Cut it Up Challenge #7

We'd like to see your 3D holiday decorations at Cut it Up.  It's up to you what holiday you would like to create for - just make sure to use a die-cut!

I don't have any New Year's decor, so that is what I decided to create:

I only wish you could see how sparkly this is!  Let me show you some details up close:

My base pieces are the My Creations banner.  I left them plain and used my Universal Background music notes stamp to "cover" them.  (I am gaining a huge love for background stamping!)  I used the same desert sand ink to sponge the edges of the banners.  I cut the numbers at 5-1/2" using the Artiste cartridge.  I covered them with Liquid Glass and then pressed them into Prisma Glitter.  Ihad to let them dry for about 4 hours before I could adhere them to the banners.  It's worth the wait, though, because that glitter is permanent!  I wanted to add some New Year's sentiments, so I cut these using my Slice Words & Expressions Holiday card.  A few gems and  little organdy, and this banner was ready to hang in my living room!  I do want to give you another tip.  When making something like this, cut out extra numbers.  I cut numbers for the next six years (4 through 9), so that I can use this banner again and again.

I love visiting you when you play along!  You always inspire me greatly!  For this challenge, you are playing for this great prize:

I am entering this into the following challenges:

• Decorate to Celebrate - party decoration for a holiday
• Flourishes - gold or silver
• Heart 2 Heart - Glitter
• Eclectic Ellapu- Celebration with Sparkle

I will be busy with New Year's celebrations the next couple of days, so I wanted to be sure to send my wishes your way! Have you made a resolution for the new year? I think it's such a wonderful time to sit back and think about the year that has passed and tweak life to make it just a little bit grander. No matter what the circumstances, life really is just so grand. We learn from so many things along our days, don't we? That's where the tweaking comes in.

I am blessed beyond measure, and so thankful to the One who graciously pours wonderful riches into my life everyday. I don't mean money. I mean the richness of family, friends, and the experiences we live. You know, with this thought I am reminded of the box we used to keep. We would read our prayers and wishes from the previous year, put new ones in, and then put it away for the year. It's kind of a tacky looking box covered in stickers and crude embellishments, but it was ours - to pull out every New Year's eve. When Shane turned 16, for some reason we stopped this tradition. Maybe it's time to pull it out again...

I don't know that I have any specific resolutions. I guess I see New Year's as a time to clean the slate and start fresh. That means it is a time to let go of hurts from the previous year, forgive those that need your forgiveness, and to choose to love more. We have this marvelous chance to let things go and to love freely as Christ would have us do. What awesome mercy!

Whatever you do to celebrate and start the year anew, may your life be filled with that overwhelming mercy and grace of God's infinite love.

Love and hugs,
Brenda