ODBDSLC228 - No colouring

This week's challenge at Our Daily Bread Designs is a no colouring challenge, ODBDSLC228. This is a hard one for me because I love colouring! Here is my card:

The cardstock that I've used is Bazzill textured and the DP is ODBD Soulful Stitches Paper Collection. The background DP is diecut with ODBD Flourished Star Pattern dies and then I've cut my card base to match the size. I've used ODBD Doily and Beautiful Borders dies. And it's a little hard to see but I've cut up a diecut from ODBD Fancy Foliage and added it behind the button.

The verse is from Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Collection 1 and I've diecut it with ODBD Vintage Flourish Pattern dies.

Lastly I've added a bit of lace and some twine.

For more inspiration for this challenge please visit my talented design team sisters:

Diana Nguyen ~ Gracie Chavez ~ Paula Bigelow ~ Robin Clendenning ~ Chris Olsen

To see all the projects created for ODBDSLC228 or to join the challenge click here. You have until 8 pm Sunday, 1 March 2015 EDT to join us (or 9 am Monday , 2 March 2015 AWST). By participating in the challenge, you have a chance to win a $15 ODBD Gift Certificate that can be used towards the purchase of stamps in the “stamps column” in the ODBD store; or to be spotlighted on the ODBD Blog at our next challenge! The random prize winner will be posted on our next challenge post.

I am entering my card in the following challenges:

1. Word Art Wednesday challenge #171 - Anything Goes; and

2. Splitcoast Stampers Ways to Use It Thursday challenge (WT519) - to use Button and Lace (Faux or Real).

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I don't have any sewing or stitching on my card but I couldn't help but think about a sewn item of some sort while I was making my card (maybe it was the ODBD Soulful Stitches Paper Collection???)! You know when you're working on a piece of cross-stitch or tapestry etc. and if you look at the back of the piece the threads can go every which way and they look like such a mess (well mine do anyway!)?? But then if you turn it over and look at the front - you can see the beautiful pattern or picture that you've created. This can be similar to how we see our lives sometimes - messy and going in all directions at once and we can't seem to see where we are headed. But God knows the big picture for our lives and can see the beautiful "image" on the "other side" of all the mess. I love how this ties in to the verse that I've used on my card:

"He has made everything beautiful in its time"

Ecclesiastes 3:11

This is a beautiful passage of scripture. Ecclesiastes 3:1-11 says:

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

How wonderful that we have a Creator who knows the "big picture" - everything is in His hands. If we continue to follow Him and put Him first in our lives - we will grow in Him. We may only be able to see our "messy" lives - but let's pray that as we continue to follow Jesus others may see the beautiful work that He is creating in our lives and be drawn to Him. May He shine through us :-)

Thanks for looking!