Hello!

I am pretty sick today (don't ask... you don't want to know)... so I am just here to quickly tell you that I will hopefully be back to posting on all my blogs again soon.
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Peace wished to all of you for the New Year!

Merry Christmas!

Matthew 2:6
"O Bethlehem of Judah, you are not just a lowly village in Judah,
for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel."

(Micah 5:2 But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times."

2 Samuel 5:2 In the past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel on their military campaigns. And the Lord said to you, "You will shepherd mt people Israel, and you will become their ruler.)

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Luke 3:15-16
Everyone was expecting the Messiah to come soon, and they were eager to know whether John might be the Messiah. John answered their questions by saying, "I baptize with water; but someone is coming soon who is greater than I am - so much greater that I am not even worthy to be his slave. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it.

Acts 4:11-12
For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says, "The stone that you builders rejected has now become the cornerstone." There is salvation in no one else! There is no other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them.

(Psalm 118:22 The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone.)

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Romans 15:13
So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Punches Make This One

Maybe not the best photo here... but I think you can see the highlight of this card... the punches.

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The main image is a stamp backed with a background stamp... layered/matted with coordinating colors. The sentiment is stamped on the side. The bottom border is a strip of paper the same color as the base of the card with average, notebook hole size punches glued on top. Elegant and easy.

For My Nephew

My nephew was confirmed this fall... I made this gift bag to put his present in. (We gave him a cool flashlight that has a verse from the book of John on it... I don't remember the verse, unfotunately, but it was about Jesus being the light of the world.) The card... well, I admit that at first I went to look for a card at the store! But I found nothing suitable enough for me... funny, huh? So this is what I came up with... we think it is just great and something definitely worth celebrating that my nephew confirmed his faith in Jesus Christ at his program at his church.

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The absolute BEST part of this whole deal? (Well, besides the life forever with God?) My nephew called me on the phone to thank me for the gift. That was awesome! He's a good guy.

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P.S. Thanks go out to Jaimie, my Stampin' Up! consultant, for the introduction to this gift bag pattern!

Variations on a Theme

Just a few cards that I made for church... my Hope Stampers group that I have mentioned here several times. (We make cards used to send to people on our church's prayer list.)

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I have to admit that this group is a fun one for me to be a part of. I love paper crafts and making pretty cards. It is an easy ministy to take part of... and, yes, we don't make nearly the number of cards we need for the entire prayer list and they fill in the need with store bought cards... and that those cards are just as good... well, I just want to say that I try to put my heart into making the cards that I do contribute. I consider it a part of how I worship... a part of how I can include God in on my everyday life.

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And I guess I am including these thoughts here to say that God can be as close to you as the air you breathe. Let Him in, use your gifts for Him, and I will promise you your life will change.

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1 Peter 1:8 For you love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him, you trust him; and even now you are happy with a glorious, inexpressible joy.

Always Thinking About Our Troops

Wow! Thanks, Barb!

So... I have not been the best blog buddy here on my cards blog... and I got this award a while ago from Barb at Made for Keeps!

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She is an incredibly talented (and busy!) card maker and artist... and wonderful photographer, too! I am so glad to have happened upon her in the blog world. Visit her blog and see what I am talking about!

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I need to pass this award on... but I will have to do it another day. I also have some photos of my recent stuff, just not the time to upload them yet. I promise I will get them up here soon!