This week's challenge theme is:

THE TIES THAT BIND!

We want to see STRING/TWINE on your creation.

Your creation should also include a scripture, uplifting verse or positive words/quote

Our challenge this week is sponsored by MelJen's Designs. Those of you who are familiar with MelJen's Designs know she creates the most adorable, whimsical images. I always have the hardest time when I go to her site because I just want them ALL. Our randomly chosen winner will receive 4 uncoloured images from MelJen (and I don't envy you having to decide on which four - grin - as it will NOT be an easy decision).

When we use the word "bind" in our 21st century conversations, we are usually referring to tying off something -- connecting them with cord or string or metal. We don't necessarily think of the term as being a permanent, unbreakable bond (unless, of course, we are using that Perma Bond stuff which seems to take FOREVER to get off if we happen to get it on our fingers/skin). However, whenever the term is used in the Bible, it IS referring to a very strong, permanent commitment. We are repeatedly admonished to bind God's words to our hearts or to make a binding agreement or that vows made by husbands and wives are binding, etc. Our scripture verse this week is

"¹³ Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

Colossians 3:13-14

I have used MelJen's image, "A girl and her kitty." I am the "mommy" to two little feline fur-babies. One is an old lady (a gray tabby) who is going on 14 years old. The other is a youngster of 2 years old. I love all fur-babies, but I've always been more partial to the feline variety, so this little image especially "spoke" to me. I have colored the image with Copic markers (of course), and I've used a Spellbinder die to cut it out. (I had to smile because when I went to post my card at the TOF blog, I saw the cards of my teammates for the first time. Not only did one of my teamies use the same image, but she had used the same Spellbinder die to cut out her image -- talk about being on the same creative wave length and not know it -- grin.) Anyway, I inked around the edges with TH's blue china distressing ink, and I added white liquid pearl to the dots in the design.

My base is a 5.5 x 5.5" white card. My DPs are from a My Mind's Eye pad called Gnome Sweet Gnome, and my red card is from my stash. I matted my background DP with the red, cut a mat for my image from the red, and created a red scalloped border (Martha Stewart punch) from the red. Now, I have to confess (although it won't come as a surprise to those who know me well), but I really don't "do" twine or buttons -- and yet, here they both are on this little card (did you all feel the earth tremble?). I have used red Baker's twine (thank you, Bonnie, for having sent me some a long while ago) which I wrapped around my strip twice and then threaded through the white button. I computer generated my sentiment, cut it into an oval shape and then matted it onto red.

If you have some free time, we really would like to have you visit our Twist of Faith blog and have a look at what the DT have made to (hopefully) inspire you this week. We would like it even better if you were to share your own work with us by joining in our challenge. Just remember to use twine AND an uplifting phrase, sentiment or scripture on your card.

Challenges:

Challenges4Everybody - Anything Goes
CMC Copic Challenge - Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion - Children at Play
Incy Wincy Designs Challenge - Animal Antics