Operation Christmas Child: journal making

I am having a workshop on Saturday, October 24th at my home to create journals to be put in the shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.  If you are unfamiliar with the organization, which prepares shoeboxes full of Christmas gifts and the gospel message for children around the world, I encourage you to look at the website.  We will begin at 10:00 a.m. and finish at 5:00 p.m.  Due to the limitations of our driveway, you will need to confirm with me that you are coming. You'll want to pack a lunch, or make plans to eat out.  Those who would like to make a personal journal will be asked to make a donation to cover the expenses of adhesives and coils.  I'll have tons of wallpaper samples on hand to choose from.

We make a number of different sizes of journals, 3" x 2.75" (or something like that!) to roughly 4" x 6".  We even make a few funky sizes.  These come from larger size journal cardstock scraps ... I don't like to waste anything.  I also discovered the concept of journal necklaces, which are a lot of fun to make! Here are a few of the journals that have been made in the past, and the journal necklace:

I have lots of metal brads, but could use some fun decorative buttons, flowers, and other embellishments to add to what I have to dress up the journals.  I also am looking for people willing to cut cardstock pieces for the journal necklaces, and to punch the edges of the cardstock and paper for the larger journals, in advance of the workshop.  Also, if we can have some covers done in advance, then while new covers are curing, we can be decorating the pre-made covers. Please let me know if you would like to help.

The shoe boxes are packed by gender and ages; these will go to 9 to 14 year olds; as even the larger journals are on the small side, and little children have not necessarily developed the fine motor skills for small print or coloring, the older age seems more appropriate.

Hope to see you there!

Cutest Little Journal Idea!

It's time to be collecting items for Operation Christmas Child!  Last year we made some mini-journals at our church to add to the boxes.  This year, I found an adorable necklace journal, and just had to duplicate it.  I think these just might be the most fun for our group to make this year! The sample I found had printed papers for every page; I use blank what papers with printed cardstock for every four sheets; 50 pages total.   The size of the journal (not counting the ring) is just over 1.5" x 2".

More Mosaic Fun

Once again, I could not seem to take a decent photograph of a shimmery card.  The combination of the mosaic pattern with the powders is really amazing.  After awhile, mica powders lose their shine, but a Swiffer dry cloth brings it back instantly.  This is my final entry in the Verve Autumn Lovelies challenge, ending today.

Gold Leaf

It's difficult to have gold show up in all its sparkle, at least with my camera!  I had made several of the background panels (beige vellum stamped with gold-ink leaves), but never found the right use for them.  I actually threw a couple of them out, but just kept this one.  Then a couple of days later I got the idea of adding a leaf stamped with gold, and I'm really  happy at how it turned out ... and sorry I tossed the other panels I'd done!  This is another entry for the Verve Autumn Lovelies challenge.

Birthday Leaves

Oops!  A little too much glue makes for a warped card!  But between the textures I was using needed a strong amount to keep everything together ... I just should have left it all under weight a bit longer!  This is for the Verve Autumn Lovelies challenge.

God Leads Us All the Way!

Reading scripture in context is always a good thing.  The scripture on this card comes as part of an exhortation from God to the Israelites when they have reached the promised land. The verse reads in its entirety: "Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands." Leading us that we would be humbled and tested?  That can be enough to run from the Lord's leading!  And yet, reflecting on the parting of the waters, the provision of manna, and the provision of the law that would one day lead us to the knowledge of our need for grace in Christ, we see that his leading involves beautiful, wonderful things, that he is faithful to provide for us even as he teaches us.  What a wonderful God we serve!

I love taking a single stamp or embossing folder and see how many ways I can work with it.  This background was made with a Darice leaf folder and Tim Holtz' Craft Core paper.  I accidentally embossed it on the wrong side.  (Actually, to my disgust, I embossed several sheets of it backwards, ugh!!!).  Hmmm... what to do?  The other side looked nice, but of course I couldn't sand it down to reveal the paper underneath.   So I used a roller to ink the "correct" side, then ran it through my Cuttlebug underneath the folder to flatten it just a bit, then put it into the embossing folder on the correct side.  I then ran it through the cuttlebug again, and then rolled green ink over the newly embossed panel.  I tried various other ideas on the other goofed pieces; it was so much fun!  Alas, I ran out of time to make any more cards with those panels!

I am entering this into the Our Daily Bread Designs Background Challenge and Word Art Wednesday's Anything Goes Challenge, and Verve Autumn Lovelies Challenge.

He is Become My Salvation

I'm submitting this card to Verve Autumn Lovelies challenge and to Word Art Wednesday's challenge.

This scripture is a song of praise following a prophecy, in chapter 11, foretelling the birth of Christ.  It is a joyous prophecy, following one in chapter 10 largely addressing the wrath of God toward his people for his sin.  But God does not stay angry forever, and in an incredible act of love, declares that he will send a savior:

Isaiah 11: 11

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;

    from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

2 The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—

    the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,

    the Spirit of counsel and of might,

    the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—

3 and he will delight in the fear of the Lord…

So, God says through Isaiah in chapter 12, we will respond, saying:

“I will praise you, Lord.

    Although you were angry with me,

your anger has turned away

    and you have comforted me.

2 Surely God is my salvation;
    I will trust and not be afraid.
The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense;
   he has become my salvation."
3 With joy you will draw water

    from the wells of salvation.

4 In that day you will say:

“Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;

    make known among the nations what he has done,

    and proclaim that his name is exalted.

5 Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things;

    let this be known to all the world.

6 Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion,

    for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

Let’s spread the word about the greatness of our God and His salvation!

Repeat inspiration

This fall I was determined to keep completely new cards to a minimum, and use up some of my saved bits and backgrounds.  The piece I had for this card was the leaf image stamped on a beige background and inked.  I turned it into the card you see here.   After I photographed the card, and put it into my autumn file, I saw that the leaf image had been a duplicate of one used on another card.  To my amusement, I had used the same layers (coppery-brown on rust on beige) as the previous card with that image, made five years earlier!  But I had stopped there; this time, I had added three brads, and the difference is surprisingly significant.  The brown and rust are mica cardstock, which has just a hint of sparkle and texture.  This card is for the Verve Autumn Lovelies challenge.

Simply Apples

When I make cards, I often make duplicates of panels or text; this card came from card that had gotten ruined, so needed a redo.  I am submitting this to the Verve Autumn Lovelies Challenge, though I think it's more of a cute and simple autumn card rather than a lovely one!  :-) I'm also submitting it to Word Art Wednesday's Anything Goes challenge.