Be Present for Christmas - Lesson 2 - Climbing Up

One of the activities suggested for this lesson was Christmas cards.

That was right up my alley.  These cards feature a vellum layer which has a large greeting which I found on a free vector image site.  I modified it to my needs.  I added a earth to the bottom edge of the vellum. It is a map of North America which I found at Brian Jones Design.  As you can see I`m just using the very top of the image.  I added my own Bethlehem star in the top right hand corner. This design was printed on a quarter sheet of vellum in a light grey color which was them embossed with silver powder. It was then trimmed to 3.75x5 inches.

The snowflake designer paper by Recollections - Michaels was cut to leave a small border and adhered to a royal blue textured card.  The vellum is adhered with 2 tiny pewter brads in the bottom corners and a large dove brad over the word Peace.

This card features a gold embossed vellum layer with vintage gold tiny brads and the same white dove brad.  I chose a warm brown card.

The designer paper is American Crafts - Kringle & Co. - Lighting Department.  This is the back side.

I'm selecting my lessons from The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp.  The book provides 24 lessons for each day of Advent of which I have chosen 6 for this class.  We will have readings, questions, discussion, and an activity each week.

The lesson this week features Jacob and a dream he had of climbing a very long ladder trying to get to heaven.  People keep trying to do enough good, climb enough steps, haul up enough rungs to finally pull their whole weary selves all the long, impossible way up to heaven. But the thing is, we live in a fallen world and we have a tendency to fall of imaginary ladders. We don`t have to strive up ladders because Jesus came down to us. What if every time you looked at a Christmas tree you saw a bit of a ladder?

Mosaic Monday #12

This was snack for today.  The last of the apples from Mom's trees and a couple of chocolate cookies.  Served on a white IKEA ARV salad plate.

The tea cup is by English Bone Chia by Ridgeway Potteries - pattern is Royal Vale.

The tea is Earl Grey Bold with a bit of honey and cream.

Driving on Saturday was unsure because of a heavy snowfall on Friday, the second in a week.  This brings winter early in our corner of the world. I decided to brave the roads because we need to just do it.  My sister and I attended this craft sale on Saturday.

There was fused glass artist, quite a few sewing projects featuring very similar items, baking is always a hit, a few up-cyclers, several vendors selling home wood decor with sayings, quite a few jewelery vendors and metal home decor.  I did stop at the hand dyed wool vendor and the chocolate booth.

This was a great read.  Alma & Nathaniel, Irina & Seth and Ichimei the mysterious gardener.  My aunt lent me the book which I would highly recommend. 

Sharing with Maggie at Normandy Life who hosts Mosaic Monday.

Refurbishing Store Bought Cards - Christmas

This a sample of the store bought Christmas cards in my stash accumulated over many years.  I am working to refurbishing these into useful cards.  I find store bought cards a challenge because they are generally larger than the A2 invitation size I normally make, so the images are sometimes too large.  At times, I can trim them to fit on the smaller card bases.  The smaller cards work at lot better like the We Wish You a Merry Christmas.  See the sample below.

Here's a few cards I made from the stash above. 
The tree was trimmed very close and mounted onto red card base. 
The Joy was a small card which I trimmed then mounted onto a white layer then onto a matching blue card base.
The star had wonderful color so I chose a deep red burgundy card base to which I adhered the trimmed store bough card.  Then I added the greeting made from gold Stampin Up Decorative Label punch, a green label and the greeting is a SU Word Window punchie.
The We Wish You card as a small one trimmed then adhered to a kraft layer to which I added a black hand drawn border to repeat the black in the store bought card.  It was adhered to a warm red card base.
The Peace earth was a small card, trimmed to the right proportions then adhered to a deep red card stock then adhered to a matching blue card base.
The winter street scene was trimmed a lot to get it to the right size the adhered to a mint green card base.  I added 3 white tiny star brads in the center of the glitter snowflakes in the top of the Thomas Kincade image.
The triangle tree with words was a small card, trimmed and layered to a gold spattered brown layer which was then layered onto a bright green card base.

Check your place for old Christmas cards and see how you might re-use pieces to make your Christmas cards this year.  A green idea which re-uses and saves paper and ultimately trees.

How To: Refurbishing Handmade Christmas Cards

I`ve had someone ask for more details about how I refurbish old handmade Christmas cards.  Some of us save the really nice Christmas cards we receive.  It's hard to throw them out. So you may have all the cards you need by working with a bit of paper crafting mojo.

There are several scenarios so let me go through them.  You will need to provide new card envelopes so that is why I generally refurbish to the standard A2 Invitation size envelopes.

Christmas Cards - Peace On Earth

I added some cards to my Christmas box this week. 
I created this Peace on Earth graphic from several elements.  The large greeting I found on a free vector image site.  I modified it to my needs.  I added a earth to the bottom edge of the vellum. It is a map of North America which I found at Brian Jones Design.  As you can see I`m just using the very top of the image. 
This design was printed on a quarter sheet of vellum in a light grey color which was them embossed with silver powder. It was then trimmed to 3.75x5.00 inches.  
I chose a designer paper with a forest theme with pine trees which was cut to 4.00x5.25 inches.  I picked a pea green textured card.  The designer was adhered to the card front then the vellum was aligned and 2 tiny brads were placed in the bottom corners. 
Then the dove brad was placed above the word of Peace. 

I now have 103 Christmas cards.

Share Your Cup #219 - This Week

This was breaky before I headed off to teach my Be Present for Christmas class.  The dinnerware is all by Johnson Brothers. The mug - JB Cotswold in brown.  I paired it with a brown fluted plate by JB - Watermill pattern on a JB - Regency White fluted plate. The tea is Jade Citrus Mint which is one of the few teas I can drink with no cream or sugar.  A couple chocolate bran muffins and an apple.

Sunrise this morning filled the sky with pinks, purples and blues.  There is just a hint of what is to come coming over the evergreens.


I found this really nice bottle by Avon at the thrift shop this week.  The scent from the lid leads me to believe it may have been perfume. I have not found the exact bottle in my google search.  I loved the ridges on the body of the jar and the fluted shiny silver lid.  The price was right so it came home with me.

Dill is one of my favorite herbs so when they had some bunches of fresh at the grocery store on my trip last week I brought a couple home.  I lined my cookie sheet with parchment paper as they recommend the herb not touch metal.  I turned my oven to the lowest setting and then checked it every 30 minutes.  It took over an hour for each bundle. As you can see, it did not generate much in my dill container.  I`m not sure it was economical to do it, but live and learn.   It may have been better to use the second method which was to place the herb in a brown paper bag with slits to keep the dust off and provide air circulation.  It would likely have taken several weeks to get the same result.



This flower came across my path this week and it really has gorgeous colors.  I may need to use a larger vase for the size of it.  I loved it so I brought it home. 

Sharing with Jan at Daily Cup with Mrs Olson who hosts Share Your Cup #219.

Cuppa Tea Tuesday - Brunch Sandwich

This is the start of brunch this morning.  I set the table with my navy blue table cloth, a white Battenburg place mat, and the large Blue Carnation plate made in Japan.


I made a tomato and cheese open face sandwich on whole wheat toast.  I used fresh garden tomatoes and sharp cheddar cheese. I topped it with a bit of steak spice, salt and pepper.  It was placed on the salad plate from the Johnson Brothers White Regency which was centered onto the Blue Carnation dinner plate.  The sandwich was terrific.

I made a pot of Masala Chai tea and served it in the Johnson Brothers White Regency teacup and saucer.  I added some honey and cream to make it the way I like it.



The teapot is my Cobalt Blue Ikea 365+. I love this tea pot because it pours well and the lid stays in place.

Here's the full photo.  Brunch was very good.  I repeated the use of the Regency White to tie this tablescape together.

Sharing with Cuppa Tea Tuesday hosted by Ruth at Antiques and Tea Cups.

Mosaic Monday #11

This is what Thanksgiving Sunday looked like at my parent's house.  There was at least 4" of the white stuff when I brushed off the vehicles Sunday AM and it was still coming down.  I had to brush my car off again before I left. Driving home was decent all things considered because it did not go below zero so things did not freeze, otherwise it would have not been pretty. I hope that it goes which will the ground a good moisture layer before winter actually comes.  Really puts a wrench into crop picking activities and may just mean no more combining for some farmers.




I picked this rose late last week as just a bud.  With water it has blossomed into it's full glory of deep pink.  We did receive snow here in the city so all plants are going to be done for.  I see it's below zero this morning so that is enough to kill most plants.  Hopefully, there will be reprieve to rake leaves, clear flower beds and generally prepare for winter.  The white stuff this soon is a pretty rude awakening.

I thought I would show my Chocolate Bran Muffins in their pretty Morning Glory Silicone Muffin liners from Steeped Tea.  The black ones in the top right are from Pampered Chef.  Using muffin liners saves paper and ultimately trees.  My regular followers know that I make a batch of these every week and they have been features on posts. 

My sisters have been generous in sharing garden tomatoes.  I received another bunch this week.  Yummy tomato and cheese sandwiches.

This wonderful vase of dried hydrangeas are at my aunt's house.  I was over for a visit on Friday, which when the snow started.  I found the vase in a vintage rose color worked so well with the pink hydrangeas.  Add a vintage ivory crocheted doily and it was a nice photo.  It was a quick put together and it was late so the natural light was missing. 


Sharing with Maggie at Normandy Life who hosts Mosaic Monday.

Happy Thanksgiving

We here in Canada are celebrating Thanksgiving today.  I will be spending time with Mom & Dad and several sisters.  I am grateful that Mom is still here.  She is an amazing lady.  I have a friend whose Mom is quite ill, other friends have already lost their Mom and other friends who are very far away from their Mom. 

I am wishing all visiting a very Happy Thanksgiving!!!

First Snow - October 7 2016

I was out last night and driving home was wet roads with the expectation that the streets would be icy tomorrow.

This is what the vehicles in the parking lot looked like last night!
I can't believe it.

Traveling will not be fun.

Be safe!

Refurbished Cards - Set 2

Another set of refurbished cards for the church fund raiser.

These are such nice cards to it is satisfying to give them a second life.

Some simply needed a new insert, some need a new card base, some needed to be straightened out and all got new inserts and envelopes.

Refurbished Card - Second Life

I have received many wonderful cards from friends, coworkers, family over the years.

These cards are way too nice to throw away.

When I heard that card donations were needed for a church fundraiser

I refurbished 25 of them and am ready to have them have a second life.

Simple Sentiments Box

I made another set of Simple Sentiments.  This time it was a box I am donating for an auction taking place soon.

I included several different greetings as well a no greeting one.  Thanks so Much, Just a Note, Thinking of You, Hello, and no greeting.

The graphics and frames from the The Graphics Fairy.

This set features my photos from my photo calendars.  They have been trimmed from the calendar sheets and adhered to the card front above the greeting/graphic. A great re use idea.

Share Your Cup #218 - This Week

This was breakfast this morning.  I laid out my new navy tablecloth with a Battenburg lace table mat.  I set the navy and white Blue Carnation large plate with the white IKEA ARV salad plate on top. I chose apples, rye bread toast, couple slices of old cheddar cheese and chai tea.
I drank my Himalayan Chai from a IKEA 365+ Cobalt Blue mug.  I drink my chai tea with a bit of honey and cream.





The apples are from Mom's tree as she brought some back with her this week.



I put together likely the last bouquet of the year with a few small yellow crysanthemums and some Celosia ‘Dragon's Breath’ in the background in a lovely small white vase.

I've decided to change the containers I use to store my eggs in the fridge.  I buy eggs in card board containers but they are getting so flimsy and soft that there is a danger of cracking eggs.  I acquired a couple of these clear containers which will keep the eggs more secure. Also, I can see at a quick glance how many I have when checking for a recipe.  A win win for me.

I had this book on my night table for 3 weeks and could not finish it.  I'm sure the author is representing the atmosphere of the talent shows accurately but it was a most frustrating reading experience.  About half way through I read the last few pages to see how it turned out but I was done with the insanity for Zack of competing, being far away from Reese and the unwanted attention from Zoey.

Sharing at Share Your Cup #218 hosted by Jann at Daily Cup with Mrs Olson.

Be Present for Christmas - Lesson 1 - Come

I have provided a journal for the participants. It provides a central place to organize their experience.

Each week, they can include their prayer lists, the lesson plan, their Random Acts of Kindness, their family activities, and other relevant information.

I have cut a Stampin Up Top Note to be adhered to the front or the inside cover to identify the owner of the journal and the class.  Some journals have stripes, some dots and some chevrons.  Red, pink and grey.

I'm selecting my lessons from The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp.  The book provides 24 lessons for each day of Advent of which I have chosen 6 for this class.  We will have readings, questions, discussion, and an activity each week.

The stump brings forth a small new shoot.  We must come as we are, ready to look at the smallest, find the shoot in the stump, find the broken in the cracks of the world and offer a word of love which will bring about miracles. Because in the rush, in the hurry, in our addiction to speed - it might just be a bit like stepping on the shoot that sprouts from the stump. Advent is made of the moments.

This pink one is my book for the class which I will for this year's classes as well.  I am running a Monday evening and Thursday morning class.

I'm teaching a class I've called "Be Present for Christmas" and the first class is tonight.  It is a class to help people slow down, focus on the reason for the season, and prepare their hearts for Christmas.

I am starting with Gratitude.  I've read Ann Voskamp's 1000 Gifts from which I have taken a small excerpt about this very subject.  Living with an attitude of gratitude changes us. 

Mosaic Monday #10

I bought a navy table cloth last week.  That rounds out the colors I think I need.  I have red, white, navy, pink, yellow plaid, and yellow damask.

I love the ribbed texture on this one and it washed like a dream.  No tag so I'm not sure what it is made of and so no idea how stain resistant it will be.  I will enjoy it.













This glass pepper shaker came home with me this week. It was missing it's partner so I got it half price.  It has a stick of Torre & Targus so I assume it has never been used. It is a challenge to photograph so I will have to work on it.

I found this barn board frame for a song at the thrift store.  I will be framing one of my photos in it for my craft sale season.














With the changes that took place on Blogger September 29, 2016 which we had been advised for several weeks, I lost all my blog lists. 

My Favorite Blog List, Card Challenge List, Favorite Places List, Techniques, Digital Sources and others which I don't remember because I was counting on finding here on my blog.  Shame on me for depending on the internet for securing information I would like to access regularly or only occasionally.  The Blogger Forum says they are working on it.  They may return or not.  Sad for me.  Live and learn.

Our city finally has a full ring road that allows travellers to bypass the center of the city and carry on east, west, south or north. It opened Saturday and I used it yesterday.  It is wonderful!!!!












Submitting to Mosaic Monday hosted by Maggie at Normandy Life.