Stacked Stones Studio!

I recently was in Illinois with a couple of my besties for a week of fellowship, going deeper into God's Word and a lot of creative play. We had the best-est time. All of us are early risers -- and that first cup of coffee in a quiet house with women who love the Lord is just about as good as it gets.  We would eventually transition from coffee to crafts...and took turns sharing a technique or products  that we have discovered since our last time together. One of those products was the new Tim Holtz Distress Color -- Lumberjack Plaid. Oh -- this is such a pretty red and perfect for all your Christmas makes. I will have several things to show you from my create extravaganza week in the coming days. But wanted to introduce you to this wonderful new color that is now available in Distress Ink, Distress Oxide Ink, Spray Ink, Oxide Spray Ink, paint and embossing glaze. Here is a card that I made using a few Tim Holtz products in addition to the new Lumberjack plaid color.  You...

 Everyone needs a safe place to go when they are afraid or in danger. Growing up in Texas, we learned at a young age that when the tornado siren went off, you stopped and headed to the inner most room of the house with no windows. If you were quick about it, you could also bring a pillow and a stuffed animal for comfort. The whole family would huddle until the storm had passed. That's not bad advice...for earthly storms...but hiding in a closet when you're facing life's trials doesn't real help much! I love the picture of God's covering and protection that we find in Psalm 91. It says He will cover us with His wings (or feathers) like a Mama chicken takes care of her chicks! When danger comes...all her brood hustle to get under her wings because she will protect them with her life. There is no safer place...in life, than under the protection of our Mighty God! I created this card and Bible page with the @sweetnsassystamps set called "Under His Wings." It i...

  I've been studying the attributes and character of God lately...and I loved what Psalm 57:10 says about it. " Your steadfast love reaches to the heavens and your faithfulness to the clouds!" Higher than I can reach...but He doesn't stay that distance from me... he's right next to me and you...every minute of every day. This verse isn't about distance...it is about SCOPE! That is so reassuring. Sometimes I need to know he is bigger, more faithful and has all that I need to face the day. Do you have days where you need that too? He's there...right beside you, with more love and faithfulness than any situation you are facing needs. Lean into him. Trust him...He is faithful¡ I had so much fun creating this card and journaling page based on these thoughts. I used the @Sweetnsassy stamp set, God is faithful for both. I did a little partial die cutting on the edge of the card to really make the vine pop. I also embossed it and colored it in with cool grays, blu...

 This has been a post a long time in the making. If you skim down the page -- you will notice that it has been a while since I regularly posted new content. I have missed sharing with you -- but the break was very appropriate while I learned to walk in a new season of life. The past few years have been nothing like I would have imagined them to be...we never do see difficulty and trauma in our future. Yes, we know there is the possibility -- but we get caught up in living life and we just aren't looking for hardship to come our way -- we live each day and face what comes. But then there are seasons. That sentence contains a whole lot in the five words that comprise it. But then there are seasons . The past few years have felt at times like I was in the boxing ring...getting knocked down -- struggling to stand back up only to feel the next punch coming. Let's just say my brain has been a bit foggy, my heart has been battered and my eyes have needed to stay laser focused on the o...

  It is such a blessing to wake up and know there are people you love all over the world. It made me stop and thank God for you! He sees you and all that today holds for you. Trust Him in the good, the bad and the ugly. He has the very best-est plan for you...better than anything we could come up with on our own! Now for some fun news. I am guest designing for Sweet n' Sassy Stamps for the month of July. I have been a huge fan of @korinsnss and @sweetnsassystamps forever. They have great illustrations, high quality stamps, Dies and stencils...and so many of their products are perfect for Bible Journaling and faith-filled card making. I'll be sharing six projects over the next few days....so you'll want to stay tuned. You know me, I love to stretch my supplies, so while I had the products out working on the Bible Journaling page... I went ahead and made a card too! I highly recommend it...it's super efficient because you've already basically figured the design out ...

Finally....a new tutorial! I got a little focused on the book and had to take a little break on creating new content...but now that it is done...I'm BACK! Woo Hoo! This is a fun technique...you will see three different pages that I have used this crosshatch background on. It is a great way to get the words to pop from the page. I've used it on a couple of cards too...but I sent them before I remembered to take a picture. For the cards, I used watercolor paper for the card front and then just popped them on a card blank. Easy peasy! *smile* If you would like to read a sample chapter... click here .

My. O. My! I am so excited that I FINALLY get to share what I have been working on for the past few months! I have been busy writing a book. Illuminated Journaling is written to challenge Christ Followers to stretch the boundaries of how they have typically studied God's Word so they might experience a deeper, richer and more personal relationship with God by lending authentic and creative expression to their faith. If the Bible is God's introduction of Himself to His children, a love letter to His followers and an instruction book for living a life pleasing to Him, Illuminated Journaling provides a tangible way for us to communicate back to Him that we have heard His voice, that we are in love with Him too and perhaps, most importantly, that we want to give a gift back to Him that is filled with genuine praise and appreciation for Who He is and what He has done for us. You can order your copy now...and get it before it arrives in stores**! The...

On Memorial Day, we remember! My Dad served in Korea and rarely talked about his time there. I made him a mini-album that focused on all the things that were a part of his life before he was my Dad. I found three pictures of him while he was in the Army...and I was able to tell the story of how he got a try-out for a professional baseball team because he met some pro players in Korea. When he was discharged, he made the baseball team and went on to play several seasons. Who knew the road to the ball field went through Korea!  When he saw the mini-album, he opened up and shared some stories about his time in Korea. I learned more in that afternoon than I had up until that point...it was a treasured afternoon for sure. I have often associated John 15:13 when I think about the people who have served in the U.S. Armed Services. I wanted to create something to honor them and ended up with this pair of boots...sometimes simple is better.  I thought you might enjoy se...

When I think what happened to my sweet Savior on that first Good Friday, I almost stop breathing. It was beyond horrific! As excruciating as the physical pain was that came as a result of His scourging, dragging His cross through the streets of Jerusalem lined with jeering crowds, being nailed to the cross and raised up so that his weight pulled at the spikes that held His body on the cross -- all of that paled in comparison to the pain He felt when He chose to take on the sins of the world...MY SIN - and in doing so caused Himself to be separated from God! Our perfect Messiah took our sin. He took our separation. He took our inevitable and deserved death. He took on Satan...and on Friday there was nothing that could be called "good." But our Salvation story doesn't end on Friday. That dark day eventually came to the end. That night found His disciples huddled together in fear. His followers were beyond grieved...and probably couldn't even bring themselves ...