Free Father's Day Printable

Hello lovelies!

I'm going to be working on switching out my mantel from Mother's Day to Father's Day and wanted something I could frame and share with you!  I found a bible verse I liked and using, of all things, a vintage rum label from The Graphics Fairy, I got to work! 

Just right click and save!

Now time to get to work on my mantel!

Happy Thursday!

{See my Link Parties page for the shares.}

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Redeeming Love Review

Well I finally read Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers.  I posted the above pic on Instagram about 2 weeks ago or so, using it for one of the Photo A Day prompts and got a really good response.  I've always loved reading and I must say that reading this and The Hunger Games trilogy has refreshed my love!  

Redeeming Love is so good that I wanted to give a short review on it!

Even though the time period is gold rush California the book is based upon Hosea and Gomer of the bible. God tells Hosea to marry Gomer, a prostitute. And even buy her out of slavery.  It's a powerful example of how God redeems us.  

The book follows the main character, Angel from when she was a little girl and it got very disheartening at times. And then there were a few times I was just plain worn out from all the running Angel did from not only God but from those who loved her unconditionally. And then I thought about how many times I've ran from God. The book definitely makes you think about not only your relationship with God but with others.  And for me, especially my husband.  I can be so selfish sometimes.  And I spend a lot of time dwelling on how I think he's more selfish then me! I did promise to love him unconditionally, we both did but it's not my place to correct him, it's God's.  And that fact is displayed clearly in the book. Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!

Besides the obvious theme of redeeming love to the book, there was also a theme of having faith in God.  Angel's husband, Michael displayed great faith.  God blessed me with my husband, I didn't have to go looking for him....he walked right into my office.  Now if I can have faith for God to bring me a husband why wouldn't I have faith for God to keep him, and mold him into the man I need him to be? The book reminded me of what kind of faith I need to have!

One last thing, actually a thought I had while reading.  If you or you know anyone who has struggled with why bad stuff happens or wander where God is in bad situations then I'd suggest this book. The author does such a great job of making it clear that there is good and evil in this world and that if we listen and trust Him, He never leaves us and he uses good people to help us. There is still good people in the world!  

Redeeming Love is for sure a must read.  

Have you read it? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Happy Weekend!

Tissues of Thanks

In case you didn't know, I'm an Okie. Born and raised and it's the only state I've ever lived in.  Tornado season is part of Oklahoma life.  It's funny to me that to this day my momma can be cool as a cucumber when it comes to tornadoes and my daddy the worry wart. And guess what? That's basically how it is with me and my husband!

I got home from work on Monday about 4 in the afternoon.  I could tell it was fixing to storm but didn't realize how close a tornado was.  The weatherman predicted it to come our way by about 4:30.  Moore had already happened.  Well turns out the possible tornado kept to the north of us but went directly over my sister's house. I texted her to make sure they had taken cover....they live in a double wide mobile home.  She had taken the kids to the Collinsville Library but she had to leave her dog, Buddy outside in the yard....thinking he had a better chance outside then inside.  When I read that I choked up. And all I could do was pray. And make the rounds of making sure my parents and friends who all live in the vicinity of my sister's home were ok. 

I was calm because I was praying. 

When all was over, everyone, everything was ok. Except our hearts, they were heavy.  I literally had a heavy  heart. Still do to a degree. All the support for Oklahoma through all of my social media feeds was overwhelming and helped so much!  And apparently donations have gotten to be overwhelming too! Amazing!

Then I saw Aedriel of Aedriel Originals post on Instagram that Jacin of Lovely Little Details was giving a jar of jam to anyone who had donated to the Red Cross for Oklahoma (with proof). And then Aedriel joined in herself with her own way of helping with some personalized dishes that looks like are sold out already! And even then a church friend making a plea 'to do something about it' on Facebook.  So that got me thinking....what can I do?  Times like these you feel like you need to do something besides pray. 

So I thought of all the crafty things I've made over the years and came up with 

Tissues of Thanks.

With proof of donation for Oklahoma emailed to jennifer@vintagegwen.com, I'll send you a red patterned purse tissue holder filled with tissues. 

I know it's not grand but it gives me the 'do' that has helped my heavy heart already. 

And I know I won't be able to say it enough.....thanks for all the support!

Happy Thursday

Vintage Gwen Chapel-Your Mouth Matters

Last weekend I rented some movies, Les Miserables and Lincoln....both excellent! We rent from our local grocery store.  When I pulled up to return the movies there was a teenage boy pushing carts back to the store.  He was kinda scrawny and was struggling a bit. Well then out comes a boy the same age, in my opinion, who tells his coworker to 'put his back into it' which I thought a little comical. Well he then precedes to hold the door open for me and says something to the effect of  "newbies, gotta train 'em right" with a smile.  He actually used a technical term like 'prp' or something, basically 'new guy in training'. 

I just smiled and said thank you but on the inside I was giggling because by all appearances they were equal.  It was what was coming out of their mouths that was not.

And I got a heavenly reminder that regardless of experience in life, or what I may face or go through, sometimes it matters what comes out of my mouth. I may not know the outcome but God does and His Word provides us with what to say when we don't have any words.  Let's be brave enough to use them so that it causes others to do a double take. Or at least giggle on the inside.

Psalm 37:30 
"The mouth of the righteous man utters wisdom, and his tongue speaks what is just."

Happy Saturday!

{DIY} Easy Sucker Stand

Don't know about you but sometimes I find displaying suckers for a party a challenge.  When helping my friend with her son's graduation party she asked for ideas on how to display suckers.  I simply said in a glass jar or use a covered styrofoam form/block. And when I said that I was thinking  covered in wrapping paper like a wrapped box.  Well my friend had seen an idea she kept in her head using tulle squares and straight pins.  I was extremely pleased with the outcome and see more sucker stands in my future! Ha!

Easy Sucker Stand
Supplies:
styrofoam block
tulle
scrapbook paper (1 12x12 piece)
thumb tacks
straight pins

scissors

Make it:

I started out covering all sides of the block except the top with scrapbook paper.  The paper was the exact length of the block. I then trimmed the excess and used it to cut rectangles to fit the ends (the smaller pieces). I simply secured the paper to the block with thumb tacks.

Next I cut small rectangles of tulle( I eyeballed it!) and folded it up like you do a piece of tissue paper for a gift sack. Then I put a straight pin down the center of the tulle and into the styrofoam block. Wallah!  I do think I could have done it a bit 'looser', it was pretty full! When I pushed in the suckers basically they were in between rows of tulle. Hope that makes sense!! 

It really was very easy just a little time consuming!

But totally worth it, don't you think?

Happy Thursday lovelies!!

{See my Link Parties page for the shares!}

Soiree Day-ORU Graduation Party

I was so honored to help with a college graduation party over this past weekend.  I was recruited by one of my best friends who happens to also be my pastor! Her son proudly graduated from Oral Roberts University  which totally deserved a shindig!  My friend had found a cake on Pinterest that she wanted done in ORU's colors of blue and gold and we used that as our inspiration.  This wasn't anything to elaborate....it was just right in my opinion!

Pretty awesome, right?  The cake just made the whole thing! It was made by a local gal who is quickly becoming the girl to use! 

Tie cookies made by my awesome sister!! 

And probably the easiest treat you could make for a graduation party....pretzel diplomas!! I simply dipped pretzel twists in white chocolate  and then tied on a gummy sour strip. We found the gummy strips at a candy store which had other flavors/colors so wouldn't be hard to match your school!

Got the letters from Hobby Lobby and sprayed them with gold glitter paint....the easiest table decoration!

My friend had the idea for the sucker stand in her head....so glad I was able to translate it! Tutorial coming on Thursday!! It's easy too!

Other treats were gumballs and mints.

Yes the glasses and tie were for guests to take fun photos!

The weather turned out to be yucky....cooler than normal and kinda rainy so the party was moved indoors which made for some coziness but all in all it was a great day celebrating one awesome young man!

Happy Tuesday!!

Credits:

Cake by Ashley Williamson

Cookies by Erica Caputo

{See my Link Parties Page for the shares!}

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