Merry Christmas from Stampin Sisters in Christ . . . challenge 120

Merry Christmas from Stampin' Sisters in Christ! This is our last challenge until January 8th of 2012 as our design team members are going to take a break for family and to celebrate Christmas. We have enjoyed having you with us through our challenges this year and look forward to a fresh start creating in 2012!

This week's hostess is Mieje from the sunny south with our Christmas challenge. Her verse for today is from Luke 2:14 "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." For her challenge, she wishes you to create a Christmas card or project that is Christian, image and/or sentiment must have the TRUE meaning of Christmas.

Our sponsor this week is Our Daily Bread Designs and one randomly selected participant will receive a $15 gift card to their store.

Please visit the home page at Stampin' Sisters in Christ to read Miesje's thoughts and to view the creations by the rest of the SSIC design team. I know they all wish you a Merry Christmas as well!

For my card I used an image of the three kings I purchased long ago from Cornish Heritage Farms, with a background creating by sponging around a Layers of Color stencil. Then I selected a verse from a Christmas sentiments stamp set by Papertrey Ink and played around with glitter and embellishments. I had fun creating this, hope you get a chance to play along too.

Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge 119 . . . birthday!

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ, where all of our challenges are based on scripture. This week's hostess is sweet MariLynn who has selected this verse from Luke 2:11 "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord." Her challenge is for you to, in honor of Christ's birthday, make a birthday card. You can read MariLynn's thoughts about her chosen verse here as well as view the rest of the creations by the design team. We hope you can play along with us this week! I do apologize that I haven't had any time lately to make comments, life has ramped up and gotten busier than ever. I am hoping I will have more time to comment in 2012.

In our family we are doing an Advent wreath once a week. It is supposed to happen Sunday nights, but it gets pushed to Monday sometimes and last week was on Tuesday because of our schedules, but we fit it in every week. We light a candle and read and discuss scripture and sing a few carols. Then our daughter gets to have Christmas cookies when all is done; that was one of the parts that my older kids liked best when they were little as well.

I used to like the cookies and the decorating and those minor details much more when I was younger too, but every year that passes I'm more interested in the bible verses and the wonder of the story. They are better than old, familiar friends, those bible verses because they are always true and hold out such hope and promise no matter what life situation you're facing. I hope that you are able to slow down a little and enjoy the Christmas story and the wonder that the God of this universe would send his only son down to earth to live among us, Emmanuel, God with us, my favorite name for the Lord. Wishing you blessings this Christmas.



Just thought I'd show the selection of pencils I used to color in that little Lockhart image. Thanks for looking and have a great week!

Stamps: Lockhart (lemons) and PTI (sentiment)
Ink: memento black
Other: prismacolor pencils, spellbinders, ribbon, MS edge punch

Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge 118 . . . angels

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ, where all of our challenges are based on scripture. This week's hostess is a good friend Lisa, who has selected this verse from Matthew 1:20-22 ""But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 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.' All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' which means, 'God with us.'"

For her challenge, she would like you to use an angel on your project. Our lovely sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp. Please do visit the home page for Stampin' Sisters in Christ to see the creations by the rest of the design team and to read Lisa's devotional on her chosen verse.

My card is CAS as we have been traveling for the holidays and then just catching up on life after our return. Although it would be terrifying there are times when I wish an angel or someone would appear and tell me which direction to take in life, don't you? Not that those directions would suddenly make life easy. I know that just trying to live life the way the bible describes we ought to conduct ourselves is hard enough. Lately though I've listened to a series of sermons from our old church wherein the pastor tells us that we're not striving to live this Christian life on our own. Christ lives within us. He has the resurrection power. He who has begun a work in us will be faithful to complete it. That means the work is not our own, not all our own effort. I am glad to pass the baton on occasion and admit that I do not possess within myself to change a situation no matter how much I might desire to do so. I can rely on someone far more powerful than I to do the work.

I pray you find a way to rest a bit in this holiday season and think about the verse Lisa has selected and what it means in your own life. Thanks for looking, we hope you can play along this week.

Stamps: Hero Arts (angel), Papertrey Ink (verse or sentiment), Waltzingmouse (little star image)
Ink: Encore silver and SU ballet blue, black
Paper: white and silver
Other: ribbon, rhinestones, silver twinkle embossing powder, silver cord

Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge 116 . . . Praise

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ, where all of our challenges are based on scripture. This week's hostess is our beloved sister Rebekka who has selected this verse from Job 13:15 "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." Her challenge is to make a card that praises our God and Savior.

My creation this week is actually a junior legal notepad cover; the notepad can be used to keep track of prayer requests or as a thankfulness journal thanking God for the daily blessings he bestows.

I heard something this week on the radio that put Rebekka's challenge and verse in mind.

When I was a child one of the hymns we sang often at church was called "Now Thank We All Our God." The first two verses are as follows:

Now thank we all our God,
with heart and hands and voices,
who wondrous things has done,
in whom this world rejoices;
who from our mothers' arms
has blessed us on our way
with countless gifts of love,
and still is ours today.

2. O may this bounteous God
through all our life be near us,
with ever joyful hearts
and blessed peace to cheer us;
and keep us still in grace,
and guide us when perplexed;
and free us from all ills,
in this world and the next.

Notice especially the first verse, how it is filled with praise to our Lord! Until this past week though, I never had heard the story of the man who penned those lyrics.

His name was Martin Rinkart and he was a provincial clergyman in Ellenburg, Saxony, during the thirty years war. In addition to the calamities associated with any conflict, in 1637 the plague hit his village and in that one year 8,000 people died, including Rinkart's wife. He alone conducted more than 4,000 funerals for the people of that area, in one year. Then the plague was followed by famine, followed by foreign troops demanding 'tribute.' The list or troubles never seems to end.

Like Job, if anyone had cause to whine or bury their head in their hands and sob aloud, it was Rinkart. Yet the hymn you see printed above was his response. As much trouble as we face in our lives, it would be hard to come up with a list as impressive as Rinkart's or Job's. And what is our response? Job's story and Rinkart's story that I heard on the radio, give me some food for thought as to my response when I am facing my own short list of troubles.

Our sponsor this week is Pizzazz Aplenty and you need to visit that shop, some very cool items are in stock. And please do visit our home page where you can read Rebekka's thoughts on her chosen verse and see some great creations from the rest of the design team.

Thanks for looking, hope you can play along!

Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs (border strip), Clear Dollar Stamps (sentiment), Rubber Stamp Tapestry (pine cones, branches, etc.)
Paper: Olive green, Echo Park DP, PTI vintage cream, Fine Linen, gold
Ink: black, Kiwi Kiss, True Thyme, tan, Ranger distress ink (sponged), chocolate (PTI)
Other: cuttlebug embossing folder, vintage corner die, ODBD die to match stamp

Divas by Design . . . monochrome

Does anyone else get that Simon and Garfunkel song stuck in their heads when they see that word? "kodachrome gives us those nice bright colors . . ."

If you didn't before, you do now! Our challenge for Divas by Design this fortnight is to make a monochromatic card! Any color you please, I chose bluish-purple all based on the DP I had in my stash. Reminds me of a wintery night, but the cozy house and friendship help warm up even the coldest winter.

Hope you can hop in and play! We look forward to seeing your creations!

Stamps: Waltzingmouse
Ink: black, silver
Paper: random scraps, purple and blue CS
Other: ribbon, MS chunky glitter, oval punch, silver EP, snowflake punch, Fiskars corner punch/embosser

Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge 115 . . . Give Thanks

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ. Our lovely and friendly hostess this week is Traci, who selected this verse from 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Our sponsor is SImon Says Stamp. And Traci's challenge is to Create a card or project that depicts gratitude...it can be an image of something you are grateful for, a scripture that evokes your gratitude, or it can be a card made especially for a person you would like to thank this time of year!!

Be sure to check out the home page to see the rest of the creations by the SSIC design team and to read Traci's devotional on her chosen scripture.

I am so glad that November rolls around. Every year I make the commitment to keep a thankfulness journal and every year I start with fresh zeal only to have that idea fall by the wayside as life's problems start to mount and my vision of all my blessings grows dim. November, because of Thanksgiving, is always a jolt to the negative mindset and provides fresh perspectives. Each week it seems that the scripture verse one of my Stampin' Sisters selects is just what I needed to hear.

This week I am reminded again of all that I have in my life and I chose this cute house image from Waltzingmouse Stamps because in this blustery and cold time of year I am very thankful that God has provided us with a home. It has well sealed windows too, but that's just a bonus. We have a roof over our heads and that is not to be taken for granted. What are you thankful for today?

Stamps: Waltzingmouse (house), MFP (sentiment)
Ink: Memento black
Paper: Echo Park, PTI
Other: copics, glitter, ribbon

Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge 114 . . .What's Old is New Again

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ. I am the hostess this week and our wonderful sponsor is Clear Dollar Stamps, offering a $15 gift certificate to one randomly selected participant in this week's challenge. My chosen verse is from Genesis 3:6 "When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it."

My challenge is for you to dig into your stash and use one of your first, or oldest stamp sets to create your project.

Here are my thoughts for this week:

Eve took the apple. That is one of many important messages in this entire story from Genesis. Why is it significant?

My daughter recently visited a friend’s after school group at a local church. Among the other activities they gave the kids a mini-message. All the kids in the room, they were told, were good apples. But sometimes in life, bad apples come along who tempt us to do bad things. It isn’t our fault, it just happens. (I found out later that same week that the pastor of that church in a talk with his congregation had thrown the bible down on the floor by the pulpit and told them they wouldn’t be using it anymore.)

No, we’re not all born as good apples. We all are born with sin. Our greatest strivings, the best behavior we can possibly conjure up on our own cannot hope to reach the perfection that exists in God. And we alone fall to temptation; it is not the responsibility of other people. This line of thought leads to salvation by works, not by grace. “If I can just remain a good, unblemished apple . . . “ But we cannot earn our way to heaven. Romans 3:23 “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Notice how quickly the blame game started, all the way back in Genesis. Eve blamed the serpent. Adam blamed Eve and even blamed God himself, by implication, for placing Eve there. But as it says in James 1:13 “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.’”

Eve and Adam blamed others for their choice to disobey, to sin. And my daughter’s visit to that local church illustrates that the blame game, while as old as Adam and Eve, is still alive and well today. We still blame others or our circumstances for our own sins.

Insert your own name into that first sentence. “I” took the apple. I held temptation in my hand and then bit into it. I am a sinner.

There are so many problems with the blame game, but one primary issue is that as long as a person plays the blame game, “Its not my fault!” and can shove it onto another source, there is no acknowledgment that yes, I am a sinner. A sinner needs a savior. A sinner turns to Christ. Someone who blames other people or circumstances for their own actions not only gets stuck in a rut (a bad pattern for life) but never has a reason to turn to Christ for their salvation, they turn to excuses. Where have you turned?

This week’s challenge focuses on the fact that what is old is new again. Satan often recycles the same old messages and we don’t want to get caught up in the blame game that started way back in the garden of Eden! To remind us of this, pull out one of your oldest stamp sets, one of the first ones you ever bought and use it in a card.

I used the sketch from this past week's Mojo Monday challenge, I love their sketches, for me, a sketch gets the mojo going better than almost any other type of challenge. Mojo 213 right here.

Stamps: Garden Collage (SU)
Ink: Kaleidacolor Berry Blaze, Stazon brown, Antique Linen
Paper: PTI Autumn Rose and Fine Linen, Basic Grey Indian Summer
Other: spellbinders, prima roses, pearls, copic R99, PTI scarlet jewel satin ribbon, PTI tintype impression plate

Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge 113 . . .Fall colors

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ. This week's hostess is the talented and busy! Lisa, who selected this verse from Isaiah 1:18, "Come let us reason together," says the Lord. "Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Our sponsor this week is Lilly of the Valley with a ten pound gift certificate for one randomly selected participant in this week's challenge, which is to use Fall colors in your creation, crimson, gold, orange, or others.

You'll find the other creations by the design team and Lisa's thoughts on this verse on the home page here.

This verse is precious to me. This past week was full of missteps on my part. I'm really glad to close the page on last week and start a new one, fresh. I have taken my faults to the Lord and to those people involved in my missteps, when I could. My background growing up makes me want to continue to beat myself over the head with those faults. Especially since in my family of origin I was, and am, surrounded by people who don't seem to forgive.

But God always does forgive when we come to him in repentance. For me, personally, that is huge and at the same time, hard to grasp. When your life is filled with human examples of unforgiveness and fault-finding, it is easy to picture God with arms folded, frowning down at me or shaking His head in disappointment. He doesn't do that. Reminding myself of that and reminding myself of my identity in Christ is my daily struggle. Whatever your struggle is, take it to the Lord. God isn't like any parent, any person you know here on earth, He is perfect and as it says in Isaiah, when we repent of any wrongdoing, He is quick to forgive. I'm going to carry that verse with me this week and I'm so glad Lisa chose it.

Stamps: Layers of Color
Paper: Basic Grey Indian summer, chocolate, pumpkin, apricot, cream
Ink: brown stazon
Other: pearls, copics, ribbon, nestabilities

Mark's Finest Papers 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop . . . Day 11: Decorated Gift Boxes

Speedy the Cat at Mark's Finest Papers likes to get a head start on special Christmas gifts and memories for friends and family. He gathered the design team at Mark's Finest Papers to bring you 12 days of exciting paper crafting gift ideas to get that holiday mojo flowing. The hop runs for 12 consecutive days, starting October 17th! Begin your holiday hop at Speedy's home base, the Mark's Finest Papers blog and relax with a cup of eggnog (or sprig of catnip, your choice) as Speedy leads you though a short, daily hop. You'll find your holiday paper crafting ideas and supplies at Mark's Finest Papers.
Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop! We have four samples each day for our hop! Please visit each of the following blogs for holiday inspiration! Start off tomorrow on the MFP Blog for more inspiration!

Day 11 Decorated Gift Box Oct 27
Harriet
Debbie M
Carol
Peggysue




For my post today I chose a very simple little gift box that I thought might make a nice thank you for a bus driver, postal carrier, all the people who help our lives run a bit smoother during the course of the year. This is a Ghirardelli box, you can find the tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers right here. It comes together very quickly.

For the holly sprig I used an image from the new set, "Holly Greetings" along with a simple sentiment. I also made a small border using a Martha Stewart holiday edge punch. Very simple, but a nice little box. Thanks for looking and happy hopping!

Papertrey Ink October 2011 blog hop

Hey peeps! Time for another PTI blog hop.

Instead of making a card this time, I made a 'whimsy' jar. I thought it would be interesting to recreate the inspiration photo as a pincushion. I originally got the idea for a pincushion whimsy jar from a pinterest photo Melissa Phillips had on her blog of a place in England that sold pincushion jars--basically recycled jam jars with a pincushion on top that makes a neat little sewing jar. Store the pins inside the jar, use the pincushion on top when you're sewing.

Rather than pay someone more than $20 for something I thought I could make myself, I tried it. This is my second attempt at this type of jar, the first one I posted about a week ago and I learned that if you tie the pincushion into sections with thread, like I did to mimic the pumpkin, then it doesn't lie as flush on the jar lid as the version that isn't tied. So just a tip there if you decide you'd like to try making one.

So no stamping on my project, but definitely burnt fingertips from the glue gun.

PTI supplies used were the Beautiful Blooms #3 dies, ric rac die, buttons, ribbon and felt.
Other supplies, fabric from stash, thread, lace, jam jar, pins, pearls, cuttlebug vintage die.

Mark's Finest Papers 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop . . . Day Seven: Calendars//Stampin' Sisters in Christ 112

Speedy the Cat at Mark's Finest Papers likes to get a head start on special Christmas gifts and memories for friends and family. He gathered the design team at Mark's Finest Papers to bring you 12 days of exciting paper crafting gift ideas to get that holiday mojo flowing. The hop runs for 12 consecutive days, starting October 17th! Begin your holiday hop at Speedy's home base, the Mark's Finest Papers blog and relax with a cup of eggnog (or sprig of catnip, your choice) as Speedy leads you though a short, daily hop. You'll find your holiday paper crafting ideas and supplies at Mark's Finest Papers.
Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop! We have four samples each day for our hop! Please visit each of the following blogs for holiday inspiration! Start off tomorrow on the MFP Blog for more inspiration!

Please note, I have split up my calendar post into three separate blog posts because I cannot fit all the photos into one post; I'm sure there is a fancy blogging trick to be able to do so, but I am not wise as to what that might be.

I have made an easel/box calendar. The top part is like an easel card, with the base to hold the calendar pages the easel. The bottom has two drawers, each able to hold six to seven calendar 'photos,' depending on their thickness (i.e. the number of embellishments you put on them).

I printed out a mini calendar for 2012 and that is the 'stopper' for the easel portion. A helpful forum member on splitcoast provided the calendar for 2012, her name is Cat on SCS and you can find the thread with her calendar template here. I made the box/drawers and easel base in light gray, so it wouldn't detract from the monthly calendar decoration and each piece is 4 1/8 x 4 1/8 square. You simply use a clip to hold that month's picture in place, or the recipient is free to put any month up that they like, depending on their mood. I chose to go light on the sentiments and mainly highlight images. I am providing links to the sources for my calendar pages and instructions for making the box/drawer. Thanks for looking! Have a great hop! Please see the posts immediately below this one for the additional calendar pages.

Also, this week our lovely hostess at Stampin' Sisters in Christ is MariLynn who has selected this verse Ecclesiastes 3:1 "There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens . . ." Her challenge is to make a card/project that shows the passing of time. A clock ( for hours) a sun (for days) a calendar for (years) etc. You can go to the home page here to view the rest of the beautiful creations by the rest of the design team and read MariLynn's devotional on this topic; she always has great thoughts to share. It isn't often I have to combine posts, but this is one case where they dovetailed nicely. Wishing you a blessed week (and year).

Complete calendar view


View showing drawers open for storing calendar pages:


All 12 pages


January: MFP Set used is "Time to Chill"


February: MFP Set used "Sew What?"


March: MFP Set used "Happy Pansies"


April: MFP Set "He is the Lamb"


And right here you can see the other creations for calendars from the Mark's Finest Papers design team in day 7 of our 12-day hop! Again, for the rest of my calendar pages, just scroll down and peep at the photos in the two posts below this one.

Day 7 Calendars!
Peggysue
Connie
Anne
MariLynn

Mark's Finest Papers Blog Hop . . . Calendar continued

Hi friends! Here is the post that contains more of the calendar images for the complete twelve months. This post contains May through September calendar pages. Please see the post immediately below this one for October through December, if you wish.

May: MFP Set used "Planted with Love"


June: MFP Set used "Black Eyed Susans for Encouragement"


July: MFP Set used "Fun on the Farm"


August: MFP Set used "Adirondack Summer"


September: MFP Set used "Poppies, Poppies, Poppies"


Day 7 Calendars!
Peggysue
Connie
Anne
MariLynn

Mark's Finest Papers 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop . . .Calendars Oct-December

And here is the last of the set, October through December, plus a view of the drawers open to show how they store the calendar pages. Thanks again so much for looking, hope you're enjoying the hop! If you stumbled across this post and don't remember the hop order, it is listed below:

October: MFP Set used "Autumn Fun"


November: MFP Set used "Country Thanksgiving"


December: MFP Set used "Ginger Cookies"


Day 7 Calendars!
Peggysue
Connie
Anne
MariLynn

Mark's Finest Papers 12 Days of Christmas blog hop . . . Day Four, Votive Candle Holders

Speedy the Cat at Mark's Finest Papers likes to get a head start on special Christmas gifts and memories for friends and family. He gathered the design team at Mark's Finest Papers to bring you 12 days of exciting paper crafting gift ideas to get that holiday mojo flowing. The hop runs for 12 consecutive days, starting October 17th! Begin your holiday hop at Speedy's home base, the Mark's Finest Papers blog and relax with a cup of eggnog (or sprig of catnip, your choice) as Speedy leads you though a short, daily hop. You'll find your holiday paper crafting ideas and supplies at Mark's Finest Papers.
Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop! We have four samples each day for our hop! Please visit each of the following blogs for holiday inspiration! Start off tomorrow on the MFP Blog for more inspiration!




Quick instructions, sorry I didn't post them earlier, its funny, when you own a blog, you know what you've posted before and don't always remember that the people reading your posts don't live inside your head~anyway! I used etching cream. There is a great tutorial on SCS here, or the basic instructions would be:

1. Clean your glass object and clean it again! MAke sure there aren't any fingerprints or smudges.
2. Use contact paper to cut a mask for your project. Any area INSIDE the mask will be etched, so for a plate for example, you might cut out a round mask, for the votive my mask was square, or just about.
3. Stamp your image CAREFULLY in versamark. You might have to try it a few times. It is very hard to see the versamark on clear glass. If you restamp, use glass cleaner to carefully wipe your glass clean before stamping again.
4. Emboss with clear EP. (and remember, glass transmits heat very efficiently, don't burn your fingers)
5. Spread Armor etching cream thickly over glass inside the mask (caustic substance, you might want to wear gloves)
6. Let it sit for at least 20 minutes, I did mine for a half hour just to be sure.
7. Rinse off etching cream (or you can try to scoop it back into the bottle to reuse in the future)
8. Remove contact paper mask.

Day 4 Glass Votive Holders Oct 20
Vicky
Carol
Lynn
Peggysue

Mark's Finest Papers 12 Days of Christmas blog hop . . . Day Three, Altered Jars

Speedy the Cat at Mark's Finest Papers likes to get a head start on special Christmas gifts and memories for friends and family. He gathered the design team at Mark's Finest Papers to bring you 12 days of exciting paper crafting gift ideas to get that holiday mojo flowing. The hop runs for 12 consecutive days, starting October 17th! Begin your holiday hop at Speedy's home base, the Mark's Finest Papers blog and relax with a cup of eggnog (or sprig of catnip, your choice) as Speedy leads you though a short, daily hop. You'll find your holiday paper crafting ideas and supplies at Mark's Finest Papers.

Welcome to the 12 Days of Christmas Blog Hop! We have four samples each day for our hop! Please visit each of the following blogs for holiday inspiration! Start off your journey on the MFP Blog for more inspiration!

I am on the main blog post today, not a part of the official hop, but want to give you some directions for the project I made, if you need more details. I made a 'whimsy jar.' These can contain anything, for mine, I am going to fill it with sewing items, spools of thread, some pins, some buttons, for my oldest daughter to use when she sits down to sew.

I used an empty jam jar for my base and made a pincushion that attaches to the top of the jar, so you can have your pins inside the jar and the pincushion just on top, so handy, I think, for a sewing project!


The bit of fabric I used is a scrap that has a lot of meaning for me personally. Years ago, almost nineteen now, I was making a dress for my youngest daughter, who was nine months old at the time. I had all but the collar and hemming done and then a sudden, a drastic life change made me put the project down and never return to it. As I was digging through my trunk I came across a piece of this fabric, large enough to use for my pincushion and that fabric I liked so well years ago for its soft green and peach tones is seeing new life. :)

First, you cut a circle of fabric almost twice the size of the expected, final pincushion size. So you want to measure the diameter of your jar lid and cut the fabric accordingly. I cut a piece of paper 5.5-inches around first, as a template, traced around it with a pencil on my fabric and cut that out.

Then taking some strong thread, gather between 1/8- and 1/4-inch worth of fabric with a running stitch or gathering stitch, because you're just going to pull those gather threads to 'scrunch' up your pincushion fabric.

Stuff your pincushion! When you think it is full, stuff it a bit more!

Then I cut a cardboard circle to insert into the end of the pincushion because I wanted to flatten the bottom, to attach it to the jar lid. I also cut a piece of felt with a spellbinders to sew the edges shut. You don't have to be super neat with this part, its going to be glued to your jar lid and no one will see it anyway.


I used a hot glue gun (totally out of glue sticks now, used my last one) to glue the pincushion, flattened on one side, to my jar lid. Then I took some beautiful lace from Mark's Finest Papers, a few of their prima roses, an MFP charm (there are so many to choose from!), some gold thread and a bit of ribbon to complete my jar topper.

The band I made using a spellbinder die as well, a cuttlebug vintage die and an oval punch for the sentiment. The sentiment is from the MFP set "Sew What?" because my whimsy jar is a sewing jar. I added a few MFP pearls that I colored with a copic marker to match the peachy shades in the fabric and paper (Mark's Finest Papers) and glued the parts together, then slipped them up over the bottom of the jar.

I found the directions for making a simple pincushion on this site, The Purl Bee and have shared my own twist on their instructions in my post.

Thanks for looking, hope you like it and hope you get some great holiday gift ideas from the hop!

Day Three: Decorated Jars
Markie
Faith
Geri
Pam

Stamps: MFP Sew What?

Ink: stazon black

Paper: green, cream and peach from MFP

Accessories: MFP lace, pins, dragonfly charm, gold cord, prima roses, glitter, ribbon, fabric, stuffing, jam jar, spellbinders and cuttlebug vintage die

Divas by Design . . .something spooky!

Hey peeps! Time for another challenge from Divas by Design! This fortnight's challenge is to create something spooky. The owls are a bit distracted by the caterpillar crawling on the branch, but should be looking the other way, as a spider is about ready to crawl onto their branch. I painted around the owls with some twinkling H20s, really can't see the shimmer in the photograph, but its there.

Hope you can join in the challenge, we look forward to seeing your creations in the gallery!

I found this sketch on the mojo Monday blog, it is Mojo sketch number 211, always love a good sketch to help get those creative juices going.

Stamps: Rachelle Anne Miller Stampavie, random spider web
Ink: black craft, white craft, black
Paper: black, purple, DP, white
Other: ribbon, cuttlebug vintage corner die, irridescent ice EP, clear EP, glitter, twinkling H20s, Fiskars edge punch

Stamin' Sisters in Christ challenge 111. . . seeing double

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ, where all of the challenges are inspired by scripture. Our lovely hostess this week is Miesje, who selected this verse from Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me all who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Her challenge is called 'sharing." Use two of anything you have on your creation; for example, use two dps, two flowers, two stamps . . . whatever you use must be doubled.
Our sponsor this week is Designed2Delight@blogspot.com and one randomly selected winner will receive a $10 gift card to her store.

I know that Miesje has had several burdens on her shoulders lately so I am going to add nothing but direct you to her devotional on the home page found here.

This image caught my eye when I opened the bottom drawer of my loose, individual wooden stamps. I have a couple small Winnie stamps and hardly use them, but since this verse is about our partnership with the Lord when times get tough and Miesje's challenge is about doubles or twos, I thought the image of two friends might suit. They are taking a walk in the hundred acre forest, represented by the wood grain impression plate and the Fall colors on the strips of DP.

We hope you find the time this week to play along. Thanks for looking.

Mark's Finest Papers October release . . . Ginger Cookies

Hello! Welcome to the October 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!
This month's new releases are: Holly Greetings, Christmas in the Country, Snowball?, Country Thanksgiving, Cardinals in Winter, and Ginger Cookies.For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.
So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Ginger Cookies? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)
For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Ginger Cookies. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.
Emily
Nancyruth
Neva
Faith
Dawn
Marilynn
Patricia
Chrissy
Karen
Pam
Joanne
Markie
Carol
Mark’s Finest Papers

When I saw this set I decided it would make a nice decorated cookie plate, so I used some etching cream and found an inexpensive clear glass plate at KMart. When you try this technique make sure the plate or glass is very clean and free from fingerprints. You might have to stamp your image more than once, the glass is slippery and it can take a few tries.

Stamp your image in versamark and emboss with clear powder. Using a mask cut out of contact paper, apply it to the glass and spread on the etching cream. Let it sit for a good twenty minutes at least, then wipe it off and rinse off your plate or glass in the laundry tub, if you have one. I really like the effect it produces, it is just difficult to get a good photo. Thanks for looking and best of luck on the hop.

Mark's Finest Papers October release . . . Country Thanksgiving and Cardinals in Winter

Hello! Welcome to the October 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!
This month's new releases are: Holly Greetings, Christmas in the Country, Snowball?, Country Thanksgiving, Cardinals in Winter, and Ginger Cookies.For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.
So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Sets: Country Thanksgiving and Cardinals in Winter? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)
For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Country Thanksgiving and Cardinals in Winter. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.
Emily
Nancyruth
Neva
Faith
Dawn
Marilynn
Patricia
Chrissy
Karen
Pam
Joanne
Markie
Carol
Mark’s Finest Papers

Swimming for Katie blog hop

Hey friends, I am not part of this hop, but in my little corner of the world, wanted to spread the word, late as it is. I am sure they will continue selling that adorable digi that Becky Oehlers designed to help Katie Renz and her family, once the hop is over. You can find more information at www.iheartpapers.com or any of the participating hop members.

Katie is a fellow stamper and is battling stage four gastric cancer. Hard to even write about this because it always brings me to tears, but just a note to say help out if you can.

Mark's Finest Papers October release . . . Christmas in the Country and Snowball

Hello! Welcome to the October 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!
This month's new releases are: Holly Greetings, Christmas in the Country, Snowball?, Country Thanksgiving, Cardinals in Winter, and Ginger Cookies.For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.
So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Sets: Christmas in the Country and Snowball? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)
For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Christmas in the Country and Snowball?. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.
Lois
Vicky
Dawn
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Linda
Karen
Patty
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Debbie
Mark’s Finest Papers

Mark's Finest Papers October release . . . Holly Greetings

Hello! Welcome to the October 2011 MFP New Releases Blog Hop!
This month's new releases are: Holly Greetings, Christmas in the Country, Snowball?, Country Thanksgiving, Cardinals in Winter, and Ginger Cookies.For your convenience, all these sets are available TODAY at Mark's Finest Papers.
So, do you want to WIN today's Featured Stamp Set: Holly Greetings? (If you don't want to wait to win, you can always purchase the sets right away! We'll substitute a set from NEXT month's release if today's winner has already purchased this set!)
For your chance to win: Comment on the following Design Team members' blogs TODAY before midnight EDT. There will be ONE random winner chosen from the comments on today's Blog Hop blogs. That winner will win Holly Greetings. We will announce the winner's name on tomorrow's MFP blog post.
Lois
Vicky
Dawn
Anne
Peggysue
Connie
Linda
Karen
Patty
Liz
Geri
Lynn
Claudine
Debbie
Mark’s Finest Papers

I chose similar color schemes for my cards but in the second one I chose to focus solely on the sentiment. There are a lot of great sentiments with neat fonts in the sets from Mark's Finest Papers and you don't always have to have an image to highlight it, they can stand on their own. I associate the phrase 'holly jolly Christmas' with jingle bells, so I chose jingle bells to accent the bow. Highlighting the sentiment gives you a great outlet to use some patterned paper too. Thanks so much for looking and good luck on the hop.

Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge 110 . . . anything goes

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ where all of our challenges are based on scripture. Today's hostess is Lovely Linda who has selected this verse from Mark 10:27 "And Jesus looking upon them saith, "With men it is impossible but not with God: for with God all things are possible." Her challenge this week is anything goes! So you are free to use your imagination.

Prior to this verse Linda has selected, the chapter in Matthew begins with the story of the rich young ruler. If you're not familiar with this story, you can read it starting with the beginning of Mark chapter ten. Basically he walks away a bit crushed and the disciples become slightly alarmed, because the young ruler assures Jesus that he has followed all of the commandments 'since his youth' and believes that this promises him eternal assurance. Yet Jesus tells the disciples that it is difficult for a rich man, indeed everyone, to enter the kingdom heaven.

"Who then can be saved?" the disciples question one another. That is when Jesus responds with his statement that with God all things are possible.

What Jesus is referring to with that statement is salvation. Relating back to Ephesians 2:8-9 "Fo it is by grace you have been saved by faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works so that no man may boast." The rich young ruler was works oriented, he has kept all the commandments his entire adult life, doesn't that make him a shoo-in for heaven? The answer is no. No man is perfect, only God the Father. Our best efforts, striving to live a perfect life bring us as close to God as the top of your house is to the constellation Orion. We cannot do it alone. In addition to addressing the ruler's love of money, that is the point Jesus was making. What is impossible for man is possible with God. God alone provides us with the means for salvation, through the sacrifice of his son Jesus Christ.

This passage helps me feel great relief. I grew up in an environment where nothing I did ever quite measured up, where nothing was quite good enough. Knowing that God has made a way for me when I can do nothing to make that way myself fills me with a calm gratitude for that incredible gift. I know that all the design team sisters hope and pray that you have made the decision to accept that gift as well.

We look forward to seeing your creations this week in the gallery. Hope you have a chance to play along!

Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs, Layers of Color (sentiment)
Ink: SU Close to Cocoa, black
Paper: DP, random blue, green
Other: rhinestones, oval nestability, twinkling H20s, silver gel pen, SU seam binding ribbon

Julie's Smile Blog Hop

Welcome to this stop in the hop for Julie's Smile! If you came here from Michelle Hodge’s blog, then you are in the right spot. If not, you may want to start from the beginning at the Sweet Stamp Shop’s blog and take your time. You have ALL WEEKEND, through October 9th, to hop with us and win prizes! Any stop on the hop might mean a fabulous prize, so you really want to visit as many places as you can!

The Story:
The creative blogging community is coming together this weekend to help one of our friends, Julie Ranae. You may know her as the Design Team Coordinator for many wonderful companies from bakers twine, die cuts, rubber stamps and more. What many people don’t know about Julie Ranae is that she has had some pretty major dental surgeries in her lifetime due to medication she had to take as a child. It was in her plans to think about having all of her teeth replaced at some point in the next 5 years, a decision that was pretty easy to plan out. But then it happened…she chipped her front teeth on a weekend a month ago. The dentist told her there was no way to save them & that it was his recommendation that she give in and have them all her teeth removed soon, but for that day, they needed to get her front teeth done so her gums could begin to heal. He said he would 'work out payments with her to have ALL this work done...but when she called to make her appt for the first step of impressions, they told her the amount of money that was needed and that the 'payments' applied only to the two teeth that were extracted that day. Her husband Paul was with her & that too, was his understanding as well. So this is how she has found herself in this situation…Needing at least $4000 to get started and another $3000 to finish the process…a total of $7000.

Nicole Rixon, owner of Sweet Stamp Shop put together this benefit after finding out about this situation and before Julie Ranae knew it, it took flight!

Because she is an event organizer by trade, she has taken on the job of organizing all of the blogs in this hop as her way of ‘working overtime’ for what she needs, the same as if she were able to work overtime at an outside job to pay for the work to be done.

It is the goal of all of these generous friends & sponsors to help make this situation more do-able for our friend so that she can share a brand new smile with all of us soon.

If there is anything you can do to help with a financial donation, there is a donation button ready for you to click. Any amount is appreciated and ALL DONATIONS will be eligible for prizes from our sponsor pool of over $2500.

I hope you enjoyed your stop here on the hop! The next stop is Crafty Math Chick’s blog. Make sure you leave a comment here before you go so that you can have a chance at the amazing prizes up for grabs and if you can, please make a donation so we can help bring back a new smile for our friend.

Challenges: Mojo Monday #209

Stamps: Sneak peek of new set from Mark's Finest Papers, being released October 11th "Country Thanksgiving"
Ink: black stazon
CS: rust, pumpkin, cream and DP from PTI
Other: prismacolor pencils, ribbon, flowers (Mark's Finest Papers), punch (SU), textured woodgrain impression plate (PTI), gold gel pen

Stampin' Sisters in Christ challenge 109 . . . fruit of the spirit

Happy Sunday stampers! It is time for another challenge from Stampin' Sisters in Christ! This week's hostess is our lovely founder Kris, who has selected this verse from Galatians 5:22-23a "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." Her challenge is for you to include fruit in your creation (stamp, digi, paper, charms, etc.) ...just a reminder that by definition a pumpkin is a fruit and so are other forms of harvest produce like gourds. One of the stampin' sisters also reminded us that a pinecone is considered a fruit, so you have a broad range of images to choose from.

Our sponsor is Clear Dollar Stamps and one randomly selected participant in this week's challenge will win a $15 gift card from that company to their store. They have lots of great images and scripture verses, as well as other stamping supplies. We hope you get a chance to visit their site!

You can read Kris' thoughts on her devotional on the main page as well as see the creations this week by the other members of the design team. I don't know about you, but that list is a bit daunting as it proves that I need to work a bit more on the fruitfulness of my Christian walk, or I need to take more of my concerns to the Lord so that he can increase the fruitfulness.

I went with a CAS card as my time this week slipped through my fingers. Thanks for looking and we hope you can join in!

Stamps: Papertrey Ink Everyday Button Basics
Ink: black and kiwi kiss
Paper: white and red, red gingham
Other: poppy buttons, marker, edge punch