This Christmas I want to say Thanks

I have been preoccupied lately with "stuff." I do "stuff." I watch "stuff." I listen to "stuff." It's all "stuff." But I want to share with you something that isn't just "stuff."

 

This year has been a hard one for my family and myself. We along with many other people have struggled with finances. The economy has changed drastically in the last several years, so when things change so quickly it is very hard to adjust and challenges are many. Because of these financial struggles I've had to rely more on others, family, and most importantly God. I have found that this Christmas time is the best I've ever had in my whole life because of Him.

 

Without the preparations of righteous people who believe that there is a God, I would be without food for my family. I would probably be homeless, and without the necessities of life. The service that others provide because they believe that it is the right way to live, and because of the Savior's example to serve others, has greatly impacted my quality of life and those of my family. I want to reach out and thank all those good and kind and believing people for the wonderful and good and kind acts of service that they perform.

 

Here is a BIG THANK-YOU!

 

I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We believe in Christ. We talk of Christ and we do everything we can to be like him. Now, we/ I am not perfect-who is? Only Christ was perfect. I try to be like him, not perfect. I and many who believe in Him try to be better people, and because of that I can rejoice at this Christmas time. I won't have much in the way of gifts to open on Christmas Day and neither will my boys or my husband, but we can feel the peace that comes when we wake up in our warm home, and eat our Christmas dinner and give thanks to Him and those that serve him. I am so grateful to Christ and to all of his followers, my family, and friends, and to my blog followers, and I wanted you all to know that.

 

Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving wonderful, uplifting comments! I am so grateful for all the hope and love that you give me.

 

And to all, I hope you have a

Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year!

I'll be back in January.

Twisted Tuesday Challenge-Christmas Tag

 

Hi all, I have another project for you for the Twisted Tuesday Challenge!

The Challenge this week is TAGS and SMILES. The TWIST is What makes you smile?

 

 

So, your creation needs to be a tag or have a tag on it. The TWIST-What makes you smile. Show us your creation. It can be a favorite stamp you have and cherish (use it on your tag), your collection of embellishments, stamps, etc., or something crafty you received as a gift, etc...just don't forget to tell us and show us what it is that makes you smile when crafting!

 

As you can see I made a tag. I have a Vintage photo downloaded from the internet for free. I added some of my favorite embellishments-jingle bells, and a doily. I used a texture paint and glitter for the snow on the bottom of the tag and on the letters of JOY. I also love this color palette of soft pink, white and blue. These are the things that make me smile!

 

 

I found these letter tiles in my stash.

 

I love the jingle bells, and I love the vintage look.

 

Thanks for visiting and I do appreciate any and all comments! Have a Merry Christmas and /or Happy Holidays!

 

This will be our last challenge of the year and it will go for two weeks. We'll see you back on the first of January 2013! (with a sketch)

 

I am also posting this to the following challenges:

Make It Monday #120-Anything Goes

Challenges 4 Everybody #9- Anything Goes

The Shabby Tea Room #145- Shabby Chic Holiday

 

A White Christmas card

 

A White Christmas card. White on white is the challenge at Twisted Tuesday. The TWIST is to have a snowflake somewhere on your card.

I take so many pictures of my cards and I use a flash with some and not with others. I really like the pics without the flash. It gives the cards a more vintage look. I love vintage. I hope you like it too!

 

I used a lot of embellishments on here. I embossed the background with a snowflake embossing card. I have a doily, three snowflakes cut with a die, six little white flowers, lace, ribbon, a sentiment, and a stocking. I used shimmer paint on the background and the doily. I used Distress crackle paint on the christmas stocking. The crackle paint makes little cracks as it dries and makes it look "old." Love it! I also used white glitter on the snowflakes with rhinestones for some bling. I hope you like it!

 

A close up, but I don't think you can see the crackle. I also made a quilted pattern on the stocking. I over did the aging on the sentiment, should have used a lighter hand. I would appreciate any comments, thanks!

 

I want to also enter this card into the following challenges:

Challenges 4 Everybody #8 -Anything Goes

Crafty Catz #161 - Recycle / Upcycle: I used old flowers, older lace and ribbon that was in my stash

Lady Anne's Challenges -Anything Goes

Another Twisted Tuesday challenge!

A Challenge....

Check out our new challenge over at Twisted Tuesday! It's a picture challenge, and the picture is beautiful! The TWIST is to use an eyelet. I don't have a personal sample this time but there are some gorgeous projects on the site, check them out! Also, join in on the fun! Hope to see you there!

 

Here is the picture:

 

 

Snowflakes

 

 

Hi everyone, thanks for stopping by. I made this card for a couple of challenges. I used the colors from the Color Throwdown Challenge #219. Here they are:

 

 

These colors are so pretty! And they are great for a Christmas card.

I also used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches. This is from the #62 sketch challenge. Here is a picture of the sketch:

 

 

So I took some other pictures to show you that the snowflakes are sparkly too! This first pic didn't come out sparkly though. It looks much better in real life. Thanks for checking out my card! I appreciate the visit to my blog and any comments!!!!

 

 

 

 

Twisted Tuesday-Another Challenge!

 

I've been so busy the last five days that I forgot to post this for the challenge today! Well, I hope it's "better late than never!"

 

Twisted Tuesdays Challenge is "Make a Thank You/Thanks creation.

The Twist -

-Food is a big part of Thanksgiving, so include something "foodie" in your creation.

This is a side step card. I wanted to do something different than the regular card shape. I was surfing and came across some videos. The video was made by www.craftyred.blogspot.com
She gave simple directions and had several samples so I thought I would give it a try. It was fairly easy! I didn't take any pictures or make a video so if you would like to make this type of card I suggest taking a look at the video on youtube by craftyred!

I used the colors from the ColourQ challenge #163:

 

I miss the challenge prizes on ColourQ but will still post this on their blog. I am not counting this as posting to their challenge.

 

I will also enter this in the following challenges:

Love to Create Challenge #42-Give Thanks

Tammy's Scrapin Corner challenge #37- Anything Thanksgiving or Fall

Challenges 4 Everybody #7-Anything Goes



Unusual Christmas Card

 

What do you think? I made this card for two challenges. One is a sketch challenge and one is a color challenge. It is pretty unusual for a Christmas card to be these colors but I went for it. I thought, well, it has red!

 

Here is a close up of the sentiment. I'll post it here too:

Ye shall find the babe

wrapped in swaddling clothes,

lying in a manger.

-Luke 2:12

It goes well with the image I think.

 

And here is the Color challenge from Colour Q #162:

 

 

And here is the sketch from Retrosketches #36:

 

 

I'm also entering this in the following challenges:

Papertake Weekly- Anything Goes with optional Christmas theme

Lady Anne's Challenges-Anything Goes

Make It Monday #114-Anything Goes

One Stitch at a Time #138-Anything Goes

 

This was a really fun and interesting challenge!

I really enjoy comments and thanks for visiting!

Twisted Tuesday Challenge-It's Guys Week

 

This weeks challenge over at Twisted Tuesdays is to make a masculine card. The Twist is to use your "tools."

Use your punches, dies, paper piercer, crop-a-dile, crimper, etc.

 

I used one of my punches to highlight the sentiment with sponging around the edges, and I also used my spritzer to make all the spots of brown on my card. I used the following colors of ink: Dusty Durango, Always Artichoke, Creamy Caramel, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, and Soft Suede

I used a Crumb cake base and white paper tieing it all up with some twine.

Thanks for visiting and I appreciate any comments you may have!

 

I'm also submitting this card to the following challenges:

Make It Monday #114-Anything Goes

Challenges 4 Everybody #6-Anything Goes

One Stitch at a Time #138-Anything Goes

Love to Create #40-Shades of Autumn

Tammy's Scrapin Corner #35-Anything Fall

 

Christmas CAS card

 

I thought I'd get started on my Christmas cards. I always start late and have to rush at the end. Sometimes I send out "New Year's cards" instead of Christmas cards! :)

 

So, here is my first Christmas card. CAS for the CAS(E) this Sketch! challenge #4.

 

 

 

Here is a close up of the sentiment, which I love!

I used white and pool party paper from SU! I also used two SU (Stampin' Up!) Christmas sets: Peace to the World and Christmas Punch. A pool party brad is used for interest.

 

I also want to submit this to the following challenges:

Make It Monday #114-Anything Goes

Challenges 4 Everybody #6-Anything Goes

Use Your Stuff challenge #59 -Christmas or Holiday themed

 

I hope you like it. Thanks for looking and visiting my blog! I appreciate any comments!

Thankful for Family

 

Thankful for Family-oh, family, they are what keep us going! We always have fun posing for pictures! I have a bunch of clowns in my family-at least it feels like it. Like I said, it is FuN, we laugh a lot!

 

My scrapbook page for the Let's Get Sketchy challenge and The Shabby Tea Room challenge #139-use colors in picture (shown below)

include a pumpkin

make it shabby

 

 

I used this sketch from the Let's Get Sketchy challenge:

 

 

I have discovered that I love using scrapbook sketches. I usually don't even know where to start with a scrapbook page and these sketches are so convienent. I just wish my photos were better. Guess I get to practice more this year! Practice makes perfect, right?

All of my elements are digital from Scrapbookgraphics Studio Manu-Treasures of Yesterday,  except the pumpkin which I got free from the internet somewhere. I know, I should keep better records....

 

Hope you like it! I had fun putting it together.

Thanks for visiting and please leave a comment!

 

 

Bargello Technique

This week I have been trying to get more cards made and I am doing okay so far! Yeah!

I have made a card today using a new technique I saw on Technique Tuesday challenges. I am going to post it there and on the New ABC All Beautiful Cards Challenge Blog hosted by my fellow Twisted Tuesday design team member- Patty Gorka. 

 

 

 

The new technique is called Bargello. You have probably seen it done with quilts, as I have, but I have never tried it with a card. I used some paper I had in my HUGE left-over paper pile and did my best.

I'm also going to enter it in the following challenges:

Make It Monday #112-Anything Goes

Everybody Art Challenges #210 Purple or Orange

Challenges 4 Everybody #5-Anything Goes

 

Thanks for visiting my blog, I appreciate comments, thanks!

Witches Treat Hat Tutorial

Hi again, I hope you are here for my tutorial! I made a Witches Hat with Treats for the Twisted Tuesday challenge and here are the instructions. I took some pictures while making it so I am posting those with measurements and directions.

Easy!

First of all decide how big/high you want your hat. I wanted mine little so I started with a circle of 9 1/2".  This tutorial is using an 8" circle so the hat will be slightly smaller but not much. This 8" circle will make a hat that stands 4" high. (My hat stands 4 and 3/4" high) I suggest filling it with some small candies in a cellophane bag. (like M&M's)

Start with your circle:

Take your circle of whatever paper you are using and cut it in half. The height of your hat is the measurement of half the circle diameter--in this example, as you can see, it is 4".

Fold your paper into a cone.

The bottom edges should look like this picture below. Stick your cone sides together when you have it just right. Use a strong tape, I used double sided sticky tape from Stampin' Up!

Next you will measure the bottom circumference of your hat. As you can see this one is about two inches wide. I will now make a base that is about 1/2" bigger on each side which makes my base measurement a 3" circle.

Next I will cut some strips of paper for my ruffled hat edge and use a scallop punch to give the edge a decoration. I cut my strips 1 and 1/4" wide. You will have to decide how wide to cut yours to make it look right.

After I cut two strips, I accordion folded them and stuck them together to form a circle.

Now I have my cone shape, my folded strips, (I only used about 1 and 1/2 of the strips, make yours as desired) and my base circle.

As you can see below-I hope you can see this okay,  I then put double stick tape around the edges of the base so I can stick down my folded strip. The cone shape is just sitting there and never stuck down. I found that the folded strips hold it in place. I stuck the folded strips down around this cone shape so it would sit right and the strips would be equal around it.

After sticking the folded strip down I decorated the hat and filled it with candy.

Thanks for visiting! If you have any questions just leave a comment and I will get back to you.

I would also love to see your creations if you make this. Please leave a link in your comment.

Happy Halloween!!

 



Twisted Tuesday-Anything But A Card Challenge!

Hi all, it's that time again, a new challenge over at Twisted Tuesday! This time the challenge is Anything But A Card! The TWIST is to have some ORANGE on it.

 

What I have made here is a Witches Hat filled with Treats!

I embellished the hat with some ribbon and stamped images....

Then filled it with candy!

So, what do you think? I like the way it turned out. Those are candy eyeballs, they are made out of peanut butter and are pretty yummy!

I hope you join us over at Twisted Tuesday challenges this week! Can't wait to see what you create!

Thanks for visiting, and I would appreciate any comments! Please come again!

I am posting a full tutorial tomorrow, if you want to know more details come back and see!

I am entering this in the following challenges:

Make It Monday#112-Anything Goes

CraftyCatz #155- Halloween

Divas by Design #57-Something Spooky

Lady Anne's challenges-Anything Goes

Tammy's Scrapin Corner #33-Trick or Treat

Challenges 4 Everybody #5-Anything Goes

 

*Just a note-One of the Design Team members on the Make It Monday blog chose my Witches Hat as her favorite! Thank you so much Tracey!
I also won at Crafty Catz challenge #155-Thank you!

You Make Me Smile!

 

Just another simple card that I made for Halloween. I don't know about you but I do not like the really scary images. Fun and sweet is what I like. I do love black cats but cats aren't scary......

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Color Q #159

 

 

and Freshly Made Sketches #57:

 

 

also:

Challenges 4 Anybody #5-Anything Goes 

 Love to Create #37- Trick or Treat or Something Sweet

 

Halloween is getting so close. We never have any kids come to the door anymore--yes, we live out in the country! Our kids are also all grown and don't trick or treat. So, the neighbor kids are grown too. Now everyone just goes to parties. It is probably safer that way. Well, we won't go into that!

 

Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!

 

 

A Card with Flowers

 

I had fun with this one. The flowers are unusual but what do you think? I tried something a little different with them.

 

I think they look better in this picture.

 

I tried to get this done for several challenges but life got in the way. The layout was for Just Add Ink #137, (missed it!) the flowers for Delicious Doodles #5, which I missed the deadline for, and I used my own color combo. Sometimes we just have to try. I still like this card. I especially like the saying, since I am trying really hard to follow it.

 

Thanks for visiting, and as always your comments are really appreciated!

 

Twisted Tuesday Challenge -Farm Living is the Life for Me!

 

I have a sweet card for you today for the Twisted Tuesday Challenge. I have  been wanting to do a card like this for a while now but have never taken the time. I have seen this layering done on other cards and they are just gorgeous. I hope you like it as much as I do ;D

 

 

So here is another shot straight on. (above) 

 

In this shot I've attempted to show the folding and the layering. I stamped each element three times, except the barn which I only did twice, and colored each layer the same. I put them together using dimensionals and stuck them on the card. I used the Stampin'Up! On the Farm set which is now retired. The Country Charm stamp is from a different set, different company. I used designer paper for the grass and clouds. The grass satisfies the "Twist" that we have over at Twisted Tuesday challenge blog: "have some grass on your project." I hope you join in on the fun! I would love to see what you come up with for Farm Living is the Life for me!