Lego Indiana Jones Bday Card

My son loves Lego, and now he is in the "Indiana Jones Stage". Therefore we decided to use this theme to celebrate his 8th birthday and, of course, I made a card for him. I hope you enjoy it as much as he. Here it is

Supplies Used
Paper: Kraft cardstock (Recollections), green cardstock (the Paper Studios)
Tools: Cutting/embossing machine (Sizzix), large polka-dots embossing folder (the Paper Studios), computer, printer, square punch (to make the edge cuts on the banner), scissors (to distress the craft cardstock - see picture below)
Embellishments: whip (wire covered with brown tissue paper), Lego Indy and the fedora (cut out of a Lego box), twine, banner with Happy Birthday sentiment phrase (font sd fedora downloaded from the internet).

We made the thank you cards using the same theme, and I'll post them as soon as I can.

Thank you for stopping by. God bless you.

Vanias Reed      

Thanksgiving With Lace

Do you sometimes feel like changing things up a bit? I do. Don't take me wrong, I love traditions. But once in a while I like to do something different. 
The card I'm posting today is a Thanksgiving card without the turkey or the pumpkin, instead I used lace and pearls.

Supplies Used:

Paper: Brown, rusty orange, beige and off white (the Paper Studios)

Tools: maple leaf puncher (Recollections), 1/16" hole punch 

Stamp: Happy Thanksgiving (Stampabillities)

Ink: Brown marker for stamps (Recollections)

Embellishments: brown ribbon, pearls, lace, tag

Let me know in a comment how you turn your traditions into something new and exciting. 

Thank you so much for checking out my blog. Have a blessed crafting.

Vanias Reed      

Thanksgiving ideas

Sometimes we all get invited to a special dinner, like a Thanksgiving dinner, and the hostess tells us we don't need to bring any dish. But I believe it is always good to bring her at least a little homemade gift. So today I'm posting an idea for a gift +  gift tags + a crochet pattern for you.

Homemade Apple Sauce

My suggestion is that you make something the whole family will enjoy, like a delicious apple butter. Below you will find a recipe for a delicious apple butter.
Then you can make the lid cover (pattern below) and the gift tags. 

Tag 1

Tag 2

Tag 3

 Supplies used for the tags

Paper:  Maroon and vanilla (Tag 1), Olive green, brown and vanilla (Tag 2), Rusty orange, brown, vanilla and olive green (Tag 3)- (The Paper Studios)

Tools: 1/8" circle punch, eyelets, eyelet settler, Mini maple leaf puncher (Recollections), medium maple leaf puncher (The Paper Studio), wave border puncher (Fiskar), 1/8 inch double rectangle puncher, and yarn.

Stamp: "to, from"

Ink: Espresso

Embellishments: dark green 1/8" ribbon and acorn sticker (Tag 1), brown border and maple leaves (Tag 2), mini maple leaves, green paper strips and squirrel sticker (Tag 3)

Crochet Lid Cover Pattern

Abbreviations used:

mc= magic circle

ch= chain

sc= single crochet

st= stitch

dc= double crochet

sl st= slip stitch

sk st= skip stitch

Rnd 1:  sc 6 into mc

Rnd 2: sc twice into each st (12 sts), ch 1 and turn

Rnd 3: sc 1 in the first st, sc 2 in the next st, repeat around, ch 1 and turn

Rnd 4: sc 1 in each first two sts, sc 2 in the next st, repeat around, ch 1 and turn

Rnd 5: Working in back loops only - sc in each first three sts, sc 2 in the next st, repeat around. Ch 1 and turn

Rnd 6: sc in sc around, ch 1 and turn

Rnd 7: sc 1, ch1, sk st, sc 1, ch1, sk st - repeat around. This is where you will pass the chain or ribbon through. Ch 4 and turn - this will be your first dc

Rnd 8: ("skirt) dc 1, ch3, sl st into first ch, dc 2 in the same sc, *dc 2, ch 3, sl st into first ch, dc 2 in the next sc, repeat from * in each sc

Fasten off and weave in end.

Ch 65 in a different color from the lid cover, fasten off, leave a 'tail' and pass through the cover (rnd 7). Use the 'tail' to hold the gift tag.

CROCK POT APPLE BUTTER

6 lbs. mixed variety apples, peeled, cored, and sliced

1 3/4 cups apple cider

2  cups sugar

2 1/2  cups brown sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

1  tablespoon cinnamon

3/4 tsp. ground cloves

1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Place all ingredients in the crock pot and mix well.  Cook on the high setting for 2 hours, stirring periodically. Turn the crock to low and cook 7-8 more hours.  Puree if you like a more smooth consistency.

I hope you have a wonderful fall, and celebrate Thanksgiving with your hearts full of gratitude for friends and family.

Thank you so much for stopping by. God bless you and yours.

Vanias Reed  

The Three Trees Christmas Card

The card I'm posting today is a Christmas card based on the story of the three trees. This is a very cool story to share. Here it is followed by the card.

The Three Trees

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: "I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!" The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on it's way to the ocean. "I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world! The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world.

Years, passed. The rain came, the sun shone and the little trees grew tall. One day three wood cutters climbed the mountain. The first wood cutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the first tree fell. "Now I shall make a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" the first tree said.

The second wood cutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It's perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining ax, the second tree fell. "Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!"

The third tree felt her heart sink when the last wood cutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven. But the wood cutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining ax, the third tree fell.

The first tree rejoiced when the wood cutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feed box for animals. The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, or treasure. She was coated with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals. The second tree smiled when the wood cutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the once strong tree was hammered and awed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river, instead she was taken to a little lake. The third tree was confused when the wood cutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."

Many days and nights passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams. But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feed box. "I wish I could make a cradle for him." Her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and sturdy wood. "This manger is beautiful." She said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.

One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake. Soon a thundering and a thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through the wind and the rain. The tired man awoke. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten wood pile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands to her. She felt ugly and harsh and cruel. But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth trembled with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything. It had made the third tree feel strong. And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God’s love for them. THAT even was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

Card supplies:
Paper: White and light blue stamped with snowflakes cardstock paper.

Stamp: Merry Christmas (Stampabillities)
Ink: Red
Embellishment: pine trees die-cut, glitter (Winter Wonderland), colored pencil (for snowy ground)

Thank you for stopping by. Blessings unto you.

Vanias Reed    

Magnet Thanksgiving Tree

For those who live in places with cold weather fall is probably just a reminder that winter is coming. But for us who live in a very warm climate and in a place where the trees don't change color, fall is a precious time. The weather starts to cool down, the humidity goes away and we can enjoy the outdoors. So, it's anticipating the autumn that I started doing some projects related to this beautiful season. One of them is the one I'm posting today, which  I call the Thanksgiving Tree. I made this tree for my seven-year-old son. Each day he will write on a leaf something he is thankful for and "hang" the leaf on the tree. I did one as an example for him. We'll start doing it in the beginning of November and go all the way to Thanksgiving, so on Thanksgiving Day the tree will have all the leaves (28 this year).

The tree, the leaves and the sign above the tree are magnets.

Supplies needed

Tree template (you'll find the one I made below)
Paper: Rusty, green and mustard (the Paper Studio)
Tools: Computer and printer, fine marker, magnetic tacky tape
Embellishments: 'fall' leaves - I used foam leaves at the beginning, but it's not easy for a child to write on them, so I used them as a pattern and cut my leaves out of card stock paper.
I made the sign 'Give Thanks' using Word and printed it. The magnetic tape I bought is about 1/2" wide, so I had to cut it in small pieces. 
 

This is the foam sticker leaf  (Fall Crafts) I wrote on.

All the leaves will be at the bottom of the tree in the beginning.

We are using this on our refrigerator door.
Here is the template for the tree. Just right click on it, save to your computer and print it the size you'd like. I suggest 8"x10" at least.

 Please let me know in a comment if you'd like to have a template for the leaves too.

Thank you for stopping by, and may God give us a thankful heart.

Vanias Reed         

Birthday

I believe that my love language is gift giving because I take great pleasure in making things to give away. The reaction on people's face when they get something handmade is priceless. For instance, yesterday was my neighbor's birthday and I could not let it pass without giving her a handmade card and a little gift. That made her day.  Today is your turn, and I'm posting that card for you here.

 Supplies used
Paper: Red, black and white cardstock (the Paper Studios).
Stamp: Happy Birthday (Stampabillities) and Little roses (Stamping Up)
Tools: Cutting/embossing machine (Sizzix), Polka dots embossing folder (Cuttlebug), 1" circle punch (for corners), glitter marker (for roses), green marker (stems and leaves)
Embellishments: Red and white ribbon, pearl gemstone.
Make someone feel special today, give them a 'just because' card that you handmade.

Thank you for checking out my blog. Happy crafting.

Vanias Reed       

Silver Anniversary

A dear couple, related to may family, just celebrated their silver anniversary. What a special occasion! So the card and the gift wrapping tip I'm posting today are the very ones I made for them. Here is the card first.

 Supplies used
Paper: White, silver and black carstock (the Paper Studios)
Tools: Cutting/ embossing machine (Sizzix), embossing folder (Darice), scalloped heart puncher, plain heart puncher, 1" circle puncher (for the corners of the sentiment phrase label), computer and printer
Embellishment: Silver numbers 2 and 5, clear gemstones, silver glittered letters, see through white ribbon, silver twine, pearl dove stickers

 The gift wrapping

The paper I used had 2.5" silver stripes, so I could use them to embellish my wrapping by folding them in on both sides. 
Supplies used
Paper: roses and silver stripes wrapping paper
Tools: Cutting/embossing machine, standard circle dies (Spellbinders), 3D 7/16" foam mounting circle.
Embellishment: Wired silver ribbon, 1/2" heart white lace, silver and white card stock paper, silver numbers 2 and 5

I put a circle of silver paper on the back of the lace before attaching it to the bow with the foam mounting circle.
As you can see, I try to make my presents, wrapping and cards as personal as possible. 

Thank you so much for stopping by. God bless you.

                                                                                                                              Vanias Reed