Congratulations to "Scrappin Melissa" who commented on my post for the Happy Birthday Jesus Blog Hop Day 1, and became a new follower of my blog!
Thank you to everyone who visited the blog hop, my blog, and commented on our projects to celebrate JESUS, the real reason for Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Luke 2:11
"Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!
I used Close To My Heart cardstock, patterned paper, chipboard, twine, stamps, and ink. I also used products and tools from Martha Stewart, Fiskars, Marvy Uchida, Stickles, and Recollections.
I punched holes in one point of each star chipboard, in each letter, and next threaded waxy flax twine between them. I finished attaching the twine with a threaded sterling bead and a small knot. When I attached the stars and letters to the card, I wanted it to appear that these shiny stars were suspending the word "Starry" by golden threads, as if this came right down from the stars, right down from the Heavens.....
I then added gold glitter ribbon to extend the rich, celebratory theme of royalty throughout the card. I punched 1 side of the sentiment for added stars and detail.
This is a detail photo of the stamped image of baby Jesus lying in the manger, as found in the Close To My Heart stamp set: "Let Us Adore Him"
Now, Hippity Hop on over to Created 2 b Unique with Haidee to see her fabulous creation today! Don't forget to comment on my project & become a follower! :) Remember to come back tomorrow for my 2nd project that celebrates Christmas, and the most wonderful birthday since time began!
So let's get started! First, you will need to locate a piece of galvanized sheet metal! These can be found at your local Sheet Metal Shop, or Heating and Cooling company! Check the Yellow Pages of your local phone directory if you don't already have a company you regularly use! **Just stop by and ask for a piece of scrap sheet metal cut to the size you need, in my case: almost 12 in x 12 in! (YOU WILL ALSO NEED 3-6 small pieces of scrap metal to m ake your decorative metal magnets! These should be 1-3 inches in size, either square or rectangle. Mine were just randomly cut at the metal shop from another scrap in the heap!) Mine are pictured a little further down with the re-purposed magnets I pried out of some old magnetic clips I had.
*They will likely just give it to you for free, or charge you a very minimal price! (My husband and I own a family heating and air, custom metal duct business, so my scrap was free!) And if you agree to mention the business on your blog or to those who see your project, they may give it to you for free as well! :)
You will also need a 12in x 12in square picture frame; I had a white, wood frame on hand which coordinated with my kitchen trim. 
Self-Healing mat, 12 in paper trimmer, scissors, Xacto knife, metal/acrylic cutting ruler, sanding block, and corner rounder.
Pictured are the various adhesives I used: ATG Tape Runner, Tombow Permanant, Xyron 150 Sticker Maker and CTMH Liquid Glass. 
You will also need several (3-6) small scraps of metal to make your magnets, and the same number of STRONG magnet pieces!
You will also need Mod Podge, a craft sponge, and a rubber brayer to adhere the first layer of cardstock to the sheet of metal.
Here is photo collage of the embellishments I used on my project, and the Prima Valentine stem I also used 1 piece of solid 12in x 12in cardstock, and portions of 3 coordinating patterned papers. Now we can start constructing our Magnet Reminder Board! 1. Adhere base cardstock to clean sheet metal with a thick layer of Mod Podge using a sponge. Apply Mod Podge in sections, and smooth each section with your Speedball rubber brayer or similar tool.
2. Place the sheet metal face down between to flat, firm surfaces, and place a weighted object on top of your "metal sandwich" to help keep the cardstock smooth. Set this aside to dry.
3. Now, position your Prima multi-flower stem onto your frame, and adhere is with generous strips of clear Liquid Glass adhesive. Hold in place for a few minutes, and set aside to dry.
4. Next, let's construct the small metal-based magnets you will need to hold items onto your board! **These also serve as part of the decoration/embellishment on your board without taking up space! Run your small metal pieces through a Xyron sticker maker 150 loaded with permanant adhesive. 
Cover the sticky side of your metal pieces with paper of your choice, and then trim off the excess using your Xacto knife, self-healing mat, and firm craft ruler.
Next, adhere your strong magnets to the raw metal side of your magnets with clear Liquid Glass adhesive, and be generous! Mine oozed around the sides of the magnet a little. Set these aside to dry, as you will be embellishing these last. (This photo shows mine face down with embellishments.)
5. Now it's time to trim any excess cardstock from your now dry metal sheet with your Xacto knife, ruler and self-healing mat.
6. Next, trim your first, second and third patterned papers to the desired size and shape, and adhere them to the solid cardstock!
I used my ATG for larger areas on the backs of my papers, and then went around very close on all paper edges with my Tombow adhesive runner. I have better control with a smaller tape runner, personally.
Here is the beginning of your Magnetic Reminder Board!
For one of my patterned papers, I wanted a distressed look, and to take out some of the brightness of the green of the paper, so I did some heavy sanding all over with my 3m sanding block.
This photo shows "before" I sanded.
And here is the "after" effect!
For the Bandana patterned piece, I used the corner rounder for some interest on 2 of the corners.
*I think these would make great baby gifts if made in coordinating nursey colors for a new mom! She could place photos, keepsakes like hospital bracelets, etc...on her board to display temporarily, and then later scrapbook them! Appointment reminder cards are also great to display, too! This could also be a sesaonal/holiday decoration! Just decorate as many sheets of metal as you like, and switch them out in the frame as seasons and holidays change! 
I chose to incorporate dry embossing on the red cardstock die cut shape behind the "E," as well as wet, heat embossing on the title and horseshoe accents! I really do like both types of embossing for different reasons: dry embossing is more subtle, and heat embossing adds pop!
I absolutely love Christmas, and traditional Christmas colors, so I just layered and layered those with my favorite shape, the square, until I was happy with my card. This DIGI image is by Mo Manning, and actually was chosen becuase this little boy, "Jimmy" looks so much like my own 3 year old! I usually add a lot more "bling" to my projecrs, but for this card, I really wanted you to be able to focus on the image of this sweet boy and his excitement about Christmas, so I took a more minimalist approach.
The angle of this photograph really emphasizes the embossed texture on the base of my card, and I think it adds a little something without being a distraction.
I wanted to share this layout with you, as I am really pleased with how it turned out! I used some brand-spanking new products, as well as some older ones that I was thrilled to incorporate! Again, this layout features my youngest son, and showcases his confident personality! This "horse" is life-sized, and he was fearless as I hoisted him up into the aged leather saddle! 
I was really happy to create this layout with 9 photos, and still have a little "white" space not covered! I used square punch to create the uniform photo size, and then distressed all photo edges with my hardware store sanding block! I love the sanded photo look, and I think it fits my subject well; my rough and tumble little boy! I would say this is one of my signature looks.
Well, you can tell I love bright colors, and lots of patterned paper!
Me and My Big Ideas: Sunny Days patterned cardstock ATD/Momenta: textured cardstock Die Cuts With a View: patterned paper
Celebrate It: diamond ribbon, glitter ribbon
Recollections: all flowers Wrights: ric rac Martha Stewart: punches Close To My Heart: brads ______ I hope you will join us again at Frosted Designs for Fabulous Friday, each and every Friday!
AND THE 2 NEW WINNERS of the 400 Followers Contest are:
Vannessa Miller & Rachel Miller
Random.org chose the winners from the two groups of 76 comments!
**Please e-mail me your name/mailing address so I can get your blog candy in the mail to you! (My e-mail is mrsme6th at bellsouth dot net ) Keep an eye out for my next giveaway & thank you for following and commenting! Roberta :)
The Fabulous Friday challenge this week is to use "fancy trim" on your project! As a professed scrapbooker, and a mother of 3 boys, I seldom have an opportunity to use a feminine fancy trim! So, I was extremely excited to find this faux leather fringe at the Buy The Yards Ribbons booth at the CKC-Charlotte convention vendor fiar! I snapped up all she had in her booth, knowing I would be workin on all of our cowboy/indian photos from Tweetise Railroad! 
I created this layout based on a pagemaps sketch, however I missed the deadline to enter it in a contest. I'm very pleased with how it turned out, and I was able to use 4 of my too many photos of my son's first trip to our local theme park! LOL! So, here it is! I also loved entering the Bird is The Word challenge for "You & Me," because it fit what I was already working on!
My recipe for this layout:
1. white cardstock, CTMH
2. bracket die-cut, Best Creations, Inc.
3. multicolor polka dot paper and yello embossed paper, Best Creations, Inc
4. large green tonal polkadot paper, My Mind's Eye
5. stars punched with Martha Stewart All Over the Page punch
6. hearts punched with Marvi Uchida punch
7. small bracket punched with Fiskars punch
8. jornaling with CTMH Sunflower ink marker
9. brads, CTMH
10. sentiment/title stamped with font stamps from CTMH and stamp pad in Garden Green
I am entering this layout into these challenges:
Bird is The Word
You & Me Challenge
Make It Monday
#57
CropStop
Challenge #39 Stamp Sentiment & Plus to Use "Friend"
I hope you like my layout, and are able to read my terrible (LOL!)
handwriting! Roberta
I guess everyone can tell by the layouts on my blog, that I really love to photograph and then scrapbook my son, Ezra! And much of what he wears, and what we do involves bright colors! So here we are at our local amusement park, Tweetsie Railroad, on one of my favorite rides: The Merry Go Round! I am really not sure the difference between a carousel and merry go round, but we sure do love them!
As a very thankful member of the Frosted Designs Fabulous Friday Design Team, I was challenged to do fussy cutting! For this layout, I cut out the 5 clouds from a piece of My Mind's Eye Lime Twist Out of The Blue "Smile" Float Paper, and the 2 carousel horses from a piece of Best Creations, Inc. Looops and Scoops paper. Boy, those carousel horses were very fussy!!! LOL!
I added Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink Faded Jeans with a stiff bristle brush to the top edges of the clouds, and adhered them with foam circles! For the horses, I also adhered those with foam, and for a "Twist" of fun, I used Lime Twist baker's twine, 2 strands twisted, for the poles of the carousel! I hope you like it!
My best tip for fussy cutting -- use a pair of sharp, fine or microtip scissors! It will save you time and frustration! Keep an eye out for a new challenge each Friday at Frosted Designs!
Here are more photos of my sweet boy, Ezra on his first outing to Tweetsie Railroad in the Summer of 2009! I know we will both be glad when I am finished with this series of photos! I must have taken 200! :)
http://www.scrappinmojo.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14357 Scrappion Mojo September Terri's Sketch Challenge
http://ooh-la-la-creationschallenges.blogspot.com/2011/09/challenge-89.html Ooh-La-La Creations Challenge #89 Punches/Dies (Star and Arrow punches)
http://heartsonginspirations.blogspot.com/2011/09/hsi-challenge-17-use-ribbon-andor-tag.html HeartSong Inspirations HSI Challenge #17: Ribbons/tags (Lime green ribbon border and tails on top left button)
http://dreamvalleychallenges.blogspot.com/2011/09/challenge-16-buttons.html Dream Valley Challenges #16 Buttons (orange and turquoise buttons)
http://whimsicalwednesdays.blogspot.com/2011/09/anything-goes.html Whimsical Wednesdays Anything Goes Wed. Sept. 28th
http://www.lovetocrop.com/2011/09/its-challenge-time-lets-scrap-it.html Love To Crop Friday Challenge Sept. 23rd - Scraps (Argyle print, green polka dots print, striped strip, turquoise strip, orange dotted strip, red dotted strip, star strip and all stars and arrows are SCRAPS!)
http://www.youhadmeatcraft.com/2011/09/guest-designer-lala-palooza-with.html You Had Me At Craft Made It Myself Mondays Week 16
http://myshericrafts.blogspot.com/2011/09/my-sheri-crafts-challenge-69-sew-simple.html My Sheri Crafts Challenge #69 Sew Simple (Real stitching with white thread and sewing machine, and faux stitching with white gel pen on punchedd elements.)
I hope you like my layout, and please become a follower of my blog! Thanks a bunch, Roberta
This photo is a closeup of my very old blue chipboard title that I distrressed and attached together!
Here is a closeup of my ticket-title! I cut several sizes of tickets on my Cricut, and layered them until I was happy with the look!
I created this layout using these materials: Bazzill cardstock, Phoenix swiss dot & CTMH cardstock, Ocean American Crafts Cardstock: Junior Defense embossed dot
Patterned Paper, Lime Twist, Go Fly A Kite, My Mind's Eye
Cricut Cartrides, Carousel and Plantin Schoolbook
Fiskars Puffy Stickers font Blue Alphas
Chipboard font from my stash
Recollections Glitter Adhesive Dots
Buttons from my stash
Offray Microspool felt ric rac
Martha Stewart border punch and liquid glue
I am entering this layout in these challenges: http://sketchabilities.blogspot.com/2011/09/sketch-55-design-team-reveal.html Sketchabilities #55
http://designed2delight.com/blog/2011/09/saturdays-challenge-die-cut-divas/ Designed 2 Delight Saturday's Challenge - Die Cut Divas (2+ Die Cuts: hearts & ticket)
http://www.scrapbookexpress3.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11425 Scrapbook Express Final Weekly Divas Challenge, Any past weekly challenge: July 27-August 2 Big Shape (rectangle patterned paper)
http://scrapbookers-anonymous.blogspot.com/2011/09/september-challenge-and-birthday-treats.html A-Z Challenge, letter "B" stash (very old BLUE chipboard) http://scrapfit.blogspot.com/2011/09/wwu-14-winner.html ScrapFIT Weekend Warm Up #14: Buttons (orange buttons) http://scrapitwithasong.blogspot.com/2011/09/new-challenge-coldplay-yellow_22.html Scrap It With A Song New Challenge: Coldplay "Yellow" (I was inspired by the lyrics especially, when thinking about my littlest son in these photos, and remembering my oldest son, Corey, who loved this song when it was released in 2000. In the song, the artist sings about bleeding himslef dry for his subject, and as a parent, I know exactly how he feels. I would do anything for my children, and I appreciate the chance to express that through this song challenge!)
http://stuckonusketches.blogspot.com/2011/09/sept-23-die-cut-challenge-heart.html Stuck on You Sketches Sept. 23 Die Cut Challenge :Heart (All the red, turquoise and orange hearts)
http://ppp-makeitmonday.blogspot.com/2011/09/make-it-monday-56.html Make It Monday #56
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I hope you enjoy my layouts, and please click on the "400 Followers Contest" on the top of the page, and enter to win one of 6 prizes!
