Wednesday, December 23, 2015

Merry Christmas to You

Merry Christmas Eve!  Hoping that this finds each of you well.

It’s a special day in our house as we’ll be getting ready for our Christmas Eve candlelight services at Church tonight.  It’s one of our favourite services all year as we celebrate Emmanuel - God with us.

Then later we’ll be opening presents with my family.  We’re a Christmas Eve family, which my kids love :)   Then on Christmas Day we will have another gathering with my family and we’ll be cooking a nice big meal.  So much to be grateful for in such a special season.


Here is my Christmas Blessing for each of you.  That no matter what your circumstances you experience what it means God reaches out to each of you, as so evident in the birth of Jesus.  

I thought I’d create a Christmas design as my wish for each of you.  May your days be Merry and Bright throughout these weeks.  Created with the lovely Power Poppy Poinsettia Set.  

Did you know this legend of the Poinsettia?  (from wikipedia)

The plant’s association with Christmas began in 16th-century Mexico, where legend tells of a girl, commonly called Pepita or Maria, who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus’ birthday and was inspired by an angel to gather weeds from the roadside and place them in front of the Church altar.  Crimson blossoms sprouted from the weeds and became beautiful poinsettias.  From the 17th century, Fransiscan friars in Mexico included the plants in their Christmas celebrations.  The star shaped leaf pattern is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem, and the red colour represents the blood sacrifice through the crucifixion of Jesus.  



I distressed the main image after I coloured it up with Copics using some Wild Wasabi ink.  Accents include sparkly ribbon, velvet ribbon, and embossed pennant and an iridescent glimmery circle.  

Below are the Copics I used.  



Blessings to each of you this Christmas friends!  


9 comments:

Mary Ann said...

Beautiful card!!!Merry Christmas to you and family!!!!

Conniecrafter said...

Beautifully colored and so interesting to read the story of the poinsettia.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful time of celebrating our Lord's birth!!

KarinsArtScrap said...

Gorgeous Christine and Merry Christmas to you and your Family
Gr Karin

CherylQuilts said...

Oh, Christine, what a beautiful card with your wonderfully coloring poinsettia! And I love the layout with the DP and the sweet button on the fishtail tag. Yes, it's truly a wonder at what Christ has done for us when He became a man and lived among us, paying a price we could not pay. What a joy to celebrate that time when He entered our world and time. May we each be touched this year in a special way and share that with others. We have a beautiful poinsettia plant growing that was just a small table plant on our living room table two years ago. Now it is more than three feet tall and wide and is in full bloom. It reminds me of how we get to share the good news of Christ and how it grows so beautifully in lives! I wish you and your precious family a joyous and blessed Christmas! And it's been a joy to get to "play" with you this year on Power Poppy's Instant Gardener team when we play on the 5's with you. Hugs, sweet friend!

Misti said...

Christine, this is absolutely gorgeous! Merry Christmas to you & your family!

Leslie Miller said...

Christine, I'm a little behind in my visiting but have to take a moment to exclaim over the beauty of this and your camellia card. Your coloring and card designs are always awe inspiring. Enjoyed the poinsettia story today, too. It sounds like you had a lovely Christmas and I hope you will continue to enjoy the remainder of the holiday season. Hugs!

Pretty Paper Junkie said...

This is just so lovely. The colors are so pretty. I also like the clever design using all those pretty papers. If I ever win a challenge, it will be between this and the mittens. Or I could just purchase it.
I enjoyed the poinsettia story too. Thanks!

Tracy said...

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and your family!

Traci M said...

Christine, what a gorgeous card...your poinsettia shading and the colors you chose are so inspiring!! Thank you for always sharing a little bit of your heart as well. Wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas as well!!