Jars – Creative Juice by Loni

The pieces of the new Thankful Tablescape Simply Created Kit (item 133463) in the Stampin’ Up! Holiday Catalog were designed to decorate a Thanksgiving table, but of course, people get crafty and find new ways to utilize the parts in unique ways, so come along as I share a few of my favorites! Leave a link to other awesome crafts using this kit in the comments.

1. Starting with cards, here’s a pocket card I created from the Tablescape kit following the

Create with Connie & Mary sketch 273:

All I added was a crumb cake envelope (for the pocket), a piece of Early Espresso card stock, a strip of 1-1/4″ Burlap Ribbon (132140) and I punched the circle using the 2-1/2″ circle punch (120906).

2. At SU! convention in July, Sara Douglass demonstrated how to create a Thankful Journal from the Tablescape kit, but my photos weren’t that great, so a quick internet search found another Sarah (Sagert) who had crafted her own…with some nice pictures of her lovely pages 🙂

3. Admittedly, I’m a sucker for anything in a mason jar, so Jessica Lewis’ simply sweet Thankful Jar immediately appealed to me! Can’t you just imagine filling this with reasons to be grateful?

The Birch paper and chocolate chip herringbone paper both come on a roll in the kit and are perfect for wrapping around a vase, jar or candle.

4. Allison Okamitsu (a very talented Canadian demonstrator) created the last two gorgeous home decor projects from the Thankful Tablescape Simply Created Kit. The first is a Thankful Banner and you see more of this beauty by clicking on the picture.

5. I love Allison’s style and her blog is “Nice People Stamp”. Haven’t met her, but it’s a given she’s one NICE person to share her talents! This is also her creation~A frame covered in the Birch-bark paper from the kit. Isn’t the banner adorable? Visit Allison’s tutorial for the frame HERE (or click on photo)

Thanks for checking out my 5 Ways on Fridays collection! Order the Thanksgiving Tablescape Kit from my Stampin’ Store to create some fabulous Fall creations of your own, then post a link to them in the comments so we can be inspired by YOU!
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These are my sweet sisters, Megan and Mindi:

Hard to believe, huh? Yes, we all have the same parents: But while they got the talents and looks (that beautiful dark skin!), I got the…well, I got the…

…okay, I got the great sisters!

They have been life-savers for me throughout my life (my interior designers, fashion consultants, reality-check, manicurists and wedding planners) and while we love each other more than life itself, sometimes we don’t always see eye to eye, which makes me love this quote:

“If you don’t understand how a woman could both love her sister dearly

and want to wring her neck at the same time,

then you were probably an only child.” ~Linda Sunshine

Remind me to tell you about the “Die a Virgin” incident….but I digress.

Last month was Mindi’s birthday and after all her hard work on the wedding, I wanted to do something really special for her. At a scrapbook retreat, my friend Jennifer F. shared an idea for a “Joy Jar” she made for one of her sisters and I ran with it:

That is the jar. Doesn’t it just bring a smile to your face? I like to think of it as a “Jar of Sunshine” Here’s the top:

Mindi doesn’t fully realize the amount of joy she brings into the lives of others, and I wanted her to get a little taste of what a blessing she has been in my life. And occasionally, the world seems a little dark to her and when she struggles against depression, this jar holds a few ideas of ways to let in the light 🙂

Inside the Sunshine Jar are envelopes with an opportunity to discover JOY:

Sometimes they are opportunities to serve, sometimes they are opportunities to play, occasioanally they are chances to grow and sometimes they are just FOR FUN! Once in a while there is a number on the card and it corresponds to a gift wrapped individually in a bag.

Because Mindi’s husband is the manager of a hotel and they travel ALOT, and never do they stay at less than a 4 star hotel…this luggage tag was one of my favorite coordinating gifts

(in case you can’t read it, it says “I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth…but not to Motel 6”)

Joy Jar Recipe:
All from Stampin’ Up! unless indicated by *asterisk. To order supplies to make your own, click HERE.

Stamps: Feel Goods (Spring Catalog pg 21) and Blue Ribbon (Catalog pg 33)
Ink: Tangerine Tango
Paper: Try Summer Smooches Designer Series Paper (item 125409) Card stock: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight
Etc: Paper Doilies (129399), Calypso Coral Baker’s Twine (122976), Punches: 1-3/8″ Circle (119860) and 1-3/4″ Scallop Circle (119854). Simply Scored Tool (122334) to make the rosette on front. Big Shot (113439) and Scallop Envelope Bigz Die (113462). Wide mouth jar and lid. Ribbon.
Optional: Iridescent Ice embossing powder (101930) and heat tool (129053)

Here are some ideas if you’d like to create your own Joy Jar/Jar of Sunshine, here are a few ideas of opportunities to include inside and as coordinating gifts (and BTW, Mindi, these aren’t necessarily in your jar):

Pay for someone’s order behind you at the drive-through restaurant (include $)
Blow Bubbles (wrap a jar of bubbles)
Read a book to a child
Try a new exercise (dvd, gym trial membership or workout clothing)
Take a flower to a friend just because
Crank up the music and DANCE!
Write 20 things to be happy for in a journal (wrap a new journal)
Listen to classical music for half an hour
Make a fruit smoothie in your blender
Take a drive alone. Park somewhere with a view and thank God for your eyes.
Bake cupcakes (wrap a cake mix, cute cupcake wrappers, frosting & sprinkles) and share some with a friend
Go on a picnic
Share your favorite scripture of JOY
Send a card to a friend
Take out the trash for your neighbor
Give them a reason to practice a talent: Do they paint? Wrap a paintbrush. Play an instrument? Give some music! Craft? Give them a Paper Pumpkin* subscription 🙂 *choose me as your demonstrator!
Plan a party for friends (Murder Mystery Dinner? Minute to Win It?)
Pop Pocorn and watch a movie (wrap popcorn)
Build a fort
Forgive someone
Clean out your purse
Get a pedicure (gift certificate or nail polish)