Christmas Filled With Love

This is Week One of our Shining the Light Sketch Challenge.

This is a great sketch that Chris Olsen has designed for us, and I adjusted it for a square card. I used two pattern pieces of ODBD's Christmas Paper Collection 2014. I used Copic marker BG72 for the matting for a good match and then did my usual piercing (you know how much I love to pierce!). My focal image is from Christmas Blessings, and I added my sheer ribbon (once again colored with Copic marker BG57) but tied under the sentiment layer. Then I added one of the sweet new Mini Tag dies with a sentiment from Mini Tag Sentiments. 

Christmas is indeed a time that should be filled with God's love and blessing. But is it? When I think of the lengths to which God went to provide me with eternal hope and life, I am humbled. He sent Jesus to live among us, die for our sins, and rise, defeating sin and death...forever! May each day be Christmas in our hearts.

You will keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on You,
because he trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3

This is the last full week before Christmas, and I have a very long to-do list (and I'm you do as well). But my goal is to look at each item on my list and decide what tasks are most important and decide what not to do. I know it will be very hard, but I plan to focus more on anticipating Christmas (remember, Advent is based on the Latin word for "coming"). I am remembering His first coming that Christmas day and looking forward to His second coming. In the meantime, I desire to have a greater longing for His return, as He keeps me in perfect peace.

To see all the designs in one place or join the challenge, please visit Our Daily Bread Designs Blog. You have until December 28 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 Blessings, Mini Tag Sentiments (ODBD)

Paper: White (PTI), Christmas Paper Collection 2014 (ODBD)

Ink: Black (Versafine)
Tools/Accessories: Copic marker BG72 for matting, Mini Tags dies (ODBD), Rectangle dies and Scalloped Rectangle dies (Spellbinders), white organza ribbon dyed with Copic marker BG57 (CTMH), Perfect Layers tool, piercing tool, 3M dimensional tape, red tape
Techniques: Paper-piercing
Card Size:  5"