What's on My Kitchen Counter

Hello Crafty Friends, My pastor had a great daily message today based on Psalms 93. He said this and it really resonated with me: "When you feel the floods rising, don’t measure reality by the noise of the water, measure it by the height of the throne. Preach this to your soul: The Lord reigns. He is mighty. His Word is sure. His house is holy. And if you belong to Jesus Christ; the crucified and risen King, then you are not at the mercy of chaos. You are held by the Sovereign." I journaled this in my Bible Journal. I already had the Psalm 92 words and the eye on the page, but I added the throne and words from Psalm 93. To tie it all together, I added pink flowers (today's theme from the F4A challenge on Splitcoaststampers) and sponged on some clouds using distress inks and a stencil from Creative Worship Stamps. This month's theme at **Art*Journal*Journey i s  Anywhere, Anytime, Any Place, with Anyone.  This page works with that theme in many ways - our lives, heave...

Hello Crafty Friends, I couldn't resist playing in the latest House-Mouse&Friends Monday challenge (HMFMC#459) which is Anything Goes or use Patterned Paper. I started with a SU! card bases, some dsp from stash, and then added some fussy cut and watercolored mice and accessories from a House Mouse Coloring Book I won several years ago in a HMFMC challenge. I had fun rearranging these darling critters on my card.  This is also for the WT challenge at Splitcoaststampers.com where the theme is music playing devices (a stretch I know).   Hugz, Nancy

Hello Crafty Friends, I am posting my entry into the current House-Mouse &Friends Monday Challenge. HM&FMC #456 I had thought I was skipping resolutions this year, but I changed my mind when I found out last week that I have osteopenia. Apparently, it can be reversed with exercise and calcium supplements - now I have exercise and some new pills on my resolution list. Several years ago, I won a challenge and received a lovely House Mouse coloring book as the prize. The images are a bit larger which is super fun, and they are pretty easy to cut down. I colored this one with Daniel Smith watercolors and popped it up. The background papers are SU! and Stamperia.  This is also for the WT1088 challenge at Splitcoaststampers.com - exercising or other resolutions.  I am sending this to a friend who has osteopenia too - hopefully we can both keep each other on track in 2026.

Hello crafty friends. Two fabulous pictures inspired this fun Halloween card:  The Inspired By challenge picture for this week and THIS lovely Huda Makeup available on Selfridges which is the inspiration site for this week's Inspiration Challenge on Splitcoaststampers.com.  I started by water-coloring the pumpkins and lining/doodling on them with a black Micron Pen. Then I added lots of sponging with distress ink, some fun Tim Holtz die cut ghosts, lot of magical Stickles, and an appropriate chipboard phrase (also Tim Holtz).  This is my probably my last Halloween card. Now on to more Winter and Christmas fun. Hugz, Nancy

Hello Crafty Friends. I am sharing a card made for the WT challenge at Splitcoaststampers.com (Map theme) and the House Mouse & Friends Monday Challenge H MFMC #449 which is Anything Goes (birthday theme optional).  The joyful House Mouse is cut from a House Mouse calendar. I think he looks so cute against the map image (a retired image from DRS Designs) and the fun block embossed panel. The sentiment and inks are Tim Holtz and Dina Wakely.  The world really does need who you were made to me. Hugz, Nancy

Hello friends, Last week felt like a stormy sea of its own with my husband recovering from recent hip replacement surgery and several friends and family members facing life battles - my heart was caught in the waves. Computer issues and lack of sleep didn't help. Mark 4:39-41 reminded me: even when the winds rage, Jesus is in the boat. He speaks peace over the chaos. “Peace, be still.” I needed that reminder. Several lovely Creative Worship Stamps sets were used in the making of this watercolored and inked BAJ page: The Sea (the boat and verse), Scene Silhouettes: Tall Grasses, and Have Courage . This page was stamped, then watercolored with Daniel Smith Watercolors. I finished it off with some Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Vintage Photo, Mustard Seed, and Ground Expresso), plus a little bit of Silver Stickles. We have a lot of things going on in life and you time is precious, thank you for spending a little bit with me.  Hugz, Nancy