Make a Change Monday - a New Holiday Tradition

I spent a good part of last December (well - ok - every December) obsessing about Christmas cards. Handmade or store-bought?  Intricate or simple?  Mass produced or individually created? I wrote about an article from Dear Abby on this very topic, then justified not getting them finished by making some New Year's cards instead, and then just putzed out altogether...and felt guilty about it the whole time.  We can talk about my weirdness at a later date.

This past weekend I went away for a much needed scrapbooking retreat and in my "projects to work on" pile was the list of people who didn't get a Christmas or New Year's card. I was ignoring it - and feeling guilty, when I came across this image on the Canvas Corp blog:

I had just been working on some MnTs using crepe paper and finger folding, so had all the supplies I needed with me and thought "what the heck - why not make some Easter cards"?

You know what? I actually ENJOYED it. I loved working with the spring colors and new papers and fun techniques.  I loved being able to work on 30 cards instead of 300.  I loved being able to finish the whole thing in an hour or two instead of setting aside an entire day or weekend to plow through my list.  I loved that it reminded me of WHY I enjoy paper crafts and surprising someone I care about with something hand made. It got my creative juices flowing, got the cards off my to-do list, and gave me an idea for a new holiday tradition.

Instead of scrambling to make hundreds of Christmas cards during an already jam-packed season, I am going to make and send cards during different holidays throughout the year.  No minimums, no time line, no pressure - I'll do it when I have time and when I am inspired.  People "expect" cards around Christmas - but what a wonderful surprise to get an unexpected card for Easter, or 4th of July, or Halloween! I can make 2 per holiday or I can make 20, and this will also give me the time to personalize each card instead of just signing my name because I am in a hurry to "get it done".  I am SO EXCITED about this - and can't wait to spread the word to my other card making friends. Wouldn't you love to know that people are thinking about you throughout the year?

So to the 24 people on my Christmas list who thought I forgot about you, look for this little spot of springtime in the mail this week.  The rest of you...you never know when a card full of love will arrive from the Kingstons!

(products used: WRMK Cotton Tail collection - Thicket and Bunny Tail patterned papers, Bazzill Basics Dotted Swiss cardstock, Xyron 510, 250 and Mega Runner, Silhouette Cameo, crepe paper, scrap paper, Gelly Roll clear pen, May Arts ribbon, tag, joy stamp)

Happy Easter to all!

Kids Crafts Saturday - Potato Painting for St Patrick's Day!

Looking for a fun and easy St. Patrick's Day crafts for the kiddos?  A potato, some paint and paper, and a little creativity makes for the perfect project!

SUPPLIES
potato
knifewhite cardstockmarkersWRMK Crop-a-Dile (or hole punch)ribbon
washable craft pain
paper plate/bowl 

Cut the potato in half, then carve your shape on the exposed edge (we used a chipboard heart for a template but you can also cut your shape freehand).


Use a bowl (or plate with raised sides) for the paint, so excess can be wiped off before stamping the potato on to the paper.

To create a clover - get paint on the potato, stamp the heart, then rotate 45 degrees for each leaf.  The kids used their fingers to create the stems - their favorite part!




Working with younger kids?  Don cut out a "handle" on one of the potatoes by cutting away the sides of the potato about halfway, then cutting a hole through the center.






To complete the project, let the kids write their names on the paper, then punch holes at the top, tie with ribbon, and set aside to dry.  Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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.

Crafty Canvas in Canada!

A few weeks ago I had the joy of teaching MnTs at the innaugural Crop & Create event in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  While I love teaching techniques and showing people how to use Xyron products in new and creative ways - my own creative spirit is re-energized when I see people take a project and make it their own...and those fabulous Canadians did just that!

One of our MnTs was a darling fall tag using a Canvas Corp canvas tag, Maya Road mists, and the Xyron Creatopia (see bottom of this post for directions). While I created a basic project to encourage crafters of all levels - I was tickled that so many people felt comfortable experimenting with the techniques and products to create something that expressed their own personalities.  Take a look and see for yourself!

The original project:

A sampling of the projects created by Crop & Create attendees:

Thank you wonderful Saskatchewanians (yeah - I made that up...it works - right?) for sharing your weekend and your creativity with me.  I left you feeling excited and motivated and re-engaged - can't wait to come back!

Want to make a tag of your own?  Get out a few items and start creating!

Fall Canvas Tag Canvas Corp canvas tag Maya Road Mists misting mask (if desired) background stamp (this project used Hero Arts La Lettre) black ink pad assorted scraps of fabric (approx 6x6) Xyron Creatopia with fabric adhesive refill leaf die (this project used Sizzix Bigz Die Tattered Leaves) die cutting machine (this project used the Xyron Creatopia Shapez component) coordinating buttons, rhinestones, ribbon, assorted embellishments

Instructions Mist canvas tag to desired coloring, using mask for additional shading if desired. Set aside to dry. Run fabric through the Creatopia fabric adhesive. Run fabric through die cutting machine using leaf die. To get an assortment of leaf colors you will repeat this process at least three times using different colored fabric. Set extra leaves aside for another project. Determine approximate placing of leaves but do not adhere. Using background stamp and black ink pad, stamp image on "blank" areas of tag where leaves will not be applied. *Hint - for less of a "blocky" look, use a baby wipe to wipe off ink on outer edges of stamp before stamping on canvas.* Peel backing off of leaf die cuts and adhere to tag. Embellish as desired and enjoy!

New Xyron videos - great project ideas!

To be fair, "new" actually means "new to those of us who keep forgetting to check the Xyron page on YouTube".  I had COMPLETELY forgotten about these projects until I stumbled across them last night - but they are too cute not to share!  All three of them would be great gift ideas since...ahem...the holidays are RAPIDLY approaching.

PS..."get your creativity juices flowing" is starting to weird me out a little bit.  :)  Guess I better come up with a new catch phrase for the next round of videos!