Twilight Beauty

Since this is a blog about beautiful things...
Kristen Stewart's $ 12,000 gift for Robert Pattinson

It looks like I had more time than I expected! We got a lot done today. First we made time to go out and build a snow man with Gil, Ethan, and Natalie. Then I had time to make a couple of Christmas cards while the kids were napping. I even made time for a nap myself! I'm posting a couple of pictures from our day. Have to run, I'm watching my favorite non-animated Christmas movie--Elf:-) (5 days until the birth of our Savior!)

Gil, Ethan, Natalie, and Hunter with Frosty!

My little angels making snow angels!

A couple of cards I made today.  Cute, cute, cute! 

Getting closer to Christmas!  Thought I would share this cute little pic of our house with all the twinkles on!  The taller tree is slightly slanted due to a fierce wind storm we had a couple of weeks ago.  I tried to talk my husband into moving his truck so the image would be prettier...obviously he didn't!  Hopefully I'll have a chance to post again before Christmas.  If not, Merry Christmas and may the love of Christ fill your hearts and your homes in the New Year!  

Yikes!  Less than two weeks until Christmas and only three more days until our school goes on winter break!  I still have to bake my snowballs (Mexican wedding cookies)!  And do I want to use store-bought packaging or should I make my own?!  I found the most adorable little boxes on one of my favorite sites, but they are little and as I said...only three days to get this done!!!

Good evening!  I'm feeling ambitious this evening so I have decided to upload the pictures from the Christmas treat I'm making for school.  I love all of the Stampin' Up designer paper and coordinates, but at this point I have a TON of paper that I've bought from stores like Michael's and Jo-Ann Fabrics--I am making myself use up a chunk of it before I allow myself to purchase any of the Stampin' Up products!  We shall see!  Anyway, from the papers I already have, I think some of what I came up with works well together.  This is one of my favorites from several combinations I chose...I hope you like it!

The first thing to mention is that I used the Sizzix Bigz XL Shaker Box die in my Sizzix Big Kick.  It is the dotted paper shown in the image below.  Next, I used the EK Success Flourish punch to make the tag (bottom layer), along with a 1.5 inch circle punch, and the Martha Stewart ornament double punch.  I fastened the circle and ornament punches to the flourish punch using a small brad.  For a little added detail I also used a dark red ink to dab around the edge of the flourish punch and stamped a "Homemade Just For You" message onto the circle.  Super cute!  

The diamond patterned strip is used to keep the box closed once it is all put together (see below).

On what becomes the inside bottom of the shaker box I stamped a message for the season.  This one is O Holy Night.  I did another version with a Scripture verse using olive green ink.  After all, is this not what it's all about?!

This is the final product once everything is folded, cut, and put together.  I really, really have enjoyed making these.

And since it is called a "Shaker Box" what fun would there be if it didn't make some noise when shook!  For that I used holiday Skittles, making sure not to put too many so that the stamped message on the inside of the box is seen immediately!

So much fun!

Until the next project...see ya!

Trying out the iPad for the very first time...daunting, yet exciting.   As for my blog, I'm ready for the next phase--pictures! Keep an eye out for the shaker boxes I'm making for my co-workers. I used the Sizzix Big Shot and one of the XL Bigz dies. I will post pics when they are done.

Wow!  This blogging stuff is so much fun!  I feel so creative right now and it's a wonderful feeling!  Today is my birthday.  I'm happy to be alive and to have the wonderful life that I have.  I have two amazing little humans and an amazing husband...thankful to God for all I have, all I am.

This is just a test....