SALT - Believe

I'm afraid my original post disappeared somewhere!

This the card I made for the Salt challenge here.


Please feel free to use the graphic below for your own card or layout. Please respect my work by not reselling the graphic itself in a printed or digital format.

SALT - Providence

I have been reflecting recently on God's timely provision of a home to our family and how he truly does meet our every need. So often we get a little confused and think our 'wants' are our 'needs' and may even spend time praying for things that our Heavenly Father know will not be right for us. I recently heard a sermon where the preacher said sometimes God answers yes, no or later. However what we can be assured of is the promises God does give us. He has made eternal provision for us. Through his Son we are provided for in the most crucial way possible, and although there are promises about our practical needs...

Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:7

there is an even more precious promise...

"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. ²In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. ⁴And you know the way to where I am going." John 14:1-4

We hope you will join in with our theme this week, please let us know if you do!

Some of our Saltines are very busy at this time of year so we're a little down on numbers this week, however please have a look at the other creations the ladies have done here.



Please feel free to use the graphic below for your own card or layout. Please respect my work by not reselling the graphic itself in a printed or digital format.

SALT - Transformation

Apologies for the poor quality photo, couldn't find my camera this morning so had to make do with my phone.

The theme this week was set by Pauline, and it is the one of transformation. What a thrilling topic. I was reflecting on how peopl will sometimes comment to me...'you're so good'. This usually happens after I have helped someone out. However on the inside I am often thinking 'I'm not that good, if only you really knew my heart as God does'. Because if I am honest, there are sometimes when my motives are not always selfless. However, I am reminded that through Christ my life is in a constant state of transformation. What theologians call 'sanctification' - the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in my life, making me more and more like the selfless, holy and sacrificial Jesus.

Here is the card...



Please feel free to use the graphic below for your own card or layout. Please respect my work by not reselling the graphic itself in a printed or digital format.

Mojo Monday 162

Managed to squeeze in making a card this week, used the sketch from Mojo Monday.

The scalloped circle was cut on the Craft Robo, used Anna Griffin paper and butterfly punch from Martha Stewart.

SALT - Who is my neighbour?

Lythan set the challenge this week, thank you!

Since moving house, I've wanted to make more of an effort with my neighbours, hoave to confess, I've not got round to it. Planning to try and get to know them a bit more over Christmas time.

Here is my card and please have a look and be inspired by the other work the team have done here.

The scalloped oval and trim were cut by my Craft Robo. The text was designed on Corel Draw.

SALT - God's Righteousness

This week it was Kim's turn to set the challenge, here is what she says on the theme.

Please have a look at the other creations of the team and feel free to join in.

I'm afraid I was 'chasing my tail' a bit with this one, had a busy week and have distracted from things of the Lord, I need to get on track. My heart can so easily be distracted from what is noble and true. I need to be reminded that we have an ALL sufficient God, Righteous and Gracious. Thank you for the reminder Kim!

Used a lovely swirl cut on the Craft Robo, some Basic Grey, Primas, Martha Stewart punches and Nellie Snellen leaf punch and some liquid pearls. Created the verse layout on Corel Draw.

SALT - Speaking with kindness

What a challenge!

Julie was so thought provoking with her challenge this week. And isn't it wonderful when God tells you something and keeps repeating it until you really hear it!? Dealing with my children in a loving way is an on going struggle for me. Sometimes my responses could be justified, but usually they can't. However I am called to be like Christ, and His response is the one I must strive to be like. The piece I made will be hung in a prominent place to remind me! When I was taking a photo of it to put on the blog, my youngest son knocked over a glass of water, having the hanging in front of me helped me bite my tongue!!!

TIP: Used Tim Holtz's new rosette die. I haven't got the extending plates for my Cuttlebug, however I figured a way around it, I put some removable tape on the die to temporarily hold the paper to it. Did one side, then did the other. I also used the Martha Stewart Doily punch down one side before cutting it with the die.

New babies and cards!

Had to make a card for my sister as she had a baby boy last week. For those who know Esther here are some pics...

And here is the card, I based it on this sketch at Mojo Monday.

Had to make a card for a family wedding too, I love how it turned out :)

I have also tried to be brave and been trying not to rely on the manual settings on my camera. The playing around seems to have worked well on these photos of the cards.

SALT - Something New

It was Hazel's turn to set the challenge over on Salt, do have a look at what she says, and the creations of the other ladies here.

I found her thoughts particularly challenging and helpful. As my older two children go back to school and I get back into the routine of that I am challenged to look again at myself and my attitude. So often I am not kind and loving, and am extremely impatient with my children. It's ugly and sinful, and not what God has in mind for me. As his child I need to hold on to his promises, that he has given me a new heart. To start each new day in supplication to him, to ask for the Holy Spirit's help in all I do.

The verse I used came to mind as I was pondering these things.

I've been yearning to do some more altered canvases, particularly after picking these up quite cheaply at a Home Bargains store. It is A3 in size. I used acrylic paint on it, then stuck the flowers, verse and butterflies on with a hot glue gun.

SALT - Marriage

Wow! The weeks are just whizzing by! Life has been a little eventful these last few weeks. At the beginning of the month we had a celebratory meal for my dad's 65th birthday. All the family gathered at our new home and I asked a friend who is a chef to cook for us. We decorated the garden with bunting and laid the table outside. We are so greatful to God for such a lovely day. The weather was perfect, not to hot and not too cold. The picture used in the layout below was taken on that day.

Stacy set the theme of Marriage for the Salt challenge. Please read what she had to say and look at the other lovely pieces here.

Salt - TRINITY

Last week Salt was three years old. Praise God for the way he has blessed and sustained our Salt team. We've known answers to prayer in times of need and various sorrows and joys. We pray that we will continue to be Salt and Light and that you will be blessed and challenged with the artwork the Lord allows us to create.

Although the word 'Trinity' does not occur in the Bible, it is never the less an important word to those who believe in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and the way they are revealed in the Scriptures.
Their inter-relationship is unique and to fully understand is impossible. However when we read about the way they interact, work together and yet are one we get a glimpse of just how amazing God is.

As a Christian there are times where I relate to the different persons of God, and yet I know they are all one. The Trinity is a witness that the shared love of God stretches back to eternity past. What a privilege that we can be brought into that family. It also reminds us that God has been a communicating God because of the fellowship shown between Father, Son and Spirit.
Please contemplate your relationship with God and his uniqueness, how do you relate to the different persons of God? Remember to let us know if you create any artwork so we can come and see! Please have a look at the other pieces the Salt team have created HERE

SALT - A trouble free life?

Woohoo, I'm so glad to be back in blogland! Being without boadband for the last few weeks has been good for the soul. It has made me rethink how I spend my time. However, there are some things that the internet has it's uses for and one of those things is Salt!

Pauline set the challenge this week, please have a look at what she wrote here.

As I was pondering on her theme, I thought of how we should put our faith in the promises of God. Here is my card...


Ingredients: Basic Grey paper, EK Success swirl punch, Xcut dragonfly punch, stamen punch, Prima flowers.

The spare bedroom in our new house has become a craftroom/guest room. I would LOVE to have one of these in there, the budget won't stretch for that and a dishwasher.

However, I am very grateful to be able to set out my craft things and have made the odd card this last week. Been enjoying using the Cuttlebug, and some Sizzix dies.





Ingredients: Sorry I don't have time to list them tonight, if you want to know anything please leave a comment :)

Almost there...

There is a great wall of boxes in my lounge and various other rooms in my house, and the clutter is decreasing. We signed the tenancy agreement on the new house this morning and have the keys in our possession. It's all systems go now for some wallpaper stripping and painting. The removals men are coming on Monday to start moving our belongings. We've had a bit of a dilemma with our phone number as we pay line rental to Talktalk and they don't allow you to take your number with you. So we face the prospect of going back to BT and paying a fee to Talktalk in order to stand us with a chance of keeping the number (as BT can't guarantee we can keep it).

Anyway, it's exciting times, praying that God will keep the move smooth and not too eventful!

SALT - Power to be witnesses

What a Promise!

I am referring to the one Jesus gave his disciples before he died, that he would send the Holy Spirit, the comforter, the one which dwells in us when we make that commitment to God.

Hazel has choosen the theme for the week and has written about it here.

Please take a look at the inspiring pieces of work.

Here is a quick card on the theme. I am currently living in a half packed house as we prepare to move. We are moving within the town so not going to far, however we have lived in this house nearly 9 years and we've accumalated, increased in number and have widened our hobbies and interests (well I have!).

I may not be able to blog for a while, but will be back! God willing :)

Ingredients:
Sizzix bigz daisy die, Martha Stewart butterfly and doily lace punches, Cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder, Dove Craft gem brad, paper by K and Co and cut out verse from an old Bible.

SALT - Putting Him First

Ironically I don't feel like I have been putting God first lately. And this has been the theme of the latest Salt challenge. Please look here for the thoughts Tanis has written on this subject. Please meditate on them and maybe create a piece of art to help you to remember to put God first.

I bought a couple of oversized clothes pegs in a craft shop last year, they're such fun to have in the house, they're useful for all sorts of things!

Thought it would be nice to decorate one to be reminded of seeking God's kingdom first.

Paper by K and Co, butterfly punch by Martha Stewart.

Salt - What is home?

It was my turn to set the challenge on Salt this week.

I have been pondering lately on HOME. What makes one and how does Jesus make mine different to other homes.

We all have different routines, rituals, habits, priorities etc that will shape how our home works. But in the Christian's home we have the addition of Jesus Christ himself. How does he make a difference to your home? Is he the 'unseen guest at every meal', is he consulted on decisions made, is your home a place where the stranger is welcome and hospitality is practiced?

Perhaps more importantly your home on earth is temporal. Do we truly recognise that our treasure is in heaven and that earth will fade and pass away? Although our homes are important for the nurture and training of children, a rest away from the world and and a tool for ministry, Christ is building our mansions in Glory.

I would like to leave you with this verse

Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Corinthians 5:1

Please enjoy looking at the creations from the Salt team, be inspired to make a card, layout or other paper craft. Maybe something for your home to remind you of Jesus and how he wants your home to be.

Ingredients:
Paper by Cosmo Cricket, Martha Stewart lace punch,Marvy Uchida heart punch, brad by Basic Grey, verse printed via computer.

SALT - Penitence

This week it was Lythan's turn to set the theme. She choose Penitence. I reflected on what it meant to be sorry for the wrong we do, and how that affects are relationship with God - amazingly He has provided a way to come back to him. Often in my church culture one could be accused of using complicated words that are hard to understand. However, when one finds out more about what these compicated words mean, and the impact of them on our lives your understanding is enriched. One such word is 'justified'. As a child in Sunday School, we were told that an easy way to understand it was to remember 'just-as-if-I-never-sinned'.

Please have a look at the other pieces the girls have created HERE, be inspired to create your own, and let us know what you create.

I'm enjoying doing these mini works of art on these little canvasses. I have to confess I got this done very quickly. I used Versamark inkpads direct onto the canvas. Then stuck the various elements onto it.

SALT - Idols

It was Kim's turn to set the challenge on Salt this week. And as usual, she did a wonderful in depth study. When I first heard her ideas for the theme, I had just listened to a message by John Piper entitled 'Don't waste your life'. I was really struck by the amount of time I end up wasting by not putting God and his desires for my life first. I wanted to create a piece of art to remind me, and these verses seemed to be appropriate.

Please have a look at the other creations HERE, and join in on the challenge!

Simon Says Stamp - VINTAGE and FLOWERS

Over on the Simon Says Stamp challenge blog we have a fabby challenge to create with Vintage and flowers. Just 2 of my favourite things!

I have given up buying any craft products till Easter, so I was spurred on to look through some cd's I bought a while back that have loads of vintage images on. I printed them onto photo paper for using on cards. I love how these images can inspire the colours for a card. As you can see, I got into it! It's also not hard for me to use flowers!


Crepe paper streamers were my last purchase before my self imposed shopping ban. I have seen the potential for them on other people's blogs, and ended up one evening watching videos on youtube. I have sprayed these with glimmer mist, and dotted a glossy accents type product by Anna Griffin on them to create faux dewdrops.

Blessed - SALT

This week on Salt Hazel has set the theme of the Beatitudes, please have a look at her post HERE for inspiration, it would be lovely if you could join in and share what God moves you to create on this theme.

This is my first large altered canvas. I've been wanting to do one for a long time. The colour scheme has been inspired by the hallway of the friends I will give this to (Tasha if you're reading this DON'T show it to John). Their colour scheme is black and white, I've used a hint of the aqua, which is her favourite colour.

The photo's where taken last year by Andrew King, a dear friend and a fabulous photographer, he has the fantastic ability to capture the moment.

I started by glueing the lace, paper and verses torn from a Bible (one of Tom's old ones with pages missing) onto the canvas, then painting with acrylics, pretty much squirting direct onto canvas then painting it in. The flowers were inspired by Donna Salazar's tutorial HERE and the paper roses HERE.

The lettering for 'Blessed' was stamped then punched out, once they were suck on with 3D foam, I coated them in Anna Griffin's clear glaze.

2sketches4you and other cards

Taking a break from tidying and sorting front room, Tom is on his way to pick up a 2nd hand sofa, and I've been shunting furniture to make space for it.

Went to a friends last night for a Pampered Chef party, it had also been her birthday in the week. I ad made her a bag and corsage from a couple of retro pink floral pillowcases. Sorry I completely forgot to take a pic! I'm on the lookout for some more, and am hoping to do a tutorial on it. Here is the card I made her using Laura's sketch on 2sketches4you.


Paper by Anna Griffin, punches by Martha Stewart.


These are a few cards I made the other evening, been playing with the large Martha Stewart butterfly punch, it's so pretty! The EK success flourish is so useful.