Psalm 42:1 Accordion Card

This accordion card is a more masculine card than I usually make, so I think the two male shut ins on my list of people I send cards to each week will probably enjoy receiving something less floral/feminine this time around! They are good sports though and never complain about all the flowers and feminine colors I use most of the time. 

This card went through a few variations, so the base is sized smaller in the first two cards I made than in the last two. I decided to make the card taller and longer so that I didn't have to trim down the tree panels. I used mostly Gina Marie Design dies (the trees, birds, cattails, and squirrel) along with a stitched border die for the water and a deer die I don't know the manufacturers of. I embossed the tree panels with Woodgrain Cottage EF by Craftwell. I used a beautiful word art digi stamp I purchased from the Silhouette Design Store as the center focal point with Psalm 42:1. I popped it up with foam tape and used foam tape on the deer on the left panel as well. I embossed the flap of the envelope with the same Woodgrain Cottage EF from Craftwell that I used on the forest panels. 

I love to pray this verse for my children (and now my baby grandson!) that they would long for the Lord and be "thirsty" for more of Him so to speak. It's a good reminder for myself, too. Am I yearning for the Lord and making Him my highest priority? Or am I letting the distractions of this world take up too much of my time and heart? I've been involved in Bible Study Fellowship for the past 27 years, and there's a principle taught in BSF to explain the purpose of our life: Our purpose is to know God, love Him, enjoy Him, and glorify Him. I love the way that sums up our reason for being here so perfectly. When we know God, love Him, enjoy Him, and glorify Him, our soul is satisfied. May we always be thirsty for a deeper relationship with Him. 

Here's a look at all four cards from various angles and closed and opened:

Here's a close up of the verse:

Top view:

 Challenges I'm entering:

Double Trouble Paper Crafting (doubletroublechallenge.blogspot.com): Lets Punch it Out and optional twist of adding woodgrain and linking to Use Your Stuff's challenge (and I had several beverages while making these cards as it was a project that spanned a few days, but my favorite was the Coconut Macaron tea by Plum Deluxe with a little Toasted Marshmallow Nut Pods non-dairy creamer in it. It's like drinking a dessert!) (1/4; ends October 3)

Use Your Stuff: UYS #467 Woodgrain / Double Trouble Collaboration: Woodgrain (ends October 1)

Challenge – Dare 2B Artzy Blog: Animals (1/3; 1st Sunday of the month)

Creative Creases Challenge Archives - Secrets to Stamping (secretstamper.com): ATG with a fun fold (ends on 9/30)

Festive Friday Challenge (theoutlawzchallenges-friday.blogspot.com): Christmas or ATG

Gem of A Craft Challenge (pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com): ATG (1/3 ends on October 8)

Allsorts challenge blog: ATG with option of spots or stripes (1/3 ends on 10/1)

Can You Handle The Pressure? (cyhtp.blogspot.com): ATG with an embossing folder; optional twist of leaves (1/3 ends on Oct. 8)

Polkadoodles Cardmaking, Craft & Scrapbooking Challenge: ATG (1/2; ends on October 8)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (1/2 ends on October 3)

The Paper Shelter: Woodland Creatures (1/3; ends on 9/27)

https://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Card plus matching envelope (1/5; ends on 9/28)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for this week; 6/10 for the challenge period; ends on 9/28)

Twisted Thursday Challenge (theoutlawzchallenges-thursday.blogspot.com): ATG with twist of ribbon, sentiment, and 3 or more layers (unlimited entries; ends October 5) Monthly winner. Prize of 3 digis from the Paper Shelter (already received)

Happy Little Stampers: ATG with a die (unlimited entries; ends on Sept. 30)

Classic Design Challenge Blog: ATG (unlimited entries; ends September 30)

Colorful Options: Beautiful Brown (ends 9/28)