I did this Christmas project in advance because I’ll be making it with several friends next month. Thought I’d share it with you, too.

Here’s what you’ll need and how you do it:

8×10 frame (I picked up my black one at Target)
12 glass pebbles (also found at Target or craft store)
1 sheet 8 1/2″ x 11″ cardstock for the background (trimmed to 8″ x 10″)
various patterned papers (I used some from a new Basic Grey Christmas line)
circle punch (I used the 1 1/8″ punch because those “fit” my glass pebbles)
28″ of ribbon
Mod Podge
sponge brush & plate
hot glue gun for glass pebbles
adhesive tape or glue for ribbon
tin foil for drying pebbles

Punch circles of patterned paper. I also made a couple of circles in a document on my computer (they read “Merry Christmas” and “The Higgins Family”). Using a foam brush, apply a light coating of Mod Podge to the flat (back) side of each glass pebble – one at a time – and place the circle on the pebble with the pattern side of the paper touching the Mod Podge. Place these pebbles on some tin foil to dry while you work on the base of your art.

Cut your cardstock to 8″ x 10″. Cut 3 blocks from 3 different patterned papers. The sizes are: 2″ x 2″ (for the top left corner), 2″ x 6″ (for the top edge), and 2″ x 8″ (for the left side). Adhere all pieces to the cardstock. Adhere ribbon along the edges of the patterned paper.

Arrange the pebbles where you would like them to be. Using a hot glue gun (or some other strong adhesive of your choice), adhere the glass pebbles to your background.

And with that … you’re done! I’ll probably put this on our entry table inside the front door (when I decorate for the holidays). Of course this doesn’t have to be holiday-specific. And you could put photos behind the glass pebbles. Oh, that would be SO cute. You could get REALLY creative with this! What a fun project to do with girlfriends or sisters or mom or your kids.

So seriously – if you end up making this project, I really want to see it, okay? Pinky promise me that you’ll share your creation. E-mail me a picture at bhiggins@ckmedia.com.

This is baby Molly. Sweet little thing that I got to photograph last week.

And some of you have asked what my set-up is for photo shoots. This is it. Super high-tech, eh? I get really great lighting in the later afternoon on the back side of our home. So I hang an old, white sheet from a couple of hooks that David screwed in, under our roof. And that’s it.

Had a fun scrapbook night this weekend … thought I’d share.

One of your fellow blog readers, Deneigh, arranged to get her gal pals together for dinner on Friday. There she presented to each of them a copy of my new book with a poem attached, which basically communicated that they were going to my house for a scrapbook night. Fun, fun. The girls arrived and got right to work (I LOVE that) and even brought a whole bunch of yumminess (more recipes that I need)!

Super nice group of girls, and very talented. We had a great time. In between all my gabbing, I even managed to do a page. Since Claire is two now, I thought I better not wait any longer to do her title page (for the baby album). I love how it turned out.

In other news, the new Kit of the Month is for sale now. Another job-well-done by our good friend, Ali Edwards. Check it out when you have a minute. Perhaps you know of someone in your life who demonstrates hope, courage, and determination. This would be an awesome kit to honor that individual.

Also in KOTM news, I’m pleased to tell you that the November kit is a Christmas card kit that I designed. I am thrilled with out it turned out and will be sharing pictures soon. Just wanted to give you the heads-up since some of you are super ambitious and already thinking of your cards.