Back in the crafting sadle...

After about a 6 week kids ministry marathon, I'm back to my "normal life."  

While I didn't make these, I got them at the dollar spot at Michaels.  I did add 2-3 coats of mod podge in order to keep them clean.  Hubby hung them on the kitchen wall.  Love the colors!

Our church had a garage sale this weekend and I scored a few awesome finds for $1-$2 each and then had some fun with spray paint and my Cricut.

 Before, a pink star

After, a black star

 Before: a black chipped tin square

After, a turquoise square tin

 Before, a blank double glass frame

After, a baby gift for a friend

This weekend we celebrated my mother-in-law's birthday.  We found a cute glass drink dispenser at Target and visions of Cricut cartridges ran through my mind! :)

Before

 After, orange & blue polka-dots with the word "Enjoy!" on it.

Added a little color inside for emphasis!  It's so pretty.

Also, got a blank wood garden sign at the garage sale.  I painted it turquoise and added Cricut letters and 5 layers of mod podge...it's so cute I wanted to keep it myself.  I did give it to my mother-in-law.

Either we trust God, or we play God

For two weeks I've been wrestling with some thoughts.  This past year (and maybe my whole life) God has been working on me to not put my worth in what others have to say about me.  The people-pleaser in me wants everyone to get along and everyone to like me...(sounds so vain!)...but that's not where God wants me to measure my self-worth.  My self-worth is in Christ - who died for ME!  My identity, my love, my energy should be doing what's in line with God's plan for me...not how many people like me or don't like me.  Usually I only wrestle with this when someone attacks me...and sometimes I take things way too personally.  My heart is often on my sleeve, rubbing against so many people and bound to be hurt once in awhile.  Thankfully I don't believe the enemy when it strikes, but it still hurts until the wound heals, but I've been feeling very "tough" lately. :)

A couple of months ago I made the mistake of saying "Oh, I don't plan on ever...."  Haha....never tell God you won't do something...He will change your plans!  Well, these plans that God changed involved me pursuing a credentialing in ministry..honestly something I never thought I'd do, but God can so quickly change your life...and the ride of life is so much easier when you obey and trust Him.  In the midst of helping coordinate kids camp registration for the state AND planning VBS...all happening in the same month - I also had to study and take a test AND be interviewed by our district superiors.

Things have gone smoothly in all areas of camp, VBS and following God's lead into the next step in my ministry life...but I've been struggling with my thoughts.  It's so hard for me to submit to these individuals who graded my test and interviewed me....knowing they are looking at me...getting to decide whether I am "approved" to do something God called me to do.  On the other hand these are men, who follow Christ, making sure people are following the boundaries needed for being in ministry.  I don't doubt the men, but I do wrestle with having to get these guys to like me.  It's in God's hands, it's his timing, his plan...I'm just his clay pot...but by jiminny...I don't like the thought I have to measure up to peoples standards! 

I'm feeling much better now that I went through the process - less judged than I thought I would feel.  The interview was far less invasive and scary as I built it up in my mind.  I was so worried I was in tears minutes before we (hubby & myself) were led into the office.  Thankfully the sweet receptionist was so encouraging, helpful and understanding - she put us as ease.  The verse from camp last week is so appropriate for this situation Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."   

If God says "all things." He means it!  It comes down to a simple choice: either we trust God, or we play God. (The Best of The Word for You Today Vol 5 by Bob Gass)

I'm not sure how I can put into words the fact that I was following God's will, so I wasn't being judged by man, but my judgment comes from God...in how well my heart, mind and actions jumped into line with God's will.  It is fun to look back at where God has taken you and know you were in his will.

This morning I was reading in my daily Message Bible in Luke 6 and came across this passage that jumped out at me:

"Count yourself blessed every time someone cuts you down or throws you out, every time someone smears or blackens your name to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and that that person is uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—skip like a lamb, if you like!—for even though they don't like it, I do . . . and all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company; my preachers and witnesses have always been treated like this." 

Luke 6:22-23 The Message

"Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.  Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets" 

Luke 6:22-23 NIV 

Why Yes, I am a Super Hero...and I have the cape to prove it

In less than a week I'm going to camp to be a Color Captain Pastor for the green team!  I'm super excited..until I realized I barely have any green clothes.  I had the idea to have my mom or sis make me a super hero cape...but then I found a no-sew cape on a blog.  I knew I could do it myself!  Here's the inspiration cape the-six-minute-superhero-cape/

I found a lime green t-shirt at JoAnn's on clearance for $1.97, grabbed a scissors, a pen and a level from the tool closet...and went to town.  Only took about 3 mins and that's because the first pen wouldn't work on the t-shirt.

Step 1: Lay out t-shirt

Step 2: Trace a straight line from each bottom corner of shirt up to the neck

Step 3: Cut on the lines, keeping the neckline in tact...and you have your cape!

I'm trying to decide if I'm going to decorate it at all.  I can wear it around my neck or as a headband (kinda looks like a green veil.  haha)

Super Tink is ready for camp!!!

Simple Solutions

In one of the nursery rooms at church we have a blank large bulletin board.  I've been trying to come up with some ideas how to disguise it or make it blend in.  While at the craft store yesterday I saw scrapbook paper was on sale 4/$1.00.  I purchased about a dozen sheets in various designs and colors.  It took about 15 minutes to hang up, trim and staple the paper to the unused bulletin board.  I'm pretty pleased with the result. Affordable and not permanent.

Easter projects continued!

It's a little late, but I'd like to share what else I did for Easter at church.

Previously, I made the nail crosses: Nail Crosses

In kids church we also made a large tomb.  Thankfully we had saved the nativity from a previous Christmas Pageant two years ago.  We put it up in kids's church, taped two side-way pieces vertically to make the tomb wider to fill up the front of our "stage area."  It already had a hole in it, that was originally to feed kids lines in case they forgot.  We turned it upside down and cut the hole bigger.  Hubby also cut a large rock out of styrofoam and I painted it.  We made sure when the tomb was open/stone was rolled away on Easter morning that the kids could only see black inside (yay for black curtains) and also placed a few pieces of toilet paper in it, to look like the burial clothes were left behind.

We also stuffed 1,200 plastic eggs with candy for a Egg Hunt between services on Easter.  It was a perfect Easter Sunday Morning and so much fun!

Boy, oh Boy!

Our friends' daughter turned 13 last month - it's was a big deal!  Since Ris was 3 years old a bunch of us from Bible Study/Young Adults at church have been calling her "Stuart" and telling her she was going to be a boy when she turned 13.  

10 years later we finally get to celebrate.  A bunch of us met at a pizza place and Ris came in late with her mom - she didn't know it was going to be a surprise party.

I put together a fun little gift set for her.

-Blue felt gift bag w/ sports balls on it from Target Dollar Spot $.50

-Water Bottle w/ Baseball $2.00 at Michael's
-Red Sweatbands for the wrist w/ baseballs embroidered on it $1 at Michael's
-Fun candy $1 at Target

-Target gift card w/ a Monster Truck on it.

I used my Cricut to put "Stuart" and "#13" on the water bottle (looked like a last name & sports number)

Her parents had cupcakes at the party.  1/2 girlie and 1/2 boyish.  What fun!

Bling-around-the-wrist

I found an ugly necklace on clearance at Kohls - the beads were lovely, just the pattern was obnoxious.  While carrying it around the store it broke, so I got a discount on the clearance price, total $6.  I purchased stretchy .5mm clear elastic cord at JoAnn's for $4.

Necklace Before (It was double strung and all the colors were segregated):

I cut the necklace apart and poured the beads onto a plate.  I saved the clasp for a future bracelet.  So pretty, when all together on the plate.

I made two bracelets - one I knotted the elestic together.  The other I used a $1.29 clasp.

Next I used a necklace I found in the parking lot of Target last Fall.  I cut it up and made it into a beautiful necklace and pendant for a necklace.  I used the clasp from the original necklace (above) to make a double-bracelet. 

Before:

I also took a teal beaded bracelet that I've been wearing and added a yellow oval bead from the original necklace to make a bracelet and necklace pendant.

Before:

Tonight I made 5 bracelets and 2 pendants.  The 5th bracelet was a combo of silver beads from original necklace and tiny teal beads I purchased at Michael's a month ago for $2.

AFTER:

Total spent $12 and I still have 1/2 the beads left from original necklace and tons and tons of the clear stretchy elastic!