Prayer Journals

I'm so fortunate to be a part of a women's bible study called "Within The Word (withintheword.com)

A group of women, from all ages and backgrounds,  who get together each Wednesday morning and learn about God's word.  We have an awesome teacher, Kathy, who is passionate about bringing God's word to women.  After she teaches her lesson, we break up in small groups to discuss our study guide for the week.  I'm honored to lead one of those small groups.

The ladies in my group are so special to me.  We have gone thru struggles, pain, and many blessings and praises together.  If there is a need, these women are there- whether it be a death, surgery, the birth of a baby, or you just need a shoulder to cry on.

When my mother was "eminently dying"; I had  been sitting with her for 14 hours a day for about a week.  Not knowing when or what day it was going to happen, I felt a real need to go to my bible study.  I needed to be surrounded with  my ladies, and I needed to be "charged up" with prayer.   My sister was here from Delaware and she encouraged me to go while she would sit with mom. 

  We have a wonderful "prayer warrior" in our study that prays at the end of each session.  We all hold hands, and Linda holds all the prayer requests in her hands.  If someone has a extra burden that day, you stand with her as she and the other women have their hands on you and prays.  It's like 40 hearts connect, and that is what comes out of Linda's heart and her beautiful prayer.

Our semester is getting close to the end and I wanted to make something special for each one.

I have had these vintage scripture cards for years.  They were my great aunt's and they are from the early 1930's.  I used these to be my inspiration.

I found these little mini journals from a company called Moleskine.  They carry all sizes and colors of these journals and they take crafting and mixed media very well.  This is what they look like plain.

I made each journal very different from the other, just like the ladies are different in their own 

unique way.

You know me, I'm very " girlie-girl" , but I know that all women are not as "prissy" as I am; but I did sneek in a couple of shabby chic style journals.

The dress form journal was alot of fun for me.  I got to use some of my vintage lace, buttons and pins from my grandmother's collection, passed down to me.  I tried to find a "scripture card" to match the theme of the journal.

I love pink and black together.  It has an elegant formal look, but also very femine look.

I love lavender , and so I combined it with some silver leafing and rhinestones. I made a beaded stick pin to match.

I had some darling miniature silver spoons and thought it would be cute to make a "shabby tea cup"

journal in soft powder blue.  

Nothing says feminine like pink pearls.  I had these resin distressed crosses that I added, along with flowers and buttons.

I had these "charm pins" in my stash and thought it would be a neat way to spell out "pray" with some letter charms.  The journal was decoupaged with tissue paper and I stenciled some background flowers and butterflies with pastel chalks.

I somehow seem to shy away from bold colors, but thought this yellow and turquoise looked yummy together.  I made the yellow rose out of gingham ribbon.

I love making flowers out of sheer fabrics.  Especially if it has sparkles on it!!  I dry embossed the paper, and then went over it with pastel blue chalk.

I have several more to make, but have had so much pleasure from creating each of these journals for each special lady. 

I encourage each and every one of you ladies, if you are not involved in a bible study, please make an effort to find one.  Each church offers their own studies.  You don't have to be a member of a church to attend a bible study.   If you are already in one, I would love to hear about it and what you are studying at the moment.   Feel free to leave it in my comment area.

Blessings to you all,

Cindy

Easter project

There is a crafter's blogland that is chocked full of crafting

tutorials to show us "crafty " people how to make anything.

And I do mean anything. One of my favorite blogs is :

iluvvintagescrap.blogspot.com. She makes the cutest and

most lovely projects, I have ever seen. She takes everyday

things and remakes them into beautiful creations.

I saw this egg carton idea on her blog and thought it would

be fun to make a couple of these for the girls.

Take cardboard like egg carton like below and cut it into

sections. ( I used one that held 18 eggs) and cut it into thirds.

I then painted each one a different color with acrylic

paint. These absorb the paint, so put it on thick.

After they dry, start decorating!

I painted the first one light pink, added some scrapbook

paper and then embellished with flowers, stickers and

trim.

I used a fabric glue to attach all my items.

The next was a purple shade.

The last was a dark aqua or turquoise color.

Each one is different and fits the personality of each

granddaughter.

Here is a side view of the cartons.

I used a small piece of scrapbook paper on inside of cover,

wrote a little note and decorated the corners.

I then put some shredded colored grass in each hole

and filled them with goodies.

The possibilities are endless with this project. You can

use this idea as a fun way to do a unique gift presentation

and fill with bath products, craft items ,etc...

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter and are spending

it with loved ones. I'm so thankful that Jesus died on the cross

for me and many others.

Happy Easter, Cindy