Trying New Things

As I shared in a recent email, I can't seem to come up with an original thought lately, so I'm going to borrow some. One of my favorite blogs is Inspired by.. with the sweet Jill Foster. She highlights the work of another artist and then shares her creative take. It's a brilliant idea and so fun to see what she comes up with each day. Another brilliant idea comes from Lin, at Sending Hugs, she did a sort of Top Ten list of her favorites over the last year. So I thought I would combine the two ideas with my desire to branch out and try new things this year.  I have chosen from the cards that my wonderful blogging and Flickr friends have sent me this past  year and I will attempt the techniques and styles of each as an ongoing challenge for myself. Of course I will share my efforts right here.
( I'm also trying out new blog decor, what do you think of this one?)

First up is a beautiful and really fun acetate card I received for my birthday from the aforementioned Lin Brandyberry.  I really love the flowers that she colored and cut out with great detail. This card is truly a treasure.

I have never been successful with previous attempts with acetate so I kept mine very simple. There is definitely room for improvement but we all must start somewhere.

Here's a shot of Lin's lovely card with mine inspired by it.

My card will be on it's way to Lin in the morning to say thanks for the inspiration!

Thought for the Day: Joshua 1:9 has been a very important verse for me. I have prayed this prayer for my son Ben from the day he went to the Marine Corps boot camp, through all his training, his time in Okinawa, aboard ship in the Pacific to his deployment in Iraq. I always added it at the top of every piece of correspondence I sent him as a reminder for him. Joshua 1:9 was part of my reading today, so I thought I'd share it with you.

"Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go!"

Wherever you go, whatever you face, God is with you. That is the message of Christmas, the infant's name is Emmanuel, which means, God with us! We don't trust a being out there somewhere....God is here, with us. He is with us in our struggles, our failures, our fears, our disappointments. Give them all to Him, give Him your past and move forward without fear.

May God Bless You!

Nancy