"Remember this Moment" DIY Mixed Media Layout with Scraps of Elegance Petals Kit

I enjoy the artistic outlet that scrapbooking provides, but it's also all about capturing special memories. Our sweet daughter-in-law's grandfather recently passed away. This is one of her favorite photos of them together. They both look so happy waving at the camera. I gave this to Rachel for her birthday this week and she was so happy to receive it. She would like to display it in their home, so I'll be framing it for her. 

The gorgeous Kaisercraft papers with the memories sentiments couldn't be more perfect for this sweet page!

FTC Disclosure: I am currently working as a freelance designer for Scraps of Elegance. While I am compensated in product, I maintain the freedom as an independent designer to say what I truly think of these products and will not recommend something that I don’t personally use and enjoy.

I hope you enjoy learning from my creative process in this

DIY Process Video:

Please subscribe to my channel HERE.

Here's the gorgeous "Petals" October Kit:

Also using

Mixed Media/Creativity Add On

Elements Add On

Floral Add On

Color Add On

Scraps of Elegance Links:

Store: http://www.scrapsofdarkness.com/

Blog: http://scrapsofdarkness.blogspot.com/

Online Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/scrapsofdarkness/

Close-Ups

Product List

Main Kit
KaisercraftCottage Rose Collection:  Welcome
KaisercraftCottage Rose Collection:  Framed
KaisercraftCottage Rose Collection:  Weatherboards
Prima: Savanna Flowers
Blue Fern Studios: Rose Medley laser-cut chipboard Title
Prima: Rossibelle Druzy Stones

Elements Add On
Blue Fern Studios laser-cut chipboard - Quatrefoil Panel (11.75x11.75)
Carabelle Studios Concentric Circles A6 Template
Kaisercraft Cottage Rose Collectibles Die Cuts

Mixed Media Creativity Add On
Prima Metallic Accents

Floral Add On
Prima Rossibelle Aubree Flowers
Petaloo DIY Ruffled Roses

Color Add On
Prima Limited Edition Magic Stone Color Bloom 2 spray mist

Scraps of Darkness/Scraps of Elegance Store
Dina Wakley Media Gel Medium - Matte
Prima Art Basics Mixed Media Essentials - Gesso
DecoArt Media Modeling Paste
US Artquest Prills - Minnie Pearls

Previous Kits
January 2016 Elements Add On: Prima Art Ingredients ~ Micro Beads - Blush

Other Products
Other Products
Stampendous ~ Pearlized Mica
Beadies ~ Mini Marbles
Liquitex ~ Gesso - White, Clear
Liquitex ~ Ceramic Stucco
Ranger ~ Distress Ink - Shabby Shutters, Victorian Velvet
Lindy’s Stamp Gang ~ Starburst - Bayou Boogie Gold
Jacquard - Lumiere Metallic Acrylic Paint - Metallic Olive Green
Viva Decor ~ Croco Crackling Colour - Transparent
Higgins ~ Drawing Ink, Clear
Spellbinders ~ Nestabilities - Fleur de Elegance
Prima Dies ~ Moraccan Foliage
Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L ~ Crafty Foam Tape, White
Helmar ~ Premium Craft Glue
Tombow ~ MONO Multi Liquid Glue

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~

"Merry Christmas" Ornament for ScrapBerry's

We have a tradition of adding a handcrafted ornament to our Christmas tree each holiday season. I created this sweet ornament featuring the beautiful ScrapBerry’s Winter Joy Collection to add to our tree this year. I adore the gorgeous vintage graphics and non-traditional colors in the Winter Joy Collection. 

I framed this lovely holiday sentiment with a chipboard ornament base that’s brushed with crackle paint and topped with scattered golden microbeads.

I'm up on the ScrapBerry's blog HERE.

Thanks for dropping by their blog to leave a comment. 

FTC Disclosure: I am currently working as a freelance designer for ScrapBerry's. While I am compensated in product, I maintain the freedom as an independent designer to say what I truly think of these products and will not recommend something that I don’t personally use and enjoy.

Tips and Techniques

To add dimension, I added a flower cluster over the printed floral design. Texture and sparkle is added to this beautiful ScrapBerry’s Clove Burgundy Flower with Prills and chunky glitter. 

More sparkle along the bottom of the ornament. Matte gel medium is a great way to adhere glitter to any paper project.

I tied a simple bow for the top with ScrapBerry’s lovely White Shabby Ribbon. A few dabs of glue keep the ends in place across the top of the ornament. For a bow that lies nice and straight, tie the bow then attach it with a piece of thin wire.

ScrapBerry’s Supply List

Winter Joy ~ Cards (SCB220605412b)

Shabby Ribbon ~ White (SCB510101)

Paper Flowers ~ Clove Burgundy (SCB280409)

Other 

Wild Orchid Crafts ~ 4mm Rosebuds - white

Leaky Shed Studio ~ Photo Christmas Ornament Chipboard

Prima Art Basics ~ 3D Matte Gel

Acrylic Paint ~ Red - Stash

Viva Decor ~ Crackle Paint, white

US ArtQuest ~ Prills - Minnie Pearls

Martha Stewart ~ Micro Beads - Florentine Gold

Twinklets ~ Diamond Dust

Helmar ~ Premium Craft Glue

Tombow ~ Mono Multi Liquid Glue

Thanks for dropping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~

Make a Wish Card for ScrapBerry's

Hello my sweet paper crafting friends. I've created this sweet Christmas card featuring the beautiful ScrapBerry's Once Upon a Winter and Happy Holiday's Collections. I’ve blended my shabby mixed media style with this adorable image from the Once Upon a Winter collection. 

I'm up on the ScrapBerry's blog HERE.

Thanks for dropping by their blog to leave a comment. 

FTC Disclosure: I am currently working as a freelance designer for ScrapBerry's. While I am compensated in product, I maintain the freedom as an independent designer to say what I truly think of these products and will not recommend something that I don’t personally use and enjoy.

Tips and Techniques

I’ve used ScrapBerry’s Magnolia and Clove flowers edged with snowflake paste as the focal point of the cluster and edged some of the background paper layers with snowflake paste as well. The ScrapBerry’s Shabby Ribbon ties up into a gorgeous bow.

I tucked in a Once Upon a Winter snowflake and holly brad next to the sentiment. The background is stenciled to add texture using a blend of whipped spackle and super fine glitter. It’s a great way to get the sparkle of glitter without the mess. To add more texture, the edges of the paper layers are inked then distressed.

The holly image is fussy cut then edged with snowflake paste. The shimmer on the berries is added with a Clear Wink of Stella Glitter Brush. There are two more holly cut outs tucked into the flower cluster as well.

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you’ve been inspired to grab your ScrapBerry’s Christmas paper to create cards for the special people in your life.

ScrapBerry's Products

Once Upon a Winter ~ Fun & Joy SCB220605609

Once Upon a Winter ~ Bullfinches SCB220605603

Happy Holidays Collection ~ Holiday Fun SCB220605502

Once Upon a Winter ~ Brad Set #SCB340978

Once Upon a Winter ~ Set of Metal Embellishments with Epoxy #SCB340997

Paper Flowers ~ Clove Burgundy SCB280409

Paper Flowers ~ Gardenia - 7cm, White SCB300103

Shabby Ribbon, light brown SCB510107

Other Products

Cardstock ~ Kraft - Stash

Prima ~ Trims - Magnolia, Posey #583033

Tim Holtz ~ Idea-ology - Trimmings

Wild Orchid Crafts ~ Gypsophila Flowers, white

Explorer by Traditions ~ Jewelry Findings - Medallion 

Liquitex ~ Gesso - clear

Donna Salazar with Clearsnap ~ Twinkle Dust Glitter - Sugar Shimmer

Prima ~ Art Extravagance - Snowflake Paste #962906

Faber-Castell ~ Whipped Spackle

Tim Holtz with Ranger ~ Distress Ink - Pumice Stone, Black Soot

The Crafter’s Workshop ~ 6x6 Stencil - Mini Well Rounded

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L ~ Crafty Foam Tape, white

Helmar ~ Premium Craft Glue

Thanks for dropping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~

ScrapBerry's December Christmas Challenge ~ Vintage Mixed Media Tag

It's a Christmas Challenge at ScrapBerry's, and the design team has been busy creating projects to inspire you as you join along. Here's my vintage mixed media tag featuring the gorgeous Winter Joy Collection. Stop on over at the ScrapBerry's blog to see what the rest of the team has created HERE.

Close-Ups

On the flowers, I brushed gold Glimmer Spray across the edges of the petals as well as brushing randomly with glue to adhere chunky glitter. The ScrapBerry's Trumpet Charm is a perfect Christmas  trinket to tuck into the cluster. 

The Winter Joy Cards sheet included this sweet sentiment along with the vintage girl tag image. I just adore all the options the gorgeous image sheets add to my projects!! The Scrapberry's Pearl Sticker Applique is a perfect touch. It is cut into two pieces to stretch across both sides of the cluster.

I die cut this doily from Kraft cardstock as well as the leaves around the cluster. I've added texture by adhering Art Stones and glitter around the cluster and to the center of the die cut doily. To add a bit of shimmer, I brushed the Art Stones with Gold Glimmer Spray. For a wintry feel, I've spattered white drawing ink across the background layer as well as dry brushing most of the elements randomly with white gesso.

If you scroll up to the project photo at the beginning of the post, you can view the beautiful bow tied with ScrapBerry's White Shabby Ribbon and Wax String.

FTC Disclosure: I am currently working as a freelance designer for ScrapBerry's. While I am compensated in product, I maintain the freedom as an independent designer to say what I truly think of these products and will not recommend something that I don’t personally use and enjoy.

 ScrapBerry’s Products

Winter Joy ~ Garland SCB220605406

Winter Joy ~ Cards SCB220605412b

Christmas Carol ~ Pearl Sticker Applique SCB25002041

Shabby Ribbon ~ White SCB510101

Wax String ~ White and Beige - SCB20020333074

Charms Set Brass Trumpet SCB250113834

Paper Flowers ~ Clove Burgundy SCB280409

Winter Joy Wooden Buttons SCB3409108

Other Products

Ranger ~ Craft Tags - #8, Manila

Lace ~ Stash

Petaloo ~ Flower

Prima ~ Art Basics - Soft Matte Gel

Liquitex ~ Gesso - White, Clear

Tim Holtz with Ranger ~ Distress Ink - Frayed Burlap

BoBunny ~ Doubledot - Glimmer Spray, Gold

Higgins ~ Drawing Ink - White

Prima ~ Art Ingredients - Art Stones, Mini Art Stones

Stampendous ~ Glass Glitter - Champagne

Prima Metal Die ~ Doily 1

Craft Dies by Sue Wilson ~ Faux Quilled Leaves

Sizzix ~ Die - Snowflake #24

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L ~ Crafty Power Tape

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L ~ Crafty Foam Tape - Black

Helmar ~ 450 Quick Dry Adhesive

Tim Holtz with Ranger ~ Collage Brush

Spellbinders ~ Tool’n One

Sizzix ~ Big Shot

EK Success ~ Honey Bee Scissors

Crop-A-Dile ~ Big Bite

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments

~ Blessings ~

DIY Peony Cards with VIDEO TUTORIAL with Scraps of Elegance October 2016 Kit

If you've been a follower for a while, you know I adore creating handcrafted flowers. I was thrilled to receive the Spellbinders Peony Die set in the Mixed Media/Creativity Add On. This is the first time I've worked with Thermoweb Mixed Media Sheets and adored how this lightweight material worked for the flowers. I've created a DIY Video Tutorial with a technique tutorial for the Peony Flower as well as a process tutorial for completing the card.

FTC Disclosure: I am currently working as a freelance designer for Scraps of Elegance. While I am compensated in product, I maintain the freedom as an independent designer to say what I truly think of these products and will not recommend something that I don’t personally use and enjoy.

I hope you enjoy learning from my creative process in this

DIY Peony Flower & Mixed Media Card Tutorial:

Please subscribe to my channel HERE.

Here's the gorgeous "Petals" October Kit:

Also using

Mixed Media/Creativity Add On

Elements Add On

Floral Add On

Color Add On

Scraps of Elegance Links:

Store: http://www.scrapsofdarkness.com/

Blog: http://scrapsofdarkness.blogspot.com/

Online Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/scrapsofdarkness/

Close-Ups

Product List

Main Kit
Kaisercraft Cottage Rose Collection: Fragrant
Kaisercraft Cottage Rose Collection: Framed
Prima: Rossibelle Druzy Stones

Mixed Media Creativity Add On
Prima Metallic Accents
Thermoweb iCraft Lightweight Mixed Media Sheets
Spellbinders Shapeabilities Peony Die D-Lites

Elements Add On
Carabelle Studios Concentric Circles A6 Template
Kaisercraft Cottage Rose Collectibles Die Cuts

Floral Add On
Prima Rossibelle Aubree Flowers

Color Add On
Prima Memory Hardware Antoinette Pink Artisan Powder

Scraps of Darkness/Scraps of Elegance Store
Dina Wakley Media Gel Medium - Matte
Prima Art Basics Mixed Media Essentials - Gesso
DecoArt Media Modeling Paste
US Artquest Prills - Coral See
US Artquest Prills - Silver Lining
Prima Victorian Christmas - Red Stocking Leaves/Berries

Previous Kits
May 2016 Creativity Add On ~ Prima Art Basics Double Sided Texture Brushes Set 1 (3 pcs)
May 2016 Creativity Add On ~ Prima Art ingredients Glass Glitter, Sterling
Other glitters can be found in the store HERE.

Other Products
Donna Salazar with ColorBox ~ Mix’d Media Inx - Pewter
Ranger ~ Glossy Accents
Prima ~ Cling Stamp - Desert Floor #5827115
Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L ~ Thin 3D Foam Squares, white
Helmar ~ Premium Craft Glue
Sizzix ~ Stylus
Sizzix ~ Big Shot

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~

Christmas Card with QUICK TECHNIQUE TUTORIAL VIDEO for Donna Salazar/Clearsnap

Hello my dear paper crafting friends!! The Donna Salazar Designs Creative Team is taking over the Clearsnap blog this week and I'm up today with a Christmas card that's sparkling with Donna's Clearsnap Twinkle Dust Glitter. You can view all the details along with a Quick Technique Tutorial Video HERE.

Here's a sneak peek:

Be sure to head over to the Clearsnap Blog to view all the details
including a Quick Technique Video HERE.

FTC Disclosure: I am currently working as a freelance designer for Donna Salazar Designs. While I am compensated in product, I maintain the freedom as an independent designer to say what I truly think of these products and will not recommend something that I don’t personally use and enjoy.

Clearsnap

Twinkle Dust Glitter ~ Sugar Shimmer

Mix’d Media Inx ~ Jasmine

Mix’d Media Inx Embossing Powder ~ Jasmine

Emboss Gloss® 

Glue Gloss

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L 

Girlie Grunge Art Medium

Texture Ribbons

Spellbinders

Bitty Blossoms

Partner Products

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L ~ Adhesive Sheets 12x12”

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L ~ 3D Foam Snowflakes

Home & Hobby® ~ Premium Double-Sided Tape 1/4" 

Spellbinders ~ Nestabilities Standard Circles SM Etched Dies

Spellbinders® ~ Tool ’n One

Spellbinders® ~ Stylus Tips For Tool N' One

Other Products

Graphic45 ~ Christmas Card Collection ~ Seasonal Sentiments

Cardstock ~ White - Stash

Card Base ~ Stash

Vintage Hymnal Page

USArtQuest ~ Prills - Mini Pearls

Mother of Pearl Rhinestone ~ Stash

Stamen ~ Stash

Close To My Heart ~ Say It All, Occasions

Wagner ~ HT 400 Heat Gun

EK Success ~ Powder Tool

Misty Stamping Tool

~ Blessings ~

"Merry Christmas" Card for ScrapBerry's

Hello my dear paper crafting friends!! I've been busy creating Christmas cards for family and friends. Today I have one to share with you today featuring two of ScrapBerry's gorgeous Christmas collections and embellishments. This one uses more traditional colors. The image sheets included in the collections have so many gorgeous images like this "Merry Christmas" sentiment.

I'm up on the ScrapBerry's blog HERE.

Thanks for dropping by their blog to leave a comment. 

FTC Disclosure: I am currently working as a freelance designer for ScrapBerry's. While I am compensated in product, I maintain the freedom as an independent designer to say what I truly think of these products and will not recommend something that I don’t personally use and enjoy.

Tips and Techniques

There's just something special about sparkle and bling on a Christmas Card, especially sparkling snow. I spread Prima Snowflake Paste on the edges of the petals of these beautiful ScrapBerry's flowers, then while it was still wet, sprinkled with Donna Salazar's Sugar Shimmer Twinkle Dust Glitter. A combination that gives so much sparkle!

For more sparkle, I added a mix of gold beads and silver microbeads below the cluster with a Prima crystal dangle. The glitter berries and pinecones are little bits that I had in my stash. 

I enjoy changing up my embellishments, so I removed the image from one of the Winter Joy Wood Buttons and replaced it with more of the beads. I filled the wooden piece with Matte Gel and sprinkled with the bead mixture. I also added the beads to a lace flower that I tucked in.

I just adore how ScrapBerry’s includes image sheets with their collections. This lovely sentiment was cut from a Once Upon a Winter sheet. I added more of the snowflake paste and glitter around the top edges of the sentiment. I also spattered the card with white ink to add a snowy feel. 

**Tip** Cut a strip of paper to fit over the sentiment while spattering to keep the word area clean and easy to read.

It’s not to early to be creating handcrafted Christmas cards for your loved ones, so I hope you’ve been inspired to pull out your Scrapberry’s Christmas collections and get started. Be sure to consider combining gorgeous ScrapBerry’s collections as you create.

ScrapBerry's Products

Once Upon A Winter Collection ~ Happy Holiday SCB220605608b

Once Upon A Winter Collection ~ Holiday Festivities SCB220605604

Happy Holidays Collection ~ Holiday Fun SCB220605502

Winter Joy ~ Set of Wooden Buttons SCB340108

Mulberry Paper Flower Set (Poinsettias) SCB300902

Mulberry Paper Flower Set SCB300103

Other Products

Websters Pages ~ Designer Trim - All About Me

Prima ~ Magnolia Trims #583033

Martha Stewart ~ Pine Cones

Prima ~ Metal Embellishments - #583576

Darice ~ Toho Beads - Round Galvanized Gold

Martha Stewart ~ Metallic Microbeads - White Gold

Prima Art Basics ~ 3D Matte Gel Transparent

Donna Salazar with Clearsnap ~ Fairy Dust Glitter - Sugar Shimmer

Ranger ~ Distress Ink - Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain

Higgins ~ Drawing Ink - white

Prima Art Extravagance - Snowflake Paste

Spellbinders ~ Radient Rectangles 

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L ~ Thin 3D Foam Squares - white

Helmar ~ Premium Craft Glue

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~

"Love" Anniversary Card with Handcrafted Flowers for Donna Salazar Designs

Hi my dear friends!! Wishing you a happy Friday. I hope you have some papercrafting plans for this weekend!! I'll be creating with some lovely church gals on Saturday. 

Our son and his beautiful wife have their five year wedding anniversary coming up, so I've created a card to celebrate this special event. Joseph loves to fish and Rachel encourages him in his endeavors. When Joseph realized that she was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, he planned a boat ride (in his bass boat of course) on the lake under a starlit night sky to ask her to marry him. Then last year they found their dream home on that very lake. So when I found this vintage image of a fun and loving couple on a boat, I knew it would be perfect for this anniversary card. 

Donna Salazar's Girlie Grunge products are so perfect to create a vintage background and soft flower cluster. If you are a regular follower, you know how much I enjoy creating handcrafted flowers with Donna's Spellbinder Dies!! Stop by Donna's blog HERE  for details on how I created these flowers as well as how I used her other products to complete this vintage card.

"Love" Sneak Peak:

FTC Disclosure: I am currently working as a freelance designer for Donna Salazar Designs. While I am compensated in product, I maintain the freedom as an independent designer to say what I truly think of these products and will not recommend something that I don’t personally use and enjoy.

Donna Salazar Designs Products

Spellbinders 

Jumbo Rose Steel Rule Die

Bitty Blossoms

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L 

Girlie Grunge Art Medium

Texture Ribbons (Organza)

Girlie Grunge Gauze

Dodz™ XL

Clearsnap

Mix'd Media Inx® ~ Jasmine, Verdigris, Patina, Peridot

Mix'd Media Inx® Embossing Powder ~ Jasmine

Partner Products

Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L® ~ 3D Foam Squares - White, Small

E-Z Dots® Permanent

Home & Hobby® ~ Extreme Double-Sided Tape 1/4“

Other Products

ScrapBerry’s ~ Primavera - 6x6 Paper Collection SCB220609009

Holiday Romance ~ Day-Dream SCB220605908

Prima ~ Metal Embellishments #583576

Wild Orchid Crafts ~ Bead Berry Spray Clusters - White

Wild Orchid Crafts ~ 15mm Open Roses - white

Melissa Frances ~ Embellishments - Resin Frame

Momenta ~ Metal Stickers #17517

US ArtQuest ~ Prills - Mini Pearls

Voille Fabric (Home Decor) white

Liquitex ~ Gesso - Clear, White

Golden ~ Light Molding Paste

Hampton Arts ~ Clear Stamps SCO754

Prima ~ 6x6” Stencil - Doily No. 1 #960551 

Tim Holtz with Ranger ~ Distress Collage Brush

Thanks for stopping by!

Please hop on over to Donna's blog to leave a comment and let me know what you think.

~ Blessings ~

Mixed Media Cards with DIY Distress Crayon Watercolor Garden Flower VIDEO TUTORIAL with Scraps of Elegance September Kit

The Scraps of Elegance September Creativity Kit is loaded with Tim Holtz goodies: his Flower Garden Stamp Set; Distress Crayons; and Distress Watercolor Cardstock. I created a focal accent for my cards by coloring and fussy cutting these teal flowers.

FTC Disclosure: I am currently working as a freelance designer for Scraps of Elegance. While I am compensated in product, I maintain the freedom as an independent designer to say what I truly think of these products and will not recommend something that I don’t personally use and enjoy.

I hope you enjoy learning from my creative process in this
DIY Watercolor Garden Flowers video tutorial:

Please subscribe to my channel HERE.

Here's the September Scraps of Elegance Creativity Add On:


And the fabulous "Timeless" September Scraps of Elegance Kit:


Also Using
Elements Add On


Floral Add On


Color Add On


Scraps of Elegance Links:
Store: http://www.scrapsofdarkness.com/
Blog: http://scrapsofdarkness.blogspot.com/
Online Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/scrapsofdarkness/

Close-Ups














Product List

Main Kit
Tim Holtz: Idea-Ology Baroque Frames
Prima: Margarite Flowers

Creativity Add On
Tim Holtz Distress Crayons Set 1 - Distress Crayons
Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor Cardstock
Tim Holtz Flower Garden 7"x8.5" Cling Stamps

Elements Add On
Graphic45 Cafe Parisian Ephemera Cards
1 yard Scallop Edge Venice Lace

Floral Add On
Prima Northpark Flowers

Color Add On
Tim Holtz Broken China Distress Paint
Tim Holtz Fired Brick Distress Paint

Scraps of Darkness/Scraps of Elegance Store
US Artquest Prills - Minnie Pearls
Prima Watercolor Brush Pen Set
DecoArt Media Modeling Paste
Tim Holtz Distress Mini Ink Pad - Broken China
Dina Wakley Media Gel Medium - Matte
The Crafter’s Workshop ~ 6x6” Stencil - Mini Raven Mosaic
No longer available, but other TCW Stencils can be found HERE.

Other Products
Wild Orchid Crafts ~ 15mm Open Rose, white
Liquitex ~ Gesso - white, clear
Ranger ~ Archival Ink - Jet Black
Home & Hobby ~ Premium Double-Sided Tape 1/4”
Helmar ~ 450 Quick Dry Adhesive
Tim Holtz with Ranger ~ Distress Collage Brush
Darice ~ Heat Tool

Thanks for stopping by! I treasure your comments.

~ Blessings ~