Infinity Scarf

Hey everyone!  Here is one of the projects from the craft day with my sisters.  It is probably the simplest one, so I hope you can use it!

If you are like me, you probably have a bunch of old scarves laying around that you never wear but won't get rid of.  They are pretty, but for some reason they are never just quite right; they were too thick, too thin, too long, or too short!  And so often I won't get rid of them because they were gifts -  in my case, they were hand knit or crocheted gifts from friends!  I always feel so awful throwing away a homemade gift. =(

So my solution?  Turn them into infinity scarves!  This automatically solves both length and thickness issues - mostly anyways.

I didn't even bother taking pictures for this tutorial because it is so SIMPLE!  Simply match up the ends of your scarf, pull out a needle and thread, and sew them together.  The thread will be so thin compared to the yarn you won't even see it.  Here is my favorite...

Perfectly simple and completely free!  I love, love, love my new scarves.  And here's the best part...if I ever get tired of having them like this, then I can cut out the stitches and BAM!  They are back to normal!  =)

P.S.  Don't forget to follow my blog before you take off!  Leave me a comment and I will follow you too!

We have all Eternity

I get so depressed sometimes thinking about friends and family who have moved or are moving far away.  I  miss them, and I don't want those relationships to end.  Even in this modern age of technology, it is still so hard to be apart.  Yet today as I was pondering this and praying about these feelings, I felt the LORD give me a gentle reminder in my heart...

This life is only the beginning.  If my dear friends and family believe on the LORD Jesus and accept His free gift of salvation, then this life is only the beginning.  We will have ALL ETERNITY together in heaven to praise God and enjoy fellowship together.  How sweet a time that will be - free from sin, sorrow, pain, and guilt!  And we will be in the presence of our God!  Praise the LORD that no matter how tough this life gets, because of Jesus, this is the worst it will ever be.  I have HEAVEN to look forward to!

I can't wait to spend eternity worshiping God with my brothers and sisters in Christ!  Praise the LORD!

Sweet Sisterhood

Hello everyone!  Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.  I sure did; although Christmas day felt about as long as 2 days since we did so much!  I have a wonderful husband, family, and in laws.  Our day was blessed.

So yesterday, I had all three of my sisters over for  a crafting day.  After working from about 9 am til 3ish we decided that it was not long enough and we need to have more of these fun sister-bonding days!  Several tutorials and crafting idea posts are to come!  My sisters a super creative and I love working with them.

Let me briefly introduce you:

Alison is a junior in college and getting a buisness degree.  She is usually the most creative and the one who started me off on the blogging journey by introducing me to a blogging website - Sweet Verbena.  Between my sister and Katy from Sweet Verbena I was inspired to reawaken my love a crafting and launch into the blogging world!













Abigail is a junior in high school, a talented actress, and highly opinionated.  She loves to knit, sew, and craft and make some incredible projects.  She was also my picture taking buddy yesterday and has kindly allowed me to display all of her creations here on my blog!

Anna is a freshman in high school and is an incredible runner.  She is also super creative and anything that requires working with her hands she can do very well.  Most of my card making inspiration comes from her and I hope to feature several of her projects here as well!

More posts coming soon!  Have a blessed week in Jesus.

Christmas Cards

So as our first Christmas being married, I didn't feel the need to do a grand Christmas letter with blow-by-blow happenings of the past 7 months since my wonderful husband and I have been married....is that bad?  So I made less than 20 cards that said "Merry Christmas" and had a verse inside and left it at that.  Only a few special people got them and I am happy.  Maybe next year I will launch into the scary world of mass Christmas card mailings and an intense "here's our life!" letter inside.  For now, these are my simple creations and I am happy. =)

I got the idea for this off of (where else) Pinterest.  However, I made my cards full sized and added ribbon/thread.  I like the effect.

Here is the link to the original from the Etsy page that they are sold.

And...here is the link to my Card Making Board on my Pinterest.

Enjoy!  This will probably be my last post until after Christmas.  So...

Merry, Merry Christmas to you all!  May the JOY of the salvation that was given in Jesus fill your hearts and homes this Christmas!

Emmanuel - God with Us

Yesterday morning, our pastor gave a sermon titled "Why He Came" for Christmas.  The first point in that sermon was - "He came to simply be with us."  His very name (Emmanuel) means God with us (Matthew 1:23).  Think about it.  God left heaven and became a human to simply be with us!  Wow!

Then I started thinking.  Not only did Jesus give up heaven and His power to come be with us on earth for a short 30+ years, but He came so that it would be POSSIBLE for us to be with Him every day of our lives through the Holy Spirit living in us!  Without Him coming to earth the Holy Spirit would not be able to have the spirit alive and at work within us. (John 14:25-26, 16:6-13, 20:22: Acts 1:8, 2:38)

Finally, Jesus came to make it possible for us to be with Him for ETERNITY in heaven! (John 14:2; Luke 23:43)  So Jesus gave up heaven, came to earth as a human, died a horrible death, and rose again to be with us for a brief time on earth, daily through the Holy Spirit, and for all eternity in heaven.  That is truly something to celebrate this Christmas!

Sleeve Removal

I'm so excited!  This post will be my first tutorial post.  I hope you enjoy and find it helpful!  Let me know how I can improve on future tutorials.

These were the sleeves that I didn't.  I hardly ever wore the cardigan just because of the sleeves and figured that they worst I could do was ruin it.  It actually came out quite well!

First step:  I cut up the bottom seam of the sleeve to lay it open.  Then I cut just to the inside of the seam holding the sleeve onto the cardigan.  Your cardigan should now be sleeveless!

  

Second Step: This step will be up to what you personally want.  I wanted the sleeve opening to be a little larger than it currently was. I tried it on and measure where I wanted the sleeves to come to.  Then I added 1/2 an inch for seam allowance.  

Using my measuring tool, I made a mark with a white colored pencil where I would cut (the amount larger I wanted the sleeve hole adding back in the 1/2 seam allowance).

Remember: Your mark is made at the bottom of the sleeve opening near the side seam of the cardigan.

Step Three: Next I decided how far up the sleeve opening I wanted this new cut to join in.  For me this was 3 inches up.  After I marked that spot, I drew my line.

Fourth Step: Fold the cardigan in half down the back.  Match up the two sleeve openings carefully.  This way you only have to make one cut (cutting through all four layers of fabric at once) and your cuts will match perfectly on both sides.  Cut along the white line.  Make sure the front and back of the sleeve openings and the two sleeve openings themselves are carefully matched up so that the cut is even on the front and the back of each sleeve and on both sides.

Fifth Step: This is another optional step!  I decided to zigzag the edges of the seam before folding them over and sewing them.  If made me feel safer with fraying etc.

Sixth Step:  Get out your iron!  Using your measuring tool, fold and iron the fabric down 1/4 inch - iron to the inside of the cardigan.  Then fold that over on itself and iron it again so that the raw (or zigzaged) edge is completely hidden.

(Somehow I didn't get a picture for this step...)

Seventh Step: Back to the sewing machine!  Sew along the center of this double fold to create a finished looking sleeve opening.

FINAL Step!!!  Try it on and admire your handiwork!  Or maybe get dressed up with your new cardigan and go out for coffee!

Sorry for the weird shadow. =P

Hope some of  you found this helpful!  I love my new cardigan and am excited to see what you do as well.  Post pictures for me if you use this.  =)

Boughs of Beauty!

As it is my first Christmas with my own tree to decorate, I couldn't wait!  So it got our apartment decorated a week after Thanksgiving - as soon as my husband and I had a day at home.  I am happy with result and look forward to adding to it year after year.

I really like thick ribbon cascading down the tree, but I did not have enough thick ribbon.  So after a few days of contemplating, I decided to use a thin ribbon and I think it looks quite nice.  The tree is so small that a thick ribbon might be overbearing.

My ornaments consist of a set of matching balls and then a random assortment of ornaments that I have gathered over the past 20 years.  The tree is unique and tells a story about my life, but the balls pull the whole thing together to bring a nice matching feel.  Happy, happy.  =)

We still don't have a tree topper.  I am debating between a star and an angel.  I don't want something too gaudy and large, but I do love sparkles...hmmm.  The hunt continues.  Here is what it looks like without anything on top.  What does your tree look like?

Welcome

It's almost Christmas!  I love Christmas - the lights, the music, the work of thinking and planning and shopping until you have the perfect gift for a loved one.  Ironically, I have been reading through the book of Isaiah lately.  One of the many verses that stuck out was:


Isaiah 9:6-7 "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this."


Listen - "Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end" - Wow...there will be NO END to peace and to the glorious reign of Jesus!  That is something to celebrate this Christmas season.


Speaking of Christmas, I have a list of things I want to do from now til January 1st.

Go look at Christmas lights

Go ice skating

Make Christmas Cookies (Sugar Cookies, Jam Thumbprints, Russian Tea Cakes, Shortbread)

Watch a Christmas Movie (Elf, The Christmas Story, The Nativity Story)

Make Cinnamon Rolls (Eat Christmas Morning)

Get a Tree Topper

Take a Walk in the Cold at Night

Eat Raclette Cheese

Read the Christmas Story

I am still thinking of things to add...any ideas?