craftiness.......{bookprint ornament}

i fell in love with this pinterest find last year..............

this year, i finally got around to crafting my own.

supplies:

ornaments
book pages
modge podge
glitter

1. remove a few pages from your book and tear them into small pieces.
2. take the ornament caps off then get your decoupage on with the strips & modge podge.
3. while the ornament is still wet, add your glitter.
4. let them dry then embellish at will...........tags, ribbons....whatever your heart desires :-)

i purchased my ornaments & book at our local dollar store. this could easily be a dollar store craft by subbing out the modge podge for a diy decoupage mixture using dollar store glue & water (50/50 mix).

are you doing any diy ornaments this year? feel free to share your blog posts in the comments!!

take up your cross...........

painting by petals and brushes

"...whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me."

~ luke 9:23

our pastor spoke on this verse this past sunday.

did you know that the cross was the primary method of execution in that time?

gruesome, right?

yet us jesus-girls display our crosses proudly.......on our bodies, in our homes......

we want the world to know that we are CHRISTIANS.

we follow Christ.

but "taking up our cross" is so much more than just a symbol to show the world.

taking up our cross means sacrifice. dying to self. following the will of our God.

so often, i think i'm doing such a good job....

going to church, reading my bible...........

then i look back and see i dropped my cross a few blocks back.

i realize that, actually, i've just been satisfying my own needs.

ever been there?

reviewing my life, i can see so clearly those times that i put my cross down and continued on my way.

in my own way.

He didn't let me go, even then, but i know it would have been so much more...satisfying, joyful, peaceful.....(insert happy adjective here).......had i bore my cross.

'cause in the long run, it's so much easier.

following HIS way, listening and obeying HIS words.

and - pay attention now, this is a biggie - it says "daily"

we make the decision to follow Christ but the work doesn't stop there.

every day we must pick up our cross, decide to follow Him and do His will.

every day. every hour. every minute. every second.......

i mess up. i'm constantly dropping my cross. so i strive to check in with God every moment.

touch base, make sure i've got that cross...... 'cause i know He's got me.

maybe, instead of using our crosses to show something to the world, we should use our crosses for ourselves.

as a reminder.

got your cross?

what i'm lovin' on......

source unknown

thanksgiving is behind us, next up: christmas!
it really is my favorite time of the year for so many reasons....
in the weeks following, i'll be focusing on holiday decor, gift ideas and maybe a few diy projects.
how about you? what have you got planned?

this past week has been pretty fruitful, in more ways than one.
rhiannon posted words of worth and encouragement that came at the most perfect moment for me....

new in "the shoppe"...........

a little girl's first birthday printiable photo invite!
i gotta tell ya, since working on the christimas cards, i've really fallen in love with photo cards! quite unexpected but you can expect to see a whole lot more :-)

i thought that this was a really sweet gift idea (pun intended!)

and this cool weather styled shoot is awesome - so cozy!

i have a feeling that this pinterest board will play a prominent role in my holiday decorating this year

share with me - have you come across anything interesting/fun/exciting/beautiful this week?

thanksgiving sale extended!

how was your thanksgiving?
ours was wonderful. the food came out good. family got along.
and for the 3rd year in a row, i forgot to put out the cranberry sauce.
we're going to have those same cans for 10 years.

annnyway.........
for the first year, i actually dressed the table.
sounds horrible coming from an event planner, huh?
space has always been an issue and honestly, also incentive.
my family is happy enough to eat off of paper plates - it's the food that matters ;-)
i had done a little designing for a friend the evening before with my thanksgiving printables and was a little jealous
so this year, i did it for me. and guess what? they noticed and appreciated.
a couple of shots:

just a couple of simple touches :-)

yesterday, i tweeted, announced on my facebook page and shared with my instagram friends an impromptu thanksgiving sale and i've decided to extend it through the weekend!

anything in the shoppe, 20% OFF. and i'm planning on a couple of additions this weekend so keep an eye out!

happy thanksgiving!

today, i am thankful.
for my family.....
that we have food on our table......
for God's salvation........

and i'm thankful for you.
thank you for reading this little blog of mine.
i hope that i'm able to be a blessing to you.