Category Archives: Holidays

Freebies, Holidays

Free Christmas Bookmark “Wise Men Still Seek Him,” Digital Clip Art Freebie

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Free bookmark christmas digital clip artI have one last gift for you guys for Christmas, especially for any of you that are Sunday School teachers!  It is a bookmark that says very simply "Wise men still seek Him."

It’s already laid out four to a page so that all you have to do is print, cut and add your ribbon or trim and you’re done!  I hope you’ll pass them out freely.  Blessings!!!  and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

To download your bookmarks, simply click on the image and it will take you to 4shared’s download site, where you’ll click on a button to the right side about half way down the page.  Then save it to your computer!

If you’re good at laying things out for two-side printing, you might try putting your own message on the back side.  Sorry, I can’t give you instructions as each printer works a little differently.

Holidays

It’s the Little Things that Make the Holidays Special

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Last night our little church put on our annual Christmas play.  This year it was almost totally performed by our kids (with 5 adults in the cast one of which was my youngest daughter, Jacqui).  It was a precious and wonderful performance.  The message was fresh and well-presented.  It was called "Miracle on Main Street."  The simple message was that it doesn’t matter the fancy trimmings on the outside, it’s what is happening in the heart that is important at Christmas.  The kids worked very hard to get ready and it showed. 

As I sat in the audience waiting for the play to start, I flashed back to all the school plays, church plays and band performances that I have been privileged to see my children perform in.  None were particularly polished in comparison to today’s high-tech world’s standards but they sure won a place in my heart!  As a mom, watching your children step out on stage, face the world and their fears and shine is pretty much what it’s all about!

One of the fun things in a small community, is that we really know each other’s kids, which makes it extra special.  Our dear friends Dolly and Sam have two daughters, Samantha who is 7 and her sister Sierra who is just a little over 3.  Sierra was very premature and her life hung in the balance for months.  Every step forward she made for a while, was matched by a terrifying step backwards.  She still is very petite and somewhat frail, but is quite a tiger personality-wise.  She was a little distracted on stage last night though.  When the choir moved to the left, she moved to the right.  She stood and watched, grabbed her sister’s hands at times and tried to hold them as Samantha was trying to do her motions, but she didn’t phase Samantha at all, she patiently and perfectly kept doing her lines and her singing.  Sierra didn’t do as well as she had in earlier night’s performances, but she did demonstrate an amazing talent… she can pick her nose (on stage) with either hand and sometimes both at once!  Poor Dolly!  All she could do is roll her eyes, throw up her hands and laugh!!

And then there is our dear friends Bill and Beth’s son, Marcus.  He’s four and worked so hard to learn his lines.  He’s quite the ham on stage and really enjoys being in the limelight.  Even in our regular Sunday Services, you can hear his sweet voice strongly over many of the adults.  He was so excited to be in the play and couldn’t wait for the very first performance that the cast did for a local nursing home.  After a while, Marcus turned to his teacher in distress.  She motioned over to him to come to her and as he was going to lay his head on her shoulder, up came the entire contents of his dinner all over her!  Poor Marcus!  Poor Renee!  Who could have been prepared for that to happen?  What do you do when you’re an hour from home with no change of clothes and you need to keep giving direction to the kids in the show?  You just keep going until the show’s done!  Renee was amazing, Marcus went home and is still recovering and the story has already become legendary within our fellowhip :-)!  Oh the unexpected surprises of working with children.

If you want to "get in the spirit of Christmas" it could be as close to you as the nearest school play or church choir performance.  I hope you’ll go support your neighborhood children even if yours are grown.  They love to shine and their smiles put the sparkle in the holidays.

Oh yeah, and of course my daughter did great!  But then that might just be the proud mama in me talking!!!

THE CHRISTMAS STORY FROM MATTHEW:  Matt 1:17-21

17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.  

18 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.

20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."   NIV

 

Crafting, Holidays, New Releases, Products Available, Uncategorized

Want to Make Your Own Christmas Gift Basket? Here’s a Digital Clip Art Set That Can Help

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Christmas Presents, gift basket digital clip art kit, holly, poinsettiaI get all those wonderful Holiday Gift Catalogs from the awesome Gift basket companies like Harry & David.  Their presentations are incredible, but so are their prices!!!  So I created this kit so to help you make your own little gift basket for the people on your list that you just don’t quite know what to buy for or for your hairdresser or others for whom a small "Thank You" would be just right.

This kit will be the freebie that I give away to some lucky reader tomorrow in my twice monthly Blog Comments Contest.  All you have to do is post a comment on my blog anywhere between the 1st and the 15th and this kit could be yours!  For the rest, it will be available next week at The Daisie Company Store for $4.48 (plus 20% off until Christmas Day)

dimensional bow top box, holly and holly berry design, clip art kitUsing the Holly Berry Christmas 1 & 2 art sets, this is a classic Red, Green and Gold Christmas that is both elegant and fun.  It contains a bow top box, a cocoa packet, a tea bag cover, book mark and assorted gift tags.  Add your cocoa packets, spiced holiday tea, some peppermint sticks and Christmas Hersey’s Kisses and tuck in some of the free recipe cards that I have available elsewhere on this blog and you have an instant gift! 

I like to make up 2 or 3 sets like this and have them pre-labeled with blank labels just in case someone drops by that I didn’t expect to give me a gift.  I store them away in a closet and can pull them out in a jiffy!

Today is my "Get all of Christmas wrapped and all the cards sent" day!  So I’m off to brew my coffee and fuel up for a looong day!  Meryy Christmas to you all!

THE CHRISTMAS STORY: Luke 2:35-40
The Prophecy of Anna

36 Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, and was very old. She was a widow, for her husband had died when they had been married only seven years. 37 She was now eighty-four years old. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. 38 She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about Jesus to everyone who had been waiting for the promised King to come and deliver Jerusalem.

39 When Jesus’ parents had fulfilled all the requirements of the law of the Lord, they returned home to Nazareth in Galilee. 40 There the child grew up healthy and strong. He was filled with wisdom beyond his years, and God placed his special favor upon him. NLT

This concludes the Christmas story in Luke, next I’ll go to the gospel of Matthew which tells a few different details.

Freebies, Holidays, recipes and recipe cards

I Give in! Here’s the Recipe Card With “Nadya’s Christmas Candy”

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Christmas Home made Candy recipe cardOkay!  Okay!!  I’m not much of a cook, but I have an awesome Aunt who is and who has the most amazing recipe exchange newsletter website and he friends (known as "Nancylanders") have the most delectable recipes, sooooo….  I guess I really have no excuse for not putting a recipe in the card!  If you haven’t visited my Aunt Nancy’s website you can find it at www.nancys-kitchen.com.  If you love recipes you will adore her website.

So In addition to downloading the Free Blank Recipe Card for Christmas with Gingerbread Man Cookie art on it, you can download this one with a mouth-watering Christmas Candy Recipe as well.  Special Thanks to Laurine In NNY for her recipe.

To download this card all you have to do is click on the image and it will take you to the download.  Enjoy!

 

Freebies, Holidays, recipes and recipe cards

FREE Christmas Cookie Recipe Card Digital Clip Art by Audrey Jeanne Roberts

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Free Recipe Card, Christmas, Gingerbread Cookie, BlankI have another recipe card for you (and will have yet one more next week, so check back!)  This card set has a front and back side both with and without lines so that you can hand write your recipe or type it in on your computer.  This card was created with elements from my Gingerbread Cottage Baking Set and Gingerbread Village Set.  Permalink: http://www.daisiecompany.com/blogs/audreyjeanne/?p=299

Gingerbread Cottage Christmas Baking Set Cookies Clip ArtI’m showing the preview of each of these kits and if you click on their image, it will take you to the DAISIE Company store where they can be instantly downloaded for only $5.98!

These sets will allow you to make your own recipe cards to match very easily!

Gingerbread House, Cottage, Village, Cookie Digital Clip Art KitThe second set is also $5.98 and contains all kinds of elements that can be used to create your own Gingerbread Village Scene, greeting cards, recipe cards and so much more!

If you are a digital scrapbooker, I’d like to encourage you that you can use your art collections for so much more than just scrapbooks!  The same skills that you’ve developed can be put to use creating anything you can think of off of your own home computer.

For those of you just visiting, I am including a little bit each day of the Christmas story.  I’ve started with Luke and will go to Matthew next.  Come visit each day if you’d like a reminder to keep the reason for the season front and center in your heart.

THE CHRISTMAS STORY:Luke 2:24-35
The Prophecy of Simeon

25 Now there was a man named Simeon who lived in Jerusalem. He was a righteous man and very devout. He was filled with the Holy Spirit, and he eagerly expected the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. 26 The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,

29 “Lord, now I can die in peace!
As you promised me,
30 I have seen the Savior
31 you have given to all people.
32 He is a light to reveal God to the nations,
and he is the glory of your people Israel!”

33 Joseph and Mary were amazed at what was being said about Jesus. 34 Then Simeon blessed them, and he said to Mary, “This child will be rejected by many in Israel, and it will be their undoing. But he will be the greatest joy to many others. 35 Thus, the deepest thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your very soul.” NLT

Crafting, Holidays, New Releases, Scrapbooking

Christmas Scrapbooking “For Dummies” Contemporary Christmas Instant Scrapbook Album

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Is coming next week.  Are you like me, taking rolls of film at Christmas and then after Christmas you feel overwhelmed, burned out and Christmas Instant Album Scrapbook Kit, Digital Clip Artthink "I’ll get to that later?"  If so, I hope I’ll be able to help you out a little this year.  I created this album for MYSELF first because I design scrapbook products but all to often don’t follow through and create them for my family (shame on me )

This album set is GIGANTIC at 132 pieces, PLUS the instructions, PLUS the photos of my page layouts for the "less than creative among us" and PLUS the blank templates to place your photos behind so that you can perfectly cut them to fit the book.  It will retail at $9.98 for the complete set which is an amazing deal when you look at the per piece price.

Christmas Scrapbook, Instant Album Digital Clip Art Kit, scrapbookingThis Contemporary Christmas Collection is a perfect mix of elements that will appeal across the generations.  My daughters adore it and my 84 year old Mother in Law loved it as well.  These instant album are awesome to give as premade Christmas gifts that the recepient can easily customize with the photos they take Christmas day.

These albums are so easy that if you have never Christmas scrapbook Instant Album Digital Clip Art Kitcreated anything on a computer before, but can print a page from a jpeg file, you can make them.  The art is laid out on letter-sized paper pages and every open space is filled with goodies for you to cut out and use to decorate the pages.

The fun part about these kits as well, is that the pieces that are included can also be used to create greeting cards and gift tags very easily.  I used my left over pieces as matching gift tags and they will be the finishing touch for my gifts.

THE CHRISTMAS STORY: Luke 2:21-24
21 On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise him, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he had been conceived.

22 When the time of their purification according to the Law of Moses had been completed, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord"), 24 and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."   NIV

 

Holidays, New Releases, Products Available

Natural Christmas Clip Art Kit by Audrey Jeanne Roberts

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Natural Christmas Clip Art Kit This is likely to be my last Christmas Art Kit of this season, there may be a few more Christmas Product Kits such as stationery kits or gift baskets, but this is the last of the art that’s even close to being prepared 🙂

From the time I was a little girl, we often went to the mountains in the winter.  The crisp fragrance of Incense Cedars and the rich earthy smells of the California Redwoods mixed with the classic pine fragrance bring back so many wonderful memories for me.  All of these rich, wonderful elements of nature were my inspiration for this art work.

If you’re like me and love a natural, earthy Christmas, pine boughs, pine cones, holly, holly berries Christmas clip artthen I saved the best for last for you!  This is an elegant country feeling set with antiqued parchment and deep Christmas Reds and greens.  I spent hours painting detailed pine cones and boughs, berries, birds and amaryllis arrangements. 

One of the things I planned in this set was that it could be used both as effectively for Christmas and for year ’round uses with it’s natural foresty feel.  There is a wide Christmas poinsettia wreath, holly berry, holly, Christmas tagsvariety of all the elements necessary to create anything from Christmas Cards and gift tags to scrapbook pages, brag books and recipe or note cards.  This set will be available for $5.98 in the Daisie Company store on Friday, Dec. 14, 2007.

I’m (like you) going to be working a lot this week to get my Christmas gifts ready to ship, so things will be rather light in the store.  I can’t tell you what I’m making as gifts (since I do have friends and family that read my blog!)  But I’m having so much fun doing it. 

Making gifts for Christmas is a tradition in our household and I hope it is (or will be) in yours.  I have always treasured the special things that my girls have made for me and many of them grace my china cabinet or jewelry chest.  Remember that you don’t have to participate in the commercialization of Christmas, you can choose to make it a heartfelt, joyful celebration of the Love of God that came down from heaven to be with us and the love of a brand new family that also was born that night. 

THE CHRISTMAS STORY: Luke 2:13-20
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.
NIV

Crafting, Holidays, Products Available, recipes and recipe cards

Make Your Own Gingerbread Cottage For Christmas

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If you’re not at all cooking inclined, or simply don’t have the time to make your own Gingerbread Cottage this year, the picture shows my Gingerbread Cottage Christmas Gift Box or Table Decoration.  It retails for $5.98 and is available for download by clicking on its picture.  It’s a complete digital art kit that you simply print, cut and glue to create this intricate looking cottage, but is so easy a child can do it with help.  You can also use it’s pieces to make card board templates to create an actual Gingerbread cottage. 

To do so, print all of the pieces but only one of each.  Cut them out cutting off the tabs (you’ll use your icing to glue the pieces instead).  Cut off the roof edging from the roof top, making it a separate piece.  From there you’ll glue the pieces onto cardboard and cut them out.  Using these cardboard templates, you simply trace and cut.  You can cut out the window openings if you wish and line them with colored cellophane when baked or drop clear colored candies into the openings when you bake the dough.

I ffound a few great sites in my search today for making real Gingerbread for Gingerbread Cottages or Gingerbread Houses and I thought I would share them with you!  Gingerbread house or Gingerbread Cottage KitOne of my all-time favorite magazines is Cottage Living.  They have a great site with links to several other sites.  You can find it at: (link in all caps here: ) COTTAGE LIVING

Another of the magazines that I subscribe to is Better Homes and Gardens, here’s their contibution to the fairy tale cottage industry!  (link in all caps here: ) BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS 

If making an entire Gingerbread Cottage is too dauting a task for you, try making a Gingerbread Cottage cookie ornament instead!  Here’s my simple instructions for you:

  1. Draw your cottage or cottages onto cardboard.  You can freehand draw or search on line for coloring book images that will work.  Also, if you own my Gingerbread Cottages Clip Art sets, you could print one out to the size you would like, glue it on the cardboard and use its shape to make your cookies.  Using the back end of a marker or other pen as a guide, lightly trace a circle to cut a hole for hanging the ornament by.  I like to place my hole’s center about 1/2" from the top of the cookie leaving about as much cookie at the top, as the opening size is wide for strength. 
  2. Prepare the Gingerbread man dough as seen in the post below (make sure you download the Free Gingerbread Man Cookie Recipe Card).  Mark your hole by tracing with a toothpick, gently cut through the dough and remove.
  3. Using candies and (link in all caps here: ) ROYAL ICING  decorate each cottage differently.
  4. Let dry thoroughly and then add your message on the back if you’re good with the icing bag.  "From the Roberts Family 2007" or a nice Christmas saying would be great.

If you’re not even sure where your oven is in your kitchen or how to turn it on, your backu plan just might be my Gingerbread Cottage Box and Centerpiece kit!  If you can print a file on your computer and use a pair of scissors to cut a straight line you can do it!  Decorate it with glitter, candies or jewels and you have an extra special gift box or a centerpiece for your hall table or dinner buffet!

THE CHRISTMAS STORY: Luke 2:8-12
That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. 9 Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terribly frightened, 10 but the angel reassured them. "Don’t be afraid!" he said. "I bring you good news of great joy for everyone! 11 The Savior–yes, the Messiah, the Lord–has been born tonight in Bethlehem, the city of David! 12 And this is how you will recognize him: You will find a baby lying in a manger, wrapped snugly in strips of cloth!"   NLT

Freebies, Holidays

Free Gingerbread Man Cookie Recipe Card & How to Get Into the Spirit of Christmas!

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Free Gingerbread Man Cookie Recipe Card & Blank Recipe CardI find that traditions, music and fragrances have a lot to do with the "Spirit of Christmas."  What are the traditions in your family?  What have you done in the past that has become a precious memory now?  Doing those traditional things at the start of the season goes a long way towards "Getting us into the Spirit of Christmas."

Some of the best traditions are food and smell-related.  I think that there’s something special God programmed into us that ties memories and emotions with smell.  So I’m going to try to help you along today by providing one of the most notable smells of Christmas free for you as my gift! 

To download this free gift, just click on the picture and a window will pop up.  It’s a jpeg file that most all computers should be able to handle and print.  I included the individual card(s) and created a layout that you can print, fold and glue to make a perfect two-sided card if you haven’t worked with graphics before.

Are you struggling to get into "The Spirit of Christmas" this year?  The older we get, sometimes the harder it is to find the magic of Christmas.  I’ve been listening to a couple of local talk show radio broadcasts and have heard that lament from many people and yet a lot of others are calling in saying they’re enjoying the season immensely.  I’ve heard an interesting common thread in those that are in the mood….

They’re thinking of others and doing things for others and not waiting for the "feeling" to happen!  The other callers seem fixed on the feeling to start doing the fun things related to the season.   If you want to get into the Spirit of Christmas today, maybe making a plate or two of gingerbread cookies, printing out the recipe card and tieing it on with a lovely ribbon and taking it to a friend’s house, your child’s classroom, the teachers at school, or a nursing hom will be just the thing to bring the magic into your own heart!

Another way to get into the Spirit of Christmas is to remember the Reason for the Season.  One way I’m doing that this year is by including a portion of the scripture’s account of the first Christmas each day.  You can go back through these posts to right after Thanksgiving to start with us if you wish, or pick up your own bible and start at the book of Luke in the New Testament.

THE CHRISTMAS STORY:  Luke 2:1-7
1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to his own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
NIV
 

Holidays, New Releases

Shop ’til You Drop Snowman Gift Tags and Clip Art

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snowman clip art gift tagsThose of you that participated in the Crop Event on Saturday, may have won one of these cute little snowman "I Shopped ’til I Dropped, Just For You!" gift tags.  I had so much fun making that little prize tag that I created a mini kit around it. 

My inspiration this year for making all of the special 3d gift tag kits is the money I’m saving NOT buying the tag kits we usually buy from Sam’s Club and Costco.  They’re usually over $10 and only sort of go with the papers that we own, but they’re so much fun I can’t resist!  Now I have tags that will go with my papers, gift bags etc. and better yet, I made them myself 🙂

snowman clip art kitThat Gift tag kit also goes with the new clip art kit "Snowmen Warm Your Heart 2" that will be released this week.  This is a fun contemporary pastel snowman set that will work for Christmas and for the entire winter season as well. 

 

snowman clip art kit, christmas tags & papersThese snowmen come with several curved wide borders that are really fun and unique.  There are also quite a few more tags included in this clip art set, as well as papers, frames, text pieces and art pieces.  I’ll show some more previews later this week as I created 5 preview shots of this one!

I will also be making mini kits of the prizes that were awarded, so if you didn’t win them at the crop event you’ll have an opportunity to purchase them at the Daisie store.  Thanks to all tha participated, the day went off without a hitch and we had a tremendously good time crafting together!!!

THE CHRISTMAS STORY: Luke 1:56-66
The Birth of John the Baptist
57 Now it was time for Elizabeth’s baby to be born, and it was a boy. 58 The word spread quickly to her neighbors and relatives that the Lord had been very kind to her, and everyone rejoiced with her.

59 When the baby was eight days old, all the relatives and friends came for the circumcision ceremony. They wanted to name him Zechariah, after his father. 60 But Elizabeth said, "No! His name is John!"

61 "What?" they exclaimed. "There is no one in all your family by that name." 62 So they asked the baby’s father, communicating to him by making gestures. 63 He motioned for a writing tablet, and to everyone’s surprise he wrote, "His name is John!" 64 Instantly Zechariah could speak again, and he began praising God.

65 Wonder fell upon the whole neighborhood, and the news of what had happened spread throughout the Judean hills. 66 Everyone who heard about it reflected on these events and asked, "I wonder what this child will turn out to be? For the hand of the Lord is surely upon him in a special way." NLT

Freebies, Holidays, New Releases

Today’s Free Crop Event and Tutorials, Free Gift Tag and Kits at Daisie

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All day long today from 9 AM Pacific Time to 9 PM or so We will be having a crafting session at The Daisie Company (www.daisiecompany.com)  There will be free templates to make 2 greeting cards out of and a template for making gift tags.

In addition there are two freebie kits being offered that you will find HERE AND HERE They will be available only for a short period of time and then the links will be disabled and the items will return to normal pricing.

freebie gift tag, christmas gingerbread "Happy Birthday Jesus"If you click on the picture to the left, it will take you to a FREE downloadable mini kit.  It’s a special liitle goodie for those of you who are joining the crop at Daisie and stop by my blog.  This item is a 3D gift tag with "Happy Birthday Jesus" and  a darling gingerbread girl on it.  Since the tag is blank you can also put your own words in it.  This link will be available only through Christmas and then will be disabled so get it while you can!

For those of you visiting for the first time, you can click through the category headings for things that are of interest to you.  I write almost every day sharinh a lot of art and tryinh to share some wisdom about building better relationships in our lives.  I also have a daily scripture.  I will often have some short comments of explanation on the scriptures and for Christmas am going through the Christmas story in Luke.  Welcome, and I hope you’ll stop back by again!

THE CHRISTMAS STORY: Luke 1:38-45
Mary Visits Elizabeth

  39 A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town 40 where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. 41 At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

42 Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, "You are blessed by God above all other women, and your child is blessed. 43 What an honor this is, that the mother of my Lord should visit me! 44 When you came in and greeted me, my baby jumped for joy the instant I heard your voice! 45 You are blessed, because you believed that the Lord would do what he said." NLT

Holidays, New Releases

Elegant Christmas Card Kit With Matching Family Newsletter Digital Clip Art

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pop out card template sampleI am releasing several sets tomorrow and may not get to preview all of them here, but they will be available at www.daisiecompany.com in the morning.

This Card set has been created with a template that I will be giving away free on Saturday at the crop event. 

family newsletter matches christmas card digital clip artI used my own art (as you will use the art you either have created or purchased) and dropped them behind the png templates to create this set.  I wanted to release it so that those who do not have the graphics skills to create their own will have something fun to purchase and create along side the rest.  This crop event is aimed at everyone from the very basic beginner crafter to the much more experienced Photoshop wiz! 

gift tag clip artThis particular Christmas Card set includes a matching Family Newsletter.  You can put your own short message on the card and have lots of space to follow up with an update letter that keeps your family in the loop.  I personally read (and save) every family letter that comes at Christmas and really love the tradition.   I hope to create several additional sets of matching cards and newsletters next week (fingers and toes crossed!)

THE CHRISTMAS STORY:  Luke 1:18-25

18 Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I know this will happen? I’m an old man now, and my wife is also well along in years."

19 Then the angel said, "I am Gabriel! I stand in the very presence of God. It was he who sent me to bring you this good news! 20 And now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you won’t be able to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly come true at the proper time."

21 Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah to come out, wondering why he was taking so long. 22 When he finally did come out, he couldn’t speak to them. Then they realized from his gestures that he must have seen a vision in the Temple sanctuary.

23 He stayed at the Temple until his term of service was over, and then he returned home. 24 Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. 25 "How kind the Lord is!" she exclaimed. "He has taken away my disgrace of having no children!" NLT

MORAL OF THE STORY:  When an angel tells you something, don’t say, "Shut up!  You’re kidding right?!"  LOL!  If you do, he just might shut you up for a while!  Just kidding, but God always does so much more than we can imagine and he wants us to believe that he loves us enough to do the very thing that we have asked him for.  Like any awesome parent he loves to do good things for us and delights when we have a childlike ability to believe and receive. 

Crafting, Holidays, New Releases

Free Greeting Card & Gift Tag Templates and Tutorials on Saturday, December 1, 2007

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As I’m puChristmas Gift Tagstting the finishing touches on my mockups and samples, I thought I would give you a preview of some of what the templates you’ll receive for free can make.  I used my Gift tag template and "Holly Berry Christmas" and "Gingerbread Christmas Village" along with my AJ’s Copperplate Handwriting font. to make these tags.  I also used some actions from Atomic Cupcake to produce the sponged/inked edge look on some of the pieces.

There are as many as three layers on some of these tags (which are a little tough to see).  I’ve embellished them with glitter paint, minijewels and some large decorative jewels and irridescent ribbons.

You can receive this kit free of charge if you do one thing for me.  If you will send out an email to some of your friends inviting them to attend the Christmas Card Crop on Saturday (and copy me on your email so that it’s easy for me to send out the volume of kits I’ll need to send) I will send you this art kit for free!  Then hopefully you’ll also attend the all day affair on Saturday to do more.  My email address is audreyjeannesblog@daisiecompany.com. 

 

 

 

Here are some close ups for you to see a little of what can be created.

I used a large scale deckle edge pair of scissors to cut out these tags and then there are two deep layers on the tags, but it just does’t show well here.  I used mini-jewels to highlight the tree branches and larger jewels where they worked.

I hope that some of you will post the pictures of the tags you make on Daisie so we can all see them too.

THE CHRISTMAS STORY:  Luke 1:8-17
8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary and burn incense in the Lord’s presence. 10 While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.

11 Zechariah was in the sanctuary when an angel of the Lord appeared, standing to the right of the incense altar. 12 Zechariah was overwhelmed with fear. 13 But the angel said, "Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! For God has heard your prayer, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son! And you are to name him John. 14 You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice with you at his birth, 15 for he will be great in the eyes of the Lord. He must never touch wine or hard liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth.   16 And he will persuade many Israelites to turn to the Lord their God. 17 He will be a man with the spirit and power of Elijah, the prophet of old. He will precede the coming of the Lord, preparing the people for his arrival. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and he will change disobedient minds to accept godly wisdom."   NLT

Holidays, New Releases

Penguins at Play Giftbags, Tags & Toppers Preview

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Penguin Giftbags, Gift tags and Toppers PreviewThis day has just flown by!  I started writing this post at 8 PM and managed to delete it when it was almost done so here I am for try number 2!  I wanted to get these previews up for you before the day ended and managed to do it (just barely!!!!) 

This kit will be available in the Daisie store on Friday and will sell for $4.98.  It contains two gift bag options with two tags and the bag toppers can also be used separately on any 5" penguin Christmas gift bagsbag clear or paper bag.  There will also be a greeting card and envelope set coming on Friday to coordinate with it.  I’ll try to get those previews done tomorrow in addition to about 25 other tasks I’m working on all at once.  If only I could wiggle my nose and make all the rest of the world freeze like Samantha did on Bewitched!

If you don’t know about it, THE DAISIE COMPANY is sponsoring a Christmas Card and Gift Tag Crop event all day Saturday.  It will start at 9 AM Pacific/12 Noon Eastern/ 5PM GMT and will have events, prizes and tutorials scattered throughout the day ending around 8-9 PM Pacific/11 PM Eastern/4 PM in Australia.  With so many time slots we’re hoping everyone will be able to catch at least one.

I will be giving away free greeting card and envelope templates in two different shapes and sizes as well as a template sheet of gift tags.  We’ll also be doing some tutorials on using wire and beads to create unique and fun embellishments.  I hope you’ll not only join us but invite some friends who’ve maybe haven’t tried computer crafting yet!

THE CHRISTMAS STORY:  Luke 1:5-10
It all begins with a Jewish priest, Zechariah, who lived when Herod was king of Judea. Zechariah was a member of the priestly order of Abijah. His wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. 6 Zechariah and Elizabeth were righteous in God’s eyes, careful to obey all of the Lord’s commandments and regulations. 7 They had no children because Elizabeth was barren, and now they were both very old.

8 One day Zechariah was serving God in the Temple, for his order was on duty that week. 9 As was the custom of the priests, he was chosen by lot to enter the sanctuary and burn incense in the Lord’s presence. 10 While the incense was being burned, a great crowd stood outside, praying.
NLT

 

Holidays, New Releases

Gingerbread Christmas Baking Set, Additional Previews

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(UPDATE:  This kit is now available for $5.98 at the Daisie Company store.  Just click on the first picture to go there.)  Here’s the additional preview for the Gingerbread Christmas Baking Set.  I don’t know if it will be released tomorrow or Friday, but it should be out recipe card clip artthis week!  I’m working on the templates for Saturday’s crop event and several urgent projects for my licensors (and my unexpected new puppy)

For those that didn’t read the MB at Daisie today, my daughter was rescuing a friend when her car died and when she opened her door this little puppy jumped up into her lap and wouldn’t let go of her!  We’re going to try to find his owner if he has one, but if we can’t I think he found his way into our home and our hearts!

our new puppy We’ve named him, "Sequoia" for the giant sequoia trees that we love so much that grow in "our backyard!"  He’s a beautiful redwood color and with his paws, he’s not going to be a little dog!

Here’s the beginning of my daily reading of the Christmas story for anyone who would like to ponder the reason for this season a little bit each day.

THE CHRISTMAS STORY:  Luke 1:1-4  Most honorable Theophilus: Many people have written accounts about the events that took place among us. 2 They used as their source material the reports circulating among us from the early disciples and other eyewitnesses of what God has done in fulfillment of his promises. 3 Having carefully investigated all of these accounts from the beginning, I have decided to write a careful summary for you, 4 to reassure you of the truth of all you were taught. NLT

COMMENT:  I will be going through the book of Luke starting at the beginning.  This is the introduction from Luke.  He was not a direct diaciple of Christ before his death, but was a contemporary of the other disciples  He gathered his information from interviewing many of those that had been friends and followers of Jesus.  He was a physician and later travelled with the Apostle Paul.  Tradition since early in the church seems to indicate that Luke was a martyr, yet there are a few accounts that mention he died of a natural death.