Be Present for Christmas - Lesson 4 - A Bridge to the King

We prepared Blessings Bags for the homeless as our activity in today's class.  I handed out large ziplock bags and a list last week and the girls returned with their purchases to fill them at the end of our class.

You can find the list I put together for this class on my Freebies page.  You will find the Blessings Bag note there as well. Feel free to use in your project.
http://smdgreetings.blogspot.ca/p/freebies.html


I chose gloves, tuque, soap and a washcloth in a separate baggie, candy, hot chocolate, a pencil and notebook, shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste.

We included a note to the recipient in each of our bags.

We put together 8 bags which were handed over to our Street Ministry team at church to be handed out to those in need.


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.

This week's lesson is from Esther.  She was a Jew but lived in the palace with the king.  Her uncle challenges her. "Don't think for a moment that because you are in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed."  We are the ones living inside the gate.  If not us then who will help.  You've got to use the life you have been given to give others life.

Mosaic Monday - Home Made Pasta Sauce

I have been given quite a few tomatoes and needed to make them into something before they spoiled.  I decided to make some home made tomato pasta sauce.

I cut the tomatoes into small pieces.  I cut out the bad spots on those which had some.  I placed them into the food processor. 

I poured them into a large measuring cup until I had processed them all. I had to do this several times to get enough for a good amount of sauce.  I put it in the microwave to reduce the liquid into a more sauce consistency.

Once it was thicker, I added seasonings like dry onion flakes, steak spices, garlic powder and salt and pepper. 

I added a can of mushrooms to add some texture and flavor.  Back into the microwave to heat all the ingredients.

I served it on whole wheat pasta with a bit of old cheddar grated on top. 
I pulled out the sunflower fabric as a background for this photo. I added my yellow sunflower vase and used my yellow mug with chai tea.

Sharing with Maggie at Normandy Life as she hosts Mosaic Monday 14.

Tea for One - Going Away Gift

I'm saying till later to a good friend this week as she moves back east for a new job.

I created a tea related gift for her.  This is a placemat made from pansy fabric on one side and a purple one (her favorite color) on the back, though it is completely reversible.  I sewed the green twill tape to the front piece then sewed the 2 pieces together.  I turned it inside out and and "quilted" it along the edges and the trim.



I included a purple napkin which matches the back side of the placemat.  It is a good match to the purple in the pansy fabric which is why I selected it.



 
I did say Tea for One.

This tea set is by MAXWELL & WILLIAMS Basic White Porcelain Tea-for-One Set.  It includes a tea pot, tea cup and saucer.  I love the simple design of this combination.  It works well with the pansy fabric.







I included a box of her favorite Jasmine Green Tea.



I will miss our brainstorming sessions about crafts, small business challenges and life always with a cup of tea.

Here's the card I made.  It features a piece of watercolor paper which measures 4x6 inches. I added a piece of silver paper cut with the Stampin Up Large Scallop edgelit.  I wrapped several lengths of ribbon across the top and added 3 silk flowers held with a flower sequin and a blue brad.  I added a bird punched with the SU Bird punch. He is sitting on a turquoise branch.  This was layered onto a large half sheet card with a turquoise sentiment layer and onto a purple card base.

I will be sharing with the following:

Tuesday Cuppa Tea hosted by Ruth at Antiques and Tea Cups
Bernideen's Friends Sharing Tea
Share Your Cup #221 hosted by Jan at Daily Cup with Mrs Olson

Countdown Calendar - Christmas & Birthday

I am working on items for my sale in just over a week.

This is a countdown calendar for Christmas.  It's super easy to use because you mark the number of days to Christmas with the dry erase marker. Next day just erase with the other end of marker and update the number.

It helps keep the kids excited without the sugar high of candy.

The frame accommodated another on the back side so I made one for birthdays as well so it can be used all year long.  It can be used for boys or girls.


I have a couple more to make of these.

The Christmas DSP is Holiday Thyme with a Cherry Cobbler ornament and a green ribbon.  The band is printed on Very Vanilla.
The Birthday DSP is from Print Poetry with Martha Stewart balloon punchies and I added strings with a black marker.

Here's one with a white frame with a blue dry erase marker.














The Birthday DSP is Sunshine & Sparkles with Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight and Old Olive balloons.
The Christmas DSP is Letters to Santa.

Another white frame.













The Birthday DSP is Moonlight with Baja Breeze, Daffodil Delight and Basic Grey balloons.
The Christmas DSP is Holiday Thyme with an Always Artichoke tree stamped with Hampton Art stamp and die set.

Mosaic Monday - This Week

This is a tablescape for breast cancer awareness month.  I selected a pink silk flower in a glass vase.

The Sadler tea pot and Raspberry Thriller tea in a porcelain white cup from Stokes.
The pink shoelaces from the Race for the Cure.

A special butter tart from my friend Cheryl served up on a clear glass plate with a fluted edge with a white round doily under it.

Mom is done her treatments today and we are celebrating.

This book was a bit slow at the beginning but ended wonderfully.




Sharing with Maggie at Normandy Life who hosts Mosaic Monday.

Be Present for Christmas - Lesson 3 - Candle in the Darkness

The activity suggested this week was to light a candle and pray for those who are hurting. Thank God for being the Light of the world.

I chose a tea light in glass holder for the reminder to be the light in our dark world.  I chose a flameless battery powered candle to avoid any safety issues. The glass tea holder is from IKEA.

I printed a prayer list to glue into our journals.

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. 

This week the reading was from Isaiah saying the people who walk in darkness will see a great light.

Soon it will be time for advent wreaths with candles glowing.  Is yours ready? 

Card Club - October - Masculine Stripes

I started with a double sided designer paper by WeRMemory Keepers - Urban Window Collection - Restoration Silk Taffeta.

I chose a warm grey card base.

I cut the designer paper to 5.25x4.00 inches then again at 3.5 inches cross wise. These pieces are tape back together so I can handle them as a single piece.

I cut some silver sticky tape to 1 inch wide and 6.00 long.  This was placed over the join and the ends were put to the back.
This layer was adhered to the card front in a landscape orientation.

I created a banner greeting in grey and about 3" long. I fussy cut around the banner along the line. I adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Card Club - October - Playing Cards

I had these pretty playing cards which I wanted to use as an accent on a card.

I diecut the cards into a smaller circle with Spellbinder Smooth Round Nestabilities.

I drew a flower in More Mustard and added a stem in Old Olive.  I added a leaf with a gradient fill.  This was printed on white card stock and trimmed to leave a small border.

This layer was added to a warm green card base.

I then adhered the card circle to the center of the flower.

Card Club - October - Green & Blue Stickers

I started with a collection of epoxy daisy stickers in blue and green.

I used the large greeting I've used before which was trimmed to leave a small border.  I chose a warm green color that worked well with the stickers.

I adhered the large greeting to the card front in turquoise.

I then adhered five epoxy stickers above the greeting making sure to keep the colors and glitter ones separated.

Card Club - October - Japanese Paper

It's another card club tonight as well as Be Prepared for Christmas class which means a full evening for me.

I decided to keep the cards on the simple side since we are making them after the Advent class.

This card features a wonderful piece of Japanese paper cut 1.00 x 3.25 inches. 

I added a tree onto the card front which I found at CKLER.  I chose the colors from the paper. Really Rust, Bashful Blue, Sahara Sand, More Mustard and Early Espresso.

I created a rectangle frame in which we can glue our paper.

I've provided greetings in EE for those who want to have one on their cards.  I used the Stampin Up Artisan Label Punch. 

Card Set

I made cards for the family of the friend who passed away this week.  The funeral is today.

I used ivory, kraft and pink card stock on the set of cards as well as the same designer paper from the K&Company Designer Paper pad used on the sympathy cards in the previous post.

The adhesive borders had Tim Holtz Antique Linen applied to color the white background.  This is a DSP split card with the floral on the bottom and polka dots on the top.  I applied the adhesive border over the join.  Deep rose satin ribbon has been used on some of them.  Silk flowers & Prima handmade paper flowers held in place with brads.

Cards are always handy at this difficult time as many people are stepping up to the plate to get things done.  The lunch today required many volunteers to make sandwiches and squares.

Sympathy Cards

A dear friend passed away this week.  She lived a good life and celebrated her 93rd birthday this summer. Her three daughters were with her before she passed.

I made sympathy cards for my friend who lost her mother and my other friend who lost her grandmother.

The designer paper comes from K&Company and the adhesive borders are by the same company.  I did not find name for the collection.  I chose one of the papers and cut it to 5.25x4.00 inches.  I ripped a piece from the top third and adhered the pieces to the top and bottom of the card base.  The adhesive borders matched quite well except that they had white backgrounds. I applied some Tim Holtz Antique Linen distress stain which did just what I needed.  The borders were 12 inches to I cut them to 4" each.  I adhered the border to the left then added a silk flower and handmade paper flower held in place with a deep rose brad. I added a deep rose ribbon behind the flower accent then trimmed the ends.  I color printed greetings on ivory card stock and rubbed the edges with the TH Antique Linen distress stain.  They are adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.
The second card has a lighter handmade flower and a green brad.

Card Fronts Relayered #3

This is another church card.  The frame with the clear centre is one from Photo Elements.  I placed the music sheet with O Little Town of Bethlehem behind it and created a graphic I could use in my layout software.
I added the greeting in red at the top of the card front and a script font.  The leaves for the red flower were added too.
The card front was color printed.
The red silk flower was added to the bottom right hand corner with a gold sequin and a gold tiny brad.
This card front was trimmed and layered onto a red new card base.

This is a card I designed from an advent class several years ago.

I trimmed the card front and layered it onto a new navy blue card base which matched the navy scallop oval in the centre of the card.

Another church card.
I designed the large greeting with fonts.
I added the faded green oval background and printed it on white card stock.
The flower is made of 2 confetti daisies held in place with a white tiny brad.

This card front was trimmed and layered onto a new red card base.  A new insert was added and it's ready to give again.



Not all the cards donated come to me in good shape. Sometimes the card back has been punched with holes because the recipient put it on their bulletin board, so the front is salvaged and re-layered.  Sometime only the card front arrives, again it likely can be re-layered.  Sometimes the card front was not assembled very well, the elements may not be glued on straight, maybe there is glue residue where it should not be, or some other aspect that makes the card front not able to be re-used.  It happens.  I give a second life to as many as I can.

As I reviews cards and kits I have made years ago I am amazed at how many I have done.  Christmas is my favorite time of year and I don't need a big excuse to participate in it at any level.  Cards have been a natural go to for me for a long time. Sending paper cards is in decline.  I'm working on digital Christmas cards.  I made some last year and have to design new ones for this year.

Share Your Cup #220

I was prepping breakfast this morning and as I put the bran muffins and banana on my plate I saw a snowman.  I quickly checked for a carrot nose and his face appeared.  I just had to take it's picture.

It put a smile on your face I hope it does the same for you!

I used to have a really practical Tupperware dispenser for my hair gel.  It was translucent so I could see how much I had left, it had a white pump lid which meant easy to get a dollop of gel.  The lid split and my gel started thickening up in the container which made it harder to get it through the pump.  What to do?  I check with a rep who informed me that piece was not longer available and all I could get was a credit but that was not going to solve my problem. I purchased this pearl shell pump a while back.  It fit into the bathroom decor well enough.  But now the gel is thickening again.  I expect the seal on the lid is just not tight enough and now where near as air tight as the Tupperware one was.  On the hunt again for a dispenser.  This clear flat bottom bottle used to hold some sort of body care product.  I removed its labels, cleaned up the glue with Goo Gone and I will give this one a run for a while.  I like the ability to see what I have left which the clam pump did not give me.

I picked up this book after ordering it two weeks ago. I'm using it for the Be Present for Christmas class I am teaching.  I have borrowed a copy from the library but now I have my very own.  This book was written with a focus on families during the Advent season.

We had a great time at Welcome to my Kitchen this week.  Our host provided a wonderful apple mango crisp, some yogurt, fresh fruit, a bit of cheese and crackers.  Tea and coffee were in good supply.

We had good fellowship.






Sharing with Jann at Daily Cup with Mrs. Olson and Sharing Your Cup.

SU Woodland EF - Chalk

I made these cards with the recently purchased Stampin Up Woodlands embossing folder.  I did my research and felt that this one the best one of those available.

I embossed a piece of white card stock.  I chalked the background with Bashful Blue at the top, Summer Sun in the centre and Always Artichoke and Chocolate Chip towards the bottom.  I added Basic Black along the trees.

I cut the birds with the Memory Box Resting Birds and a scrap of red card stock.  It cut 5 at time and I used 3 of them. They were adhered to the birch tree layer with quick dry adhesive. This layer was then adhered to a light blue card base.
I then found a greeting in my stash which was stamped with SU Small Script stamp set in Chocolate Chip.  It was punched with the SU Modern Label punch and I offset a black punchie behind it before I mounted it to the card with 3D foam tape.

On the bottom card I added a sympathy greeting which was color printed.

These are off to my card exchange friends.

Card Fronts Relayered #2

This is another of my church card designs. The card front was trimmed and relayered.

The Bethlehem is my own design.  It was printed in navy on a white card.

The star was printed on vellum and silver embossed.  The piece was then wrapped onto the white layer top and bottom and taped to the back. It is not very visible here but just check the hill on the left hand side and you will see the change in shade on the left.

This layer was then adhered to a new navy card base.

This one was designed for a church in one of the Northern Territories.  This was a digital project so I delivered it by email and the managed the production of the actual cards.

I used one of my own watercolor backgrounds to create a sense of the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights).

I added my own Bethlehem Star digital.

I drew the Inukshuk and placed it on a snow bank.

Added the greeting.

Here I have trimmed the original card front to leave a small border.  I adhered it to a new warm blue card base.  I put a silver star brad in the centre of the star.  Looks great!!

Sometimes the card front are the only pieces returned to me which respects the privacy of the recipient and sender.

This design was one that was not selected.

I've trimmed the card front and layered it onto a new red card base.

This card was another church designs.

It features one of my watercolor backgrounds.  It was cropped to a square then I applied a gradient fill over it to go from transparent on the left to opaque on the right.  It creates this great fade to the color.

I added a digital olive branch in just the right spot so when I added the dove. It was printed on white card stock.

Over this I adhered a die cut white dove cut with the Sizzix Dove die ensuring that the bird is aligned with the olive branch.

This card was designed with one of my own photographs.  I was fortunate that a work colleague own many nativities and lent me several to photograph.  It was my early day so setting up still life to photograph. 

The photo was cropped and an olive green fade was added to the edges.
It was then layered onto a green swirl digital background.  It was printed on white card stock.

I trimmed the card front and layered it onto a deep red card to coordinate with the red in their garments.

This is helping to reduce my stash of cards I could not throw out.  A second life for these to be a blessing another time around.

Card Fronts Relayered

I have designed and made Christmas cards for churches for many years.  They were always simple designs to make them affordable.

These are my designs where the card front was trimmed and then layered onto a new card base.

This one is a background I designed using scripture as the words in a script font.
The word Rejoice was added over the script background in navy blue.

I then cut a star using the Sizzix Star #2 die which is a large single star. It almost does not fit on the card front so I just offset it.  The yellow card stock was spattered with gold acrylic paint and allowed to dry then it was die cut.

This layer was then adhered to the navy card to match with the greeting on the front.

This card featured angel clipart.

This is a heralding angel with her trumpet and it printed in a dark grey color. 

The greeting was printed in red.

A piece of decorative paper which repeats the colors of black, grey and red was adhered to the left of the angel.

The card front was trimmed and adhered to a black card.  Works really well.


Left: The same card done with the angel in green with red, green and gold decorative paper.  The front was layered onto a kelly green card.

 

This design featured heralding angels again.

This time it is a symbol available from the DF Calligraphic Ornaments font set.  It was sized to fit on a 1 3/8 inch circle, printed on white card stock and punched with the Stampin Up circle punch.  It was layered onto a SU scallop circle punchie in a coordinating color of card stock.

The greeting was created with a decorative script font in the same color as the angel.

The card front was trimmed and layered onto a new coordinating purple card base.

This card features a vintage Christmas card image with folks headed into church Christmas Eve.

I cropped the image into an oval format and added a shadow.

It was printed onto white card stock.

I added a double snowflake element in the top right hand corner.  The white card stock snowflake is a Martha Stewart punch and the iridescent one is a fiber one sold as confetti.  These were placed on the border and held in place with a white tiny brad.

This card front was trimmed layered onto a new card base in a warm green color.

I've had a successful day getting cards ready for my card box and the box for craft sales.

My box now has 125 cards in it!!