Felt flowers--a quick tutorial

Here is all the supplies you'll need:
Felt (whatever color you want the flowers to be)
Scissors
Various circles items (to trace)
Marker
Hot glue gun

Trace circles on the felt

Cut felt

You will then cut the felt circles into spirals. Varying the width of the will give the flowers different levels.

         

Next, start rolling the felt from then end that you started cutting.

When you get towards the end you'll put a little hot glue on the last part.

And then tuck the end on the bottom with more hot glue. 

And voila.

Here's a video to help a little too...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xybyDQ3RsSQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player


Please feel free to ask questions of I didn't make anything clear.
Happy crafting everyone!!


~A

Thankfulness.

With all the people on Facebook taking the days of November for writing what they're thankful for, I decided to to the same. Blog-style.
Each day I'm going to add to a list and then post the blog on the last day of November.
What are you thankful for?

Amazed.

The amazement I'm speaking of above is not a good amazed.
I guess flabbergasted is more the word.

See what I'm talking about...click here...and read the 4th major listed.

I have no problems with a woman being a homemaker (personally not for me) or a stay-at-home mother....but really? This is pretty ridiclous.

That's just my opinion. Take it for what it's worth.

I was a junior in high school.

I was walking out of my 1st block Pre-Cal class and noticed a couple of teachers crowding around in the hall.
I didn't have time to stop to find out what was going on because I was going to be late to my 2nd block Health class.
September 11th, 2001.
As I got to my Health class and found out what was happening, I begged the teacher to go to the band room to call my mother.
My aunt was working at the Pentagon. We had family that had already heard from her, she was on the opposite of the building when the plane hit.

I didn't want to post this yesterday. I actually debated on posting it at all.
Tragedies happen in our lives and we'll never forget where we were or what we were doing.

I pray for the families of the people that were effected by this tragedy. Not just today, but every time I think about what happened.
We will truly never forget, but let us not be so focused on it that we miss what's going on around us.
There's nothing we can do about the people that died, but we can minister to the people that are around us every day.
Regardless of who they are...if they lost family on 9/11/01 or had no relation to anyone involved.
Let's not be so distracted that we can't see the people hurting around us.

They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:10-11

Inspired

I've been inspired. My friend Kendra has started a new job...she gets paid to blog. But not only that, she gets to go to Goodwill, buy stuff, flip it and GET PAID TO BLOG about it. Talk about an awesome job.

Needless to say that I've been making a lot of stops at Goodwill after reading her blogs (which I'm pretty sure is the purpose, lol).

Below is a plain, ordinary wicker tray. Usually I would've just walked right by this item because I didn't know what to do with it.

First, a coat (or two) of primer.

Next, the aqua. I don't think I would've ever picked this color, but I was trying to be bold.

There's a possibility that I had as much fun staging this picture as the project itself. But all that in just one day...crazy. And definitely a lot of fun.

It was a ridiculously easy project. Not to mention a perfect excuse to be crafty. Look for much more craftiness coming from this girl a lot more often.

(Click here to see the blog that inspired this craft project)

Happy crafting!

~A

Blogging.

I've said it before, but I am trying to blog more often.
I've also said before that I'm crazy.
I've started a tumblr account because it's a lot easier for me to blog from my phone with the app.
Yes, I will sill blog on blogger from time-to-time...but for now, follow me on tumbler to hear my rants more often.
Hope the rest of your summer is fantastic! =)
~AMC

So much change.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
 ¹ There is a time for everything,
   and a season for every activity under the heavens:
 ² a time to be born and a time to die,
   a time to plant and a time to uproot,
 ³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
   a time to tear down and a time to build,
 ⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
   a time to mourn and a time to dance,
 ⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
   a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
 ⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
   a time to keep and a time to throw away,
 ⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
   a time to be silent and a time to speak,
 ⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
   a time for war and a time for peace



I have blogged about this verse more times than I can remember.
Since I have been constantly reminded about this verse for the past 4 years, you would think that I would have no issue with change.
Change, it's true, is uncomfortable, but growing up in a military family, you would think that I would have come more accustomed to it.
Wrong-o.
I'm more open to change, I think, because of my background, but I still get thrown for a loop each time.
There are so many major changes happening in my life this year. I have several friends getting married this year: 2 weddings have already happened and there are at least 5 to come, the latest in October. Friends having babies. And that is all just in the personal circuit.
At work, as of July 1, I will be a one-woman office. The last time that happened, the girl only lasted 2 months...pray for me. Not only that, but we have new people coming in the next few weeks and some people leaving after 20 years. I know that "...in all things God works for the good of those how love him who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) But, again, this doesn't make it easier.
With those people leaving at work comes added responsibility for me. Not only will I be basically doing the work of 2-3 people, but I will be the new adviser for BCM (Baptist Collegiate Ministries) on campus.
I think I'm more nervous about that than anything else. I'm not a good public speaker...I've never claimed to be, but I'm praying that God knows what He's doing (and I have not question that He does, I just wish I knew what it was).
Wow, that's a lot to lay on after not blogging for a little over a month, but I'm sure I will be doing this way more often since I will have so much more time on my hands (haha). And as I seek advice from whoever still reads this thing.
That being said, I really should get back to work.
Thank you for those still reading, I apologize for complaining so much...that's (yet) another thing I'm still working on. Thank you for being patient with me.
I pray the Lord blesses each of you in a special and powerful way.

In Him.....
~A

Ageing? Aging?

It's been a common topic lately between various friends and myself of how many things are changing.

I was recently talking to my old youth pastor and his family...their eldest daughter, who was born on my 16th birthday, will be 10. Oh, the double-digits are so hard to believe. Their youngest will be 6 and they have another little one on the way.

My cousin, who I remember when my aunt was pregnant with him, who I held as a baby and fed him a bottle, told me in April on my trip to Ohio that he got his learner's permit....

When did all this happen? When did these little kids start growing up? When did I start getting old?

I know, I know, you're only as old as you feel, right?

I don't want to be cliche, but....it seems like just yesterday that Jack was born. Lianna and Talia too. I think part of the reason it's so weird is because I remember a time before them. A friend helped me realize that.

People get older. People get their learner's permits. They graduate high school. And college. Get married, have children. I know it's all a part of life.


"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Embrace Beauty. Love God. Live Life to the Fullest...

Today I am reminded of a quote from Pastor Kyle Lake who was killed in a freak baptism accident in 2005.


"Live. And Live Well. 
BREATHE. Breathe in and Breathe deeply.
Be PRESENT. Do not be past. Do not be future. Be now. 
On a crystal clear, breezy 70 degree day, roll down the windows and FEEL the wind against your skin. Feel the warmth of the sun. 
If you run, then allow those first few breaths on a cool Autumn day to FREEZE your lungs and do not just be alarmed, be ALIVE. 
Get knee-deep in a novel and LOSE track of time. If you bike, pedal HARD and if you crash then crash well.
Feel the SATISFACTION of a job well done a paper well-written, a project thoroughly completed, a play well-performed. 
If you must wipe the snot from your 3-year old's nose, don't be disgusted if the Kleenex didn't catch it all because soon he'll be wiping his own.
If you've recently experienced loss, then GRIEVE. And Grieve well.
At the table with friends and family, LAUGH. 
If you're eating and laughing at the same time, then might as well laugh until you puke.
And if you eat, then SMELL. The aromas are not impediments to your day. Steak on the grill, coffee beans freshly ground, cookies in the oven. 
And TASTE. Taste every ounce of flavor. Taste every ounce of friendship. Taste every ounce of Life. 
Because-it-is-most-definitely-a-Gift"

Take some time today and this week to enjoy God's creation.  Even on a day like today when it's raining.

Have a great week! =)

~A

New Year's Resolution(s).

I don't normally have a New Year's Resolution.  Simply because I think they are kind of lame, to be completely honest.  I don't think that they are taken seriously because people (myself included) have already set in their minds that they will break them.

Instead, here are my goals for 2011:
Love harder. Live fuller. Laugh louder. Be nicer. Be intentional. Get reconnected.
Basically, be the best me.

I've become a little too complacent. I've been a bit lazy. I'm not as intentional as I once was. I don't feel like I show people how much I love and appreciate them as I used to.

I don't like that I've become this way and I wish I would have admitted it earlier to myself and not been in denial.

I pray that each of you have a blessed New Year. May the Lord continue to bless & keep you. =)

~A

An update 3 months in the making.

I realized today that haven't posted in about 3 months. So for all you readers out there--here's an update on the life of AMC:


October was a pretty great month.  It started out with the wedding of my childhood best friend to one of my classmates from 3rd-10th grades in GA. Such a beautiful wedding and I also got to spend time with my brother and his girlfriend. The 30th was my 25th birthday, so I tried to celebrate all month long (of course). The weekend started with a Friday night Halloween party (I was Ursula from The Little Mermaid). Saturday, I went to Charleston with my best friend and spent the day.  We walked around all day, stopped at a sport's bar to watch my GAMECOCKS beat Tennessee and went on a ghost tour (which was pretty lame, sadly). Sunday was Halloween and I went with my church's youth group to a corn maze, which was pretty hilarious.  The van I was in sang "Happy Birthday" to me on the way....which reminded me why I love them so much =). The month ended with a Halloween party (I was a flamingo this time because the Ursula costume was just a bit much) at one of my friend's house that I hadn't spent time with in a very long time.  Such a perfect month October was.


November was slightly less eventful, but a big new chapter started half way through. Something I didn't mention about October was that I interviewed for a job (within the university [[side note: if I've never mentioned it before I was an Admissions Counselor]] ). Basically an office switch and a pay increase.  On November 4th I found out that I got the job...the kicker? I was to start the new job on the 15th of that same month. A few things to note about my (at the time) current job.  I had a laptop that was work provided, as well as a cell phone.  I hadn't paid a cell phone bill in 3 1/2 years. As if that weren't enough to worry about, I had to also not share this information until I was "officially" offered the job. Which didn't happen until the 10th. My (then) boss knew about it, but I couldn't share it with the others in my office or anywhere else on campus. It was a rough week & a half.  So when I finally got to tell everyone, it was such a relief, but the I had to finish tying up some loose ends and pack everything up. I still had a few commitments the week of the 15th that I finished out with the Admissions Office, so it was a crazy and VERY tiring week. That Saturday (11/20) was the one year anniversary of my Grandfather's death; I still miss him a lot and think of him all the time. The next week was Thanksgiving, which I spent with some close friend and their HUGE family (when I say HUGE, that's no exaggeration...there were about 60+ people there and that was a DECREASE from the previous year when there was 125+).


That brings us to December...oh December. Although not much has occured, it's been a good month so far. I will be leaving on Thursday to visit my parents in OH & going to IL to see family for the Christmas holiday season. I'm looking forward to some crazy fun times; as is normal when my family is involved. I know that I have a hockey game to look forward to next Monday....a legit NHL team (Go Columbus Blue Jackets!!). I will be continuing my preparation after work with some more packing and a load or two of laundry. 


Tomorrow is the last day of work for the year and not a moment to soon. I need a break from this crazy records stuff.
At 13 minutes until the work day is over, I finish this blog....listing to episodes of LOST in the background. 
Happy Tuesday afternoon to everyone. Merry Christmas to you and yours & a Happy New Year (just in case it takes me 3 months to post again).


Until next time....
~A