Wednesday, December 31, 2014

WOYWW 291 - I think I Found Part of My Desk

It is once again Wednesday which means we take a picture of our desks and share it on Julia's Blog.  Then we get to snoop around other crafter's desks.

This Wednesday is even more special because it is New Year's Eve.  I hope everyone is safe and has a wonderful celebration in the New Year.

Here is the part of my desk I found.

Good:

This side is better - almost all cleaned up:

This desk looks the best.  Nice and clear:


Happy New Year everyone.

Tune in tomorrow for another Happy New Year project.

Thank you for stopping by the blog.  Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Matthew 28:19  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Happy New Year - this week's theme

We are all getting ready to celebrate the coming of a new year.  So this week we are going to be creating some projects for our 'New' year.

Here is a card that Sherry made to wish someone a Happy New Year:


And this is a throwback from 2014:


Thank you for stopping by the blog today.  Tune in tomorrow for WOYWW.  I have found a portion of my desk!  Yay!

Thursday will be another New Year project and Fridays will be Christmas Friday from now on.  I am going to do at least one Christmas Card layout a week so that I am more prepared for next Christmas.  I am!  Seriously!  LOL

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Luke 2:20  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.


Monday, December 29, 2014

Happy New Year and a Review of the Year Past

This week's theme is 'Happy New Year'!  And I am going to take a walk down Memory Lane 2014.

Here is today's project for the Happy New Year theme:


I purchased a cut file from SVGCuts.com and used my Cricut Explore to cut out the pieces and parts of this 12 X 12 scrapbook page.  I put it all together and now I am ready to print my New Year's celebration pictures and place them on a page to put in my scrapbook.  Memories captured!


Here is one of my favorites from last year:


Tune in tomorrow for another New Year project and another throwback from 2014.

Thank you for stopping by my blog.  Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Luke 2:13 - 14  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.'

Friday, December 26, 2014

Christmas - the day after

I know that Christmas was yesterday, but I still have a couple projects that I want to share with you.

I hope everyone had a happy holiday.  And now even though it is time to relax, I wanted to share with you two gift card holders I made using my Silhouette Cameo.

Love this little Santa box and it was easy to make.

Same with the holly gift card box.  

I prefer to give gifts, but sometimes a gift card just fits the bill.  And it makes it a little more special when you make the holder that the gift card comes in.  These were for my husband's parents.  These cut files can be found in the The Silhouette Design Store.

I also used my embroidery machine  - Brother PE500 to embroider a name on a gift:

I think next year I am going to have 1 day a week dedicated to a Christmas card design.  Then all my Christmas cards will be done by the time Christmas gets here next year.  We'll see what happens.  :-)

Thanks for stopping by the blog.  Have a great day and be inspired.

Tune in next week for - Happy New Year!

April

Luke 2:  6 - 7  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 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.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas.  May the peace of the season be with you throughout next year.

1 John 4:9  This is how God showed his love among us;  He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

WOYWW 290 - I can't find my desk!!!!!

The Christmas season is just about to come to a close with the grand finale - Christmas Day!  Once that day is done - it will be another 365 days to prepare for the next Christmas day.  And I will as always - procrastinate until a couple weeks before.  I'm not gonna lie.

To see a lot of wonderful craft desks go to Julia's Blog - the Stampin Ground.

Here is the aftermath of this year's preparation.  :-)






I hope everyone is able to enjoy the holidays regardless of which one you celebrate.  Take some time to appreciate friends and family and try not to let the stress take over.

Thank you for stopping by the blog.  Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Matthew 1:21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.

Tuesday, December 23, 2014

Christmas Overload Continues..................

But the end is in sight.  I now have 2 days to get my get well and get my gifts wrapped.  I might just put everyone's gifts in a big box and wrap it.  There will be 6 presents under the tree.  It could happen.

Here is another Christmas card I made in addition to all those I've already shared.  This one was fun to make.  I used the Teddy Bear Parade cartridge from Cricut.



My initial thought was to use the sweater/vest border with the bear in his Christmas sweater.  I had a hard time coming up with the design.  I don't LOVE this design, but I love the bear and the paper.  It's a bit busy, but fun.  I thought I had a stamp that said Have a Beary Merry Christmas.  I don't.  So I just printed it and cut it out and made a banner.  Desperate times called for desperate measures.

The cards are done.  Presents are not wrapped.  The stockings are hanging.  I'm glad I like this time of year - Or I might be stressed!

Thank you for stopping by the blog.  Tune in tomorrow for WOYWW.  I still can't find my work desk.  Geesh!

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

John 3:17  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.



Monday, December 22, 2014

Christmas Overload!!!!!!

I love this time of the year.  I love winter weather, Christmas songs, lighted trees, manger scenes and everything to do with Christmas......  Except the stress.  I have not wrapped the first gift.  I've made my Christmas cards - finished today.  Now I have to get them to the Post Office so they will get to houses a day before Christmas.  I am sick.  I am tired.  And I have 2 days to finish shopping, wrap gifts and get well.

So here is the Christmas card that I made this year.  That was stressful too.  Ugh!  I am going to say the same thing I say every year.  I will do the exact same thing next year and wait until the last minute!  Again!  lol

I just love the Ornamental Pine Stamp set by Stampin Up.  I used a multitude of products to create this card.  I showed no loyalty to one brand.  I used cardstock and ink from Fun Stampers Journey.  Cardstock from Michaels.  Ink from Momento and Close to My Heart.  The stamps are all Stampin Up.

I used my Silhouette to cut out the cardstock and the banner.

Tune in tomorrow for a fun Christmas card.  It's a little busy, but it is cute.

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

 Isaiah 7:14  Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign:  The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
 




Friday, December 19, 2014

The Reason for the Season - This Time for Real

I finally got to making some items for this week's theme with the real reason for the season.

I cut out the manger scene on my Explore on clear contact paper.  I put it on the cardstock and used Tim Holtz Distress Inks to color in the night sky around the image.  I then used a splatter stamp with some white pigment ink to stamp the stars and the sentiment.  I put the cardstock on a black card background.



I used the negative image from manger scene on the card to mask this candy jar and then applied glass etching creme to create the manger scene on the candy jar.

And these are examples of the real reason for the season.

Thank you for stopping by my blog.  I hope you found some inspiration.

Tune in next week for a new theme.  Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Psalm 119:10  I seek you with all my heart;  do not let me stray from your commands.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

WOYWW 289 - Still Can't Find My Desk

It is Wednesday once again.  That means that I need to take a picture of my desk - which I cannot find for all the 'stuff' - and share it on the world's biggest weekly desk hop.  Hop on over to Julia's Blog and check out a bunch of fellow crafter's desks.  You will be inspired.

Here is where I believe my desk used to be.  I'm in a smaller room, so even though I can't find my desk - I know where it should be located.



Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  Tune in tomorrow for some more reason for the season themed projects.

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

1 John 5:14 - 15  This is the confidence we have in approaching God:  that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

The Reason for the Season Cont.......Kind of

I know that the reason for the season is not the gifts we give and the cards we send.  But if it weren't for the season - we wouldn't be sending cards of giving gifts.  So in honor of the reason for the season - I am sharing 2 cards that I made.

I am still on the quest for the perfect Christmas card.  I have some ideas - so there might be a variety of cards this year.

Here are 2 simple cards that I created:

This first card features a corner of a sheet of 12 X 12 paper from a paper stack by Reflections.

I just cut out the corner.  I also traced the Merry Christmas with my glitter pen.  This is a card for someone on my Christmas card list who might not appreciate a more sophisticated hand made card.  In other words, they'll trash it when they're taking down the tree.  You have them on your list, too.  You know you do.  Don't judge me.  LOL


This card is kind of a CAS of a balloon card that I saw on Doublestick Heaven.  I used the same technique on the Christmas lights and used some background paper from the same paper stack as above.  This card is really growing on me.  Maybe this is the one!  Here is the actual post where I got the idea:  DieCember Blog Hop.

Thank you for stopping by the blog today.  Stay tuned tomorrow for WOYWW.  I might even have created a project with the real theme for this week.

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

2 Corinthians 12:9  But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

Monday, December 15, 2014

The Reason for the Season.....

This week's theme is the reason for the season.  And although I know the reason for the season is the birth of Jesus Christ, the first thing I am going to do is post some gifts that I made.  But since Jesus was a gift to us from God - I'm kind of on theme.  Don't judge me.  ;-)

I have discovered vinyl.  I've known about vinyl, but was afraid.  Everyone told me that if I ever started playing with it - there was no going back.  How right they were.

I found these cups at the Dollar Tree and I snatched them up.  Although my design is not terribly elaborate - I am sure it is just the beginning.




I used vinyl from My Vinyl Direct and I am pleased with the results.  I used my Silhouette Cameo for all the images and text.  I prefer my Silhouette for text -  I just like the control I have in the software.  I used clear contact paper instead of transfer tape.  I like the way it worked and I didn't feel like I was wasting money when I made a mistake.

I have 4 nieces and 1 nephew on my families side.  I made each of them a cup.  I hope they enjoy them.

I do intend to have some projects featuring the reason for the season.  But remember - God gave us a gift so I am featuring the gifts I am giving.  I know - it's a stretch.  But I'm all about living on the edge.  LOL

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  If you haven't tried vinyl - don't let it scare you.  It's not that hard.  If you can use your machine for paper - you can do vinyl.  Just remember to set your blade to a 1 or 2 or to set your dial to vinyl.  I speak from experience.

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Acts 20: 24  However,  I consider my life worth nothing to me;  my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace.

Friday, December 12, 2014

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas - Yep still.

Today is the last day of this week's theme - It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  I still haven't come up with my Christmas card design, but I've had fun working on Christmas projects.  :-)  I hope you've found some inspiration, too.

Here are some of Anastasia's Christmas Cards:


I love the antique look of her cards.

Thank you for stopping by the blog this week.  Tune in next week for a new theme.

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Ecclesiastes 11:5  As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother's womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Thursday - Deviating from the Theme

So, last night instead of making Christmas themed 'stuff', I made fun things for a baby shower for Kim.  We had her shower today.

I wanted to share with you what I made using cut files from SVGCuts.com.


I used my Cricut Explore and some Paper Studio paper to cut out these baby items.  I had a great time doing it.  And everyone was impressed with the results.  The bottle was their favorite.

Stay tuned tomorrow when we get back to Christmas.  Anastasia is going to share her Christmas cards.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Psalm 63:3-4  Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.  I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

WOYWW 288 - Craft Room Tour!

Today is Wednesday and that means that I need to take a picture of my desk and share it on Julia's Blog.  Then I will hop to fellow crafter's desks where I can snoop er I mean see what everyone is up to.

My desk is an absolute mess!  I am in the middle of Christmas creating:



I told you it was a mess!

But before I messed it all up - I did a room tour video:


Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  Please excuse the mess.  :-)

Tune in tomorrow for some more Christmas ideas.

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Isaiah 25:1  Lord, you are my God;  I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas - Are you cardworthy?

It is the time of year when I design and send out the annual Christmas card.  I actually design multiple cards.  And I know you card makers are going to understand the following statement.  I design a card for those peeps who are card worthy.  And I design another card for those who will look at it - throw it in the sleigh with all the other cards and then will throw it in the garbage.  You know you have those peeps on your Christmas card list, too.

This year I have not had the ah ha - this is the one - moment.  But it has not been for a lack of trying.  I was hoping this design was going to be the one.  But alas -- it is not.

I used a polaroid frame die from Fun Stampers Journey and one from Stampin Up.  I also used a polaroid frame from my Silhouette Cameo which I think I like the best.


I saw some monochrome cards that feature black and white with a touch of red that I thought was really pretty.  I tried to incorporate that in my card.  The wreath stamp comes from the Unity Stamp Company.  I colored the berries with a red Tombow watercolor marker.

And if it's not a box card, then it had to be a shaker card.  I used chunky glitter and snowflakes from Reflections:


This was an attempt before the previous card, but I think I went overboard on the glitter.

The paper is from Die Cuts With a View and the stamp if from Unity.

I like the above cards, but they are not ''the'' card for the season.  They are pretty, but not easy to mass produce.  And easy to mass produce is a must for ''the'' card.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.  Have you come up with your Christmas card design yet?  You've probably already mailed them!  I work better under pressure.   LOL

Stay tuned tomorrow for WOYWW, the worlds largest desk hop.

Thanks for stopping by.  Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Ephesians 2:8-9  For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.

Monday, December 8, 2014

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas on my craft desk.  I have lots of ideas for gifts for friends.

My first idea was to find inexpensive glass jars (can you say Dollar Tree) and personalize them.  Then I can fill them with candy or the salt or sugar scrub I have been perfecting.

The first way I've personalized the jars is with glass etching.  I used my Silhouette to cut out names in contact paper.  I used the negative to mask the jar and then added etching cream.  I know the instructions say leave on for 5 minutes, but it takes more like 30 to get this amount of etching.  Take my word for it.

Add a pretty bow and some candy and there you have it.




I stocked up on glass jars from the Dollar Tree.  I plan on decorating them with vinyl and doing some more glass etching.  I also found cups (the ones with the lids and the straws) at the Dollar Tree and I plan on personalizing those with vinyl, too.  Don't worry - I'll share.

Stay tuned tomorrow for my Christmas card dilemna.  I still haven't come up with a design for my annual Christmas card.  I will share some of my designs that haven't quite made the cut.

Thanks for stopping by the blog today.

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

Psalm 42:11  Why my soul, are you downcast?  Why so disturbed within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

Friday, December 5, 2014

Shake Shake Shake - Shake Shake Shake - Shake Your Snowglobe (Sing to tune of Shake Your Booty)

First I want to wish my younger brother a happy birthday.  Happy Birthday Eric.

It is still snowing here on Scrapbooking and Cardmaking.  But according to the forecast the snow won't last past today.  :-(

But let's enjoy the snow while it's still here.







The shaker card above is a file from the Everyday Winter Cards Collection.  It is snowing inside that snow globe.  The snow comes from a tube from Michaels and is featured with 3 other embellishments that are perfect for shaker cards.

I entered this card into the Brown Sugar Challenge - Winter


I love that the paper has little snow globes on it too.  The paper is from Echo Park - the Christmas Cheer Collection.  And I had the little snow globe stamp.  :-)


I found some fake snow at Dollar Tree.  I thought it would be perfect for a shaker card.  It is cute, but it's quite large.  I had to use 3 layers of foam tape.  And I got a little carried away - this is more like a blizzard than a dusting of snow.  lol  You can barely see the sentiment.  The snowman and the sentiment are from The Stamps of Life die hard club.  I was a little disappointed in the snowman stamp.  The cut wasn't deep enough to get a good stamp.  I love the die set that goes along with it though.

I hope you have been inspired this week to make some fun snowy projects for the holiday season that is upon us.

Tune in next week for It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas.

Have a great day and be inspired.

April

1 Corinthians 15:57   But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Time to Be Merry Challenge at Creative Knockouts

It is Thursday and that means it is time for a new challenge at the  Creative Knockouts Challenge Blog .  This week's theme challenge i...