'An Old-Fashioned Christmas' Event - Week One - Paper

{Visit Grace's blog here to learn more about the 'Old-Fasioned Christmas' Event!}

Mini Notepads

This week's theme is 'Paper'. There are several paper crafts I've been wanting to try, but this is the only one I've actually gotten to do! I plan on making several of them as stocking stuffers. I varied mine a little from the instructions, adding a front initial cover, and extending the back cover down the length of the rest of the pages. I really loved how it turned out!

Some more tutorials and/or resources involving paper (Note: I cannot vouch for the appropriateness of the entire content of each site, only the pages I've linked to below):

Fabric Labels made using transfer paper:





Wrapping:

Gift Bows:



Jones Design Company Gift Tags (LOVE THEM!):

Gift Bags:



Gift Bags and Tags:





Gifts:

Christmas Art Journal:



Woven Paper Journal Cover:



Patchwork Paper Jar:



Bookpage Canvas:



Paper Sailboat:



Printable Book Plates:



More Printable Book Plates:





Decorations:

Paper Flowers:



Bookpage Wreath:



Paper Lantern Ornaments:



Paper Garland idea number one:




Paper Garland idea number two:



Happy crafting!!

An Old-Fasioned Christmas

Grace at Grace's Garden Walk is hosting an event she's calling "An Old-Fashioned Christmas".
It seems to me that Christmas is becoming more and more comercialized, materialistic, and impersonal with each year that passes. Christmas is about Christ - first and foremost - and also about celebrating the blessings of friends and family. It's about thanking the Lord for the ultimate Gift - His Son Jesus. It's about making memories, about spending quality time with those we love. Yes, for many people, it's about the gifts. About the pressure. For the stores, it's the biggest money-maker of the year. But that is so wrong.

Why do we really give gifts at Christmastime? Why do we drink hot chocolate and bake special goodies; hang festive decorations; throw celebrations and parties?
Well, it should be because we've been given so much, we want to share the blessings; because we want to put ourselves into the task of warming hearts and sweetening memories; because we have something to celebrate; because it is more blessed to give than to receive.

Anyone that knows me very well, knows this is one of my 'passions' - to bring meaning back into Christmas. They also know, I love to give gifts - and I love to include a little of myself with each one. One of the best ways to accomplish all three? - well for me, hand-made gifts that begin in the heart. That could include making decorations (and then using them!), helping a friend with a project, playing a game with a little cousin or a grandfather, sending a note, baking and giving goodies, cleaning house for someone who's having trouble juggling life, and yes, making and giving presents!

I have really been looking forward to Grace's event. With my college schedule, I'm not sure if I will be able to participate to quite the extent I'd like, but I'm going to try! Around here, my family strives to make every Christmas an 'Old-Fashioned' Christmas.

Care to join us?

Happy Thanksgiving!

"O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:"


Psalm 136:1-7

Lost Or Found

Soli Deo Gloria!



{If the right hand side is kind of cut off, it really takes away alot from the movie. Please visit this link to view on YouTube where you can see the whole thing: Lost Or Found. Make sure you have your sound on.}

{As always, view 'related videos' (videos that may come up at the end of original video) at your own discretion. I know nothing about the credibility or appropriateness of their content.}

It's A Wrap!

Well, I guess I will (Lord willing) be posting the 'movie' when it is finished. I wasn't sure if I would at first - but I got permission from almost all the people who so kindly played parts, and hopefully you will see it up here within a week or so. Thank you all once again SSSOOO much for your prayers through this!!! The whole thing has been ridiculously rollercoaster-ish, with soaring victories and dramatic crashes, and I am sooo thankful to finally be almost through! Today in class we should be saving our finished products, and that will be that. Well, at least until next week when we show them in class... (trying not to think about that until I've got to - makes me nervous-er than I already am *teeth chattering* ).

Archer and Lindy were the two 'main characters' and both were such good sports about it. I thank the Lord for all the dear friends He has given me!

Lindy generously submitted to her part, but picked and teased mercilessly about it, 'til I almost wished I hadn't asked her. But she insists that it really doesn't bother her, she just thinks it's funny that it bothers me. Anyway, she really is a dear Christian girl, and I pray the Lord will use her portrayal to lead many people into the right way.

Archer literally gave up hours of his time to be my main character, and absolutely would not take the gas money I wanted to give him, insisting that a batch of muffins was satisfactory payment (Trissy and I have become 'famous' for the home-made muffins we frequently take to our Thursday night college Bible study, and Archer is one of our biggest fans). That boy is almost as stubborn as I am! I finally let him win when I saw that he just would not be beaten this time.

Side note: Don't be too shocked at Archer's long-ish hair in the movie. Another thing he gave up for this project was a haircut. We had already taken about half the pictures the first week, and had another week to go, when he commented that he was feeling a little "shabby", because he was over-due for a haircut, but he hated to get one and then have short-hair long-hair back and forth throughout, and mess up my movie. I actually hadn't noticed, but I told him he was being inconvenienced enough already, and to just go ahead. But he said it was ok. "I think it's the longest it's ever been, so one more week won't hurt." :) Ok buddy, your choice. ;)

Anyway, I've got to go, but long story short, there were actually alot of people who gave to this project. I thank the Lord for them.

'Til next time, Keep Looking Up!

SOLI DEO GLORIA!

-Kyrie<><

{Image from Photobucket.com}

Movie Project Update

Thank you soooo much to everyone who is helping me pray about this school movie project I'm working on!!!!!

Things are progressing... There have been countless ups and downs, and a couple of times when I've actually shed tears of frustration (which is saying something - I never cry over nothing!).

But, the Lord is providing through each difficulty, He's always gracious, and I gave it to Him at the start - the reason I'm making this is for His glory - so He's in charge of how it turns out :] !

Hopefully the last pictures can be taken this Sunday. But the whole project is to be finished by Nov. 19th and I have tons of editing to do! Ack!

Ok, where did the 'trusting the Lord with this thing' attitude go? Hee Hee.

Please keep praying. And pray the Lord will bless the dear friends who are helping me with this thing!!

I'll try to keep you updated.

Thanks again!

{Image from Photobucket.com}