12 Days of Christmas Day 6 Wall Vase

This rustic,cabin-like project started with a metal flower container from the thrift store (these are plentiful at the thrift stores).

I decided it would make a dandy wall vase. 

12 Days of Christmas Ideas Day 5 Bingo Card Christmas Trees

I love vintage games and when I spied this BINGO set (that also included about 100 extra cards from other sets) for $2 at the thrift store, I knew it had to come home with me.

"What are you going to do with all those bingo cards?" was hubby's question. My reply was, "I don't know, but I will think of something."

(Last year I made THESE.)

The green colored BINGO cards inspired this project as I decided that would make cute Christmas trees.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! This past week, I purchased a puzzle depicting the Christmas tree and ice skating rink at Rockefeller Center. As we dumped out one thousand little puzzle pieces, it was clear that we needed to put some of the pieces back in the box so we could focus only on the straight edge pieces for the outside frame first. In life, when we try to look at the whole picture and see how everything is going to turn out, it is overwhelming. I do this not only with my own life, but with my children's lives as well. I want to see all the parts and life events that insure that the final picture will be what it is supposed to be. But, God wants us to to take life simply one day, one piece, at a time. He KNOWS how it is going to work out and he wants us to trust that--to trust HIM. Trying to see the whole picture at once and all that makes it up engulfs us with anxiety and fear. Let God put the pieces together and let's focus on what is in front of us.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! A few weeks ago on the way to a volleyball game, we came across a herd of 300 elk. We stopped to watch them for a bit. At first they were all facing west and started jumping over a fence. Soon many of the elk turned around (even though there was no danger) and started heading east, some jumping back over the fence. The herd clearly lacked leadership 😉 and had no idea which elk to follow. We like leadership--I have said to my kids countless times, "Be a good leader." But, to be a good leader, we must first know how to be a good follower. When we follow we learn trust, we learn surrender, we sharpen our discernment. When we pursue following good ideas and people, and most importantly when we follow Jesus, we inherently become leaders to those around us. 

12 Days of Christmas Day 4 Simple Centerpiece

Every year I enjoy putting together a centerpiece for my Christmas table. 

12 Days of Christmas Day 3 Snowflake Bucket

Today's 12 Days of Christmas project is hot...

as in you need a fire to make it happen.

Galvanized buckets are about $15 each at the local ranch supply store. But, a 99 cent thrift store pail and a little fire are all you need to make a rustic bucket for Christmas decor.

Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! Do you ever wish you could have a "bird's view" of life so that you could have a clear perspective and see everything all at once? God wants us to take the higher perspective and overview when interacting with others. He wants us to look beyond people's behavior and see their stories, see their pain. When we remember that everyone has something they are dealing with, it easier to show them mercy rather than judgement, love rather than disdain. Take the time to really see people, and be patient and merciful with the hard to love people in your life.

12 Days of Christmas Day 2 Scrap Wood Card Holder

I just remembered most years I write a bad days of Christmas rhyme for each day. I totally forgot this year. I think I am going to pretend I didn't remember and leave the bad rhymes out this year. 😆

Day two's project is a quick and easy one that can made from a couple small scrap wood pieces.

12 Days of Christmas Ideas Day 1 Tart Pan Snowman

Welcome to my 8th annual 12 Days of Christmas posts. Every year, I think, am I really going to do this again? But, I love Christmas and I love sharing ideas with you, so here we go!

We are starting simple (and we may stay that way for all 12 projects!), with a couple easy to find thrift store finds.

Tart pans are plentiful at thrift stores, maybe because no one makes tarts anymore. These two rings were purchased together, along with a couple cream colored wool sweaters (I wasn't sure which one I wanted to use). Choose wool to prevent unraveling.

I simply drilled a hole in the rim of each tart pan and used wire to secure them to each other.

I cut the sleeve off of the wool sweater, after washing and drying it in hot water.

I also cut the band off the sweater, tying a knot where the side seam was. I cut the scarf to the length I wanted after I glued it to the "neck" of the snowman and I cut fringes into the end of it.

A little hot glue secured the hat and scarf to the tart pan snowman. 

I used a piece of twine around the top sweater cuff to make the top of the hat. I also added a pine spring and berries (also from the thrift store) with hot glue.

You can spray paint the rings white if you like, add a red or plaid sweater hat and scarf.

A simple, quick, sweet snowman for only a few dollars.

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Sunday Verses

Happy Sunday! A good reflection accurately returns or throws back what is "put into it". In other words, "What goes in, must come out." When we spend time with God, whether it is in prayer, worship, or reading the Bible, it is reflected through loving others and being kind to one another. When people are unkind or rude or hateful, we need to remember that they are reflecting what they know and what has been embedded in their lives. We can break that by giving the unmerited love and forgiveness that is given to us by Jesus. The saying, "What goes around comes around," is often used in a negative way when we want someone to get what they deserve. But, grace says we don't have to get what we deserve. When we share God's grace and love with each other, we break the cycle and change the reflection.