a note from Valita

Hi all, Thank you to those who have recently emailed me as to where I am. Ive not posted here for some time. The past 12 months I have struggled on and off with depression as a result from becoming empty nesters, my last living uncle (who is so precious to us) dying of cancer and nasty controlling power play church people who chose to spread lies against us resulting in no support from what we thought was our church family.... This has all rocked our world! Removing ourselves from this empty church community has been really hard for quite some time but necessary for our family and accepting that it will never be resolved as controlling gossipers rarely change. Everyone needs friendship so getting back on our feet and finding good supportive people to be around has been challenging and quite lonely at times. Change sometimes takes time.... I feel hesitant to tell my family happenings on here as I know they read my blog but to those loyal genuine blog followers that I have appreciated for many years our little family are all well and going ahead in life with leaps and bounds :-)  God is gracious!
So I'm am unsure now as to where to take my blog from here as I have also had many problems connected to the whole paper craft stamping up thing to the point my instruction sales are few and far between so I feel I am at a cross road not just on my blog but life in general. creative wise I still keep myself busy and if you'd like to see what Ive been up to and get to know me more apart from papercraft on Facebook or Instagram please private email me. I guess I just need some time and space to sort out where to go with everything..... thank you in advance to those who understand.
 Blessings to you

 "Do not judge so that you will not be judged. "For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. "Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?…

Mathew 7:2

Lucky 4 leaf clover st patrick's day card... Going Green today!

 Hi all, First of all please keep praying for Madaleine in Ireland, she is involved in some volunteer mission outreach work in Dublin where the church she is attending is packed to standing room only and groups are meeting in Hotels to worship, they are building a larger kitchen so they can run soup kitchens for the many homeless people of Dublin and many other outreach programs on the go...if you are interested or would like to donate please press the donation button here

or on the top right side bar and write Ireland in the description all money raised will go straight to helping the needs in Ireland so in advance thank you. I love this pic of Mad doing outreach on Dublin city streets in Ireland... God works in the most amazing ways! if only we are open and willing.

      Still having some video problems... I think its with the hard drive but well give this a go....
Here is my Lucky 4 leaf clover st Patrick's day card, I don't normally make many st pats day cards but this is in honor of Madaleine being in Ireland this year. I loved how these little leaves came out so real looking and really easy to make! You will need a 4 petaled flower punch or die any will do (Martha Stuart has a nice punch), mine is a sizzix brand die. Green card, scissors, emboss tools, soft mat, green ink pad and a white Crayola pencil.

Cut out your 4 your leaf petal flowers and with your scissors cut small v shapes a little deeper into the center. With my die shape this step helped them look a little more realistic but depending on what you have you may not need to do this step. Sponge all the edges with a darker colour of green. I love using my cheap regular Crayola pencil!! it can do so many things....make an arch shape zig zags on each leaf. Then use your emboss tool and pad to shape them up.... also give the ends of each leaf a little pinch in.

Lastly cut some thin strips for card as grass.... here you can choose to add some ink to a few strips to give the grass depth, glue onto your card (I lightly sponged a green background first which also helped give the card depth along with layering up my card front), add a few dew drops with crystal effects and your done!

Here are a few st Pats day decorations I made this year... and had a little play with paint shop pro.

A little lucky 4 leaf clover pot plant I crocheted. I am selling my Crochet Amigurumi locally and all money raised goes to Ireland.

You can see more of my Crochet Amigurumi and some of the other things Ive been making lately here on Pinterest
So sit back now and enjoy my video tutorial... enjoy!
Blessings to you

and a last thought

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, 

but also to the interests of others.

Philippians 2:4

stay tuned for my lucky 4 leaf clovers...

Hi guys...... stay tuned for my video tutorial coming in a few days on how I made these lucky 4 leaf clovers.... shamrocks...... really fun and easy to make! Ive missed you all :-)

and a last thought 

Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.

Matthew 5:9

Blessings to you

I only have eyes for you.... Happy Valentines day

              Hi all, I'm definitely being tested here everything I seem to do for my blog just either dose not go smoothly or just doesn't work at all I'm so frustrated but I was determined to not let this beat me and  to get this post to you for valentines day even if its just the day before! anyway you could use this card for any other special time not just valentines day!   ....so this idea is not mine I first seem it on pinterest.... but here is the direct link http://craftingconfessions.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/i-only-have-eyes-for-you.html
I loved the simplicity of it and the glasses reminded me of mine so here is my valentines card to Dave.

 

Quick and easy using an old QuicKutz die I had called glasses and a couple of tiny heart punch outs. The words were printed from my computer, but make sure you have the writing on the right hand side of your page and do a test run before you waste your good card stock to see if its in the correct place....and you're done! you could also add a little glitter to the hearts! Certainly a fun little card.
enjoy and many lovely blessing to you all for Valentines day xx
Blessings to you

and a last thought

I have loved you with an everlasting love...

Jeremiah 13:3

A quick catch up

Hi all, Just letting you all know that my video camera has died right when I wanted to set it up in my new crafting area...... not impressed !! so I'm in negotiations with hubby to share his new GoPro action cam.....wish me luck , LOL ;-)  I would also like to let you know that Ben and the mission trip went really well in Brazil, they completed there volunteer work ahead of time and all went smoothly. We were glad to see him home again and have enjoyed seeing his photos and hearing his many travel stories! Again I'd like to thanks all those who donated toward this mission in Brazil. The local Amazon people were very grateful. He is now starting his last year at Uni. Madaleine is settling into life in Ireland and just completed a paddy tour of all of Ireland and loved it! We enjoy our Skype sessions with her at some odd hours!! your continual prayers for her would be very appreciated. Beth is a few weeks in now as a grade 2 primary teacher and has been flat out to say the least! Its been a blessing to both Dave and I to have her living with us for a while and helping her with the endless class preparations (now an expert at laminating!). So hang in there with me, this new year has started off pretty slow in regards to paper crafting etc putting other priorities first. We thank some very real and sincerer friends for encouraging us through last year making some hard changes and helping us to see whats most important... our true identity dose no lie in what people think, do or say about us past or present but how God sees us!
Blessings to you

 and a last thought

Man looks at the outward appearance, 

but God looks at the heart ... 1 Sam. 16:7