Hello Spring Layout

I love spring! The buds and blooms and return of little critters make for awesome photos. You know what else I love? Combining all kinds of SRM goodies in a layout with those photos! My daughter found this litte friend while out playing in the garden a couple years ago and of course I wanted to document the experience.

This layout includes lots of sticker stitches throughout. I also grabbed pieces from various sheets - like the white flowers from a Thank You themed set, the "be happy" sentiment from a pastel borders set, and the sticker sentiment layered over the top photo from a school themed set. 

Even though my set of mini montly calendar stickers is from 2017, I still used it to mark the date on these 2015 photos.  I put my sticker on top of a 3x4 card from my stash and circled the specific date of the photos. I wrote the year off to the side. This makes a great large embellishment as well as a creative way to document the date of my layout photos. Thinking outside of the box with your stash of stickers really multiplies the size of your stash!

Another great way of adding layers is with the little doilies. I used some watered down acrylic pink paint to coordinate them to my layout and then layered them behind my photos and date card. The way they curl up slightly from the paint adds a fun dimension to the layout, too.

Don't limit yourself to use themed stickers for their original purpose. Many have multiple uses and can be used in all sorts of fun ways on a layout, cards, or other project. How will you use yours?

For this layout, I used:

Mini Calendar stickers | Express Yourself School stickers | 4" white Doilies | We've Got Your Sticker Hello | Sticker Stitches | Stickers by the Dozen Thank You | We've Got Your Border Pastel

By His Wounds...

As we approach Easter, I wanted to have a visual reminder to help us focus on the sacrifice of Christ on our behalf. This verse in the Old Testament, which points to Christ, came to mind. 

But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

I wanted to keep it simple and meaningful, so I just grabbed a few supplies. I started with some simple lettering using my black LePen on a sheet of watercolor paper. I lightly drew a few guide lines to keep my lettering straight. These were erased before applying any color.

I started with bit of light purple shading over the lettering with my LePlume marker and then added some stamped borders. Then I decided to add more color with my markers using a plastic baggie, markers, water, and this "smooshing" techniqe (see video tutorial here). 

After a bit more color, a dotted border stamp, and a quick trim, I simply attached it onto a clipboard for display. It reminds us that Jesus loved us so much that He willingly suffered on our behalf to make the full payment for our sins. By His wounds we are healed! On Easter Sunday we will celebrate His victory over sin, death, and Satan. 

A blessed Easter to each of you.

For this project I used:

watercolor paper | Marvy Uchida LePlume II markers | Marvy Uchida LePen in Black | The Lord is My Light Clear Faith Stamps | BIG Trinity Clear Faith Stamps

Bible Journaling With Karen

Hello friends! Today I'm sharing a recent Bible journaling entry I created using some of the new Faith stamps. I'm finding lots of inspiration in these new sets and enjoying fitting them together to emphasize scripture verses and tell a story or lesson learned. 

Today my entry is in Genesis 50. Many of you may know the story of Joseph, whose brothers sold him into slavery because they were jealous of the attention and gifts he received. Joseph's life was turned upside down and he didn't understand why all this was happening to him. But God knew how to take this bad and use it for good. After many years, Joseph was able to fully forgive his brothers and said to them in verse 20, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good...."

I created a dusty background with acrylic paints, symbolizing that we do not always see clearly. I started with the Walk by Faith set and added a few words from other sets to complete my entry. I really like the "spear-like" quality of this large arrow and the mini arrow cross found on the In Jesus' Name set. To finish off the page, I used a black pen to box in the main sentiments and added dots and highlighting with gold and white gel pens. Then I added my own prayer.
We don't always understand why bad things happen, but we can continue to step out in faith, trusting in the Lord who sees all, knows all, and will do what is good and right for us. 

For this project I used:

Walk by Faith Clear Stamps | In Jesus' Name Clear Stamps | Trust in the Lord Clear Stamps | Child of God Clear Stamps | Gel Pen

Let the Sea Resound Bible Journaling Page

Psalm 99 is an amazing song of praise to the Lord. In verse 7 we read, "Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it!"
With that powerful imagery in mind, I created a powerful wave on my Bible page with acrylic paints, a LePen fine point black pen and the new Marvy Reminisce white gel pen.

The stamp set Heaven & Earth provided a few more details - the jumping fish and sentiment.

To fit the sentiment in my Bible margin, I snipped it into two pieces and then stamped it in the middle of the wave. Pefect fit!

The Amen stamp is from another new set, In Jesus' Name.

I love how this page turned out and that I can shout my praises to the Lord and use my creativity to do it!

For this page, I used:

Heaven & Earth Faith Stamps | In Jesus' Name Faith Stamps | LePen Fine Point Black | Marvy Reminisce White Gel Pen