NEW DESIGN: Spirit Lead Me {Take 40% off now}

I'm kind of in love.

I just finished up this custom design for my sister-in-law. Her new house is going to be ready next month and she requested the lyrics to one of her favorite worship songs Hillsong UNITED Oceans (Where My Feet May Fail) to be the centerpiece of the main part of her new home.

Here's what it could look like framed.

I totally dig anything in gray tones I think it would be lovely in a rustic frame. I'm definitely ordering one for myself.

Here's how the design process worked:

1. She found an idea she loved with these lyrics and sent me the photo.
2. I mocked it up trying out some different color combinations. I even went a got an engineer print made so she could see it in a frame above my mantel.
3. She sent me links to the paint colors in her kitchen and family room and I matched those as best as I could on screen.
4. We adjusted spacing/colors and I sent a final proof as well as discussing where I thought she could find a great looking frame. It all took about 3 days total. 

Because I love it so much and think these words are amazing, I just made this design available in my shop both as a physical print shipped to your front door and also a PDF instant download.  

Maybe I'm loving these particular lyrics because I just started Beth Moore's study "Breath," and it's all about the Holy Spirit. The study has just begun, so I'll have to let you know more about what I learn, but I have a feeling it's going to be a good one and I'm excited to see how the Spirit leads and speaks through this study.

Now here's the good stuff....
>>Through Wednesday, July 29, take 40% off this design in my shop. Offer applies to both the physical print and the instant download. Use promo code: SPIRITLEAD40

~Erin

Summer Freebie! {We Have This Hope} Printable + Wallpaper Graphic

Hello there and happy summer! I'm been anxiously awaiting the opportunity to share some really fun summer-themed and hope-filled freebies with you!

I have a pretty amazing job as the graphic designer at my church. Last week it was even more amazing, because I got to spend my time creating a set of printables and wallpaper graphics to go along with the theme of our summer message series at Valley Community called "We Have This Hope."

During our planning sessions for this series, we kept coming back to the reality that people want something to place their hope in. They are searching for it all over the place. A quick image search on the internet is packed full of pretty anchor designs about "hope" that "anchors the soul." It's. popular.

For us, the question kept coming back to ... Yeah, but HOPE IN WHAT?? We read Hebrews 6:19 again ... "We have THIS HOPE..." Not just any hope. Not hope for the sake of having hope. Not just a fierce hope that it will all work out in the end. THIS HOPE.

THIS HOPE = HOPE IN JESUS CHRIST and His sacrificial, never-ending LOVE FOR US. Period.

He is the only hope worth anchoring our soul to.

HOPE IN JESUS desperately needs to be shared. He is the hope that cannot be shaken in a world that is ever-changing.

So that's why we are so excited about these printables and wallpaper graphics! They are available as both 5x7 & 8x10 printables, as well as a notecard. The graphics are for a range of desktop resolutions, Kindle, iPad, iPhone and Android. 

Go make this design the wallpaper on your devices this summer and download the printable as your reminder that hope is found in Christ alone.

 

 Isn't it so pretty and perfect for summer?

>>I challenge you to take it a step further and  think of someone to share this with. We've made it so easy to share THIS HOPE! Take the note card template we've created for you and send a note to someone who needs a little encouragement and needs to know how much Jesus loves them.

But wait, before you write this off because it's not your color scheme or get panic attacks thinking about using up all of your ink on your home printer {Not likely, but worth it if you do!} on one pretty printable, never fear, we've also created versions that are black & white or blue on white backgrounds. 

It's also super easy to upload a PDF to your nearest office supply location to have a beautiful print made just for you. Be sure to ask for 100# cardstock and matte finish and you'll love it!

Go download these fun printables and wallpaper graphics now. SO MANY options!  

We have this hope as an anchor to the soul, firm and secure. Hebrews 6:19

May THIS HOPE anchor your soul this summer,

Erin

"Let All That You Do Be Done In Love" Navy Totes for Summer! {NOW TAKING PRE-ORDERS + PROMO CODE}

I'm so excited to announce that Lovely Dwelling Design's canvas totes are back! Our bags were a big hit at Christmas, when we offered two different bags, and with your help we sold out. I really fell in love with the smaller canvas bag and wished I'd kept one for myself. I knew we had to offer these again!

We have a new design that I'm so happy with! It's just perfect for summer! They are the perfect touch as a reusable gift bag to fill with goodies for a friend or to carry around to work, Bible study, or the library. (I have to bring several bags these days when we hit up the library for summer reading!)

Another feature I love about the canvas tote is that it is deep (5"). Go check it out here and let me know what you think! These bags are LIMITED EDITION, so please don't wait to get yours!

Check out all the summer essentials you can carry with you in this lovely tote!

Or for to the library to check off that summer reading list!

BONUS: If you pre-order now, get 25% off retail price with code NAVYTOTE25. **Orders of TWO OR MORE through June 29 get these awesome bags for just $10 a piece!! {Orders will be adjusted after payment is processed.)

Please go ahead and share this with your friends or go to our Facebook Page to like us and share what's new at Lovely Dwelling Design!

"Let all that you do be done in love." 1 Corinthians 16:14

It's Summer Flash Sale! {THINK Prints on sale TODAY ONLY}

Hey guys, So it's officially our "first day of summer," and my kids are already proving to be a huge challenge. We had an outing planned today and I scrapped that due to horrifying behavior. And I wasn't very nice about it. As it turns out one kiddo is hanging out on the couch not feeling so great. Good thing we canceled our plans!

This verse has grounded me today when I needed it most: "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but harsh words stir up anger." Proverbs 15:1 

So let's turn this day around with a FLASH SALE!! Many of you have expressed interest in my THINK print, so I've updated some color options and changed the 'H' to my personal favorite word, "Honoring." {Helpful can always replace Honoring if you prefer.}

TODAY ONLY it's available to you for $8. That's 50% off! It doesn't get any better than that!! Buy it now.

Go grab this print as a reminder all summer long to use words that are True, Honoring, Inspiring, Necessary & Kind. Put it in your kitchen, your bedroom, your entryway—wherever your family needs the reminder most. I'll work on finding a place for mine too!

DIY Mommy & Me Photoshoot {Mother's Day}

When you are longing for some good photos (not the iPhone kind, although those aren't too bad) of you with your boys who are growing too fast, but don't have the time, energy or budget for a professional photo shoot, you throw some polo shirts on your boys (kicking and screaming) and hand your camera to your husband, with a prayer that you'll get through this with at least one decent photo. Then you head to the backyard after dinner promising play time and dessert if they will sit for a a couple dozen photos.

And this is what we ended up with. Not bad after some photo editing. And absolutely priceless to me! Our yard even looks kind of pretty.
 

 

Then there were rare photos of our Beagle to prove that he is indeed part of the family.

Followed by soccer in the back yard. One of my favorite family activities.

Not a bad way to end to our Mother's Day!

~Erin

Introducing the Family Collection by Lovely Dwelling Design

Lately, I've been pondering family legacy — what was left to me and what my husband and I will in turn leave to our children. Certainly not great wealth and maybe not the most exciting of all experiences, but hopefully more than anything — that God loves them no matter what and wants to have a relationship with each of our boys. That he has called each of us to know Him and to make Him known.

I have been so blessed to have been raised in a family who Knew God and made Him known throughout their lives. My Grandpa Bob was a first-generation Christian. He accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of 17 through the influence of his future in laws, and from there he began his life-long ministry as a pastor and missionary. By the end of his life he could say that each one of his four children, eleven grandchildren, and a couple of young great-grandchildren were walking with the Lord.  

There is truly no greater joy than that!

Family Collection {Celebrating a Legacy and Blessings from the Lord}

Last December, I designed this set prints for my mom. They fit so well with the idea of legacy that it seemed perfect to share them now. (My mom's family heritage is equally as rich with many generations of Christ followers as true examples of faith.) She is putting together a wall of family photos in her living room and hallway and requested these prints to go along with her photos.These were some of my favorite prints to send off in the mail!

I just added this special collection to my shop for those who are putting together family photo walls in their homes and need just the perfect verse to celebrate their own family legacy. {Each print can be purchased individually as a 5x7 or 8x10. Custom color schemes are available upon request.}

If I had to pick a favorite, it would be this one from 3 John 1:4! Besides being pretty, it's what I pray my husband and I can thank God for many years from now!

Check out the collection here.

~Erin

It Comes From Within {The Heart} Plus new pretty floral wreath prints.

Today I rolled out three pretty floral designs in my shop and I felt the nudge to share about two of them with you. So this is me being transparent again!

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"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kind ..." James 1:2

Choose Joy has been on my heart since I finished the book The Fringe Hours last week. An entire chapter was devoted to choosing joy. The Fringe Hours is about making the most of the time that you have or to find time you didn't know you had to do what you love. It's a fabulous read. But even as I've been trying to carve out time for the activities that fill me up, I haven't managed to make the choice to be joyful. In fact, I've been irritable, impatient and discontent.

Rather than blame it on the things going on around me: namely losing my Grandfather and feeling so far away from my family, responsibilities that I can't seem to catch up on, my kids not behaving during a very rainy Monday, not getting enough sleep, my sloowww internet connection when I got up early this morning to try to get a few things done while dealing with unexpected kid interruptions, or just not getting enough "me time," for this introvert, I'm going to go out on a limb with you all and call it what it really is.

I've had a heart problem. I haven't given these things to God to deal with in my heart.

I've unconsciously been playing the comparison game on social media and striving for certain things in my life that may be completely unrealistic or ... not what God has called me to. I've used busyness as an excuse not to get into the Word. And all the while, I have not been guarding my heart as I should, nor have I been choosing joy.

I didn't come to this conclusion on my own. In a video series by Andy Stanley {A pastor of a large church in the south) called It Came From Within, he says

"What is in you is going to come out of you regardless of who is with you."

"For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." Matthew 12:34


You know those times when you slip up and forget to filter your thoughts or don't have time to plan just the right words in your head and are suddenly saying that thing you thought you'd never say out loud? Those things come from your heart! (And my heart too.)

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Proverbs 4:23 says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."

I don't know about you, but I want to breathe LIFE into my home and my relationships. I want to carry on my Grandparent's legacy of love, service and selflessness. I want it to not be about me. And that takes work and connectedness with the Lord.

It's worth the effort though, not just to create a better self-filter, but to allow God to create in me a clean heart.

It takes careful examination of my motives and my inner struggles, confession and sometimes even reconciliation with the person you have offended. Andy Stanley encourages people to ask themselves, and even their children, some "heart" questions daily, as a way of getting down to the root cause of a conflict or behavior, which I think is a great practice to start as a family!

This is going to be my prayer this week as I spend time with the Lord asking those heart questions and becoming more aligned with His heart:

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 138:23-24

In light of this, I'm thinking about ordering one of these prints in large format (24x36) for my home to be a reminder to me. But I just haven't been able to choose between the two yet!

Which one would you choose?

Thanks for reading!
Erin
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These designs are available as 8x10 prints in my shop, And my sale continues through April 27. Want a different size, font color or different phrase? Ask me!


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>>Want to watch Andy Stanley's It Came From Within? The first teaching in the series is on YouTube.