I love all things Christmas, and Christmas Blessings rubberstamp set has lovely, classic Christmas images of poinsettias, misteltoe, and holly as well as Christian greetings of the season. This handmade card is a swap I received, and it's full of classic Christmas with its poinsettia and holly images and classic color scheme of Always Artichoke and Cherry Cobbler. Notice the pewter-embossed holly. It adds a nice touch of glimmer along with the Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details in the center of the poinsettias. Both those elements add a little shine while still keeping a subtle look overall. Although this handmade card is really lovely, it takes only minutes to make.
I love handmade cards at any time of year, but Christmas is really the pinnacle of handmade cards…and handmade gifts and goodies, too. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, what could be more appropriate than using our God-given creativity to bless those around us? Handmade gifts and cards enable us to say "You're special!" to those we know well and also to those that are on the periphery of our lives.
The people I most enjoy giving to during the holiday season are those that don't expect anything from me. For years, I have given homemade goodies to the garbagemen and postmen and others that do thankless jobs year round for me and my family. But I also enjoy giving handmade gifts to cranky neighbors (I don't have any at present:) and people that are not on good terms with me and/or my family for one reason or another. Forgiveness is God's way for us year-round. But at Christmas and the holiday season, it just seems particularly appropriate to give a tangible expression of forgiveness. It puts "feet to our prayers." Forgiveness is a choice not a feeling. After I have forgiven someone of a wrong, it takes forgiveness to another level when I pray for them and ask God to bless them. It takes forgiveness further still when I take/send a handmade card and/or gift to them.
I invite you to join me this Christmas season in using our God-given creativity to bless those around us. Let's give of ourselves and our substance to friend and foe. Let's do what Jesus has done for us–extend a hand of grace. Our tangible expressions of love and grace, handmade gifts and cards, express the true reason for the season: the love of Christ Jesus.