Scripture Challenge #49: 'Surrender'

This card is for the Scripture Challenge on the blog 'Triple the Scraps'. I'm about two week's behind on Patter Cross's Scripture Challenge Words, because I am so busy with Christmas preparations, but here is my late post on Challenge Word #49 'Surrender'.

When I meditated on the word 'Surrender', I thought of all the times in my life I struggled with 'surrendering' something to God. Whatever it was, I just couldn't give it up, I just had to hold onto it, no matter how many other times someone else would say 'You Need to Surrender it to God'. But eventually, in my own time and in my own way, I would eventually 'Surrender' it and then suddenly I would be filled with such overwhelming Peace. So the word 'Peace' actually became the focal point of my card for today. When I think of peace, I always think of nature: the one place I always find peace. When I was a child I lived very close to Lake Michigan, and whenever I was troubled about something, I'd hop on my bike and pedal off to the lake and just sit in the sand and watch the waves and the sea gulls. I didn't personally know God back then, but I still always felt such overwhelming peace every time I visited the lake. Today I don't have quick access to a massive lake, so I feel the most peace in my garden. I love to listen to the birds sing, hear the rushing sound of the waterfall, and feel the warmth of the sun of my skin. Oh, how I long for that experience now during these wickedly cold temperatures we are currently experiencing! LOL!

In remembrance of my childhood experiences at Lake Michigan, I created this card. The image is from the retired Stampin Up! set 'Seaside Sketches'. The colors are from this week's color challenge on Splitcoaststampers: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Grey and Not Quite Navy. I used the Cuttlebug Embossing Folder 'Divine Swirl' on the Baja Breeze panel to mimic the look of waves. The sentiment is from Stampendous. I just inked up the word 'peace' with a marker for the front of the card. The inside reads 'The Peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with You'. Dew drops and Kiwi Kiss ribbon were added for embellishment.

Have a wonderful day! Amy

A Christmas Walk of My Own Home - Day Twelve

Welcome to Day Twelve of A Christmas Walk of My Own Home. Please see posts one through eleven to see the other rooms of the house.

Today's featured room is our Family Room and is part of the new addition to the house. It is located right off the entryway in the balcony and it overlooks the sun room (to be pictured tomorrow). The floors are ceramic tile and the ceiling is stained bead board. Almost all of the furniture in this room came from Ashley Furniture, my FAVORITE furniture store, and was purchased with my father's money. LOL! The chaise lounge was purchased at Slumber Land, and the chairs were bought at Sam's Club. I think this is the only room in my house that has all brand new furniture in it: all the other rooms are rummage sale finds, auctions, hand-me-downs, or something we built. The pictures and many of the decorations were all found at Kirklands, Goodwill, or Hobby Lobby. This is a very large room that we use primarily for family television viewing and parties. The furniture appears a bit 'cramped' in these pics, because I had to rearrange things a little to make room for the tree, otherwise the room has a much nicer flow.

For Christmas Decorations, I have yet another Christmas Tree (my second full tree in the house), and I decorated the entertainment center with garland, lights, poinsettias, bulbs, etc. There is also a candle display on the coffee table and more garland on the ledge that overlooks the sun room.

Here are some close ups of the tree and the ledge.

Here is a close up of the entertainment center.

I hope your enjoying my tour thus far. Only two days left! God Bless! Amy

A Christmas Walk of My Own Home - Day Eleven

Welcome to Day Eleven of a Christmas Walk of My Own Home. Be sure to check posts One through Ten to see pictures of the other rooms if you've missed them.

Today's Featured Room is my Side Entry Way and also the new addition to the house. Simba, my cat, follows me wherever I go around the house, and decided to include himself in the photograph again! LOL! The original house was only about 1200 square feet, and, needless to say, we quickly outgrew the space in a few years of living there. So, about seven years ago my husband and I designed and built the addition which doubled the square footage of our house. Everything you see was done by my husband and I. The only thing we had professionals do was the heating system. It took us about three years to complete and was only officially finished about four years ago. Because the original house's main entry was into the dining room, I really wanted a more 'formal' entry and a place to sit to take off muddy boots, hang your keys, etc., thus, the 'Entry Way' was created. The entire addition is built off the exterior wall of the original house. You can see the original outside brick wall in the picture. The doorway to the office/dining room is the original back door of the house. We left all the original stone work intact. The floor is ceramic tile, and the ceiling is a faux tin ceiling. Its just embossed wall paper painted with a metallic copper paint. I wanted the new addition to 'look old' so it fit in better with the older portion of the house, so I 'aged' the walls. I simply applied dry wall compound to the wall, but left it 'rough', then I painted an off-white, sponged a darker neutral on top, and followed with a wash of stain. I was inspired by some friends of mine, Julian and Sandy, who used this same technique in their own home. The french doors that lead into the family room (which will be featured in tomorrow's post) are also 'faux'. I used the 'lead' and stained glass paint that can be purchased at Michaels, to create a leaded-glass look. Everyone that walks into my house and comments on these doors always thinks its really leaded glass.

To decorate the entry way for Christmas, I first set up a trio of little trees to greet my guests. The colors of all the decorations are gold and jewel tones. The third picture shows an old radio I purchased at a rummage sale for only $3.00. It doesn't work, but I bought it for its look, not its function! LOL. The old picture is of more people I don't know. I picked it up at an auction because I liked the shape of the frame and the picture. The 'Modena' sign is one of my most treasured possessions. It was given to me last Xmas by my friend Pam. I treasure it because Modena is the name of the small community in which I live and love. The wire garden chair I picked up for about $12.00 at a decorating store in Wheaton, Ill. Are you getting an idea of how thrifty I am yet? LOL! Yes, I firmly believe you can have a beautiful home on a budget! That's the main reason I am showing you all these pictures, so you can take some of my ideas and use them in your own home! If I can do it on my meager resources, so can you!

Here is a side table I picked up at Hobby Lobby. I also bought this beautiful statue of Jesus and His earthly parents there. Its the first decoration my guests see when they enter my home. The suitcases were found at Goodwill.

Here is a Christmas wreath that I hung on the door to the entry way. It has a little birdie in it since the first thing you hear when you open the door is live birds and water (more on that in a later post).

This is a close-up of the Xmas decorations on top of the radio. The lamp was purchased at Hobby Lobby. The black and white photo is of New York and the Statue of Liberty. Its a vintage photo I picked up while visiting New York with my daughter a few years ago. The book and gloves are antiques.

If your bored with the house photos, don't worry, I'm almost done! There's only two rooms left, plus a few outside pictures! So hang in there! God bless, Amy