Step One- Pick out your scrapbook paper and corresponding cardstock. The scrapbook paper will act as your cover and the cardstock will act as the base for the card. Choose colors that coordinate, and be wary of choosing dark colors for your cardstock, as the writing inside the card won't show up as well.

Step Two- Make the base. Today, I made a smaller card, so I took my cardstock and loosely folded it as shown. Then I cut along the fold. This smaller piece of cardstock I then folded in half to form the card. But because these scissors are lame and can't cut, I went back and trimmed the ragged edges of my card and found some new scissors.


Step Three- Cut the scrapbook paper. To do this, I trace the outline of the folded card onto the back of my scrapbook paper. This way I get the exact size of the front of my card. I then cut it out with scissors. (But because the only scissors I found to replace the lame ones were tiny, I decided to brave the dulled scissors again. Mistake.)

Step Four- Pause and eat some fruit. Because it tastes good and is also good for you. Plus, the orange/blue/pink combo looks really nice. Everybody needs pretty snacks, because making pretty cards is such hard work! (Not really. Unless you have lame scissors.)


Step Five- Glue the scrapbook paper on the card base. I use rubber cement here because it won't show through the paper. And because I craft on a regular basis, my mother bought the giant tub of rubber cement that doesn't come with its own brush, so I had to dig for an old paint brush. Anyway, smear some rubber cement on there, but don't put too much or it will show through the paper. Then place the cut scrapbook paper on the card and make sure to center it.


Step Six- Choose another solid paper (or two) to act as a backdrop for your cover message. However much I love the scrapbook paper, writing doesn't show up very well on it, so I usually glue a small piece of cardstock to write a short note on the front. You don't have to put a note, but I think that it gives the card a sweet look.

I chose this lovely blue and yellow to go with a colorful theme. Cut out a piece of the paper large enough to write the words, but not too big so that it takes up most of the card. Here is where I sometimes like to get out my fancy scissors and cut away!


Step Seven- Glue your message backdrop on the card and write the message. Use your creativity here, and place the note wherever you like! And write something unique, if you want, as well (or just put "happy birthday" like I did).


Step Eight- Now we bring out the embellishments! This is my favorite step, because you can do almost anything here! I like to go around my house and hunt for something that I can stick on a card, fake flowers, lace, old buttons, foil, anything. Using these interesting materials gives my card a unique flair to it! I gathered up a few different embellishments to choose from pictured below.


And I decided upon these adorable buttons! I have a thing for buttons. Big buttons, little buttons, vintage buttons.

When I glue on a larger object, I like to ditch the rubber cement and use regular glue. But for ribbon and thin objects, stick with the rubber cement.


I hope you enjoyed my tutorial on card making! God created us with the ability to create, so let's explore this ability, knowing that it comes from Him!

Do you make your own cards? What have you found useful? Do you want to start card making? Comment below any thoughts or questions on card making! And stay tuned for the third installment of this series: a party lifestyle: it's not what you think!

Princess Hannah

So, this post interrupts my little series, but I didn't forget about it! The next instalment, card making, only takes more time to craft than I had this week. But I had to share with you something on my heart as I journey towards a grace-filled life.

What's something you connect with grace? For me, I connect beauty, rest, and joy with grace. But sometimes I let the world define these things for me instead of letting God show me the truth, like He did this week.

For I discovered joy in a new way.

Everyone always says that joy and happiness don't equal the same thing, and I always agree with them. But I don't always understand them, because joy and happiness seemed to always intersect in my life. What could they mean by saying that joy comes from something other that happiness? Obviously the good Sunday School answer is Jesus, but saying that is very different from living it out. Very different.

What does joy look like in everyday, driving-home-from-ballet life?

It means believing in Jesus and letting those truths seep into your heart and overflow into your smiles. It means knowing that this life isn't about you, but it's all about the One who loves you. He loves you!

This lovely artwork comes from a beautiful site and woman. Please check her out here!

You see, on my way home Wednesday night, I talked to God. I just stated who I believed God was and how I would respond to that belief. The Piano Guys built momentum in the background, and the lights changed from red to green, green to red, but I kept resting in God's character. And then guess what? Joy filled my heart! I couldn't help but smile! I couldn't help but laugh! God is enough! He is here, and He loves me! He is Savior and Lord! Oh, what joy!

I found joy, but not when I tried really hard to feel joyful or when I concentrated on all the things that I like. No, I found joy when I forgot about me for a moment and fixed my eyes on Jesus, believing Him and responding to Him.

So say these truths. Let them sink into your soul. Yell them out if you can, but whatever you do, believe them, and then you too can find joy in Jesus!

I believe that Jesus is God, therefore I will worship Him.

I believe that Jesus is Lord, therefore I will serve Him.

I believe that Jesus is Savior, therefore I will rest in Him.

I believe that Jesus is Sovereign, therefore I will trust in Him,

I believe that Jesus is Grace, therefore I will live in Him.

I believe that Jesus is Enough, therefore I will be in Him.

I believe that Jesus is Missional, therefore I will follow Him.

I believe that Jesus is True, therefore I will stand on Him.

I believe that Jesus is Real, therefore I will proclaim Him.

I believe that Jesus is Provider, therefore I will depend on Him.

I believe that Jesus is Joy, therefore I will rejoice in Him.

I believe that Jesus is Perfect, therefore I will be perfectly His.

I believe that Jesus is Here, therefore I will talk to Him.

I believe that Jesus is Love, therefore I will love Him.

So choose joy today, but know, that really, choosing joy means choosing Jesus.

What brings you joy? What other truths of Jesus make you smile? Please comment below your thoughts of joy!

Princess Hannah

God created me to create. If I don't do something creative in a few days, then I feel ready to yell out in frustration over the rhythmic nothingness of life! But how does creativity fit into a busy schedule of God, school, ballet, family, and church? Well, I want to share with you three ways that I found to bring creativity into a regular part of my life, even the busiest of days.

Part One- Journaling

Part Two- Card Making

Part Three- Party Living

Are you ready? For I feel so excited to assist you on your journey to more creativity!

Journaling.


To me, journaling is just writing. Every person will journal differently, and that's what makes it beautiful! I always journal at the end of the day, and I just briefly write what I did that day and write my feeling, ideas, prayers, and joys. As the days go by, the pages fill up, and it makes a smile spread across my face to see me write about the frustrating days and wonderful days, the exciting days, and the completely normal days.

But whenever I talk about journaling, people usually respond one of two ways (or both of two ways):

One, they don't think that they have time.

And two, they don't think they have anything to write about.

I think not. My life testifies that both of these excuses don't have to keep anyone from journaling. Because the truth says that you have more time than you think and more words than you imagine, and once you start writing them down, you may find that you can't stop.

Let's talk about the first response first. No one has time to journal every day, right? Wrong. But what can prove difficult is developing a habit of journaling. Because we probably won't even remember to journal, and when we do, we always remember in the middle of going to the store or doing schoolwork or something else busy and important. But I have a solution for you, and it comes in two tips:

One: pick a certain time that you can journal during every day. For me, I like to journal in the evenings so that I reflect on my day. This really relaxes me and somehow finalizes the day, and now, I can't go to bed without writing out my thoughts, just like I must brush my teeth and put on pjs (okay, so maybe I sleep in whatever I have on at the end of the day, but you get the point). But you may prefer to journal in the morning or afternoon. Whatever works for you. But pick a time, because that will make it easier to remember your new habit.

Two: Try using a planner first. I started using a planner like this one or this one, and I found that the daily sections motivated me to write every day. Plus, you only can write a few lines every day, so this provides a low-intimidation way to start journaling. When you feel ready to put on your big girl pants, upgrade to a lined journal (like these: here and here and here), but the planner starts you off nice and easy.


Next, you might think that you have nothing interesting to write. But I seriously doubt that. Serious doubt going on right here. Because once you have a pen and paper, nothing can go wrong. Your entries can be the boringest entries in the world, but they will still hold value, because you wrote them. And the more you write, the easier journaling will become.

I admit it, my journal entries can get pretty boring. I just write about my regular days in regular ways, but I still write it. I write a picture of my day, thoughts, prayers, and dreams. Sometimes they are uninteresting, but that's okay. Because one day I will look back on these journals and know what teenager me thought and acted like, on normal days and big days. Both kinds of days are important, so both kinds of journal entries are important.

Following are some ideas to jump-start your journaling:

*Write about your day. Just what you did. Did you like it? Did it bore you? Did you see an Elvis impersonator? Did the sellers at the mall creep you out? Did the birds sing to wake you up? Did the wind play with you skirt? You get the idea.

*Write a prayer to God. These are some of my favorite journal moments, and what starts as a simple recount of my day ends up being a prayer more times than not.

*Write things that you are thankful for. I like to do this during November, because, you know, November is all-things-thankful month, but this draws out focus to the blessings every day.

*Make lists. What's your favorite movie, book, and song? Little things, big things, everything!

*Draw. All you artsy people out there, draw it out!

*Write about here and now. What do you dream? What do you see? What do you fear? What do you smell? Write the details and the concepts and everything in between.

These are only a few journaling tips, and I wouldn't consider myself an expert at all, but I hope that I've inspired you to think about journaling if you haven't already. If you already journal, then I hope I've inspired you to keep going. I've definitely inspired myself to use my creativity more when journaling! Stay tuned for part two: making cards! And comment below what you've discovered about journaling!

Princess Hannah

Beauty is everywhere. But we often miss it.

Today I went running outside in the fairly nice weather (cool enough for me to think about taking a walk yet hot enough for me to look like a tomato afterwards). On the way, I noticed the trees and listened to the birds (when Capital Kings didn't blast me forward). And I thought: God created this beauty.

The buds bursting forth.

So, I got this blog a while back, but I didn't know if I would have time to write in it. But I have so many things to say, that I'm just going to make time! Here is goes.

The first real post.

Right now.




This is exciting!

So, as this blog has no recurring trends and such, I will start one:

Five Fantabulous Favorites: 

And yes, to my surprize, fantabulous is an actual word. Defined by the unscholarly (but hilarious) Urban Dictionary, comes this definition:

Fantabulous