Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas



1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.
 4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
 13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
 14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
   and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
 15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
 21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.


Happy Birthday, Jesus.

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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

First Christmas Mini Album

Now that I know my daughter and son-in-law have already opened the Christmas presents I mailed to them, I can show you this mini album I made for them.  They just got married in May and I thought it would be fun for them to have a place to archive a few special memories of their first Christmas.




I've never made a mini album before, and I'm not much of a scrapbooker, but I had been seeing these made with the Top Note Die several places on the internet and thought they were so cute.  They are so easy, and I'm afraid I might be developing a growing addiction to them!






I simply used some recycled 4" X 5" pieces of lightweight cardboard (think cereal boxes) covered with the same size pieces of assorted papers and ran them through the Big Shot with the Top Note Die.  Then I just added some places for photos or journaling and a few pockets and tags.  I punched a hole in the upper corner with my Crop-A-Dile for the book ring and added some colorful pieces of ribbon.  So easy!

I made another one for my Mom but forgot to take pictures of it before I mailed it.  Hers is a "Christmas Memories" theme with pictures of my brother and I as we were growing up at Christmas time.

I feel empowered now to make mini albums!  lol 
Next up, I'm going to try paper bag albums and envelope albums, as I have a bunch of 6 X 9 envelopes left over from my daughter's wedding invitations.  Yeehaw!


Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

How can I be out of gift tags???? (What's on your workdesk Wednesday 132)

I'm a paper crafter, for cryin' out loud!  I should NEVER be out of tags.  But as I was wrapping presents, I realized I was pretty much out.  Paper scraps to the rescue!!!




Good grief, what a mess!  My punches are lined up like little soldiers ready for duty!



Just simple tags with a blank surface for writing in your to and from.  A hole punched allows the giver to tie on the tag, or simply tape them on the package.

Whew!  Glad we averted the tag crisis!  LOL!!


Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!

Stocking Tags Are Hung, But Not By The Chimney!

Well, let me just start by saying that gold six-strand embroidery floss, while beautiful, is not nearly as cooperative as ribbon or cord!  All six of those strands have a mind of their own!  ;)

I got all of my tags punched and hung on our stockings, which I have hanging from the iron handrail so that they are seen immediately in the foyer when you come in the front door.  I simply used three foot strands of two kinds of ribbon to hang them.  I nearly gave myself a concussion in the process this past weekend, but hey, it's the price we pay for decorating our homes for Christmas!



We do have a fireplace, but there is no mantel, and there is a raised arch thing on it, making it difficult to hang almost anything.  I decided to just leave my metal star hanging there and call it good.  Hopefully Santa will find these stockings without a problem!

Here's a collage of each stocking and one close up to show that pesky embroidery thread!  By the way, Skyler is my 15 month old grandson that I haven't met yet who will be here for Christmas!  He and his Mommy and Daddy will be flying over from Japan next week!  (I just realized my husband's stocking shows up twice in this collage.  I guess that's because he's extra special!)







Now I'm off to wrap presents!  Happy Hump Day everybody!

Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Stocking Tags and Snowmen

It's no wonder I love these two images!



After all, look at how my china hutch is decorated!  My little snowman collection, with a few Santas thrown in for good measure!






I decided to make stocking name tags.  I plan to punch a small hole and hang them with gold or silver embroidery thread from each stocking.  I covered the focal images with Versa Mark and embossed with Iridescent Ice EP.  That's fast becoming one of my favorite quick wow techniques!

We are so excited about our son, daughter-in-law and grandson coming for Christmas!




Thanks for looking at my blog. I appreciate all the wonderful comments everyone leaves. Happy Stamping!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

The Paper Players #74 Snow Buddy

I had so much fun with this card sketch from The Paper Players.  The glitter was a-flyin'!!  Here's the sketch:



Nice and easy layout that you can really sink your teeth into!  Here's my interpretation with one of my favorite stamp sets.




Love this little round guy.  After watercoloring the focal image, I covered the entire thing with Versa Mark and Iridescent Ice embossing powder.  I think he looks like he's in his own personal snow globe!




I outlined the Not Quite Navy rectangular panel with Dazzling Details.  Love that stuff!  I must order more!  I also used the Versa Mark/Iridescent Ice trick to make my own shimmery snowflakes since I didn't have any glimmer paper.  I used a really old SU snowflake stamp that wasn't very cooperative last night.  My husband thought I was beating up on something in my craft room!  In a way, I guess I was, but now I have a cute pile of sparkly snowflakes to use on cards.  Yea!






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