Easy Gift Idea #3 - Recordable Picture Frame

Did you know that Stampin' Up sells recordable cards?

Recordable cards are so much fun, but most of the time they eventually get stuffed in a drawer somewhere.

I like to give gifts to people that bless their lives.

So, I came up with the idea to make my own recordable picture frames.

In just a few short months I will be moving from the USA to South Africa.  

I know that once I am there, 

I will miss hearing the voices of my family and friends.  

God has blessed me with so many amazing people in my life.

If I could record everyone's voice with a special message I would.

Anyway, here is how you too can make a recordable picture frame.

I usually take the SU recordable card and cover the front with a piece of  cardstock and clear plastic (I cut up a page protector).

Be sure to leave the top open like a pocket so the picture can be replaced.

Now you can make the frame.

First, measure your picture frame.

Then, I put together what looks like a scrapbook page to fit the frame.

Just add the paper layers, colors and wording that you want.

Now place the page into the frame.

I like to add puffy sticker letters on top of the glass

to make the frame even more three-dimensional.

Then use Stampin Up's Red Sticky Strip to adhere the recordable card 

to the glass of the picture frame.

(You'll love this tape, it sticks to everything!)

I cut flower centers out of the scrapbook paper,

place them on dimensionals,

ans press them onto the flowers.

*Be careful when you press all of these things onto the glass.

If you press too hard it will break (speaking from experience).

Now add a tab to open the card

and

your favorite picture to go in the frame.

Your frame is finished, as soon as, you record a saying in your card.

(Just follow the instructions on the package.)

Hopefully, this will inspire you to capture some memories of your own.

Dresden Design project #3 - Lovely Lampshade

Dresden lampshade

This is a fun project that anyone can do in a short amount of time.
I had an old lampshade that I wanted to dress-up with SU's new Dresden Design die.
(If you do not have the Dresden Design, you can cut out your own Dresden pattern. 
Go to http://www.patternsfromhistory.com/colonial_revival/dresden-pattern.htm to print out the pattern.)


My lampshade is covered in SU Designer scrapbooking paper.  
It is a 2-sided paper, so I was able to use both sides 
(isn't it great that they are made to coordinate with eachother!).

To make your lampshade - 
1. cut dresden pieces using 2- 12x12 pieces of scrapbook paper.
    (You could also use a fabric instead.  I made two sizes. 
2. lay your paper pieces on the lampshade with smaller ones on top of large.
3. when you know that you have enough pieces, just pin them in place 
    (I did this so I can change it later, but you may want to glue it down if it is to be permanent.)

Since I am not a "pink" person, I made this one for display. 
After I take it off display, I will recover it with my colors.

For more ideas for the Dresden plate design search this blog 
and stay tuned for a few more amazing things you can do with this pattern.


Linking up with:
Jenny Matlock: Alphabe-Thursday

Easy Gift Idea #2- The Gift that Gives Back: A Coffee Bean Necklace

Every year, I try to make something special for the other ladies 

that I teach with at my home church.  

This year, I have had my mind mostly on going to South Africa in 2012 

as a missionary to the Zulus.

My gift giving this year has been from a differant perspective than other years.

I found ways to make or give gifts that would make an impact, not only in the lives of the receivers, but in the lives of others around the world.

My idea for this gift came from a necklace I had bought 

at a local store called Ten Thousand Villages. 

This store sells items that have been made all over the world.

The proceeds from their sales goes right back to the people in those countries.

I love unique and internationally made things.

So, I bought this necklace.  It was made by some women in Ethiopia.

(Any time I get a chance, I purchase from an African.)

I am also a coffeeholic.

I LOVE COFFEE!!!

I can drink it any time of the day or night 

(I can't drink decaf though, because whatever it is 

that makes it decaf gives me a migraine headache).

Anyway,... I just love this necklace.

Caution: wearing the necklace will give you the sudden intense urge to get a cup of coffee, because the aroma is so amazing!

I thought that a necklace like this would be a great gift for my friends.

So I went online and ordered some fresh coffee beans from Eurasia cafe.

This is the best coffee.

The Eurasia Cafe was started to help missions in Europe, Asia, India, and North Africa.  

It is a fair trade company that allows missionaries to go into countries 

that would not allow missionaries (in some cases) to set up trade.  

Then they start a trading place or a farm to produce tradeable items.  

Those items, including mostly coffee beans,

 are then sent to the USA to be processed 

and then sold so that the Eurasia Cafe Trading Company 

can use the money for special missions projects.  

I know for a fact that they are truly impacting the world for Christ.  

Click on the above link to check out their website.  

I have totally changed all of my coffee purchasing to this company.

Okay, now that the commercial is over, back to the project at hand.

After selecting and purchasing some whole bean coffee.

You need to soak the beans for at least a day in water

(do not soak for longer than 2 days).

The soaking allows the beans to become soft enough to string on wire.

This is what your finished product will look like.

I used thin beading wire (28 gauge) to string my coffee and beads on.

Use wire that is thin enough that it will not break, but is stiff enough to hold when formed into shape.

Use a medium sized needle on the wire to string the coffee beans.

SUPPLIES LIST:

whole bean coffee

medium sized needle
28 gauge wire
pliers
scissors
silver beads (small balls, ornamental,...)
silver chain
silver necklace clasps

HOW TO MAKE THE NECKLACE:

1. soak the coffee beans 1-2 days so that they are soft 

   enough to string, but won't break easily (some of 

   the beans will break, just keep using the ones that 

   don't.)

2. string the first part of the necklace full of coffee 

    beans.

    <<<see example on left

    *Notice that you should pierce the bean through 

    the center.

    *Cut wire about 3 inches extra on both ends & 

    do the same with each part of the necklace.

3. string the second part of the necklace with 

    5-7 coffee beans and then a plain silver bead.

    <<< see example on left

Now that the first three steps are complete, you 

are over halfway there!

4. string the third part of the necklace with 

    2-3 coffee beans and  then a decorative bead, 

    followed by a few plain beads, another 

    decorative bead, and then the coffee beans again.

    <<< see example to the left

* Keep in mind that you can make your necklace as long as you want it.

5. Finish off the necklace by 

   combining all three necklace 

   parts together.  

   a. Take all three strands of 

   wire and thread it through 

   a larger decorative bead and 

   then a smaller one at each  

   end.

   b. Cut a 3 in. piece of chain 

   and a 1 in. piece of chain. 

   c. Attach a the cut pieces of 

   chain to either side.  

   d. Then attach the necklace 

   clasp to the shorter side.

*This allows the wearer to adjust the necklace to the length they prefer.

You can easily make some beautiful coffee necklaces for your friends too!

Easy Gift Idea #1- The Gift of Encouragement: A Notecard Holder

My mother has raised me to handmake most of my gifts.  

Because I have learned to do this, it makes gift giving more meaningful.

Mom and I on Christmas Day

The other year, when mom was having a hard time focusing 

of what the Lord was doing in her life, 

instead of the hard situation she was going through, I made her a special gift.

As a Christian, I know that God's Word is "alive" and can work in our hearts and lives.

So I got out my Bible and wrote a few encouraging Scriptures 

in calligraphy on some 3x5 cards.

Then, I found a cute little card/note/recipe/photo holder at the thrift store.

I wrapped it all up and gave that to her for Mother's Day about 2 years ago.

Today, that gift still sits on her kitchen shelf near the dish sink.

Every so often, I notice that the verse has been changed to a new one.

It serves as a reminder to us of all of the hard times that God has brought us through 

and continues to give us encouragement from His Word for each new day.

The other day, when I saw a dear friend in the grocery store, she started to share with me her spiritual struggle.  We all go through spiritual struggles in our lives.  

Struggles we have to figure out through God's wisdom and overcome with His strength.  

I felt helpless as I listened.  

I knew that I could open my mouth with encourging words, 

but that they would just be that - words. 

God burdened my heart to do something for her that would show that I am not just praying for her or telling her that God will show her and give her strength, 

but that as her friend in Christ, I am standing with her in this struggle.

As I prayed about what to do, I was reminded again 

of that gift I gave my mother a few years ago.

So I went home and made some special encouraging Scripture cards for my friend.

This time, instead of hand writing the cards,

 I designed them on Stampin' Up's My Digital Studio.

You can get a bunch of verses on one 8 1/2 X 11 in. sheet.

After deciding on a color scheme, font, and shadowed frame, I printed them off on cardstock.

 With my Fiskars' paper cutter, I cut each verse out in a rectangle like this.

Then I used Scotch Self-Sealing Laminating Pouches to laminate each verse.

Be sure to leave room around the edge of each card when cutting, 

so that the lamination stays attached.

On the front of the card holder I attached a smaller verse and some Stampin Up ribbon.

Now I have a nice and inexpensive gift to encourage my friend to rely on the Lord!