free
Oh, Jesus, I sing for
All that You've done for me

Who brings our chaos back into order
Who makes the orphan a son and daughter
The King of Glory, the King of Glory
Who rules the nations with truth and justice
Shines like the sun in all of its brilliance
The King of Glory, the King above all kings

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy is the King who conquered the grave
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Worthy, worthy, worthy
Oh
This is amazing grace
This is unfailing love
That You would take my place
That You would bear my cross
You lay down Your life
That I would be set free
Oh, Jesus, I sing for
All that You've done for me

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Mount St Helens (from our subdivision)

“We Believe” {Bible Journaling}

We Believe Bible Journaling

(Click image to enlarge)

WAY TOO MANY PROJECTS going right now! I am such a beginner at “art,” that it takes me a long time to create a “work of art” in the margins of my Bible. I enjoy doing that, but right now, it’s either do simple or don’t do at all. So, I opt for simple right now, rather than not doing it all.

For those interested in technique, I put down gesso on the margin first (results in zero bleed-through), used a stamp from Stephanie Ackerman, painted the background and the cross with Inktense Watercolor Pencils, and wrote out the lyrics with a Micron 05. I have learned not to be concerned with the wrinkling on the page (from the watercolor), as it goes away after the Bible has been closed for awhile.

For this marginalia, I chose to use the lyrics from a song I cannot get off my mind these days, “We Believe” by Newsboys. I love it because it’s the heart of the gospel all wrapped up in the lyrics of one song!

"We Believe"

In this time of desperation
When all we know is doubt and fear
There is only one foundation
We believe, we believe
In this broken generation
When all is dark, You help us see
There is only one salvation
We believe, we believe
We believe in God the Father
We believe in Jesus Christ
We believe in the Holy Spirit
And He's given us new life
We believe in the crucifixion
We believe that He conquered death
We believe in the resurrection
And He's comin' back again, we believe
So, let our faith be more than anthems
Greater than the songs we sing
And in our weakness and temptations
We believe, we believe!
We believe in God the Father!
We believe in Jesus Christ!
We believe in the Holy Spirit!
And He's given us new life!
We believe in the crucifixion!
We believe that He conquered death!
We believe in the resurrection!
And He's comin' back again!
Let the lost be found and the dead be raised!
In the here and now, let love invade!
Let the church live loud our God we'll say
We believe, we believe!
And the gates of hell will not prevail!
For the power of God, has torn the veil!
Now we know Your love will never fail!
We believe, we believe!
We believe in God the Father
We believe in Jesus Christ
We believe in the Holy Spirit
And He's given us new life!
We believe in the crucifixion!
We believe that He conquered death!
We believe in the resurrection!
And He's comin' back,
He's comin' back again!
He's comin' back again!
We believe!
We believe

For the Bible verse location for this illustration, what came to my mind is the simple statement from Matthew 28:6, “He is not here. He is risen.”

Hallelujah!

Monday, January 26, 2015

Words of Prayer for Friends {Art Journal}

Rework of Words with Friends

The Documented Life Project 2015 prompt for Week 4 is “words with friends.” I wanted to use the idea of prayer this week, so I used the chalkboard paint as a place to write out some of the “words” I pray for my friends. On the left side of the page, I used a Scripture card provided by Stephanie Ackerman, the leader of the Documented Faith year-long challenge. I am combining the two challenges into one art journal, and it is definitely “challenging.”

My foundational prayer for my friends is that they would know the truth of John 14:6:

[Jesus said,] “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”

Friday, January 23, 2015

Walk in Truth {Bible Journaling}

Bible Journaling Ps 86-11

So many projects this new year, most all dealing with Bible passages, but had not done a page in my Journaling Bible for a while. This is one of the verses I am memorizing for the SSMT and is a passage I used for Documented Life and Documented Faith.

Simple entry this time—my own scribbly handwriting, with Pan Pastel behind the words.

It occurs to me that the ONLY way to WALK IN TRUTH is through God’s leading.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Truth AND Love: Week #3 {Documented Life/Documented Faith}

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My “usual” art journals are much smaller than this 9x12 Dylusions journal that was suggested for use in the “2015 Documented Life: The Journal” Project. Not only is it more awkward to work in (because I’m not used to it), but it’s hard to find space to lay it aside while it dries, etc. I’ve added a small table to my studio just for the space issue. And, to help alleviate being overwhelmed at filling HUGE blank pages, for this spread, I elected to leave white space all around the border. Much better. For me.

The challenge for Week #3 in DLP is “Color Wheel.” My take on the challenge was to start with a rainbow of intense colors, using NeoColor II watercolor crayons, blended with baby wipes. I used the new Dina Wakley paints also, as well as several stamps. I free-handed a few hearts from vintage book paper and painted them with Dina’s Ruby paint.

For the “prompt,” I often go with thoughts from the Documented Faith project, as I am combining these two projects for the year. The DF word for the month is “truth.” I chose a scripture passage that deals with truth AND love.

I know we often talk about “telling the truth IN love,” and I do know there is a time and place for that philosophy. It is often a solution. I will say, however, that there are times when that philosophy is used as a rationale for plain-old hurting someone’s feelings. Sometimes, love means being quiet (did you catch that, Self?).

That aside, my project this time is about the combination of truth AND love. In my thinking, love cannot exist without truth (though truth could possibly exist without love).

I love this passage from one of my favorite chapters in the Bible:

LOVE does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the TRUTH.

– 1 Corinthians 13:6 (NIV)

Monday, January 19, 2015

Scripture Memory Cards {Siesta Scripture Memory Team-SSMT}

I am joining over 15,000 women in Beth Moore’s Siesta Scripture Memory Team, a challenge to memorize two Scripture verses per month in 2015. The verses are recorded in a 4x6 index card spiral.

One thing I like about the SSMT plan is that I can select my verse each time, and often a verse is on my mind because I have been drawn to it for other art projects.

I am resisting the urge to make each verse into a mixed media art journal page, as I want to follow the guidelines and keep the verses in such a way that I can easily access them for memorization. However, maybe a little stamp here and a little marker there, with some lettering along the way?

SSMT Verse 1

January 1

Jan 15 SSMT Verse

January 15

This is even more fun because my sister is following along with the same challenge, and we are looking forward to a trip to celebrate the successful completion of the year-long challenge!

Mixed Media Art Journal: Truth {Documented Life 2015/Documented Faith}

DLP 2015 Week 2

The challenge for Week 2 of the “Documented Life Project 2015: The Journal” is to use gesso. The pages were primed with gesso, and all the white on the spread is also gesso. Rather than using the word prompt from DLP, I used a Bible verse about truth that is actually a prayer. It is also the verse I am memorizing for the second half of January, for Beth Moore’s Siesta Scripture Memory Team. The Documented Faith word for the month of January is TRUTH.

On the pages, I used gesso, acrylic paints, gelatos, book paper, stencils, stamps, and Pitt markers.

Glory Art: Trust Passages {Scripture Card Set}

Glory Art Week 1

One of my year-long projects for 2015 is to participate in bimonthly Bible Studies/art projects with my friend Patter Cross. Her website is here.

The first Bible Study for this year is about trust. I have an ongoing list of passages that I find in God’s Word that I can “go to” in times of fear, crisis, weak knees, or whenever I need to be reminded Who is in control. From that list of passages, I selected four verses that specifically mention “trust.” I created coordinating Scripture Cards with these verses. For now, I am storing my Scripture Cards in a binder, using photo pocket pages that hold approximately 3.5” x 5” cards. I expect that I will pull out these cards, perhaps singly, to use in scrapbook albums. For now, they look pretty, stored all together on a page.

When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. -Psalm 56:3 (NASB)

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will direct your paths. - Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
- Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. – Proverbs 29:25 (NIV)

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Let Go and Trust {Week #1 of 2015 Documented Life/Documented Faith}

DLP and DF Week 1 2015 w border

Finally completed the first of the weekly projects for 2015. I am combining Documented Life Project and Documented Faith. This is a large spread in a 9x12 journal. The challenge for DLP was to use book paper, and the prompt was “I am my own goalkeeper.” For DF,  the verse for the week is Jeremiah 29:11. My “goal” is to LET GO and TRUST. The tag (with the words “Let Go”) flips up to reveal my private list of things I need to let go.

I also am participating in Beth Moore’s Siesta Scripture Memory Team, and this is the verse I am memorizing for January 1.

I covered the pages with book and music paper (vintage). I used a lot of acrylic paint and stamps, as well as Pitt markers.

Thursday, January 8, 2015

Set to be Busy in 2015! {Projects}

Along with my “usual” projects (random art journaling, scrapbooking, Smash journaling and Bible journaling, and a few online classes along the way), I am involving myself in three fairly major year-long commitments. I’m sure I will be referencing them in posts as the year progresses, so here is the brief overview.

All of these projects allow me to combine my faith with my art, which is so exciting for me. They are all free, so I will provide links for anyone who wants to jump on board.

(1) I will be working in a fairly large (for me) art journal (9x12) as I follow along with two challenges that I am combining into one project--The Original Documented Life Project: the Journal and Documented Faith. These are hot-linked here in the text, and the buttons on the side bar are also hot links. (The buttons below are simply images.)

documented life

documented faith

(2) I will be joining Patter Cross at TripletheScraps.com for a bimonthly Bible Study challenge that incorporates art into specific Bible studies. The year-long challenge is called Glory Art.

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(3) I am joining over 18,000 other women in Beth Moore’s Siesta Scripture Memory Team challenge (“Siesta” was an auto-correct for “sistahs” and Beth kept it, because the whole idea sort of speaks to a rest/respite as well). We will be memorizing two scripture verses a month (and keeping our verses in a spiral notecard set). I’m especially excited that my real-life sister will be joining me in doing this year-long commitment, and we are planning something really fun to celebrate at the end of this year!

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Happy New Year!

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Christmas Afterglow {Family}

Note: I have a friend who has several interest areas, as I do. I have noticed that she uses brackets in her blog titles, to notate the “area” of that particular post. Using that convention, this post will be about {Family}.

You, my faithful readers, may thank me now for NOT posting all of the pictures I took during our family Christmas at our home in Missouri. I take pictures. That’s what I do. When my granddaughters were toddlers, they so equated my camera with me, that they would point to the camera and say, “Mamo.” Not only do I take pictures. I print them (*gasp*), even in this digital era. Not only do I print them, but I scrapbook them. Yep, that’s one of my “areas.” I usually do not post pictures of my scrapbook pages, because they are more personal in nature. Also, I put several photos on each layout, and that doesn’t fit “the trend” of current scrapbooking, where a tiny picture might be in the center of a 12x12 page, with tons of embellishments adorning. Those pages (done by others) look gorgeous, but that method is not practical for me, in light of the huge number of photos I scrapbook.

So, just as a brief recap, we had a wonderful Christmas. Nonetheless, this year began what will likely be the case from now on, with our growing (and growing-up) family. That is, for the first time, we made the statement, “This year everyone was able to come home for Christmas except ___.” This year, it was Alyssa whose work schedule got in the way. But, joining us for the first time was our grandson Conner’s future wife, Caroline (wedding in 3 days!!!!!! Yikes!!!!).

Family Pictures, a tradition

Mamo and Grandad with the Grand Ones, Caroline, Tory, Conner and Dawson (missing Alyssa)

Our Lovebirds

Mark’s Girls (his wife Kristy, daughter Tory, almost-daughter-in-law Caroline)

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Our Christmas Eve Snack Buffet

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Our Christmas morning always begins with a reminder of why we celebrate, the reading of the Christmas Story from Luke 2, with carols sung throughout.

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Always, always, at our house, the music.

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(I really miss this, this singing around the piano, when the kids are far away.)

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(One can only handle so much fun.)