Thoughts of Encouragement

Being happy is a choice we have the power to make.  Will you choose to be happy today or will you choose to be unhappy.  It is totally up to you to decide what kind of day you want to have. 

Every day is a gift from God.  Don't waste it.

Christmas Gift Idea No. 1

Now that we are past Halloween, we need to start thinking about Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I will be posting some inexpensive gift ideas that you can get started on making.



I saw these candles at the Crackle Barrel gift shop with a price tag of $10 each. 

Crackle Barrel candle

Then I went to the Dollar Tree Store and bought the candles for $1 each and made my version of Santa's suit candle.

Santa's suit candle

I cut a 3/8" x 11" piece of black card stock and punched three holes at one end with my Crop-A-Dile to insert silver eyelets in each hole and then weaved it through a soda can metal tab for the buckle.  

Crop-A-Dile (#108362)

I glued the belt onto the candle with Tombow liquid glue.

I wrapped the candles in cellophane bags (#102210, 50 per pkg for $4.95) by Stampin' Up and tied them with some pretty red ribbon. 

I was able to make five Santa's suit candles in about an hour.  I spent less than $2 per candle. I think these would make nice little gifts for teachers, neighbors, co-workers, or people you do business with (bank, salon, etc.)  

I plan to donate these candles to our Christmas Boutique at St. John Neumann.

Hope you like this idea and please contact me if you have any questions.  Come back tomorrow for another inexpensive gift idea.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Thoughts of Encouragement

We were put on this earth to spread God's love, and nothing could be more valuable than that.

PUMPKIN PATCH

My daughter and granddaughters went to the Gilcrease    Orchard in Las Vegas to pick pumpkins.  Their Girl Scout troop organized this fun activity for them.  It looks like they had a lot of fun.

We're off to the Pumpkin Patch

Angie



Mommy and me

My two little pumpkins

Friends and pumpkins

I didn't have a creative project to share with you today, because went to St. George for some shopping fun.  I had my coupons cut and I was ready to shop, shop, till I dropped.  But I won't be down for very long, today I'm going to the Scrapbook Expo at the Cashman Center.  Hope to see you there! 

Thoughts of Encouragement

Put on a fresh new attitude each morning.  Each morning, forgive the people who have hurt you.  Every morning, let go of your disappointments and setbacks.  Each new morning, receive God's mercy and forgiveness for the mistakes you've made and for ive others for the hurts they have inflicted on you.

Today focus on your possibilities, focus on what you can change rather than what you cannot change.

GIRLS' CROP NIGHT

Thursday night was a great girls' crop night.  Teri Baxter hosted a free crop at her home and five of us enjoyed an evening working on different paper crafts.  I was able to make more of the journals for the upcoming Christmas Boutique.  

Six more journals

I decided to add an inside pocket and a tag to the journal.  I liked this idea.  Let me know what you think.  



Cooking Journal



The crop lasted five hours and I felt I got alot accomplished.  The evening was very nice.  Teri had popcorn, sweet treats and movies for us to enjoy.  Thanks Teri for your hospitality.  Looking forward to our next meeting.

Thoughts of Encouragement

When you get up each morning, one of the first things you should do is shake off the disappointments of yesterday.  Discard discouragement, guilt and condemnation.  Your attitude should be, It's a new day, and I'm not going to drag the hurts of yesterday into this day.  I'm going to start afresh.

ICE CREAM PARLOR CARD

I was waiting for the UPS man to finish off my birthday card.  I love it when he pays a visit to my house.  Can you guess why?

Stampin' Up order just arrived!!

Here's the other birthday card I promised to show you.  I cased this card from Diana Gibbs. You can watch her video on http://dianagibbs.typepad.com/stampin_with_Di/.  

Front view

Top view

Side view

This is the stamp set I was anxiously waiting for the UPS man to deliver.

Birthday Bakery #120115, Free hostess set level I

Ice Cream Parlour

Here's the list of supplies:

Stamp set:  Birthday Bakery (free Hostess level I stamp set)
Card stock:  Pretty in Pink, Shimmery White, Chocolate Chip
Ink:  Black Stazon, Sahara Sand, Soft Suede, Poppy Parade, Wild Wasabi, Pretty In Pink, Baja Breeze
Misc:  Square Lattice embossing folder, oval punch, scalloped oval punch, scallop edge border punch and window punch.

I loved making this card.  It was worth waiting for my free stamp set from Stampin' Up.



The below pictures are a few of the steps in making this card, but I recommend you watch Diana's video.


unch out six white and five Pretty in Pink pieces with word window punch.  



Thanks again for visiting . . .

Thoughts of Encouragement

Speak God's blessings to your children.  It is not enough to think it; you must vocalize it.  A blessing is not a blessing until it is spoken.

ICE CREAM CONE, ANYONE?

I have a couple of birthdays that friends and family are celebrating in the month of November, so I thought I better make some birthday cards.  I had seen the Ice Cream Cone card in the past and decided to try my hand at making one. 

Crazy For Cupcakes, (#111618, $23.95, Set of 6 stamps)

I used the Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set to stamp the verse inside the card.

Scallop Square die (#115950, $21.95) and Square Lattice embossing folder (#119976, $7.95)

To cut the cone I used the Sizzix Scallop Square die from Stampin' Up and then to give it the texture of a cone I used the Square Lattice embossing folder (page 214 of the catalog)  on a 5" x 5" piece of Crumb Cake card stock.  Turn it and then fold over five scallops down from the top on either side to form the cone

1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch (#119854, $16.95)

You need three scallop circles for the ice cream scoops.  I used the scallop punch and Pretty In Pink card stock.

Heart Small punch (#117193, $5.95

What would an ice cream cone be without a delicious cherry topping.  I punched out a small heart from a scrap of  real red card stock.  

Glue the pieces together and place inside the cone.  If you own the larger scallop punch (2 3/8") it's easier to close the cone by tucking the sides of the cone under the middle scoop.  I used some Dotto (repositionable adhesive, page 197) to adhere the cone closed because I used the smaller scallop punch.

Chocolate or Strawberry flavor?

Couldn't decide whether I wanted a Chocolate cone or a Strawberry one, so I made both.  Can you see my ice cream cones are melting and the ice cream is dripping from the bottom.  That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Hope you enjoyed this treat, I know I did.  Come back tomorrow to see my other birthday card.  Thanks for stopping by. 

Thoughts of Encouragement

Negative words will cause our children to lose the sense of value God has placed within them.  Continually speaking words that discourage them, before long will destroy their self image.  Negative words will open a door, allowing the enemy to bring all kinds of insecurity and inferiority into your child's life.  

Encourage your children to do great things, to fulfill their dreams. Your children need to hear you say words like, "I love you, I believe in you, I think you're great.  There is nobody like you.  You are one of a kind."   Start today speaking words of encouragement to your children.

JOURNALS

I attended the Kreative Korners Craft Fair this past weekend and found some very creative projects.  One of the items was the below journal made by Vicky Lopez.

Outside view



Inside view

Love You Much (#113756, $25.95)

This is the stamp set I used from Stampin' Up to decorate the below two journals.  I found I could make them with one piece of 8 1/2 x 11 inch card stock. 

Love Journals

You can buy the pens and tablets at Office Depot.  If you'd like the directions, shoot me an email and I will be happy to send them to you.  I will be making a few more for the annual Craft Fair at St. John Neumann.  I think a Thanksgiving gratitude journal, a Christmas shopping journal and maybe a Recipe journal might be on my "List of Projects Journal."

Thank you Vicky for this great idea.

Thoughts of Encouragement

Our words affect our children's future for either good or evil.  We need to speak loving words of approval and acceptance, words that encourage, inspire, and motivate.  When we do that we are speaking blessings into their lives and they will indeed be blessed.

ALEE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY!

Birthday banner

This past Saturday was my granddaughter Alee's 7th birthday party.  I made her this Happy Birthday banner with the Pennant die (#113483, $39.95) and the Big Shot by Stampin' Up.



Princess Diva




Mad Hatter & Alice in Wonderland

King Arthur & the Wicked Mother






Peter Pan & Wendy



Sleeping Beauty

Party Divas

Game time

Table decorations



Snow White



Sleeping Beauty

Opening gifts

Got all the toys I wanted!

Time to cut the cake!

Happy 7th Birthday Alee!

Thank you everyone for coming!

It was a great party and everyone had a good time.  Thank you for letting me share my family's celebration.