Time for a Layout

Well, I don't have any brand new artwork to share (I'm working on some super C-U-T-E stuff with some NEW products...be sure to come back next week for a Blog Hop!), and since I've already shared some cards and a home decor item, I thought I'd share a layout today. :o)


Back in October, my mom, husband, and I went to Columbus, GA for a concert.  Max Lucado (an awesome pastor and author) teamed up with World Vision and 3 totally rockin' Christian bands (Third Day, Toby Mac, and Michael W. Smity) for the Make A Difference (MAD) Tour.  Max is celebrating his 25th year in ministry and his goal is to get 2500 children sponsored through World Vision.


As a current World Vision sponsor, I was offered a SWEET deal on a VIP package that included  seats in the second row (AWESOME!!) and a pre-show Q&A session with Max and the bands.  I have never done VIP tickets to a concert, but since the show was in October and my birthday is in October I talked my hubby into making a little vacation out of it.  There was NO way I was passing up the chance to chat with the lead singer of one of my all-time favorite bands (Mac Powell from Third Day)!  This layout is of the pre-show Q&A.  And no, I did not use my zoom...I was really that close to them! :o)    (click on the image to view it larger)

To make my title and the black stars polka-dotted, I used the emboss-resist technique.  I stamped the Spot On dots in Versamark ink and then embossed them with clear detail embossing powder.  I then inked up a sponge in black ink and rubbed over the images.  The black colors the background, but not the dots!

Supplies Used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):
Paper: black, orange cardstock (from local scrapbook store), white daisy CS; Startdust Level 2 Paper Pack
Ink: Black, Orange, Versamark
Stamps: Spot On Backgrounds (D1280)
Other: Dimensional Elements Stars (Z1312), Clear Detail embossing powder (Z821), Clover Meadow brads, blue brads (from stash)

A Christmas Surprise from Africa

My hubby and I sponsor two children in Africa through World Vision, Esnart in Zambia and Carilus in Kenya.  In addition to sending letters and little packages to your sponsored child, World Vision also allows you to give monetary donations (in addition to your monthly sponsorship pledge) directly to your child and their family.  World Vision staff who work where the child lives then take the child and family shopping for things they need.  You, the sponsor, then get a letter from your child along with a picture of what all was purchased! So cool!

Anywho, in mid-November I sent both kids an extra donation as a Christmas gift.  World Vision says to allow up to 4 months to receive the thank-you letter and picture (I know, 4 months sounds like a long time, but there are no Walmarts in Africa!).  Well, imagine my surprise when I opened the mailbox Christmas afternoon and saw a blue Air Mail envelope from Zambia!  I thought maybe it was just a letter (Esnart likes to keep us updated on the latest goings on in her family...we get lots of letters from her), but no, it was a thank-you letter with this picture attached:

This is my sweet Esnart with the items she and her family purchased with their Christmas money.  They bought two large bags of fertilizer for their family crops, a blanket, a pair of new shoes, and a new school uniform for Esnart.

To make a long story short, I had to miss our family Christmas dinner because I was sick.  I was sitting home alone feeling quite sorry for myself until I opened this letter.  I had to stop and think about what life must be like if fertilizer and a new school uniform can put such a big smile on a little girl's face.  That sweet smile was the best present I received this Christmas! :o)

Here's a picture of our precious Carilus (he must not have been in a picture taking mood...he really does have the cutest smile).  I can't wait to see what he and his family purchased on their shopping trip!

For more info on World Vision and sponsorship, click on the World Vision badge on the right! :o)

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!  May your day be blessed with family and love. :o)

Mistletoe Advent Calendar

Growing up, one of my favorite Christmas traditions was our Advent calendar.  Inside each little door was a piece of the Nativity scene waiting to be discovered.  I've searched high and low for an Advent calendar that was like the one I had growing up, but couldn't find one I loved.  So, I made my own!  


In each box is a little ornament that makes up part of the Nativity scene.  Each morning a box gets opened and the ornament goes on the little tree.  I look forward to sharing this tradition with my children in the future! :o)

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):
Paper: Mistletoe B&T, Mistletoe Creative Basics B&T
Ink: Cocoa, Cranberry, New England Ivy
Stamps: All the Best, Christmas Melodies (D1324)
Other: Countdown Calendar (Karen Foster), Mistletoe Lv. 2 Assortment (Z1330), Opaques Pearls (Z1336), Red Sparkles (Z1326), paper flowers/trees (Making Memories), ribbon and buttons (from stash)

Moon Viewin'

Did you watch the lunar eclipse Tuesday morning? If you didn't, you missed a great show!  Since my hubby is off work this week and I don't work (Yay, for being a full time student on Christmas break!), we decided to watch the free show God provided.  At 1:30am, we bundled up (it was COLD for North Florida!), dug out some blankets, made some hot chocolate, and lit a small fire in our backyard to watch the eclipse.  Here are a few pictures of our fun!

Christmas Cards

Well, 4 days before Christmas and my Christmas cards finally made it in the mail!  I know my friends and family here in town will receive them in time, hopefully the ones that have to travel a bit farther will make it too.  If not, there will be a nice after-Christmas surprise waiting in some mailboxes!

This year I decided to make three sets of cards using the same sketch.  I chose one that was fairly simple (since I made 36 cards) out of Wishes - one of CTMH's fabulous how-to books for card makers.  Then it was just a matter of choosing the paper, stamps, and embellishments!  So easy!

Here are my three designs for this year.  All three use the same sketch, the middle one is just rotated to make a top-fold card instead of a side-fold card.  Though it's hard to see, the snowflake card has a beautiful shimmer made with CTMH's new spray pen that will be available soon...stay tuned for details on that FUN product!

The Santa card turned out to be my favorite, so you get a few more views of him.  The damask background was inspired by the fabulous Karen Pedersen (you can see her card here).  The glitter on the background and on Santa is a glitter embossing powder that I LOVE (and that's now all over my house!!).  Also, check out my shimmer brads...made them myself...I'm so good!  (Sorry for the not so great lighting.  I'm still working on my photography skills.)

And a close-up of Santa.  Really, the pictures don't do him justice.  He's so sparkly in real life!

This is also my first time entering the Heart 2 Heart Challenge. Hop on over to their blog if you'd like to play with us! :o)

Supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):

Snowflake card:

Paper: Aspen B&T (retired); Colonial White, Bamboo cardstock

Ink: Bamboo, Outdoor Denim, Twilight

Punches: Snowflake (Martha Stewart)

Other: Spray Pen (coming soon), Create-A-Shade Pearl Paint, rhinestones (other)

Santa card:

Paper: White Daisy, Hydrangea (retired) cardstock; Watermelon, Ocean textured CS (both retired)

Ink: Hydrangea (retired), Black, Versamark

Stamps: Damask Tiles (C1342), I Believe (C1427)

Other: Hydrangea brads (retired), Kaleidoscope Embossing Powder (other), Black ribbon (from stash)

Tree card:

Paper: Everlasting B&T (retired); Bamboo, Cranberry cardstock

Ink: Chocolate, Cranberry, Creme Brulee, Ponderosa Pine

Stamps: A Timber (A1110)

Other: Bitty Sparkles (Z1263), chocolate brads (Z1218), embossing folder (Sizzix), 

Stickles (other) 

Hello Blogosphere!

Hi, and welcome to my blog!  After toying with the idea of creating one of these for my crafty projects, I have finally decided to take the leap.  I hope you will enjoy my creations and be inspired to create some fun projects of your own! Thanks for stopping by! :o)