{The Solid Rock}

Well, I had an experience yesterday that was new to me, but perhaps common among bloggers---I had spent FAR TOO LONG trying to put together a post---yes, it was long and had lots of pictures. I had taken something out of Microsoft Word and added it to my post----apparently, blogger doesn't like WORD----after several error messages upon trying to publish said article, I finally had to save it and leave for an appointment......only to come home last night at 10:00pm to find that I had SOMEHOW deleted all of the pictures but two and the entire body of the post---all that was left was the description. SOOOOOOOOO, this will be a shorter version of that post, because I just can't bear to do it all again---just imagine that I am explaining everything I did to make these two items and if you have any questions, I'll be more than happy to answer them---just ask me in the comments and I'll answer you!!! SOOOOOO, onto the stuff---

I have a friend who was having a bad week---she needed a reminder of who our anchor is if we know Jesus Christ. I was already making this little box and was using the Men of Life patterned paper from Papertrey Ink. I love this paper----especially for little boys or men---but, this friend of mine was a girl---hmmmm. How perfect was it that when she told me of her dilemma that the old hymn "The Solid Rock" came to mind. There's a line in that song that says, "in every high and stormy gale my anchor holds within the veil." What a blessing to know that we can cling to Jesus in the midst of hardship. So, I decided that this box would not only work, but was perfect for what I wanted to do.

I made the box out of Dark Chocolate cardstock and put patterned paper on the four sides and the lid. Then I made this little boat that I originally saw on Nichole Heady's blog here. Mine had a little issue after I got it together, but I didn't have a lot of time, so it had to do!



I filled the box with Ghirardelli chocolates---you know, the caramel filled squares..............LOVE THOSE! Anyway, I made the sails with Pure Poppy cardstock and Fresh Snow ink. (I didn't have any of those lollipop sticks so I used one of Joshua's Valentine's Tootsie Pops---is that wrong? I cut off the stick and left the candy---does that count? Does an 8 year old boy really mind a 1/2 inch stick on his tootsie pop???? I don't think so!) I made the boat just like Nichole's example except I put sails on both sides of the stick. I was able to do that by stamping the sails in Fresh Snow ink onto a transparency and then putting my paper on it to transfer the ink to the cardstock---does that make sense? I'm sure this is called something, but I've searched several places and can't find the name, so hopefully you know what I'm talking about---basically, I was able to have my image backwards so my sails lined up together. I also embossed the sails with my Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Embossing folder. At the last minute, I decided that this boat HAD to have an anchor---and of course, there's a anchor stamp in the set, so I cut out one of the "chains" I had used on the border and attached it to the anchor.

Anyway, that's the box---next I made a card. This Men of Life Stamp set is so much fun to work with. I started with a 5.25 square card in Kraft cardstock. I added some patterned paper to it and then stamped some Spring Rain and Dark Chocolate cardstocks in Fresh Snow (LOVE THAT INK!) to make little border strips. I made the background for my little sailboat with my labels 2 dies. I sewed the sails together with linen thread and the button. I added the "Thinking of you" sentiment in Dark Chocolate ink and assembled the whole thing---it actually happened really fast. As I'm looking at the picture I realize that I forgot to add my ribbon---Just imagine some Pure Poppy ribbon around the patterned paper and a little knot tied 1/3 of the way in from the left---do you see it? I can't believe I did that!!! HORRORS!!! CAN YOU REALLY GIVE A CARD WITHOUT RIBBON ON IT? Well I did and she loved it---so now I know! Anyway---that's my little project for the day. I think my new stamps arrived from PTI, so I need to go look at them and see if I have some time to play this weekend! Before I go, I am going to post the words to the hymn that I mentioned earlier---I am so grateful I learned all those old hymns when I was young. They often "come back to me" when I need them most. I printed the words to the hymn on Spring Rain cardstock and glued it inside the card. What a great reminder of how great our God is---I hope you enjoy your weekend! Thanks so much for stopping by---what an encouragement you all are to me!!

Hugs,
Kathleen

The Solid Rock

My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name.

When darkness seems to hide His face I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds within the veil.

His oath, His covenant, His blood support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way He then is all my Hope and Stay.

When He shall come with trumpet sound oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone faultless to stand before the throne.

ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK I STAND. ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND; ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND.

Anchor box and card:

Stamps: Men of Life, Polka dot Basics (PTI)Paper: Pure Poppy, Kraft, Dark Chocolate, SS White, Spring Rain, Men of Life Patterned Paper (PTI)

Ink: Fresh Snow, Dark Chocolate
Accessories/Tools: Cuttlebug & Swiss Dot Embossing Folder (Provocraft), Labels 2 Dies (Spellbinders), Button (Foof-a-la), Hot Glue gun, Lollipop stick, Threading water punch (Fiskars) Dimensionals, Linen Thread (SU!)