Dreaming of a peaceful Christmas

It is time for the midway reminder for the Path of Positivity Challenge with the optional theme of peace. When our girls were little Christmas Eve was extra special for our family. We would go to a Christingle Service in the afternoon, come home for tea and a bit of festive TV before hanging up the stockings and heading for bed. Once quiet had settled St. Nicholas was able to do his thing!

But the best time was late in the evening when everything was quiet, that moment of peace and tranquillity before the business of Christmas Day. A time to pause and reflect on what Christmas is really all about, not the excitement, presents, chocolate, food or drink but a poor Jewish couple living in an occupied Israel. A couple forced to travel to Bethlehem by a Roman edict. A couple who had been asked to help God bring about his plan of redemption for humanity. A young girl in an animal shelter giving birth to a helpless baby who was both human and divine. A family that said 'Yes, Your will be done' to God. A child whose birth and life was foretold by prophets  and who grew up and fulfilled God's plan to redeem the broken relationship between God and His believing people. Jesus the Prince of Peace.

So however you celebrate Christmas I hope that the blessings and the peace 'that passes all understanding' finds a place in your homes and hearts this year and on into all the years of your life. God bless you this Christmas.

Now at this point I would love to have a beautiful card of the nativity to share with you. However it did not work out that way as the image I have to work with lent itself to illustrating part of the poem 'A Visit From St Nicholas' by Clement Clarke Moore. But it did remind me of that peaceful time on Christmas Eves past.

Materials used: 

Pattie's Creations - The Night Before Christmas 

X-Press It card

silver mirri card

white 7" x 5" card blank

rectangle die

peace die

Copic pens:

bricks - E07, E08, E09

mortar and stone - E13, E15, E17

clock - E81, E84, E87, E89     E41, E43, E44     YR23, YR24, YR27     W00

candle stickS - E31, E33, E35, E39 

candle - E0000, E000, E00

holly - R39      G28, G29     Y18 

logs - E43, E44, E47

flames - Y11, YR15, R35

ash - W00, W01, W03, W05, W07     R35

grate - C07, C09     Y11

rug - C0, C01, C03, C05, C07, C09, 100

stockings - R29, R39, R59, R89      G02, G17, G29

stocking fur - C01, C03, C05, Blender

I wanted to use a neutral palette for most of this image so that the stockings and the holly really stood out. The E's are especially useful for this because there is so much variety in the range. For example the bricks have a red hue to them while the clock has a hint of green coming through but all E's.

I hope that even with the busyness of the season that you will be able to join us on our last Path of Positivity challenge for the year. Remember the theme, peace, is optional but following it has more prize benefits. You can find all the details and the link up at the Path of Positivity Challenge Blog.

Thank you for dropping in. Take care.

Pippa

Entering the following challenges:

A Place To Start December - Happy Holidays 

PIP Challenge #1950 - Anything Goes 

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #120 - Anything Goes 

Not Just Cards December - Anything Goes 

A Bit More Time To Craft #106 - Anything Goes 

Createful Heart Design #15 - Anything Goes