Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!  I wanted to be sure to wish all my blog friends and readers a Christmas full of Love, Peace, and Joy to the fullest that was intended that very first Christmas so many years ago.  I found myself really thinking about all the different aspects of that amazing season; not just that night but many years to follow.  The incredible amount of faith that was displayed and the humility that was shown.  And it was all so that we may have a life of peace.......not a peaceful life (without any disruptions).....but a life of peace, knowing that we have been blessed with a choice.  A choice to have a personal relationship with a God who loves us enough to care about every small and big circumstance going on in our lives.  A God who loves us enough to give us that peace, even when the storms come and the waves seem unbarable.

I have been touched this Christmas with seeing the most humble form of servant hood that I've seen in a long time.  There is a member in my extended family that has humbled himself and shown the love of Christ to those around him like I've never seen before.  Without a doubt, this season has been full of miracles because of it and watching him be the extend hands of Jesus has been the most memorable holiday time that I have learned from and will cherish.  I am completely inspired to do better at putting others first before myself and to never try and do it with my own strength.  I am so blessed.  So so blessed.

My hearts prayer is that you and your family also know of this greatest gift that was ever given and that this holiday season and new year is full of His presence.

From our home to yours, Merry Christmas!!

Spellbinders Holly Wreath

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers!  I hope and pray it has been a season of making fantastic memories with family and reflecting on all the many things to be thankful for.  I can't even express how grateful I am that the Lord has blessed me with an amazing family, incredible health, dream jobs, and opportunities to be used in extending His love in ministry.

I'm thrilled that my next week will be spent in Phoenix helping design a beautiful Spellbinders booth for CHA.  I'm so curious to hear about the vision of what this amazing set is going to look like. And ya, I'm a little anxious to get some warm air in my lungs and to see some sunshine!  Of course, I can't WAIT to see all my buddies too!

Before I leave, I wanted to announce the winner of my give-away.  I couldn't get random generator to work so I had my hubby pick a number.  He picked 3!  Congrats to Sabrina!!

I also wanted to post a card I made using Spellbinders Marvelous Squares and their new holiday D-lite die called Holly Wreath.   The stamp is a Penny Black one from a set called 'Whooo's Wishing.'

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend my friends!

Spellbinders Platinum Party Blog Hop!

Hi blog friends!  Guess what?  Spellbinders is hosting a Platinum Party Blog Hop for two full days!  The hop will highlight some of their Preferred Product Partners and it will be full of inspiration and giveaways!  You can find out all the details and rules of this two day event on the Spellbinders Blog.  

The hop is being hosted by these following extremely generous companies all of which I am truly grateful for the product they have donated to the Spellbinder's designers; Fun Stamper's Journey, JustRite Papercraft, Heartfelt Creations, Imagine Crafts, Want2Scrap and The Stamp Doctor.

I wasn't able to create anything new for this celebration but I wanted to share a card I had prepared already. For the sentiment, I used Tsukineko Ink(Tuxedo Black) by Imagine Crafts with a JustRite PaperCraft set called Noel Christmas Ornaments.  The background is a Spellbinders M-bossibilities folder called Basket Weave.  I also used a Spellbinders Labels Twenty-Nine die and a Spellbinders Mix-and-Match Ornaments die which are so fun because you can put which ever shape into which ever ornament you would like!

I would like to share in the generosity being spread so if you'd like to let me know who you are and you have a US or Canadian addy, I will randomly choose someone to win a few goodies that I will be putting together as well.  Sorry I don't have a photo but there will be some awesome embellies, including some Want2Scrap bling, and a stamp set.  Good luck!

Christmas Cowboy Cookies

Winter is here!!  We woke up to a bit of snow yesterday and it was so fun to see the valley laced in white.
The kids and I have been preparing for a few weeks for the Christmas Bizarre at our church.  It was a fundraiser for the youth missions trip.  Luckily, all the food prep was done before I came down with this nasty cold (I don't even want to tell you how many bags of cough drops I've been through!)  Anyhoo...we made lots of different things.  This is just one of the items we had for sale.  They are Cowboy Christmas Cookies.  Everything measured for you in a jar and instructions on the back of a tag.  Totally cute gift right?  Um...lets just say the dipped pretzel sticks were the star of the show!

The tag on the front of the jar is a Spellbinders die stamped with my favorite JustRite stamp.  My inspiration came from this beautiful post.  I totally would have done cowgirl cookies but I couldn't find pink m&m's anywhere!!

That's it for today! More Christmas cards share soon.  Have a beautiful day!

Moxie Fab Thanks Blog Hop!

Welcome to one of the most cool hops I've ever had a chance to be a part of!

This hop is not to promote product or even for the purpose of inspiration (although I know you'll be inspired!)  It's to honor an amazing lady who has made such a difference in so many people's lives.  She will never know the number of people her words, art, and encouragement has touched.  This is our little way of saying thanks!  Cuz, Cath....Girly, YOU ROCK!!  

Cath has been like a crazy, fun bus driver on the most amazing field trip ever as she steered us through paths of trend setting, inspiration and buckets loads of giggles.  To be honest, I just can't even imagine Moxie Fab without her.  She IS Moxie Fab (in my mind!)  But, her time has come to move on to the next chapter and I will be forever grateful for her friendly, warm, brilliant, and creative personality that reached out from screen to encourage me in all of my crafting adventures.  And if you've ever had the opportunity to meet her in person, you'll know that she has a genuine way of making you feel so important.  Thank you, Cath for being such an incredible part of Paper Crafts and for letting us enter your 'Moxie Fab World!'

The list of fabulous talented designers, world wide who are wanting to express their appreciation to Cath is quite amazing.  If you are a hopper, you would have come from 

Jimmie Mayo

and the next blog you will want to check out is the talented....

Eva Dobilas

The entire blog hop list can be found on Moxie Fab World.  If you haven't been hopping, hop on board!!  I guaranteed you'll be inspired for sure and I don't just mean because of all the fabulous cards but more so when you read about all the people touched by Cath Edvalson!

Imperial Gold Debossing

Christmas Greetings my friends!

Supplies:  Cardstock - Bazzill; Pattern Paper - Kaiser Craft (Saint Nicholas), Graphic 45(Twelve Days of Christmas), Ribbon (May Arts); Stamp - JustRite (Noel Christmas Ornaments,)  Impression Obsession; Dies - Spellbinders Standard Circles,  A2 Scalloped Borders One, 2013 Holiday Trees, Gold Rounds One;  Pearls - Want2Scrap

I love Christmas; everything about it.  We also get our tree way to early and pray that it doesn't dry out by December 25th!  We've had our Thanksgiving here in Canada so I will have to admit that Christmas music has already been played in our household!

When designing these cards, I wanted to create real traditional red and green with a touch of gold.  The gold cardstock really helps to show the design in the dies.  

For the first one, I used a Spellbinders Border die with gold to give it a pop.  After cutting out the trees and adhering them to the circle, I used some liquid applique and added heat with a heat gun and it puffed it up give it a 'snow look.'  It's a quite a fun technique!

The second card, I used an Imperial Gold die called Gold Rounds One.  The Imperial Gold dies create a deboss along with the embossing, giving the die cut an even greater and deeper dimension!  The Standard Circles fit perfectly in the center making it easy for me to stamp my sentiment. 

I will be making quite a few of these cards!  My son is planning on going on a big missions trip with his youth group in the Spring and we are doing a fundraiser next weekend.  It is a craft bizarre.  We plan on having some fun things on our table like, dipped pretzel sticks.  There will be lots of cards for sale but I'd like to hear your ideas of anything that you think would be great to make for a craft bizarre.  Is there anything you've tried that has been a great success?  I'd love to know!  

Hope you've been inspired today.  Come back this weekend for probably the largest blog hop you've ever seen!  

Captivating Squares and Some Christmas Mojo!

Hi friends!  I have some some blogger AND email issues lately so my pc and are not on good terms.  LOL I think I got blogger all fixed up amd no I'm just working on the email problems!  It's been far too long since I posted!

I have some Christmas cards for your crafty inspiration.  Can you believe it's already November!  YIKES!  I'm guess a lot of you are already nearly done with your cards.  This one here is created with some gorgeous SEI Chalet papers, Spellbinders Captivating Squares dies and JustRite Christmas Labels Twenty stamp.  Hopefully you can put some Christmas music on, grab a cup of hot cocoa as well as your mojo,and get started on your Christmas crafting if you haven't already.

I might just burst if I wait another day to share some exciting news!  I will be among the designers who made it on to the Design Crew for CHA Winter which means, not only do I get to be a part of CHA this year but I get work along side my buddies to create the most fabulous display of art yet to be exhibited!!  I am beyond excited about and so incredibly honored.

Thanks for lettin' me share!  Hope you find inspiration all around you today!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!  What a gorgeous fall day of sunshine and gorgeous fall colors!!  I am so grateful for a boatload of things but in particular I am thankful for my health and the health of my family.  Every day is a gift.  Every day.  The difficult ones and the outstanding ones.  Last year at this time, I was in so much physical pain I wasn't sure at times how I was going to make it through another day.  I know the Lord carried me through those times and I am so thankful that He is there always.  No matter what.  No matter where I am or what I'm going through.  Today I am thankful for this verse:

"Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  

Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." 

Joshua 1:9

I love the basic message of this verse.  "God will be with you wherever you go."  It's one of the first verses I taught all three of my kids since they were tiny.  In this journey called life, I believe I can face anything because of that one truth.  

Speaking of basics, the cards that I've posted are something I put together for a few teachers who completely blessed me and surprised the socks out of me!  I came home one day and this fabulous, tall tree/plant (you can see it peeking in the corner) was on my step!!  It was beautiful.  They had gotten together and purchased it for me out of gratitude.  I was shocked!  Who does that?  It's definitely the most beautiful (and biggest) plant I've ever received.  Here's to hoping I can keep it alive.  : )  

So, I had a wee bit of time to put together a few quick thank you cards and this is where I love coming back to the basics.  All I had to use on these cards was Spellbinders Labels One to get my simple message across.  There are some gorgeous new dies coming out (believe me!!!) but it's great when you can stick to the basics and still come out with a pretty creation.  

I hope and pray that you are finding lots to be thankful for.  Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by my blog.  I'm thankful for you...my blog friends!