Karla's Korner

Holding Onto Hope!

I finished this piece just last night...
and I love the spiritual symbolism tucked into the details!
Now I don't know if you need encouragement or not,
but there are definitely days when I need to be reminded...

that even when the struggles of life seem overwhelming ...
I can still hold onto hope! 


Not just hope for the sake of hoping...
but a living hope found in the promises of God.

A confidence in the One who is able to transform our sorrows into joy...

and Who gives us wisdom as we seek His heart and wait on His timing.

It is a hope in Christ... the One with Whom all things are possible.

So my prayer for you, my friend, is that whatever you may be facing today...

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13

xoxo
Karla

By Request... Apple Recipe Pages!

Over the years I have received several emails asking about replacement
pages for the "God Bless Our Home" Recipe Binder that was sold primarily
in Costco and Sam's Club a few years ago.  I always had to reply with an
apology because there were no extra pages offered by the manufacturer.



Another version of the same binder was offered later... only with the saying:
"May the meals we share be sprinkled with love."

I've thought about creating filler pages before now... not sure why I haven't.
But I guess better late then never... eh?
The great thing about this design collection is that you don't have to own the
Recipe Binder to be able to use them! I've included several versions so you
can use them as recipe pages or as stationery... with or without lines! I also
offered full color designs, one option with a white border for printers that
don't print borderless, and two white centered options for using less ink!  I
kept thinking of other options... but decided I better quit or I'd never get
them finished!

So before I quit for today this collection of recipe pages will be is now
available in my Etsy shop as a digital download! 
Hope some of you who've been asking
for replacement pages will find them there and be blessed!

I also added them to my Zazzle store for those of you who cannot or do not
like to print yourself.  You can find them under the "Kitchen" tab.  And just
so you know, if you sign up for Zazzle's newsletter, they will let email you
with their sales which can be quite good sometimes!

So I hope at least a few of you are smiling right now.  I know I am.

Bless you my friends... and remember... you truly are
the Apple of God's Eye!

Thank You Gifts...

If you've ever shopped my Etsy store before, you probably know how I love
to tuck little goodies in with each order... as my way of saying "thank you"
and wanting to let you know how VERY special you are to me!!

Well.. this month I decided to do something a little different.
I purposely created a special little "Be Joyful" Bluebird gift collection that
includes a greeting card, a bookmark, and a fun little round gift tag...
especially for you!

I'll be including all three special gifts with every shippable order over
$10.00 during the month of March to let you know how much JOY you bring
into my life by choosing to shop with me.  I know the world is full of
amazingly talented artists so I am both humbled and grateful for every sale.

Oh yes... and just so you know... even if you buy less than ten dollars...
I'll still tuck in a little special something... just because I LOVE you!!

Have a gloriously great weekend in the Lord my friends...
in His love and for His glory...
Karla

Glorify Him With Thanksgiving...

I am so blessed to be able to offer this painting to you as a print on Etsy!

She has such a sweet face and with, her hands lifted to the heavens,
she reminds us, not only to sing our praises to God, but that He is glorified
when our hearts are thankful and our lips declare His blessings.

Today I am thankful, that even though my Valentine sweetheart of more than
41 years, may not be the most romantic guy around, his love for me so
reminds me of God's... steadfast, unconditional, and forever.

I remember when God first began to teach me about the power of giving
thanks for my husband. I was a new believer in Jesus and wasn't used to
being thankful for much of anything, especially not for my husband! God
showed me how I had been so focused on his faults, I had become blinded to
his strengths. Over time, as I began to seriously look for things to be thankful
for... my heart towards him began to change. And then... over a period of
time, because my heart changed toward him... his heart changed toward me...
and we watched as God worked a miracle in our marriage.

This verse reminded me of this story because before I met the Lord, Michael
and I were voted by our circle of friends to be the most likely to divorce... it
was just a matter of time. But here we are today... happily married...
and God seriously gets all the glory!!

God wants to be glorified in the hard places of our lives... and it can all start
with developing a grateful heart! So... can I ask you? Is there a circumstance or
a person in your life that you hear God calling you to begin to give thanks for?
Will you begin today? For His glory?

xoxo
Karla

By Special Request... Garden Angel Art Print

Today's Special Request was from Jackie. She wrote me saying,

"I have the book "Savor This Moment" and there is an angel on page 79.
I was just wondering if you ever did a print of her.  I love your work and
wish you did more home decor products.  I would like to do my kitchen
in the colors and designs in "Savor This Moment".

Her email and request made my heart smile! So... because Jackie asked...
I just added the new Garden Angel Art Print to my Etsy Store!
She's about 7"x9"... the perfect size to slip into a standard 8"x10" frame!

May this little Garden Angel remind you that God has poured out His love
into our hearts so that we, in turn, can pour it out on others!

Blessings & God-hugs...
Karla

Looking Forward to Love...

One of the goals I have on my list for this year is to celebrate life more!
I want to use any and every reason. I want to celebrate ordinary days and
special days. Anniversaries. Birthdays. I'm Happy Days!
And I want to celebrate holidays... including Valentine's Day!

So I'm spending some time creating with Valentine's Day in mind... fun!
So I just finished this charming little digital collection of "Owl Always Love You"
Valentine Clip Art and listed in my Etsy Shop. If you love owls this might be
perfect for your Valentine cardmaking, tags, scrapbooking, and more.

What I love about this collection is the saying "Owl always love you" because
that's what God says to us. His love endures forever.  It never ends. He'll
never ever leave us or forsake us and because His love for us is unconditional,
there is nothing that can separate us from His love... nothing... ever!

Now if that's not a sweet Valentine message, I don't know what is!
God tells us He loves us always. Who needs to hear those words from you?

And you should know by now...

xoxo
Karla

Blessed Be His Name...

If November has prompted you to count your blessings even more than
normal... I would love to add a few more blessings for you to ponder...
in His Name! 

Over the years, many of us have studied out the Names of Jesus and how
they portray the character and essence of Who He is and how He
wants to relate to us.  What I love about how He has communicated this
to us is that He uses descriptions that are very visual... that we can
understand and relate to from our ordinary and everyday lives...
and even moreso during the Christmas season!

That's why I'm delighted to be able to offer this art to you as a digital art
collection on Etsy. This art was originally painted and designed for my book,
The Heart and Home of Christmas, to inspire and encourage women,
like you and me, to celebrate the season in His Name...
to help us stay focused on the One we worship by looking for
the symbolism of Who He is in the sights and sounds of the holiday season.

 I hope this design will inspire you and even be a help to you as share the
love of Jesus through your cardmaking, crafting and creating this year!

Or...  if you would prefer your "Blessed Be His Name" Christmas Cards
to be already printed and delivered to your door... you can find them
in my Zazzle Store in two different formats with the option to customize
if you like... with your own verse and/or name!  Check it out.

May we glorify His Name together...
today and every day... throughout the holiday season!
xoxo
Karla

Snowman Ornaments on Etsy...

I had several of you ask about the snowman ornaments...
so since I had a few left from last weekend's bazaar...
and a few still in the making... I just listed six in my Etsy Store!


As charming and adorable as they are in person... they were quite
the challenge to photograph!  I just couldn't get the light right to catch
the glitter or the glimmer of the bling or the brightness of their faces!

But just look at those personalities... and even sweeter face to face!


Oh yes... I am in the process of making a few more of these little cuties...
and still have quite a few bingo markers left so... if you would like
a particular number to honor an anniversary or a birthday
just let me know and I'll see if I can make it happen for you...
how fun would that be!!

Princess Love-A-Lot

I first wrote about Princess Love-A-Lot back in February and she's been
in my heart ever since. I recently gave her a new look
and just added hersweetness to my Etsy shop...


She made me think about all the little girls... and big girls too... who fancy
themselves as princesses  and I thought maybe this little princess could help
moms share the truth of not only the blessings of being a princess but the
huge responsibility that comes along with wearing the crown. So I've decided
to include a copy of the original story {that I've also added below}
with every print order because...

If we truly belong to the King of Kings... yes...  that makes us a Princess!
But not the kind of princess that sits on pedestal... expecting to be served.
And it's not a title we boast of.. or a position we brag about.
Oh no no... not in God's Kingdom!


In the Kingdom of Love-A-Lot, we are called to do just that...
LOVE A LOT!!
That's the crown we wear... that's what's supposed to set us apart.
Loving others like God loves us... yessirreee...
loving... caring... serving... forgiving... self-sacrificing.

But sometimes our crowns slip, don't they?  Maybe even fall off?  Mine does.
Sometimes I'm too preoccupied with my own life to care about others.
Sometimes I let someone else's attitude or behavior change my own...
and my crown tumbles to the ground.
Sometimes my own self-righteousness knocks it off without me realizing it.


But that's not who I am... I am Princess Love-A-Lot.
So once again... I must humble myself. And asking the King's forgiveness,
I reach down to lift it up, and I realize it's not really even my crown...
it's His.

You see, that's why our crowns keeps slipping and falling off.
God's love is soooo much greater than our love!
This crown we wear in His Name is too big for us!
But as He looks at His little girls... He smiles.
He is confident we will grow into it.
So once again... we don our crowns as Princess Love-A-Lot
and we seek to be more like our Savior... loving like He does...
so others might see Him through us.


Remember... we dwell in the Kingdom of Love-A-Lot...
so check your crown once in a while to make sure it's sitting pretty...
in His Name and for His glory.

Love and God-hugs...

No Walk With Me Today... Sad to Say...

Between playing catch up, celebrating my birthday,
and just feeling uber tired ever since I returned from China...
I have not found the time or energy to even take a walk!


And sad to say that today... instead of walking... I'm sipping tea & honey
from this lovely cup my blog friend Julie gave me {thank you sweet friend},
I'm sucking on Hall's throat lozenges, sniveling, coughing, whining a bit...
and... mustering up just enough energy to do a little computering.

I did manage to add 3 new super cute Snowy Joy Digital Art Collections
to my Etsy Store though and would love for you to check them out...
here's a sneak peek of one of them!



And now for a well-deserved nap!
Love and God-hugs...
{and be thankful you can't catch my icky yucky germs via cyberspace!}

By Special Request... Stir It Up Pocket Mirror...

Here you go Angela!  By your special request...
I just added a pocket mirror to my Etsy shop with the "Stir It Up" artwork!
Send me your mailing address and I'll send you a free one...
just because you asked! And I'm glad you did because
this verse is such a great reminder to us all to stir up the gifts God has given
us in order for Him to be able to use us a blessing to others
and bring glory to Himself!

       
I also added "Sassy Girl" and "Taste & See" to the mirror collection!

       
And because I'm thinking ahead to Christmas and thought these would
make great stocking stuffers for teen girls and budget conscious gifts for
friends... I couldn't resist adding in a couple of snowman themed mirrors
just for the fun of it!  These guys always make me smile!

So what's your Special Request? Is there a verse you'd like to see illustrated?
A painting from one of my books you'd like to have as a print? 
A bookmark theme or digital art you'd like to add to your collection?
This is your opportunity to ask and make a special request!
If you've already let me know... it's most likely on my list... but it never
hurts to ask again... yours might just rise to the top faster if you do!

And just a reminder...
my precious friend... don't forget to stir up your gifts this week... for you
never know who God might want to bless through you...
and when you do... He will be glorified and you will be happy for it!

xoxoxo
Karla

By Special Request... Autumn Blessings Journal Cover...

Another special request from my new friend Jeanette... an art design she
could use to put on the front of inexpensive, already-made journal for
their women's fall retreat that would carry the same theme as the bookmarks.
So here it is... an "Autumn Blessings" Journal Cover Art Digital Download!
and I must say that being a resource for their women's ministry has brought
me great joy and hope to do more of this in the future!

The smaller design will fit the journals they already bought, but I also wanted
to do a larger size that fits the composition notebooks you can pick
up at the dollar store.  And just imagine all the other fun gifts and retreat
goodies you could make by simply resizing this art including magnets, tags,
greeting cards, stickers, framed prints, plaques, and more!


This is the one I made using the dollar store composition book...


but of course... I had to embellish mine a bit with lace, ribbon, glitter and
some little black jewels in the centers of some of the flowers... but even
without the extras it makes for a very pretty place to truly "Bless the Lord"
by jotting down some of those amazing Autumn Blessings God pours out
into your life... from the mundane to the marvelous!

I started writing in mine this morning and am so encouraged by what God
showed me in His Word to help stir up my praises... can hardly wait to share
it with you tomorrow! 

Love and God-hugs to you my friends...
in His love and for His glory...
Karla

Fun NEW Canvas Giclees...

Okay... I did not plan it this way from the beginning... but think about it...
from left to right... as we "have faith" in God and in His Word...
we will "be wise" as we walk in will and His ways... which will result in our
"be{ing} joyful" in the Lord and bringing glory to His Name.

I also did not plan how the partridge and bluebird would be facing toward the
owl nor did I pre-plan how the text on the outer two are at the bottom and
the text on the owl is at the top bringing balance and harmony to the "set".

I love it when things happen by "happy accident"...
I can just see God smiling... as He knew it all along!


You've got to know I am loving these!  The colors are fabulous!
And I especially love the "READY TO HANG" part!

They are called Canvas Giclees and they are sooooo amazingly cool!
The art is printed onto canvas fabric and then stretched onto the wood frame.

I listed them on Etsy a few minutes ago...
and now that I shared about how perfectly they fit together...I just decided
to offer all three as a collection for a discounted price... sweet!

Thank You Lord God for "happy accidents"! 
And just like I had no idea how these three paintings were going to come
together to create such a delightfully perfect collection... would you
remind us that even though, in the moment, we may not see how things
in our lives are ever going to come together to create something
beautiful... You do... because You are working all things together for
good in our lives... able to bring beauty from ashes and turning our sorrows
into joy. Remind us to put our hope in You Lord and wait with expectation
to see what fabulous things you have planned for us in the days to come.
All for Your glory... AMEN.

xoxoxo
Karla

Set Free now in Etsy...

Thank you all soooo much for all your sweet comments
on my newest painting, "Set Free."

I just added it to my Etsy shop!



And I wanted to show you what I've been up to lately...
I've been working on a couple of Baby Collections for my Zazzle Store.
This one is called "Baby Love" and I love the soft pink...
makes me want to borrow someone's baby girl to give some lovin' to!!


And this little "Roly Poly" just makes me smile! What can I say?  :-)

Don't you think they would make great themes for Baby Shower Parties? 
I started imagining little cellophane bags filled with candies with the little
tags ribbon-tied to each bag. And the stickers being used to make cupcake
toppers!  I'm thinking about designing the cupcake wrappers to go with them
but we'll see.  Oh so much fun I get to have designing products that will be
a blessing to celebrating life's special moments!


Right now, these two collections consist of Baby Shower Invitations and Party
Favor Stickers and Tags but I plan on adding more items to the collections in
the days to come!  If you know anyone who's in the planning stages of
celebrating a new baby or one on the way, I'd love it if you'd pass along the
link to them... thanks!

Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I say rejoice!
Philippians 4:4

So what are the special moments coming up in your life? Any celebrations?
Parties? Anniversaries? Birthdays?  Oh come on now... God gives us ample
opportunities to celebrate the life and blessings He's given to us...
and I'd love to hear about yours!!

Love and God-hugs...
Karla

Cooking Up Some Fun Stuff...

First of all I have to say... you girls were a HOOT about the toe nail polish...
I absolutely LOVED reading your comments!!  We are all SOOOOO much alike!
THANK YOU for having that conversation with me... you made me smile big!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I have been having such a great time cooking up some fabulous Chef Girl Fun!
First I designed a new digital Chef Girl Stationery Set for Etsy...
you can take a peek here.

And then I moved over to Zazzle.com... creating the two Business or Calling
Card Designs above. I think Little Miss Chef Girl is such a cutie.
And the fun thing about Zazzle is that you can personalize every item!
So instead of Emma's Custom Cakery... you can replace it with your own
name or the name of a friend or sister to make a great personal gift.

Something else I did on Zazzle was to create Little Miss Chef Girl with four
different hair colors so you will find her on Zazzle with black hair, red-orange
hair... and as a blonde and brunette.!  See I told you I was having fun!

I just kept imagining all the women I know who LOVE to cook.
And I wanted to tell you about these fun things now so you could think
ahead for birthdays and Christmas and have time to check out
the Zazzle Coupons... or watch for the Zazzle Sales so
you could get the best price.  We're all alike in that respect too!

Well.. thanks for looking... it's the next best thing to coming and
visiting me in my studio while I work... and I do love getting
feedback so please keep the conversations coming!!

So there you have it... that's what I've been up to!  How about you?
Been cooking up any summer fun or creative adventures? Do tell!!

Love and God-hugs... xoxoxo... Karla

By Special Request... Bella Flora List Papers & Matching Envelope

I love designing "by request" so I'm pleased to announce...
this one's for Beth Ann.... and for you of course...
a new collection of Bella Flora Digital List Pad size Papers with more room
for writing your grocery list or a longer note!

Plus... I included a fun matching envelope... just what you had hoped for!
I love the grid paper pattern on the front... so helpful to keep things straight!
And it's super easy peasy to print, cut and tape or glue together.

This new envelope also coordinates with the original Bella Flora
smaller note papers... they're a perfect fit.

And the best thing of all is that each one has a different scripture verse
perfect for adding that special touch of encouragement and blessing...
whether you write your grocery list or a note to a friend!

You know we all need a word of encouragement now and then, don't we?
So can I encourage you today to take a minute and write a quick note to
that person God has put on your heart... and just let them know you care!

Lord bless you my friends...
xoxoxo... Karla

By Special Request...

By request... I added this collection of five printable Bible Bookmarks
to my Etsy store.  The great thing about them is you can print as many as
you need and as many times as you need.


They would be perfect for Sunday School or Christian School classes.
They could also be used for crafting, scrapbooking or in cardmaking!
You could even write on the back and use them as gift tags.
Or simply give them as gifts...
gifts that keep on giving a word of blessing and encouragement.

I am so thankful God has given me the opportunity to use my talents
to create products as a blessing to you.
If you have any ideas or suggestions for future products
please feel free to leave a comment or email me...
anytime... I'd love to hear from you!

Thank You Father that You've given each one of us gifts, talents,
and abilities to use to bring You glory and be a blessing to others.
Continue to open doors and give us opportunities
to love and serve others with all that we are and all that
You've given us... and all for Your Glory! Amen.

The Fragrance Filled the Air...

I just came back from the most fragrant walk I think I've ever taken! I love
that my new neighborhood LOVES their flowers!!
And, of course, it made me think of how the Bible says...
we are to God the fragrance of Christ!


Then as soon as I got back... I added three new prints to Etsy... this one...
Delight Yourself in the Lord... in two sizes... square and 5x7...



and this one... In the Shadow of His Wings... in a 5x7.

Hmmm... I guess that's my way of sharing the sweet aroma of Christ
with you today!  Can you smell it?

For we are to God the aroma of Christ
among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.
2 Corinthians 2:15

Heavenly Father... we so long to be women who are sweet smelling
for You!  We want the knowledge of You Lord to be so sweet in us... that it
just naturally seeps through the pores of our being and out into the world! 
We want how we live and how we love to produce a holy fragrance
wheverever we go... a fragrance that will cause others to want to know
where it comes from... so we can tell them about You! 
Let Your will be done in us and through us Lord... for Your glory!

The Vine and The Branches...

Don't you just love how Jesus used such strong visual imagery as He taught?

As I sat in church this past Sunday... listening to a message on this verse...
all I could see were heavy clusters of lush ripe plum-purple grapes ripening
on the vine to the glory of the Vinedresser... and I knew... come Monday...
that I wanted to create a new art print to remind myself that I cannot bear
fruit that is pleasing to the Vinedresser unless I stay connected to the Vine!

I do want to be more and more fruitful for the Lord in the days to come and
I know you do too! This verse tells us that the only way to do that
is to stay connected to Jesus... to spend time with Him...
allowing His Word and Spirit to flow in us...
transforming our lives and our thoughts and our attitudes.
And we need to be willing to let Him prune away every thing that does
not line up with His Word and His calling on our lives... even if it hurts.

We were created to bear fruit my friends... and much fruit...
so let's do it for the glory of the Lord!!  Amen.

xoxoxo
Karla

New Mirrors in Etsy!

I've had so much fun formatting some of my art into the round
to make more mirrors for Etsy!


There's just something about hands-on making it yourself
that makes one's heart smile and soul thankful... don't you agree?


I loved seeing the Shadow of His Wings become something gift-worthy!
I'll be adding the print of this one to Etsy soon just in case you're wondering.


As I was making these, I thought about how I want to carry a couple in my
purse to have with me just in case I have a God-moment with someone
who could use a Good Word of Hope in the Lord to hold onto.


I want to be the walking-talking-loving version of this design...
does that make sense to anyone else?
To me this image just speaks of delight and joy and blessing...
and that's what I want my life to exude as I journey through this world!


But I know I can't be that person unless I'm connected to God daily...
knowing and believing in the depth of my being that He is God...
and I am not... because only then can I say that all is well with my soul.

 
And I leave you with this one because my friend...you are a Precious One...
to me and to the Lord!

May we glorify His Name together...
every day and in every way!

xoxoxo
Karla

Write it Down in Style...

I love to include a few goodies and a hand-written "Thank You" note with
every Etsy and Bookstore order... and for the longest time, I've wanted to
design my own scripture note paper to write my notes on...



so I finally did... and I love them!
And the greatest thing about them is that they're printables!!
That means I'll never run out... they will always be just a printer away!!
And I've made them available on Etsy so you never have to run out either!

There are four different designs each with their own verse...
the verses on the two above are Psalm 119:105 and Joshua 1:9...


and the verses on these two are Psalm 19:14 and Psalm 100:4.


So just remember... the next order you place will have a few goodies similar
to the ones above tucked in with a hand-written "THANK YOU" from lil' ol' me!

And... you might want to order some Bella Flora Note Papers for yourself...
because hand-written notes have not totally gone out of style...
and just think what a sweet and inexpensive gift these would make
for a teacher, a friend, or a woman who works in your church!

...you shine like stars in the universe
as you hold out the word of life...
Philippians 2:16

Heavenly Father... help us to shine as we look for opportunities to share
Your Word with others. I know how often You've spoken to my heart through
a Bible verse at the bottom of a note paper or inside a greeting card and I
pray that as these note papers go out into the world that You will use
Your Word to encourage and build up the giver and receiver both!

A Fresh Bouquet of Blessings...

This is my newest art print and I'm LOVING the colors!!

Aren't the flowers fun?  Do they make you smile like they make me smile?

And this is... and always be... one of my favorite Bible verses.
Is it one of your favorites too?

You can find my new print in my Etsy Store.
xoxoxo
Karla

Thank You Father...
for filling us with a joy that moves beyond our circumstances...
for the faith to trust You to be our strength during the hard times...
for giving us reason to celebrate life and make the most of every
opportunity You give us to love You, love others, and glorify Your Name!
Amen

Pretty as a Pansy...

I love spring flowers and pansies are amongst my favorites! 

So it is my pleasure to let you know about a new digital download kit called
"Pretty as a Pansy" that's now in my Etsy store.

You know I'm all about saving a nickel and stretching a dollar...
well, hat's the heart behind this new Digital Art Collection.
The idea that you can buy it once and print it over and over again is
fabulous!  And it's not just for scrapbooking even though it's that too.

What's great is that if you have the gift of encouragement
and love to send cards... or you're in a ministry where you need to...
it's a greeting card that can be used for any occasion.

If you give handmade gifts... the kit includes tags and labels to add your own
personal touch to your package or container.

And f you're looking for an inexpensive gift...
it can easily be framed as a piece of art.


I made a card... forgive my photography... but I wanted you to see how I
cut the cup and seed packet and layered them... and, of course, added some
glitter which gave it a nice vintage card feel.  I love it!

You can check out the other tags that come in the kit here.

Blessings and God-hugs...
Karla

Stir It Up Print In Etsy...

The "Stir It Up" Art Print is now in my Etsy Shop!

It's a 7" x 7" print of my original painting...
printed with archival inks on an 8.5" x 11" high quality matte artist paper...
Each print will be hand signed by me...
and comes with a white border for framing.

This is how it would look with a white mat and simple black frame.
Of course, I think it would look great with a red mat too... or yellow!
Frame not included.

"Stir up the gift that is within you..."
2 Timothy 1:6

Heavenly Father... thank you again for reminding us to stir up the gifts
you've given us so that we might experience more of You in us
and through us... for Your glory!

Free Download Today Only...

My new Valentine Squares Clip Art Collection promises
to have more creative uses than just for Valentines Day.
I think you will love them for tags, cupcake toppers, cardmaking,
scrapbooking and heart-filled crafting.

As my heartfelt blessing to you... FOR TODAY ONLY...
you can download it for FREE... HERE!
After today it will be available in my Etsy Store.

**UPDATE:  this free download was for Friday, Jan. 21st only
and is no longer available for free but you can find it in my shop.
Thank you!!


Now they won't work for the glass magnet idea...
which I don't recommend you try anyway... LOL...
but again, I think you'll find many uses for them in the days to come.

 


  
So... Happy Crafting my friends...
and I'd love to see what you make with these if you wouldn't mind sharing!
Love & Heartfelt Hugs...

Craftiness Gone Awry...

Sometimes things just don't go the way you want them to
and this craft was one of those!
I wanted to use the new Valentine Angel Clip Art to make something special
to give to a few of my friends who I know
don't eat chocolate... and since everyone can use another magnet..


when I saw these flattened glass pieces called clear glass gems...
along with a project sheet at one of my local craft stores...
I knew I had found what I was looking for. 
So once I glittered the angel's dress... all sparkly and cute... I was ready!


It sounded so easy peasy... just punch or cut out your picture...
use a dime size amount of Diamond Glaze on the front of your image...
place the gem on top of the glaze and picture...
let the glaze spread to the edges... easy peasy... NOT!!


What a mess I made!!  I couldn't get the glaze to spread to the edge of the
paper evenly so I tried pressing on it to fill the gaps, but of course that made
it ooze out the sides and onto the table, my fingers and then onto the glass...
and it still left pockets of no glaze around the edges here and there.  I kept
adjusting the amount of glaze and how I applied it, thinking by the time I got
to #7...  that's how many I needed... I would have it figured out and could
tell you how fun it was... but NOT... I just got messier with each try... YIKES!! 
(So if there's a trick and you know it... PLEASE tell me!)


Okay... it was a frustrating experience... and they're not perfect...
but they are CUTE! 
I finished them off by adhering a magnet to the back with E6000 glue...
and I know my friends will love love love them!!
Especially after I use the printed patterned paper from the Valentine Angel
Clip Art Kit to sew a simple fold-over envelope and finish it off with a
strip of ribbon and scalloped punched circle of the PRECIOUS ONE angel.
She just looks so sweet... just like my precious friends... SWEET!

Something to ponder:
When we try something new, it will not necessarily be successful.
But if we never try, we'll never know if it will be successful or not.
So... is there something you've been wanting to try but have been afraid
you won't be good at it or it might turn out to be messy?
How will you know if you don't try?
Maybe it's a new craft but maybe it's something way more important
like joining a Bible study or reaching out to a neighbor
or starting a new business or ministry.
If God is tugging at your heart... today could be your day to take a risk...
to step out in faith... and at least give it a try!




Oh yes... and I wanted to let you know in advance that I will be offering a

**ONE DAY ONLY**
**FREE DOWNLOAD**
this Friday

Here's a sneak peak...


so TWEET you'll want to make sure and stop by...

Love and hugs...

By Wisdom a House Is Built...

You're going to love the symbolism that is woven throughout this painting...
it's one of the Classic "Oldie but Goodies" that I recently added to my Etsy
store and I just can't resist telling you the "story" behind it...

In this illustration each frame of the shadowbox represents a different
aspect of you and I being keepers of our home.

 
The verse is an encouragement to us to know that no matter what our age
or marital status, the more we grow in  the wisdom, understanding,
and knowledge of God, the more He can use us to fill your home
with the rare and beautiful treasures of His love and blessings.

The teddy bear represents the softness that a woman brings into the home
through her loving and nurturing nature.

As we meditate on the Word of God, Psalm 1 says we will be like trees
planted by rivers of water bearing much fruit... fruit that will nourish the
souls and spirits of both those who dwell in our homes and those who visit.

I love this one...
the sewing supplies speak of mending... because as women we
are called to mend many things... from scraped knees
and broken toys to broken dreams and wounded hearts.



The flowers simply portray life and the joy of the Lord in our lives.

The patchwork heart is a wonderful reminder of the many personalities
that make up a family and how the love of the Lord
can unite them together as one.



Jesus is the Candle of the world and we are called to be His light in the
darkness. The red color of the candle depicts the blood He shed so we could
know Him, love Him and shine like Him in this world.

The house is not only a dwelling place but a safe haven of for refreshing the
soul. It is a place of joy and laughter, tears and sorrow, teaching and learning,
victory and failure, confidence and fear, and caring and sharing. It is a
place for all to come and find love and acceptance...
family, friends, neighbors and strangers alike.


The church is a place for the whole family to worship and praise the King of
Kings... to grow together in the truth and knowledge of who His and to have
our hearts united as one... as a family and with other believers.



The car represents the busyness of life... running here and there, errands,
ministry, school, sports, work, go, go, go... rest!  It's important for us
commit our running to the Lord and let Him establish our thoughts and
our lives so we can take time to find rest and restoration
for our own souls in order to be all that God has called us to be.

The saw and hammer imply building in all respects... the building of our
house, the building of relationships, the building of character with Jesus
as our foundation.

The separate hearts represent the different personalities within a family
and the need they have to be nurtured to become the unique individuals
God has created them to be.

The open Bible, the Word of God is the foundation of all we are and all we
seek to do. The other books there remind us to study and share His Word with
those around us.

The laundry represents all the mundane chores that must be done, day after
day after day. These are the elements of keeping house that truly bring
stability and a sense of order to all who live there. God tells us to commit
all our work to Him, including the laundry!


The pie is a sweet example of being fed within the family... but all the food
we serve, whether for the body, the mind or the spirit needs to be healthy
and nourishing... causing us to grow strong and mature physically, mentally,
and spiritually in the Lord.

My dear friends...
Thanks for letting me share this with you and... may the rare and beautiful
treasures of the Lord fill your heart and home today!!
xoxoxo
Karla

Oh yes... in case you've been blessed and encouraged by this art and all it's
spiritual symbolism and would like to own a copy for yourself or to give as a
wedding or housewarming or just because I love you gift...
you can find it in my Etsy shop and there's also a square
version of it... with fewer frames... in my Love In Every Room book.

Love you and have a glorious weekend in the Lord!

Trash... or treasure?

Cleaning can be such an adventure... oh my! I have recently uncovered a
treasure... or is it just a box of trash?  As I pondered the history of this
discovery... a box of prints from the past... I thought I'd share this story...

Did you know I starting selling my art through home parties?
My heart's desire was to provide an affordable way for women to put
God's Word on the walls of their homes and so... yes...
I would bring my box of framed prints and plaques to your home,
sit on the floor... and one by one... hold them up and share a word of
encouragement through the verses and the spiritual symbolism that I
had woven into each painting. This is one of them...

And on the back of almost every painting... I would attach a short "story"
of what I shared as a reminder but also so that if you gave the painting as
a gift, the story would always go with it.  Those stories were the beginning
of my becoming an "author" and opened the door to my very first books.

So imagine if you would... us sitting together with a group of your friends
as I held up the above painting... and shared this story...
says that God's Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.

And I want you to imagine yourself sitting at this desk
and gazing out the window... notice that the path ahead of you
is neither straight nor level... in fact, the path itself is
not smooth but appears to be a little rough and and rocky here and there...
does that remind you of anything?

How about the path of your life? But God has promised, according to the
truth of His Word, that He will direct our footsteps and, whether we are in the
valley or on the mountaintop, He will never leave us or forsake us.


Now direct your eyes to those things that sit upon the desk top. In the center
is the Bible... God's written Word of Life.

And then there's the oil lamp, a symbol of the "lamp unto my feet"...


and the cup... which represents not only the refreshing
that is yours in the Word, but also the rest that is available to you
as you hold onto and trust God's promises for yourself.

Notice the small bottle of oil with the dove on top...
it depicts the anointing of the Holy Spirit...


and the apple hanging from the tree outside is a picture of the fruit of the
Spirit that is developed along the path of life as you grow
in the truth and knowledge of the Lord Jesus.


The wrapped gift illustrates the fact that Jesus gave up His glory and
humbled Himself as a man to give you the greatest gift of all...
eternal life. It also serves as a reminder that every good and perfect gift
comes to us from above.


The flowers represent the joy that only the Son of God can truly bring...


and the books remind us that we are to study to show ourselves
approved in the handling of God's Word.

Just as the whole of this painting is surrounded with the written word...

and a border of hearts...

may the whole of your life be encompassed with the truth and guidance of
the Word of God and the love and life of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Oh those were the days my friend...
and though the seasons of our lives change...
and the days of home parties are gone..
the Word of the Lord never changes and the symbolism of this painting
is as true today as it was then.

So the decision was made... I can't trash them...
at least not quite yet.
I've added several to my Etsy shop if you want to go take a look.
There's only a few of each one but I'd rather see them go to a good home
than to the burn pile so I've priced them to be very affordable.
And I'll be adding some more in the days to come.

And thanks for letting me come into your home today and hold up
this painting and share a word of encouragement with you...
I hope you were blessed!
xoxoxo
Karla

Christmas in June...

It's been Christmas time here in the studio...
I just finished a delightful Christmas project for a licensee
and I'm so sad I can't show it to you... but here's a peek...

It was the first time I had printed on fabric and... and even though I was
nervous as could be about it possibly jamming my printer...
I was thrilled with how it turned out...
not as bright as I was hoping for but I'm sure I'll be trying it again soon.
I also sewed with vinyl for the first time and have some left over so I'm trying
to think of a project combining the vinyl and printed fabric that I can share
with you along with what I learned along the way!!  So much fun!

Also wanted to let you know that I titled my latest Journal painting
"Even In The Hard Times"...

... and she's now available as a print in my Etsy Shop!  She'll come to you
trimmed to pop into a standard 8"x10" frame.  I love this frame... dings and
all.. that I just got at a yard sale last weekend for a quarter!! What a deal!

Talking about Christmas though... I was just at the fabric store and saw they
already had some Christmas fabric out so I gotta ask... are any of you
thinking Christmas in June?  Especially those of you who sell your handmade
goodies during the holiday season... have you started your idea list yet or
do you wait until fall? 

May God bless the work of your heart and hands...
and whatever you do... whatever creative endeavor or
activity you're engaged in... whatever you do...
remember to do it as unto the Lord with all your heart...
and be blessed!

hugs...
Karla

Free For Now... Morning Glory Greeting Card Download

To celebrate the glory of the Lord and give you a gloriously good reason
to send a sweet greeting to someone you know...
I want you to have this delightful digital download FREE...
FOR ONE WEEK ONLY...
which is a very good price these days... how can you resist!

So simply click here and wait for it to download.  Then simply cut, fold...
glue up the envelope and you're ready to send a word of blessing and
encouragement to brighten someone's day!

ON JUNE 3rd... I'll be moving it over to my Etsy Store with the other digital
cards... so it will still be available... just not for free.

If you enjoy doing paper-crafting you may want to check out the
Morning Glory Digital Art Collection or the Morning Glory Printables Kit
that are already there... lots of fun creative time just waiting to be had!!

Arise, shine; for Thy light is come,
and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.
Isaiah 60:1 NKJ

Lord God... I am so thankful that it doesn't matter if the skies are cloudy
and it's pouring down rain... if we're willing to look up... beyond what we
see with our earthly eyes... we will behold the glory of the Lord Jesus that
has truly risen upon us and bathes us with the light of Your love... and
gives us everything we need to arise above our earthly circumstances and
shine for You... for your glory Lord! Thank You Lord... You are amazing!