New Baby Hat

Friends of ours from church just had their first baby...a girl! So, of course, I couldn't wait to make a hat for their baby! This turned out to be the first hat I've made that was actually small enough for a newborn!

I hope you can see the flower. This is so much cuter in real life! I can't wait to see it on that sweet baby's head...

I really need to find a doll that has the right size head, lol. The canning jar just doesn't cut it!

*smiles*
debbi

New Award!

Cindylu over at Cindylu's Scrapping Room gave me this sweet award!

Thank you, Cindylu!!

There are rules (aren't there always rules for everything, lol):

When you receive this award you are supposed to:

 

1) Thank the person you received it from (did that!)

2) Share 8 things about yourself (that's a lot! I mean, who really cares to hear 8 things about me, anyway...)

3) Pay it forward to 8 blogs you have recently discovered

4) notify them of the Award!

 

Okay, here goes...

1. First and foremost, I am a believer in Jesus Christ. He died for me, redeemed me and I want with all of my heart to live for Him.

2. I LOVE to get new things...craft things, mostly. BUT I also love, love, love to put a smile on someone's face by doing something nice for them. That makes me very happy!! Sooo...when I win yummy stuff, I always share it. *smiles*

 

3. I'm a the home school mom that swore I would never homeschool my children! LOL

4. I also swore we would never get a dog...until this summer. Now we have a dog, and I. love. him. End of story.

5. I love chocolate. No, I mean, I really love chocolate. REEEAALLLY!  

 

My kids bribe me with chocolate.

6. My favorite craft item changes from week to week, lol. This week it is pretty paper. Last week it was my Silhouette (still love that, tho!).

7. I am not a morning person. I get up by 5am nearly every morning, tho.  

 

Just don't expect me to talk until I've had my coffee. Thank you.

8. I think I would love to be on a Design Team, but I don't think I am good enough...or have enough time, lol.

So, eight blogs I have discovered recently:

1. Gaby Creates

2. Happy Heart Studio

3. Hip Homeschool Moms

4. Kleirr's Kreations

5. Totally Temberton

6. Midlife Mysteries & Masterpieces

7. 23 Design Company

8. Turned Gypsy

I hope you have a wonderful Saturday! I really am trying to get to posting about the cards and hats I have made recently. Soon...

 

*smiles*

debbi

Your Story Giveaway!

Good morning! I have a SUPER busy week, but I had a few minutes and wanted to let you in on a great blog candy!!

Cindylu over at Cindylu's Scrapping Room is giving away this:

And this:

And this!

Hurry over HERE to enter this amazing giveaway for your chance to win one of these three things!!

I am hoping to post some cards soon, so stay tuned. I also made a sweet tiny baby hat for a friend that is having her first little baby (a girl!) TODAY!

I hope you are having a thankful day today! We are so blessed, yet it is sometimes easy to focus on the difficulties in our lives rather than the blessings. My goal today is to keep my focus where it should be, how about you??

*smiles*
debbi

Candy Alert!

Laurie's Layout is offering up this yummy candy:

Go HERE to check it out. Candy ends February 26.

Birthday Card for DH

My dh's birthday is on Wednesday, so I made a card for him today while he was at work.

Don't worry, he doesn't read my blog, lol.

Here is what I came up with (which was totally inspired by the Creative Memories Spring 2010 Catalog!):

Here is top view, so you can see the dimension:

The cardstock is SU! Certainly Celery and Chocolate Chip. The dp was given to me, so I don't know who it's by.  All shapes were cut out using my Silhouette SD. The swirls are from the SU! Like it a Latte set. The sentiments are SU! rub-ons. Ink is SU! Chocolate Chip.

I used dimensionals behind the sentiments and the stars.

I am entering this in these challenges:

karenskakeskrafts: Celebrate (birthday)
Die Cuttin' Divas: Stars

Happy Crafting!

*smiles*
debbi

One World One Heart Winner!!

TODAY'S THE DAY!!

 Today I got to pick the winner of my One World One Heart giveaway!!

This is what the winner gets:

And the winner is...

*

*

*

*

*

Martha Brown!!

Congratulations, Martha! I have e-mailed you and will send your hat out as soon as I hear from you!

Have a wonderful day!!

*smiles*

debbi

One World One Heart Giveaway

If you are looking for my One World One Heart Giveaway post, go HERE.

Please scroll down for current posts.

Valentine Gift Box

This photo courtesy of photobucket.

 

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's Day! We are keeping things simple this year, since we are so busy. DH and I hope to go out to eat next weekend, and tonight we are going to celebrate with the kids. We are going to order a heart-shaped pizza. :-) 

I have a couple of things planned for my kiddos, but since they read my blog I can't share them yet, lol.

I can share a Valentine project that I made with my Silhouette:

I downloaded the GSD file for the box from Penny Duncan's Website. The file can be found HERE.

The swirl was part of a heart card, but I cannot find the original file. When I save GSD files to my computer I always write the name of the artist, but now I can't figure out how to get back to the place where the information was saved. If you know how, please tell me so I can give credit where credit is due. Thanks!!

I used Stampin'Up! cardstock for the box and white cardstock (Wal-Mart) for the swirl. The ribbon is from JoAnn.

In the second picture, you can see the "sparkle" I added. I used Champagne Shimmer paint from Stampin'Up! mixed with rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle. It is my very favorite thing (which you already know, if you follow my blog!). I spray it on everything!!

Enjoy your Valentine's Day!

*smiles*
debbi

Your Story Giveaway!

Create 'n Craft is giving away all this:

What is included:

12″ YourStory book binder / laminator machine
12 – 9″ x 11.5″ Laminating Pouch 3mil
12 – 4.5″ x 6.5″ Laminating Pouch 3mil
1 – Paper Trimmer
1 – 8.5″ x 11″ Binder-Black Leather Texture Portrait no window
1 – 8″ x 8″ Binder-White Linen Texture w/window
1 – 4″ x 6″ Binder-Black Linen Texture no window
1 – 8.5″ x 11″ Binder-Brown Leather Texture Landscape no window
1 – 12″ x 12″ Binder-Black Leather Texture no window
1 – User Manual
HURRY!! The giveaway ends Feb 13!! Go HERE to enter!

Please Pray for Heidi

Good Morning, Friends!

I am sorry that I have not posted for a few days! I have some cards to post later, but first I want to ask you to pray.

Tuesday morning my Sister-In-Law was taken to the hospital with severe sweating. They ran some blood tests and immediately transferred her to the local Cancer Hospital. She has been diagnosed with Acute Leukemia and is currently undergoing chemotherapy.

Heidi is a single mom (widow--my brother died several years ago), and her one child (my niece Julie) is obviously struggling with this. Heidi is in her early 50's and Julie is in her early 20's. TOO young!!

I truly appreciate your prayers for Heidi and Julie!! This has come as a complete shock to us all, and we are praying that God will choose to heal Heidi. I know that God will give us the grace, no matter what He decides.

Thank you so much!

*hugs*
debbi

A New Award!

I was so pleasantly surprised today to see that I have received an award from Terri at Terri's Tries @ Making Cards. 

This is one I have not heard of before. It is the Liebster Blog Award.

The "rules" are simple.

First you need to post about the award and then thank and link back to the person who presented it to you. You also need to let them know that you have accepted the award. Then you need to select 3-5 people to present the award to and inform them.

So, here are my choices:

Emily from Too Blessed to Stress

Dawn from Dawn's Craft Place  

Claire from Keirr's Kreation        

        Misty from Sweet Magnolia Rose      

I enjoy these blogs for many reasons, not least of which is all the eye candy I find there. I mostly enjoy them for the sweet people behind the blogs. :-) I hope you will check these blogs out, and also visit Terri's blog! 

I hope your day is full of crafting fun!

*smiles*

debbi

Thrifty Thursdays @ Totally Temberton--Homemade Cream Soup

Totally Temberton is hosting a Thrifty Thursday Blog Hop! This is a new meme, and I'm excited to take part.

My Thrifty Hint -- Homemade Cream Soup

Recently, I was making my favorite Chicken Pot Pie, when half-way through I discovered that I was out of cream of chicken soup. OH NO! Supper was scheduled in less than an hour...just enough time to finish the potpie and bake it. Certainly not enough time to run to the store!

So...what to do? I pulled out one of my favorite books:

My mother gave this book to me many years ago, and it has saved my hide many times since, lol!

Back to the cream of chicken soup...or lack thereof!

I opened up to cream soup, and guess what?? Instead of "replace with sour cream" or something of that nature, I found a recipe for cream soup. YAY!

GWEN'S CREAM SOUP MIX

2 cups instant non-fat dry milk

3/4 cups cornstarch

1/4 cups instant chicken bouillon

2 T dried onion flakes

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tsp basil, optional

1 tsp thyme, optional

Combine all ingredients (I mixed mine in a gallon size zipper-type bag). Mix well. This mix makes three cups--equal to 9 cans (10-1/2 oz) cream soup. 

To make the equivalent of one can of soup, combine 1/3 cup of mix with 1-1/4 cups boiling water in a pan and stir over low heat until thick. (My method: Whisk 1/3 cup mix and 1/4 cup COLD water. Set aside. In saucepan, bring remaining 1 cup of water to a boil. Whisk in cold water mixture. Stir until smooth and thick.)

Now, I am not a fan of dry milk powder in anything, so I was skeptical at first. But, since I was in a pinch, I tried it! And, honestly, I could not tell the difference in my pot pie.

Considering that I bought my dry milk at a discount store and my chicken bouillon powder for less than 50 cents, this was very economical! 

Needless to say, when I shopped for groceries this past week, I rolled right past the cream of soup.

I hope you will head over to Totally Temberton and join in her Thrifty Thursday meme. Maybe you will learn a few hints that will save your favorite dinner, lol!

*smiles*

debbi

Card for Encouragement

I made this card for a couple in our church that is going for a difficult time right now. The husband has been diagnosed with leukemia, and he is in the hospital with low platelet counts. This has been a difficult time for them both.

 Here is a closeup of the flowers and scripture verse:

This verse is one of my favorites. It says, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Romans 8:18.

The flowers are what I like to call a "happy mistake", lol. I wanted to highlight the blue in the dp, so I used my Silhouette to cut out the flowers. I then glued the flowers, only to realize that I had glued the front of the dp instead of the back! OOPS!

Rather than cut out a new set of flowers, I decided to just glitter the front (sticky) side. It actually came out much prettier than it would have, had I not made my "happy mistake".

The dp is from K&Co Life's Journey, cs and pearls are from my stash, sentiment is Verve, glitter is Martha Stewart, flower from Silhouette SD, and ink is CTMH.


I am entering this card in the Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge -- blue and green.


I hope you have a day full of happy crafting!


*smiles*
debbi

Time4Learning Review

Each year around this time, I begin to think through our home school curriculum and begin planning and researching for the next school year.

I ask several questions, like, What is working for us this year? and What changes do we need to make for next year?

I am looking more at on-line curriculum for next year. My children will be in 3rd, 5th, and 8th grades next year, and with our ever-increasing schedule I need some help! Keeping up with three different grade levels (lesson planning, grading, projects, gathering supplies, etc. in addition to all of my household and ministry responsibilities), has become overwhelming.

My researching led me to Time4Learning. I am considering this for my soon-to-be 3rd grader who is a visual learner (and who currently hates school, lol.).

I've been invited to try Time4Learning for one month in exchange for a candid review. My opinion will be entirely my own, so be sure to come back and read about my experience. Time4Learning can be used as a homeschool curriculum, for afterschool enrichment and for summer skill sharpening. Find out how to write your own curriculum review for Time4Learning.

I am thrilled to be able to "try out" this curriculum. I have some reservations, but I am anxious to see if my reservations are correct. I really hope this works for us!

I hope you will come back in one month to see what I have learned.

*smiles*
debbi