Cookin' Up Creations Blog Hop

Ever so slowly I am being pulled into the twentieth century - unfortunately, the rest of the world is in the twenty-first. Radical things are happening. We now have a working television. The kids got MP3 players for Christmas and now I am participating in a Blog Hop. Time is marching on and I am following in its wake.

Anyway welcome to the Cookin' up Creations "Winter Wonderland of Embellsihments" Blog Hop. The Cookin' up Creations Blog: Cookin' up Creations Blog was your 1st stop and you are now at the 8th stop of the hop. You should have come from Penny's Blog Random Thoughts It will not be long now and you will be back to the Cooking up Creations Blog.

The embellishment I have used is Magic Mesh this month and this is my example...

And now I have a challenge for you! I challenge you to make a layout or card using Magic Mesh. One of the things I love about Magic Mesh is that it is so earthy and adds wonderful texture to pages. So the theme of your layout or card needs to be one of nature. It can be a picture of the great outdoors (with or without people) or a card with a leaf stamp on it or anything that you can come up with that has to do with out side.

Please upload your creations into the Cookin' up Creations Embellishment Blog Hop Album before Friday January 22, 2010 at 5:00 EST to qualify for the prizes. File size should be no larger than 150Kb.

So leave a comment here, post your work in the gallery (You need to register ) then your next stop is Sandy's blog: http://creativeblessings.blogspot.com/

Happy Hopping!

Home at last!

After 18 months of searching and praying, we have finally found a new church home! There is something for everyone: Men's group, Women's Bible study, Kids club and Youth Bible study.

At long last we are home! It is amazing how good it feels. I didn't realize while we were looking what a drain it was to figure out every week where we were going to go to church (and it wasn't like I had any help - If I had not done the searching, I don't think we would be going to church). I had to decide if where we were going warranted another week. If it did, there was always someone who was not happy about it. If we didn't that meant hours of tedious hours on Google scrolling through poorly designed web sites and making phone calls to see if the information was accurate. I got to the point where I dreaded Sunday and the weekend because we had to go to another church. I think that all in all we visited 22 different churches over the last year and a half.

Now we are home though - and what a difference it makes. We meet the Lord and his people every week. I spend my week looking forward to Sunday rather than dreading it. Now Sunday morning is once a time of celebration and looking forward to spending time at a church that is HOME!

Coffee Can Card Holder

Growing up my mom had one of these that she used to display Christmas cards. I don't know what happened to it, but when I had to come up with something to make for a design team challenge I thought I would make my own.

Supplies:

coffee can or other large can

cardstock (optional)

yarn or string

hot glue gun

flowers or other embellishments

The first part is the hardest - finding a can of the right size. We are not coffee drinkers, and even if we were, coffee no longer comes in cans - so I found out much to my surprise. I ended up using a large soup can. I covered it with carstock using a glue gun. (you do not need to cover it, but I wanted to because I like the look.

The next step is to anchor the string or yarn on the inside of the can. Once again, I used hot glue.
The next step is to wrap the string around the can covering the top and the open end. It does not need to be perfect but try and cross in about the same place each time. How much string you use is up to you. The more you use, the more cards you can hold and the less of the base will be visible.
When wrapped to your liking, tie a knot at the bottom. Dab with some hot glue to make it secure. Embellish the top as you see fit.
To use, slide the card under one of the strings and display.

Cooking Up a Challenge

I love using sketches, but I do not often make them. This one was an exception. I had made this one for the sketch challenge at Cooking up Creations. You can see the challenge here: http://www.cookinupcreations.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=1278

Even when I am the one who makes the sketch, I can't leave well enough alone. Of course when it came to making the LO I just can't follow directions with out doing something different. I used the sketch, but I turned it 90 degrees. So on the right is the layout made from the sketch.

Any way, come on over to the site and let me see what you can do with the sketch.

Pneumonia is no fun

Ok, so I don't think that anyone would think that it is, but I just want to confirm that in fact it is not.

I am glad to say that the worst is over and that I am definitely recovering, but it is annoying at how long it is taking. I remember trying to get back into my walking routine which even before I got sick was not all that strenuous. I would walk between 30 to 40 min 5 days a week. That was before. Today I feel proud that after a week of trying I made it up ton 25 min today. I hate that it takes so long.

But I guess what matters is that I am recovering and getting a little more energy every day. The medications are all gone now and I am trying to move forward.

Cards cards cards

It is that time of year - the only time I really think about cards. And just in time, Cookin' up Creations is having a whole month of card challenges - a different one for every day of the month.

This is the card that was made for the Nov. 2 Challenge. I was not much of a card maker before, but the challenges are great and who knows by the end of the month, I will not only have 30 new cards in my stash, but I think I will have developed a liking for making them as well. If it sounds like fun (and it really is) you can check out the details here: http://www.cookinupcreations.com/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=26

54 days til Christmas

I know that in one way that seems like forever, but in another, it will be here in no time at all. I am not the type to start listening to Christmas music til after Thanksgiving (Thanksgiving gets lost in the Christmas rush and the true meaning of Christmas gets minimized) BUT this year I am making at least some of the cards that I am sending out. I can't wait til mid December to do that so I started this weekend. This is an example of what they look like.