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and a little of that is what these limited 2012 ornaments are made of.
Dictionary Paper, crackled paint, ink, a handtorn and handpainted made heart, a corrugated cardboard and burlap initial and a little paper string adhered to a glass ornament.
I kinda love them
and you can order yours here...http://www.etsy.com/shop/StephanieAckermanDes
You still have a few hours to save $5.00 on the Homemade Holidays 2012 Online Workshop
and I want to invite you to take a look at the projects and information here:
http://homegrownhospitality.typepad.com/homegrown_hospitality/2012/10/homemade-holidays-2012.html
Hope to see you in class
and psst..I know that it is "Halloween" time is upon us and many can not think about the "holidays" until Halloween is past so that is why I am going to be adding a special little "treat" area to the class with brand new doodles for you to print out and share with your friends!
There are three days left to save $5.00 on the Handmade For the Holidays On-line Class before the price goes to $25.00!
I just finished loading the 6th project into the classroom and thought I'd give you a closer look at the at the projects:
Project # 1 - Brown Paper Packages
Project # 2 Joy & Love Ornaments
Project # 3 Little Stuffed Hearts
In addition to the step-by-step color instruction PDF print outs, there are downloads of my art for you to use on your projects, holiday recipes, ideas, inspiration and the "Three Trees Project" ...
To register, simply click here: http://homegrownhospitality.typepad.com/homegrown_hospitality/2012/10/homemade-holidays-2012.html
***Remember, this is an online workshop that you are are able to work at your own pace in your own space (which means you get to wear your jammies if you want!) The classroom opens 10/15 and will stay open until 12/31.
I have added a few new pieces to my ETSY shop including this one:
"Do what you love" is an ingredient for everyday life.
This piece, like all of my work, is created to be a great reminder for you and for me, actually for everyone who sees it wherever it is displayed.
"Do what you love" may not be something that you get to do all day everyday, but you must try to do what you love a little each day to fortify your life, strengthen your heart and work your purpose. When you do what you love, you feel better, you look better, you act better and people will notice and when notice, comment and/or compliment you...encourage them to do what they love.
not "awe-some" (like us)
Just like when I mentioned to you a few weeks ago about how I felt
leaving the Women of Faith event at the Honda Center after hearing
Christine Caine for the first time and then having her be at Saddleback
this past weekend...
I have no words quite yet for the impact she has left on me, but not just me...
Thousands.
If you ever get to chance to see her in person...
do it....but wear belt and strap yourself into your chair because her energy, passion and down right fire will BLOW YOU OUT OF YOUR SEAT.
To read more about Christine and her ministries, check out these links:
Guess what?
I made a video to show you how I took a real pumpkin and turned it into a real cute pumpkin by stamping several different images onto newsprint paper, ripping them up into strips, adhering them onto a real pumpkin, adding a little extra detail, stamping a leaf and adding color with a Distress Marker and putting it all together to create a real cute pumpkin...
and guess what else?
My head was in front of the camera THE WHOLE TIME.
I really need to stick to what I know how to do, which is taking something I already have and making it into something else...
I stamped out images onto newsprint using several of my Tim/Stampers Anonymous stamps and Distress Ink in Rusty Hinge.
and then just like a present, I simply wrapped up a block of wood. (this way, I can unwrap it later and make it into something else!) & I used a little Spiced Marmalade Distressed Stain to define the edges a bit
I decided to try using a little Antiqued Bronze Metallic Distress Stain just to add a little sheen..and then I added one thin coat of Glue-N-Seal to the entire block. This not only seals the paper, it blended the colors together to create the perfect orange pumpkin color.
Now, while my block was aside drying, I stamped out a few leaf images and added a bit more color using Distress Markers. Dry the images and trim out.
Now, add a thin coat of Glue-N-Seal to the leaf, pinch the bottom together and dry to obtain a real leaf look
Next I grabbed a bunch of the new Tim Twine (it is really called paper string) and I tripled up the strands and tied it onto my block, again, just like wrapping a present.
Here is the important part: After you have it all tied on, flip the block over & use a hammer to flatten the bottom where the string crosses over or else your pumpkin will not sit flat.
Using Glossy Accents, add your leaves and trim your Tim twine (say that fast!)
and now just look at your cute little pumpkin block, smile and go make more.
Here's what I used:
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Just added to the line up for my Homemade Holidays On-line Workshop and while I can't show and tell you everything, I can give you a peek and share a story....
There is a Countdown project that is simple and probably my most favorite ever..great project to do with your kids...
and this project..do you know the story about the "Three Trees"? Another very simple project but with a strong and meaningful message...a GREAT project to do with your kids..Here is the story:
Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty."
Then the second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."
Finally the third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."
After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter,"and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.
At the second tree the woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.
When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true. One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this one," and he cut it down.
When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay.
This was not at all what he had prayed for. The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end. The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark. The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.
Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.
Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said "Peace" and the storm stopped. At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.
Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.
The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, He will give you great gifts. Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined. We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.
On October 15th, my new on-line workshop opens.....
and if you register before the 15th, you save $5.00 on the class.
This is an on-line workshop that will include an introduction video, step by step instructions and PDF print outs for the projects, holiday inspired ideas, recipes favorites, holiday doodles and more...
All of the supplies will be noted but I always encourage you to use what you have, as most supplies are the things we have plenty of! Be inspired by the way I create something and use your own style and color to create your way!
Take a little extra time to create something that is meaningful and inspirational for friends, family...and for yourself. We all need little reminders, not just at the holidays..but for everyday and I think that that "The Wish Jar" is a perfect gift
Included in the class is also step by step instructions on how I create the large 4" x 9" manila tags
and a mini tutorial on Needle-felting so that you can create tags like this: