50 Days of Easter

Did you know that the Church celebrates 50 Days of Easter? The 40 days of Lent seem small when you consider the incredible gift of Jesus on the Cross. So now we continue in the Easter Season in the joy of knowing that we are blessed and forgiven. I have two layouts of Easter, that are very much the personality of my family, but share some of the gratitude I have for my blessings.

My DS is 10. He is a big guy at 5'3" and 127 lbs. He is athletic and outgoing AND right on the cusp of teenage behavior. That being said he is also still a little and naive boy. The Easter Bunny brought him a tiny replica of himself, which as you can see he just loved. At our house we love St. Nicholas and the Easter Bunny and we choose to believe in the simplicity and joyful times they bring. I love this time with my son.

The other layout is of my husband. This was just after Easter Services. He had just finished singing in the choir and was about ready to lose his voice after the rigorous schedule the choir follows during Holy Week. But he was not too tired to pose for this rather silly photograph! I love him as our spiritual leader and leader of silliness.

I hope each of you is having many blessings during the 50 days of Easter!

Happy Easter to All!

Have a joyous Easter! Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!

Arch for a Friend

I was to make an arch for a swap! Luckily I got a pal that wanted something that focused on Jesus. What more perfect time of year to remember the Holy Family and the amazing sacrifice for each of us of Jesus! I used public domain images and an arch cut out that I got from Crafty Secrets, a business based in Canada and Blaine, WA. On the back of the arches in the center I printed the Magnificat. It is mailed away to my dear pal now.
Thanks for stopping by and find inspiration this season!

Making Your Own Flowers Tutorial

At least one of you asked for it, so you all get it! Here is how to make dimensional flowers from flat cuts. You will need medium weight paper, glue, scissors, and patience!



I have the Cricut that cuts to 5" wide, so I can make flowers from 1 - 5 inches wide. I am demonstrating a two inch cut. The cartridge is used is the Mother's Day Bouquet Cartridge. I used flower image 15 for the demonstration.









These flowers can be made from fabric or paper. You can also use punches rather than using a machine for cutting. For each of these flowers, I am using three pieces cut to the identical size.



Out of the first flower cut one petal to the center, the second cut two (will look like a heart), and the third cut three. For this flower we will use each of the larger cuts and the cut of three petals.



I like to lightly fold up one of the end petals, it really helps me to be able to roll the cone more accurately.



Apply glue to the front of one petal and form the cone out of each of the flat cuts.



I like to secure my flowers with clips, but you can just as easily hold them until they begin to dry.



Now comes the fun part, putting the flower together! Take the smallest cone (made from the three petals) and cut off the bottom at an angle. Fill the next larger cone with a drop of glue and place the smaller cone inside. Let dry. You will repeat this building step with each of the cones. It is best to cut off the tips so they lay correctly and the centers don't stick up too high.







When I do the outside layer, I like to lightly bend down the petals. I think it gives a more natural look.



The finished flower should look something like this:



You can end here or use spritz to finish. I used Smooch gold spritz and Tattered Angels Cinnamon Glimmer Mist to finish my flower. These are super inexpensive to make, when compared to premade flowers AND are fun too!



Our Lady's Rose - Thanks for stopping by to look! Peace be with you.

Blessings in Abundance

Some days as a mom, I don't feel so blessed. You know the kind of day, not following instructions, not being respectful and all those "no's". The Book of James 1:12 says, "Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." Let's face it some days are trials. But, we keep following our pathway faithfully and then we are blessed!

I made this LO of my son and I following a particularly challenging day, when the battle of the wills was on. Nobody won! Go figure! I am truly blessed by my son. He is smart, talented, willful and persistent. Sounds familiar......

Please show me your layout of blessings in your life AND let me know if you would like to learn how to make the kraft paper rose from flat punches or cut out flowers.

Peace be with you.

Believe In Miracles

With today's earthquakes and resulting tsunami, we look at photographs and it doesn't look like there is a miracle to be found. We need to remember at these bleakest of times, Jesus walks beside us. He knows our needs and as time passes, I am confident that we will hear of small miracles. For now, I offer praises that my co-workers wife's family, who live in Japan were South of the earthquake and are safe. I am thankful that our dear friends in Hawaii are safe, we spoke to all of them today. These indeed are small blessings and things to be thankful for. I will continue to pray for those who are effected by the disaster and hope that what is needed will be there for everyone.

I made this card a few days ago for the 365 Cards challenge of an arch shaped card. Arch shapes always remind me of church windows. I used Pink Paislee Papers, Prima flowers and a wonderful sentiment sticker from SRM Shine Your Light Stickers. Lets all hope to be a light on a hill at this difficult time.

<3 Victoria

What Are Your Lenten Plans?

What are your plans for Lent? Are you giving something up? Are you adding something to enrich your faith life?
Let us know what your plans are and if you have artwork, post it on Mr. Linky in the previous post.
May your Lenten Season be reflective, a time of penance, and blessing.

Preparation for Lent

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.

Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, and they help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice.

The distribution of ashes comes from a ceremony of ages past. Christians who had committed grave faults performed public penance. On Ash Wednesday, the Bishop blessed the hair shirts which they were to wear during the forty days of penance, and sprinkled over them ashes made from the palms from the previous year. Then, while the faithful recited the Seven Penitential Psalms, the penitents were turned out of the church because of their sins -- just as Adam, the first man, was turned out of Paradise because of his disobedience. The penitents did not enter the church again until Maundy Thursday after having won reconciliation by the toil of forty days' penance and sacramental absolution. Later, all Christians, whether public or secret penitents, came to receive ashes out of devotion. In earlier times, the distribution of ashes was followed by a penitential procession. (from www.catholic.org)

What are your needs this lenten season? What can you give or give up to focus on living a more Christ-like life? Be called to that purpose. Please link up an paper arts or other art work that you are working on to celebrate this lenten season.

Peace be with you.

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