Tuesday, December 22, 2009

My Christmas Card Tutorial

  I read in an article about an armed forces chaplain being able to have JOY in the midst of hardship and misery, especially during the Christmas season. It just really stuck to me and  I got to thinking about that and how that is so true when you know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.  When you know Him and are for Him then even when the future or even today looks bleak you know that you are not alone, that Jesus is there for you and eventually you will go to be with Him. This JOY is not always the smile on your face or the bounce in your step because there is more and that is when the Holy Spirit dwells in us.Read Romans 5: 1-5. So with my Christmas cards I wanted to send the message of that JOY to everyone I know -
This is what I did -  *note - it is hard for me to NOT to evolve my designs, so you will notice throughout that there will be different colors used for the same element and different placement
I made each element of the card first so that I could do an assembly line construction to make it somewhat easier.
With white card stock paper using sentiments from Close to My Heart (CTMH) stamps "Peace On Earth" and the CTMH Tulip stamp pad stamp out the "Christmas" one each for card making ....
....then cut each word out..... and with the Christmas word gently slide the edges along the stamp pad to add color to the edge.  This will make the "Christmas"  *pop* from the card.
 

For my design I wanted to put the letters of  JOY in a banner  - so I used CTMH stamp set "Evergreen" which happens to be triangle Christmas trees  and using the snowflake tree I stamped out rows and rows of now pennant using CTMH Creme Brulee and Tulip on a shimmering gold card stock paper.
NEED 3 TRIANGLES FOR EACH CARD


 
Then using the Fisker paper cutter, cut strips - lining up so that the cut is at the tips of the triangles.


With the Creative Memories paper trimmer it makes it easier to slice out each triangle


Because I was making so many cards,  I stamped on the triangles that were left after cutting  the stamped triangles.
For the letters of  J-O-Y
I used CTMH  "Delightful Alphabet" stamp set - using Tulip on the Creme Brulee pennants and black on Tulip pennants


Stamp the J  and O and Y on each pennant times the number of cards making


I sorted them into little cups to keep them organized...


Using The Crop-o-Dial and the smallest eyelet hole making -
punch a hole in each point at the shortest end of the triangle
I punched several at a time.


Then recruit your spouse and child to cut 8 1/2 " x 10" white or other colored card stock, in this case - pink and red were used too -  in half -horizontal
 
Using the same recruits have them cut out  4 1/2" x  5" rectangles from patterned Christmas paper - used here are CTMH  "Jingle" paper- which is printed on both sides which gives it more use.
While the recruits are busy with their jobs -
using a strand of thin red or yellow ribbon and a large eyed needle threads some J-O-Y  lettered pennants - start with the Y and so forth - repeat for as many as cards you are doing.

After stringing up some JOY - cut a section of ribbon that would fit on the card- this is where personal preference happens - the banner can be laid as pictured with the pennants close together and the ribbon all the way across and the ends of the ribbon will be tucked behind the patterned paper when it is adhered to the card. Other suggestions could be - the banner placed with a curve with ribbon ends tucked,
the banner at a curve or straight but the ribbons cut short at an angle and stay on the front of card,
or the ribbon ends could have a button to cover them....
After adhering the JOY banner place the "Christmas" word element either above or below the banner.
Adhere the embellished patterned paper to the card front so that it is a top fold.
I used a green stamp pad to stamp the inside sentiment:
"THE VERY WORD BRINGS JOY TO OUR HEARTS"
Then use glitter glue and highlight or add dots, squiggles or lines to the front of the cards.


The back two cards are made using the same printed paper just different sides - as well as the front set.










This is a small sampling of how different my cards became.










This is a 45 Card Standing Ovation

That was it. I do hope you have enjoyed it.  I would love to see the cards you made or even ones you have received - leave me a link in the comment box and I will check them out! Merry Christmas!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Dough Boy

My 3 1/2 year old son, Garrett decided one day that he wanted to have some play dough  - and I was to make it for him - right then, right now.  Since I had NOTHING else to do I went a searched for a recipe.  My friend, Jennifer had made both boys some Kool-Aid Dough a looooong while ago and I liked how it stayed soft and wasn't slimy and was easy to clean up as far a play dough is concerned.
Here is the recipe I had in my stash -
Kool-Aid Dough
1 C flour
1/4 C salt
2 T cream of tartar
1 pkg unsweetened kool-aid
1 C water
1 T vegetable oil
Put all ingredients in medium sauce pan  - over  medium-high heat
and constantly stirring until it starts to form a ball.
Take out of pan onto counter top - CAUTION IT WILL BE HOT
let cool to touch (it can be warm) and then knead until smooth
Then give to kids and have fun!
**********************************************
I doubled my recipe and used every grain of salt from every salt shaker in the house.  I didn't even have cream of tartar so I used Wilton's Meringue Powder for cake decorating and it turned out fine. I used Cherry Kool-Aid for the dough - at first it was REAL pink and I was thinking "pink for boys?!?" But the more I kneaded it the more it became darker in color.
I really like this dough because I know what it is made from and
I know that it is non-toxic if my kids ever decide to eat it.
My sons like to use my cookie cutters and a plastic knife along with these creature body parts.

This is one of Garrett's creations

A creation made from both boys - Daniel and Garrett

I'm sure I will be making more Kool-Aid Dough in the future -
I will need to stock up on salt and cream of tartar......
What color will your dough be?

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Mama's Holiday Wish List Giveaway

TodaysMama and Provo Craft are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you.

1. What 5 items are on your holiday wish list this year? 

     1. an opal piece of jewelry
     2. embroidery design set for my sewing machine
     3. new dish set 
     4. knee high boots from Land's End
     5. Dooney & Burke Bag
2. What is your favorite handmade gift you have received?

     my sister did a little ladybug needlepoint in a cute silver frame
3. What handmade gift have you always wanted to tackle? 

     I really need to finish my nativity scene that is made from ceramic and my son saw a nativity set at a thrift store for 50 cents and only the camel was painted and he really wanted it and so I bought it and I am going to let them paint it.
4. What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child?

       My first jewelry box and a fishing pole
5. What items are on your kid’s wish list this year? 

     Lightening McQueen power wheels, RC helicopter, Bionicle, cross necklace, Tinkerbell movie

6. What is your favorite holiday food? 
    My favorite holiday food is pumpkin pie with a small amount of whipped topping.
7. What will you be hand-crafting for the holidays? 

    I have been saving t-shirts of my kids for a long while to make them a t-shirt blanket/throw and I always try to make a new ornament for each of the kids
8. What is your favorite holiday movie? 

     Charlies Brown's Christmas
9. Favorite holiday song? 

    My favorite Christmas song is "Little Drummer Boy" and my favorite version is by Jars of Clay
10. Favorite holiday pastime?

     My favorite holiday pastime is being able to have quiet down time during all the hussle and bustle. 
What would your answers be? 

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

A MONSTER of A Give Away

A Monster of a give away is being held at this blog Just me My Soilder and our 2 little chicks!  This blog along with these others are hosting a giveaway from The Original Scrapbox.  Go to the blogs and follow the directions to win this EZ View Craft Desk! Do it soon so you don't miss out! What color will you choose?


And check out the The Workbox while you are out and about.
Another place to enter -