What is Christmas About

WHAT IS CHRISTMAS ABOUT?  THE BIRTH OF JESUS!

Luke 2:1-16 NIV

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)  And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.  She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid.  I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you: he is Christ the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manager.”  

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.”  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”  So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.”

If you have watched, “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, you have seen Linus tell Charlie Brown what Christmas is all about by reciting parts of Luke 2.  But did you ever notice that Linus drops his blanket at a “strategic” part of his recitation?  This was Charles Schultz’s way of emphasizing God’s love and protection.  Watch the video and notice when Linus lets go of his earthly security and trusts in the Lord.

Let us all trust in the love of God — for He gave us His Son.  So fear not, He sends us good tidings of great joy! 


MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE, AND GOD BLESS YOU!

Stamping With Guneaux Designs

ODBD Holy Night ODBDSLC281

ODBD Holy Night ODBDSLC281 – Let’s Get Sentimental

The reason for the Christmas season means more and more to me each year.  At Christmas, believers in Jesus Christ celebrate His birth.  I have be a Christian since I was a child, and I am so thankful to God for the birth of His only son, Jesus!  His birth was a miraculous one indeed!  But God had a bigger plan for Jesus, other than just to be born.  Jesus was born to die for your and my sins, and if we believe the gospel* about Jesus, we receive salvation.  I believe in Jesus Christ, and I thank God every day for my salvation through Him!

Why am I sharing this?  I am sharing this because today’s card share relates to Jesus’ birth.  It features the ODBD Holy Night Dies that represent what Christians refer to as the Nativity or Manger Scene where Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the town of David.

I created the card to submit to ODBD’s December Shining the Light Challenge, “Let’s Get Sentimental”.  From this card, it is obvious what can cause me to be sentimental!

ODBD Holly Night ODBDSLC281

To create the card, I cut a piece of Neenah Solar White Card Stock and colored it with three Copic Sketch Markers.  The lines I created with the markers are to represent the light shining down on the Manger Scene from the bright star in the heaven the night Jesus was born.  Upon finishing the coloring, I used two of ODBD Pierced Rectangle Dies to cut out the main panel and a frame to go around the panel.

I attached to the panel the manger scene die cuts made with Stampin’ Up! (SU) Basic Black Card Stock and SU Silver Glimmer Paper.  The stars were made also with SU! Silver Glimmer Paper and Hero Arts Sun Showers Dies.

ODBD Holy Night ODBDSLC281

The sentiment, “Merry Christmas”, is from ODBD Merry Christmas Border Die.  I made it also with the SU Silver Glimmer Paper.

Leave a comment to share what makes you sentimental!

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas season!


Paper:  Neenah Solar White Card Stock, SU Basic Black and Brushed Silver Card Stock, and SU Silver Glimmer Paper
Ink:  Copic Sketch Markers 0, B16, and B18
Accessories:  ODBD Holy Night Dies,  ODBD Pierced Rectangle DiesHero Arts Sun Shower Dies, ODBD Merry Christmas Border Die,

       

    


Butterfly_1_1

God’s Blessings!

Stamping With Guneaux Designs By Beverly Polen

Firm Reliance on Divine Providence!

*The Gospel:  (The Apostle Paul speaking), “Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.  By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.  Otherwise, you have believed in vain.  For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance:  that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.”  1 Corinthians 15:1-5

CottageCutz Party Puppy

Welcome to Guneaux Designs!!  Today I have a quick post regarding a cute card I made several weeks ago and sent to the Tri-County Humane Society in Minnesota.  The card features the CottageCutz Party Puppy die, and it is a “Thank You” card for those who care for homeless animals and provide other great services for the area.

CottageCutz Puppy Party

I also submitted the card for a Splitcoaststampers challenge to make this type of card with a holiday theme.  I actually do not own a pet, but I sure get a lot of love from my daughters’ pets. They are very special to our family.

This photo is a closeup of the cute little puppy!  I added a bell on a piece of bakers twine around his neck.

CottageCutz Party Puppy

CottageCutz Party PuppyEnjoy, and I hope you are having a wonderful week!


PRODUCTS USED:

Stamps:  CP Butterfly Notes (sentiment)
Paper:  SU Baked Brown Sugar, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, and Pink Pirouette Card Stock; Reflections Card Stock
Ink:  SU Read Red
Accessories:  CottageCutz Party Puppy Die, Martha Stewart Punch, Spellbinders Conversation Bubble Three Dies, SU Jingle Bell, SU Cherry Cobbler Baker’s Twine, Black Gems, Foam Tape

Cottage Cutz Party Puppy


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God’s Blessings!

Stamping With Guneaux Designs By Beverly Polen

Firm Reliance on Divine Providence!

The birth of Jesus (cont’d):  “When he [King Herod] had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.  “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:  ” ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for our of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.’ ”  Matthew 2:3-6

Sizzix Fold-A-Long Christmas Owl

Owls!!  I love owls!!  My card share today is a Sizzix Fold-A-Long Christmas Owl! I made the card with the Sizzix Owl Label Fold-A-Long Thinlits Dies.  These dies are large and produce an owl card that is approximately 4″ x 5-1/2″.

Here are photos of another card I made using the same dies.

  

To make the Sizzix Fold-A-Long Christmas Owl,  I used a retired Stampin’ Up! designer series paper.  Actually, that is true for the second one as well.  The Sizzix Owl Label Fold-A-Long Thinlits Dies can be difficult to work with if you use a designer series paper with a pattern.  It is similar to sewing and having to match patterns on a fabric.  I was not very successful with the paper used for the Christmas Owl; however, my 2-year old granddaughter, the recipient, will never notice!

I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas week!!  Thanks for stopping by!

Sizzix Label Owl Fold-a-Long Thinlits DiesPaper:  SU Card Stock and Designer Series Paper
Accessories:    Sizzix Owl Label Fold-A-Long Thinlits Dies


Butterfly_1_1

God’s Blessings!

Stamping With Guneaux Designs By Beverly Polen

Firm Reliance on Divine Providence!

The birth of Jesus Christ (cont’d):  “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?  We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”  When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him.”  Matthew 2:1-3

Impression Obsession Sleigh Scene

Hello, stampers!  Happy Monday to you!  Today’s card share features the Impression Obsession Sleigh Scene Dies.

Impression Obsession Sleigh Scene

I used the Inlay Technique to create the Sleigh Scene on the card.  First I used a few copic sketch markers in blue, lavender, and aqua to color on a piece of white card stock.  I overlapped the colors for a good blend.  Then I die cut the scene from this colored piece, as well as from a piece of white card stock.  I also used the colored paper to cut my sentiment.

After the positive and negative of the Impression Obsession Sleigh Scene die were cut out, I adhered the pieces of colored card stock into the white Sleigh Scene, which is the Inlay Technique process.  I think it turned out great.  I added double sided foam adhesive tape on this piece to adhere it to the front of the card base that I embossed with the Stitches Cover Plate by Ellen.  To add the look of snow, I used the Marvy Uchida Snow Maker to add snow on the card.

Thank you for stopping by and leaving comments!  I hope you have a blessed week!


Paper:  Neenah Solar White

Ink:  Copic Sketch Markers

Accessories: Impression Obsession Sleigh Scene Die, Stitches Cover Plate by Ellen, ODBD Merry Christmas Border Die, Double-Sided Foam Tape, and Marvy Uchida Snow Maker

      MERRY CHRISTMAS BORDER DIE       SNOW MARKER


Butterfly_1_1

God’s Blessings!

Stamping With Guneaux Designs By Beverly Polen

Firm Reliance on Divine Providence!

The birth of Jesus Christ:  “This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about:  His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit.  Because Joseph was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.  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.”  Matthew 1:18-21 

ODBD Christmas Candles and Sunburst Background

Today’s Splitcoaststampers Color Challenge CC613 involves a color combination of Stampin’ Up! (SU) Real Red, Crushed Curry, and Garden Green.  For “dessert”, the hostess asked for “Christmas Glow”.  To achieve a “Christmas Glow”, I created a card that features Our Daily Bread Designs (ODBD) Christmas Candles and Sunburst Background Dies for the challenge.

ODBD Christmas Candles and Sunburst Background

These are the colors for the color challenge. I began developing the card using a piece of Neenah Solar White Card Stock to emboss the ODBD Sunburst Background Die.  After embossing the card stock, I laid the die back on the card stock, and using a sponge dauber, I sponged SU Crushed Curry through the die.  I sponged more ink onto the outer sections to made them darker.

After sponging, I die cut a portion of the colored card stock with the ODBD Christmas Candles Dies.  I decided I wanted to use the Inlay Technique to create the candles and holly.  This is a closeup of the result.

To finish the card I added more holly that I die cut with the Tim Holtz Holiday Greens Dies.  Using the Spellbinders Holiday Sentiments Dies, I cut out the Merry Christmas sentiment and added it to the card.

I hope you enjoyed my card and will return for further inspiration!


Paper:  Neenah Solar White Card Stock and SU Real Red and Garden Green Card Stock
Ink:  SU Crushed Curry
Accessories:  ODBD Christmas Candles Dies, ODBD Sunburst Background Dies, Tim Holtz Holiday Greens Dies, Spellbinders Holiday Sentiments Dies, Be Creative Tapeand Foam Adhesive
Technique:  Inlay

   CHRISTMAS CANDLES DIES   SUNBURST BACKGROUND DIE   

      


Butterfly_1_1

God’s Blessings!

Stamping With Guneaux Designs By Beverly Polen

Firm Reliance on Divine Providence! 

Jesus said,  “When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it.  Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there.  And the final condition of that man is worse than the first.  That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”  Matthew 12:43-45