A Savior Is Born

This week's Shining the Light challenge is Anything Goes with Our Daily Bread Designs Stamps.  For my last Christmas card this year, I used the wonderful verse from the set Luke 2:11 and the poinsettia from Blessed Christmas. 

I've been wanting to make a card this year with this taffeta plaid ribbon (always seems to have such a Christmas feel to it!), and I used the new ODBD Christmas Collection Paper 2013 for the background on the card base and paper-pierced around the edge (although it's hard to see in the photo).  I added some pearls and gave the poinsettia some dimension with an empressor tool and popped it a bit.

To see all the creations from the designers in one place or to join the challenge, please visit Our Daily Bread Designs Blog.  You have until January 5 at 8 p.m. to join us.  If you participate, you have an opportunity to win a $15 certificate toward ODBD stamps or to be "spotlighted" for the Shining the Light Award.  We would so love to see your creations!

For more inspiration for this challenge, please visit my precious design team sisters:

Chris Olsen * Jan Marie Ennenga * Diana Nguyen
DJ Rants * Guest Designer Robin Clendenning

Thanks so much for "stopping by" and leaving a comment or sharing a thought.  Have a wonderful week, and I leave you with the words of a classic Christmas carol that goes with this card:

O come, all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of Angels;
O come, let us adore Him.
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!

So did you hum or sing along with me again?  I just love the joy of singing praises to our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus!  In the next couple of days, may you focus on the real reason Jesus came to earth in the form of a man...to save His people from their sin. That truly is the best gift of all!  I encourage you to read Luke 2:1-21 on Christmas eve or Christmas day and marvel at the reality that God came down from glory to do for us what we could never do for ourselves…He lived a perfect life, died to paid the penalty for our sins, and rose again to make us righteous before a Holy God, our Father.  "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."  Merry Christmas!

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Blessed Christmas and Luke 2:11 (ODBD)

Paper:  Classic White (Neenah); ODBD Christmas Paper Collection 2013; Poppy Red (PTI)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento); Black (Versafine)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers; Circles and Scalloped Circles dies (Spellbinders); taffeta plaid ribbon (Offray); flat pearls (Jolee); empressor tool; 3M dimensional tape
Card Size:  5 1/4" square

Perfect Peace

Yesterday was Sunday, and I've been making a concerted effort to make it a day of rest after church.  And I am finding it very refreshing to come into my craft room (or "girl cave" as my husband and his friend have called it...LOL!), put on some music, and stamp. I decided to make a card for this week's SCS Featured Stamper, Roberta (aka stampin'nana), who is such a precious and sweet stamper and has such a lovely gallery.  I patterned my card after her gorgeous wedding card using the Scripture verse from ODBD's Scripture Collection 7.  I added a different flower using the Rose Creations and Foliage die sets, sponging them with pink and green and adding a brad for the center.  Then I sponged around the Scripture verse.  I didn't even attempt her gorgeous stickpin with ribbon and cord at the top.  It was fun to make in honor of Roberta, and I trust that this Scripture verse from Isaiah 26:3 will be an encouragement to you and to the recipient of this card.

(I also submitted this card to the Word Art Wednesday challenge and was honored as one of the winners.  It's a wonderful place for Christian bloggers to share their work and to read the wonderful devotional about each week's free digital Scripture image.  I hope you'll visit them by clicking on the badge to the left below "About Me".) 

This year has taught me many things with all that God has brought into my life, and I find that when I am most in need of peace, I am reminded that He and He alone is my true and only Source of peace.  So no matter where you are today, whether you are happy or sad, feeling well or hurting...as Christmas approaches, may your mind be "stayed" on Him and trust Him for the outcome and for your true joy!

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Scripture Collection 7 (ODBD)

Paper:  Classic White (Neenah); Blushing Bride (SU)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Versafine); Blushing Bride and Pistachio Pudding (SU)
Tools/Accessories: Rose Creations, Foliage, Labels 1 and Decorative Labels 1 dies (Spellbinders); Dainty Dots M-Bossabilities reversible embossing folder (Spellbinders); yellow brad
Card Size:  4 3/4" square
Technique:  Sponging

Little Drummer Boy

This week's Shining the Light challenge is Word Play for NOEL.  I started with the precious Little Drummer Boy set.  Here's my list of word play elements:

N - Nestabilities
O - Oval
E - Embossing
L - Layering

After selecting my papers, I colored the little boy, used a Spellbinders oval die and sponged a bit, and then matted the oval. I stamped the sentiment, "Welcome, Baby Jesus," and embossed that piece and layered the various designer papers on the card base.  Since this is for our six-year-old grandson, it had to be fairly simple and strong (if you know what I mean…LOL!).

To see all the creations in one place or join the challenge, please visit Our Daily Bread Designs Blog.  You have until December 22 to join us.  You may use any stamps to enter, but if you have any Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we would love to see you use them.  If you participate, you have an opportunity to win a $15 certificate toward ODBD stamps or to be "spotlighted" for the Shining the Light Award (the SLC award is only for those who use ODBD stamps).  We would so love to see your creations!

For more inspiration for this challenge, please visit my precious design team sisters:

Chris Olsen * Jan Marie Ennenga * Diana Nguyen
DJ Rants * Guest Designer Robin Clendenning

Thanks so much for "stopping by" and leaving a comment or sharing a thought.  Have a wonderful week, and I leave you with the words of the second verse of this song:

Little baby, pa rum pa pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pa pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pa pum pum
That's fit to give our King, pa rum pa pum pum
Rum pa pum pum, rum pa pum pum
Shall I play for You, pa rum pa pum pum
On my drum, on my drum

So if you hadn't started humming the song as soon as you saw this little drummer boy, I'm sure you are now!  LOL!  For me, it's a reminder that I bring nothing to God and that Jesus has done it all…through His grace and mercy. He came to earth, lived a perfect life, died for my sins, and rose again defeating sin and death. And someday I look forward to seeing Him face to face! That's my joy in celebrating Christmas!  May it be with you as well!

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Little Drummer Boy (ODBD)

Paper:  Classic White (Neenah); Scarlet Jewel (PTI); Lost & Found Christmas (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Rich Cocoa (Memento); Close to Cocoa (SU); Antique Linen and Frayed Burlap distress inks (Ranger)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers; Petite Ovals dies (Spellbinders); Vintage Background impression plate (ODBD); red tape; 3M dimensional tape
Card Size:  5 1/4" square
Technique:  Sponging

Joy to the World!

Today's Free For All challenge on Splitcoast is to make a card with the theme of a Christmas carol.  I've had this image inked up and started and finally found the right time to finish it…so glad!  This image is from North Coast Creations, which is a sister company to Our Daily Bread Designs.  I love the country feel to it and decided to keep it fairly simple with lots of white and some red to highlight the image.

I am so behind in my cards this year.  But "Joy To The World" is such a great reminder of why we celebrate Christmas.  Jesus is our True Joy, and we celebrate His birth with joy in our hearts.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! 

Let earth receive her King.  

Let every heart prepare Him room.  

And heaven and nature sing.

And heaven and nature sing.

And heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

So were you singing along with me?  I just love that carol and praise God for sending His Son to earth…for us!  That's love!

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Joy (North Coast Creations)

Paper:  Solar White (Neenah), White and Poppy Red (PTI)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Black (Versafine)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers; Petite Circles and Petite Scalloped Circles (Spellbinders); Dainty Dots M-Bossabilities reversible embossing  folder (Spellbinders); 3M dimensional tape
Card Size:  A-6
Technique:  Paper-piercing

Enjoy the Tulips

Today I made a card in record time…amazing for me!  It's simple, and it's for today's Splitcoast Color Challenge.  I passed on "dessert," which was to repeat an image or something else.  

I also made this card for the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge, "Words to Inspire."  Both the lovely tulips and the word "enjoy" bring to mind resting and simplicity.  This coming year, it's my desire to enjoy all the many wonderful things I am blessed to have and to simplify by weeding out some of the stamps and supplies that I've collected over the last ten years.  It should be fun, and I hope to keep this in mind throughout the year.  And I also hope to find "good homes" for some of the items I decide to part with.  Any ideas?

Thanks for visiting, and I hope you have a wonderful week and find ways to rest and simplify in the coming year.  In the meantime, I hope you will enjoy this Advent time as we celebrate the birth of the Savior, Jesus!

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Tulips for Friends (Flourishes)

Paper:  Solar White (Neenah), White and Pistachio Pudding (PTI)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Black (Versafine)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers; Labels 26 (Spellbinders); Dainty Dots M-Bossabilities reversible embossing  folder (Spellbinders); 3M dimensional tape
Card Size:  5 1/4" square
Technique:  Paper-piercing

Christmas Cardinals

Red is my favorite Christmas color, and when I think of Christmas red, I think of my mom.  She loved Christmas and would begin decorating the house the day after Thanksgiving, with many accents in red, culminating on Christmas day.  She loved cardinals, so I thought of her a lot as I made this easel card.  I think she would have loved my cardinals but would have pointed out that the second one on the left (the female) should have had different coloring.  But, I just love the bright red males!  (I think she would have understood…and I miss her a lot this time of year.)

As I miss my mom at Christmas, I am reminded that because of the birth of Christ and His death on the cross, I will see her again. Such a wonderful reminder that Jesus came to earth to give us life, not only in this world but in our ultimate home with Him.  That is the true joy of Christmas!

This week's Shining the Light challenge is an Alternate Fold or 3D project.  I used the Cardinal Ornament set, which has some lovely Christmas sentiments in it.  I chose two of them.  This really was a challenge for me, since I had never made an easel card before. 

Here's a view from the side.  After viewing a tutorial on Splitcoaststampers, finding some samples on Pinterest, and playing around, I figured it out.  Of course, I used some practice paper to get the angle I wanted and made my engineer husband proud to see how I figured it out (smile).  I hope you like it as well and will try one yourself.

To see all the creations in one place or join the challenge, please visit Our Daily Bread Designs Blog.  You have until December 15 to join us.  You may use any stamps to enter, but if you have any Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we would love to see you use them.  If you participate, you have an opportunity to win a $15 certificate toward ODBD stamps or to be "spotlighted" for the Shining the Light Award (the SLC award is only for those who use ODBD stamps).  We would so love to see your creations!

For more absolutely gorgeous inspiration for this challenge, please visit my precious design team sisters:

Chris Olsen * Jan Marie Ennenga * Diana Nguyen
DJ Rants * Guest Designer Robin Clendenning

Thanks so much for "stopping by" and leaving a comment or sharing a thought.  Have a wonderful week, and in all the hustle and bustle, may you continue to remember the real meaning of Christmas!

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Cardinal Ornament (ODBD)

Paper: Solar White (Neenah), Poppy Red (PTI)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Black (Versafine)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers; Circles and Scalloped Circles dies (Spellbinders); fine line marker (Prismacolor); red tape
Card Size:  3 1/2" circle
Technique:  Easel Card

The One Whom I Love

On Sunday, ODBD revealed its new December release, and the Design and Alumni Teams created some gorgeous projects!  I hope you'll check out some of the beauties they've created.  You can see them on the ODBD Gallery or on Pinterest.

This week's Shining the Light challenge is to use Double Embossing.  I used an image from the new Ornate Borders and Flowers set and colored the frame.  I heat embossed the sentiment for a wedding card using Love Scriptures and then dry embossed with ink for the background.  I added a coordinating ribbon and also one of the very special flowers that Sabrina Jackson (one of our Design Team members) sent me.  She has the sweetest style using what I like to call "bitty flowers" with beautifully placed lace and pearls.  I think the flower works with the card for my first time using one.  (But it's nothing like Sabrina's beauties!  Thanks, Sabrina!)

To see all the creations in one place or join the challenge, please visit Our Daily Bread Designs Blog.  You have until December 8 to join us.  You may use any stamps to enter, but if you have any Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we would love to see you use them.  If you participate, you have an opportunity to win a $15 certificate toward ODBD stamps or to be "spotlighted" for the Shining the Light Award (the SLC award is only for those who use ODBD stamps).  We would love to see your creations!

For more inspiration for this challenge, please visit my dear design team sisters:

Chris Olsen * Jan Marie Ennenga * Diana Nguyen
DJ Rants * Guest Designer Robin Clendenning

Thanks so much for "stopping by" and leaving a comment or sharing a thought.  Have a wonderful week!

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Ornate Borders and Flowers; Love Scriptures (ODBD)

Paper: Solar White (Neenah), White (PTI), Blush (CTMH)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Black (Versafine), VersaMark, Blushing Bride (SU)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers; Custom Ornate Borders and Flowers dies (ODBD); Lacy Brocade embossing folder (SU); black embossing powder; ribbon (May Arts); bitty flower (gift from a precious friend); 3M dimensional tape; red tape
Card Size:  A-2

Christmas Quilt

Well, this is the first post.  I have been stamping for about ten years but have posted my cards on Splitcoaststampers.com.  However, I thought it might be a good time to stretch my wings a bit and start a blog.  

It seems appropriate to start with a Christmas quilt made for the Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light Challenge.  I have been on the Challenge Team since last June, and it has been a true joy and honor to be part of the ODBD team.  It has given me a greater desire to stamp as I share my faith, which is my greatest joy.

This week's challenge is to use three or more circles or squares, so I immediately thought of making a paper quilt.  I used the new ODBD Christmas paper and selected some coordinating papers (much like a quilter does), cut 1.5-inch squares, and started piecing my "quilt."  After arranging the coloring, I put a little bit of tape in the center of each square and flipped them over in order.  I used the solid card stock for my "binding" (and drew a pencil line to begin aligning the pieces), and arranged them on the paper. I stitched them on my sewing machine (which really missed me…LOL!).  For the focal image, I used the poinsettia (and matching die) from the new set, Poinsettia Wreath.

This was fun to make, and a quilt reminds me of how God takes the bits and pieces of our lives and makes something beautiful!  And since this doesn't have a sentiment, I decided to add a warm Christmas sentiment "underneath" the quilt inside (much like a quilt warms you when you get under it).

For more details on this week's challenge, please visit Our Daily Bread Designs Blog.

For more inspiration for this challenge, please visit my dear design team sisters:

Chris Olsen * Jan Marie Ennenga * Diana Nguyen
DJ Rants * Guest Designer Robin Clendenning

Thanks so much for "stopping by" and leaving a comment or sharing a thought.  Have a wonderful week and a very happy Thanksgiving!

P. S.  You may want to check out the sale ODBD is having on all ODBD stamps and dies starting this Friday through Monday.

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Poinsettia Wreath (ODBD)

Paper: Christmas Paper 2013 (ODBD), Scarlet Jewel and White (PTI), Solar White (Neenah)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Black (Versafine)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers; Poinsettia Wreath dies (ODBD); embosser tool for dimension; Gutermann thread 326; red tape; sewing machine

Card Size:  5 1/4" square