Repurposing Containers for Christmas Wrapping

We got this container filled with individual bowls of oatmeal. The container was just too cool not to reuse, so I repurposed it into a wine bottle holder - actually I think it was Egg Nog. Anyway, here are the pics. I forgot to take a picture of the whole thing before I started, so you only get the bottom half of what it originally looked like.

I just wrapped it in a pretty paper I had lying around and tied a silver box around it. I even cut a circle of the paper to put on the top of the tin. I didn't line the paper up for the top and bottom, so the bow helped hide that.

Other cards I've made

Here are some other cards I've made over the years.

Baby Invitations
I made these for my sister's baby shower in 2004. I used the hand die cuts at a local store, since my sister didn't know what she was having, I did pink and blue.

Wedding

Christmas Tri-Fold

Outside

Top inside

Back inside

Character Cards

Dora

Super Why

A character from Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams video game

Animal Cards

Frog

Monkey

Christmas cards through the years

Since I started blogging long after I started making our Christmas cards, here are our Christmas cards from past years.

This was tied with a white raffia bow, like a present.

The inside

The snowflake was used as a pivot so the front would swivel open.

This is with the swivel open.

Candy Cane Card

The inside included a poem about the meaning of the
candy cane - relating it to Jesus.

This year's card had 3 different versions. One opened like a matchbook,
I can't remember what the other one was, but pictured here are the
other 2 main art elements.

The Red Sea Is Behind You

Read Exodus 14:10-13

Imagine helicoptering into this Red Sea scene, dropping commando-style onto the scene for an interview with one of those terror-stricken Hebrews. The stark fear of being wiped out by their former slave-driving boss, Pharaoh, and his cronies aside, what emotion does your interviewee articulate? I'd put my money on fear, fear that they haven't escaped their old identities, their old slavery, and their old slave master.

Think about it. These people had known nothing but slavery for 400 years. Suddenly, the God whom they thought had forgotten about them completely comes on the scene to deal with Pharaoh's tyranny. Finally, after the chilling plague narratives, Pharaoh relents. At last! Camping and bonfires on the beach of the Red Sea, right?

But wait! There's more: Suddenly, in the throes of megalomania, Pharaoh changes his mind and chases after them. Now God's people are hemmed in at an impassible Red Sea without water wings. But just as they miraculously cross and the Egyptians are charging across after them, God closes the sea and swallows them up (v. 26-29).

They were this close. This Moses guy had a great plan and now this! Horrific images emblazoned on their minds from lifetimes of slavery come rushing back. The hope of deliverance was too good to be true and they're really just slaves after all. It's back to the old life.

Now that's fear.

Nothing can quite peg identity like fear - and its constant companion, shame - can. And that's the big question. Who are you, really? An ineffective employee? A failed father? A basket case? A pervert? Damaged goods? Shame words try to name you, own you, and weigh you down.

Know this: you've been lied to.

You are not your old nature, and Christ has removed it completely from you and in His perfect love, driven out fear. In Christ, you are His treasured possession. We were not meant to lug the weight of slavery around in the first place. Christ's burden is easy; His yoke is light. You're clothed in Christ's righteousness, and when God sees you, He doesn't see shame - He sees the perfection of Jesus.

As part of God's family, you are the beloved firstborn. Rather than receiving the just judgment of the Egyptians, He has ransomed you to be with Him. In His eyes, the chaos of the sea is behind you, and the enemy has been defeated. Just like the Israelites' enemies and their accusations were drowned in the Red Sea, the shaming, condemning words of your past life of slavery have been silenced in the death and resurrection of Christ.

Amen!

"For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery" Galatians 5:1

This comes from "Your Identity in Christ" devotion ,Day 18, from the YouVersion Bible app.

Christmas Card 2013

This year I opted to go the traditional-looking card route. I received these stamps as a Christmas gift in 2012 and couldn't wait to use them. Hope you enjoy this how-to on this traditional-looking Christmas card. The complete assembly of one card took ~6 minutes (time includes opening & closing each ink tray and cleaning stamps). Please note, assembly time does not include drying time of the 3D paint.

Paper Supplies:
    White card stock (use a thinner card stock for the card base)
    Black card stock
Stamps:
    InkadinkaClings Village Park
    InkadinkaClings Village Lifestyle
    Clear acrylic block
    Merry Christmas stamp of your choice (I used Hero Arts)
Ink:
    Staz-On Forest Green
    Color Box Ice
    Brilliance Coffee Bean
    Brilliance Black
Other:
    Scribbles 3D Fabric Paint in Christmas Green/Glittering Electric Green, Glittering Ruby, Crystal*
    *can substitute with glitter glue
Tools:
    Paper trimmer
    Scallop Corner Punch (I used Creative Memories)
    Adhesive of choice
    Tim Holtz Ink Blending Tool

Step 1
Cut white paper stock to 4-1/2" x 9"; cut white paper to 3-1/2" square; cut black paper stock to 4" square.

Step 2
Score 4-1/2" x 9" card base at 4-1/2" (this will fold to a square size of 4-1/2" x 4-1/2")

Step 3
Use your scallop corner punch to cut the corners of all pieces of the card (card base, white square and black square). If you used a thinner card base, you shouldn't have any problems punching through the folded side.

Step 4
Using Tim Holtz's Ink Blending Tool, you will use Color Box's Ice Ink and the 3-1/2" square sheets of white paper. Dip Blending tool in ink, insuring you have ink on the pad. In a circular motion, starting off the paper, move the blending tool onto the paper, continuing in a circular motion. Reink as necessary, cover 3/4 of the bottom of the 3-1/2" square paper.

Ice colored Ink, Blending Tool,
3-1/2" square white paper

Step 5
If you haven't already done so, attach cling stamps to acrylic block (sleigh and bridge on one side, then line up trees on the other side, next to where snow banks on bridge stamp ends, there can be minor overlap here).

Coffee Bean, Black and Forest Green
Inks, stamps, 3-1/2" square paper

Now stamp your images. You will want to stamp the bridge and sleigh first, that way you know where to position the trees. I inked the horse in Coffee Bean, inked everything else in black, then stamped my image. Flip over, ink trees in Forest Green and stamp image. Ink your Christmas saying in black, then stamp at bottom of picture.

 

Step 6
Adhere layers to card base. Center the 3-1/2" white square on the 4" black square, then center that on the 4-1/2" square card base.

Step 7
Apply 3D Paint.
Green - apply to garland along bridge side and wreath (do a complete circle for the wreath)
Red - apply to where the garland swoops meet, just a dot, along side of bridge and sleigh
Crystal/white - apply to snow on bridge railing and snow banks alongside and under bridge.

I didn't let the 3D paint dry before doing the next color. My suggestion is to do apply the paints in this order, especially if you are not going to wait for them to dry in between: green, red; crystal/white. Let dry.

For this step you will need the completed card and the three
different colors of 3D Paint: Green, Red and Crystal/White.

Step 8
Stamp your chosen message on the inside and add your signature stamp to the back.

Hope you enjoyed yet another Christmas card tutorial. If you have any thoughts or suggestions on how to improve this how-to, please leave your comments. I'd love to hear your feedback.

Loving Your Neighbor

Matthew 22:36-40
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Love. We all love someone and at some point in our lives. You can't escape it. Loving your neighbor is a hard thing to do. It's easy when it's someone at your church or a really close friend, but what about that guy that just cut you off; the man who called you a name because you have 11 items (by accident) in the 10 items or less checkout line; the woman in the car your grocery cart just hit because your cart slipped in the snow, yells at you. How do you love those people when you're mad, caught off guard, in a bad mood?

Guess what? Loving your neighbor is a choice. How you react to those scenarios is a choice. I know in the moment it's hard to choose to not get mad and to love that person. I know because these are all experiences I've had...and, at the time, I chose to get mad and not love those people.

A few weekends ago, I had the opportunity to see myself a little differently. I saw other people doing the things I do, reacting and not choosing to love.

Sitting in Starbucks with my husband, I observed a woman get out of the passenger side of the car and slam the door. It seemed she was mad and yelling at the driver (boyfriend/husband, I don't know). He proceeded to the door of Starbucks, while she stood by the door of their vehicle and yelled at him...seeming like she might go back in the car. Eventually they made their way into Starbucks and stood in line not saying a word to each other, each looking at their cell phone and avoiding each other. I've been that woman. Again, focusing on whatever the problem is and not loving my neighbor (spouse).

Sometimes it's really hard to love that other person, especially in our culture today (the me-generation). It's all about me, what I want, what I'm doing...that's not what God intended for us. So, if you're wondering what you can do to make this world a better place, it's simple: Love your neighbor. Love the guy that cut you off, the man who called you a name and the woman who yelled at you. When we choose to love those people instead of reacting to them, you'll be surprised what can happen.

Luke 10:25-37
 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” 
But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbour to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”


 

Why do you run?

While I have not personally been asked this question from anybody, I do ask it of myself. Why do I run?

First off, last year when I ran, I lost 10 lbs. TEN POUNDS! That's a good reason right there.

I also run because when I am running, my mind is blank. I'm focused on running, staying and finishing the run strong. The worries of today or tomorrow are not plaguing me...my mind is empty, blank...and it's great! I can't even tell you another time in my life when my mind was not racing. But when I run, my mind is focused on finishing. Talk about stress-relieving!

That's all I've got, but I believe those are two great reasons to continue to run.

This past week we signed up at our local park district for their exercise facilities. We only signed up for one month, so far...figured we'd better test run and make sure we're going to go before we plop down the full-year membership all at once. So far, so good. I went twice this week and ran on a treadmill (for the first time in my life). It's not so bad. The hardest part for me is when I get off the machine - adjusting to walking on solid ground (guess you could say I get sea legs running on the treadmill). Part of the reason for joining a gym, 1) last year I didn't run all winter because it was too cold outside (my running clothes aren't as warm as I'd like them to be); 2) I run after work and I don't have reflective gear for night running. I'm totally fine with all of that, but when I can run outside, I'm going to.

Tomorrow is a run day, I'm hoping the weather's nice enough, so I can just get up, put my running clothes on and run out the door and around the neighborhood. Otherwise, it's to the gym I go.

Joining the gym isn't so bad anyway. You get to run indoors and not suffer through the cold and 50,000 layers; there is a lot of other equipment to use. So, I can run, then I can do some ab work, lift weights, whatever. Whereas if I just ran on the streets, I probably wouldn't do the other stuff. So, yes, joining the gym is a good thing. Just need to stick with it, which I'm planning to do.

Feel free to share why you run. 

Saying Good-bye

Good-byes are never easy. I should know, moving halfway across the country 15 years ago, I had to say good-bye to family and friends, the only home I knew/remembered...several times. You see, we had a scheduled move date...however, the moving company failed to show up the day we were scheduled to move (I want to say January 28). They didn't show up the next day, or the next or the next. I can't remember how many days late they showed up (3-5, I think they showed up on February 2), but having had our telephone (this is pre everyone has a cell phone) turned off already, there was nothing we could do but wait. My friends and I kind of turned it into a running joke, "See you tomorrow...maybe." The first, real good-bye was emotional and tear-filled. I hoped I would never have to experience anything like it again. Finally the call came and the final good-bye wasn't as bad. But when you have to say good-bye and it gets prolonged, it's easier. There are many cases where a prolonged good-bye just doesn't happen.

Since that time, many people have come and gone in our lives. Some who have moved away and we've lost touch with, others where we just grew apart, others that moved away and we still stay in touch with, and others we've lost, never to see again on this earth.

We are getting ready to say good-bye to some near and dear friends of ours, DM and AM, as they become missionaries. We know that this isn't good-bye forever. We know we will stay in touch with them regularly. We will never forget them, they will always be a part of our lives.

DM and AM

We have so many great memories with these two, we will cherish their friendship and the impact they have had (and will continue to have) on our lives. There really haven't been many another couples that we've become friends with so quickly...and a couple we both have so much in common with (love of crafts and video games, sharing birthday months and that's just the beginning). They really are a gift from God in our lives. I don't know where we would be without them, we look forward to sharing many more memories with them in the years to come. As AM once put it, "we are forever friends"

Our good-bye is only temporary. We know we will see them when we talk on Skype, when we visit them in the field and when they come home, we'll see them and hang out, just like old times. Our "hang out" times for the next 5 years will be over Skype. We will be praying for them as they adjust to new foods and cultures. While we are sad that they are physically leaving us, we know that we will still be a part of each others lives. Though the miles will separate us, our friendship will remain strong.

We will miss you guys so much! We love you!

Here are some of our memories from the past year.

New Year's party at DM and AM's to ring in 2013.

Disney On Ice Rockin' Ever After in January 2013 to celebrate
AM and my birthdays.

Terry and DM preparing our feast (April 2013).

Brookfield Zoo in May 2013

Galloping Ghost Arcade after the zoo.

The last picnic with DM & AM before they leave. 9/28/2013

Dinner at Japan 77. Photo with our chef. 9/29/2013

AM and I at the bon fire October 12, 2013

DM excited to burn stuff at the bon fire.

We love you guys and will miss you dearly!

If you would like to help DM and AM, you can make a tax-deductible donation here. If you want to keep up with DM and AM, you can read their blog "Snapshots".

1 Samuel 20:41-42
 And as soon as the boy had gone, David rose from beside the stone heap and fell on his face to the ground and bowed three times. And they kissed one another and wept with one another, David weeping the most. Then Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, because we have sworn both of us in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘The Lord shall be between me and you, and between my offspring and your offspring, for ever.’” And he rose and departed, and Jonathan went into the city.

Proverbs 17:17
A friend loves at all times,
    and a brother is born for adversity.