Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Easter Cards Children Will Love

I make cards for my grandchildren for every birthday and holiday.   Sometimes I wonder why I bother because occasionally they barely look at them before they are off to the gift,  and other times, they seem to really appreciate the gesture.  I have found that the trick to making an appealing card for kids is to use an identifiable image (like a super hero, cartoon character, or an activity they enjoy).  Other types of cards kids love are just colorful, pretty or full of glitter, and lots of texture and interest.  In other words...the gaudier and busier the better.  When making cards for kids, throw all the latest card idea trends out the window, and simply make something you know they will love!

For my grandchildren's cards this year, I used lots of color, critters, and texture.


These adorable felt bunnies and eggs can be found in the Easter aisle of any craft store.  They have a fuzzy texture, and multiple layers of interest.  One of the eggs is covered in glitter.


The felt pieces have an adhesive back so I just peeled off the paper and stuck them to a blue card base.  I then hand cut some grass out of green card stock and glued it in front of the eggs.

The rainbow and clouds are made from an MFT die, but you could very easily hand cut your own rainbow and clouds too.  If I didn't have the die, I'd cut a rainbow out of white paper and use markers to create the different colors.

I finished the card with a sentiment stamp, but again, if you don't have stamps, just hand write it!


My next card is an example of how you can create a pretty card without stamps.  Tulips are the easiest flower to draw, so I just hand drew tulips onto white Cardstock, cut them out, and then glued the white flower panel to a blue card base.


Once again,  I added some felt critters I found in the Easter aisle of my local craft store.  I cut a circle for the sun out of yellow card stock.  The clouds were made with an MFT die.  I stamped the sentiment on a separate piece of paper, cut it out, and glued it to the card.  


The eggs are covered in glitter, making it appealing to any youngster.



I hope I have inspired to make some Easter cards for your own children or grandchildren this year.  I will put the cards I made for them into their Easter baskets.  Come back next week Tuesday to see what I else I made for their Easter Baskets.

Have A Great Day!  Amy

Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE!


 

Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Bible Journaling: My February Pages, Acts 22 thru 1 Corinthians 1

Once a month I like to share my Bible Journaling Pages and what God has been teaching me.  In the month of February I finished the book of Acts and Romans and just started 1 Corinthians.    Sometimes I just color in the preprinted images of the "Inspire Bible" (available on Amazon) and I also create my own pages.
 
Unless otherwise stated, all the images are colored in with either gel pens or colored pencils.  I tend to color larger areas with pencils then get the more intricate spots with pens.  I high light my Bible with gel highlighters, and I usually use gelatos or  craft paint for my backgrounds.


This month ya'll get to be blessed with two Bible Journaling posts as I fell behind in my posts a few months ago and I have been trying to play catch up.

For the month of February, I only have one page I created myself and the rest are pre-printed pages.  I was away on winter break in February making it difficult for me to create my own pages.  However, I still read my Bible everyday and colored in the images hearing the still small voice of God as I colored. 

 Let's walk through what God has spoken to me during the month of February.

My first page is the page I created myself.  Using pencils I colored in a photo of someone getting baptized and then hand wrote the verse in.  I love how this translation asks "What are you waiting for?"  I have heard that some people are "waiting till they get it all together" before accepting Jesus.  They do not know that they can come to Jesus just as they are and that He will put their life back together for them.  Other people  want to continue to enjoy the carnal things of this life, and maybe accept Jesus when they are the older.  Those people don't know all the joys knowing Jesus can bring and the hardships they will be saved from, if they accept Him in their youth.  No matter what the reason, there is no excuse,  if you haven't already, accept Him NOW.  There is nothing worth waiting for.


In Acts 27 Paul was about to be shipwrecked and the ship's crew was terrified.  But Paul had a promise from God that he would live so he could stand before Caesar, so he was not afraid.  He told the crew "I Believe God".  No matter what the storms around him, Paul knew he would survive because God promised him something.  Have you ever received a promise from God and then storms came and you started to doubt God's promise?  Don't despair, continue to believe!


It was wonderful to be in the book of Romans during the month of February:  the month of love, although I didn't plan it that way.  Romans has so many great verses of God's love for us.  Romans 8:28 is perhaps the most famous verse in the book of Romans, so that was a great idea for the Inspire Bible to choose it for their title page.  I have quoted and reminded myself of this verse many times in my life when bad things were happening.  This is a great verse for every Christian to memorize to help you through hard times.


Even though there are a lot of great love verses in the book of Romans, its main theme is GRACE.   The righteousness of God is available to anyone through faith in Jesus Christ.  We can do nothing to earn this grace.  It is freely given by believing in Jesus.


Ah, another love verse.  Have you ever questioned God's love for you?  I'm sure we all have at some point in our lives, especially if we grew up with an unloving parent.  When or if we question God's love, remind yourself of this verse.  God sent His own son to suffer and die for you so you could spend eternity with Him!  Such love!  

 
Sometimes it can seem as if God is very far away, especially during the uncertain times we are living in now.  Turn on any mainstream media and it seems the whole world is against Christians or Christianity.  It can be terrifying hearing the awful things the world says about us.  But then I'm reminded of this verse, another famous verse in the Bible:  "If God is for us, who can ever be against us?".  We have the almighty king, the creator on our side,  He is our protector and our provider!  The world can do nothing to us that He does not allow.  He is our defender!  He will defend us from the harsh words and behavior of the world, if not now, then at judgement time.


Are you struggling to continue to have faith in God with all the bad news in the world?  Well then you need to read the Bible or get your butt back in church if you got in the habit of not going because of Covid.  "Faith comes from hearing the word of God" and you hear the word by reading your Bible or listening to believers preach the word of God.


Ooh, this is a good one.  I could write ten pages on this verse alone.  This is often a topic of conversation I have with my hubby and other believers.  Have you noticed how the church is sounding and looking more and more like the world?  That's because they are copying "the behavior and customs of the world".  Instead of strictly adhering to the God's word they are influenced by the culture, which causes them to transition from a Biblical world view to a secular world view.  This can happen to any believer if they are not careful.  How can we avoid this?  Spend more time in God's word than you do watching tv or on social media.  Then you will be able to spot the difference of how God thinks and the world thinks.


This is a good verse to memorize for such a time as this.  With war looming, inflation, crime, gas prices rising, etc. etc. etc, we can pray that God will give us joy and peace because we trust in Him to take care of us.  We can do nothing to stop a war or keep prices from rising, so why worry about it?  Of course we can do practical things like write our congressman and curb spending, but overall the best thing we can do is pray.


Paul wrote the book of 1 Corinthians for a church in Corinth that was having some problems.  There were cultural conflicts within the church between the Jews and the Gentiles that Paul was helping them work through.  He gave a lot of practical advice and encouraged them to "live in harmony with each other".  We have seen so much division in our churches the past few years.  It just goes to show you things haven't changed that much in 2000 years.  We must remember no matter what our political opinions are we can be united in one thing:  That Jesus died for us and we need to carry on His saving message to the rest of the world.

 
And finally my last page, and what a great page to end on!  I pray that everyone who has read this post today has been blessed and received some peace.  This verse is my prayer for all of you!



Have a Great Day!  Amy

Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE!

Thursday, March 17, 2022

How To Style A Sweatshirt with "Ageless Style"

Ageless Style is a monthly style challenge and link up for women "over a certain age".  Each month we pick a different theme and style an outfit based on that theme.  This month's theme is ""Sweatshirts" and was picked by Jodie.

When Jodie picked "Sweatshirts" as our theme this month, I laughed and said "I don't think I even own a sweatshirt!"  I then remembered I had a black souvenir sweatshirt from Italy, so I originally planned on wearing that.  But then the weather warmed up and it just didn't feel right wearing a thick black sweatshirt, so off to the mall I went!

While shopping, I couldn't help notice how much sweatshirts really are trending right now!  No wonder Jodie picked "Sweatshirts" as our theme.  I love how they are wearing sweatshirts with just about everything:  skirts, jeans, joggers, wide leg pants...you name it.  



I really want to focus on spring/summer clothes on my blog right now, so I chose this white floral sweatshirt from Old Navy.  I had hoped to pair it with a skirt, but I didn't think it matched any of the skirts I already owned, and I didn't want to buy a new skirt in addition to a sweatshirt.  I decided then to pair my new sweatshirt with some spring/summer pants that had the same colors in the floral pattern.


 These pants are a lightweight cotton.  They are from Stitch Fix, and are several years old.  They are one of my favorite pairs of pants to wear during the warmer months as they are so cool and comfy.

I think (I hope anyway) that I will get a lot of use out of this sweatshirt this spring.  The white color plus the floral pattern is perfect for spring.  I do have a casual vacation coming up, so I will definitely get some use out of it then.


Because it's too cold for sandals right now, I chose a white pair of Adidas sneakers for footwear.  I also want to add not to be afraid of wearing jewelry with a sweatshirt.  Just because your top is casual, you can add some accessories to make it look like you put some effort into getting dressed that morning.  Here I am wearing both large hoop earring and a necklace with my sweatshirt.


I want to quickly show you some other ways you can wear sweatshirts this season:

Over a Dress with Sneakers

Photo Credit

With a Skirt:

Photo Credit

With Faux Leather Pants or Any Dressier Pants

Photo Credit

                                                 Or the usual way:  With joggers or leggings:

Photo Credit

So now let's check in on the rest of the ladies and see how they are styling their sweatshirts and be sure to link up with us below.

Amy ~ Amy’s Creative Pursuits
Blog | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook |

Bo ~ Bo’s Bodacious Blog
Blog / Instagram /Pinterest / Bloglovin’

Joanne ~ My Slice of Life
Blog

Jodie ~ Jodie’s Touch of Style
Blog | Instagram | Facebook |

Leslie ~ Once Upon a Time and Happily Ever After
Blog | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook |

Marsha~ Marsha in the Middle
Blog /Instagram

Mireille ~ Chez Mireille Fashion Travel Mom
Blog | Instagram | Pinterest | Facebook |

Rosemary ~ Distinctly Southern Style
Blog / Instagram / Pinterest / Facebook

Robin ~ Hello I am 50ish
Blog / Instagram / Pinterest / Facebook


So what about you?  Is a new sweatshirt something you would add to your wardrobe this spring, or will you pass on this trend?  I'd love to hear from you!

Have A Great Day!  Amy

Linking Up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE! 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Monday, March 14, 2022

"Denim for Days" with "Stylish Monday"

On the second Monday of every month a group of style bloggers and I pick a theme, style an outfit based on that theme, and then do a link up together where you can join too!  This month's theme is "Denim".


Is anyone else as confused about denim trends as I am?  Are skinny jeans "in" or "out"?  What about low- rise verses high-rise?  I remember when low-rise was all the rage and anyone who wore high-rise was mocked;  now the high-rise mom jeans are back in:  but so are the low-rise. In fact, when I went shopping recently it seemed every style was available to buy.  There is no distinct denim "trend" this season, so pick whatever style denim looks best on you!

I myself have a closet full of skinny jeans which I spent a small fortune on so I'm not in a rush to get rid of them.   However,  I eventually want to transition away from a skinny jean as I feel, ahem, I'm getting a "tad bit old for them" as my knobby knees are starting to show through.  I did buy a pair of straight leg Mavi  jeans this season, which I am really enjoying and they seem to have been my go-to-pair this past winter.

Here I am wearing my newest pair of denim:  Straight Leg Jeans by Mavi.



For this month's "Stylish Monday" post I decided to pull a VERY OLD denim dress from closet.  This dress is so versatile and classic which explains why it has lasted so long in my closet.  It is meant for warmer weather, but I can make it work for winter with the proper styling companions like a cardigan, tights, and booties.



I could literally wear any color cardigan with this dress, but on this day I chose a grey cardigan with an aztec print.



For footwear, I chose combat boots for both comfort and safety on ice covered sidewalks.  


And now to show you how versatile and OLD this dress is, here are a few other ways I've styled it in the past:

With a suede jacket and ballet flats.


                                                                With a sunhat and sandals.



                                                        With a black cardigan and booties.



                                                                       With dress shoes



Have I inspired you to add a denim dress to your closet if you haven't already?  They are so versatile, you will never regret purchasing one.

And now let's see what the rest of the ladies in the group are wearing.

Nina


Nina - Sharing a Journey - Are you tired of jeans?  Skinny jeans were with us for such a long time I actually was bored.  Things have changed my friends, it’s time to try the new silhouettes .

Emma


Emma - The Style Splash - Until recently, I had never owned a denim dress or skirt…and then I bought two denim vintage dresses on eBay! I love the style of this dress, with the shoulder pads and embellishment. Oh, and it has pockets too!

Nicole


Nicole - High Latitude Style - This look triples on denim with the shirt skirt and booties.Unfortunately, denim or the good old blue jeans are not a good idea in winter in Alaska. It dries too slowly and hence your sweat may freeze. Therefore, denim is either a cover-up in summer in the form of a jacket or mosquito protection when gardening in the form of jeans. Ever since my college time, I had a denim skirt despite they don’t drape nicely.

Ada


Ada - Elegance and Mommyhood - A pair of dark wash skinny jeans will never ever go out of style - I don’t care what “the style experts” say. Dark skinny jeans are something every woman needs in her closet. I paired mine with the color of the year in a gorgeous shade of lilac.


Julie


Julie - Fashion Trends and Friends and Instagram FashionTandF -  Dark wash, light wash, distressed, high, mid and low waisted, flares, bootcut, wide leg, skinny, curvy fit, boyfriend…so many choices with colors, fit and style!  How do you even begin?!  I’m taking the mystery out of how to style your body type and sharing my current favorite jeans!


Nancy


Nancy -  Nancy’s Fashion Style - I am, and never have been, a huge denim lover. Although I have to say that I already own 3 pairs of jeans! But I did love this jumpsuit years ago, it was a bit snug so gave it away. Might have to shop for another one! I think I will love denim one day!

Shelbee


Shelbee - Shelbee on the Edge - I am embracing the resurgence of the 90s denim trends with my oversized black distressed dad jeans. I remember wearing my dad’s jeans exactly this way 30 years ago!

Suzanne


Suzanne - Ask Suzanne Bell - Think jeans aren’t for you?  Think again. Like many women, I hate shopping for jeans. It's a pain in the butt. So perhaps you've given up - convinced yourself that jeans are not for you.  Like swimsuits and bras, jeans are not a one style fits all. But with some guidance, I think you will find that jeans can be a classic staple. Find the fit for you, and you’ll have a wardrobe workhorse for life.

And Me!


Amy - Amy’s Creative Pursuits -  Denim dresses never go out of style, but they are really trending right now.  I have had this denim dress in my closet for years.  I normally wear it in the warmer months, but here I styled it for cooler temperatures.

Have a Great Day! Amy

Linking up with these Fabulous Blogs HERE!
 

And now be sure to link up your favorite denim or fashion looks with us too!


You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter