What a great week. The blog has been packed full of decoration ideas and we love you popping by. Thanks to the Design Team who have impressed us once again with their skill.

We’ve been busy getting the shop ready for the BIG move. We open in a week tomorrow. So it’s long days and late nights at the moment (thus the late blog and I'm sure a few spelling errors!)

Thanks to those of you who sent through decoration ideas. We know it’s getting busy at this time of the year – but we appreciate seeing your projects too! The entries have been loaded up on the Competition Gallery and the winner for this week is…Xanthe! Well done and we'll send your package of Little Yellow Bicycle Papers out to you this week.

The new theme for this week is Home Decoration. Basically anything you would use to decorate your home. It could be along the lines of a Christmas Decoration (remember those fun crepe paper decorations that you’d string along the curtains?!) or anything your heart desires. It might even be your Christmas Tree that you have put up this weekend… Surprise us and go in the draw to win the gorgeous paper collection from The Girl’s Papiere – Tinsel and Twigs. Please send us the entries by Sunday night 6pm (technically 6pm but it is the night before the new shop opens and I have a funny feeling I won’t be home by 6pm!!!). How about I do that blog on Monday night (and give you an extra day!)

The shop is looking grand. Here’s a sneaky peek of the progress. I’d love to show you the picture of the foyer – but the pink couches are there and I don’t want to ruin the surprise!

Now is the time to reveal Betsy’s Decorations. I was supposed to do it on Wednesday – but it appears that a couple of the other designers blogged that day – so you’ve had to wait til now. We oohhhed and aahhhhed when Betsy brought these into the shop! Enjoy…

Heart Baubles. These are cute and super easy. Betsy used a heart stamp and embossed it 4 times on green and four times on red and then cut around them. She folded them in half and attached one half to one heart and the other half to another. Before she closed it off she put some gold string down the middle and a lovely bead at the end. They are really pretty.

Here Betsy has made use of her Octagon Spellbinders (on special at the moment at $99 for a set of 4!). She’s cut 3 of them out and had folded them in an accordion fold then repeated the same with a smaller one. Put a brad through the middle and attach it onto 2 Scallop Circles (sandwiching some ribbon in between. Beautiful!

This stunning little number has been created by using the Fleur de Lis Spellbinder (my fav). From memory I think Betsy has cut 2 of the large shape to create the white larger piece and 2 of the smaller die for the gold section in the middle. Add a brad, some rhinestones and then attach to an old ribbon reel that still has some ribbon on it! Repeat for the back including some ribbon for hanging. I love it!!

This cute box is a Stampin’ Up Favourite and it holds a hanging decoration. Simply make some cones and stick them to a back circular piece. Add a scallop circle centre and a brad. Okay – so you might want the template. I suspect you’ll find it on any Stampin’ Up website!

Finally the Goody Box. This is the coolest box I’ve seen in ages. I don’t actually think it’s a Tree Decoration – but we’re going to show it off anyway! Betsy is going to be running this as a Workshop as part of our Opening Event on the 22th Dec. It’s a 10am – 10pm event. Betsy’s workshop is in the morning, Crafting in the arvo and then Scrap and Sing at night. That will be fun as we provide you with some great entertainment. Only $20 and that includes the pizza dinner and Betsy’s Workshop.To book call the shop on (03) 688 8566 or email at artfullcrafts@gmail.com or book online www.artfullcrafts.co.nz

Right it’s time to head off to bed (before midnight – yay!) and we’ll catch you here tomorrow to see what’s been created.

SPECIALS reminder: Selected Spellbinders $39.99 (singles) and $99.99 (sets of 4). Cricuts on Special including the Cake Cricut. Lots of items in the Clearance Bin. Head to the website to check it out…

The Christmas Message continues...

We have had the passages of Scripture where Mary and Joseph have both been told by an angel that she will give birth to a son who will be the Messiah. Next Mary goes to visit her cousin Elizabeth who is pregnant with a son – called John the Baptist.

Luke 1: 39 – 56

Mary Visits Elizabeth

³⁹ At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, ⁴⁰ where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. ⁴² In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! ⁴³ But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”

Mary’s Song

⁴⁶ And Mary said:

“My soul glorifies the Lord
⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
⁴⁸ for he has been mindful
of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
⁴⁹ for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
⁵⁰ His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
⁵¹ He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
⁵² He has brought down rulers from their thrones
but has lifted up the humble.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel,
remembering to be merciful
⁵⁵ to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors.”

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.