Jesse Tree: 24 Tags of Christmas

Introduction = This is my launch into Tim Holtz' vintage/grunge technique and idea of "21 tags of Christmas," however, I will be using the symbolic images for a Jesse Tree along with scriptures from a new Advent devotional book called Anticipate written by Paul Shenemen and published by Beacon Hill Press. I believe I have many of the rubber stamps required for the tags, but a few I will probably have to use digital stamps to replace the ones I do not have from a resource mentioned in the book -- Advent Experience. As I do not have access to a computer on a daily basis, unless I visit the library every evening, I will post each tag below on the same day until all have been made, so please be patient with me. Thanks!

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Day 1: 
"A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him -- the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord--and he will delight in the fear of the LORD." (Isaiah 11:1-3)



Tim Holtz' Techniques: Wrinkle Free Distress, Distressed Edges and Hammered Grunge Board
Stamps: Laura Ashley Woodville Leaves Background Stamp, River City Rubber Works 3 Inch Ruler Stamp, Dress It Up Autumn Treasures (Tree)
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Day 2:
"Praise the LORD! Praise the LORD, my soul. He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them--he remains faithful forever. (Psalm 146:1,6) 



Tim Holtz' Technique: Scribble Stain Distress
Stamps: thread spool "stamp," Rubber Stampede "Let's Save the World #A1756 F" Stamp, Recollections Alphabet #171816 stamps
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Day 3:
"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night." (Psalm 1:1-2) 



Tim Holtz Technique: Dauber Resist (I really, really like this technique!)
Stamps: Autumn Leaves Swirls #AL2587; Hero Arts Sentiment, Posh Duet Apple

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Day 4: 
"Listen to my words, LORD, consider my lament. Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice, in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly."
(Psalm 5:1-3) 

 


Tim Holtz' Technique: Wrinkle Free Distress Background
Stamps: Waves = Stampabilities Swirly Border, Dr1012; Ship = PSX G-3004; Anchor = PSX B-1095
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Day 5:  
"I see you with all my heart: do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, LORD; teach me your decrees."
(Psalm 119:10-12)




Tim Holtz' Technique: sponged background with stamped & embossed stars, similar to his Inking Grunge technique except homemade tag is

constructed from heavy cardstock

Stamps: Star = PSX A-262; Sun = Hero Arts Serene Sun F253
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Day 6:  
"I love you, LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold."  (Psalm 18:1-2)



Stamps: Ram's Head = digital stamp (I didn't want the ink to run, so traced the head over a light box on another sheet of cardstock with a permanent fine line sharpie marker.)
Harlequin = Hero Arts Single Harlequin D3415
Music Notes = Posh
Sentiment = Michaels Wishful Thinking
Sheep = Stampabilities Lambie Pie D1154
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Day 7:  
"LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Psalm 16:5-8)



Tim Holtz Techniques: Masking (I made my own mask using a piece of clear flat packaging and a square punch) and finger glitter glue.
Stamps: Autumn Leaves Swirls AL2587

My niece married this last weekend and her colors were lavender and silver, so the colors on this tag and next is in commemoration of this event!
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Day 8:  
"Now this I know: The LORD gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand. Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God." (Psalm 20:6-7)



Tim Holtz Technique: Inked Background and Layered Stamp Images
Stamps: Background Script = Stampin' Up; Filigree = All Night Media/Anna Griffin 580D06; Filigree = Autumn Leaves Swirls AL2587, Sack = Anita's; Sentiment = Inkadinkado 8386-J;
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Day 9:

Postscript: I did not get to finish this series as my craft barn did not have a large heater
at the time and it became t0o cold to work out there.

Arts and Crafts Curriculum

I was thinking this morning about arts and crafts curriculum. While I feel blessed for having family and public school teachers who thought enough to teach me about the creative process of arts and crafts (ceramics, crochet, decorating cakes,  sewing, scrapbooking, painting, quilting, etc.), I know that's not so in all families and all schools.

When we began homeschooling our son, I wanted to include arts and crafts to give him a well-rounded education. At first I had to start with inexpensive crafts because I didn't know what curriculum was available to us. I'd go to the hobby/craft stores near us in the children's section and tear off a instruction sheet of every available kid's craft there, purchase the necessary items (what I didn't have already in my craft stash at home) to make up into zippy bag kits and put them into a basket along with the instruction sheet for him to choose from during his weekly arts and crafts instruction time. After completing the craft, he would then staple the instruction sheet to his daily log of schoolwork so that I would have a record of what he did that day.

Eventually we used a combination of resources -- encyclopedias, my college Art history reference book (History of Art. By H. W. Janson. Prentice-Hall, Inc; 1977.), art postcards and the internet.

We joined a homeschooling support group and their members often arranged field trips to various places around the metropolitan city. I remember visiting the Nelson-Atkins art gallery on one such field trip. Nothing like seeing the real deal! My son was really into the suite of armor on display and some of the Egyptian art (he & his father was into the Young Indiana Jones series at the time). We took photos of the kids standing next to the sculpture outside the museum for our homeschool scrapbook/yearbook and I visited the gift shop. Was I ever thrilled the following week when our son found an Egyptian rubber stamp set at our local thrift store for $5.99 that we had seen at the gift shop for $26.99 only the week before. It was added to our craft corner.

One disagreement I've had with our children's Sunday School department is the use of cartoon illustrated posters. They say our posters are old-fashioned, but I say kids get enough cartoon illustrations in the film and TV industry. They need to be exposed to the art of the masters and their stories, like Rembrant and Albrecht Durer. If you want modern, go with today's artists like Warner Sallman. The above quick photo of The Good Shepherd print is one I have hanging in my living room and is a favorite of mine. It was given to me by my paternal grandmother. Her Sunday School class purchased it for her as  thank you gift.. Expose them to George Caleb Bingham Thomas Kinkade, Samuel J.Butcher  Arthur John Elsley, Sandy Lynam Clough among others. What better place to expose children to fine art than church? After all, it was the church who drove the appreciation of fine art for centuries by sponsoring the creation of it.

 I found a book near the end of our homeschooling days that I wish I had had at the beginning as it would have facilitated the study of art so much better. It's called "Great Art and Children's Worship." By Jean Louise Smith. Abingdon-Cokesbury Press, 1948. If you can get your hands on a copy, grab it. I found my copy at a garage sale for a quarter. Each chapter is a lesson on a particular featured painting or sculpture, along with a bit of history on the artist and a short devotion. There are discussion questions to go along with the lesson as well. Ms. Smith has a resource list in the back of the book of suitable artwork to go with each lesson and a section on the symbolism of Christian art.

Quick Card

Hey Beginner Stampers, this quick card is for you! When you own only one or two stamps,

use images cut off the top of a dollar store notepad like I did here!

 

Or use wrapping paper like this card:

 

Purchase extra cupcake liners from the Dollar Store to use on your invitations,

 for your party cupcakes, and to scrapbook the memories!

This party set was published in the Just Invitations magazine by Scott Publications.

Frog Prince Birthday Party Invitation & Party Gear

Instructions:

1. Cut out frogs & crowns (Cuddlekids Milton Frog & Girly-Girl diecuts) and assemble.

2. Lily pads are punched two inch circles with a wedge cut out. Draw lines to indicate edges & veins on leaf.

 

3. Cut out an extra frog back for cupcake pick & glue toothpick & crown between the two back pieces.

4. Cut out pink invitation card (4 1/2” x 8 1/2”), scrapbook page (6” x 6”), ATC (2 1/2” x 3 1/2”) & strip for napkin ring. 

5. Iron cupcake paper liners, then tape to card  and scrapbook page.

6. Glue or tape assembled frogs & lily pads to invitation card, scrapbook page, ATC, goodie bag, straw, cupcake pick, & napkin ring.

7. Stamp frog tracks (Hero Arts) on invitation & scrapbook page. Place frog over fiber “tongue” on ATC frog & tape. Attach with a popdot. Glue on ribbon.

8. Finish birthday gear with solid lime green paper plates, cups, & napkins. Stick cupcake picks in pink or lime green iced cupcakes for birthday guests! Serve with lime koolaid with floating strawberry ice cream balls!