Twist of Faith #67 - Traditional Christmas

 

Today we have a new challenge at Twist of Faith!  Our challenge encourages you to make a card with this twist: add a scripture, positive quote/verse, or uplifting quote.  We hope our cards will be an encouragement to the recipients and to those who visit our blogs.

This weeks new challenge:

TRADITIONS of CHRISTMAS

 "What does "Traditional Christmas" mean to you?  Is it a family tradition that you still keep after many, many years?  Is it an ornament that is on the tree every year?  Maybe making cookies with the kids using your grandmother's cookie cutters?  Or is it going Christmas Caroling with your friends?  This week we are asking you to make a card that represents that your Traditional Christmas is or what it means.  We'd also love to hear about your tradition when you write your post on your blog.  Who knows - your tradition might become one of ours!  And don't forget that your card must include a scripture, uplifting quote/sentiment, or positive verse in order to be considered for our random prize."

Our sponsor this week is Robyn's Fetish! I used their fun image, Christmas Scene 1. As I made my card, I tried to incorporate symbols of Christmas traditions that we've had in our family.

I flipped the image horizontally in Photoshop and fussy cut it to put on a glittery ornament, which represents the way we always decorated our homes. The image I chose represents the way each generation from my parents to my children as parents have tried to keep the emphasis on Christ as the center of Christmas.

My card uses music paper as a background. When I was a child, we always had Christmas programs at church. We would sing carols and re-enact the story of Christ's birth. When I became a teacher, I led the same type of Christmas programs, either in our church or our Christian school. Now our grandchildren are putting on programs for us at their own Christian school. I made this card to give the "other grandma" that I'll see tomorrow night when we sit together to watch the younger children sing carols and the older ones put on a play. They have amazing teachers who bring out their talents. The plays now are definitely modern, but have a message about the true gift of Christmas- Jesus, God's Son, who came not only as a baby, but as one who came to show us how to live and then to die as the perfect, sinless, sacrifice, paying for our sins.


Another tradition I've always had is to give handmade gifts to family or friends. When my kids were young, I would sew clothes or toys for them. So I used the sewing machine to stitch along the edges, not in my comfort zone with paper. I also chose that gingham ribbon to represent the homespun idea.

The front sentiment I printed from Doodle Pantry's "Holiday Greetings."  I don't remember the inside sentiment because it was a part of a group I printed ahead:

Thinking about our families' traditions have certainly given me a nostalgic walk down memory lane! I hope you'll share your own with our Twist of Faith challenge.

I'm also sharing this card with the following challenges:
52 Christmas Card Throwdown - use a previous challenge - #18 Christmas Ornaments
A Creative Romance- Sparkle at Christmas
Creative Corner - Traditional Christmas
Cupcake Inspirations #240 - I used the colors - red, green, golden
Great Impressions December Challenge - Glitter (and/or sequins)
Paper Crafting Journey - It's Christmas Time
Robyn's Fetish Challenge #189 - Must have a bow
That Craft Place - Christmas
The Ribbon Girls - Ho, Ho, Ho Christmas
Word Art Wednesday #109- anything goes with Scripture or encouraging verse
 

Twist of Faith #55 - Buttons

There were so many lovely entries on the Twist of Faith challenge last week. It's a delight to see everyone's creations. My post will be brief thanks to back and hip problems today! I told a friend today that as different body parts "fall apart" I'm just reminded that this place on earth is not my real home.

Now onto our new challenge -       Challenge #55 theme is:  Buttons
             We want to see Buttons in your creations.  And we can't wait to see how you use them.

Our sponsor for the week is Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps and More, who has generously offered the winner of this weeks challenge 5 digital images of your choice!  WOW!  And here is a little bit about our sponsor: 

Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More is proud to sponsor this challenge. Robyn's Fetish Digital Stamps And More, a division of I Did It Creations, was created and is owned by Robyn Weinrib.  Robyn offers a wonderful variety of digital stamps and digital papers, designed to meet the needs of all digital paper crafting addicts for every occasion.

Robyn’s Fetish Digital Stamps And More is happy to award 5 digital stamps of the winner’s choice to this challenge.

At Twist of Faith this week we shared this encouragement from the Bible with you :

Let him have all your worries and cares,  for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.  1 Peter 5:7

 

I chose the image of Apple Harvest from Robyn's Fetish so that I could add red buttons on the tree to represent apples. I used an embossing folder with apples to make the Holiday Red strip that I sanded, revealing the white core that CTMH cardstock always had.  With all this fruit, I couldn't help but think about the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians.

 

 

 

 

Here are the verses I printed on a 4" x 6" card to use on the inside and out. It's saved as a jpg file so that you can click on it to get the larger version, then right click to do a "Save as." When you're ready to print, you can size it to fit a 6" x 4" card like I did or any other size.

 

Just as I pray for myself, I'm also praying for you that God's Spirit will lead us and fill us with the fruit of the Spirit that others may see Jesus working in our lives.

 

 

I used this fun Sweet Sunday Sketch # 193:

 

 

 

 

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

ABC45 - Fall  (apple season in the U.S.)

Crafty Boots Challenge - A is for Apple

One Stitch at a Time #181 - Autumn/Fall (apple season in the U.S.)

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #193

Word Art Wednesday #97 - Anything goes with Scripture, uplifting, or encouraging verse

 

 

Get Well Gift with Scriptures that Encourage

I was trying out another of the Cricut Artiste "purses" when I realized it was large enough for a small mini-album like a tissue tube album. That's when I also decided that adding some encouraging scripture would make a great gift for someone recuperating or fighting a long illness.

I cut out two of the purse shapes and used adhered them together, letting the pattern show on the outside and the solid color inside. I used matte Mod Podge to attach matching cardstock to the tissue tubes (after I flattened them really well with my ribbon iron).

I typed up some of my favorites, printed them on 4" x 6" cardstock and attached them to the covered tubes or the inserts. I have those in a Word Document. If anyone would like a copy, let me know how to email it to you. I also used verses from Our Daily Bread Designs that were the right size. I kept embellishments flat and simple - a few butterflies cut from Graphic 45 Botanicabella paper and some of the hearts from the same cardstock that I used for the purse and mini-album.

 

 

After punching a hole in the upper left corner with my Crop-a-dile, I tried a metal ring, but it stuck out of the purse at an odd angle. So I used Creme Brulee ribbon I've kept on hand for a long time. The dotted satin is wrapped around the purse and is the one I used to tie the pages together. I didn't tie it tightly, but kept it in the shape of a ring with a knot at the end. I used another stitched grosgrain from that same set to use as "pulls" for the inserts. The front cover of the album has a third ribbon, chocolate organdy that I got in 2006. It's subtle and goes well with the colors of the patterned paper.

I'm sharing this gift with tissue tube mini-album with the following challenges:
 All Sorts Weel #169 - A Gift
IDIC Robyn's Fetish Challenge #122 - Anything but a card
Make It Monday #104 - Anything Goes
The Stamp Man - Alter It
Use It Tuesday Challenge 38 - Use That Ribbon (hoarded supplies)

Materials used:
Paper - Close To My Heart "Florentine," Colonial White and Twilight cardstock; Graphic 45 "Botanicabella";  toilet tissue tubes
Stamps - Our Daily Bread Designs "Get Well"
Inks - CTMH Black, Chocolate
Accents - CTMH Creme Brulee Ribbon Collection and CHocolate Organdy (all retired), Prima flower
Tools - Cricut Artiste p. 33, "3" key, 3-D Object 4" - cut two and adhere for sturdier purse
Spellbinders Nestabilities - ovals, scalloped ovals; ribbon iron