SSIC 113~Christmas Tree

Another week has flown by so quickly...and it's time for a new Stampin' Sisters in Christ card challenge!

This week our hostess is the wonderfully talented Lisa from The Craft's Meow.  You can view the devotional on the SSIC blog and read along with the rest of the design team. It's always exciting to see each week's thoughts  and applications.

Well, we had a "sneak peek" of winter here a couple of days ago as overnight the snow caught us by surprise, leaving a scene of winter wonderland along with many damaged trees in our town and neighborhoods. The beauty of the fist snowfall of the year sparked the creativity in today's card. This week's challenge was to use "fall colors like crimson, orange or golds."

Crimson it is...and this Christmas striped ribbon reminds me of today's verse:

Isaiah 1:18" 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."

I stamped the tree and gave it a gold halo with Tim Holtz antique linen and tea dye inks...(my touch of gold) and added a bit more gold with stickles along the branches. The crimson was added with the back panel and the red and white striped ribbon tied in a big fat bow. These oversized bows seem to be my trademark!

I see this verse as such a "gift" from God...the one we as Christians can celebrate any day...and that is the complete wiping out of our sins by a completely Holy God. Some may ask, "What is sin? " Sin as used in scripture means to "miss the mark." God has set a perfect and holy standard in the Bible. Just reading the Ten Commandments, none of us has to go far to realize that we don't meet any of them perfectly. God is holy, which means he is completely without sin. In order to enter in to his presence and enjoy fellowship with him...we also need to have that holiness imparted to us. Thankfully, we don't have to wait until some distant day far off into the future. God provided a way...and that is by believing in His son, Jesus Christ and repenting (turning away from) our sin. If any of this is confusing or you would like to know more about how to have your sins completely removed (past , present, and future) now and forever...please leave me a comment and we can reason together through the scriptures.

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This week's prize sponsors are a 10 pound gift card from Lily of the Valley. I just received an order from them yesterday, and can't wait to make a card with one of these adorable images!

 I hope you can join in our challenge this week...and be reminded of the weight that has been lifted as we rejoice over the promise of this scripture when we confess our sins and turn away from them...putting our trust in God's son as the perfect sacrifice for all of our sins.

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Today's card is also being submitted for this week's Flourishes

card challenge to use a tree or leaves on your card!

And one more submission for this month's Flourishes Christmas Card Challenge FLLCNOEL18!

Stampin' Sisters in Christ~Doves and Holly

Good morning my stamping friends! Today's challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ is a really unique one based on such an encouraging scripture selection. Miesje from Creative Craft Room with a View has chosen our verse and challenge this week. You can read her devotional on the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog or here.  I hope you can join in the fun this week!!

The verse:  Matthew 11: 28 – 30  "Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

The challenge: Sharing. Use two of everything on your card. 2 Designer papers, 2 flowers, 2 stamps...etc...whatever you choose, double it!
The Prize Sponsors: This week's wonderful sponsors are Designed 2 Delight~a 10.00 gift certificate!

I don't have a devotional to add to this week's scripture, but am always so blessed reading this week's devotional along with you!

I purchased this stamp last Christmas, and it was still uninked! So I was happy to bring it out and use it for today's card challenge. As you can see, there are two doves on the image, two sizes of the same Labels 18 nestability, and two sets of three pearls. I also used two designer papers.
I am also submitting this for this month's Flourishes Christmas challenge to make your card shine! I used gold embossing powder for my stamped images, stickles for the holly berrys, and glimmer mist for the entire image.
Here are the card details:
Stamps: Doves and Holly, Christmas Classics (Flourishes)
Paper:  PTI white, SU! Brushed Gold, Basic Grey Jovial
Ink: Tim Holtz Spun Sugar and Antique Linen, Memento Black
Accessories: Spellbinders Labels 18, Copic markers, Pearls, Red twill ribbon and white crochet ribbon, Gold Embossing Powder, Diamond Stickles

Thanks so much for visiting today and hope you can join in on the challenge!!