by Wardeh Harmon

I’ve made elaborate greeting cards in the past, and I enjoy it. However, I don’t do it very often because of everything I have to drag out — the stamps, ink, stickers, paper punches, scissors, markers, glue, trinkets, foam core, embossing powders, embossing tool, and papers. Once I finish a perfect card, I wish I had at least ten more for other similar occasions coming up.

If you groan at the thought of having to get all your supplies together, cleaning them up, and ending up with only a couple of cards to show for your efforts, then you’ll really love making these greeting cards. To create them, you and your children will:

• use basic supplies and doodling to create an original greeting card
• make color copies on cardstock of your original greeting card

Think you’re a hopeless doodler? Think again. To doodle is to draw a simple representation of what you see in the world. Doodling uses simple shapes — hearts, swirls, dots, birds, flowers, insects, houses, birdhouses, stick figures and more — and bright colors. Your doodling needn’t be awesome. Just look at your children’s artwork — it is perfect because it is imperfect.

When I first started doodling on cards and in my scrapbooks, I looked at basic drawing books, imitated what I saw, figured out what worked for me, and then developed my own style. Here are the tips I share with my children when we draw together.

Wardeh’s Doodling Tips

1. Draw images using simple shapes
2. Fill in shapes with a few bright colors
3. Outline shapes with a dark, fine tipped color
4. Balance drawing with swirls, dots, and/or little hearts
5. Keep lettering natural and whimsical
6. Leave white space

All the above tips — simple shapes, bright colors, outlined shapes, added balancing elements, whimsical lettering, and plenty of white space — are evident in the doodling on the faces of the following greeting cards.

“Hello Friend” greeting card

“Happy Birthday” greeting card

“boy oh boy” baby boy greeting card

“Sweet dreams” baby girl greeting card

“From my heart” everyday note card

You can practice doodling, too. Start practicing on your own or search out books on the subject. I recommend the following books:

• The ABCs of Creative Lettering, by Lindsay Ostrom and Friends
• The 123s of Creative Doodling, by Lindsay Ostrom and Friends
• The Scrap Happy Guide To: Dots ‘N Doodles, by Suzanne McNeil
• Ed Emberley’s Drawing Book series, by Ed Emberley
• How to Draw series from Dover Books, by Barbara Soloff Levy
• I Can Draw People from Usborne Books, by Ray Gibson and Amanda Barlow
• Draw, Write, Now series, by Marie Hablitzel and Kim Stitzer

Recently, my daughters created greeting cards to use in letter writing. When we took my daughters’ originals and some of my old originals to the copy shop, the ladies there asked us to put some of our cards for sale in the copy shop and adjacent bookstore, on a trial basis. I’m still enjoying remembering my sweet girls’ expressions when the ladies complimented them on their simple, bright artwork. Following are pictures of the cards they created.

“Butterfly” greeting card by my daughter Haniya (age 8-1/2)

“Thinking of You” greeting card by my daughter Haniya (age 8-1/2)

“Dress” greeting card by my daughter Naomi (age 7)

Have fun doodling! Please forward me a picture of your doodled greeting cards — I delight in seeing what you create. I always welcome your comments, suggestions, or questions. Write to me at wardeh@t2chk.org or leave a comment below.

Doodled Artwork Greeting Cards Method

When my girls made their greeting cards, we took one afternoon to practice clear, bright drawings on scratch paper. The next afternoon, they made their final drawings on smooth white cardstock. One piece of cardstock, cut in half, will make two cards, so plan accordingly.

Materials

• 8-1/2 by 11 inch smooth white cardstock
• double-tipped scrapbooking markers (fine & bold tip)
• ruler
• pencil
• white gum art eraser
• straight-edge scissors
• decorative-edge scissors
• color copies on glossy or matte white cardstock
• invitation size envelopes (4-3/8 by 5-3/4 inches)

1. Prepare Paper to Make Original Card

Use smooth cardstock to ensure that marker ink doesn’t bleed. Orient a piece of 8-1/2 by 11 inch cardstock with the shorter side on top. Cut it in half horizontally, making two 8-1/2 by 5-1/2 inch rectangles. Place each rectangle on a writing surface, oriented with the longer side horizontally.

Using the ruler and soft pencil lines, lightly draw a line down the center from top to bottom, dividing the paper visually into two rectangles that are 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 inches. Using a ruler and soft pencil lines, lightly draw a box 1/4-inch inside each of these rectangles.

One piece of cardstock, cut in half, will make two cards. Repeat as needed for any others completing this project or if anyone intends to make more than one card. Consider making a few extras for the inevitable mistakes.

2. Add Artwork and Message to Original Card

Decide how you would like your card oriented — either by opening on the bottom or on the right side.

• If you want your finished card to open at the right side, lay your cardstock down horizontally on the drawing surface. You will draw the main picture and message on the right half. On the left half, you will write a message taking credit for the artwork.

• If you would like your finished card to open at the bottom, lay your cardstock down vertically on the drawing surface. You will draw the main picture and message in the bottom half. In the top half, you will write a message taking credit for the artwork upside down.

Follow Wardeh’s Doodling Tips (above) to draw your design and/or write a brief message in either the bottom or right sections of the cardstock (as determined by the orientation choice you made). Use light pencil marks to orient and/or practice the drawing before filling it in with permanent color.

In either the top or left sections of the cardstock (as determined by the orientation choice you made), write a simple message to take credit for the artwork, like: “Created just for you by _________” or “Created by _________”. This is also a good place to repeat an element of the main drawing. For instance, if the main picture is a vase full of flowers, then you could draw just one little flower with your simple “Created by ______” message. Remember, if you are orienting your card so that it opens at the bottom, you will write the message upside down in the top half.

Once drawings and messages are complete, carefully erase pencil marks with the art eraser. Hold the paper down firmly while gently erasing to avoid tearing or bending the page. Your original is complete.

3. Make Color Copies of Original Card

Take the original card to a copy shop capable of making color copies on 8-1/2 by 11 inch bright white glossy or matte cardstock. Two of the original artwork rectangles can be copied together as one page when lined up as if they are uncut. Decide how many copies you would like; each finished copy page will result in two finished cards. Direct the attendant making the color copies to make sure the originals are lined up perpendicular. Ask the attendant to let you proof the first copy, since colors or text may require brightening or sharpening. Proceed with making copies when satisfied with colors and orientation.

At home, cut copies in half to separate the cards. Fold each card in half. Keeping folded, trim one side’s edges with the decorative scissors — if your card opens on the bottom, trim the bottom edges; if your card opens on the right side, trim the right edges.

Match each card with an invitation size envelope. For gift giving, bundle five to ten cards and envelopes together with a ribbon.

4. Announcement Variation — Birth, Shower, Wedding, Party

Cut the original sheet of smooth cardstock into fourths, making four 4-1/4 by 5-1/2 inch rectangles. Using a ruler and soft pencil lines, draw a box 1/4 inch inside each edge of each rectangle. Use one rectangle for each original announcement. Doodle to your heart’s content — draw a border, embellish, write details, and/or include a scripture.

Make color copies on 8-1/2 by 11 inch bright white glossy or matte cardstock. A good copy shop will be able to take one original and reproduce it four times per page. Cut each copy apart into four rectangles, matching the dimensions of the original. Use decorative-edge scissors as desired on edges. Each announcement fits an invitation size envelope. Following are two examples of how the announcement variation works for birth announcements.

“Our house has grown by two feet…” birth announcement made for a friend

“The handiwork of God…” birth announcement made for a friend

© Copyright 2006 by Wardeh Harmon. Used with permission from the author.

by Wardeh Harmon

One summer two years ago, I sewed bunches of head scarves. My daughters Haniya and Naomi still frequently wear them on carefree spring and summer days, so they have become warm weather wear in our household. Before I made them, I had shopped around trying to purchase the fashionable head scarves that little girls everywhere are wearing, but the price of about $5 each stopped me in my tracks. I saved a bundle by making them myself out of small sections of fabric I found in discounted remnant bins. We also gave them out as party favors for my daughter Haniya’s 7th birthday, which all the little girls adored.

My almost 9 year old daughter Haniya loves to wear a fashionable head scarf on carefree spring and summer days.

A head scarf in a sparkly dark denim.

A head scarf in a pretty embroidered rainbow pastel.

I hope you enjoy sewing these easy head scarves for your own daughters, granddaughters or nieces. I always welcome your comments, questions or suggestions. You can reach me at wardeh@t2chk.org.

GIRLS’ HEAD SCARVES
makes 2 scarves

This pattern is sized for 5 to 8 year old girls. Play around with dimensions to make a scarf that fits your daughter’s age and head size. I would suggest using a 14″ square to make a smaller head scarf or a 20″ square to make a larger head scarf. Consider using different, but coordinating, fabrics for the two parts of the head scarf (the tie portion and the scarf portion).

Needed Materials

• (1) 17″ x 17″ square of fabric (scarves)
• (2) 1″ x 44″ strips (ties)
• thread to match

1. Cut the 17″ x 17″ square of fabric on the diagonal to form two triangles.

Step 1

2. Lay each 1″ by 44″ strip wrong side up on ironing board. Fold short sides in 1/4″ and press. Fold long sides in 1/4″, so the edges touch in the middle, and press.

Step 2

3. Fold strip in half lengthwise and press.

4. Zigzag or serge along the two shorter sides of each triangle (the sides that are perpendicular to each other).

5. Fold one tie in half to find its mid-point. Mark this by inserting a straight pin at the mid-point. Fold one triangle in half, along the unfinished side, to find its mid-point. Mark this by inserting a straight pin at the mid-point. Line up the midpoints of the tie and triangle on a flat surface.

Step 5

6. Insert the entire unfinished edge of the triangle into the inside of the tie (it doesn’t matter whether you insert the right or wrong side of the triangle). Pin in place at frequent intervals, making sure that the edge of the triangle is tucked all the way into the tie. Repeat with remaining triangle and tie.

Step 6

7. Verify that each triangle and its matching tie are connected at the mid-points by folding each triangle in half along the tie edge and matching the ends of the ties. If they hang down the same amount, they are matched correctly.

8. Sew each tie closed, using straight stitching close to the edge. Sew along the short end (from the closed side to the open side), then turn the corner.

Step 8*

9. Sew the entire length of the tie, catching the triangle and sewing it in place along the way.

Step 9*

Step 9*

10. Finish sewing along the long edge of the tie, then turn the corner and sew the other short end closed, from the open side to the closed side.

Step 10*

Step 10*

11. Trim loose ends. Repeat with the remaining triangle and tie to complete the other head scarf.

*Note: In these pictures, the seam securing the tie to the scarf has already been sewn. However, the head scarf is shown demonstrating the correct position of each step.

© 2006 by Wardeh Harmon. Used with permission from the author.

“Holiness, not happiness, is the chief end of man.” Oswald Chambers “No attribute of God is more dreadful to sinners than His holiness. “ Mathew Henry

“Holiness, not happiness, is the chief end of man.” Oswald Chambers

What is holiness? You probably already have some definition in mind and you might not be very excited to know that our theme this month is Holiness. Our definitions of holiness run the whole gamut from the hermit in a hair shirt, hidden in a remote cave, to a skirt wearing, bun capped dour woman, to those who refuse to apologize for wrongs because they don’t believe they are capable of sin all the way to legalism where there is a long list of things we must not wear, eat, drink, watch or touch. None of these things really defines true holiness.

Holiness is such a deep and multifaceted topic that I don’t think I can give it justice in a devotional. I do heartily recommend the book The Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges and the writings of A.W. Pink on holiness for further reading and contemplation. For now though, I hope to whet your appetite for more on the topic of holiness.

In its purest form, holiness is complete moral purity. This is something that no human being has achieved or can ever achieve. So why do we continue to search after it? We continue to search because though God has made us righteous in Christ, He calls us to righteousness in our character. God has set the desire for holiness in the hearts of all His people. “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness” Isaiah 61:10.

The journey to holiness begins with a right view of God’s holiness.
God’s holiness is perfect. And our holy God is so holy that He is not even tempted to sin, nor will He ever tempt us to sin (James 1:13). God hates sin so every time sin, we are doing something that God hates. (Psalm 119:104; Habakkuk 1:13)
Our God is a three-times holy God. So holy that Holy cannot adequately describe Him. Scripture uses the phrase “Holy, Holy, Holy” to describe God. (Revelation 4:8; Isaiah 6:3) Until we begin to understand the holiness of God, we will falter in our growth toward holiness. The only way to understand His holiness is to grow closer to Him through His Word and prayer.

The journey to holiness continues with a right view of sin. One of the biggest roadblocks to living a holy life is our refusal to take sin seriously. In our minds we have divided sin into categories of serious sin and not-so-serious sin. God does not categorize sin in that way. All sin separates us from fellowship with God. God hates all sin, not just some sin.

The holiness that we are called to, is what Jerry Bridges calls a “joint venture” between God and ourselves. Unlike the holiness He gives us that makes us fit for His salvation, it is not something that He will bestow on us without our effort. As you can see, there are two kinds of holiness. That which God gives and that which God calls us to. That holiness to which we are called is as dependent on our effort as anything we will ever do in life. God provides us with the impetus to live a holy life, the strength to live it and the arsenal to defeat sin in our lives, which includes the presence of His Holy Spirit.

So far we have established in this short devotional that;
· Holiness is perfect moral purity
· God is perfectly holy
· God hates sin
· When we sin, God hates that sin
· There are two types of holiness; that which God gives us at salvation and that which He calls us to in our daily living.

Finally, the journey to holiness includes the daily living out of the life of Christ.
· God requires holiness in our character and daily lives.
We are no longer slaves to sin, it no longer reigns in us, and we can defeat it. According to Jerry Bridges, God gives us the potential to resist sin; the responsibility for resisting though is up to us. There is no such thing though as instant holiness. Holiness is a continual journey, a constant battle and, as Jay Adams says. “It is by willing, prayerful and persistent obedience to the requirements of the Scriptures that godly patterns are developed and come to be apart of us.”

Have you stopped to wonder about why God saved you in the first place? So that you could have a great life? A place in heaven? There is a reason:
“God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before Him.” Ephesians 1:4 . We were saved to be holy. Dear sisters, it is time for us to lay aside all those sins that beset us, to get serious about serving God and realize that our time here is but a moment, a blink, in eternity. To realize that God requires us to live holy lives and that He Himself will work with us to lead us into a holy life.

Holiness should concern us deeply and holy living should be foremost on our minds every day. It should disturb us and at the same time encourage us to obedience to read:
“Make every effort to ….. be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14. A.W. Pink describes the true faith in God through Christ as “…a faith which purifieth the heart.” (Titus 1:1) one which grieves over all impurity (Acts 15:9) and one which produces an unquestioning obedience (Heb. 11:8). Is your faith leading you in that direction? The journey to holiness consists of a pattern of living life;
· Hearing the Word taught (Jeremiah 3:15) Go to church, listen to sermons and learn in Sunday School.
· Reading the Bible (Deuteronomy 17:19) You are blessed to live in a culture where the Bible is available to everyone. Read it daily, prayerfully.
· Studying scripture (Proverbs 2:1-5) A good study doesn’t have to be costly. Use your Sunday School material or ask your church’s pastor or Sunday School director for suggestions.
· Memorizing the Word (Psalm 119:11) Challenge yourself to memorize God’s Word. We sometimes forget that memorization isn’t only for children.

Read the following scriptures meditatively. Ask the Lord to open your heart to His Word and His Truth that Holy Living is not optional for the Christian. Ask Him to show you the things in your life that are keeping you from living out the holy life a Christian is meant to live. What is keeping you from living a holy life?

Ephesians 4:30 “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Romans 8:13-14 “For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

2 Timothy 2:21 “ Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work”

1 John 1:6 “ If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”

Psalm 119:104 “Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.”

1 John 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome.”

James 1:22 “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.”

Galatians 5:16 “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh”

Philippians 2:12 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,”

As a friend of mine commented, holiness is more about being than doing. My hope is that the women reading this will be encouraged and challenged to find out more about holiness and how to be holy. My fervent prayer is each one reading will begin to talk to God about holiness and ask Him to open His Word regarding personal holiness.

Remember that the journey to holiness only ends in heaven in the presence of God when we are changed into His likeness, but that His will for us is to continually strive toward holiness and remain faithful in our walk with Him.

“But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” James 1:25

© 2006 Sylvia Britton

Holiness ~

By Karen Twombly
“But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’ ” 1 Peter 1:15-16

In another article I wrote that people “in step with the Spirit” trust God through all the ups and downs of life understanding that He is our Good Shepherd. We can trust Him to lead us. What I would like to share now is that as we keep “in step with the Spirit of God” we learn to pursue holiness. As He is holy so we seek to be like Him and to be holy. We approve of what God approves and disapprove of what God disapproves.

Peter tells us that when we come to Christ, we are given a new life or a new birth (1 Peter 1: 3). Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:17 says we are “new creatures” or new creations in Christ. The old life is passed away and a new way of life has come. Holiness is Christians practicing their new way of life. Our new birth compels us to live a new way. Our old conduct is no longer appealing. Our old habits are horrifying. Our past makes us even ashamed to speak of what we once did. This is not because other Christians tell us to do so. It is something that happens to every believer when they accept Christ. Our new birth gives us a new opinion of ourselves and our former way of life. David Brainard, who was a missionary to the American Indians in New England, said that as his Indian friends received Christ he had no need to tell them to live a moral life. They themselves understood and began to change their ways without his advice or preaching.

There are many reality shows on television today that show people receiving a whole new life. They are given a new home, a life changing surgery, extensive cosmetic changes to their appearance. These all give a promise of a new life to the one receiving it. There is no desire from the recipient to go back to the “old ways, the old life.” The future is looked upon with excitement and anticipation.

Our inner change of heart and devotion to God produces an outward change that others can see in our actions, decisions, and treatment of others. As James said, “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:17). Belief produces change. As Paul said, “We are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Eph. 2:10). Belief produces change, change that God had planned in advance. He works out what He has planted within. As a seed planted produces roots, shoots, and flowers so also God’s new life planted within our hearts produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.

We strive to be like Christ. We are being conformed to the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29). The New Testament says more than once we are to be holy as God is holy. Holiness is a basic part of God’s nature and those who belong to Him are becoming more like Him as He works in their life and they respond in faith.

Holiness is also understood as being separated from the unholy. It means to be set apart for the special purpose of being used by God. Holy ones of God are His possession. We are exclusively His. Our relationship to Him affects our choices of music, books, magazines, TV, hobbies, friendships and much, much more. We become more sensitive to evil.

This can all seem overwhelming. But we need to remember that we are not alone. This is a process that God Himself is bringing about in us. It is really God who makes us holy. He is the one changing us. We respond with obedience of heart and action. But He, through His Spirit, is empowering us to become holy. Will we still sin? Yes, but we are becoming more and more like Jesus as we grow in Him. Then, one day, we will see Him face to face and be with Him for eternity. “But we know that when He appears we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure.“ 1 Jn. 3:2 At that time this process will be complete and we will be completely conformed to His image. Then we will be absolutely holy in every way and without sin! What a day!

Each day we can choose to listen and obey the Spirit. We have been given a whole new life more valuable than a new house, a healing surgery, a cosmetic change to our appearance. This is an new life that stretches out into eternity. It is a relationship with the God of creation. It is the happy ending of all happy endings!

Old socks make good mitts for cleaning difficult to clean places like wood work and ceilings.
Wall paper can be dusted by pinning a clean cloth to a broom and dusting from the ceiling toward the floor.
Art Gum erasers can remove pencil marks and non-greasy marks from wall paper.
If you have textured walls, you can use socks made of nylon or polyester instead of cotton. This will prevent pieces of fabric from hanging on the wall as you clean.
Don’t mix your cleaning chemicals. Ammonia and bleach mixed is especially dangerous.
Before beginning in a room, make sure you have a checklist made for that room, follow it and check off chores as you complete them.
Rust can be removed from stainless steel sinks with lighter fluid. Just rub the rust stains gently with a paper towel saturated with the fluid.
For a quick shine on stainless sinks, wipe down with rubbing alcohol.
White porcelain sinks can be bleached. Stopper the sink. Run a sink FULL of water. Add 1 cup bleach and allow to sit for several hours. Empty the sink.

Caring For Rugs
This week we will begin the preliminary Spring Cleaning activities with cleaning and/or laundering the rugs in our homes. Rugs are made of all kinds of materials, too many for me to list the cleaning instructions for each type. So, if you do not know how to clean the rugs in your home, get busy investigating all the different methods available and start cleaning those rugs! I will give you some rug basics for wool, cotton and polyester rugs.
All rugs do well with a good airing after they have been cleaned. Let your rugs air out while you are cleaning the rest of the room.

Wool Rugs

Wool rugs are usually expensive and need to be cared for precisely and carefully. Many of today’s wool rugs can be steam cleaned or cleaned with a home rug cleaning machine with no problems. If you are in doubt, don’t.

1) Vacuum the rug.
2) Take the rug outside and hang it over a swing set, fence or other sturdy site. Beat the rug on one side and then the other using something like a tennis racket.
3) Wash the rug according to the manufacturer’s instructions or if you know how to clean the rug clean it as you usually do.

Cotton Rugs
Cotton rugs, like rag rugs, can usually be tossed in the washer. If your rug is too big for that, think about taking it to the Laundromat where you can wash it in the oversized machine. Be sure to either vacuum your cotton rugs or to shake or beat them out well before washing them.

© 1995 Sylvia Britton