Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009

This week's blessing:

The Wisdom of God, the Love of God, and the Grace of God strengthen you to be Christ's hands and heart in this world, in the name of the Holy Trinity.

Amen

Top 15 Color Inspiration #36!

Wowwie kazowwie (as Annalee likes to say)! I just checked Kristina Werner's color inspiration #36 round-up, and I made her top 15 cards. How freakin' cool is that? And, I didn't even think the picture I posted did the card any justice. I guess there was just something there she liked.

Now, I can't wait to tell Betty about how her birthday card's gone international. But, that'll have to wait until tomorrow, when I call her to say "happy birthday."

Color Inspiration #36

Here is this week's color inspiration from Kristina Werner.


It came just in time for me to create a birthday card for Betty, my mother-in-law. I just hope she doesn't see it here before it arrives in her mailbox in North Carolina. Her birthday is Jan. 7, so happy early birthday, Betty!

I used a stamp from SU's Touch of Nature with both rose red and pretty in pink inks, DSP in old olive, and old olive and whisper white cardstock. The ribbon is rose red. I used the scallop punch on the edge of a piece of cardstock to get the little 'tufts.' I wasn't sure about adding the chunky glitter - I thought it might be a bit too much - but it turned out to be just the right touch.


While I was stamping, I made a card for our friend Tony. His birthday also is on Jan. 7. I like that the colors in the DSP are gender-neutral. They make for a nice man-card. The colors are pumpkin pie, brilliant blue (I think), bashful blue and wild wasabi.

Tony's card is a knock-off of a card I made the other day for my friend Chickie, whose birthday is Jan. 5.

For Chickie's card, I was planning to make a ruffle out of the twill tape, after I stamped HAPPY BIRTHDAY on it. But, I stopped. I kind of liked the way the tape folded over but could also stand up. What do you think?

And, now that I'm thinking about it, I still need to make a card for my dad Bob. His birthday is Jan. 4. Yikes! This first week of January sure is birthday busy!

Christmas Blessing

We went to church on Christmas Eve for the children's service. Annalee was among the children who gathered at the alter, heard the story of Jesus and brought their stuffed animal pals to gather 'round the manger.

Here was the blessing during the service:

May Christ, the Son of God, be manifest in you, that your lives may be a light to the world; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you, and remain with you always.

Merry Christmas, friends.

Elves, a Horse and a Stick

We first asked Annalee what she wanted for Christmas back in early November. "A horse on a stick."

Whaaat? Oh, yes, I remember now. In August, on our way to northern Wisconsin, we stopped at a restaurant in the Dells that had a gift shop (of course it did). Annalee found a horse on a stick (you know, the kind you used to run around the yard playing like you were riding a horse?) and thought it was the coolest thing. We no sooner walked out of the restaurant and that horse was gone from my mind. But, obviously, that wasn't the case for Annalee.

A few days after we first asked her about gift ideas, we asked her again what she might like for Christmas. "A horse on a stick." 'Didn't you hear me the first time, mom?' was probably what she was thinking.

I cringed, as I did each time she would say this. I could just feel the walls getting banged into, the paint chipping, the drywall cracking. The walls that were freshly painted in September.

Weeks went by. Same question, same answer. Then, last week, Annalee came home from kindergarten with this:



Having trouble reading it? It says, 'Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is a Horse on a Stick.' There it was in black and white. There was no getting around this special request. You see, this note is for Santa. It needs to get set out with his milk and cookies on Christmas Eve.

So, I asked Annalee, "What if Santa doesn't bring a horse on a stick?"

Duh, mom. "Don't worry. The elves can make anything." Ahh, the mind of a five-year-old. So sweet, so innocent, so trusting.

And, me? Maybe I should ask Santa to bring some sheets of foam for the walls. 'Cause I know he's bringing that horse on a stick.