'Tis the Season

This is Week Two of our Shining the Light Scripture Inspiration - Ecclesiates 3:1.

'Tis the season to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. So in keeping with working on my Christmas card supply, I used the beautiful Holly Wreath and so enjoyed coloring it. But this year, there is a new Holly Wreath die for it (last year I fussy cut it...which I actually like to do...but this is easier!). And for my sentiment, I used a marker to ink up just the pretty "joy" in the Noel Ornament and punched it, fussy cut a red border, and added some pearls. I used an embossed layer with a fussy-cut red border, added the wreath, and popped it over the designer paper with a strip of red for interest. Of course, I paper-pierced and then added pearls in the corners...and it's done and quite mailable.

As I make a card, I love to think about either the meaning of the card or the recipient of the card. And I'm getting excited about making more Christmas cards. It's such a wonderful time to remember Jesus -- the Son of God -- Who came down from heaven to earth in the form of a man to be born, to live a perfect life, and then to die and pay for our sins, rising from the dead. So Christmas is just the beginning!

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel
(which means, God with us).
Matthew 1:23

I hope you enjoy making cards for Christmas and preparing for the celebration, and may we all remember the most important thing of all -- God has made a way for us to be with Him forever through Jesus! That should give us true joy!

To see all the designs in one place or join the challenge, please visit Our Daily Bread Designs Blog. You have until November 2 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. By participating in the challenge, you have an opportunity to win a $15 ODBD gift certificate good towards the purchase of stamps in the "stamps column" on the ODBD website or to be "spotlighted" for the Shining the Light Award. We would love to see your designs!

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

Diana Nguyen * DJ Rants
Elizabeth Whisson * Linda Carson * Robin Clendenning

Thanks so much for "stopping by" and sharing a comment, thought, or prayer request, and I hope you have a wonderful week!

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Holly Wreath, Noel Ornament (ODBD)

Paper: Solar White (Neenah), Vintage Cream (PTI), Cherry Cobbler (SU), Jolly Holiday Designer Series paper (SU)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Holly Wreath die (ODBD), Labels One dies (Spellbinders), Scalloped Borderabilities die (Spellbinder), Dainty Dots M-Bossabilities embossing folder (Spellbinders), oval punch (SU), black marker (for sentiment), white Gelly Roll pen (Sakura), Perfect Layers tool, piercing tool, pearls (Recollections), 3M dimensional tape, red tape
Techniques: Fussy cutting, paper-piercing
Card Size:  5¼”

Pink Poinsettias

This is Week One of our Shining the Light Scripture Inspiration - Ecclesiates 3:1.

For everything there is a season, 

and a time for every matter under heaven.

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Yes, God says there is a season for everything, and the season I chose for the challenge is Christmas (trying to build up my supply of cards)! I also decided to make my card in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. After my mom succumbed to breast cancer at the age of 67, there was a season of weeping at her loss. But I also have the comfort of knowing that she is now with the Lord. But she fought valiantly and with faith in her Savior, the True Hope she could cling to.

I used the Poinsettia Ornament, colored the flowers in pink and some green, and fussy cut them. Then I used a circle and "snipped" off the bottom to make a pot for them and layered and popped them with dimensionals. My background is actually masked using the positive and negative die cuts of Circle Ornaments dies and stamping repeatedly with the Noel Ornament image. It was a fun challenge, and I think it worked (making sure the words were level). I just love the words of Christmas in beautiful fonts. I used the Ornate Hearts dies for my "thank you" sentiment from Autumn Tree. I added some pink taffeta ribbon, sponged, and matted, and it was done. 

As we begin to prepare to celebrate the season of Christmas, I am reminded that there is a constant ebb and flow in life. We can go from the highest mountain to the lowest valley, and yet God is always in control...and we must always have our eyes on Him. For one day the mystery of God will be finished and everything shall appear to have been done in the most proper time (Matthew Henry).

I know what it is to be in need, 

and I know what it is to have plenty.

I have learned the secret of being content

in any and every situation,

whether well fed or hungry, 

whether living in plenty or in want.

Philippians 4:12

To see all the designs in one place or join the challenge, please visit Our Daily Bread Designs Blog. You have until November 2 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. By participating in the challenge, you have an opportunity to win a $15 ODBD gift certificate good towards the purchase of stamps in the "stamps column" on the ODBD website or to be "spotlighted" for the Shining the Light Award. We would love to see your designs!

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

Chris Olsen * Diana Nguyen * DJ Rants
Elizabeth Whisson * Linda Carson * Robin Clendenning

Note:  Be sure to check out the ODBD November Pre-Order Special here (through October 31, 2014). 

Thanks so much for "stopping by" and sharing a comment, thought, or prayer request, and I hope you have a wonderful week!

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Poinsettia Ornament, Noel Ornament, Autumn Tree (ODBD)

Paper: Solar White (Neenah), White (PTI), Pretty in Pink and Wild Wasabi (SU)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Black (Versafine), Sahara Sand (SU)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Circle Ornaments dies (ODBD), Ornate Heart dies (ODBD), Circles dies (Spellbinders), Pretty in Pink taffeta ribbon (SU), Empressor tool, stylus, Blossom Spica Glitter Pen (Color Set B), 3M dimensional tape 
Techniques: Fussy cutting, sponging, masking (using positive and negative of die cuts)
Card Size:  4¾”

Planting A Tree

This is Week Two of our Shining the Light Anything Goes with ODBD Challenge.

You've heard the old saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," right? Well, they won't necessarily keep the doctor away, but they are healthy to eat...and delicious! Since October is a big month for harvesting apples in many places in the United States, I decided to use Autumn Tree and enjoyed coloring it. I kept it simple by matting it with green with no piercing – oh my! And isn't this a wonderful sentiment? A tree planted will grow and give beauty, shade, and fruit for years to come – often for many future generations. Once again I am delighted that this is a very mailable card!

When planting a tree, we often don't always think about how many people in future years will enjoy a tree we plant. What an extra special gift. 

This tree also reminds me of Psalm 1, where it speaks of delighting in God's law and meditating on it day and night. May we bear the fruit of the Spirit dwelling on and appropriating His Word in our hearts and lives – love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).

He is like a tree planted by streams of water
that yield its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
Psalm 1:3

To see all the designs in one place or join the challenge, please visit Our Daily Bread Designs Blog. You have until October 19 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. By participating in the challenge, you have an opportunity to win a $15 ODBD gift certificate good towards the purchase of stamps in the "stamps column" on the ODBD website or to be "spotlighted" for the Shining the Light Award. We would love to see your designs!

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

Chris Olsen * Diana Nguyen * DJ Rants
Elizabeth Whisson * Linda Carson * Robin Clendenning

Note:  Be sure to check out the ODBD November Pre-Order Special here (through October 31, 2014). 

Thanks so much for "stopping by" and sharing a comment, thought, or prayer request, and I hope you have a wonderful week!

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Autumn Tree (ODBD)

Paper: Solar White (Neenah), White (PTI), Garden Green (SU)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Black (Versafine)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Perfect Layers tool
Card Size:  A-2

Christmas Ornament

This is Week One of our Shining the Light Anything Goes with ODBD Challenge.

I made my very first Christmas card this year! Since I just love poinsettias (which grow naturally here), I decided to make a "Christmas tree ornament" using the new Poinsettia Ornament and colored it with Copic markers. I used both the Circle Ornaments and Matting Circles dies to make my ornament and used a gold Krylon pen to edge the circle and to make my ornament top gold. The background paper is from Christmas Paper Collection 2013 matted with red and pierced. I added one of the Beautiful Borders dies threaded with DMC floss and then used an Elegant Oval die for my popped Christmas greeting from Poinsettia Wreath. I did add just a touch of yellow Stickles for some sparkle in the center of the poinsettia, and a bit of red grosgrain ribbon hangs my ornament on the card. And I like that it is very mailable.

It's hard to believe here in South Florida that Christmas will be here in a few months...because it's still very warm! But Christmas is always a very special day to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus. At times, I can hardly fathom that God the Son came down to earth to live among us and to die for us, making the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
and we have seen His glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth.
John 1:14

So while Christmas is a wonderful time to celebrate and give each other gifts, I am reminded that we celebrate God's greatest gift to us, eternal life to all who believe in Jesus as Savior.

To see all the designs in one place or join the challenge, please visit Our Daily Bread Designs Blog. You have until October 19 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. By participating in the challenge, you have an opportunity to win a $15 ODBD gift certificate good towards the purchase of stamps in the "stamps column" on the ODBD website or to be "spotlighted" for the Shining the Light Award. We would love to see your designs!

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

Chris Olsen * Diana Nguyen * DJ Rants
Elizabeth Whisson * Linda Carson * Robin Clendenning

Thanks so much for "stopping by" and sharing a comment, thought, or prayer request, and I hope you have a wonderful week!

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Poinsettia Ornament, Poinsettia Wreath (ODBD)

Paper: Solar White (Neenah), Vintage Cream and Poppy Red (PTI), Christmas Collection 2013 (ODBD)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Black (Versafine)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Circle Ornaments dies (ODBD), Matting Circles dies (ODBD), Beautiful Borders dies (ODBD), Elevant Oval dies (ODBD), gold leafing pen (Krylon), yellow Stickles (Ranger), red grosgrain ribbon (Offray), DMS floss 817, Perfect Layers tool, Diamond Glaze adhesive, piercing tool, 3M dimensional tape, red tape
Techniques: Paper-piercing
Card Size:  4 3/4"

Happy Birthday, Kelley!

Welcome to Our Daily Bread Designs Birthday Blog Hop, celebrating Kelley's birthday! 

Kelley Holland is owner of Our Daily Bread Designs, and the "breadsticks" have come together for this special hop to share cards using Our Daily Bread Designs stamps and custom dies to wish Kelley a wonderful and blessed Happy Birthday! We would love for you to hop along with us and leave birthday wishes for Kelley!

For my card, I decided to use this old-fashioned image called Elizabeth and colored it green with deep pink for the trim. This dress reminds me some of those worn in the wonderful television series, "Downton Abbey." I die cut the main Vintage Flourish Pattern die for the background, sponged it, and then glued it to the cream card base. Then I fussy-cut the focal image just a bit smaller than the solid inside shape so the sponging would serve as a mat and then pierced around it. I added my sentiment from Birthday Doily, edged the circle with a Copic marker, and popped it just to the right. A simple but heartfelt birthday card, Kelley! 

Thank you so much for joining us on the Birthday Blog Hop, and we hope you enjoyed it! 

In case you may have missed someone, here's a complete list, and you can see all the cards together on the ODBD Blog.

Chris Olsen * Lisa Somerville * Sandee Shanabrough
Grace Nywening * Wanda Cullen * Elizabeth Whisson
Robin Clendenning * Paula Bigelow * Linda Carson
Angella Crockett * Cathy McCauley * Silke Ledlow
Dawn Lusk * Diana Nguyen * Sabrina Jackson
Cheryl Scrivens

Happy birthday, Kelley! Have a wonderful birthday celebration, and may God continue to bless you! Hugs, sweet friend!

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Elizabeth, Birthday Doily (ODBD)

Paper: Classic White (Neenah), Vintage Cream (PTI), Pistachio Pudding (SU)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Black (Versafine), Pistachio Pudding (SU)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Circle dies (Spellbinders), Vintage Flourish Pattern dies (ODBD), Glue n' Seal adhesive (Ranger), white Enamel Accents (Ranger), piercing tool, 3M dimensional tape
Techniques: Paper-piercing, sponging
Card Size:  A-2