Secondhand Fashion - Day 7: Easter Parade

..Easter Parade..

What I've donned:

• yellow ruffle top - Ann Taylor - Ann Taylor Store
• tweed skirt with pockets - To The Max - thrift store (I was so excited when I found this at my favorite thrift shop! It was only about $3!)
• black flats - Crocs (Yes, I live in Crocs!=) - new from eBay
• green gem ring - yard sale (I've had this since I was little.)
• Petal Pusher bag - created by me =)

To create your own Petal Pusher bag click on the link below! http://bessbag.blogspot.com/2010/03/tuesday-tutorial-petal-pusher-bag.html

Yep, I wore a secondhand ensemble for my church's Easter service! Secondhand does not have to mean grungy, rough, or worn. It can actually mean cute & smart! If you've never given secondhand a try, I challenge you to visit a local thrift store, yard sale, etc. You just might like it! P.S.: If you unearth some amazing finds, it's hard to go back to buying full price/brand new!

Thanks AmandaBeth for hosting this great challenge!

"'He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.'"

-Matthew 28:6

..Happy Easter 2010..

In Christian Love,

-Bess-

Secondhand Fashion - Day 6: Little Maid

..Little Maid..

What I've donned:

• white camisole (worn underneath top) - Gap - Gap Outlet
• floral tunic top - Eddie Bauer - consignment sale ($3!)
• jean capris - Riders/Copper - Walmart?
• necklace - made it myself (Wait till you see out of what!)
• red maryjanes - Crocs (Alice Style) - crocs.com

Click here to view the necklace tutorial!
http://bessbag.blogspot.com/2010/03/tuesday-tutorial-countertop-culture.html

"Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, & do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'"

-Matthew 19:14

The Power of the Cross

We have a towering cross in our city. It’s bright & shiny metal, sits on a hill, & can be seen from far away. How many times I have driven to the empty parking lot that sits at the foot of that knoll & prayed or cried or sat still – bringing all my baggage that I haven’t surrendered with me! Countless times I have traveled to the foot of that cross! It’s becoming a haunt of now, not like the girlhood haunts of my childhood. It is so good to know that on the cross was an occurrence that changed all of history – a sacrifice that changed humanity’s destiny. On this Good Friday, I hope your mind wanders to the cross where God’s one & only Son took death upon His sinless shoulders & bore it all in the name of love – love for you. The ruthless scoffing, sorrow, & tremendous pain that Jesus endured can never be understood or fathomed, nor all the love that made Him do it. Remember, as the song reminds me “Life is mine to live / Won through Your selfless love.” If we are His, we can leave all our burdens at the cross & live a life of true freedom – not because of anything we have done, but through Jesus’ sacrifice. No sin is too great that the blood of Jesus cannot wash it clean! His power cannot be measured; neither His love! Become His child & find true life.

“When you were spiritually dead because of your sins & because you were not free from the power of your sinful self, God made you alive with Christ, & He forgave all our sins. He cancelled the debt, which listed all the rules we failed to follow. He took away that record with its rules & nailed it to the cross. God stripped the spiritual rulers & powers of their authority. With the cross, He won victory & showed the world that they were powerless.”
-Colossians 2:13-15 NCV

Please enjoy this song, "The Power of the Cross." (Turn off my main Mixpod first.)

Secondhand Fashion - Day 5: The Witness Protection Program

..The Witness Protection Program..
Matthew 28:19 & 20

We have protection from our sins through Jesus' blood, & our called to tell others how to receive the same free gift of salvation & hope.

What I've donned:

• witness tee ("The Savior: Don't leave Earth without Him." - "Salvation Express" credit card / "member since: saved; valid dates: now thru eternity; name: I.M. Christian"=) - Visual Aide - yard sale (This tee is getting a little worn, but I still love it & thought it was just right for Good Friday.)
• yellow sweater - Gap - Gap Outlet
• purple pocket skirt - Lady La Mode - Passed down from one of my sisters? I'm not sure, but I know it's secondhand. =)
• canvas/leather oxfords - Timberland's - thrift store
• Chanel white bracelet - Nope, I'm not wearing the uber-expensive double C's! I made this bracelet myself using - ready? - one of those things that a watch is laying on when you buy a new timepiece. Know what I'm talking about? A watch display thingamajig! Then I cut out a Chanel heart logo from a magazine, glued it in the center, & wrapped a piece of transparent clear tape over it for protection. Yep, I know, I'm weird! Today, I like to think those two C's stand for "Christ's Child" (I like to think it everyday). =) I hope & pray you are His, too, so you may know the embrace of a perfect Father, as well.
  

"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God."

-2 Corinthians 5:20

Easter Tutorial: Mini Treat Basket (+ Decorating Ideas)

Happy Good Friday! I’ve got a special Easter tutorial for ya! Who says they just have to be on Tuesdays?

Mini Treat Basket:
1. Get one of those single serving apple sauce cups & wash it out good. Eat contents first! =)
2. Punch two holes in sides of cup with heavy duty hole puncher. If you don’t have one of these you can hot glue the ribbon handle to the inside of the cup.
3. Cut a length of ribbon to go around your cup. My container had an expiration date on the side, so I easily covered it with my ribbon. Fold one end of the ribbon back so no raw edges show! Hot glue ribbon around container.
4. Next, add an accent to the ribbon by hot gluing/affixing a button, sticker, etc. NOTE: You might want to add your accent to wherever you ribbon ends meet around the container to hide them (Even if you did fold one end over so there’s no raw edge. If you want to do this make sure you make the ends meet where you want to place your accent!=)
5. Insert ribbon into your punched holes (or glue to side) & knot (see photo).
6. Insert a cupcake/muffin paper cup into your basket & add a special treat! Tada! A special homemade Easter gift for someone you love! I’m giving mine to my mom, so I affixed a little tag that reads “Mother” on the other side (not visible in photo). You could also affix a Bible verse!

Easter Decorating Inspiration:
Here are some photos to give you some Easter decorating ideas! I used some marble eggs of my mom’s + some things of mine.

-Using white paper Easter grass (which really came from the packaging of something I bought a while back=), I created a nest with three marble eggs nestled inside (you could easily use plastic eggs). The momma bird image was printed off the computer.
-These darling Easter cups came from a visit to The Cracker Barrel the other day. They were only .99 regular price + they were 25% off at the store I visited! I got two for myself (great for a hope chest). They are so sweet & lovely, aren’t they?
-My place setting was created using a doily over the plate, an origami pink box (with cupcake paper cup), pink marble egg, & Peter Rabbit cutout. The card & mini treat basket are, of course, from tutorials I created (visit my sidebar to find the label “tutorials” in my set to view these & all my crafts).

Secondhand Fashion - Day 4: Color Block Trapeze Artist

..Color Block
Trapeze Artist..

What did you think? I'd be wearing a sequined Cirque du Soleil worthy leotard? Gottcha! April Fool's! Well, it wasn't my intention to trick you (much), cause I'm wearing a trapeze dress. =)

What I've donned:

• white tee - Xhilaration - Target (Girls' Dept.)
• vintage color block trapeze dress - Page Boy - thrift store
• leggings - Miley Cyrus / Max Azria - Walmart (Hey, I think the clothes are cute!=)
• vintage wedges - Hi There - passed down from mom
• "sandwich bag" coin purse - American Greetings - yard sale (Just wacky enough for April Fool's day (or any day if you're me=).)

"Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way."

-Romans 14:13

Foolishness

.. 04.01.2010 ..