Monthly Archives: February 2012

Beautiful Seashell

24 Friday Feb 2012

Posted by in Inspirational, nature

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I keep this little seashell by my computer and use it to hold things temporarily. I’m usually weary by the end of the day so I drop my earrings here. If I find a bead that got away, it gets dropped in the shell too. Eventually I empty the shell and start over. I also empty the shell just when I want to see the words.

Seashell holding earrings and beads

Beach days only come once a year or less so I was very sad the day started out difficult. Beach days are supposed to be perfect. As I walked on the beach last summer, I glanced down and picked up a pretty shell. I turned it over and saw these words.

“I’m watching over you.”

I stopped walking instantly and looked around.
Who could have dropped the shell? None of the few groups on the beach seemed likely. And of all the people walking on the beach, why didn’t any of them pick it up before me? I stared at the shell. I had trouble believing the message was for me. Slowly, I let go of doubt and fear and accepted it.

God was watching over me.

He knew my difficult morning. He knew my struggles. He understood my fears and doubts. And he wanted me to know, when I least expected it, that he was watching over me. He was watching over me when I was far down the beach. He was watching over me as I reached down to pick up the shell. He was watching over me as I struggled to believe that He was there.

That day I picked up the shell on the beach, I accepted the words. But now, I am placing the shell back on the “beach”. Like a million grains of sand, a million blogs glisten on Internet Beach. And out of all the blogs on the internet, you ended up here at All Sparkled Up. This photo is for you. These words are for you. It is not by chance you are here. God wants you to know that he is watching over you. When you’re distracted and busy, when you’re exhausted and in pain, when you’re hurt and lonely, God is watching over you.

I'm watching over you.

Valentine Candy Bouquet

21 Tuesday Feb 2012

Posted by in candy, crafts, food, party, projects, tutorial, Valentine's Day

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We are still nibbling at the Valentine Candy Bouquet. It is delicious but very, very sweet. At this rate, it may hang on till Easter! Oh my! I do love the sparkling look of it though.

Valentine Candy Bouquet – 2012

Granddaughter Chloe nibbles a cake pop from the Valentine Candy Bouquet.

For directions on making the bouquet, continue reading.
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Gingerbread Valentine – Gold & Yellow

20 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by in baking, food, recipe

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I live 500 miles away from my hometown and miss my dear sister, Donna. Boo hoo. I was delighted to find a teacup in her favorite shade of yellow at the local thrift store last week. So of course I had to decorate some Gingerbread cookies in yellow and gold to go with the teacup. The water for tea is in the kettle. All that is missing is my sister. The next time she visits, she will drink from this cup.

To my sister, Donna: a pale yellow teacup and Gingerbread await you!

Ok, I’ll be honest, I almost ate my sister’s gingerbread! But I stopped in time to wrap it up well in plastic wrap and then foil and then freeze it. It will last well that way at least 6 months. In the meantime, I’ll eat one of the pink decorated hearts.

Click for recipe.
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What was I thinking when I made this Valentine Centerpiece?

16 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by in crafts, projects

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Look how lovely it is! The candle inside casts a warm glow over the sparkling pink and red beads at the bottom of the large flower vase.
Bead necklaces were placed in the bottom and then delicious Hershey Kisses were scattered around in the beads. Then a second vase was placed in the center and a candle was lit. So lovely!

Valentine's Day centerpiece


But now… how do I get to the Hershey Kisses?

Alas, I hear the Hershey Kiss calling but can't reach it!


Oh the torture.

A Welded Valentine!

15 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by in projects, Valentine's Day

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On Valentine’s Day, my 18 year old surprised me with a Valentine he made. He attends Welding School, where he is learning to weld. I can’t imagine what the other men thought of his project, which makes the Valentine all the more precious to me. Now that is LOVE. I will keep this Valentine forever! Well, made of heavy steel, it will probably last forever too.

A Welded Valentine my son made for me

Cascade Heart Wreath – In the Garden

13 Monday Feb 2012

Posted by in crafts, projects, tutorial, Valentine's Day, wreath

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I’m quite happy to finally finish my Cascade Heart Wreath, Garden theme. This is the first of four Cascade Heart Wreaths I’m making, all completely different in color and style. But they all start with a Styrofoam frame forming the top of the heart and a cascade of hanging trim forming the lower part of the heart. I have been wanting a heart shaped wreath for some time now but wanted a more organic, flowing design. Making a heart with a cascade bottom was the perfect solution. An unexpected bonus: when the cascade is made of lighter material, it flutters with air movement. Having that movement is soothing to me, like a gentle spring breeze catching leaves.

This wreath reminds me of the kind of garden you would discover at the edge of property, not always tended, sometimes forgotten, a little bit wild but still beautiful. Pockets of little stones are scattered around the mossy knoll and the picket fence is a perfect resting spot for a baby bird. I adore swings and decided this garden needed a secret swing, hidden in the ivy.

Cascade Heart Wreath - Garden theme, with ivy vines hanging down

Cascade Heart Wreath - The flowers at the end of some vines help define the heart shape

Cascade Heart Wreath - A baby bird perches on the picket fence.

Cascade Heart Wreath - The wreath is embellished with moss, stones, ferns, flowers and tiny clear, glass beads, like dew.

Cascade Heart Wreath - A tiny butterfly perches on the rope of a secret swing hanging amidst the vines.

To see the tutorial for making a Cascade Heart Wreath, click for more.

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Craft Fail – Butterfly Wing

11 Saturday Feb 2012

Posted by in Craft Fail, crafts, nature, projects

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It didn’t work! So disappointing! About three years ago I found a butterfly wing in the driveway. I couldn’t bear to let it go so I pinned it to my bulletin board. For the past three years, it has gently fluttered on my bulletin board every time the furnace or air conditioner kicked on.

I needed a little butterfly for the project I’m working on and thought it would be sweet to cut the butterfly wing up to make a smaller butterfly. The first “alas!” was trying to draw cutting marks on the wing using a permanent marker. The marker bled rapidly into the wing, ruining the beautiful yellow. The second “Alas!” was when the butterfly wing shattered when I pressed an x-acto knife on it. I tried to cut the wing using sharp manicure scissors and that fared better but the wing is beyond use and the beauty that I have enjoyed for three years is gone.

Craft Fail - Cutting a butterfly wing did not work


What I learned:
1. Do not try to mark a butterfly wing with anything, just cut freehand.
2. Use sharp manicure or embroidery scissors to cut butterfly wings.
3. If the wing is really beautiful, don’t do anything at all to it. Just pin it to a bulletin board and enjoy it, especially if it flutters in the breeze when you walk by.

Craft Fail! Corks and Chains

07 Tuesday Feb 2012

Posted by in Craft Fail, jewelry making

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Some of my short lengths of jewelry chain were getting tangled up in the box so I decided to wrap them around something. Great use for the wine corks, I thought. I drilled one hole through the middle of the cork and then another hole from the top center to the side of the cork.
I dropped an inch of chain through the center hole and then secured it by wrapping chain around the cork. Then I put the remaining end of chain up through the side hole and out the top of the cork.
Looks great!
But then when you lift the cork, the chain falls right off the bottom of the cork! Ha ha!
Back to the drawing board on this design.

Craft Fail - Jewelry Chain keeper. The chain falls right off the bottom!

Brave Heart <3

01 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by in crafts, Gilded Girls, Inspirational, Valentine's Day

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Scripture says that we are all one body. Jesus prayed that we would all be one. Did you ever wonder what part of the body you are?
–Bone cells are very rigid. They are supposed to be that way. They don’t like change. But they have to be healthy with a little flex or they will become brittle and break.
–Nerve cells are super sensitive. They respond instantly and impulsively. They pass on messages without even thinking.
–Blood cells travel. They don’t stay in one place. They are very social. They pick up nutrients and components from some parts of the body and pass on nourishment to other parts. They are in constant communication as they travel.
–Heart cells go through repetitive motion, day and night. They don’t move around and they work incredibly hard.
What part of the body are you? What does an eyelash do? What does a toenail cell do? What does a skin cell do? What does a brain cell do?

I’ve wondered over the years what part of the body I am. Sometimes I think I know and then that changes and I’m not sure. But this I do know: I was made to meditate and be creative and make things with my hands.

I have friends who think arts and crafts are simply trivial stuff to do when you have spare time from your “real life” occupations. They think craft materials are a waste of money. But what if…consider carefully… what if being creative and making things with your hands WAS what you were created to do from the day you were formed? And if you stopped functioning in the capacity God planned when he made you, it would be a loss to humanity?

…pausing to reflect on this…

This was made with my hands.

Heart Box - materials and directions from Gilded Girls Stash Society


The beautiful design is by Alisa Noble using materials from Gilded Girls Stash Society.

For too many years, I set aside making things because it wasn’t considered valuable in my social circle. It wasn’t considered an asset to society. It was thought to be frivolous and unworthy and wasteful. But it was God who made me creative from the day I was formed and being creative fulfills his design for my life. When I live fully the way I was made, life is amazing and good and there is no darkness there.

Please be encouraged, dear creative reader, that what you do with your hands has enormous value to God. What you feel with your heart is valuable to humanity. What you say with your mouth is enlightening to society. Rejoice and be brave, don’t hold back.
I can’t remember where this is in the Bible but these words have encouraged me to be brave and pursue the creative life God planned for me. And this is my prayer for you:
- – - Be strong and of good courage, fear not nor be afraid of them, for the Lord your God, he it is that goes with you, he will not fail you nor forsake you. – - –