My husband, the fruitcake...

You see, my husband has always had an admiration for my dancing days.  He tells me often "I wish I could have seen you dance..."

I guess I didn't realize just how much I had rubbed off on him.  Why?  Well, because this past weekend he got to don green tights, a tutu of sorts (in the form of a fruitcake), a goofy, hilarious "AL" tee, and a cherry.

The Durham Christmas Pageant's final run was this weekend and Jas, along with two other Ridgecrest pastors, dressed up to dance their hearts out in a surprise performance for Al (the pageant's creator).

You have to see for yourself, you say?  I understand.  Here ya go...

(thanks, Renea, for the photo!)

Thank you Al and the DCP for memorable moments like the one above, but most importantly, for sharing the gospel with the community!

Merry Monday!

Merry Monday!  It's Christmas week!

And in spite of all the decorations, fun, and festivities of the season, the most important thing remains and always will be:

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  Isaiah 9:6

Christmas Craft: Freezer Paper Stencils

Ok, so now a craft is coming your way that is non-Christmas related.  However, since I coined this week "Christmas craft week" and since this is one of the last full weeks where I've had a good bit of free time, this project just fit in nicely.

It's one I've been wanting to try for some time.

FREEZER PAPER STENCILS


The neat thing about this is you can stencil on most any type of fabric from shirts to tote bags and everything in between.  They would make great Christmas presents (snap! why didn't I think of that!?)

Here's what you'll need:  freezer paper, fabric paint, an X-acto knife, an iron, your fabric of choice (I chose two shirts I already had on hand)

Here's what ya do:

1)  Figure out what design you want to use.  I chose a bird on a limb and then created a cupcake image.  I drew out the cupcake, and I traced a font I had printed out from the computer.  Worked like a charm!

2)  You can either draw straight onto the freezer paper or trace onto it. Then using your X-acto, carefully cut out all your pieces.  You'll want to cut out the main shape first, then cut out your smaller pieces.

3)  Use your iron, on the hottest setting for your fabric, and iron down the freezer paper where you want your stencil on the fabric.

4)  Dab your fabric paint and fill in the stencil.  Don't stroke, or over dab, it'll make it streaky or puffy.  Let dry overnight (just to be on the safe side).

5)  When it's completely dry, peel off the freezer paper.  Then heat set it with an iron (by either ironing on it inside out or by putting a thin piece of cloth over your design and then ironing).

6)  Don your newly designed tee, tote, or whatnot.  SWEET.

For a very good freezer paper stencil tutorial, click here.

Christmas Craft: Mosaic Jell-O

I guess this isn't really a craft by definition.  It's more of a recipe.  And a yummy one.  But it looks so much like a mosaic that I'll consider it part of craft week :)

I won't take credit for this by any means, I found it here.  Genius!

MOSAIC JELL-O

You will need:
2 packages of unflavored gelatin
4 (or 5) 3 oz. packages of different flavored/colored Jell-o
1 can of sweetened condensed milk

Here's what ya do:

1)  Prepare all your Jell-o according to the package, only use ONE cup of boiling water, instead of two.

2)  Allow your Jell-o to "chill out" in the fridge for AT LEAST 4 hours.

3)  Pour half a cup of cold water on top of the 2 packs of gelatin in a small bowl.  Allow it to sit for 4 to 5 minutes.  In the meantime, boil 1 cup of water.  When water has boiled, add to the sitting gelatin.  Then pour in your sweetened condensed milk.  Stir until it is all dissolved and more fluid like.  Let cool until room temperature.

4)  Precisely cut your Jell-o into cubes.  Combine all cubes in a glass dish.

5)  Once milk/gelatin mixture has become room temperature, pour over your Jell-o cubes.  Some will float to the top, and that's ok!  Just make sure they're not completely sticking out of the top.

6)  Let sit in the fridge overnight.

7)  Cut into squares.  Or use cookie cutters to cut out neat shapes!

Looks just like a mosaic, huh?  But a delicious, edible one.  Yum!

Christmas Craft: Stained Glass Ornaments

I realized that this week will likely be the last full week I may have available to try out some new crafts for a while, so I've kind of coined it as "Christmas craft week."

I decided to give a craft from Better Homes and Garden a whirl.

STAINED GLASS ORNAMENTS

These were mostly easy, colorful, and you can eat them (if you want)...yeah!!

You'll need:  jolly ranchers, sturdy metal cookie cutters, baking pans, PAM cooking spray, twine/string/ribbon, decorative bling (if desired)

Here's what ya do:

First, unwrap all your jolly ranchers!  And if you're like me, you may want to indulge in one while you work :)  Preheat the oven to 325 degrees and spray your cutters lightly with cooking spray.

Second, place your jolly ranchers one level deep in your cookie cutters on a lined baking pan.  (**take note, I used some plastic cookie cutters...don't know what I was thinking, actually, I wasn't even thinking...however, these two above held up, two others had a different outcome, though...oops**)

Third, bake for 10 minutes (or until melted).  Don't worry if it leaks out of the cookie cutter, it breaks off easily.

Take out and let cool for 4 to 5 minutes.  Then take something pointed (chop stick, skewer, etc.) and add a hole at the top for stringing.

Let cool completely for 30 to 40 minutes.

Hold up to the light and admire.  See, it looks like stained glass...love it!

Fourth, crack the excess off the cookie cutter then carefully cajole your ornament shape out (this can be a little precarious).

Fifth, add your string or ribbon.  I then used left over bling bling from a previous project just to add a little extra somethin' somethin'.

Finally, hang by a window and let the gorgeous light shine through, or hang it on your tree for a festive touch.

P.S.-- if you decide you want to eat these you might want to leave off the bling!

P.P.S.-- don't be ridiculous like me and use plastic cookie cutters in a scorchin' hot oven...duh!!!