Friday, October 31, 2014

This is for the Kids - Coloring Contest

BE SAFE TONIGHT AND TRY NOT TO EAT TOO MUCH CANDY :)





Freebie: Gingerbread Digital Stamp

I know it's Halloween but I wanted to let you know of a Coloring Contest that Mrs D's Craft Cottage is sponsoring.  

This is for children ages 2 to 12. You will need to go to Whimsie Doddles Digital Stamps to download this adorable Gingerbread Man with Mug digi stamp for free, click here to download it.    After you download you will want to open a word doc page to make it fit a full sheet of paper.   The colored size needs to fit a full sheet of paper.

Once the child has colored it mail to  
Dandrea  PO Box 100635, Palm Bay FL 32910-0635 
Be sure to add you Name and email address on the back of the colored page.

The prize you ask... it will be a gingerbread decorating kit for your family to decorate.
The pictures of the finalist will be posted on my web page .www.mrsdscraftcottage.com for the public to decided two winners.

The contest starts November 1, 2014  and ends November 30, 2014
 Winners will be announced December 1, 2014

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Learn How to Make Fall Candy Arrangements


The kids love crafting with me.  This year Marie made her cupcakes for her class.  She was so proud and so is Mama :)  Joey is a great little helper too.

This year I bought small containers of caramel and topped it with an apple then wrapped scarecrow cello around, tied it off with paper pumpkins and ribbon.

Marie topped her cupcakes with candy corn and white chocolate pumpkins.  We colored the white chocolate orange.


I have posted a few classes on the web site www.mrsdcraftcottage.com they are on sale for the month of November.



Wednesday, October 29, 2014

His Kingdom Come Community Blog Hop Coming Saturday



Join in on the fun this Saturday November 1st for the grand opening of His Kingdom Come Community.  Below are the prizes that you can win from participating in the blog hop.

THE BLOG HOP STARTS AT WWW.ADOREHIMCREATIONS.COM
THIS SATURDAY



Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Afghans and Deals :)

I have been sick for a few days.  I am feeling better and made some chicken noodle soup to help me feel better :)

I was thinking of afghans the last few days and decided to put an Etsy Treasurie together since I haven't felt up to crafting.  Here are a few of them go check out the rest  click here

Hand Crocheted Custom Halloween Afghan  Place Your Order Now for October Delivery Keepsake Annual DecorationSALE Candy Corn Afghan/ Halloween Ripple BlanketCrochet Noah's Ark baby blanket customized to baby's favorite animals. Washable and durable, made from 100% acrylic yarn.


If you know someone that makes afghans or any other craft that would like help selling them online whether it be Etsy or their own website I have a special running for the month of November to get them selling on line.  This is a great deal to get someone started!


Saturday, October 25, 2014

Hot Glue Snowflakes



This weekend the 5 Deep Group got together for a weekend of crafting.  We are getting ready for the Advent Study with His Kingdom Come.  Well everyone one else was...hehe  I was kinda fooling around, playing.  

I made hot glue gun snowflakes.  I love glitter and the more that I can do with glitter the better.




 On a teflon sheet I made a design with hot glue.  Added some glitter and you get pretty, pretties.


Make sure that the lines are thick enough on your design and before you pick them up make sure the are total cooled down.


I put my on a journal page.  We were doing a short study on letting God mold us.  So for me it reminded me of building/molding a snowman.

I can't wait to play some more with the hot glue gun :)

Thursday, October 23, 2014

A Visit to the Flower Shop

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Worked on a fall centerpiece for a class I will be teaching at Art More Place in November.  It's always nice visiting with my special friend Ivonne at the Enchanted Florist Shop.  I work there during the holidays and can't wait to get started. :)
 
I started working in a flower shop when I was in my 20's as a clerk and then before I knew it I became a floral designer.  Every state that I have lived in I have found a little flower shop to call home.
 
The colors are a little off in the pic they are orange mini roses with fall colored mums and of course a bow :)

 
 
 

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Got a Crafting Question????

Hey I'd like to know if you have any questions for me that might help you and others to know about crafting that you would like answers to.  email me at justinejd@cfl.rr.com

Please help me serve you! I promise to read every email that comes in.

Last night was the Trust Canvas Class with Adore Him Creations it was a fun night. 

As I sit there watching everyone they are quiet and a little distant.  By the end of class we are crying, hugging, smiling and enjoying everyone's creations.  In just a few hours we learn so much about ourselves and each other.  Best of all we learn where we are in our walk with trusting God.

When we trust God there is peace in your soul that is like no other.  You are filled with joy and happiness.  There is no room for fear. 

I am honored to be a part of this faithart revolution and that God has chosen me to help other woman to know they are not alone and loved.  

You are all welcome to join the Advent Study - Pause, Ponder and Prepare  find out more here  starting November 1 with the launch of the Christian Art Community His Kingdom Come.


Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9).


Justine Dandrea's photo.


















































Monday, October 20, 2014

Keeping It in the Family



I don't know about you but I NEED to be creative if I don't I am unhappy.  There is something about taking an image from my head and seeing it come to life.

It's really crazy the smell of a glue gun this time of year reminds me of the good old days crafting with my Dad.  I enjoyed selling at craft shows with him.  It was time together that we truly enjoyed.  It was cute to see him get excited when I taught him a painting technique.

I wonder if that is why I have been a little emotional the last few days thinking of my Dad.  He has been gone for almost 3yrs.  He was the glue that held my family together and I didn't even realize it.

I'm blessed that I have wonderful memories of him and crafts that he made for the kids and me. 


He came to visit me in the April before he passed and bought this for me for my birthday.


That July I went to visit him in NY I made this cake for him and his wife.

This was the last time I was able to spend time with him.  I am thankful for that. 

Thanks for sharing these special moments with me.  My dad is part of the reason I am the crafter that I am today.  I do this to honor him. :)  I hope to pass it along to my children.  There is something special about sitting around a table with my children while we all work on a craft project. 

Friday, October 17, 2014

Fall Website Special Great Deal


It would be my pleasure to help fellow crafters to set up a website to sell their handmade items.

I could have you up and running in now time.  This is a great deal just for you!

Head over to www.mrsdscraftcottage.com to sign up!!

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Throw Back Thursday - Glass Vase Candy Arrangement


Just by using a few crafting pics and ribbon you can create a cute little candy arrangement.


I just filled the container with candy corn and then stuck the picks in.  You can cut the stems with wire cutters to make different heights.



Joey was ready to dive into some candy :)  he was proud of Mommy's work.

I had the kids make some apple pies from paper plates and tissue paper they had a blast.  Then we displayed our creations proudly.  :)  Happy Fall Ya'll

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Pause, Ponder and Prepare Advent Devotional

I was recently asked to help with a project for the Pause, Ponder, and Prepare Advent Devotional.  Diane and Bernice are getting ready to share with you all.

See my Advent Journal here,  I'm the one that made the simple journal version and can't wait to start the study :)  Your welcome to join!

AHC Composition journal
See more pics of my journal here

I am also going to try and post some crafts to go along with the devotional my thought is to make a different ornament each day to add to my Christmas Tree this year.  If you would like to receive the emails with instructions and ideas of the ornaments that I make you can sign up on my website.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

It's All About The Crafts, About the Craft...

I'm 48 years old and the one thing that has always stayed consistent in my life is the love of crafting.  I tell you if we had computers, youtube, etc... when I was a child I would be a master crafter in a lot of areas :)

The crazy thing is most of my life I was around people that didn't understand the creative side of me, I felt judged and unsupported.  I think most of my life the phrase, "starving artist" always scared me.

Being creative does sometimes drive me nuts, my brain goes in 20 different directions with all the ideas and desires I have to design.

But I tell you there is no greater moment then when someone looks at something I created and it brings a huge genuine smile to their face.  :)  If I can make someone smile and feel all warm and fuzzy inside like I feel when I am creating it the I have done my job.

Using the gifts and talents that God has given me makes my heart shine and is the best feeling in the world.

In the last few years I have realized that it's okay to me.  It's okay to be a crafter and an artist.

I am on a quest to learn new techniques and mediums and guess who is coming on the quest with me......YOU!




 Hugs J :)

Friday, October 10, 2014

Living in One Room Bad or Good?

We are blessed to have a water cooler in our home.  We drink lots of water there is no soda or ice tea in the house.  This week we ran out of water and Joey (my 6 yr old son) asked to get a drink of water I told him to get it from the faucet, he said, "what's a faucet".  Oh my!!  I brought him over to show him and he said I'm not drinking that water.  Talk about spoiled.  Although I have to say FL water is not the best tasting from the faucet at all.

When I was visiting GA we walked through a park that had a log cabin, pictured below.  This was an original settlers cabin moved to the park and restored.  The cabin sits beside a stream.  As I opened the door and pictured a family of 5 living in a one room cabin.  That is all they had.  Everything was done in the one room.  To think how spoiled we are today.

As we hiked along the trail by the stream I kept thinking about how much harder life was way back when.  Their water came from the stream.  Families and communities had to depend on each other to make it through.

I think about how things were made by hand and learning how to craft was pasted down from generation to generation.  I love to learn how things were made....hhhmmm I think a trip to Williamsburg, VA might be needed next summer. :)



 I think I need to have this discussion with my children and do a little craft.  I found this cute
 log cabin craft from DLTK's  site,

log cabin craft


Thursday, October 9, 2014

Turkey Feather are flying :)


 I'm still thinking of fall.  This turkey measures 4 x 3.5 and can be made into a magnet or a pin.



I love when God gives me the vision of crafts and I just let him take the lead.  You just never know what he is going to produce.  Most of my life I have let others lead me and worried about what they thought.  When the only one that truly matters is God and what he thinks about what I am doing.

My Father alone determines my mission no one else can talk me our of it.  He gives me the vision.

I think one of my favorite things to watch are children creating.  Even when the artwork isn't perfect it is something they made with their own imagination.  When I use to go into the classroom to do crafts with my children and they would ask for help I would tell them just do your best.  It would be awesome to see the uniqueness of every project.

Don't ever be afraid to express yourself creatively.  Always use your gifts to help others. :)

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Watercolors and Turkeys

Finally was able to do a little crafting today after a few days of getting sidetracked by life. :)  I love being in my happy place.  I have been inspired lately with watercolors.  I love the way the paint does it's own thing.

I have been wanting to start entering craft challenges and this is my first one.
I used two of Paper Smooches free digital stamps to make this turkey card.  I used watercolor paints for the turkey and sign.   I love the way it came out simple yet cute :)

I look forward to using more of Paper Smooches products.




 Paper Smooches






Monday, October 6, 2014

How to Make 3d Pumpkin Cards


Finished up some 3d pumpkin cards.  I know I should be working on Christmas stuff but when I'm in the season it's hard to not want to work on fall crafts. :)




I cut out pumpkin shapes from card stock 6 different style papers.
Then fold them each in half and glue one of each design together.


 Trim where needed and brush a little brown ink along the sides.
You can cut out a paper stem or I used 5 small strands a jute and hot glued them together.  It looks more like a real stem :)  Glued them to the top


Cut out some vines and a leaf then glue them on with a bow.  You can write directly on the pumpkin or add a tag.