Tidings of COMFORT & JOY - Ornament

This is one of the simplest ornaments I have made.

SUPPLIES - 

- white, red, & green cardstock

- green ink 

- Christmas greetings

- red glitter pen

- ornament paper punch

- gold cord

- pearl bead

- double sided tape/Mono Adhesive

INSTRUCTIONS- 

STEP 1 : Stamp your Christmas greetings onto the white cardstock. 

              You should have a front & back for each ornament.

STEP 2 : Use the red glitter to accent the stamped images. Set aside to dry.

STEP 3 : After the images are dry, punch them out using the ornament punch.

              (I used Stampin' Up's ornament punch.)

   

STEP 4 : Then punch 2 red & one green for each ornament you want to make.

STEP 5 : Adhere the layers together with the double sided/Mono adhesive.

STEP 6 : Use a large needle or piercing tool to poke a hole in the top.

STEP 7 : Put the gold cord through the hole and then through the bead.

              Knot the gold cord at the top.

STEP 8 : Fold the white and red cardstock a little so that the ornament is

              no longer flat, but 3d.

(I made these ornaments as a gift for our Ladies Christmas Tea.)

Joy Wreath - Ornament

In review of the lesson from the week before & the Wreath Card,

we made this cute ornament.

We reminded the kids that JOY comes from knowing Christ as Saviour. 

Then we talked about the joy and rejoicing surrounding the birth of Christ.

SUPPLIES:

- 16 green "pony" beads

- 7 smaller skinny red beads

- 3 small round red beads

- 8in piece of craft wire

- "JOY" charm

- 6in piece of red ribbon

- wire cutter

- long nose pliers

INSTRUCTIONS:

STEP 1-  String your beads onto the wire.  

              Hold one end of the wire, so that the beads will not slid off.

              2 green, 1 sm. skinny red, 2 green, 1 sm. skinny red, 

              & repeat pattern till all the beads are used.

*Tip: We did this craft together.  I had a bunch of review questions to ask and as they answered them, everyone got beads to put on the wire, until all of the beads were on.

STEP 2 - Make your wreath shape by twisting the wire together at the top.

STEP 3 - String the 3 small round red beads onto one side of the wire after it

               is twisted in place.

STEP 4 - Attach the "Joy" charm just below the red beads.

STEP 5 - Cut the wire shorter and use the pliers to curl the wire behind the 

              "Joy" charm.

STEP 6 - Curl the other side of the wire into a hanger for the ornament.

STEP 7 - Make the bow by forming it like the picture below.

STEP 8 - Put the bow in place and attach it by twisting the wire hanger around                   the bow to hold it into place.

Now you have a cute little ornament to remind you 

of the Joy of knowing Christ as Saviour

 and the symbol of everlasting life (the evergreens) 

and the blood of Christ (red berries) shed for you!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Luke 2:10 & 11 

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, 

which is Christ the Lord."

Holly Wreath Card

There are always special projects to do in Sunday School or Junior Church as Christmas is approaching.

I have 3  different things that I have done this year.

The first is this wonderful wreath card 

that we made a few weeks back.

When you teach the children about Christmas, 

you want to show them that the true focus

is about the birth of our Savior.

Below, you will find 

step-by-step instructions and online printables 

to help you have this project ready for children or adults.

SUPPLIES:
- red cardstock 4 1/4 X 5 1/2 inches
- white cardstock 4 1/4 X 5 1/2 inches 
   (printed with the Wreath Card base/inside)
- one wreath from the Holly Wreath Template
- something to cut out a window on the red 
  cardstock.
   (I used my Creative Memories tools, but you could just      
    trace a cup and then cut the shape.)
- cellophane for the window piece 
   (I used the plastic from a bouquet of flowers.  You could 
   use an overhead transparency, plastic packaging, or 
   purchase cellophane.)
- a copy of the Wreath poem
- red, green, & black Sharpie
 (I suggest that you use the Sharpie brand, because it is
  more permanent and dries faster than others.)
- brown crayon or colored pencil
- double-sided tape
- glue stick (optional)

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

1. Cut a window in the top half of your red cardstock.

2. Cut your cellophane a 1/2 inch larger 

than the size of your window.

Set aside your red cardstock.

3. Center your cut cellophane piece over 

your Holly Wreath Template.

(use one hand to firmly hold it in place)

4. Trace the Holly Wreath Template with the black Sharpie.

While the children are coloring talk about how

 the evergreens in the wreath represent the everlasting life 

we can have through trusting in Christ as Saviour.

Then ask them what they think the red berries represent.

Yes, that's right, the blood that Christ shed on Calvary for our sin.

5. Use the green Sharpie to color in the holly leaves.

6. Use the red Sharpie to color in the berries.

Set aside the colored cellophane.

7. Use a brown crayon or colored pencil to color 

the crown of thorns on the white cardstock.

8. Use a glue stick or double-sided tape 

around the inside edge of the window.

9. Center your wreath on the inside of the window over the crown of thorns and adhere by pressing down.

10. Use double-sided tape on the left-hand vertical edge to adhere the red to the white cardstock.

This makes your card.

Below is the best tape that I have found. 

This tape sticks to everything (metal, glass, walls, cardboard, paper, ceramic,...

so be sure to line it up well.

You may be able to find something similar at the craft store.

This heavy duty tape is always red, so look for a red roll of double-sided tape.

11. Use the glue stick or double-sided tape to adhere the Holly Wreath Poem to the front of your card.

This is what your finished project should look like.

Easy Truffle Recipe

 How to dip truffles into chocolate 

&

Melting chocolate tips

After mixing and freezing the above recipe, 

I prepare to dip the truffles in chocolate.

Melting tips:

- only melt about 1 cup at a time

- microwave method: place in glass bowl in microwave for 1 minute & stir.

   (If the chocolate is not fully melted after stiring thoroughly, place back in and stir at 

   30 sec. intervals.  *Remember that if you cook chocolate too long it looses its 

   consistancy.  So try not to over cook.  It will continue to melt for a while after you get 

   it out of the microwave because the glass bowl is hot).

- prefered method: I do not have a microwave, so I boiled water on the stove.  To melt

   your chocolate~ place a glass coffee mug with 1 cup of chocolate in a glass bowl.  

   Now pour boiling water in the bowl around the coffee mug.  Let sit for about a minute 

   and then stir. Your chocolate will become silky smooth the more you stir.  I love melting 

   chocolate this way,  because I don't waste any and it is melted perfectly (no overheating   

   here).

Now dip your truffles!

Helpful hints:

~ be sure that your truffles are frozen or they will be too soft to dip properly

~ keep a metal spoon in your chocolate (it helps to conduct the heat 

and keeps it from hardening faster)

~ dip using a small condiments fork or shishkabob skur

I dip the truffles and place them right onto

mini cupcake papers.

my Christmas  truffles - Yum!!!

 Place your choice of nuts, sprinkles, coconut,

or whatever you want on top.

Package in an airtight bag or container.

*They only last about a week on the counter, so freezing is suggested.

Hope your Valentines day was as sweet as my truffles!

Dresden design #1 - Felt Snowmen

I made these cute little snowmen the other day,

just in time for the Saturday snow.

After all, it is still Winter, so I am allowed to make snowmen!

They were so easy to make.

You need the following supplies:

white/off-white thick or furry felt

black embroidery floss

sewing needle

scraps of red plaid and solid green material

black brads

stuffing

gluegun

Step#1 - cut 2 Dresden pieces out of felt

(I used Stampin Up's new Dresden design die in my Big Shot Sizzix machine)

(Tip:it is best to cut thick or furry felt one layer at a time)

Step#2 - sew around your snowman with a blanket stitch leaving the head unfinished and the curved bottom separated.

(Tip:notice, I started around the bottom curve of one side 

and went all the way around to the other curved opening.)

Step#3 - stuff your snowman

Step#4 - cut strips of your solid green scrap material for the hat

I think I cut a piece that is about 2x6in.

(Tip: make sure it is wide enough to go around his head 

and long enough to fold over twice.)

Step#5 - using your glue gun, pipe hot glue in a line 

along the edge of your fabric.

Step#6 - immediately fold just enough of the material 

over to cover the glue.

Step#7 - repeat step5&6

Now you have a fold for the bottom of your hat.

Step#8 - Now hot glue the hat to your snowman's head.

Step#9 - Wrap & glue the green strip all the way around.

Step#10 - Using your red plaid scrap pieces, 

cut scarves and top ties for the hats.

Step#11 - Tie on your scarves and hat ties.

(Trim when finished)

Step#12 - add your black brad eyes by just poking them in.

Now you have some cute little snowmen for next Christmas.

I really enjoyed watching the snow fall, 

while I made these cute little felted men.

How to Make a Paper Wreath

I have always wanted to make a wreath with scrapbook paper.

 I pulled some supplies out that I have been holding onto.

The base of the wreath was a foam wreath that I bought at the Dollar Tree.

 To get a rounded wreath, I first wrapped the base with quilt batting.

Then I cut 2 - 12 x 12 Stampin' Up Designer series paper into 3 x 12 inch sections.

Cut a fringe around one side of each strip.

 The best way to secure the pieces is to hot glue them in place.

Other adhesives will not stick to foam or quilt batting.

Start by wrapping each piece onto the base one at a time. 

 Overlap each paper strip with the fringed side on top.

When you get all the way around, just tuck the last piece in.

You will have gaps between the paper, 

so use the leftover pieces to fill in under the big strips.

I just love the birch looking paper!

To decorate the wreath I just cut out a 

few different sized pointsettias from some other SU  paper.

The centers are made of SU Chocolate Chip cordoroy button brads 

and some SU vintage ribbon.

Voila!

Here is my finished paper Christmas wreath!

You can see this wreath at the Creativi-Tea!

If you can't be there, that's okay.

I will be posting projects all this week.