Christmas Blessings to You: Luke 2:14

A week from today is Christmas and today is Sunday which means time for a challenge based on scripture at  Stampin' Sisters in Christ! So glad you stopped by.

This week it was my turn turn to be our hostess and the verse I chose is Luke 2:14. Be sure to stop by our home page to read my devotion.

"Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2:14)

This week your challenge is to make a Christmas card with a religious theme and/or image. If all of your Christmas cards are done for this year look at it as a head start for next year!   

This is my last Christmas card for this year.  I used one of my favorite stamps from ODBD. It was the first stamp set I purchased from them. I really loved the sketch by Carly and the 2 worked perfectly together. I colored the image with Copics and used a gold pen on the flames and candle holders. A little bling to finish it off.
  

Our sponsor this week is ODBD with a $15 gift card on stamps that you will love.

Be sure to stop by my SSIC design sisters (listed on the sidebar) to see what they have to share this week:

It is always great to see you, thanks for the comments!

Recipe: 

Stamps: ODBD
Paper: Gina K - White and Rocket red

Designer Paper: EP  Season's Greetings

Other: Ribbon, spellbinders die  Copics, and a few pearls

Challenges:

Sketches by Carly - sketch

Marks Finest Papers - Christmas card

Simply Create Too -  Embossing
Our Daily Bread Designs - N (Nestabilities) O (ODBD stamps) E (Embossing) L (Layering) 

Happy Anniversary Honey

 

Today is our 40th wedding anniversary. This is the card I made for him. Our wedding colors were red and white with the men in black tuxes. Our mothers made the bridesmaid dresses and my mother made my wedding gown. And I do believe that I was actually that thin 40 years ago too! Do you notice the diamond earring? Well, I got some beautiful diamond earrings too!

The stamp set is from GKD - called Because of You. 

Christmas Hearts

I really needed to make a few more Christmas cards so when I saw this free - yes I said free digi at Stamp TV I knew I wanted to make this card. Then I fell in love with the sketch from Card Patterns and the card flew together.

I loved how the ribbon turned out. It was a flat ribbon that I heated with my heat gun. The felt poinsettia was purchased after Christmas last year. I love when I do that!

Thanks for stopping by and your comments are always treasured!
God Bless,

Card Recipe:

Stamps: GKD - Free Digi

Paper: GinaK - Lipstick Red and some gold vellum.

Specialty Paper - EP - Season's Greetings

Other: Ribbon, felt poinsettia, Spellbinder dies

Challenges Entered:

Card Patterns - Sketch
4 Crafty Chicks - Christmas Card

Crafting for all Seasons - Christmas
Crafts and Me - Christmas

Divas by Design - Christmas

Sisterhood of Crafters  - Christmas

Birthday Baby: Luke 2:11

The third week of Advent already and another Sunday which means time for a challenge based on scripture at  Stampin' Sisters in Christ! We are always so glad to have you visit.

This week it is Marilyn's turn to be our hostess and the verse she chose is  from Luke 2:11. Be sure to stop by our home page to read her incredible devotion!

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord."

Preparing our hearts for the birth of our Lord - such a wonderful season. I just had to make that above card from an old stamp set that I had. It required some digging to find it but this verse really cried out for me to use it. It is simple, exactly what this scripture verse is. Simple with a powerful message. At church tonight we sang one of my favorites - "I looked up and saw my Lord a-coming.....". There are other verses but you get the drift and perhaps you even know the song. This is a very special time of the year - and the message that is required is in the verse above. He is born - for us.


I colored that card very simply as well, dug out the old coloring pencils for it. I wanted the muted look. I used this week's sketch from Card Patterns for this card. 


The challenge for this week was to make a birthday card in honor of Christ's birth. Well I first made the card below because it is one of my granddaughters 9th birthday on the 23rd and I wanted to make her card totally all about her.  

 

So this card was made for Dreama - happy birthday sweetie! I used another sketch challenge this week from Mojo Monday.
  

Our sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamp  with an adorable stamp set called Terra's Penguins Have Style. 

Be sure to stop by my SSIC design sisters (listed on the sidebar) to see what they have to share this week:

It is always great to see you, thanks for the comments!

Recipe: 

Stamps: SU - The nativity set and I am not sure where the cute birthday girl is from
Paper: Gina K - White and Rocket red

Designer Paper: Graphics 45 for the nativity and EP Dots and Stripes for the birthday girl

Other: Ribbon, spellbinders die  Copics  and pencils to color

Challenges:

MOJO Monday - Sketch - Card 2

Card Patterns - Sketch - Card 1

Crafty Emma - A Traditional Christmas

Card Makin' Mamas -  cards only – Week 1, Christmas

Raise The Bar – Christmas

Simply Create Too -  Embossing

Totally Papercrafts – Anything but Christmas  
   

Angel of Peace: Matthew 1:20-22

Another Sunday means another challenge based on scripture at  Stampin' Sisters in Christ! We are always so glad to have you visit.

This week it is our fearless and faithful leader Lisa's turn to be our hostess and the verse she chose is  from Matthew 1:20-22 . Be sure to stop by our home page to read her incredible devotion!

"But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' which means, 'God with us.'"

Gulp - would I be that obedient, that trusting? I don't know. Mary and Joseph trusted completely that what the angel said to them was fact. I may not have angels coming to me in my dreams (at least not that I remember) but I do know that I hear God's word in many other ways. Through church services and reading and the radio station I listen to in the car. Often it is the words of others in my life that hold a message from God, but I have to be listening for them. I often have a tough time letting my worries and concerns go and just let God do His will through me and be open to listen.

The challenge this week is to create a project depicting an angel.

I recently received this wonderful angel from Layers of Color. I was happy that there was a challenge that allowed my angel to be inked up. I stamped her on white card stock and carefully cut her out. I colored her with Copics and I used some Sakura pens to add glitter. I wanted a halo kind of look around her head and chose a red circle to put behind her. The angel is popped up. She does look peaceful doesn't she?

Our sponsor this week is Clear Dollar Stamps with a $15 gift card. 

Be sure to stop by my SSIC design sisters (listed on the sidebar) to see what they have to share this week:

It is always great to see you, thanks for the comments!

Recipe: 

Stamps: LOC - Angel and sentiment
Paper: Gina K - White and Rocket red

Designer Paper: Graphics 45

Other: Ribbon, spellbinders die (for circle), Copics to color and some red glittery embelishments

Challenges:

Allsorts - Going round in Circles

Crafty Catz -colors of Christmas with sparkle

Fairy Tale - Christmas

Raise The Bar – Christmas

Simply Create Too - All About Christmas

Wags 'n Whiskers -  Angel or Fairy

   

Christmas Cardinal: Matthew 6:25-34

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. A season to reflect and prepare for the coming of Jesus! Today is also time for another Stampin' Sisters in Christ  challenge based on scripture!

This week it is the Lovely Linda who is our hostess and the verse she chose is  from Matthew 6:25-34 . Be sure to stop by our home page to read her devotion.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?"

I have a bird feeder in the back yard and I love watching the cardinals come to feed. Their chirps are so distinctive and their color so vibrant. They always make me smile. They do not worry and I know I should not worry. I do though, no matter how often I have a strong talk with myself not to. So this is a good reminder at this time of the year as we prepare ourselves for Christmas. We are not to focus on the shopping for presents or food and all the other things that the world tells us we must have to make us or others happy at Christmas, instead focus on preparing our hearts.

The challenge this week is to create a project that has a bird on it - as DP, image or charm.

I think you can tell that my bird is center stage for this card. I love this winter cardinal, so bright and cheery.

Our sponsor this week is Sweet and Sassy with a  $10 gift card. 

Be sure to stop by my SSIC design sisters (listed on the sidebar) to see what they have to share this week:

It is always great to see you, thanks for the comments!

Recipe: 

Stamps: GKD - Winter Wings
Paper: Gina K - Kraft and Red

Designer Paper: Graphics 45

Other: Red gems, ribbon, spellbinders die, Copics to color and sponging

Challenges:

The Sweetest Thing - Sketch (too late for the challenge but loved the sketch!

Simply Create Too - 2W – Week 1, All About Christmas

Totally Papercrafts - Christmas

Southern Girls - 2W, 1E - (2nd week) BINGO* (Die Cut, Gem, Ribbon)
Gingerloft -Winter OR ChristmasScrappy Frogs - Use Kraft Card Stock

Stamptacular Sunday - Must use a stamp - Anything Christmas

Hallelujah: Job 13:15

This is Thanksgiving week - oh I have so much to be thankful for! I want to  sing my Hallelujahs to the heavens above! One of the many things I am thankful for is all of you who join us regularly at Stampin' Sisters in Christ for another challenge based on scripture!

This week ever faithful  Rebekka is our hostess and the verse she chose is  from Job 13:15 . Be sure to stop by our home page to read her devotion.

"Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him "

Yes I do sing my Hallelujah for all my blessings. It has been a tough year and throughout the challenges I have trusted in Him and not let the difficulties slay me. A lot to be thankful for indeed.

Make a card of praise, using music, stamp, or design paper or just the word praise.

I stamped the musical notes on white card stock, first stamping off so that it would look a little muted. I placed that panel behind the poinsettia frame. Teh trumpet was stamped on gold and very carefully cut out. I colored the image with Colpics.

Our sponsor this week is Pizzazz Aplenty with a $15 value surprise grab bag . 

Be sure to stop by my SSIC design sisters (listed on the sidebar) to see what they have to share this week:

It is always great to see you, thanks for the comments!

Recipe: 

Stamps: GKD - Festive Frame, Vintage Borders, The Magic of Christmas. The sentiment is from LOC.
Paper: Gina K - White and SU

Designer Paper: None

Other: Gold peals and a little ribbon

Challenges:
Art Impressions Stamps Challenge: Use Red, Green and Metallic

Card and Scrap -  Traditional Christmas colours

Digi Doodle Shop's Best -  Red and Green

Inspire Me Fridays - always anything goes

Floweret - Christmas
JUGS - Red White and Green

CSS - Inspiration Blog Hop - 11/18/2011

It is another StampTV blog hop. I really enjoy these blog hops, it is such fun to see all the different things everyone comes up with - each one wonderful! This one is an Inspiration Blog Hop, look at this great photo, so many options to choose from. 

You should have arrived from Melissa Shultz blog. She always has such wonderful ideas and projects.

This is the first card I made - I focused on the circle and decided to make a round card in blues. The stamps are from the Stamp TV kit called "Wishing you Joy". There are so many really nice images in this set. I love it. In fact the second card is also made with this stamp set. I used a silver doily on the back and stamped the snowflakes in white craft ink. the dove was colored and popped up. The snowflake was purchased at the end of the season last year. The card stock is GinaK Little Boy Blue.

This second card also uses the new StampTV set, called Wishing you Joy. I wanted to show the circles so I used 4 on one. I pulled in a little DP from Jillibean Soup and I also used GinaK Designs Rocket Red card stock and some of her luscious  ribbon. I colored the images with my Copics.

Now hop on over to visit Sharri Seffins! I am sure she has some inspiration for you as well. If you want to start at the beginning  or get lost along the way, just jump directly to the links for all of the wonderful creations on StampTV. 

Make sure to leave a comment as you hop along because on Tuesday morning (November 22), we will randomly choose one of the comments from all the blogs who will get a stamp set of their choice valued up to $24.95!

Giving Thanks: 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Brrr... It was unusually cool this weekend here in sunny Florida - I loved it!  Thanks for joining us at Stampin' Sisters in Christ for another challenge based on scripture!

This week sweet Traci is our hostess and the verse she chose is  from 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Be sure to stop by our home page to read her devotion.

"Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

Giving thanks, do we remember to give thanks for everything? Yes, even the storms that pass through our lives. Some are small little rain showers that slow us down a bit, and others are hurricanes or blizzards that can throw us into a tailspin. We do still give thanks, for it is the storms that make us stronger and help us to cling to our God even more! So, thank you Father for the ups and downs and for standing with me through them all!

The challenge this week is to create a card or project that depicts gratitude...it can be an image of something you are grateful for, a scripture that evokes your gratitude, or it can be a card made especially for a person you would like to thank this time of year. I love this image from TCM, she is really holding spring flowers - but with the magic of fall colored Flower Soft it became a fall arrangement. Perfect for a fall thank you card.

I used the Midnight Madness sketch this time!

Our sponsor this week is Simon Says Stamps with an adorable stamp set. 

Be sure to stop by my SSIC design sisters (listed on the sidebar) to see what they have to share this week:

It is always great to see you, thanks for the comments!

Recipe: 

Stamps: TCM - Little Frieda's Flowers
Paper: Gina K - Cranberry Tart and White

Designer Paper: GKD exclusive DP

Other: FlowerSoft, Spellbinder dies, ribbon, brads, button and MS leaf punch

Challenges:

Midnight Madness - Sketch
2 Sisters - #65 Anything Goes
My Sheri Crafts  -  Be Thankful
Stamp, Scrap and Doodle -  Thank you (Thanksgiving)
Card Makin' Mamas -  thankful
Inspire Me Fridays - always anything goes
Corrosive Challenges -  Give Thanks
Sentimental Sundays -  Thanksgiving/ Thank you
Sparkles Forum - Autumn 

Joyful Penguin

I am falling way behind in Christmas cards this year! So I decided to pick up the pace and create a few. I now have several pieces of Christmas cards laying on my table - this is the first that came together.

This card was stamped with the newest StampTV kit from GinaK called Wishing you Joy. This set has a lot of really fun images for such a great variety of stamps. Nothing fancy with this card - loved the DP with the stripes. Not too much coloring, just some paper piecing and a button. .

Thanks for stopping by and your comments are always treasured!
God Bless,

Card Recipe:

Stamps: GKD - Wishing you Joy

Paper: GinaK - Green Apple and white

Specialty Paper - Jillibean Soup - Christmas Eve Chowder

Other: Ribbon, a button, Spellbinder dies

Challenges Entered:

Simon Says Stamps - Button

Card Patterns - Sketch

Top Tip Tuesday -#59 Anything Christmas Goes

Jolly Santa:Genesis 3:6

Did you remember to set your clocks back an hour? That extra hour of sleep sure is nice!  Thanks for joining us at Stampin' Sisters in Christ for another challenge based on scripture!

This week our ever faithful PeggySue is our hostess and the verse she chose is Genesis 3:6. Be sure to stop by our home page to read her wonderful devotion.

"When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it."

Temptation! It is always around me. Temptation to eat what I shouldn't, buy what I don't need, and say what I shouldn't say. I think that many of us can relate to the "diet" word. It seems to be a losing battle with me lately.The temptation to have all the newest stamps and all the wonderful "stuff" that are all "must haves" is another battle that I wage, especially now that our funds are so incredibly tight. But the one that I am working on the hardest right now is the last one. There have been times lately when I really have to make an effort to NOT say what is on my mind, to NOT judge others, to think and pray before I speak. Temptation - they are all around us but we can resist with the help of our Father.  

The challenge this week is to dig in your stash and use one of your oldest stamp sets, one that hasn't seen any use for a long while. I used a stamp set that I got several years ago from SU. Love this Jolly Old Man! I did also use a new stamp for the sentiment from LOC. The sentiment  and banner is just what I wanted for this card.

I really like sketches as a starting point and Carly's was the perfect sketch for this stamp. Great sketch Carly!

Our sponsor this week is Clear Dollar Stamps  with a $15 gift card

Be sure to stop by my SSIC design sisters (listed on the sidebar) to see what they have to share this week:

It is always great to see you, thanks for the comments!

Recipe: 

Stamps: SU - Naughty or Nice - LOC - Sentimental Banners
Paper: Gina K - White, Lipstick Red

Designer Paper: EP - Season's Greetings

Other: Cuttlebug Folder and a few pearls, buttons, ribbon, liquid applique (for the beard), Copics to color

Challenges:

Stamp with Fun - Buttons

Sketch by Carly - sketch

Stempelsonnen Challenge - must have stamp as main focus - Santa Claus

Simon Says Stamp - Buttons

Hope!

This is my second post for today. To see the SSIC post please scroll down.

I made this card for a friend who did the 3 day walk for breast cancer this weekend. She is a cancer survivor and does this walk every year! Yeah Karen!


This card was stamped with a stamp set from GinaK called Strength and Hope designed by Theresa Momber. Great set! Make the ribbon change colors for any cause! Here is a link that shows the different colors and what they stand for: Ribbon Causes

Thanks for stopping by and your comments are always treasured!
God Bless,

Card Recipe:

Stamps: GKD - Strength and Hope

Paper: GinaK Brown - Innocent Pink

Specialty Paper - BG - hopscotch

Other: border punch, pearls

Challenges Entered:

Our Craft Lounge - pink for breast cancer awareness

Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes

BasicGrey - #56 Anything Goes

Sending Blessings: Isaiah 1:18

Happy Sunday - this is the day the Lord has made - let us rejoice and be glad in it.  I am so glad you could join us at Stampin' Sisters in Christ for another challenge based on scripture!

This week our wonderful Lisa is our hostess and the verse she chose is Isaiah 1:18. Be sure to stop by our home page to read her wonderful devotion.

"'Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.’”

Is it not amazing that our sins, no matter what they might be, can be wiped away - our souls can be as clean and white as snow. Do we do that with our brothers and sisters in Christ? With our spouses, our children, our parents, or co-workers? It is not easy to "forgive and forget" when someone has hurt us especially someone we love. Yet that is what we, as Christians, are called to do. Just as I ask God to forgive me my sins and know that He will forgive AND forget so must I forgive those who hurt me. Easy to recite that prayer - more difficult to actually live it. So this week forgive AND forget some transgression against you. Think about it, pray about it and then - forget about it. That is a goal for me this week - care to join me? 
 

The challenge this week is to use fall colors in your creation: crimson, orange and gold (or similar).

I was in the mood for a sketch challenge so I found a great sketch at CPS. The most difficult thing about this card was the cutting. It was different for me to use kraft - I do not use it often enough! 

Our sponsor this week is Lily of the Valley with a 10 pound gift card from her store!

Be sure to stop by my SSIC design sisters (listed on the sidebar) to see what they have to share this week:

It is always great to see you, thanks for the comments!

Recipe: 

Stamps: GKD - Basket Additions, Spring Basket and Basket Blessings
Paper: Gina K - kraft, SU - rust

Designer Paper: Cosmo Matilda (scraps left over from last year!)

Other: Cuttlebug Folder and a few pearls, Copics to color

Challenges:

CPS: Sketch (which I was too late for!)

Inspire Me Fridays - always anything goes

Designed 2 Delight - Pumpkins

Sweet Stampin - must Stamp - Anything goes

C.R.A.F.T. - Colour Combo 
MFP - Speedy the Cat - Use your scraps -   

CSS - Sketch Blog Hop - 10/28/2011

It is another StampTV blog hop. This time it is a sketch blog hop. I really like sketch challenges. I do believe that those are my favorites.  I do want to apologize up front for the pictures. It was a dreary day and by the time I got home from work tonight the light was about gone, and I just noticed that the first one is also crooked. Oh well, too late!
If you came from Sharri Seffins blog, then you're right where you should be. You can also go to StampTV to see a list of all those participating.

I made 2 cards for this hop. The first card uses Theresa's new stamp set called Strength and Hope. This is a very special stamp set for me and for many, many other people! The ribbons in this stamp set can be colored in for causes and many different kinds of cancer. My husband has just finished his chemo and radiation treatments for head, neck, and throat cancer. The colors for that are burgundy and ivory. So this card is for the many wonderful family and friends who supported (and still are) us with prayers, meals, and cards! I made another card using this set with pink, for a friend from work. So many uses for this stamp set! 


I used GinaK Pure Luxury Cranberry Tart, Sweet Corn and Ivory. I colored using my Copics and the strips of DP was from Pink Paislee's Old School. My dear Nesties, a Cuttlebug folder, some scraps of ribbon, and some GKD gold brads finished up the card.

This second card uses the new StampTV set, called Wishing you Joy, that arrived at my front door yesterday!! Woo Hoo! So I had to ink a couple of the stamps up and make a quick Christmas card. The DP came in that wonderful box too! Isn't it awesome? The DP is from Echo Park called Season's Greetings. I colored the ornaments with Copics. The ribbon was in my "red ribbon" container and I had some gold that I scavenged from a gift once upon a time. It really was a quick and easy card.

Now hop on over to visit Melissa Shultz! I am sure she has some inspiration for you as well. If you want to start at the beginning  or get lost along the way, just jump directly to the links for all of the wonderful creations on StampTV.


Make sure to leave a comment as you hop along because on Tuesday morning (November 1), we will randomly choose one of the comments from all the blogs who will get a stamp set of their choice valued up to $24.95!

Every Minute: Ecclesiastes 3:1

Another Sunday and another chance to share some scripture with you, our faithful friends. I am so glad you could join us at Stampin' Sisters in Christ for another challenge based on scripture!

This week it is MariLynn as your hostess and the verse she chose is Ecclesiastes 3:1 . Be sure to stop by our home page to read her wonderful testimony.

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens..."

This verse is wonderful to keep in my heart and mind all the time. Those of you who follow my blog and SSIC know some of the things that have been difficult for my family. Well, there is a season for everything and we are looking ahead to some wonderful things that are coming. We will have the arrival of one grandchild in April and another in May! What blessings they will bring to the entire family! New life - new season.
 

The challenge this week is to make a card that shows the passing of time. A clock ( for hours) a sun (for days) a calendar for (years) etc.

I was in the mood for a sketch challenge so I headed over to Sketch by Carly - and took her sketch to this challenge. I used stamp sets from 2 different companies. The sentiment  is from ODBD and the hourglass is from GKD. Love both of those. It was a simple card to make. The most difficult was the cutting of the hourglass because I wanted it to look 3D. I think that did it! 

Our sponsor this week is Digital Delights with 3 digis from the store!

Be sure to stop by my SSIC design sisters (listed on the sidebar) to see what they have to share this week:

It is always great to see you, thanks for the comments!

Recipe: 

Stamps: ODBD - Each Minute and GKD - Timeless Treasures
Paper: Gina K - white and SU Grey

Designer Paper: BG - Pyrus

Other: Spellbinders Dies - lace and a few white nailheads

Challenges:

Sketches by Carly: Sketch

Inspire Me Fridays - always anything goes