When the End Goal Seems Too Hard

This was today's title for the Daily Devotion on Proverbs31.org. Check it out here.

With New Year's a few days away, I'm sure your thinking resolutions...as am I.

1.) I've been trying to lose weight for years, only to stay the same or fluctuate between certain numbers. This year, I'm going to lose the weight and keep it off.

2.) I've also already started working on my language...too often I find myself letting a swear slip from my tongue. Recently my daily Bible reading convicted me of this.

You can read the verse below or you can find it here at biblegateway.com

"Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.  You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you."

2011 Christmas Card and Collection

2011...the year I went overboard for Christmas. My cards, gift certificate/money holders, gift tags and thank you cards all matched. This is the first year I went that crazy. Usually, none of it matches, but, since I had some extra paper, I made them all match.

Pictures first, how-to for the main card only at the end. I'm sure if you get through the how-to on the card, you can figure the other things out or come up with your own. I'd love to see your ideas/variations.

THE CARD

Front of Card. The candy looking stripe was stamped on
acetate using Blazing Red Staz-On Ink.

The same candy stripe image was also stamped on the inside
(giving the double image you see in this picture).

Fully opened card.

The gap between the white and green papers
is the acetate. You can clearly see the candy stripe
image stamped on the inside here.

Just the inside.

THE COLLECTION
Thank you cards and gift card/money holders collection (close ups and more details below)

 

THE GIFT TAG

I did not stamp the candy stripe on the white card stock,
only on the acetate.

THE GIFT CARD/MONEY HOLDER

Small gift card holder - more of a wallet size.

Opening the wallet-sized version. Candy stripe is only stamped
on the white card stock

The pocket is in the center attached with adhesive on the left and
bottom to fit money or a gift card from the store of your choice.

GIFT CARD/MONEY HOLDER VERSION 2

Larger self pocket - the white you see through the acetate
is the pocket that holds the gift card or money.

Candy stripe image is only stamped on the white card stock.

Opened version of the larger gift card/money holder. The white
part is attached with adhesive and serves as the pocket.

Wasn't sure how clear the other one was with the background
of the center panel being the same.

 GIFT CARD/MONEY HOLDER VERSION 3

No acetate was used in this version.

You can see the gift card peaking out. The pocket is adhered on the
inside, top and bottom, so the gift card isn't going anywhere.

 
THE THANK YOU CARD

THE HOW-TO

SUPPLIES
White card stock
Green card stock
Heidi Grace Designs (HG EG Jolly Crdstk Minido)
Twine (I used a thin bracelet making twine)
Corner Rounder
Stamps of your choice (you will want to use a clear stamp and block for the acetate and inside image)
Adhesive
Acetate
Staz-On Ink (color of your choice, I used Blazing Red)
Black ink (your choice)
Green ink (your choice)

HOW-TO:
When making cards in quantity, I usually do a mass assembly line. I will cut all my paper down to size and tear it.

I started with the base card folded to the size I wanted: 8"x~5-3/4", then cut off the ~3".

Cut your card stocks as follows: 
White: 8"x4-1/2"
Green: 2-1/2"x4-1/2"
Heidi Grace: 1-3/4"x4-1/2"
 
Twine is also pre-cut to: 6".

Square image on the front (Joyeux Noel) was stamped first on 1-3/4" squares (the leftovers from cutting the 3" off the main card), then the corners were rounded.

Stamp image that will go on acetate and white card stock on the inside of the white card first. The image should go just under where white card stock comes to (just below that line).

Attach twine to back side of green paper.

Attach your torn green paper.

Attach acetate to green paper.

Stamp image that is on inside of card on acetate.

Attach Heidi Grace paper.

Tie knot of twine to twine attached to green paper. I find I use less string if I attach the initial string/twine/ribbon, then tie a bow/knot to the location I want it...it can slide, so I can move it afterwards also.

Stamp your inside sayings.

Christmas Goodness

So for Christmas my husband gave me a paper crimper... which I am so looking forward to incorporating in my 2012 cards!

He also gave me an EK Success Fastener (fancy stapler)

Which you use larger, fancy staples for... they also come in a wide variety of colors

My 2012 cards are going to rock! Can't wait to get cranking on all the ideas I have from pinterest and in my head! :)

Hope you had a great Christmas!

Crafting Goodness: Update 1

So, I started all the projects I found on Pinterest. Here is the before picture: a can of white spray paint, a can of chalkboard spray paint, 3 larger circles (different sizes), 2 smaller circles (different sizes), a soap bottle (which didn't turn out, so you won't see pictures of that - sad face), and a wine bottle.

Here are the after pictures with descriptions...completed pictures are in the following order (from picture above): jar (next to black spray paint); wine bottle, circles.

I turned one jar into a homemade hot cocoa gift. I painted the strip with chalkboard paint and wrote hot cocoa on it with chalk. I added peppermint candy canes, which made the homemade hot chocolate taste much better. To decorate it all I did was add a red and white bow and some candy canes.

The wine bottle became a cranberry sprig holder...which can change according to the season.

Here's a progress shot of the snowmen.

The large snowman is almost complete...well, really, he just needs to be hung. I used real sticks from the tree in our yard (they've been weathered for several years). Painted the chalkboard and wrote Welcome on it.

The little snowman is hanging on our tree (I've made a few more, which will have homes shortly).

Christmas - What's it to you?

At our church we have started talking about Christmas. Our pastor discussed Luke 1. (You can find an MP3 of the sermon here if you are interested in hearing it.) If you want to read it, I put the link in the previous sentence. Luke 1: 38 was one of the verses our pastor focused on. It says,

"Mary responded, 'I am the Lord's servant. May everything you have said about me come true.' And then the angel left her."

So, one of my favorite Christmas songs is "Mary Did You Know?" If you read the words to this song (below), and then read that verse again...it just amazes me!

In the verse she responds that she is the Lord's servant and will do what he asks...her son would walk on water; that he would deliver her from her sins; heal the sick, blind, and deaf; calm the storms with his hand; the Great I Am...she kissed him on his cheek.

It just amazes me. To be so humbled, to be so honored. We should all be honored because God has chosen each of us, all we have to do is accept His gift of salvation. I won't lie, it's not an easy road, but the rewards are magnificent. To spend eternity in the presence of the Great I Am...what greater gift could anyone ask for this Christmas?

I didn't mean to turn this post into a sermon, but I was just so moved by the lyrics of one of my favorite Christmas songs because of the verse in Luke 1:38. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share this gift of salvation with you. Below the lyrics you can find a sample prayer you can pray to accept Jesus into your heart. Or you can post your questions, email me...I'd love to see you in eternity.

Mary Did You Know lyrics
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?

Mary did you know.. Ooo Ooo Ooo

The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak
The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great, I Am.

Sinner's Prayer (this is a sample prayer you could pray to accept Christ into your heart)
Lord, I am a sinner who has offended you. Please forgive me. I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins. I place my trust in Christ’s sacrifice as the only way to be right with you. Thank you for coming into my heart. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Crafting Goodness: 'Tis the Season

I have joined Pinterest, and I love it! I have found so many cute projects that I want to make. So, I bought/gathered all this stuff: white spray paint; chalkboard paint; red spray paint (not pictured); orange spray paint (not pictured); an old, cool looking wine bottle; a rubber-sealed jar; a bottle of soap; three different-sized circle plaques and three different-sized small circles. I will post completed photos so you can see what I did with each item. As of right now, everything that needed to be spray painted white has been and everything that needed to be painted with chalkboard paint is also painted. I can't wait to start putting stuff together!

One thing I put together was this vase filled with mini ornaments. I picked up the vase at Goodwill for $1.99, the mini ornaments (12) for $2.99 at Menards, and the cranberry candle ring at JoAnn's for $3.99...total project: $8.97 + tax. I put the piece in my guest bathroom since the counter is so long.

Table Center Piece with Handmade Felt Flowers

I am going to attempt to walk you through how to make a felt flower, decorate the vase (with twine), fill it with sand and add a candle. The completed project should look like this:
























Supplies
You will need:
Craft glue or hot glue gun (glue to melt)
Felt (approximately 9x11-3/4. I used red, yellow, orange and purple - one for each season of the year)
Scissors
Twine
Sand (any color you choose)
Candle
Snap Barrettes













1. Cut your felt piece into strips (I cut mine to 2.5" wide). To keep my edge straighter I folded the felt in half and cut it.

2. Fold piece in half and glue along longest edge. Keep the ends of the felt open. Be careful not to burn yourself if you are using a hot glue gun. Wait until piece is dry/cooled before continuing.

3. Cut slits into opposite side that you glued.

4. Apply glue along previous glued edge.

5. Start rolling the glued edge in a circular motion. Hold in place until glue dry, or you feel flower is stable enough to be let go. (For the center of the flower I used 1/3 of a full 12" strip, you can choose how big you want your center.)

Top of rolled flower will look like this.
This piece will actually be the center of the flower.

Bottom of rolled flower center
should look like this.

6. Take a 12" strip of another color (if you are doing a center on the flower). Put glue on the end and glue it along the edge as you wrap it around the center. Keep adding 12" strips until your flower is as big as you want it.

This is a sample of a flower with one
12" strip. I added one more to get the size I wanted.

The final product.

7. Attach a snap barrette to the back. I used hot glue to make sure it would stay in place.

  
8. Wrap twine around vase. Make sure to glue first and last row into place to ensure it doesn't fall off. Make a little loop in the front to attach barrettes to.

9. Pour sand into the bottom of your vase and embed a candle in the sand center.











10. Attach flower with the barrette to the loop.

11. Repeat steps 1-7 to make one flower for each season.