Christmas Storybook Countdown - Epiphany Crafts

Hello! Wow, what a week! Getting sick followed by Thanksgiving is a good combination for not getting a lot of blogging done! But, the week was good (in the end) and I'm ready for a new one. Before Monday gets away from me, though, I wanted to post my latest project for Epiphany Crafts.

This year we are counting down to Christmas in a new way - with a Christmas Storybook Countdown. My boys all love to read, so I thought this kind of advent calendar would be a great fit for our family. Epiphany Crafts teamed up with Simple Stories, and I was given the Handmade Holidays collection to play with. I cut apart the title/journaling cards and created 25 tags, one for each book:

I embellished the tags with stars, banners and circles by Epiphany Crafts. I also added a bit of gold airmail washi to each one.

I wrapped up 25 storybooks in tissue paper and matching yarn, then clipped the tags in place.

I decided to use clothespins so that I can save and reuse the tags next year. No sense in tearing them with the wrapping, right?

Now my boys are getting excited for bedtime stories and Christmas. I hope this is something that turns into a tradition for us :). For more Simple Stories/Epiphany Crafts wonderfulness, stop by the blog here (and enter to win!). Thanks for stopping by today! I am sharing another advent calendar tomorrow, featuring one of my favorite holiday stacks by DCWV. See you then! Tessa

Attitude of Gratitude Day 26: I am grateful for my health, and the health of my family. I don't mind the little bugs we catch when I know how other families are suffering through incredible, physical hardships. I really can't complain and am truly blessed.

Family - The Studio

Hello! Attitude of Gratitude - Day 19: Today I am grateful for the written word because if you could hear me now, well, you wouldn't hear much. I'm going on day two of being voiceless, but I am feeling better today and am looking forward to checking off some easy things from my to-do list :). One of those things is to share my latest layout for The Studio:

My LSS announced that they were closing, so I decided to sub to Studio Calico. I already get great kits from my favorite place - Scrapbook Circle - but I figure the SC kits will help replace what I would have bought at my LSS. We'll see how it goes :). Anyway, this is my first project with SC kit(s).

This layout is based on a sketch challenge now up at The Studio:

I chose my background "tags" from my tag stash, then filled in the rest with SC supplies (and that awesome burlap heart from a past Scrapbook Circle kit). One of those tags is the back of some Studio Calico packaging.

If you'd like to play along, you can find the details here. Oh! And just a heads up - all the new Ruffle Blossoms and Satin Swirl flowers are now up in the shop :). That's what happens when you are forced to stay home all day - computer stuff gets done ;).

Well, I've got to go try to get the boys on task - without a voice. They're on break for Thanksgiving. All week. My dance skills are coming in handy with all the gesturing I have to do :). Have a great day! Tessa

My thanks to Shanna Noel for featuring this layout on her blog :). Thank you for your sweet, kind words!

Fall Boots - SEI

Hello :). I'm sorry for being quiet the past couple of days. I thought I was dodging it, but now I think it's just slowly taking me over. Yep, I caught a bug. Hopefully it won't last long and I can get back to my routine with full energy soon. One bright spot for today, though, is my first post up on the SEI blog:

I used the Mirelle collection to create this layout about my new favorite shoes. I have been living in these boots this season. I love, love, love them! So comfy and warm :).

I think the foiled papers in this line are beautiful, so I used a couple of my favorites to create my title and the background piece. The velvet leaves are really great, too. I love the texture they add to the page.

You can find the post at SEI here. I hope you have a fabulous day, and really great weekend. I plan to sit down on Sunday and catch up on documenting my Attitude of Gratitude thoughts. I'm just a bit cloudy today and I think it deserves a more clear head :). Thanks for stopping by! Tessa

My 3 Favorite Products from Zazzle

I have shopping on the brain :). Here are some things that caught my eye.

Ironic Hipster Shirt
Shop for other hipster t shirts

   

Chevron Pattern iPhone 4 / 4s Casemate Case iPhone 4 Case-Mate Cases
Shop for more hipster iphone cases

   

Keep Calm and Carry On Poster - Green
Shop for other world war 2 posters

Please tell me that I'm not the only one who hasn't started their Christmas shopping yet ;). Have a good one! Tessa

Disclaimer: As thanks for my time and participation in writing this post, Zazzle did compensate me with a gift card. I'm off to shop - now you should, too! :).

Happiness is a Grateful Heart - Epiphany Crafts

Epiphany Crafts challenged me to make a fall decor piece. Inspired by one of my favorite quotes about gratitude, I created this:

My fall decor consists of traditional autumn colors, with a bit of pistachio green thrown in. I wanted this project to be all about the green, so I pulled my favorite green-blue papers from Crate Paper's Acorn Avenue line (picked up via Scrapbook Circle). I used Epiphany Craft's round and button tools to create custom shapes, and I filled in the smallest spaces with rhinestones.

I love the sparkle! With all the natural fibers and materials in my fall display, it's fun to have a little bling now, too :). You can find my project at the Epiphany Crafts blog today. Be sure to enter to win their giveaway!

Attitude of Gratitude - Day 13: I am grateful for my boys' teachers. It always so happens that parent-teacher conferences happen during November, and after meeting with my boys' teachers, I am always reminded of how hard they work. I am grateful to them for their dedication to my children's education. And for their patience, and sense of humor. :) :) :)

Thanks for stopping by today! Enjoy your Tuesday :). Tessa

Grateful...

Day 10: I am grateful for the cub scout program. On Saturday, our pack put on a Veterans Appreciation night in conjunction with pack meeting. Several veterans from our area came and it was pretty amazing to see our 8, 9 and 10 year old boys talking to them about their service; saying thanks for their service; and serving them (ice cream!). I am grateful for a program that instills important values in our young men. I am proud of each and every one of the boys in our pack :).

Day 11: I am grateful for children. For the example they are to me. For all that I learn from them. Sunday was the Primary Program at church - a time when the children (ages 3 through 11) lead our main worship service. They sing, they read prepared messages that they wrote themselves and they (loudly into that microphone!) share their little (and yet, so large) testimonies with us. It was a beautiful program. I am so grateful for my children and the children that I get to work with through church, dance and school. Each one is absolutely amazing in their own, special way.

Day 12: I am grateful for Colten. Colten is my oldest, and the child most like me personality-wise. This often leads to parenting with greater understanding and increased patience because I tend to "get" him more than my other kiddos. I'm not the Colten-whisperer, though, so sometimes we have our moments. However, a very wise friend told me yesterday that even though I may not think he is listening, he really is. And he understands. He demonstrated this over the weekend. He was a rock star! He did his chores - willingly, happily. He did a great job in the Primary Program with his part. He was helpful at every chance he got. I just really, really appreciated him and his sweet spirit in our home the past few days. I am so grateful to be his mama.

I'll be back tomorrow with another fall/gratitude/thanksgiving project to share :). Thanks for stopping by! Tessa

My Girl Mini Album - Epiphany Crafts and My Little Shoebox

I had the pleasure of working with My Little Shoebox for a recent Epiphany Crafts project. I don't have a little girl, so I made a mini album for a friend with the darling My Little Shoebox papers I received:

I used 4x6 chipboard pages as my base. I simply covered each page with patterned paper and created a pocket on every other page with a patterned paper strip. I used the journaling cards as in between pages and tags.

I embellished the front with a MLS flower and Epiphany Crafts buttons and a vintage setting. I also used the buttons on the inside of the album. I love that they are dimensional, but also flat and completely custom - great for mini book embellishments!

Thanks to My Little Shoebox for the opportunity to play with your sweet, sweet products :). You can find the post at Epiphany Crafts here (and enter to win an EC/MLS prize, too!).

I've slipped in posting my Attitude of Gratitude thoughts here on the blog, but I have been posting them on Facebook and Instagram. It was a rough week with a pulled muscle in my back and a little boy with the flu, but it was a good week. Just one where I wasn't on the computer much ;).

Attitude of Gratitude - Day 6: I am grateful for the country I live in. I really, truly am.

Day 7: I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ because it gives me hope and peace.

Day 8: I am grateful for Jaxon. He does this thing where he blinks his eyes rapidly with a devious little smile when I'm trying to scold him. He knows it will make me laugh! I love this kid with all my heart and soul. I am so grateful that Heavenly Father saw fit to send him to me.

Day 9: I am grateful for my job. There is a lot of sad talk around here about jobs - strikes, unemployment, underemployment, etc. As a dance teacher, I am offering a service that is pretty much a luxury. I would imagine that it's one of the first things that gets cut when families are having a tough time. And yet, I have classes that are past their maximum and I have had to turn down private lesson students due to lack of time. I do not take this for granted one bit. I work hard to offer my students the best class every week. I love my job and my students know it. The income I am able to bring in to our family budget is a HUGE blessing and I am very, very grateful for it.

I hope you had a great week, too! Thanks for stopping by today :). Tessa