It’s time for another great blog hop by the Tutorial Design Team. This month I’m excited to share a card using the stamp set Waterfront, the set I used for my portion of the tutorial this month.
The May tutorial is packed with beautiful projects using products that are current and you will find in the new catalog. In other words, this tutorial will be a great reference to use for many many months. Check out the sneak peek below!!
Waterfront Stamp Set
This month I chose to use the Waterfront stamp set for my tutorial. I’ve had this set sitting in my big pile of stamps to use and I loved how this set looked from the start. The watercolor look was the first attraction followed by the many waterfront scenes that you can make.
For today’s card, I decided to pair this stamp set with another favorite, High Tide.
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I added the High Tide set for two small elements on this card. I wanted to add a few birdies at the top of the card and also for a little sea grass along the palm trees.
Tips & Tricks
When stamping the water background I used Pool Party and Bermuda Bay inks. I stamped each image, then stamped off once then stamped onto the Whisper White.
I stamped the sand using Sahara Sand, stamped off once then onto Whisper White.
To create the sunset, I masked off the sand image, stamped the sun using Tangerine Tango ink. I stamped this a few times to create a darker image. As well, I used my Aqua Painter with Daffodil Delight ink in the center to give the sun a little more effect.
I added the tiny sequins across the water and sand for the look of seashells. Lastly, I added two of my favorite things, a small piece of a doily along with Linen Thread.
The layers of paper under the focal image is a piece of Vellum, and designer series paper. I love how Vellum softens any look.
Follow the Hop, Be Inspired!
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It’s hard to believe I haven’t blogged in forever. Time is flying and school is keeping me way busier than I had imagined. However, I am grateful for the opportunity. I was able to sneak some time away to stamp and as always it’s good therapy when you can get your hands inky! I’m excited to share a fun card with the Tutorial Bundle Design Team, plus a new tutorial is available.
Magical Day Bundle
This month I used the Magical Day bundle and had a ball coloring these adorable dragons and knights using my Stampin’ Blends. Regardless of the coloring medium you choose, these little images are the sweetest for any little’s or big kiddos.
Fun Fold Tips & Tricks
I created a fun fold card that is super easy yet fun for any occasion. Below are some tips to create this card.
The card base is 4 1/4″ x 11 using Smoky Slate cardstock. Score the card at 1 7/8″ and 7 3/8″.
Stamp the greeting on the inside of card onto Whisper White cardstock 4″ x 5 1/4″.
Embellish the card using the Myths & Magical Specialty Designer Series Paper. This paper has beautiful Iridescent glittered designs that make a card pop quickly!
Little Details
There are so many possibilities with this stamp set, especially when coloring the magical images. I love how this bluish dragon looks with a few speckles of Dapper Denim and a splash of Smoky Slate. The best part… the Magical Mates Framelits Dies make this set easy to work with. Simply stamp and die cut and place on your card.
One of the last details I love to add are sequins, rhinestones or pearls. They are simple yet always finish off a card.
Whether you have a birthday or want to brighten anyone’s day, the Magical Day stamp set is sure to bring a smile to someone’s face.
Be Inspired!
Looking for more inspiration? Grab the April Tutorial and enjoy 13 tutorials filled with great ideas. You will find cards and 3D projects with step by step instructions. Don’t miss out. Click the picture below to purchase. The tutorial is automatically sent to you upon purchase!
Now enjoy an amazing blog hop filled with great ideas. Simply click the links below to follow along.
It’s time for a brand new February tutorial with a few new team members. Check out our new line up of tutorial designers for the next 6 months. This month we also have a GUEST designer. That means 13 tutorials are bundled into this fantabulous February tutorial. WOWSA!
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Amazing You Sale-a-Bration
The Sale-a-Bration products are amazing this year with a great selection of beautiful stamps and accessories. It decided to use the Amazing You stamp set with a few extra fun products for my card this month. Remember, the blog hop is a sample of projects using the stamp set we used in our February Tutorial. You will definitely want the tutorial with amazing instructions and ideas.
Tips & Tricks
I love how this card turned out and it’s super simple with a little fussy cutting involved.
I created a background using the flower from the Amazing You stamp set on the top half of the card. Once stamped I colored the image using my Blenders Pink Pirouette and Rich Razzleberry. I also added a little Daffodil Delight in the center of each flower.
The bottom DSP is called Petal Passion. It’s AWESOME. You can find it at the bottom of page 23 in the new Occasions catalog.
The greeting was stamped onto Basic Black cardstock, embossed using White Embossing Powder and attached to a few layers of cardstock.
The silver foil was die cut using the Petals & More Thinlits dies. I love that lace die. SO beautiful.
I stamped one flower onto Whisper White cardstock and colored the image, then fussy cut and added to the card front.
All the Details
As you know, it’s all about the details for me.
I always manage to find a special place for a Delicate White Doily!
Be Inspired!
Now it’s time to be inspired by the rest of the team and see the beautiful projects they have made. First stop is Linda’s blog. She’s always super creative. Make sure to check it out. If you get lost on the hop, simply click one of the links below.
Please visit each of the incredible All-Star Designers:
Make sure to visit my tutorial library filled with great ideas. Each tutorial has 12 tutorials packed inside. Ideas include cards and 3 D projects. Don’t miss these amazing professional tutorials!
Day Three of our Israel trip started it out cold and rainy. I was a tremendous little packer as we had ponchos ready, but I didn’t realize how cold it was going to be. I would venture to say the weather in Israel is much like I’m used to here in Pensacola. The rain would come and then we would see sunshine. Regardless of the weather, we didn’t let that stop us from having the time of our lives. In fact, this was the first day of the new year. It ended up being one that we will never forget.
Grab your favorite drink and get cozy with your bible. I pray today you can see how God reveals himself as we walked through these biblical times.
Hazor
Our first stop was once an important and royal city, Hazor. This is where Joshua conquered the king after he allied with ten kings to crush the Israelites. Joshua burned this town to the ground. The evidence of the truth in the Bible in this city was incredible.
The biblical resource can be found in Joshua 11:1-14.
As I walked through this area, there were archeologists on site securing an area with tarps because of the rain. It’s rather neat to see how they continue to work and uncover more of this city.
As we walked through the city gates as seen below, you notice instantly there was a significant fire that had taken place by observing the darkened stones. The fire became even more evident as we walked further through the gates. They estimated the findings in this area to be around 2800 years old.
One of the ways you could see evidence of the fire is the stones below was all of the cracks in the stones. These stones were burned more than 2000 degrees F.
In many of the places we visited you could find evidence of idol or pagan worship. Hazor was no different in that sense.
Below you can see a pagan statue they worshiped.Looks interesting, huh?
Random Side Note
Random side note, please forgive me but my heart needs to get this out.
As we were touring these areas and seeing the idols, they worshiped such as Baal I had these thoughts running through my head of why God’s people would do something so ridiculous. Why worship this statue? Why would they idol false Gods and not the one true God? Ahh… then I had a jolt of reality. What was I thinking? We are naturally made for worship because we are created by God, for God’s purpose, and our identity should be found in Him alone. However… just as Paul states in Romans 1:25; we exchanged the truth for a lie and worshiped the created instead of the creator. It still happens today because of our sin nature. If we removed that statue in the above picture and placed my iPhone in its place… there you would find idol worship. We love what we talk about or use the most. We are no different than the Israelites of the days.
Just a little food for thought.
Okay, moving on to Tell Dan!
Tell Dan
If you can remember from my first post, I explained that a Tell depicts many layers of civilizations built on top of one another. This area is in the Northern part of Israel in the city of Laish. Tell Dan is an area where the Danites migrated from the South where they were under the leadership of Joshua. When we first started our walk, we could see a beautiful spring of water. Note that it was beautiful but FREEZING along that trail. Due to the spring of water, they had plenty of water, and the area is very lush because of the climate.
Biblical References: Judges 17-18:1-31 and 1 Kings 12:26-31.
The city of Laish has a lot of rich history dating back to at least 1800 B.C. and possibly to 2200 B.C. The city of Laish becomes Dan.
This is a gate that was discovered they believe that both Abraham and Jacob both could have used this gate during their travels.
After a long hike through the woods, we then stumbled upon this alter believed to be built by Israel’s King Jeroboam where he had the Golden Calf. You can read more about this in 1 Kings 12:26-31. This area was known as the Sacred Precinct.
As we were walking, we were able to see both the Israelite and Canaanite gate. As we were walking through the Israelite gate, we came upon a Bema Seat or also known as the Judgement seat.
Read more about the Judgement Seat of God: 2 Cor 5:6-10, Rom 14:10. Christians, we know that God will judge. Be encouraged, read Psalm 103: 10-12.
More evidence was revealed about their high places and sacrificial areas.
Caesarea Philippi
Our next stop was Caesarea Philippi. Since 1000 B.C this area was identified as a place of idol worship, pagan gods and a place for hedonistic worship practices. For many centuries it was called Panias for the god of Pan, a Greek god of the shepherds. This was a popular site for parties, drinking, and other not so nice things. This area was used by Canaanite gods, Greek and Roman Gods as well as Caesars.
There was also a cave called Cave of Pan as seen below. Many believe it was the underworld known as Hades. This cave was given the name Gates of Hades or the Gates of Hell.
What I noticed immediately as I was walking to the cave was the number of people here worshiping, praying, kissing the mountain. From the looks of it, pagan worship continues at this site.
Jesus brought his disciples here for a valuable lesson and rebuke. Read about it here: Matthew 16: 13-18.
I waited quite awhile to get a picture of this area below without the visitors sitting there. The rain had already diminished, but they were staying put. Instead, I smiled and clicked the shutter button.
Biblical references: Joshua 11:17, 12:7 and 13:5. Judges 3:3 and 1 Chronicles 5:23.
You can note many of the intricate details that are still left within these rocks.
Off to the Jordan River!
The day has already been spectacular… it gets even better as we travel to the Jordan river to the baptismal site. Along the way, we could see the clouds starting to lift and a spec of blue skies starting to show through. Praise the Lord. If only it would have been a wee bit warmer.
Our Baptism
The water temperature of the Jordan river was about 46 degrees. That equates to FREEZING in my book. Our entire group was baptized which meant our pastor could no longer feel his legs once all 15 of us were finished. We each proclaimed publicly that Jesus Christ was our Lord and Savior. Hearing each person state their proclamation and seeing their baptism was amazing. We shouted celebrations after each one. The faces of each of us coming out of that freezing water was hilarious. It was a day I will always remember.
My mouth stayed open forever. I don’t know if it was the shock of the cold or my excitement. Either way, it was amazing. What a blessing to have Russ there helping with the baptism of our children and myself. I’d love to share my story with all of you soon. I hope that it can inspire someone to know more about Christ.
Staying Warm!
As you can see, our third day was full. After the baptism, we headed to our hotel to get warm.
Speaking of warm… I’m NOT warm here in Florida. Wow! It’s freezing and if you can believe this… we had a rare snow day for our kids yesterday. The temps are in the 20’s, and we had little flurries blow through our area. Pretty amazing for Pensacola.
One thing I can say for sure about this trip was my packing was superb. It was not a glamour trip what so ever. I packed three pairs of jeans, both long sleeve and short sleeve shirts for ten days and tennis shoes. If you were to see my packing for any other trip, you might have given me a fist bump or two. Okay, let’s tackle Day two of Israel. It’s a big one!
Before we get started, I want to remind my creative readers. I do not have anything creative to share in this post. Instead, it’s rich in the biblical history of our time in Israel. Please note, I will get back to my creativity… It is one of the gifts God has given me and continues to be a huge passion of mine.
Day two is a biggie…. okay, maybe they all were! Grab a coffee or your favorite drink and perhaps even your bible and walk with me.
Sea of Galilee
We were up bright and early for our first site, the Sea of Galilee. While it’s called the Sea of Galilee, it’s a freshwater lake. It’s also known as the Sea of Tiberias. Something to note, of the 33 significant miracles of Jesus, 25 occurred around the Sea of Galilee.
The Jesus Boat
Our group boarded a Jesus boat and enjoyed a beautiful tour of the Sea of Galilee. Our tour guide gave us an excellent commentary on all the different areas we could see while sailing. We could see for miles the areas of Jesus ministry. We sat quietly as a group while our Pastor read from Matthew 8:23-27 as Jesus calmed the storm and then Matthew 14:22-33 when he walked on water.
As he read, I could feel an overwhelming amount of emotion come over me. It was a moment of disbelief… the reality of being so near where Jesus had been. As we each sat quietly meditating on the scripture, our tour guide played worship music. The music didn’t help my tears. There is something to be said about being on a boat, on the Sea of Galilee, worshiping Jesus. Oh, my word!
And… of course, one of the songs we sang was Oceans! “Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters where ever you would call me…”
Highlights of the Jesus Boat
The Jesus boat.
It’s only 8:30 in the morning and the sky was beautiful as we set sail.
Reading scripture throughout this trip was amazing. Hearing my Pastor bring the Bible alive at each place we visited is almost indescribable.
Getting to experience this trip with our kids was amazing.
Everywhere we looked we could see where Jesus had ministered. I was grateful for a beautiful day that we could see it all.
The Museum
Our boat docked right up to the museum where they have the Jesus boat that was recently discovered about ten years ago. Fishermen found the boat, and they dated it back at least 2000 years ago. While this may not have been the boat Jesus was on, it’s one similar that he would have been on. WOW! Watching the video of the excavation was eye-opening.
Can you imagine all of the disciples on this boat and Jesus laying asleep during a storm?
One fascinating piece of information about this boat is the twelve different types of wood used to build it. Also, note the twelve different woods used to build the boat. Notice the cross in the center. Amazing!
Bethsaida
Our next stop was Bethsaida. This photo below gives a great overall picture of what took place in Bethsaida.
Probably wondering why I’m taking a picture of a tree. This tree is called the Crown of Thorns. Yes, the crown of thorns that was placed on Jesus’ head was made from this tree.
Sacrificial High Places, these were seen throughout Bethsaida. These were alters built to worship other gods. Notice the horned bull on the rock to the right.
Next we walked a little further to see what is supposed to be Peter’s house. Since there is uncertainty, this is labeled as the Fishermans house. Regardless, it was amazing to see how they were built.
Lunch Time
We traveled to our lunch stop where we would be eating St. Peters Fish. Since fishing is the leading industry near the Sea of Galilee, it was imperative that we eat fish. I just didn’t expect this!
There are mainly three kinds of fish in the Sea of Galilee: Sardines, Barbels, and Tilapia.
Let’s just say I enjoyed a lunch of french fries. I do love fish, but this particular one was not my fav. Not only because of the eyeball staring at me either.
Capernaum
I wanted to start with, “this is one of my favorite places….” but the reality is there are so many favorites. It was here in Capernaum that I was able to grasp the proximity of the places we were seeing. In my head when I read the bible I thought sites were much further away from each other. I imagined Jesus walking miles and miles at times during His ministry. Don’t get me wrong, at times he did. However, in Capernaum, that was not the case.
Once again we see a church built on a historical biblical site. Below I was able to see Peter’s mother in laws home where he stayed many times as he was the patriarch of the family and in charge of it. Jesus and the disciples also made this their home during His ministry.
Biblical reference: Matthew 8:14, 15 Jesus cures Peter’s mother-in-law. Matt 9:1 Capernaum became known as Jesus’ town.
Just imagine sitting here with Jesus… as he taught his disciples. Goosebumps!
This is a picture of the 4th Century synagogue where Jesus taught. The one you see here in the image was built on the one where Jesus taught. Mark 1:21
Notice the darker stones? These stones are what was left of the foundation stones of the 1st Century synagogue from Jesus’ time. Seeing this synagogue was one of many AWE moments for me. Just imagining Jesus teaching here. Something else to note was the proximity of Peter’s home and the synagogue. It was a stone’s throw. Not what I would have imagined in my mind.
This was between Peter’s house and the synagogue. Nearly half of Jesus disciples lived here. This would include Peter, Andrew, James, and John as well as Matthew.
Olive Presses in Capernaum
Capernaum produced many export items, and one of them was olive oil products. There are olive trees everywhere. Below is one of the many olive presses we could see.
Olive Tree
The Church of St. Peter’s Primacy
Our next stop, the Church of St. Peter’s Primacy. Here along the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee is where the miraculous catch of fish after Jesus resurrection took place. It’s also known as the place Jesus baptized his disciples.
As my pastor read scripture, we also had quiet time to reflect. Just sitting on a nearby rock, reading scripture, humbled by what I was seeing and all that Jesus has done. It’s a moment I will not forget.
Now that we are home, I am reflecting on Phil 2: 5-11. When I think of Christ’s love, humility, and selflessness looking back at my time in Israel… I pray that I can take on these characteristics as I’m transformed into His likeness.
Below is the rock where the feeding of the five thousand. Biblical references can be found in John 21:4-19.
You will notice that a church was built around this rock. This is notably seen around many historical sites.
Sermon on the Mount & Church of the Beatitudes
As we approached the church where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount, we noticed the actual church was closed. Our tour guide was able to continue to take us to the mount, which he said might be underwhelming to us. I respectfully disagree, although I can understand his point. It as a mount overlooking the Sea of Gailiee. Garbage had collected around the area. However, when I closed my eyes and imagined Jesus giving the Sermon on the Mount, I was overwhelmed with emotion. You can believe His voice carrying for all to hear below.
Below the mount, you can see banana trees covered. Imagine those NOT there.
Biblical references: Matt 5:3-16, Matt 6:9-33
Magdala
Our last stop of the day was to Magdala. It’s only been eight years since this area has been excavated. In fact, they were building a hotel on the site when they found the ruins. What is being discovered here is INCREDIBLE!
They believe this area to be where Mary Magdalene lived. Here they also found a 1st Century synagogue they think to be where Jesus taught his disciples.
One of the most exciting finds was the Magdala Stone (Torah reading table like a pulpit) where they would lay out the scrolls to teach.
The one here in the picture is a replica. The original one found is in a museum. Note the ornate sculpting around the stone. You can read more about this stone HERE.
1st Century Synagogue
Below I was able to see the Ritual baths were known as Mikvahs.
There is speculation that this might be the home of Mary Magdalene because of the ornately tiled mosaic. I was able to see many tiled mosaics found in this area, but this particular one was bigger and more ornate. Pretty awesome. You can also see they are still excavating.
There are many biblical referencesto Mary Magdalene. Here are a few:
Matt 27:45-56, 61. 28:1, John 20:1-18
Quite the Second Day!
As you can see, our second day was a busy but incredible day. Once back at our hotel, and after a little rest we would occasionally debrief our day. We used our dinner times to fellowship over our day as well. There is so much great info to digest at each site. I’m still absorbing everything.
I had had a few questions since my post yesterday. I’ll be answering along the way. One question asked… did I feel safe? It’s interesting to note that my Prince has been to Israel about 11 times during his military career. He wanted me to go with him many many times. I wish now I had never declined to go. I never felt unsafe during this trip! It was simply amazing!
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Kimberly VanDiepen
(719) 360-1242 stampinbythesea@me.com
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This blog reflects my personal offers and classes as an Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator. Images copyrighted Stampin' Up! All content is copyrighted so please do not submit my work for contests or publication and/or reprint my articles without permission. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Stampin' Up!
Kimberly VanDiepen
This blog reflects my personal offers and classes as an Independent Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator. Images copyrighted Stampin' Up! All content is copyrighted so please do not submit my work for contests or publication and/or reprint my articles without permission. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by Stampin' Up!
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