Happy New Year!

New beginnings in a new year! Happy 2012!

May blessings abound for you and those you love in the coming year! Here at Explore. Dream. Discover. we are sporting a brand new look! There are still some details to work out, but we are getting there! What do you think so far?

I have another frame embellishment for the IKEA frame I altered for our daughter's desk! Love the winter mitten Spellbinder's Dies. The set was gifted to her for Christmas! I cut two mittens and sewed together on my machine. A couple cotton balls add just enough dimension. All trims and rose are found at The Stamp Simply RIBBON Store!

Thank you for stopping by today! Take good care!

Celebrate the Most wonderful Time of the YEAR!

Need quick ornaments in the next couple days? Here is a fast, easy, and terrific idea for creating stunning ornaments for your gift giving! Any size glass ornaments will do the trick, in this case I used a 4" flat round from Michaels. The above ornament was given to the residents living in the condo development where we reside. The tag is computer generated and cut using my Spellbinders Ribbon Tag Trio Three die. I trimmed off the right side of each die cut as I did not need the ribbon slide feature on the right, keeping it on the left allowed an easy ribbon attachment.

BASIC INSTRUCTIONS:

• Remove Glass Ornament Metal Hanger
• With handmade paper funnel, add snow of your choosing (mine is from Michaels)
• Stamp desired images onto acetate (be sure and use StazOn ink, so it will dry quickly)
• Create a pattern of ornament shape to trace onto stamped acetate
• Trace ornament pattern lightly with pen onto stamped acetate sheets
• Cut out stamped ornament shapes
• Roll and insert into ornament neck and let unfurl
• Replace ornament hanger top
• Embellish as desired

And here is a second version. The acetate was purchased from my local office supply store, making sure it was the flexible kind to allow for easy rolling. Images for the ornaments shown today are from Justrite's Christmas Treasures Set. Ribbons are found at The Stamp Simply RIBBON Store!

I also stamped a few more acetate sheets to used on smaller ornaments and will have those to show you soon! Hope you are wrapping up (pun intended!) your Christmas preparations and enjoying the journey! Take good care!

Last minute, it is!

I love these little pretzel bites! I've seen many versions, but using the Hershey HUGS are by far my favorite! I find the white chocolate melts better and resets faster! But this year we had a hard time finding them! You can find every other flavor! I finally lucked out at Target a few days ago!

And look at these Christmas shaped pretzels! So cute! I made three batches of these pretzel bites in no time! Easy, yummy, and FUN! Now that is what we all need about now! How are you doing this week? Enjoying your Christmas week? Praying it's full of blessings for you and those you love! I still have the rest of the Ikea frame embellishments to share! I'll get those up soon! Thanks for stopping by!

Ribbon Inspiration-Stamp Simply Style-Note Cards

Welcome to the final Stamp Simply Style Ribbon Inspiration Saturday for 2011 and we are moving beyond Christmas today and talking note cards! The note cards I created today are what I call anytime note cards! Why? I can use them anytime for a thank you, thinking of you, happy birthday, etc. You get the picture!

SHARON'S BLOG CANDY INFORMATION FOR THIS RIBBON INSPIRATION SATURDAY IS HERE!

These note cards measure 31/2" x 31/2" after being cut using my Spellbinders classic large square die. All designer paper is found in My Mind's Eye Lost & Found Sunshine 6 x 6 pad. I am loving these papers. I used a variety of the paper pad pages. Check out this paper along with all the wonderful My Mind's Eye papers available at The Stamp Simply RIBBON Store HERE!

Close look at one of the four card to catch a better glimpse of that My Mind's Eye paper! All the buttons used on these cards are coordinating My Mind's Eye Sunshine buttons! Gotta love that! Brown 1" double face satin ribbon is HERE and the beautiful 1/4" silk ribbon is found HERE!

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Tomorrow I'll be back with the remaining frame embellishments I created for this Ikea Frame! And I am making all the last minute items preparing for the big day, just a week away! I'll share with you some ornaments and some sweet goodies! Take good care!

TAKE A LOOK AT THE FOLLOWING DESIGNER'S BLOGS TO SEE WHAT TERRIFIC NOTE CARDS THEY HAVE CREATED!

Sharon

Deb

Holly

Barb

Framing with Embellishments!

This is an IKEA frame I picked up this past summer. I love the durability and photos are inserted from the top into the frame. So it's easy in and easy out to change up pictures! Love the clear inserts that come with the frame which creates a floating looking photo! Adhesive Velcro dots are attached to the frame and on to backside of each embellishment making changing a snap.

Every frame needs seasonal embellishments, right? The first photo sports a Spellbinders Blossom Three Flower die cut of fleece. I cut two and used embroidery floss to stitch around the edges! The pumpkin is created using Spellbinders Mega Oval dies with shaded edges to add dimension! The greenery is a Spellbinders Foliage die and the pumpkin stem is cut from Spellbinders Labels Four die. The wreath is cut with Spellbinders Scallop Circles and the berries are negative pieces from a Spellbinders Eyelet Square die cut. Mini gems and silver string finish the embellishment perfectly!

This was such an easy gift project! You can make as many embellies as your heart desires! I made eight embellishments for this project and will be back to show you the rest! The little one is our precious granddaughter! Her Momma will be gifted this frame creation for Christmas! I have a feeling she will be placing this on her desk! Enjoy your Friday!

Simply Ornamental!

Good Sunday Morning! I wanted to share the mdf Kaisercraft ornaments I made last year! The are covered with designer papers with an added half pocket on the ornament front! My daughter used these to gift her coworkers. She tucked in a few holiday goodies along with a beverage gift card!

Did you get a chance to look at the holiday decor for Saturday's Ribbon Inspiration yesterday?Since I used the same Kaisercraft ornaments for my wreath HERE, I wanted to show you the ornament creations from a year ago!

The Kasiercraft Bauble Ornaments come in a pack of 4. They are now on sale for $4.49, what a great value, just in time holiday crafting and gift giving!

Ribbon Inspiration-Stamp Simply Style-Holiday Decor!

Today's Stamp Simply RIBBON Inspiration is Holiday Decor! And speaking of holiday decor, how about a wreath made from the Kaisercraft mdf bauble ornaments! That is exactly what I created today! Not very often do I keep the items I make, usually my creations are made with specific recipients in mind. But the wreath today is mine, all mine!

Here is a look at the room area where the wreath is hanging! I covered the bauble ornaments with My Minds Eye Lost & Found Christmas designer papers. After all baubles were covered, I arranged them in a circular fashion. I lightly pencil marked around the ornament edges where they met. The markings then allowed me to know where to apply Aleene's Tacky glue. One by one all the ornaments were glued together. I let sit overnight to set! I wanted to move one of the ornaments after gluing thinking I would pry it apart. That tacky glue is pretty strong, I could not get the ornament off! It did make me feel good knowing this is not going to come apart any time soon!

All of the gorgeous ribbons are silk! Adhesive gems around the bauble tops add that extra bling! I added three tree ornaments by running a 1/4" silk ribbon throughout the tops and securing that in place! That's it! Pretty simple and doable!

Our Saturday Ribbon Inspiration is offering one lucky blog reader the above blog candy! All the info for the blog candy is over on Sharon Johnson's BLOG! Good Luck!

Check out the Holiday Decor these talented designers have to share!

Sharon - The Stamp Simply RIBBON Store

Barb - You are here!

Deb

Holly

Reindeer Corn!

Just a little idea for the precious grandchildren! I love the idea of this little tin filled with candy corn! Just enough to sprinkle outside for Santa's Reindeer! I think Momma Reindeer will really like the treat too! Simply placed in a tin I had left over from a previous project!

Project Details:

Copic Colored Image- R27, R29, R39, G07, G24, Y15, Y35

Spellbinders Standard Small Circle die #3 cut for image

JustRite's Seasoned with Love Christmas Set Image

JustRite's Marketplace Alphabet, the individual clear stamps allow random placement of letters

Burlap Red String, Stamp Simply RIBBON Store

Micro Eyelets

Clear top round tins

Christmas Candy Corn; side note- I went to a local candy store (Ferris Nut & Coffee) and bought only small amount of corn! Saves money and my sweet tooth!

Hope you enjoyed this inexpensive, simple, fun idea that creates a wonderful tradition to bring out year after year. Traditions are such an important part of the holiday season, my prayer is that you are blessed beyond measure with special traditions you share with your loved ones! Thank you for stopping by, I'll be back with another quick ornament idea next!

A Mom's Response to her child's question, Are you Santa?

Over on Pinterest I came across this letter a Mom wrote to her child after a persistent question did not go away. You know the one, we've all asked it or heard it!

Are YOU Santa? Is Santa for real?

Here is the letter. I've adapted it somewhat for our family.

Dear _______,

Thank you for your letter. You asked a very good question: "Are you Santa?"

I know you've wanted the answer to this question for a while, and I've had to give it careful thought to know just what to say.

The answer is no. I am not Santa. There is no one Santa. I am the person who fills your stockings with presents, though. I also choose and wrap the presents under the tree, the same way my Mom did for me, and the same way her Mom did for her. (Optional- and yes, Daddy helps, too. Of course add whoever helps do this.)

I imagine you will someday do this for your children, and I know you will love seeing them running to the tree on Christmas morning. You will love seeing them sit under the tree, their small faces lit with Christmas lights.

This won't make you Santa, though. Santa is bigger than any person, and his work has gone on longer than any of us have lived. What he does is simple, but it is powerful. He helps teach children how to believe in something they can't see or touch.

It's a big job, and it's an important one. But the power to believe is based in the love that only comes from Jesus. And throughout your life, you will need HIS love to believe in yourself, in your friends, in your talents and in your family. Your strength from Jesus helps to believe in things you can't measure or even hold in your hand. HIS grace will light your life from the inside out, even during its darkest, coldest moments.

So, Santa is just another teacher, and I have been his student. Now you know the secret of how he gets down all those chimneys on Christmas Eve: he has help from all the people whose hearts he's helped fill with joy and those who want to bring happiness to their loved ones.

With full hearts, people like me (optional- add, and who else helps too) take our turns helping Santa do a job that would otherwise be impossible.

So, no. I am not Santa. Santa is part of love and magic and hope and happiness that our life can bring from the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ. And we are all invited to be on HIS team! Merry Christmas!

I Love you and I always will.

Signed, _____________

Ribbon Inspiration/Stamp Simply Style-Packaged to GO! Snowflake Legend!

WELCOME to Ribbon Inspiration/Stamp Simply Style-Packaged to GO! One of my favorite things to do; create a wonderful gift presentation! Just look at this Whiskers Graphics Bitty Bag! It's holding a special Christmas ornament that is now all packaged, ready for gift giving! The star embellishment is a clip on, making it easily removable! It also can be repurposed or clipped on a tree branch for another ornament! These bags come in an assortment of colors too! Swoon ;)

So this is where I started! I purchased this snowflake ornament at Hobby Lobby, of course when their ornaments were half off! Ahem, $1.84! When I eyed this beauty it reminded me of the Snowflake Legend! Not a new idea, several years ago I made THESE!

I removed the store tag and made my own! Using a die cut of silver card stock to hold the computer generated legend is tied with silver cording. I also stamped a piece of the mirrored silver card stock with JustRite's Market Alphabet with 2011 to remind the recipient when the snowflake was gifted! A 1" Sheer ribbon bow on the ornament top finishes it nicely! The ornament is complete! So simple! The full legend is typed below the close up photo!

SNOWFLAKE LEGEND

Long, long ago, a shining star

led the way to a CHILD born in a

manger. It is believed that SNOWFLAKES

are little pieces of that gleaming star that

guides us to the light of the world,

Our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Let's talk about the package embellishment! Two die cut stars are edged with glue and glitter. The Christmas sentiment is from Rubber Soul/Wordsworth Set, Classic Christmas (it's on sale too!). The LaBlanche Speciality Paper is wonderful to stamp on, I love it! It quickly has become my favorite! The green edging is distressed, adhesive pearls, and one satin snowflake trim creates a total look for this embellishment. More 1" sheer ribbon too!

Here is the back of the package embellishment to show you the mini clothespin glued in place. I used Aleene's Tacky glue! It isn't going anywhere! The stars are purposeful as the legend says snowflakes are little pieces of that gleaming star that leads us to the light of the world! Are you ready to package and GO! Get those half off ornaments, and stock your supply with these wonderful bags and you will have packages ready to GO! Not all my packages to Go will have clip embellishments! Many will have the bag top folded down, two holes punched, threaded with divine twine securing the flap in place!

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PACKAGED TO GO

BLOG CANDY

Mystery Blog Candy will be won by one lucky winner who will be drawn from comments on one of today’s participating blogs. Leaving a comment on each blog will increase your chances of winning. The winner will be selected at 6 p.m. EST on Tuesday, December 6 and will be posted here on Sharon's BLOG on Wednesday. You must check back to claim your prize if you are the lucky winner!

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Take a peek at the following designer's blogs to see what they have packaged to GO!

Sharon Johnson - The Stamp Simply Ribbon Store

Holly McMillen

Deb Saaranen

Barb Schram

• LaBlanche Speciality White Cardstock HERE, Designer Paper HERE
• Mirrored Silver Cardstock HERE
• Merry Christmas Stamp is found HERE, JustRite Stamp Set is HERE
• Sheer Ribbon HERE, Silver Cording is HERE
• Adhesive Pearls are HERE, Satin Snowflake Trim is HERE
• Glitter is HERE
• Whiskers Graphics Bitty Bags are found HERE
• Spellbinders Labels Ten HERE, Star Dies HERE