Thank You Cross Cards

 

I needed to send some

Thank You cards to

family/friends so

I decided to try this

beautiful intricate cross image.

Card Size:  4 3/4" x 7 1/4"

Cricut Cartridge:  New Testament

Cross Cut at 5"

Thank you for stopping by....

Blessings!

Old Fashioned Christmas

This year at Christmas I wanted

to make some special memories

with family celebrating with

old fashioned traditions

My parents simple Christmas tree

is adorned with vintage ornaments

and some are from their childhood.

I can remember making popcorn balls

as a kid and also stringing popcorn with a needle

and thread to make garland for our tree!

Making popcorn balls was top on my list

for our old fashioned Christmas this year!

Fox & Geese Board

As children, my parents played a

game called Fox & Geese where

the geese (small buttons) tried

to hem in the Fox (large buttons)

and keep them from having a move

(like check-mate in chess).

There are many different variations

of this game.  I can remember playing

this when I was young also.  It never

occurred to me that it was only 

cardboard and buttons.

The more fast paced life becomes and the

more tangible possessions people have, the 

more they seem to long for simpler times.

God, Family/Friends & Country--

Is there anything more important?

Wishing you the peace of simpler times

and precious memories with those you love!

Slow down and enjoy life!

Ohio River Village Christmas

Along the Banks of 

the Ohio River

Many Villages still exist today

holding their small town

atmosphere precious.

Older buildings have since became

cafe's, antique/florist shops and offices.  

This is a cafe' along the river.

Unique Window Dressings

A Simple Reminder that

Jesus is the Reason for the Season 

 The decorations look almost as good as the

delicious smells coming from local bakeries.

Blackberry jam, peanut butter rolls and 

cookies the size of your hand can be an

afternoon snack as you stroll through 

the village visiting the shops.

Festive sights, sounds and smells

greet you around every corner

of this Ohio River Christmas Village!

A Frontier Christmas Village

Frontier Christmas

Old Washington, Kentucky

 Candle Making

The wicks were dipped in the hot wax

and allowed to dry as they were dipping the rest

of the wicks.  It took over 90 dips to create a taper candle.

 Buildings from the 1700s line the streets

and beckon for you to come in

stepping back in time.

Knitting Demonstration

Many buildings have become antique shops

while others remain intact for tourist

and school groups to see a glimpse

into the Colonial life.

Sitting by the fire to keep warm.

Corn Cob Checkers

A Wax Statue of Simon Kenton

Site of First Postal Station, 1789

Machinery Used with Tobacco

A Beautiful Local Church

Visiting Old Washington puts me in

the Christmas mood and I enjoy

the sites and sounds of a simpler

time when one's focus was on

God, family and country.

Thank you for visiting my blog!

To learn more about Old Washington visit:

http://www.washingtonky.com/

Christmas Card Ornaments

Nativity Ornaments

When I started to make Christmas cards this year, 

I found I didn't have any paper that

would work for the cards, so

I improvised by making ornaments

and placing a Bible verse & sentiment 

on the back on a label.

Cricut Cartridge:  Inspired Heart

Cut at 3 1/2"

Die Cuts with a View Glitter & Metallic Card Stock

Martha Stewart Ribbon Hangers

I made around 100 ornaments and they went together

quite fast.  This may be a new tradition for me

to give instead of Christmas cards!

Remember...Keep Christmas in your heart everyday!

This Christmas the Little Things

This Christmas I'm thankful for....

the little things.

This Christmas I'm thankful for....

clothes & shoes that fit.

This Christmas I'm thankful for...

food to eat.

This Christmas I'm thankful for...

my home, my family and my friends.

This Christmas I'm thankful for...

seeing donated clothes given to a small child

and the smile she wore in her new dress.

This Christmas I'm thankful for...

the little things that really are the big things!

This Christmas I'm thankful for...

Jesus, God's Son, coming as a baby 

to bring love and forgiveness

to all who seek Him.

This Christmas What are You Thankful for?

Facebook Page

Anyone who enjoys Facebook

can find me on my page at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Treasure-Broker/245273435492308

Feel free to stop by and say hello!

Runaway Christmas Train

 Does anyone else feel like they are on a runaway train picking up speed fast?  So often I hear ladies ask, "Where has the time went?  How did it get to be December already?" 

I don't have the answers to those questions, but am reminded to take a deep breath and remember life isn't about the hustle and bustle, but about the journey and the memories you make along the way.

Where I live there aren't any roses in bloom to stop and smell.  It's too cold, but there are beautiful stars in the Winter sky and bright moons to behold.  Crisp frozen grass that crunches underfoot in early morn.  Soft cheerful music playing in the stores in preparation for Christmas.  A remembrance of Thanksgiving beckoning to not be forgotten amid the hurried days of the season.

The Bible says to everything there is a season.  Time comes and goes quickly it seems.  Isn't that all the more reason to enjoy each minute instead of hurrying through it?

Enjoy the journey and the moments will be more precious!

 

Thought for the Day

Those who do not thank for little 

will not thank for much!

Be thankful.  It doesn't take long

for us to look around and see

someone who has it so much 

worse than we do.  

There is always

something to be thankful for!

Christmas Blog Candy Giveway

Everyone is getting in the Christmas spirit!

Visit http://cricutcouple.blogspot.com 

for great Christmas ideas and a
500 Follower Celebration with

generous giveaways!

It's time to start getting ready for Christmas

to share Christ's love with all!

Christmas Blog Candy Giveway

 Candy's Craft Corner Blog is Having a
Wonderful Giveaway!

 Go Check it out:

http://candyscraftcorner.blogspot.com/2011/10/huge-christmas-candy.html

Joy Comes in the Morning

Medical tests, emergency rooms,

complications, bed rest and lot's of prayers

have been my last few weeks.

If you're someone who goes through

this frequently, you know the first few thoughts

that go through your mind are "Come on...not again!"

There are times in life when there are no answers

but that's when the peace comes 

when you trust God in those dark moments 

when you are alone and only He can help you.


Psalm 30:5 "...weeping may endure for a night,
but joy comes in the morning."

Take a Break and Enjoy Life

The sun will keep on rising and setting
whether we fill our days with

worry or joy!

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, 

for tomorrow will worry about itself. 

Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Matthew 6:34

New Blog to Explore Cricut

There is a new blog beginning called

http://exploringcricut.blogspot.com/

It's a place where Cricut lovers can come and

explore Cricut cartridges and find new exciting ways 

to use them in their crafts!

Every other Monday there will be challenges.

Every day except Sunday there will be daily projects

exploring different Cricut cartridges from the design team!

Come join the fun as you are inspired to create

new projects to share with those you love!

Fall Blessings

I saw an idea in a Craft magazine to use leaves in 

layers to create a card, so thought I would give it

a try for a Fall Blessing card!

Do you recognize the red grid piece on the card?

It's from a potato sack!  When I was cooking one day,

I noticed the amazing texture and pattern and knew

it would be perfect for this card!  Try it out!

Materials

Patterned Paper:  Die Cuts with a View

Basic Card Stock

Leaves from dollar store pack

Glitter leaves from dollar store pack

Embellishments:  tags, gems & jute twine

If you print your own pictures like I do, then you know you

usually have some left over picture paper on the sheet

I don't throw anything away, so I found these left over pieces are

perfect for the inside of cards, especially if they are from the

Post-it-Note paper which just sticks right on.

May you have a beautiful Fall and see God in all the beauty around you!

Many Blessings!

Old Washington Kentucky

Sights from Old Washington, Kentucky
Simon Kenton Festival

Horse Drawn Carriage Ride

Down Main Street

 Old Country Stores & Antique Shops Line the Streets

Old Washington beckons you to step back in time.

My parents come from farther down in Kentucky

each Spring and Fall to enjoy the festival times with me.

The people are friendly and you find yourself having long

talks with complete strangers so when you leave, 

you have made new friends.  

Old style music drifts through the air with a happy tune.

Men lead teams of oxen pulling a covered wagon as

they holler out commands for the beasts of burden.

 Seeing this living history before us reminds us of stories of our

families and how they farmed, worked and survived.

I have been told about my Grandmother who led teams of oxen.

She was a small lady and I can't imagine how difficult the work 

would have been during those times.

 This is one of my favorite pictures of the day.  As I watched

them go by I felt myself relax and was reminded of slowing down

and enjoying life.  The cool Fall weather, bright sunshine and shade trees.

What a beautiful world God has given us!

You certainly want to move out of their way when they

come down the street!  They are much bigger in real life!

One was about 2,000 pounds!

There was not only sights & sounds, but smells during

the festival.  Street vendors sold everything from

lemonade and funnel cakes to barbecue.  

I just had to take a picture of this whimsical pig smoker.

Thanks for going on the trip with me to 

Old Washington, Kentucky.

Remember...Don't get so busy making a living,

that you forget to make a life!

Pop Bottle as a Gift Bottle

Baby Gift Bottle

I saw an idea to use a pop bottle as a container 

for a gift, so I gave it a try for a baby gift I need to give.

 

Pretty little package for a pretty new baby!

Remove the label from the bottle and use it

as a template for the new label allowing extra to overlap

Size:  5 1/2" x 15 3/4"
I pieced this together since I used 12" x 12" card stock

Scor-tape was used to adhere the card stock pieces together

and to adhere the decorations since it will need 

to bend around the round shape. 

 Use Goo Gone to remove left over pieces of label/glue

Make a slit in bottle allowing enough room to use 

utility scissors to cut an U shape to create a door

to load gift items inside.  

Be sure to make door smaller than label.

Use the back side of utility knife to

lightly score on right side of door so it will 

stay open when loading.

Run card stock through your shredder to match colors needed.

Bunch the pieces up with hands to get the scrunched look.

Load gift items in bottle and use small piece of tape to

close the door.  Adhere the decorated label to the bottle

by using Scor-tape.

My gift happens to be baby outfits, but small gift items really 

look better inside such as office supplies, baby rattles, etc.

Have fun creating unique gift containers that will

show those receiving it how much you care!