On the 12th Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me…

“The magi, as you know, were wise men--wonderfully wise men--who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents."

― O. Henry, The Gift of the Magi

The Magi from the East. What a strange story, but one that has been accepted by Christianity for centuries. Three strangers from a foreign country, possibly astrologers and interpreters of omens, following a star because they all had the same dream. They bring expensive gifts, bow before a child, proclaim him the son of God and thumb their nose at King Herod by not reporting to him where Jesus was. It's fascinating!

The Bible isn't exactly a timetable and the story is vague and shrouded in mystery. People have just filled in all those blanks since Epiphany became a church feast in the second century, making it one of the oldest of Christian celebrations. The Epiphany is considered the day that the Magi finally made it to Bethlehem to see the baby Jesus. Epiphany occurs on January 6, 12 days after Christmas Day, and at the tail end of the legendary 12 days of Christmas. Epiphany is also often referred to as Three Kings’ Day, Twelfth Night, or the Feast of the Epiphany. I'm from Louisiana, so Epiphany officially marks the beginning of the Mardi Gras season! ♫On the 12th Day of Christmas, My True Love Gave to Me♫…KING CAKE!

Today starts the new monthly challenge at JFF Rubber Stamps and this month the challenge is hosted by design team member Jen Armstrong.

Jen chose a blue and silver color theme this month and since I'm still in holiday mode I'm celebrating the 12 days of Christmas with the Three Wise Men on Camels!

JFF Stamps Water Globe with wood base and Three Wise Men stamp images. Club Scrap card stock. (Supplies used will be listed at the end of this post)

This is such a great silhouette stamp and it fit perfectly inside the Water globe Wood base stamp image! I made it into a shaker card with silver and blue tinsel glitter and added some moon and stars sequin shapes. The water themed dark gray background paper had a silver bubbles and ripples pattern, just right for my design!

Click HERE to see what the rest of the design team has created and link up your blue and silver creation for a chance to win a gift certificate from JFF Stamps. I'll look for you in the gallery!

SUPPLIES LIST:

Below you can find a list with all the products used today! Links to multiple online shops are available, just click the store link below each item. Affiliate links used where possible at no extra cost to you. 

SSS – Simon Says Stamp; AMZUS – Amazon; SBC – Scrapbook.com; CLB – Club Scrap; JFF – JFF Stamps

JFF Stamps Water Globe with wood base [ JFF ] JFF Stamps Three Wise Men on Camels [ JFF ] Club Scrap Shibori 12x12 Prints [ CLB ] Shibori HPOP [ CLB ] CS Watermark Ink Pad [ CLB ] Martha Stewart Crafts Iridescent... [ AMZUS ] Ranger Embossing Powder SUPER FINE... [ SSS | SBC | AMZUS ] Scotch Double-Coated Foam Tape - 0.5"... [ AMZUS ] American Crafts - 12 x 12 Clear... [ SBC ] Hot Off The Press HEAT RESISTANT... [ SSS ] Tonic Studios - Tim Holtz - Stamp... [ SBC | SSS | AMZUS | ART ] EK Success CUTTER BEE Scissors EKCB01 [ SSS | AMZUS ]

https://linkdeli.com/widget.js?1543923411530

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Autumnal Sunshine

All the leaves are brown
And the sky is grey
I've been for a walk 
On a winter's day

                                                               "California Dreamin' "

Mother Nature seems to have skipped over fall and sent us right into winter...it is 28 degrees in central Louisiana this morning! I haven't even had a chance to enjoy the cool, sunny fall days that I love. I will be taking advantage of the warmer temps next week!

There's a new challenge up on the Southern Girls blog and the theme is to use inks or sprays. The sponsors for this challenge are Neat and Tangled and A Day for Daisies . Each company is generously offering gift certificates to our randomly chosen winners, so be sure to link up your inky creations for a chance to win!

I created an autumn themed art journal layout for my design team project. I found a quote by Nathaniel Hawthorne that sums up exactly how I feel on beautiful fall days!



I used three digital images from A Day for Daisies in my design, A Barrel of Blossoms,  Catching Leaves, and Joy. I love the versatility of using digital images in my designs! I created my design in Photoshop Elements, printed on mixed media paper, and used Gansai Tambi watercolors, distress inks and Prismacolor pencils to color the images.

I can think of so many fun techniques with inks and sprays, but I chose simplicity for this project.  I added some background spatters with an OLD bottle of metallic copper Memories Mist. I haven't used it in years and it still works! The spray mechanism was clogged, so I just took it off and used it to flick droplets onto the background. I also added some water droplets to lift some of the distress ink from the background for added interest. All of the different mediums worked well together. I even blended the colored pencils with Gamsol and didn't get any lifting from the watercolors or distress inks. This is definitely a combination I'll use again! 

Be sure to visit the Southern Girls blog for more inspiration from the Design Team and link up your "inked and sprayed" creation for a chance to win one of our prizes or be one of the Southern Girls' top 5!

I'll look for you in the gallery! 

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What does the fox say?

Google searches are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get! I searched for a quote to go with this Sleepy Fox digital image from All Dressed Up Stamps.



I found a sweet quote, "Stay clever, little fox". I'd never heard it before, so I searched for the origin of it and this video popped up. I never did find the origin, but the video is hilarious!

https://youtu.be/jofNR_WkoCE

So, what does the fox say? You'll have to watch the video to find out!

[caption id="attachment_12756" align="alignnone" width="4036"] Sleepy Fox digital image printed on kraft card stock, colored with Prismacolor pencils and blended with Gamsol and a paper stump. Edges inked with Salty Ocean Distress ink, gesso paint spatters and Stickles for a little sparkle.[/caption]

 

 

 

All Dressed Up Stamps is the sponsor for the Cupcake Inspirations fall color challenge for the next two weeks!



Make a project using the the colors from our inspiration photo and link up for a chance to win 2 digital images!



I'll look for you in the gallery!



CHALLENGES ENTERED:

The Crafter's Cafe Challenge Blog #206 Feminine

Aurora Wings Challenge Blog #72 Once Upon a Dream or a Nightmare

Creative With Stamps Halloween or leaves

House of Cards October Challenge Autumn Flowers and/or Colors

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Live Life in Full Bloom

Great advice and I try to do this every day. I'm doing what I love and that makes me happy! Today I'm sharing an art journal layout with one of my favorite quotes.

[caption id="attachment_12510" align="alignnone" width="3603"] Club Scrap® Lavender Fields and Sunflowers Hybrid kits as well as the Lavender Fields page kit. Links to supplies are listed at the end of the post.[/caption]

AND...a video of the process!

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THFdUShIXw0]

If you haven't had a chance to make a project for the Cupcake Inspirations color challenge, you still have time to link up! STAMPlorations is the sponsor for this challenge and is generously providing a $20 gift certificate to our randomly chosen winner. Make something using pastel colors and share it with us!



Do more of what makes YOU happy!



SUPPLIES LIST

I link to sources for your convenience. Some affiliate links are used at no extra cost to you.

Club Scrap®

Lavender Fields Hybrid kit



Sunflowers Hybrid kit



Lavender Fields Page Kit



Simon Says Stamp

Prismacolor Colored Pencils



Gamsol and paper stumps

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"Electric" Garden

I was first introduced to Just For Fun Rubber Stamps when I saw some of Roni Johnson's artwork on her blog a few years ago. I was hooked when I scrolled through the JFF website and saw the stamptangle images!  The stamptangle line is inspired by the zentangle technique and the images are so beautiful and intricate. The images are gorgeous in black and white, but what a difference a little color makes!

I used the eclectic garden stamptangle image. I wanted the image to really stand out, so I stamped on glossy black card stock with Versamark ink and dusted with a few colors of Perfect Pearls. Boom! An "electric" garden! I buffed over the card with a tissue and set the mica powder with a light mist of water. I love how the mica powders blend into each other!

There's still time to join our monthly challenge. The theme for April is Spring Flowers!

Click HERE to link up your spring flowers creation for a chance to win a gift certificate to shop at JFF Stamps! I'll look for you in the gallery!

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