Christmas Rose

This is Week One of our Shining the Light "Blessings" Word Challenge. For your recipe, use four letters of the word "blessings."

I actually managed to use all the letters in "blessings," probably pushing it a bit (smile)! But it was fun. I colored my Christmas Rose a deep red (even though they really aren't that red and often white or pale rose), and I added the "Merry Christmas" sentiment from Gift of God. I used a shaped die and matching decorative die and paper pieced. Then I added some "sparkle" to my blooms and added gold cord. Once again, this is a very mailable card!

Here is a list of what I used for "blessings." 

B - Blossoms, L - Layered, E - Embossing, S - Sentiment, 

S - Sparkle/Shimmer, I - Ink, N - Nestabilities, 

G - Gold Cord, S - Shaped Card

Interestingly, the Christmas Rose is a well-known European perennial evergreen plant that blooms during the depth of winter and is known for its ability to bloom during the darkest months of the year when everything else is frozen solid. 

Red is a favorite color for me at Christmas, probably because my mom loved it. The day after Thanksgiving she would start to decorate by putting out the first piece, and it was always red. Each day thereafter, she added decorations until the culmination of Christmas Eve, when they had an open house for family and friends. The house was beautiful, warm, and welcoming, and she always had all kinds of delicious cookies that she had baked. Such wonderful memories!

I'm not sure what your favorite tradition is for Christmas, but I hope that will include enjoying time with family and or friends. But the most important thing to remember is the real meaning of Christmas, when Jesus came to live among us.

She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, 

for He will save His people from their sins.

Matthew 1:21

To see all the designs in one place or join the challenge, please visit Our Daily Bread Designs Blog. You have until November 30 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:  Christmas Rose, Gift of God (ODBD)

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

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Black (Versafine)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Labels 8 dies and Decorative Labels 8 dies (Spellbinders), gold cord (May Arts), glitter pens (Spica), white Gelly Roll 08 (Sakura), Diamond Glaze adhesive, piercing tool, Glue n' Seal adhesive (Inkssentials/Ranger), red tape
Techniques: Paper-piercing
Card Size:  4 x 5 1/2"