November: Give Thanks - Count Your Blessings Gratitude Journal

    When they walk through the Valley of Weeping,
    it will become a place of refreshing springs.
    The autumn rains will clothe it with BLESSINGS.

Psalm 84 : 6

  

Welcome to the Third Annual ’25 Days of Christmas’ in conjunction with My Paper Crafting.com, the blogsite for which I am on the regular Design Team – and loving it!  Here’s a bit of an introduction, history and explanation of what you can expect during this 25 Days of December.  Don’t worry if you’ve missed any of the original posts to this point – You can click on links on Melin’s post to get to posts from previous days.  I am posting on Days 4, 6, 7, 9, 11, 13, 18, 20, and 25, corresponding to the days of this month – and possibly some other days in between, depending on how my time goes…

We have almost 30 designers who have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to create some spectacular projects to share with you! So pull up a comfy chair and get ready to be inspired! There will be daily projects featuring:

* Cricut Cartridges

*Electronic Die Cutting Files

(Svg type, using Pazzles, Silhouette, Gazelle, Cameo type Machines)

*Digital Stamps with Coloring
(Using Copics, Digital and other coloring mediums)

*Stamping and Inking

*Traditional Dies, Punches and all the other tools we love.

A Little Something For EVERY TYPE of "Paper Crafter"

Format:  Each day the designers were given a “theme” to work with, so each day will be different.  We will also have a daily FREE Cutting File and a daily FREE Digital Stamp-Printable along with some FREE Royalty-Free Vintage Graphics. Today's theme:

Today’s theme is ‘November:  Give Thanks ’ – and I have re-purposed a lowly $$Store Composition Notebook into a 'Count Your Blessings Gratitude Journal' to give as a Gift to a Special Woman in my life.  I used the FREEBIE cutting file for today and added a few punched elements to accent it and a new-to-me technique I tried on the front of said journal.

Here it is – Before - and the cutting files I used -

Here it is – After –

I have seen several tutorial videos about making textured images on canvas, tags, or pages and when I saw Melin’s ‘Brick 12 x 12 (Paper lace) Template cf,’ I knew I wanted to make a brick wall on a project at some point – and this was it! 

*  After cutting the template, I  paper-clipped it to the paper I’d chosen for the front so that it wouldn’t move.  I used MS Gesso applied in a stippling motion with a flat-tipped brush, choosing which ‘bricks’ to make so as to have an ‘old broken wall’ of sorts.

*  Next, when it was dry, I did the same with Acrylic paint.

*  When that was dry, I gently applied ink using a foam shading  nib to give depth and texture to the bricks.

  

 I then added the sign and pumpkins and leaves (punched from cardstock and wallpaper scraps) to make an 'arrangement' on the ledge and on the ground.

I added coordinating papers to the inside cover and the back of the journal.  I wrapped twine around the front cover tied a bow, adding a bit of Crystal Lacquer to the center of the bow to prevent it from becoming untied.  I then adhered a metal element with hot glue.

I enjoy doing projects like this - more 'Beauty from ashes' - and I hope the recipient of this will enjoy keeping track of the Blessings in her life in it.  ;-}

************

 As mentioned above, Melin will be giving away FREE digital die cutting files, digital printables and vintage graphics. Please note: Each day we will have new files. Be sure to stop by each day as they will be free one day only! Please also note, the free files will have a price listed by them, but when you add them to your cart to check out, they will be free during the day they are posted only. These files have been generously donated by PaperCraftingWorld.com. Be sure to take advantage of the great 50% off sale on all downloadable files through December!

Today’s FREE files are –

Here are just some of the prizes we will be sharing with you!

~ Quick Quotes Prize Pack
~ The Twinery: Twine
~ PaperCraftingWorld.com: Gift Certificate
~ Page-Kits.com: Gift Certificate
~ Melinda Beltran: Close To My Heart Stamping Items
~ Miscellaneous Weekly Prizes

We will share details on all of these prizes as the days unfold. 

SO HOW ARE YOU ELIGIBLE TO WIN?!!!!
Be a follower of Melin’s My Paper Crafting blog AND leave a comment on any of our daily posts.   That's it, that's all we ask!!! Please only one comment per day.  ALSO join us on our Facebook Page and leave a comment telling us you did and that will be an extra chance to win! Pretty easy!

Thank you for joining us today. Be sure to go back tomorrow for some more great projects and our new FREEBIES!