The wonderful folks at www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com have a sketch challenge this week. Check it out and all the beautiful work posted. Here's my slightly altered take on the sketch.
I started with a CTMH Gypsy Cardstock base. For the circle feature, I traced a circle on the center of the card and used Liquid Glass from CTMH to glue down a circle of Baker's Twine (not sure of mfg.) I then used CTMH ink in Gypsy and Sunshine Yellow to random stamp on a strip of White Daisy Cardstock. The flower stamps are from the CTMH stamp set Tea Time. The 2nd strip of paper is the backside of a patterned paper from CTMH's Sophia paper pack. I again used Gypsy Ink and Tea Time stamps for the teapot and cup. Both were stamped once on the small piece of cardstock and then re-stamped and cut out, then popped up on the first images with foam adhesive tape. I used a little jewel for the top of the teapot. I also used the flower stamp to random stamp and added the "steam" using Grey Flannel ink. I used a sponge to add a little bit of color to the background behind the cup and pot. The sentiment was stamped on a scalloped circle of Sunshine Yellow Cardstock and then folded over the rectangle. The flower and pearls are from my stash. The card still needed a little sumpin' sumpin' so I "stitched" with my white gel pen and added a sprig of yellow Organza ribbon. Done!
(I wanted to announce this, this morning but life got in the way!)
The winner gets something better than a chicken dinner! Our winner, chosen by random.org, of the 100 followers celebration is none other than....Sheila H. who said "I discovered your blog on the H2H blog. I've become a follower. I don't have a blog, but I've e-mailed my friends about your blog. Best of luck to you!".
Thank you to Sheila for spreading the word about my blog and thank you to everyone else who helped me make this little personal goal.
Sheila-please email me your address and I will get the following goodies in the mail to you: Close To My Heart Live Inspired Stamp Set, CTMH Felicity Stamp Set, Petite Perks Butterfly Stamp Set and 2 cards made by little ol' me.
God’s Word
“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:15-19
My Thoughts
In a choir rehearsal, we were singing a simple worship song that says “I thank you, I thank you for all you’ve done and all that you will do. You’re faithful and I’m grateful. Lord, I thank you.” The room was filled with a wonderful spirit of thankfulness as many stopped rehearsing the song and actually sang it in praise to the Lord. As I looked around the room I realized those who were singing it to the Lord with hands lifted were not those whose lives were going well or those who were in great health. The ones who were singing with the most passion were all precious children of God who were suffering in one way or another. One is battling cancer, another faces chronic pain, one lives with multiple sclerosis as I do. There were others with various trials and adverse circumstances but they chose to say thank you to the Lord. All of us had become foreigners to this world because heaven promises eternal life without the pain we are going through now.
We all cluck our tongues over the nine lepers who didn’t thank God for their healing but it’s possible they had never had the spirit of thankfulness dwelling in their hearts. It is specified the one who returned was a Samaritan and a foreigner. It is probable he had experienced persecution and prejudice two-fold because of his ethnicity as well as his disease. When he was healed he not only received physical healing, he received compassion despite what others saw in him. He knew he had much to be grateful for.
If you can only thank God for what He is doing RIGHT NOW and you can’t remember the past and you can’t see the future then you don’t have true thankfulness and contentment in your life. Even if RIGHT NOW you can’t see what God is doing or if it seems He is doing nothing, we need to reach deep inside and thank Him for His past works and praise Him for what He will be doing from this moment on.
One of the verses of the song mentions God is closer than a brother and a friend like no other. In our most difficult times in life, it would be great if our family and friends could drop everything and comfort and care for us. But we do have a comforter who will be closer than a brother could ever be. We have a friend in Jesus who will never leave our side no matter how tough our lives become.
I’ve realized those of us who have struggled and have a few battle scars tend to be oh so grateful to God for just being able to breathe our next breath. We know what He has brought us through and we know where we would be without Him. When thankfulness comes through sacrifice then it becomes a wonderful fragrance to our Lord and we are better equipped to face what life brings our way.
Your Response
Take a few minutes to thank God for Who He is and for His faithfulness even in the times when you haven’t been faithful. Thank Him for what He has done in your past and for what mighty acts He will do on your behalf from this moment forward.
I made 100 followers tonight thanks to new follower Jana!! I will get it all together in the next couple of days and have the prize drawing. Thank you to everyone who helped me reach this fun little goal and for following my little piece of the blog-o-sphere.
Blessings on your week!
PS-This has been a blessed day for this Queen Bee! God gave me an awesome opportunity to sing and share my testimony of living victoriously with MS this morning at my sister's church and tonight I won a prize at Inspired Stamps - Thank you Antoinette!
The challenge at www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com this week is to create a baby item. I decided to make something that would work for baby or Easter. This basket started life as a vintage fruit box that you used to get at fruit stands. My husband cleaned his parents' attic and found several of these. Since he knows me so well, he knew I would repurpose them into something!
This is the perfect size to fill with baby stuff like powder, shampoo, washcloths or even diapers and sit out on the dresser or changing table. I used the beautiful papers from the Sophia Collection from CTMH.
The bunnies are from the CTMH stamp set A Hop. I used Pear ink and 2nd generation stamped them. I then cut them out and stamped them in Pear and Hollyhock ink with the flowers from the Tea Time stamp set. I used our foam tape (LOVE this stuff) to pop them up and placed rhinestone flowers behind them (from Michaels). The "Happy" is from the Sophia Stickease and has $1 rhinestones added from M's.
I used Pear ink again to color the Kraft Color-ready border (so INEXPENSIVE & so FUN) and attached to the top edge. The final touch is the gorgeous ribbon flowers from Close To My Heart. Hope you likey-leave me some love and let me know whatcha think!
We've all been reeling with the images of tragedy and devastation in Japan. If you're looking for an easy, real, practical way to help relief efforts, then I invite you to purchase this stamp set from Close To My Heart!
Typically, our A-sized sets retail for $7.95/$8.95 CAN, but the "Hope for Japan" set will be available through April 30 for just $5--and Close To My Heart will be donating 100% of the profits to the American Red Cross to benefit relief efforts in Japan.
If we all do a little, together we can do a lot. Let's show our support and together, provide real HOPE for Japan! I will be ordering mine this weekend, please let me know if you would like to order and have yours shipped to my house, I then can put in an envelope and send it out to you.
This is a pocket card I made for a swap. I didn't fill the pocket because the host of the swap is going to fill them. If I was filling it, I might put a few fresh rose buds in it from my rose bush or a perfect little square of Ghiradelli chocolate! I used all Close To My Heart products:
Kraft paper
patterned paper from the Wings pack
Border Stamp from the Wings Workshop stamps
Butterfly stamp from an old Petite Perks set
Black and Vineyard Berry ink
Black Ribbon
By the way-I only need THREE more followers to reach 100 and give away a prize! Leave a comment HERE if you help me reach my goal.
God’s Word
Matthew 6:26 “Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
Matthew 10:29-31“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
My Thoughts
One of my fondest musical memories is Pastor Paul Clark joining the choir and singing the solo to “His Eye is On the Sparrow”. My teen mind could not imagine God’s eye watching every little bird in the world but if Pastor Clark sang it with such conviction then it must be true.
I was reminded of this the other day when our oldest son was having a particularly stressful week. He was trying his hardest to make everything fall into place regarding his college bill, needing a car, taking a summer class and so on. He was becoming very agitated that everything was not happening according to his desires!
Kendall had swooped into the house and tried to fly out the door to keep up his hectic schedule when a house sparrow decided to check out the inside. The bird landed on our fireplace and everyone was immediately intent on getting him out. Kendall held the door open while hubby Jeff attempted to guide the bird out.
Anyone who has ever tried to guide a sparrow knows this doesn’t work. The bird began to furiously fly around the room, narrowly escaping the ceiling fan blades. He was flapping his wings to beat the band. At one point we thought he would be taking permanent residence with us when he escaped the den and headed for the hall.
Miraculously, he landed in the living room where there was another outside door. We were able to open that door, block his escape to the rest of the house and shoo him back outside.
Afterward, I told Kendall God sent the bird to remind him God cared as much for him as he did that frightened sparrow. However, as I reflected further, I told him actually, the bird was acting just like Kendall-furiously flapping his wings to get out of a tough situation. If the sparrow would have landed and stayed still, Jeff would have picked him up and released him to fly.
Aren’t we all like that silly bird? We get caught in a situation that is overwhelming and we do everything within our power to change it when all our sweet, Father wants us to do is sit still and trust him. He will gently guide us to the place we need to be.
“Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come, Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home, When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He: His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;”
Your Response
If possible, look out your window or walk outside and see if you can see a bird. Watch him and listen to his song. Imagine how many billions more are in the world just like him. Know your heavenly Father cares for you even more than He does each of them. If you know this old hymn, then sing it to Jesus with all your heart. If not, just repeat the above words to Him. Choose today to remember that God’s eye is on you and He is your constant, never-failing friend.
This layout started with a sketch by Mary at www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com. I'm getting my son's album done page by page! I used the great papers from the CTMH Mayberry Pack. So versatile! I used a border and stitched flower stamp from the Togetherness stamp set. The cute lil owl on the branch was cut with Create a Critter from Cricut-yes, I have made a bunch of these critters lately! The little owl is just an image from my stash. The alpha stickease are from an old CTMH set that I just changed with markers. The small scallop circles are made with our Scallop Punch and the large ones were cut on the Cricut. Remember, you can click on the photo for a larger image.
Update: I am SIX followers away from 100! Sign up to be a follower and get in a drawing for a prize package when I hit 100!!
My middle son will graduate next year so I need to get his album ready from birth to graduation. I sure miss this happy little guy but the 17 yo version ain't half bad either!
I am from the scrapbook school of scrapping current pages and doing the past as I can so I have never done his baby pages. The Lucky paper pack from Close To My Heart is perfect for boy pages. I used the Lucky journaling spot as well. I have used practically the whole pack of these little cards-love them!. The snail and puppy are from the Create A Critter cartridge from Cricut. I just love all these cute little animals. I cut the letters from the Cuttin' Up cartridge. The swirl on the snail is baker's twine. I also had to add googly eyes for fun! The edges of the page needed something so I pulled out my CTMH Moonlight ink pad and a stamp from the Togetherness stamp set to add a little faux stitching! Let me know your thoughts!
I have been playing with my Create A Critter Cricut cart that I got earlier this year. Oh my goodness it is loads of fun! It also has just reinforced to me how well Close To My Heart's cardstock cuts. It is so smooth- unlike other cardstocks that tear or pill. For this cute little chick I used CTMH Gypsy card stock and a strip of green paper from the CTMH Miracle paper pack. I ran both papers through the Cuttlebug to emboss. I used our Kraft cardstock to shadow the chick and Goldrush and Sunkiss Yellow for the chick. The flower was created with another piece of Miracle and our Scallop punch. I just cut a slit at every other scallop to create petals. The googly eyes, stamp, buttons, ribbon, twine and flower are from my stash.
Thanks for stopping by, leave me some love! By the way-I need 8 more followers to give away a prize package. See THIS POST to see how to enter.
Philippians 4:11 “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”
My Thoughts
When you can say “it is well with my soul” and truly mean it in the core of your being, then you will know true peace. The trouble with our spoiled, pampered flesh is we add conditions. For example, “it is well with my soul as long as everything is status quo. It is well with my soul as long as I am happy, healthy and whole. It is well with my soul when all is well with everyone I know.” No, my friend, for those who walk with the Lord, we must learn to say with the apostle Paul, “…I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content” (Philippians 4:11). Believe me, he was in some pretty sorry states for most of his ministry-shipwrecked, imprisoned, isolated from his supporters. But he could make that statement because he knew “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (v. 13).
The song says “when peace like a river attendeth my way” AND “when sorrow like sea billows roll”. Have you ever seen sea billows roll? The waves literally roll one over the other. Have you ever felt the sorrows just keep coming your way? That is exactly what the writer meant. Horatio Spafford lost his only son in 1871. Shortly afterward he was ruined financially in the Chicago Fire. Then in 1873, he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the S. S. Ville Du Havre, but sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business. While cross ing the At lan tic, the ship sank, and all four of Spaf ford’s daugh ters died. His wife Anna sur vived. As Spaf ford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daugh ters had died.
I saw this absolute resolve in face of overwhelming grief firsthand a few years ago when a precious toddler named Kara was killed in a horrific accident. She was a wonderful miracle from God when she was conceived after repeated miscarriages. She was the kind of delightful, personable child that made many believe they had a special connection with her. Those who knew her were devastated, but no one’s sorrow could compare one iota to her parents’ and brother’s. Nevertheless, at her funeral when this song began, both her mother and her father lifted hands straight up to heaven in total surrender. It was the most moving moment I have ever witnessed. I will forever have that image seared into my mind when I hear this song. This family has continued to live out their faith and many have been reached for the Lord through their testimony. Kara's mother shared at a Bible study one day that she no longer feared anything that the enemy could send her way because she had faced her greatest fear and survived in victory.
I want you to know there is only one way to this kind of peace. Only one answer to your moments of sorrow and His name is Jesus. When you learn all you fear can not shake you when you are walking with Jesus, then you will be able to say “When peace like a river attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll. Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul.”
Your Response
If possible, find a quiet corner of your room and just sit for a moment in the presence of Almighty God. Lift your hands to heaven in surrender and tell Him you praise Him in whatever situation you are in. Ask Him to enable you to make all things well with your soul whether you are living in peace or turmoil. All he wants to hear from his children is “whatever, Lord”.
This is the open door that faces my front door into my studio. I wanted to make people smile as they enter and also state the purpose for the room. "Create" was the perfect word. The pennant banner is from Close To My Heart and all the papers and stick-ease are from CTMH's Sophia Collection. I used Hollyhock and Chocolate Inks to sponge the edges of the cutouts and pennants. The cutouts are cut from the Songbird Cricut Cartridge. I picked up the cute little "pie plates" from my favorite LSS-The Crafty Scrapper. They had a "create" banner on display there using the tin pie plates. All of the embellies are either CTMH or from my stash. You can click on the photo to see it a little closer.
This photo is of one of my great-nieces. When I saw how cute it turned out, I had to create a card for my sis, her nana, to showcase it. Since my sister's birthday was coming up, I made a gift within a card. This is an easel card and can be displayed instead of tucked away in a drawer. There are tons of tutorials on the internet for easel cards and they are really easy to make. For this one I used all Close To My Heart products. I gave a special treatment to the photo by distressing all the edges with our sanding block and then stamping in the corner with Staz-on Ink.
I needed to create a scene using 3 stamps on a card to enter the latest challenge at www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com. A clear card can really make a scene appear multidimensional by putting part of your scene on the front and the rest inside. The challenge is making it look good inside and out so your adhesive and backs don't show.
To start with I stamped the front pieces on white daisy cardstock and then cut out. The bunny, grass and eggs are from the $7.95 stamp set called "A Hop". I used a flower from the Eastertime Stamp set to decorate my bunny. The basket is from 2 stamp sets. The handle is part of the rainbow from the Over the Rainbow stamp set and the basket is from the Eastertime stamp set. I just stamped the basket weave background stamp on Kraft paper and then cut it into a basket shape. I used foam adhesive to adhere all the pieces to the front. Inks used: Sunkist Yellow, Gypsy, Hollyhock, Pear, Topiary, Chocolate.
To cover the back of the front pieces, I punched out 3 round scallops using our 2" punch. I used the A Hop stamp set again to stamp the word "hope" on the top scallop. I taped the 3 scallops together and then stamped the sentiment (from Eastertime) on the back of them. I then strategically adhered them to the inside of the cover to hide the back of the front-confused yet?!!
The inside adds the backdrop to our little scene. I started with a square chipboard piece from the Mix and Mingle mini album. I used versamark ink and white embossing powder along with the cloud from the Over The Rainbow stamps. Baby Blue and Crystal Blue inks applied with a sponge dauber creates the sky. The sun is from the Over the Rainbow set (Goldrush ink). I stamped grass across the bottom and added the flower from A Hop (Topiary and Hollyhock ink). The background is adhered with our Twinkling Brads.
All products except the rhinestones are from Close To My Heart. Hoppy Easter!
GoHEREto see how to win blog candy when I reach 100 followers
Only 10 more followers need to sign up and I'll have the drawing for the giveaway.
I want to celebrate having 100 followers with a gift to 1 of those special friends.
What can you do to help me reach that goal and get your name in the drawing? Simply be sure you are a follower and leave a comment on this post AFTER you have promoted or shared this blog with your friends, family or blog followers. In your post, let me know HOW you promoted or shared my blog AND what you like about my blog. Easy-Peasy Lemon Squeezy!
What will you win? Well, I gotta get it all together but I know it will include at least 2 Close To My Heart stamp sets, something made by me and some other little surprises. As soon as I gather it all I will post a photo.
God’s Word
Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
My Thoughts
My sons discovered what it is like to be in the waiting room of a hospital at a very young age. The two younger ones were only five and seven when I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and my first frightening hospital stay occurred a brief three months after that diagnosis. In all, I have been hospitalized six times in just as many years. So when Pastor Darius Johnston asked the congregation to think about what it is like in hospital waiting rooms, my youngest decided to answer him out loud with his opinion of “It Stinks!”. Yes, this is one eleven year-old who knows what he’s talking about.
Pastor Johnston went on to use hospital waiting rooms as an analogy for the trials in our lives and he named those rough times “God’s waiting room”. How accurate that description is! As my son was trying to convey, waiting rooms are a difficult place to be. The chairs are uncomfortable, the coffee tastes terrible, people are anxious, sad and irritable, no one can tell you how long you will be there or what the outcome will be-it really stinks! Our trials are just as unpleasant.
As the months turn to years, we wonder why God has “put us” in this struggle.. We ask what we’ve done wrong and we desperately want to know how long we will have to endure the pain and uncertainty.
But as I thought about the sermon later, I began to realize there can be good found in those waiting rooms. As I’ve waited for the outcome of a parent’s surgery, my husband and siblings have been there with me. A pastor usually has been beside us throughout the waiting. We’ve talked, reminisced, joined together in prayer and rejoiced when the doctor returned with good news. When the wait was over, we would go see our loved one and smile with them with gratitude that all was well.
Yes, the waiting rooms of life are really uncomfortable to be in but as the song says, “You are in the waiting, in that moment of my life when my faith and hope collide. While my heart’s anticipating how and when you’ll move, oh, that’s when you prove you are in the waiting.” As we wait for the answer to our questions of why me?, why now?, why this?, God is beside us and he will “give (us) water in the desert”, he will “lift (us) up on eagles’ wings, so from way up high (we) can see (our) life from (His) view of things.”
Oh, to be able to see God’s view of things! We would not fear, we would not despair if we could see through His eyes. But isn’t that what He wants us to do? Doesn’t He tell us to “not fear”. He wants us to know that our waiting room has a God given purpose. God is “breaking up (our) fallow ground” and He will “plant (His) seed ‘til it’s living in (us).” We need to ask him to “make me all you want me to be. Unveil my eyes if I’ve exchanged the truth for lies; give me faith so I can see.”
Yes, trials truly stink. Suffering and pain are difficult to endure but if we will just remember that God is waiting with us and He knows the answers to our questions and He knows what the outcome will be then the waiting can be endured. Just as friends and family surround us when we are in hospital waiting rooms, God’s presence surrounds us in the waiting rooms of life. He promises as we wait we WILL have renewed strength, wings of eagles and be able to run without being tired and walk without passing out. Keep waiting on Him my friend, soon you’ll be soaring!
Your Response
Just sit quietly before the Lord for a few moments. Tell Him you are waiting to hear from Him. Anticipate what He will do in and through you.
The Song
“In The Waiting” words and music by Shannon Wexelberg. I am sorry, I could not find this song to play for you anywhere but here are the lyrics:
I’ve tried to be strong
Is there something I’ve done wrong?
‘Cause I’ve been waiting here so long.
You see each tear
As the months have turned to years.
For some reason You must want me here.
But I can see You’re breaking up my fallow ground
In this season of such barrenness,
Lord, I have found
(REFRAIN)
You are in the waiting
In that moment of my life
When my faith and hope collide.
While my heart’s anticipating
Just how and when You’ll move
That’s when you prove
You are in the waiting, too.
So plant Your seed
Till it’s living, Lord, in me.
Make me all You want me to be.
Unveil my eyes
If I’ve exchanged the truth for lies.
Give me faith so I can see
The work that you began
You will complete in me.
And I don’t have to understand the place You’re keeping me.
(BRIDGE)
You give me water in the desert.
You lift me up on eagles’ wings.
And from way up high
I can see my life
From Your view of things.
And though I’ve cried for an answer
I believe that I can say:
“Thank You, Lord, for every answer
You’ve delayed.”
(REFRAIN)
The gals at www.heart2heartchallenges.blogspot.com are keeping us on our toes with a color challenge this month. The colors we were challenged with are Gypsy, Black and Creme Brulee and they really had me in fits trying to put them together. I was determined to master them and after a lot of starts and stops this was the result.
I ended up adding a 4th color with the gray patterned paper from the Bliss paper from CTMH. The sentiment, flourish, frame and pattern on the bird are all from the CTMH Wings WOTG stamp set. I stamped the frame in Versamark and then embossed with silver embossing powder from CTMH. The bird is one I use often but I just can't help myself-it's so cute! It is from a Tim Holtz die cut, that I sponged in Gypsy ink, but we also have a stamp set called A Tweet that is very similar. The lace is from Michaels.
I'm not sure if the flower is my own creation or not but I think I made it up on the spot:-) Apologies if I didn't! I simply took some creme brulee patterned paper from the Veranda paper pack and cut out with our scallopped punch. I took two and adhered them together to hide the green back. Then I folded them in half and turned to fold in half again. Then I turned the flower over and did the same on the back. This left me with "mountains and valleys" folds. I sponged them with Gypsy and then squished them to emphasize the folds. I stacked 3 together and attached them with a brad. I really like the way it turned out. I hope you do too!
Don't forget my giveaway when I reach 100 followers. The details are HERE
Both of these cards were made using the same stamp set and paper pack from Close To My Heart. They illustrate the variety you get when you purchase our stamp sets and paper packs. The paper pack is my new fave because of it's cheery colors, it's called Mayberry. The stamp set brings back childhood memories of my mom's sewing machine and is called Tailor-Made.
The center of this card began life as an ATC (Artist's Trading Card) that I created for a swap. The sentiment is from the Simple Stitches stamp set. I used Copic markers to color the top of the pin cushion and the sewing machine. I gave the sewing machine a 3D effect by using CTMH's foam adhesive to adhere and cutout 2nd image over the bottom image. To make it easy on me, I only cut out the main part of the sewing machine and then the details show from the 1st image. I just love the little tomato pin cushion, my mom had one just like it. I used a little liquid glass on the pins to give them a bit of dimension. CTMH ink colors used were Goldrush, Black and Holiday Red. Buttons were from my stash. The white "stitching" was made with a white pen.
The 2nd card has one of my favorite images- a dress form! I just love that they are everywhere right now-decor, scrapbooking, etc. Again, the papers are all from the same Mayberry pack and the stamps are from the same Tailor-Made set. I stamped the dress form in black onto patterned paper and then cut out just the dress part. I stamped the whole dress form again in black onto the Smoothie cardstock and used the foam adhesive to attach the patterned dress form over it. I adhered a bit of floral ribbon from my stash to the bottom of the dress. The scalloped circle was cut out using our punch. The cute little flower is from Michaels $1 bin. The stitching on the circle is once again a white pen and the stitching on the mat is made by scoring lines around the edge, then use an emery board to expose the white. Finally, run it through a sewing machine without thread to create the holes.
Remember, I am giving away a prize when I hit 100 followers. The instructions for entering are on this post.
