Wedding Invitation Ornament

What special gift can you give a couple who is getting married during the Christmas season? Of course it is always easier to just go to their wedding list at the store they registered it, but how about adding something personal like an ornament with their wedding invitation in it? Check it out.

 

 Supplies Used:
Clear ornament
Ornament stand (optional)
Wedding invitation
Embossed ornament-shaped tag 
White cardstock invitation (optional)
White ribbon
Silver (or gold if the top of your ornament is golden color) fuzzy wire
Tools: Ornament die, cutting embossing machine, snowflake embossing folder, silver glitter pen, clear gemstones, computer, printer, a pencil, 1/8" circle punch, eyelet, eyelet settler, silver (or gold) circle sticker.

Cut the invitation in horizontal strips between the sentences. I wanted to keep the original invitation, so I made a copy and pasted it to a white cardstock paper before cutting in strips. Roll the strips around a pencil with writing on the outside. Not too tight, yet not too loose either. Put the rolls inside the ornament, they will open showing the details of the invitation like date, address, bride and groom names, etc.

Place the top of the ornament back in place, and tie a white ribbon with a bow to it.

 

Print a sentiment phrase, the date and the couple's initials and glue the paper on the tag. Hang the tag on the ornament with the fuzzy wire. Cover the hole with a sticker. Add clear gemstones. 

Now you have something very personal for the couple to put on their mantel or to hang on their Christmas tree. You can put it with the other gifts in a bag, or hang it outside of your gift wrapping to decorate it.

Use the idea for December weddings, graduations (invitation), new babies (announcement)... 

Thank you so much for stopping by. I wish you endless blessings.

Vanias Reed     

Christmas Gift Tags

I love this time of the year when stores are displaying Christmas items and decor. I get inspired and want to start spreading the joy of the season all over. So how about beginning with some gift tags for the presents some of us started to buy already? Here they are.

 To list the supplies used, I'll name the tags in order from the top.
1. Candy Cane

2. Blue With Ornaments

3. Holly

4. Snowman

5. Poinsettia

6. Red bow

7. Christmas tree

Paper: 
1. Red, green with polka dots and cream
2. Blue and cream
3. Red, green with Merry Christmas and hollies, and white
4. Dark green
5. Red and cream
6. Candy Cane and white
7. Dark green, red and white
 Stamp: to, from
Tools: 1/8" circle hole punch, 1/8 inch double rectangle puncher eyelets, eyelet settler, twines
Embellishments:
1. Crossed Candy Canes sticker, little pearl
2. Ornaments paper border and blue stitches
3. Red and white twine, handmade holly sticker
4. Decorative paper border, gold border and snowman sticker
5. Candy cane paper border and poinsettia sticker with green gemstone
6. Red ribbon and bow, red gemstones and homemade candy cane sticker
7. Christmas tree stickers, red gemstones, pearls and gold star sticker
Now use your creativity, make your own Christmas cards and gift tags and impress those whom you love. 

Thank you for stopping by. Be blessed.

Vanias Reed     

   

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