Happy Friday, everyone!!  Are you looking forward to the weekend?  I know that I am....although it looks like it is going to be a cold one.  That's okay...I am going to be spending most of tomorrow in my little crafty room creating cards to my heart's content.  It is World Cardmaking Day, after all.  Tee hee! :)

Well, the new product all became available for sale this morning, and today is the group post which ends each release week for WPlus9.  It is always SO fun to see what each designer comes up with, and how different we all create!  I did a little set with a matching card and pillow box.  Here is what I created!
Instructions
Card:
1. Make A2 card from black cardstock.
2. Cut newsprint paper slightly smaller, adhere lace trim to the right side and adhere.
3. Cut black damask strip and adhere to the bottom.
4. Adhere diecut banner over top of the black damask strip.
5. Stamp the tree & girl image to a diecut card and adhere.
6. Tie a bow from dotted ribbon, and adhere to the corner along with two paper flowers.
7. Top the bow with a wooden button & pearl.
8. Cut a strip of newsprint paper, add a banner edge & stamp the sentiment to it.
9. Accent with a pearl, then adhere the strip tucked into the flowers.
10. Add a tree topped pin underneath the banner to finish.

Pillow Box:
1. Assemble the pillow box.
2. Cut a striped paper strip and wrap around the middle.
3. Wrap lace trim around the bottom.
4. Diecut the tag & outlined star from patterned papers and adhere to the front.
5. Add a bow and two flowers to the right corner of the star tag.
6. Diecut the banner and stamp the sentiment to it.
7. Accent with pearls and adhere to the front using foam adhesive.

Challenges:
-Deconstructed Sketch #72
-Cute Card Thursday #237 - ribbon
-Delightful challenge - winter holiday
-PaperPlay #40 - sparkle & shine
-Penny's Paper Crafty #96 - diecuts & punches
-Papertake Weekly - anything goes

• Elise Durenberger
• Cristina Kowalczyk
• Jinny Newlin
• Kerrianne Gwin
• Lea Lawson
• Savitri Wilder
• Jean Martin
• And our Guest Designer Anya Schrier

James 2: 21-26
I can see why Martin Luther struggled with James 2.  Paul tells us early on in the New Testament that faith is what makes it possible for us to have a relationship with God.  The big thing to realize is I don't think James disagrees with that in any way, shape or form.  I feel, after having read chapter 2 quite a few times now, that James was more expanding on the premise of faith.  I think we first have to understand that salvation is always apart from works.  But James makes it quite clear that "proper" faith leads to good works.  He also gives us two examples from the Old Testament, Abraham & Rahab (who seemingly couldn't be more different), who both had faith that lead to good works.  I guess I see it this way.  If you truly believe in Jesus and what He did in His time on earth....and if you truly want to strive to be more like Him....then good works will become a more natural progression in your faith.  And while I know I will never be perfect at it, I do notice that as I continue to grow in my faith...I have more inclination to do good for others, and even more importantly - do more good for God.

I hope you enjoyed my projects for this month's WPlus9 release.  Everything is available at www.wplus9.com right now, so head on over and pick up your must haves!!

Until later,
~L.

It's time for the full reveal! Time to show you what we are releasing this month in their entirety. All products will be available for purchase at midnight, on October 5th at www.wplus9.com.













You all have been too kind this release! I have enjoyed reading all of your answers and can't wait for the Holiday season to begin myself. It is definitely my favorite time of the year! So, how about one more giveaway? Want to win the entire release? Including everything listed above. Just leave a comment by 10:00 PM EST TONIGHT October 4th to enter. I will select one random winner from all comments. Winners will be posted here by 11:00 PM EST. Good Luck!
***** Reminder*****

• The store will be down from approximately 11:00 PM EST tonight until 12:00 AM EST while I upload and test all of the new products. Everything will be available and ready for purchase by 12:01 AM EST October 5th.

And now on to my daily Bible study post:
James 2: 18-20
I actually found a really great sermon online about these 3 verses that really explained them perfectly for me.

1. Salvation is always by faith apart from works.
2. Salvation by faith always results in works.

According to this same sermon, Martin Luther struggled with James 2, but wrote this:

• "Faith is a living, restless thing.  It cannot be inoperative.  We are not saved by works; but if there be no works, there must be something amiss with faith.  It is quite impossible to separate works from faith as to separate heat and light from fire."

Basically- being saved by faith means I will want to do works....not be required.  Which I really do believe- it is so much nicer when your faith fosters something inside of you, rather than trying to live by a long list of rules and requirements.

Until later,
~L.

Happy Wednesday, everyone!  Can you believe it is the middle of the week already?  Time has just flown by, it seems.  So- I was wearing shorts yesterday, and today I need a fleece jacket to go outside.  I hate drastic weather changes like that....sigh.  What can I do?  I live in Montana, and it was bound to happen...

Today is day 3 of the WPlus9 October release, and we are introducing the last of our stamps and dies that we will be releasing this month.

Pretty Patches: Tree

• is a 3x4 clear photopolymer stamp set
• 5 high quality photo-polymer stamps; 3 image builders and 2 sentiments
• will be available for purchase October 5th for $6

Pretty Patches: Tree Companion Die

• 2 individual dies wired together that can be easily separated
• coordinates with the Pretty Patches: Tree stamp set
• will be available for purchase October 5th for $5

Quilt Cuts 2 Die

• 3 individual quilt block patterns that are wired together and can be easily separated.
• each completed block measures approx. 2" x 2"
• will be available for purchase October 5th for $16

Dawn is also sponsoring the 10 Minute Craft Dash #4 this week, and we were given the choice to play along with their color palette challenge while creating a card that takes no longer than 10 minutes to put together!  Thankfully....you can pull all your supplies out before the time starts ticking.  My card took 9 minutes 37 seconds to put together....fussy cutting the banner took the longest (which spent 2 minutes 12 seconds of my time).  The color palette allowed me to use some of my latest fave Christmas paper by My Mind's Eye, and it paired perfectly with Pretty Patches: Tree!!  Dawn is giving away a $20 gift certificate to WPlus9 to one lucky participant in the challenge...so be sure to try it out!!  Here is what I created:
Instructions:
1. Make A2 card from kraft cardstock.
2. Cut a block of blue paper and a strip of red dotted paper.  Layer together, then adhere to the front.
3. Diecut the hills, tree & heart from the papers shown, then put aside the tree & heart.  Adhere the hills to the front.
4. Fussy cut the banner and adhere to the bottom of the hills.
5. Stamp the diecut tree, layer the diecut heart to the middle and adhere to the left side of the card.  Accent with a jewel star.
6. Stamp the sentiment to the right side of the blue paper block, then accent the banner with three jewels.
7. Add Stickles to the top of each hill to finish.


Challenges:
-Sketchbook Saturday #79
-10 Minute Craft Dash #4 - red, aqua, kraft
-The Pink Elephant #168 - banners
-Simon Say Stamp - glimmer & sparkle

• Elise Durenberger
• Cristina Kowalczyk
• Jinny Newlin
• Kerrianne Gwin
• Lea Lawson
• Savitri Wilder
• Jean Martin
• And our Guest Designer Anya Schrier

James 2: 14-17
I can sum these verses up in 4 short words....FAITH IS A VERB!!  You do it.  You live it everyday.  You share it.  The one thing that I love most about the little church we attend is that not one of us will ever go hungry or homeless.  We help each other....financially if possible, but physically always.  We feed each other, and open up our extra rooms if they are needed.  Being down on hard times isn't so hard if you have people who will help you carry the burden.  I am constantly working towards being even more hospitable than I already am.  I can get hung up on making sure my house is just so and that meals are interesting & exciting.  But I have to realize that even if I had one can of soup in my cupboards and I shared it with someone who needs it....I am truly showing faith in action.

Thanks for checking out my {quickly made} card today!  I hope you enjoyed it!  Tomorrow is the full reveal of the WPlus9 release....so be sure to check back!!

Until later,
~L.

Happy Monday, everyone!!  I hope this finds you having had an awesome weekend, and a great start to your week so far!  I just got home from Spokane this afternoon, after spending the weekend with my aunt Amy and her girls, Rylee and Molly.  I shot Ry's senior pictures yesterday, and we had an AMAZING time.  Ry wanted senior portraits that were edgy and modelesque (I don't think that is actually a real word...but just go with me on it!!)...and we really achieved what she was going for.  We all about died last night as we started going through all the proofs on my laptop...I can't wait to dig in and start editing them all.

With all that being said, please pardon my tardiness on getting my first WPlus9 project posted for our release week.  This weekend was a bit last minute, and I didn't expect to be gone until this afternoon!!  Here is some information on the first items we are sharing with you this week:

Folk Art Flurries

• is a 4x6 clear photopolymer stamp set
• 14 high quality photo-polymer stamps; 13 snowflakes and snowflake builders, and 1 circle tag border image
• will be available for purchase October 5th for $14

Pretty Patches: Christmas

• is a 3x4 clear photopolymer stamp set
• 8 high quality photo-polymer stamps; 3 sentiment images, 1 heart and 4 sentiment builders
• will be available for purchase October 5th for $6

Seasonal Sentiments

• 5 separate dies wired together that can be easily separated
• will be available for purchase October 5th for $14

Clear Cut Stackers: Stars

• cuts 4 graduated stars in the following sizes: 4", 3", 2", and 1"
• 4 separate dies
• will be available for purchase October 5th for $16

I didn't have a chance to use the Clear Cut Stackers: Stars for this project, but I do have some awesome projects with them later on this week...so be on the lookout!  Today I used a die that isn't yet listed, and you will get the info on it later!  But, I also used Pretty Patches: Christmas, Seasonal Sentiments & Folk Art Flurries on my card.  Check it out!

• Elise Durenberger
• Cristina Kowalczyk
• Jinny Newlin
• Kerrianne Gwin
• Lea Lawson
• Savitri Wilder
• Jean Martin
• And our Guest Designer Anya Schrier

James 2: 1-7
All I have to say is....OUCH.  I went from feeling pretty good about myself for being a good listener, and then BAM!....I read this passage.  For one...it makes me feel hypocritical.  Why?  I went to Kenya for 3 weeks in December 2010.  I hugged, touched, talked with and loved on people & kids living in slums, camps & children homes.  For the most part they weren't showered, wearing rags and many of them had illnesses.  I never thought anything of it.  Actually- I loved it.  I loved being there with them, and doing what I could....even if it was just a hug and a prayer.  Why did I love the people in Kenya, but I don't feel the same about the people in my community?  Why do I look away from the people who are dirty, smell and wearing rags?  It's no different, other than I am back in America.  Definitely something to ponder on, and work on changing in my heart.
  
Thanks for checking out my latest projects, and I will be back tomorrow with another new release project!!  Have a great rest of your day!

Until later,
~L.