Take up your cross, and follow Jesus. It is still relevant to these days. What is our cross?

Then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it. And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my message in these adulterous and sinful days, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person when he returns in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭8‬:‭34‬-‭38‬ ‭NLT‬‬

In this passage, Jesus clearly explained what it meant to be his true followers to those people who were following him around.

And this is also for us.

Taking up our cross and following Him will lead us to the victorious new life He has provided for all of us. Our cross is for us to carry but He never leave us alone on the journey.

Then He said about clinging on our life will cause us to lose it. God has provided a new life in exchange of our old life. The new life in Christ Jesus is to live in the God’s word and to live out the Gospel so the world can see we all are His followers so they may also come to follow Him.

Though the world will see that we are not part of this world system and rules, we are different. But nothing to be ashamed of to live in the truth of God’s word.

It is not easy. But possible because our God and Savior, Jesus Christ, has overcome the world and He gives us the Holy Spirit to help and empower us to live in obedience when we come to believe in Him and to receive the new life in Him.

How about you today?

As I was meditating on this passage and to remember Jesus’ command for me, I made this mixed media index card as a reminder of this truth.

On my mixed media index card, I used:

• He Proved His Love Stamp Set
• Blooming Tulips Stamp Set
• Vintage Sheet Music Tile Stamp
• Books of The Bible Stamp Set
• Typewriter Alpha Stamp Set
• Messy Block Stencil
• Oval Mesh Stencil

Mediums I used were:

• Distress Watercolour Pencils
• Distress Inks
• Distress Oxide Inks
• VersaFine Clair Inks
• Gold paint
• White paint

I also joined the Creative Worship Stamps April Release Instagram Hop. We’re showcasing products from our April release that includes flowers, sentiments, music, and more.

Start to hop along here and comment for your chance to win a $25 gift code to Creative Worship Stamps.

Thanks for stopping by today! Blessings.

The post Bible Journaling | Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus appeared first on Helen G. Designs.

These projects are for Sunday Stencil feature post at STAMPlorations Blog.

My first project is this CAS card:

On this CAS card background, I used the Make Marks 1 ARTplorations Stencil. I added the light blue acrylic paint on the cardstock with make up sponge lightly. After the paint dried, I cut it with the Crazy Double Running Stitch Rectangles Nesting Dies and I added it on a white card base with EZ Runner Gran.

I used the Make Marks 4 ARTplorations Stencil and pulled couple monoprints using Gelli Printing Plate and acrylic paints. After that, I cut it out with Stitched Tags Nesting Dies. I added one of the Coffee Heaven Clear Stickers on it. I added some DL. Art Mocha crinkle ribbon on it and added it on the card with 3D foam adhesive.

I sprayed some Cocoa Marabu Art Spray on a heavyweight white cardstock, cut out the cup from Tag O’Coffee Dies, and added on the card with 3D foam tape.

This second project is a set of 3 Artist Trading Cards. Making these ATC cards are simple and quick with Make Marks stencils, Coffee Heavens clear stickers, ATC Tag Builder Dies, acrylic paints, gelatos, gelli printing plate, and make up sponge.

On this first ATC background, I used the Make Marks 2 ARTplorations Stencil and Make Marks 6 ARTplorations Stencil.

On this second ATC background, I used the Make Marks 4 ARTplorations Stencil and Make Marks 5 ARTplorations Stencil.

And on this third ATC background, I used the Make Marks 1 ARTplorations Stencil and Make Marks 3 ARTplorations Stencil.

GIVEAWAY and COUPON CODE

STAMPlorations is giving away a $15 gift code to one of the lucky commenters on this STAMPlorations Blog post and my Sunday Stencil blog post of this month. The winner will be announced on STAMPlorations Blog.

And before you go… here’s a 20% discount code: STAMPGIRLHELEN – for you to use to grab your favorite stamps, stencils, stickers, and dies at STAMPlorations Store!

I hope you all enjoy this Sunday Stencil feature post and my projects. Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today. Have a fabulous day!

I also play along at:

The post Stencil Sunday | Gelli Printing ATC and CAS Card appeared first on Helen G. Designs.

Every stop has a prize to grab!!! Head over to the Coffee Loving Cardmakers Blog to start your blog hopping. To enter the giveaway, you simply leave a comment along the way. Commenting will close on Sunday, October 6th at 11:59 PM Pacific.

I created the background with Make Marks 1 ARTplorations Stencil, acrylic paints and gelli art plate.

I cut out the gree and white monoprints using the ATC Tag Builder CUTplorations Die to create the ATC base cards and then I cut the other monoprints with the Coffee Cup Silhouette CUTplorations Die.

I used both positive and negative die cuts on these ATC cards. I added white and black cardstocks as base mats. I added them on the base cards with 3D foam tape and dries-clear adhesive glue.

For the sentiments, I added couple sentiments from the Just Caffeinate Clear Stickers on white cardstock and then I cut it around the stickers with scissors. This way, the sticker will have sturdy, white background. I added it on the card with dries-clear adhesive glue.

Need more coffee-themed inspirations? Head over to STAMPlorations blog to see what their team members have created for you! And before you go… Get 20% OFF from the Coffee/Tea Lovers collection by using this code: STAMPGIRLHELEN at check out!

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog today! I hope you all have a fabulous, caffeinated day!!!

The post National Coffee Day | Coffee Day ATC Cards appeared first on Helen G. Designs.

My new line of stencils – Helen G. Designs – goes live today at STAMPlorations store today!!! YES… you read it correctly! I am designing stencils and Shery is offering me an a spot at her store. I am overwhelmed with joy and grateful. Here’s a little story about what drives me to start designing:

Designing has been something I’ve been dreaming of doing since I was at middle school when I started with dress sketches. I never thought that this designing dream would come through now. This idea of designing stencils was started with my love for mixed media projects when I joined STAMPlorations team. I love using stencils to create some backgrounds for my projects so I started to make my own. I sketched some shapes on my table using one of the sketch apps, and then I turned them into some stencils that I cut with my electronic cutting machine. I am still at learning stage of designing but I love doing it! I hope that through this opportunity, I can keep learning, growing, and continue designing more.

All of my designs are inspired by drawings that you can do with pencil or makers on projects. The sky is the limit to use these 6 stencils and with them creating backgrounds will be easier!!!

Hope you will like them and enjoy to create with them. Thank you so much for your supports and love. I cannot wait to see your projects!”

To celebrate this new release, STAMPlorations Girls have created projects with the stencils for the new release blog hop. I also have some projects to share with you all…

First project is this art journal. I used the Make Marks 1 ARTplorations Stencil, Make Marks 6 ARTplorations Stencil, Happy Flowers ARTplorations Stencil, Say It Big Bloom Stamp Set, Art Marks Stamp Set, and Mixed Media Elements Stamp Set.

In the video, all of those prints are printed with all of my 6 stencils, gelli plate, and acrylic paints. I used some of them on these 2 cards and others saved for future projects.

On this card, I use Make Marks 2 ARTplorations Stencil, Make Marks 5 ARTplorations Stencil, For The Birds Stamp Set, and For The Birds CUTplorations Dies.

And on this card, I used the Make Marks 2 ARTplorations Stencil, Make Marks 4 ARTplorations Stencil, Make Marks 5 ARTplorations Stencil, Make Marks 6 ARTplorations Stencil, and Healing Herbs Stamp Set.

On this card, I use the Make Marks 3 ARTplorations Stencil and Blossom Overture Stamp Set.

Technique I used to create the background is called monoprinting with stencil or other will call it stamping with stencil using watercolor paint. After the background dried, I stenciled the x on top of it with Archival black ink and blending brush.

GIVEAWAY

Shery is so kind to host a giveaway for my new stencil release day!!! It is simply to visit and leave comment at STAMPlorations Blog Post and all the STAMPlorations Girls’ blogs where you all will see AMAZING PROJECTS!!!

And here are the Prizes to win:

• ONE (1) winner of a $15 gift code to the STAMPlorations store
• TWO (2) winners of their choice of 2 Helen G. Designs stencils.

The Commenting closes on May 8 and the winners will be announced on May 10 in the April winners post at STAMPlorations Blog.

I hope you all be inspired by each project that they shared using my stencils. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU SO MUCH for all your supports and love!

The post Helen G. Designs Stencils | New Release Blog Hop and Giveaway appeared first on Helen G. Designs.

Hello every one… Are you all ready for Fall? I know I am… I am dreaming of the cooler weather. Today, I have a set of ATC cards to share with you all.

On these ATC cards, I use digital stamp, stencil, texture paste, spray paints, and Gelato sticks. I also use cool color combo.

I started with printing the feather image from Graciellie Design – Obsessively Grateful Digital Stamp. I open the image with Photoshop and then resized it. I duplicated the images to fill the 8.5″ x 11″ (letter size) space. I printed it on a mixed media paper using inkjet printer.

Using craft heater tool, I dried the printed image and then start sprayed the Marabu Art Sprays on it. Then I dried it again.

I trimmed the paper into 2.5″ x 3.5″ using paper trimmer. I ended up with 9 ATC card bases that ready to be use.

I added more splatters on them. I used the spray bottle nozzle from this Marabu Art Spray. I flicked the paint all over the page. I dabbed some of the ink off with paper towel.

After the ink dried, I added some shadow around the edges of the cards. I added the Black Gelato on each card edges and then using my finger to blend the color with circular motion.

I added some texture on the background using The Crafter’s Workshop – 6 x 6 Doodling Template – Specimens and The Crafters Workshop – White Gesso.

When the gesso dried, I added some glue on the embossed images and feathers using glue pen. I let it dried until it looked clear but still tacky, and then I added the silver foil paper on top of them. I rubbed it gently with my finger to transfer the foil on the images.

To decorate the cards, I used the sentiments that comes from the same digital stamp set. I resized them and printed them on a heavyweight cardstock. Then I trimmed them with scissors.

I added each sentiment on each card with some of the natural twine ribbon and mini staplers.

They are done. I hope you all like these cards today. Thank you so much for stopping. Have wonderful day!

I link up at:

Simon Says: Anything Goes

Anything Goes #350-#351

More Mixed Media Challenge

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