Ain't She Crafty

Make a Change Monday - don't be afraid to ask for what you want

As pretty much every much crafter knows, CHA is being held this weekend. It is an amazing opportunity to get together and share ideas, products and inspiration with others in the industry and I LOVE coming here. However - I came to a realization about myself this weekend that I think applies to a lot of women. I am afraid to ask for what I want.

While I could probably write 700 blog posts about how this affects my personal life, this weekend I discovered how much it affects my professional life. Part of my job at Xyron is to build partnerships with other manufacturing companies - whether it is cross promoting through videos, supplying product for HSN, coordinating make and takes, or making sure our design team has the latest and greatest, I work with other companies to make it happen. I LOVE this part of my work - and have made some amazing friendships because of it. As I have been thinking about you guys this weekend - my followers on this blog and my FB page friends - I wanted to make sure I came home with some fun new products to use as giveaways. Before I came to work at Xyron I remember what it was like to see all the photos of CHA and wish I could be there, and I wanted to bring a little of that home for you. HOWEVER - yesterday as I was walking the show floor I realized I was AFRAID to ask anyone for anything. Now you are talking to a woman who works for a company that has given away THOUSANDS of dollars worth of adhesive to other companies for this show, yet I would walk up to a booth where we donated runners and Xs and refills and I couldn't seem to say "Hey - I'd love to take a pack of your new rubons home with me for a giveaway". Couldn't do it. I also could not walk up to Theresa Collins (who is working on an AMAZING partnership with Xyron and who I ACTUALLY know) and say "could I get a photo of us together?" - it just wasn't me. Until last night.

On the shuttle back to the hotel I was having a conversation with Jenn Mason from Cloth Paper Scissors and some of my Xyron peeps, and a woman sitting in front of us suddenly turned around and said "Can I have your card?" and started telling us her story.  Turns out her products are a perfect match for a partnership with Xyron so we are going to stop by her booth tomorrow, but I was SO impressed with this cool chick (whose name I didn't catch) who saw a chance to interact with some established companies, and was proud/motivated/confident enough in herself and her product that she jumped in with both feet. First time exhibitor, new business woman, she knew what she wanted and asked for it. Can I have your card? Will you come by our booth? She inspired me to just take a deep breath and ask - and today was a whole different story. So I am coming home with a bag full of goodies, some new partnership ideas, and the kick in the pants I needed to not be afraid to ask for what I want. Yay me - and lucky you! Stay tuned this week and next for some AMAZING giveaway goodies!

Easy Cricut Gift Tags

aka - what to do when you are leaving for your nephew's birthday party in 20 minutes and realize you don't have a card!

Supplies:
Cricut Create-A-Critter Cartridge (and Cricut)
Xyron 5" Creative Station (also known as 510)
Xyron 1.5" Create A Sticker (also known as 150 or X)
WRMK Crop-a-dile
assorted scraps of cardstock (don't forget black for the features)

Determine which animals you are going to create and gather your supplies and coordinating paper (I literally used scraps I had laying around on my craft table).

 Cut each piece on the Cricut.

Run all of the larger pieces through the 510, set aside any smaller pieces. Remember that the adhesive goes on the BOTTOM of whatever item you put in through the machine, so be sure all of your pieces are facing up.

Use your scrap of black cardstock and cut out enough to cover the features (eyes, nose, etc) for each animal.  This piece will be hidden in between layers so it does not have to look pretty.

Run the black pieces and any small animal pieces through the X (right side facing up).

Start layering your pieces!

Once your animals are complete, flip them over to write a birthday message...

Use your Crop-A-Dile to punch a hole in the top...

and attach to your package!

Sparkly Snowflakes - Kids' Crafts Saturday

No...today isn't Saturday, but we made these on a Saturday - does that count?  :)

Actually - I call it Kids' Crafts Saturday because Don and I volunteer at the Fascinate-U Children's Museum in Fayetteville, NC on the second Saturday of every month (sponsored by Xyron - yay!).

We create fast and easy craft projects and have a BLAST doing it! I'm going to start sharing these projects here with you - maybe on Saturdays, maybe on other days, but I hope you'll be inspired to make these with some of your favorite little ones!

Supplies:
foam shapes (we got boxes of these snowflakes for a RIDICULOUSLY low price because all the stores were clearancing out holiday stuff)
markers
Xyron 5" Creative Station (also known as the 510)
glitter
tupperware container
scrap paper

Set out your scrap paper, markers and foam shapes on your craft space. (Tip - if your foam shapes have punch-outs in the middle, do NOT punch them out until after the glitter process. Trust me.)

Let the kids color on the foam shapes to their little hearts' content! (Another tip - if they color it TOO much the adhesive won't stick as well because the foam will be saturated.  We had more than 50 kids come through and it was really only an issue for about 4 of them - we solved that by just putting glitter on the non-colored side.)

 

Run your foam shape through your 510 (of COURSE I don't have a photo of this part!) with the colored side facing down. The 510 is easy enough to use that kids can help crank the handle! Peel off the top film, then peel the foam shape from the backing and place adhesive side down in your tupperware container filled with glitter.  You need enough glitter in the tupperware to make sure the bottom of the container is completely covered.

Help the kids move the foam shape around in the tupperware to cover the foam shape with glitter.  The beauty of Xyron is that if you pick it up and realize that you missed a spot - you can just stick it back down in the glitter!

And voila!  Sparkly snowflakes!  You can keep the foam shape intact,  or punch out the center for a cool shape.

Oh...and uhh...I held a snake.  :)  This has absolutely nothing to do with crafts - but it sure was awesome!

Happy Crafting Everybody!

Make a Change Monday - new and improved blog coming soon!

When I wrote my first MAC Monday post last week, one of the things on my list was to improve/overhaul/focus on my blog.  With the exception of my cilantro "issue", bettering your blog was the number one thing folks commented on - on the blog, on my FB page, in emails, and in person. A few people asked me how I was planning to do it - so I'm going to share with you the good, the bad and the ugly of how I got here.  I hope along the way I will inspire a few of you to create your own blog, encourage those of you who have wanted to take the plunge and really make a go of blogging, and most of all help ALL of you to avoid the time and energy draining issues I've had.

*Note to all - if you are looking for a technical "how to create your own blog for profit"...this isn't for you.  This is more of a "blogging encouragement for beginners and/or computerly challenged folks who just want to try it to see if they like it".*

1. If you are a computer/technology idiot - admit it. I am. I know this about myself. I don't totally understand my smartphone, I know there are a MILLION things my computer can do that I haven't bothered to try, I just print out my photos as they are instead of spending time editing them with fanciness, I am just an idiot.  Or just don't care as much as I should.  Or something.  If you are like me but are interested in starting a blog, DO NOT believe your friends who tell you "you can totally create a blog yourself - it isn't that hard".  They are only about half right. It isn't that hard to create a blog...but it is hard to create a blog that doesn't look like, well, a blog created by someone who has no clue what they are doing. That being said...

2. Try it anyway.  There are many, many, many free blog sites in the universe - blogger, typepad (theirs is a "free trial") and wordpress just to name a few. I can't say that one is any better than another - I ended up here because I asked a few friends and they suggested typepad.  It does not hurt a THING for you to sign yourself up for a free blog and mess around with it for a bit and see if you enjoy it/understand it/want to commit to it. Just remember...

3. Don't forget to read the fine print - and don't upgrade right away. There ARE added costs if you want to upgrade to this or add that - so read the fine print before you choose the site.  This is where I made a BIG mistake. I had my blog for a few weeks and wasn't satisfied with how it looked, so I just ASSUMED that upgrading to the next level (and paying) would solve all my problems.  It won't.  Upgrading to the next level does not make you more computer literate, it just gives you more things to have to figure out, so...

4. You might get frustrated. Because I am computerly challenged I spent MANY MANY hours trying to use the "help section" of the site or googling questions like "how do I embed a video" or "why can't I reply to individual comments" or "how do I add a blinkie" to figure out how to make my blog look halfway decent. I got REALLY frustrated, because I created a blog to share my thoughts and creativity - not to become a computer programmer. It almost made me stop blogging - it sure made me blog less because I just felt like a dummy all the time. Don't give up though!  Just... 

5. Keep a list of what you like/don't like/don't understand about the blog. Also keep a list of blogs you come across that you think are beautifully designed or appealed to your style. I've had this blog for over a year (I don't recommend waiting this long - I think you'll be able to tell within a few months of starting your blog), and even though I was frustrated with the "technical" side of the blog I really loved having a place to put my ideas and express myself, so I wasn't ready to give up. I knew I was ready to make a real investment (of either time or money - see #6), so I took a good long look at the list of what I wanted to change on my blog and had to make the decision to...

6. Spend time learning how to be more technologically savvy - or hire someone. This ALL comes down to personal choice (and finances).  There is no right or wrong answer.  If my husband had a blog, his answer would be to teach himself how to be more technologically savvy.  There are literally thousands upon thousands of articles and help centers for people who are do-it-yourselfers who want to create a better blog. He loves to learn and challenge himself and would enjoy the hours spent teaching himself a new skill.  I wish I was more like him.  Instead - I am me. I don't want to learn how to create my own header or how to figure out code - I want to write my blog and I want it to be pretty and I don't want to wait the 500 years it would probably take me to learn how to do it and I'm willing to pay a few hundred bucks to make that happen.  So I decided to hire someone. If you take this route...

7. DO NOT "hire" a teenager from your church or a college student from your neighborhood to do it for you. It isn't going to work (with the VERY rare exception). I tried this tact myself about six months back - posting on my FB page and sending out emails to almost everyone I know asking if anyone "knew anyone" who would do it cheap (or even better - "for the experience").  Yeesh. You'll get what you pay for - and you'll probably wait five years to get it done.  So, since you aren't going to do that, you need to...

8. Do some research. I googled "custom blog designer" and probably spent an entire night looking at websites.  I have to admit - I had a blast!  I loved seeing all of the creativity - and here are a few tips.
-If the designer's page didn't have MANY blog samples available to look at on their site I didn't bother digging any deeper.
-Review your list of sites that you like, but don't go strictly by that list. When I was looking at the blog designers websites I found some new style ideas that I'd never even thought of and never would have found otherwise.
-Find at least two or three designers whose work you like (this is where I made another big mistake), because...

9. This isn't like taking your car in for a tune-up. I found a design site that I really, really loved.  They had an online "tell us what you want from your blog makeover" form that was pretty extensive, and I was taking this very seriously, so I spent a LOT of time answering the questions. They included things like: provide links to five blogs that inspire you and tell us why, attach or link four color schemes that appeal to you, etc. Two days later I got an email from one of their designers. They rejected me.  REJECTED ME*!  Carl's Auto doesn't reject me when I show up wanting my oil changed, my dry cleaner doesn't turn me away at the door, but apparently blog designers do.  So be forewarned.  It was pretty crushing - I started to get a "did they read my blog and think it wasn't worth it?" self-doubting mess in my head, but if someone had told me that being rejected was even a possibility I think it wouldn't have stung as much.  So here I am - telling you.  :)  Don't let it throw you - their loss! If I'd had a list of my top few designer favorites I could have just moved on to the next one - but I sort of had to start over.  Save yourself the time and have a list.

*Don says I should use the phrase "declined my offer" instead of "rejected me".  Blogs are a very personal thing and being "declined" really made me feel like poop - so rejected it is!

Once you HAVE found a designer you like and they have ACCEPTED you...

10. Again - read the fine print and ask questions. The designer I selected (whose info I will pass along to everybody once the new blog is up and running - for now I'll call her Georgia) doesn't work in typepad - only in blogger.  So I had to make the decision whether or not to get a blogger site (thankfully aintshecrafty was availalble over there too). She told me she would transfer my old posts and help me with whatever I needed to make it work. I had a LOT of questions about the possibility of maybe one day getting my own domain name and Georgia was VERY helpful and patient and happy to explain to me how the process would work and what she could do on her end.  If your designer doesn't seem open to your questions or doesn't explain things to your satisfaction then pick someone else because you are going to have to...

11. Tell the truth - even if it hurts. This is where I am now.  Georgia also had a lengthy "what do you want from this blog" process that we went through together, and we were upfront about everything - what I expected from her, what she expected from me, the timeline we were working with, and I was ESPECIALLY upfront with her about my lack of computer skills.  I knew I was going to need a LOT of hand holding and I wanted that to be clear in the beginning so neither one of us got annoyed later on.  Then - when she sent me the first draft of the blog - I had to be honest about the things I didn't like.  We are women.  This can sometimes be VERY hard for us.  Of course I said it in the nicest possible way, but as a creative woman it was PAINFUL for me to tell another creative woman that her creation wasn't what I wanted.  This is going to happen in your process.  A stranger is creating a landscape for you to express yourself.  You can describe yourself in words and colors and photos but this person doesn't KNOW you.  There will be some trial and error - but if you have the right designer for you (like I have - yay Georgia!) then the give and take will be totally worth it.  I've given her my suggestions, she is creating a new draft, and I should have it in the next few days.

Hopefully you all will see the results of this journey within the next week or so - until then, if this has demystified the blogging world for even one person then I will be one happy camper. I'd love to hear your blogging stories (successes and...uh...challenges) - and if you've started a blog I'd love to check it out!  Please share! Happy blogging my friends!

New Year - New Xyron videos!

I LOOVVVEEEE making videos for Xyron (especially when I get to hang out with Jessica Barnett) and I LOOVVVEEEE Maya Road - so imagine how excited I was to kick off our 2012 video series with this awesome Baker's Dozen Calendar Kit!  It was incredibly easy to put together and makes a great wall hanging for your scraproom.  Grab yourself one and get started today!

 

Announcing a new series - Make a Change Monday

I will FREELY admit that when I posted a "tell me your New Year's Resolution" giveaway on my FB page a few weeks ago, my plan was to read through the answers, pick a winner, and move on.  Instead, I got 67 honest, heartfelt, funny, REAL responses that made me stop and take a good look at the idea of (and difference between) resolutions, goals, changes and growth. They also moved me to get out a piece of paper and start writing down some ideas about what I wanted my 2012 to look like. I forced myself to make all of the ideas POSITIVE (instead of "lose 10 pounds" it was "find healthy recipes I enjoy"), and I put this piece of paper in the notebook I carry EVERYWHERE (I am obsessed with lists - but that is a blog post for another time) so I could refer to it often and use it to make choices about how I spend my time, money and energy throughout the year.  It was just for me - I wasn't even going to show it to my husband.

Then, last week, my friend Stephanie Howell posted about HER 2012 goals on her blog.  I love Stephanie's honesty and how comfortable she is sharing a bit of herself with the world.  She and I have talked about my struggle to share "me" here (I tend to stick to craft projects and an occasional recipe or two - I must have emailed her 69 million times before I published this blog post), so I decided right then and there to add "be a little more Beth on my blog" to my list and share it with all of you.  

With that said - I am proud to announce my new series "Make a Change Monday".  For the next 50 or so Mondays I am going to share with you the changes I am making in my life in 2012.  I'll share successes and struggles, revisions and additions to my list (and some deletions - let's be real), and stories from other people who inspire me along the way.  

I am so excited about this opportunity - to be accountable to you and to myself, to record and reflect on my own progress throughout the year, and to see and feel some real changes in my life.  I do not think it is a coincidence that my first post falls on the day we remember Martin Luther King Jr., who dedicated his life to changing the world.  While I may not change the world in 2012, I know I will change me - and hopefully somewhere along the way make a difference.

So without further ado...here is just a sampling of my list.  I hope you'll join me and make one of your own!

Learn how to take better photos
Free myself of the toxic people in my life
Find an "exercise" activity that Don and I can do together
Do a better job of letting people know I am thinking about them/appreciate them
Try really hard to like cilantro 
Learn how to sew
Make the time to (re)connect with friends 
Improve the appearance of my blog
Find healthy recipes I enjoy
Finish what I start
Be more "Beth" on my blog
Use my stash - aka use up my old scrapping stuff while still enjoying my new scrapping stuff

Here's to the next 50 Mondays!

Melissa Frances Chipboard Houses Tutorial

As I mentioned on my FB page a while back, I am OBSESSED with these houses.   As I also mentioned, I am so disorganized during the holiday season that I meant to post this how-to BEFORE Christmas, but here we are. So - apologies for the lateness, but to make up for it I am giving away a few of these kits  (post your New Year's resolution by December 31st on the aforementioned FB page to enter) and I FINALLY present to you step by step instructions so you can make some of these houses yourself!  These would make WONDERFUL wedding or housewarming gifts too...chipboard houses ain't just for Christmas any more!  :)

PS - I would also like to give a shout-out to my mom (who we will refer to as Crafty Sharron from now on) who is here visiting for Christmas and helped me with the photos and made some fabulous houses of her own while I was working on this tutorial.  Thanks Mom!

Supplies needed:
Melissa Frances ornament cottage kit
Three (3) coordinating patterned papers - I used MME Lost & Found Christmas
Xyron 510 with permanent adhesive refill
1/8" Scor-Tape
Liquid glue
Craft knife and self healing mat 
Two (2) coordinating misting sprays - I used Smooch Spritz Vanilla Shimmer and Perfect Pearls Bronze Mist
Coordinating acrylic paint and brush
Bazzill Basics textured vellum (optional)
Glitter
Melissa Frances mini bottle brush tree
White cardstock and printer
Distress Ink - I used Antique Linen
Two (2) coordinating mini brads
Foam tape 

Select the roof, house and base from your kit. Find the "top/front" of each piece (based on the way the pieces are scored).

Put the three pieces in the Xyron 510 with the top/front facing DOWN. 

Once you run them through the 510, peel off the clear film and then GENTLY peel the pieces from the backing.  Chipboard is created in layers so if you peel too fast the top layer of chipboard will come right off.

Place the adhesive side of your chipboard on the BACK of the patterned paper for each item (see photo of completed pieces below...for example - the yellow piece of paper that the roof chipboard is attached to has a red swirl pattern on the other side).

Use a craft knife to cut out each piece and sand if you want to.  :)

(photo of completed pieces)

Use your craft knife to gently cut along the score lines of the roof and house.  You don't want to cut too deep, but if you do over-cut don't worry - see my HELPFUL TIP at the very end of this post.

Apply misting spray to your base piece ONLY. Set aside to dry.

Apply misting spray to your window and door pieces. Set aside to dry.

Apply paint to your fence. Set aside to dry.

Take your house and roof pieces (NOT the base piece) and put them back in the Xyron 510 with the patterned paper side facing DOWN. Run through the machine, peel of the clear film, gently peel pieces off of the backing and lay with the patterned/adhesive side facing UP on your workspace.

Apply glitter to both pieces, rub with finger to cover and tap off excess.

   (photo of finished pieces)

Tip: If you are using patterned paper that already has glitter on it, you can use the tip of your craft knife to scrape off the top layer of glitter, revealing the pattern on your paper.

 On the back side of your house, place Scor-Tape around the edges of the door and window.

At this point I should stop, take a moment, and explain to you that I am usually not a crazy adhesive woman.  When I put a photo on a layout I use some adhesive on each corner, not adhesive all around the edges and then some in the middle for good measure.  I'm not stingy with my stickiness, but I am not going through five refills per project if you know what I mean.  HOWEVER - because this is a project that I want people to use and enjoy (and I know it will be put on a tree, taken down and put away, brought out again next Christmas, etc. year after year - not something that is going to sit on a shelf forever) I used A LOT of adhesive on this project.  A LOT. I recommend you do the same.  :)

Flip the house over, center your door and window, and press to adhere.

Flip the house back over and apply scor-tape to the back of the door and window.

Cut two small pieces of textured vellum (or use the red cellophane that came in your kit) and cover door and window openings.

Apply Scor-Tape to the bottom of your house*.  I do not use liquid glue until later in the project because I HATE to wait for liquid glue to dry.  Using Scor-Tape allows me to put the project together quickly and then go back and "shore-up" any parts of the project that need liquid glue. 

*Line up the edge of your Scor-Tape with the front of your house, so the rest of the Scor-Tape is "hanging off" the back edge of the chipboard.

Use your finger to "roll" the Scor-Tape on to itself, making a thinner strip. It won't look pretty - but it will hold fabulously!

Repeat on ONE end of the house.

Fold house in to shape and adhere to your base.  I adhered mine pretty close to the back of the base, but I have seen them put on kitty-cornered and centered, so the choice is yours!

Repeat the Scor-Tape process on the roof edges of your house.

Insert the ornament holder in to your roof and apply to your house.

(photo of house with roof)

Use liquid glue to adhere your tree and Scor-Tape to adhere the fence to your base.

If you are applying a "plaque" to your house, print out your phrase in several different sizes.

Use distress ink to apply color to your phrases, cut out and determine which size works best with your house.

Use your craft knife to poke a small hole on either side of your paper.  Insert brads.

Fold both ends of your brads towards the center of your paper.

Use a small piece of foam tape in the center of your paper and adhere to the front of the house.

***HELPFUL TIP*** These chipboard houses ARE fragile.  If during the process you tear your chipboard along one of the score lines or feel like the Scor-Tape isn't secure enough, once your house is COMPLETED you can easily go back and fill in the gaps with liquid glue.  Apply the liquid glue to the affected area then sprinkle some glitter on the glue and tap off the excess.  It will strengthen your project AND cover up any small errors.  Thank God for glitter!  :)

Wonderful Wednesday Surprise from Sharon Callis!

Sharon never ceases to amaze me with her creativity!  I opened up my inbox this morning and she has created ANOTHER fabulous Christmas project just for Xyron fans!  This could be just about the cutest thing I have ever seen.  Make this with your kids for your own Christmas tree or as a special gift!

Pudding Surprise

Supplies:
large styrofoam ball
brown felt
kraft cardstock
white felt
Xyron Creatopia with Fabric Adhesive refill
Xyron Creative Station (5" or 9")
Xyron 1.5" Sticker Maker (also known as the X)
3 coordinating ribbons
red pom poms
Xyron Creatopia Shapez component and holly-shaped die 
green glitter felt
straight pins
liquid fabric glue 
2 sheets coordinating patterned paper
assorted small embellishments 
die cut letters
photo 
Xyron Mega Runner 
self-adhesive velcro closure 

Cut a large styrofoam ball in half.

Stretch brown felt over the form to shape it.

Run felt through the Creatopia.

Rub the felt really well before removing the top film (tip: rub it back and forth over the edge of your table to ensure excellent adhesive coverage).

Wrap the felt around the foam, stretching it as you go.  It should be smooth and without any creases.

Trim the felt on the flat side of the styrofoam.

Repeat with other half of styrofoam ball.

Place one of the halves on to piece of folded kraft cardstock, making sure that the styrofoam hangs slightly off the folded edge of the paper. Draw around the form (it will not be a perfect circle).

Open the cut card flat and run through the Creatopia (use the fabric cartridge to ensure the card sticks to the felt).

Adhere to the halves one side at a time.

(both forms stuck to card)

To create the icing fold white felt in half.

Cut freehand to form a wavy half circle, then cut in half.

Run the felt through the Creatopia, rub thoroughly before removing the top film.

Mold around the top of the halves, overlapping the flat edge.

Cut slits on the overlapping felt, lift edge of cardstock and tuck felt in.

Add ribbon for hanging, using two pins and fabric glue to hold in place.  Press back the cardstock to hold it tight.

Cut coordinating ribbons and make two loops.

Glue in place with liquid fabric adhesive to one side of the opening.

Add a pin for extra security. Ribbon should fall on either side of the hanging ribbon.

(top view)

(side view - note how the ribbons cover the opening where the halves meet)

 

Using the Shapez component and a holly-shaped die, cut 10 holly leaves from green glitter felt and run through the X.

 Place in a circle around the top of the ball, covering the ribbon as shown.

Run some red pom poms throught the X and place around the hanging ribbon on the top.

To create the inside, use the leftover kraft cardstock as a template and draw two circles on coordinating paper.

Run both through your Creative Station.

Place on the inside of the halves.

Repeat using slightly smaller circles and apply to halves.

Run diecut letters through the X and adhere.

Cut around images in a photo - making sure that the photo stays in one piece.  Leave a tab at the bottom to attach to project.

Run through your Creative Station.

Place on coordinating patterned paper and cut around the image.

Fold back tab at bottom of the photo and apply adhesive with Mega Runner.  Apply to bottom half of project.

Use coordinating paper to make the rear tab.  Apply adhesive to each end using Mega Runner and attach as shown.

Run embellishments through your X and add to the inside of the project. Apply a self adhesive velcro closure to top and bottom half, and you have a Pudding Surprise!

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and Advent Musings

Reposted from 2009 - just as true today as it was then.  So incredibly grateful to have Don home with me this Christmas.

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day and Advent.  Two things you don't usually think about in the same sentence, but several years ago while Don was deployed during the holidays I was asked to write an Advent devotional for a booklet that was being created in the church where I grew up. 

Those of you who know me in real life know that I am quick with the sarcasm and comedy, but my faith is something I hold very close and sharing it publicly isn't one of my strengths.  Allowed to pick the date of my choosing I selected December 7th, Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, which that year also happened to be the second Sunday in Advent.  I figured with the military theme I was sure to be inspired, but what poured out on to the page surprised me.  I have kept that Advent Devotional with me through five moves and seven more deployments - and discovered it again this weekend as I was unpacking our Christmas decorations, so I share it with you here.

Thinking of all the military families who will have an empty seat at their table this season...

Beth

There is nothing love cannot face; there is no limit to its faith, its hope, and its endurance.  Love will never come to an end. -I Corinthians 13:7-8

It is funny what it takes for some people to fully understand God's love.  I grew up in church, this church in fact.  I was confirmed at Grace, volunteered at Grace, worked at Grace, got married at Grace.  But once I moved away and Don and I got wrapped up in our everyday lives we didn't make the time to go to church, and - to be honest, I didn't think much about God.  I still said my prayers every night and came to church when I was visiting my folks, but that was it...until I sent Don off to war.  It has been hard.  I miss him, I'm scared for him, and there are many people in this world who don't believe in what he is doing.  But we love this country so much that he is willing to sacrifice everything for its people, and I am willing to give it my most precious gift - my husband.  God loves us SO MUCH that he gave his only begotten son to a world where many people STILL don't believe, in hopes that we might know forgiveness, eternal life, and the true love of Christ.  Does that make me like God or Don like Jesus?  Of course not.  But now I have a real, tangible idea of how much God loves me - loves all of us.  Now I understand how powerful that depth of love is - and I am awed by it, I am humbled by it, but most of all, I am blessed by it.  We all are!

Dear God, Help us to feel your love for us always.  In our joys let us feel your glory, in our sorrows let us feel your comfort.  Thank you for being our strength and our salvation.  Amen.

 

Sharon Callis Christmas Project Bonanza - last but not least - take six!

Christmas Cone Centerpiece

This has been SUCH an incredible week - Sharon has shared cards, home decor projects, techniques, and more with us.  I hope you have come away with some wonderful ideas and inspiration!  Sharon's last project is a gorgeous Christmas cone centerpiece that can be created to match any decor.  Set it on your table and enjoy it all season long!

Supplies:
tree shaped styrofoam cone
two sheets patterned paper
die cutting machine
Xyron Creative Station (any size) 
glue pen
glitter 
star die cut
Xyron 1.5" Sticker Maker (also known as the X) 
star sequins 

Start with your cone and two sheets of patterned paper.

Use your die cutting machine to cut out approximately 100 2" trangles. Run them all through your Xyron (for this project Sharon used the Creatopia).

Before removing the triangles from the backing sheet, use a glue pen around the edges and sprinkle with glitter.

Starting at the base build up the triangle layers and curl up the tips.

Run the star die cut through your X and apply glitter to the adhesive side. Run through X again with the glittered side facing up and repeat.

Run the star sequins through the X.

Place one in the center of each triangle.

    

Remember that you can use any patterned paper to match your own decor!