Category Archives: Holidays

Holidays, New Releases

Gingerbread Christmas Baking Set, for Making Recipe Cards and Other Christmas Food Gifts.

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Oh Boy!  I have a list a mile long to attend to today and I’m so behind I’ll never catch up! 

Gingerbread Christmas Baking Set Recipe Card

(UPDATE: This kit is now available in the Daisie Company store for $5.98.  Click on the first picture to go there.)  Here’s the preview for this week’s art kit: It was designed specifically for making food-related Christmas gifts.  It will be available either tomorrow or Friday, depending on the store’s volume and Lynnie’s balancing needs.  It will sell for $5.98 and has 30 pieces of art.  There are 5 circular frames that would work great for making paint can sets out of and there are 7 frames to use either for scrapbooking, making greeting cards or recipe cards with.

The centerpiece of this collection is a poem I wrote "Recipe for a Merry Christmas."   It is an 8" square that would be ideal for making a tile trivet out of.

Gingerbread Christmas baking set, clip artThere’s also a 8" square "There’s no place like home for the holidays" design that would make a great Christmas card or tile out of as well.

I used the Gingerbread Cottage Christmas sets to create the baking pieces out of so they will perfectly coordinate with any of those sets.  They will also coordinate with Gina Jane’s Sweet Gingerbread sets as well so you can mix an match them to create your own special look.

previews Gingerbread Christmas Baking Set, cllip artCreating all of these Gingerbread Christmas sets has reminded me of the wonderful days we spent making graham cracker gingerbread houses with my mother and sister.  We didn’t bake all of our own gingerbread parts, but they were still our unique creations! 

If only I could include the smell of fresh baking gingerbread it would be soooo perfect! 

I’ll show some more previews this afternoon, right now i have to get moving on some other commitments.  My dear friend, Angela has discovered my blog.  She’s my "boss lady!"  So she’ll know if I’m not getting her work done 🙂

 When I post again this afternoon, I’m going to start posting the Christmas story scriptures so that if you stop in each day from now until Christmas, you’ll get to read the entire story.  So if keeping the real reason for the season central in your crazy day is a priority for you (as I am working at doing this year too) then grab a gingerbread cookie, some cocoa and come to my blog each day for a little quietness and "centering" time!

 

 

Faith & Inspiration, Holidays

A Quick Happy Thanksgiving to All of You!

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We’re hitting the road momentarily.  Be safe.  Enjoy your loved ones.  Go to your family events taking a little time to think about what usually happens at them.  Is there someone who’s usually rude and obnoxious?  Think about what they do to push your buttons and don’t let them!  It’s the "surprise, I forgot she was like that" factor that catches us off guard!  Is there someone who is unkind?  Think about how miserable they must be to be like that and how much they’re missing — then love on them a little extra.  It will either soften them up or REALLY stir them up, either way you’ll feel better about it.

Is the event at your home?  Take time to think about what you want to say to each that is coming as you clean.  Have a special, personal "Thank you for being you" message to share with each as you hug them hello.  Is there a family member that won’t be able to come that usually does?  Give them a special cell phone call to say you were thinking about them.

Do you have to travel far or by airport or freeway?  Take a little extra time for the trip and don’t get too wound up, you’ll arrive in a much better frame of mind.   If you’re traveling with your children in a car try doing what we did last weekend, reading a book out loud together.  Our girls absolutely LOVE it and we have such wonderful memories of reading CS Lewis’ "Chronicles of Narnia" and some other wonderful books like that.

Are you going to see a family member that you just might not see this side of heaven again?  Hold them close and love them with all your heart and don’t forget to tell them how much you are thankful for them.  I’m thinking about my Grandma Flint at this moment… for ten years every time I left her I knew it could be the last time.  We said our good byes over a decade and I didn’t really know that the last time I saw her really was going to be the last time, but it didn’t matter because I didn’t leave anything unsaid.  She knew how much I adored her!

And finally, Thanksgiving is really about our priceless relationships… with God who gives us such abundance in our lives and those we’re blessed to share it with.  The food is fun (and unfortunately is ALMOST ETERNAL so be careful how much you pack on… ooops I meant pack in :-)!) 

Blessings to all of you!  Audrey Jeanne

 

Crafting, Freebies, Holidays

Upcoming Crop Event December 1st at THE DAISIE COMPANY

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On December 1st, the anniversary date of my joining Daisie Company last year, I will be holding an all day crop event to create Christmas Cards and gift tags.  There will be two free Christmas Card Templates offered, one in the morning and one in the afternoon that you will be able to use any art or graphics with to create your own Christmas card designs from.  You will need to have your own graphics to work with, which can be things that you already own or purchased from the Daisie store.

Our goal is to get our Christmas cards done and in the mail EARLY this year and have them be beautiful and creative as well!  I will teach some sessions on making 3 dimensional gift tags out of your graphic sets with a little tutorial here and there with some simple ideas for you to incorporate.

There is a suggested products list here: http://www.daisiecompany.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22786

If you have any ideas, suggestions or requests of what you would like to see incorporated in the day, please post to the comments and I’ll gladly see if I can accommodate them!  We scheduled the events in a manner that will make them as accessible as possible to the entire world time spectrum since we have Daisies in Australia, England and the continent in between!  Hopefully you’ll be able to make at least one of the events.

Here’s my rough plan:
1. Begin the first project/crop event at 9 AM Pacific/ 12 noon Eastern time which corresponds to 5 PM GMT.
2. Run a mid-afternoon event at 1 PM Pacific, 4 PM Eastern and 9 PM GMT
3. Run an evening event at 7 PM Pacific, 10 PM Eastern (UK will be asleep at 3 AM), but in Auckland Australia it will be 3 PM on Sunday afternoon.

Further details can be found at: http://www.daisiecompany.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=22462

I hope to "see" you all there!!!  I am going to be making an unexpected 3 or 4 day trip starting early tomorrow so I will not be around much, but will try to pick up my email if and when I can so be patient if I don’t get back to you 🙂

Happy Thanksgiving all! 

THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY:  1 Thess 5:12-18  Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  NIV

Freebies, Holidays

A Thanksgiving Freebie Gift From My Heart to Yours

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Thanksgiving Napkin Ring Freebie PreviewI am getting ready to go to San Diego for the weekend so I wanted to get this up early for all of you to have time to make for Thanksgiving.  It is designed to coordinate with my Thanksgiving Decor and art kits:  http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r300/Audreyjeanne/blog%20photos/AJROB_preview_napkin_ring.jpg  http://www.daisiecompany.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1700  http://www.daisiecompany.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1699

I made the loop intentionally large enough to make a napkin ring or a small candle ring out of it.  Simply cut to size if you want to make the napkin ring, add the layers using 3D foam tape or dots and you’re done.  I printed mine on brochure paper and glued it to cardstock.

pumplin, indian corn, leaves, thanksgiving clip art napkin ringsTo download your freebie, simply click on the top picture and it will take you to the site.  Look in the lower right hand corner for a small line that says "download original size."

I am thankful for each and every one of you.  You are such a blessing to me, so I hope you’ll let me be a little bit of your Thanksgiving celebration!!!

THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY:  2 Cor 9:8-11   And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.  As it is written: "He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."   Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.  You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.  NIV

 

Holidays, New Releases, Products Available

Additional Preview of “Penguins at Play” Clip Art Set

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(UPDATE:  This kit is now available for $5.98 at the Daisie Store.  Just click on the picture to go there)  I want to say a GIANT thank you to those who left me such great ideas to work on.  All I need now is a clone to sit down and paint them all!!!!  Alas, like you, I never have enough hours in my days to do all that is on my heart or in my mind.

Penguin clip art previewThis is the final preview for "Penguins at Play."  There is a circular border that can be used to create altered paint cans or a fun cake plate liner.  One of these years I’ll have to attempt a paint can set!  It’s been on my list for a while but I never quite get to it !

My husband breaks camp today and heads home after three weeks in the Big Bear Lake area at the Slide and Grass Valley fires.  He met a couple of really special people that are likely to become lifelong friends, one of which lost their own home in the fire (his second home burned to the ground in 7 years!!!!)   We visited him at the camp this weekend and it is quite amazing the "instant city" that is built over night when these events occur. 

I guess I’ll want to clean my house to welcome him home LOL!!!  No more 12 hour days creating kits for Daisie for a while!!!

THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY:  2 Peter 1:5-9  For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;  and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.  NIV

COMMENT:  This is one of those verses that reminds me that it is a process to grow in my faith.  It isnt magic or instant, but requires effort and practice.  It also encourages me to think I can add these characteristics little by little, day by day and I will become productive and effective!

Holidays, New Releases, Products Available, Scrapbooking

A New Winter Fun Art Kit “Penguins at Play” Clip Art by Audrey Jeanne Roberts

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Penguin clip art preview(UPDATE:This kit is now available in the Daisie Store for $5.98.  Click on the first picture to go to the store)  I spent last week painting these whimsical, fun, playful penguins for next week’s art kit release.  They were such fun to do and I’m really looking forward to making a wide variety of three dimensional gift tags with them.  Have you seen the wonderful sets you can find at Costco or Sam’s Club?  They’re beautiful,  but are always a little smooshed and squished when they finally get all the way from the orient to my house.

I love using those kits to festive up my packages, but it also seems like they’re never quite the right color or subject to go with my paper.  Well, this year I’m going to be making my own and because I needed to make some for my family, the rest of you can have a little fun as well 🙂

I’m thinking about buying some simple paper in the colors I want and then actually cutting out and gluing on some of my penguins and snowmen with some jewels and glitter so the entire package becomes a beautiful and coordinated presentation.

penguin clip artEver since I saw the movie "The March of the Penguins" I have fallen in love with these wonderful creatures.  They are so dedicated to their young and endure so much to give them a healthy start in life!  Also, growing up in San Diego, Sea World has a fabulous exhibit called "The Penguin Encounter" so we got to watch them frolic and play by the hour when we went to the park each year.

If you have any suggestions of what other activites you’d like to see penguins in, leave me a comment you guys always have such fun and great ideas.  I’ll have another preview tomorrow of the last part of this kit and maybe a preview of a freebie kit that I’ll make out of it for a Friday Freebie at Daisie Company.

THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY:  Titus 3:3-8   At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another.  But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,  he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,  whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,  so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.  This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.   NIV

 

Crafting, Daily Life, Holidays

Making Memorable Holidays For the Children in Your Life

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When I grew up, our Christmas tree was decorated with tinsel and gigantic colored outdoor sized lights.  I LOVED STRINGING THE TINSEL ON  one strand at a time!  We had some plain colored balls, ornaments my sister and I made in the innumerable craft classes we were enrolled in and a few special ornaments my mother had managed to collect on her meager budget.  My sister and I also made paper chains, strung popcorn and cranberries and when we finished decorating the tree we thought it was simply magnificent.  Oh yeah!  And the tree was one of the really cheap, really thin "Charlie Brown" variety trees which were the only ones that we could afford.

Did I grow up feeling deprived of Christmas joy?!  Absolutely not.  Why didn’t I?  I think it was because I got to participate in the holiday, make crafts and help out.  My mother wasn’t worried about our tree being drop-dead-gorgeous or looking like a magazine spread (which there weren’t many of anyway).  She just wanted us children to have a really special holiday.

Since my girls are grown, when I ask what their special memories of Christmas are,  it’s quite interesting to note which ones made a deep impression.  One year we did a 10 foot tall Victorian pink and blue tree (mid-80’s 🙂 )  They loved that tree and we still have some of the paper ornaments from it that they enjoy.  Another year, the year that their Dad was dying from cancer, we went to Hawaii for two weeks and decided to make a Hawaiian Christmas tree by decorating sea shells and making our own ornaments.  Those ornaments have become a treasure for the both of them.  Another year I invited all of the neighborhood kids to come to an ornament making day at out house (their parents contributed $5 and I shopped wholesale so they made some spectacular ornaments!) we did a natural Christmas theme with pine cones and tartan plaid ribbons and still use those ornaments that have survived on our tree today (if we’re going with a red and green theme).  Do you see the theme here on which Christmas’ were memorable to them?  The ones they created something themselves, can look at the ornaments or decorations today and recall the memories.  There’s something about connecting with tangible objects that helps us to store lifelong memories.

Too many of us crafty or artistic types want our homes and Christmas trees to be spectacular and don’t leave room for our children to have fun and participate in the holiday.  When they hang their ornaments "in the wrong place" we move them.  The colors they pick out "don’t go together" or clash with this year’s tree theme.  We make everything perfect and leave them feeling like they don’t quite measure up.  We don’t do it intentionally, but it’s very easy to do and the wound hurts whether it was meant to be a wound or not. 

The last two years, I have turned over the Christmas tree decorating to my two girls who are still at home.  They have had so much fun doing it and I’ve had an amazingly fun time watching them!  They’ve done the tree very differently from what I would do, but it’s been fabulous nonetheless.  This year I’m even thinking about giving in on one of my biggest pet peeves…. colored lights!  I do not like colored Christmas lights, I like simple, elegant white lights.  Sooooooo, of course my children crave colored lights.  It will take everything within me to give in on this one, but I think I finally will, that is with one caveat… no blinking colored lights.  I can’t stand flashing strands of tree lights either (I can handle individually twinkling lights). 

You see, we all have our individual tastes and ways of expressing our love of the holidays.  But it’s so important to remember that we need to nurture our children so that they can deveop their own creativity, rather than make our home a showplace for outsiders. 

Have you thought about how you can involve your children (or grandchldren, or neighborhood children if you don’t have any of your own) in the holiday decorating, starting with Thanksgiving?  Can you think of some simple projects to do with them?  How about showcasing their school projects on a front entry way table if you have one?  What about having them make a wreath for your front door out of construction paper, scrapbook papers or ?  You might look in one of the many craft magazines and see if there’s some project that would be suitable for their ages and your patience level.  Then while you’re doing the project, tell them some stories about why you celebrate the holidays in a particular way, or share some special memories of the holidays you had in your youth.  These are the memoies that are stored away deep in their souls and nourish them their whole life through! 

THE PROVERB OF THE DAY: Prov 6:20-22 0 My son, keep your father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.  Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck.  When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.  NIV

Daily Life, Holidays

Before the Holidays, Set Your Goals and Be Real About Them!

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Do you do what I do each holiday season?  I tend to want to do too much, get too little done and then I beat myself up for it.   I clench my teeth and determine that NEXT YEAR I’M GOING TO DO… (fill in the blank) and I make a list that no human could possibly accomplish in three lifetimes! 

This year, I’m trying to be very realistic and plan two or three things that are DOABLE for me at this stage of my life.  As a career woman with a lot deadlines, pressure and responsibility, I seem to  think that I should be able to do everything I can think of.  I would love to have a Thanksgiving feast for those around us that won’t have one without our inviting them.  I would love to be able to throw an awesome Christmas party,  bake cookies, keep a perfect house, make trays of cookies for my shut in neighbors, make my own Christmas cards (including a fabulously funny, informative and touching famlly news letter) and perhaps add to that going to a rest home to sing Christmas carols!  But my time, energy and resources are limited, not to mention that I wasn’t capable of all that when I was young and energetic, let alone at 49!!!

But what CAN I do to make our family holiday season special?  Special for my family is taking time to make a trip in to see a special Christmas display of lights.  It might be catching a great holiday movie if there’s a Narnia movie or something similar coming out this year.  It might be inviting a couple of friends over for a relaxing evening together, or perhaps a cookie exchange.  One thing I enjoy tremendously is making a gift(s) that are specially chosen for each person, this year it will probably be some more scrapbook pages for my girl’s scrapbooks.

I intentionally scheduled the Christmas Card Crop on December 1st so there’s no excuse for me not getting my cards done and out early!  By doing that I’ll create a few Christmas cards for Daisie company and pick my favorite to use for our family instead of waiting until the last minute as usual and stressing over it.  The most important thing for me to remember so that I enjoy the season is to stop and enjoy what we DO DO instead of agonizing over what we WON’T be able to do.  As always, it’s a matter of my attitude about the holidays that will make them special or stressful.

What do you enjoy of the holidays and what do you do because it’s expected of you?  Do you really enjoy being with your extended family or is it a painful experience of disappointment year after year?  Do you spend time doing what others expect of you or do you have the joy of doing what you enjoy for your holidays?  If you take time now to think through and map out what you want your celebration to include (before the pressure from your family begins to build) you might be able to have more control over what your schedule and plans for the season looks like.  If you make your plans early (and stick to them) you might be able to say, "Oh, I’m sorry we won’t be able to attend _______ we already have other plans" rather than stammering, stumbling and giving in to an activity you dread and will find no joy in! 

I’ve already started to take a little time this year to reflect on what I really enjoy about the holidays.  I’m making my focus doing two or three of those special things.  With our new grandson coming in late January, we’ll be traveling to our daughter’s house for the holidays, rather than them coming up to see us.  Since we haven’t been to San Diego during Christmas for four years we’ll have the opportunity to do some "traditional" family events.  We’ll go to the Hotel Del Coronado for our traditional viewing of their Christmas tree and the lights on the hotel and we’ll go see "Christmas Card Lane" in Penasquitos where there is an amazing giant lawn display fo Christmas Cards and lights. If we accomplish these two activities and enjoy each other on Christmas morning it will be a perfect Christmas!   All in all , I plan to relax and enjoy my family and meditate on what is really important about this season.  How about you?  Now’s a great time to start thinking about it and making your plans!

Contests, Holidays

Blog Contest Freebie Winner is… and Additional Previews of Build Your Own Snowman Digital Clip Art Kit

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First things first… the winner is…. the 5th comment on the 25th day of the month (so you’ll have to go peek to find out!)  LOL!  Congratulations to the winner, she wins my new bow top gift box set, "Warm Your Heart Gift Set 1"  It should be in the store tomorrow!

Here are the final additional previews of the "Build Your Own Snowman" kit.  I added 20 pieces since yesterday as I worked with the pieces to make certain that they work easily and effectively together I realized I needed some more goodies, that brought the size to a 69 piece set!!! 

I added the victorian cape, hat, mitten and scarf set and decided that it would be easiest for you guys to work with if I separated the heads from the bodies for two reasons, first you can create just heads to use on stickers and other smaller uses items and secondly, it’s much easier to add elements at the neck when your head is separated from the body, you can tuck the scarf behind the head the way it actually happens in life.

Back to work on projects for my other "day job," I’m creating mock up product designs to update my portfolio, yesterday I created a bedding set that my daughter desperately wants for her room, must find a mfg. to make it or there will be no living with her!!!

THE SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY:  2 Cor 2:14-16  But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.  NIV

COMMENT: I thought I would pick some scriptures regarding giving thanks as we move into November.  This scripture basically is the image of a parade, a victory celebration of a victorious army with Christ at our head as leader.  God leads us in a victorious life (remember this though… true victory means a battle occurred, you overcome struggles and difficulties 🙂 )  The second image is of the incredible aroma of a feast (like a Thanksgiving dinner) that just makes your mouth water and your tummy rumble.  The Lord wants his life to be so real in our lives that just our presence makes people hungry to know more about Him.  An aroma is a silent testimony in a way… it fills the air because of your presence and Christ’s presence in you.   "Lord, please make my life a silent witness of the joy of living in Christ Jesus and help those who are hungry for change follow that fragrance right to you!"

Holidays, New Releases

“Snowmen Warm Your Heart” Digital Clip Art Kit Coming Next Week

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(UPDATE:  this kit is now available at the Daisie company for $3.98.  Just click on the first picture to go there.)  I’m putting the finishing touches on an brand new kit that will be coming out the first week in November at the DAISIE COMPANY.  It’s a small, 20 piece kit with a sweet, small price to match, $3.98

Snowman Digital Clip Art KitI smiled earlier this week when one of the commentors asked me for snow people without big chunky rocky faces!  I had already been painting my snowman angel and his/her friends 🙂 

Each of the scenes you see in these previews has been constructed out of individual parts so the combinations are endless.snowman soup digital art

In this second preview, you can see two uses of the string of lights that are included with this kit.  I have the two blue birds holding them in the snow and the moose antlers are strung with them above.  The "Snowman soup" with the snowman swimming in a cup of cocoa matches with the gift box and gift basket set that is also coming out this week, so you could make matching items to enlarge those gift sets quite easily.

snowman digital clip art kitsAnother set that I am working on is a "Build Your Own Snowman" set that will include several different faces, arms, hats, scarves and other body parts to make your own snowmen. 

I hope you’ll have a lot of fun mixing and matching elements to make your own unique creations.  By the way, these snowmen work perfectly with the "Warm Winter Memories" and "It’s Snow Fun" art kits at Daisie Company.  You can find those kits at http://www.daisiecompany.com/cart/index.php?main_page=index&manufacturers_id=32&sort=4d&page=12

THE PROVERB OF THE DAY:  Prov 29:9-11  If a wise man goes to court with a fool, the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.

Bloodthirsty men hate a man of integrity and seek to kill the upright.  A fool gives full vent to his anger, But a wise man keeps himself under control.  NIV

Crafting, Holidays, New Releases

Some Brand New Crafting Kits Coming, Unique Self-Closing Gift Boxes, Tea Bag Covers & Nugget Covers

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gift box, nugget covers, teabag covers gift set previewI have been working on some Christmas food-oriented gift sets and just now have them ready to give you a peek at them.  These boxes are really, really unique and fun.  They are a self-closing bow top with a curved very unusual rounded top of the box.  I can’t really describe it in words so I’ll show you with a picture!

The largest box is 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" x 5 3/4" and the smaller box is the same width and dept but is about 4 1/2" high.  These boxes look complicated, but are pretty easy once you figure out the folds.  I will have photo instructions of each stage of folding them to make it really easy.

I have a couple more similar sets that will follow including a Gingerbread Cottage Christmas set, so stay tuned!The final picture is a close up of two of the large box sides so you can see a little more of the art in these products.  If any of you do food gifts or food crafts, would you please leave me a comment with any special requests, things that you do a lot of etc.?  It would be very helpful for me 🙂

Please be praying for the California Wildfires.  I lived through the Cedar fire in 2003 which came 1200 ft from our home in Valley Center.  The fires that are happening right now in San Diego are much, much worse (4,000 homes were destroyed in So. Cal in the 2003 fires).  There are 8-10 separate fires being driven by 70 mph winds and over 250,000 people have been ordered to evacuate their homes.  More than 100,000 acres have burned already and the winds aren’t scheduled to subside until 3 PM tomorrow.

Please pray for a break in the weather, strength and protection for the firefighters and residents in our State. 

Crafting, Holidays, New Releases, Scrapbooking

Creating a Brag Book Scrapbook for Children or Grandchildren With Digital Clip Art by Audrey Jeanne Roberts

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gingerbread man, house, christmas scrapbook brag book kit digital art

(UPDATE: This kit is now available for $6.98 at Daisie.  Simply click on the first picture and it will take you to the store)  Coming next week to the DAISIE COMPANY is the first of many Instant Album kits for creating the perfect brag book for yourself, your mother or grandmother to carry in a purse!  This kit was so much fun to put together.  It brought smiles to my heart every step of the way.  This book’s finished size is 4" x 6" and can easily hold 18-20 pages of photos.

hybrid scrapbook layouts from brag book, christmas, gingerbreadThe kit will be coming to the store next week and will be priced at  only $6.98 for 66 pieces.  There is a PNG format photo template that you simply drop your photos behind and then cut out in the perfect shape and size to coordinate with the colored and patterns mats that are included.  Also included are 3, 8.5 x 11" papers to print the back side of your pages or use for papers in other projects.

scrapbook layout gingerbread house children grandchildrenI’ve intentionally chosen to create this kit as a "hybrid" kit.  If you do not know what that term means, it is a digital kit that you print, cut and then mix together with your trims, ribbons, jewels and other goodies to create a physical layout through normal scrapbooking processes.  Many of you aren’t quite skilled enough yet to do a digital layout, yet you own great graphics and have a desire to scrapbook your memories inexpensively and easily.  Imagine never running out of a favorite paper!  Imagine being able to write your journaling, edit it and print it in a wonderful font to clearly and easily communicate your thoughts and emotions.  Hybrid scrapbooking is the very best of both worlds!  If you have a good scanner, you might even consider creating a hybrid layout and then scanning it to use in a digital album!brag book christmas mother grandmother grandchildren children

I’ve shown an example of how you can also create standard sized scrapbook pages at 8" x 8" or 12" x 12" using the pieces contained in this kit.  If you can print 12" papers, you can buy my matching paper kit and print your own full size scrapbook papers, if not the same kit can be used to print 8" square pages and you can easily make a small album.

Scrapbooks, brag books and kid’s photographs are the absolutely BEST CHRISTMAS GIFT EVER for anyone!  No grandma is too rich to want more pictures of her grandchildren, and no mother ever has enough pictures either!!

I hope you will enjoy this kit as much as I enjoyed creating it for you.

THE PROVERB OF THE DAY: Prov 18:7-10  A fool’s mouth is his undoing,
and his lips are a snare to his soul. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.  One who is slack in his work
is brother to one who destroys. The name of the LORD is a strong tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.  NIV

Contests, Crafting, Holidays, Scrapbooking

Creating a Special Christmas Contest at DAISIE COMPANY by Audrey Jeanne Roberts

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For those of you that are not aware, we have a special contest challenge going at THE DAISIE COMPANY  here’s the link to the instructions: http://www.daisiecompany.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=21135  The goal we had in creating this contest was to get you crafting for Christmas so that you won’t be behind and racing crazily (like I always am) in the last week or two before the holiday 🙂

The prize for the winner in each category is one of my brand new cookbooks that were created for Brownlow Gifts.  See these posts to check them out: http://www.daisiecompany.com/blogs/audreyjeanne/?p=222   There will also be prizes for the second and third place winners in each category.  The categories are the best of  1. General Craft   2. Scrapbook Layout and 3. Greeting Cards (any greeting card qualifies, doesn’t need to be Christmas).  The only requirement is that your creation could be used as a Christmas Gift (doesn’t have to be Christmas designs) and that you use my digital art kits that can be found here: http://www.daisiecompany.com/cart/index.php?manufacturers_id=32&main_page=index.

If I can figure out how to do it, I’ll try to post some of the creations that are already entered.  I can’t seem to right click and copy them so if any of my wonderful wizard friends at DAISIE could tell me how to do that I’d be very grateful!!! 

 THE PROVERB OF THE DAY:  Prov 15:7-10  The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools. The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him. The LORD detests the way of the wicked but he loves those who pursue righteousness. Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will die.  NIV

Comments on today’s proverb.  Often times people can feel that the church is full of hypocrites — that we should be perfect before we call others to reach higher, be better and try to live a better life.  I love this particular scripture because it shows how God looks at things.  He doesn’t care so much  that we’re perfect, but that we’re PURSUING righteousness.  He doesn’t want us to do a series of sacrifices or appear good on the outside and still be wicked at the heart,  he loves a pure heart, a tender heart and humble heart.  The prayer of the upright in heart pleases him.  He loves to answer the honest heart — don’t be afraid to ask Him for anything you need and for help for anything that you are facing today! 

Holidays, New Releases

Gingerbread Cottage Alphabet by Audrey Jeanne Roberts

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Gingerbread house, cottage, cookie alphabetAs I started working with my gingerbread house sets, I realized that this was definitely a project that needed a matching alphabet to really make it pop. (UPDATE: now available for $2.48 at Daisie.  Just click on the picture to go to the store)

I like my Audrey Jeanne’s Whimsical font’s feel with the kits.  I haven’t released yet this font to DAISIE yet, but will sometime in the next month.  It is the font that I  used to create the gingerbread cookie with icing letters that make up the alphabet.

This alphabet is complete in two pages of png format.  I have left wide spaces around each letter so that you can simply use your selection tool, copy and paste the letter into your file.  I find it so much easier and faster to work that way than to have to open every single letter file separately.  It also makes the cost to you much less as it requires less time in the creating process.  This alphabet will retail for $2.48.

I also created a Friday Freebie containing 5 gingerbread cookie gift tags.  It will be released at some point in the future at DAISIE so watch for it.

THE PROVERB OF THE DAY:  Prov 13:9-11 The light of the righteous shines brightly, but the lamp of the wicked is snuffed out.  Pride only breeds quarrels,
but wisdom is found in those who take advice. Dishonest money dwindles away,
but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.  NIV

 

 

Holidays, New Releases

Gingerbread Cottage Digital Clip Art Kit Series Starting Next Week

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Gingerbread House Cottage Christmas Village Clip Art

(UPDATE: now available at Daisie for $5.98, just click on this first picture to go to the store)  Creating Gingerbread houses is such a traditional family activity for the holidays.  I remember having oooey goooey sticky fingers that just HAD to be licked!  We tended to make ours the simple way, using graham crackers, but we thought they were quite spectacular anyway.  So when I decided earlier this year that I wanted to create an entire collection of Gingerbread Cottage art, I was drawing upon my own childhood memories to maybe help you start a new tradition with your children or grandchildren.

This past couple of weeks have been some of the most fun designing I have done in a long time!  Each of my gingerbread kits work seamlessly together for all your Winter crafting needs.  I have so many kits coming that there will be a kit previewed almost every day next week. 

Gingerbread trees, house, fence, gateThe first kit in the series will debut on Tuesday at THE DAISIE COMPANY.  I previewed it here last week.  This kit I am showing now will debut the following Tuesday and has 32 pieces that you can use to create gingerbread scenes for a gingerbread village.  Used together with the first Gingerbread Cottage Christmas kit which has rooflines, windows, doors and all sorts of other items to personalize these blanks you can make and entire village of different houses, churches, and other cute structures. 

Layer them together as I’ve shown here and you can create a Christmas Card, food packaging for gingerbread cookie mix, a recipe card or a hundred other creations!

Plain Gingerbread men, cookies, gingerbread houses and moreThere are decorated pieces and pieces that are plain gingerbread for you to create your own unique snowmen, houses and signs.  If only I could figure out a way to include the scent of baking gingersnaps in the kit!!!!  Then you’d be instantly transported back to your childhood and right into the heart of the spirit of Christmas (just like I was as I created them).

Additional kits that are coming are a paper pack with 14 papers to compliment all of the sets, a gingerbread alphabet, A gingerbread cottage candy decorations add on kit, a gingerbread cooking add on kit with really fun mixing bowls, measuring spoons etc., the plain gingerbread three dimensional house box and the decorated gingerbread house box that I previewed earlier this week (both houses debut on Friday).

If you see anything that I’m missing that would be helpful to you in your creation process, please be sure to leave me a comment.  This kit was created in direct response to my questions to the ladies on the message boards at DAISIE COMPANY, thank you ladies for providing me with so many wonderful and inventive ideas!

Audrey Jeanne Roberts