Contact Me

PENNY SHIVAS
(09 ) 846- 2046
PENNY@BECREATIVEATHOME.COM
Craft is an art. The power of art is about relationships. What begins as an act of self expression becomes
a revealing connection when shared with others.

Me

My story: Using your talent for God’s Glory
My Stampin’ Up! Journey

I love to send hand made cards and hand made gifts to friends and family. When I see the cards sold in shops, I think to myself 'I can make that!' Some cards can cost more than $10 and I have a big extended family! In September 2009 when I saw the Stampin' Up! display at Sista's Women’s Conference, I fell in love with the cards and gift ideas. I joined the Stampin' Up! family to take advantage of the discount price and to make cards as a hobby. I enjoy making cards using all my new tools and I discovering new techniques.
I have two children, Olivia and Ben, who were both born with Muscular Dystrophy, inherited from my husband. Due to their muscle weakness I found parenting a challenge dealing with their condition, many hospital visits, operations and many physiotherapy sessions. To relax from those pressures I went to various craft groups and learnt to paint. I got a lot of satisfaction when I completed a project. Now that both of my children are teenagers I have more time to express myself doing art.

This is a very good story about investing our talents:

In Matthew 25 v 14-30 there is a parable about 3 servants. It is a simple story that Jesus tells about a man who is preparing to leave on a journey entrusts his possessions to his servants. He distributes his wealth among three servants, apportioned to them on the basis of their abilities. To the first he entrusted five talents, to the second two talents, and to the third one talent. The first two servants quickly set to work with their master’s money. The third servant did not invest his master’s money at all; he dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. When the master returned, the first two eagerly met their master, apparently delighted in the opportunity to multiply their master’s money. Both were commended as “good and faithful servants”; both were rewarded with increased responsibilities in their master’s service; both were invited to share in their master’s joy.

The master’s dealings with the third servant is a very different matter. This servant came to his master with only the talent his master had originally entrusted to him. He did not increase his master’s money at all. In fact, if this were to take place today, that money would likely be worth less, due to inflation. The servant contended that he was afraid to take a risk with any kind of investment. And so he simply hid the money, and now he returned it, without any gain. The master rebuked this slave for being evil and lazy.


This parable really challenged me to share my talents with others. Take responsibility for your life. What will you do with what God has given you? Are you going to invest your talent and time or will you hide it because of fear? I truly believe God gives you and me equal opportunity.

Because I enjoyed doing crafts so much I wanted to help others to discover that joy. So I decided to run my own stamp club from my living room. I am so grateful I have a very supportive family.

Two years ago I sent out emails to quite a few ladies; I knew they would be interested. I still remember when I had my first reply I was so excited. I knew that God was with me.
And now, I have a group of ladies that come to my house once a month and we have lots of fun. I have one lady that comes all the way from Orewa. We meet at 7.30pm to 9.30pm. But guess what time the ladies usually leave my house?????? 11pm or 11.30pm! We enjoy each other’s company so much that we often forget the time. I am enjoying doing what I am doing and love to share my passion with others. The Bible say in Psalm 37 vs 4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart."

In November 2011, God gave me the desire to do card making at Life Church’s Sista’s Women’s Conference. But in doing so I did not have the experience, confidence, resources and people or skills to achieve this. God had to open a door and he did! He provided me with resources and a team, everything came together. I had nothing to worry about. God taught me that!

Hebrews 11 vs 1 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Since the Sista’s Women’s Conference, God has opened many doors for me to share with other women the art of card making.

I have done card making for the Te Atatu Peninsular Women’s Conference in an elective session and helped with fundraising for Muscular Dystrophy by running a craft making afternoon. I also helped to provide fun paper craft activities at the Muscular Dystrophy Family Camp 2012. And now I am doing the ‘Time Out for You’ ministry!

I found this quote really encouraged me: “Craft is an art. The power of art is about relationships. When began as an act of self-expression becomes a revealing connection when shared with others.”
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Someone told me about this work book by Julia Cameron, called 'The Artist Way'. I found it very inspiring and thought I would quote some of it here:

Basic Principles of the Artist’s Way:

1. Creativity is the natural order of life. Life is energy: pure creative energy.

2. There is an underlying, in-dwelling creative force infusing all of life–including ourselves.

3. When we open ourselves to our creativity, we open ourselves to the creator’s creativity within us and our lives.

4. We are, ourselves, creations. And we, in turn, are meant to continue creativity by being creative ourselves.

5. Creativity is God’s gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God.

6. The refusal to be creative is self-will and is counter to our true nature.

7. When we open ourselves to exploring our creativity, we open ourselves to God: good orderly direction.

8. As we open our creative channel to the creator, many gentle though powerful changes are to be expected.

9. It is safe to open ourselves up to greater and greater creativity.

10. Our creative dreams and yearnings come from a divine source. As we move toward our dreams, we move toward our divinity.