You are Priceless! You are a Masterpiece! That is the theme of this month’s newsletter.
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 NLT
Included in this month’s newsletter is a devotion, prayer idea, conversation starters, and a Bible reading plan that focuses on our Creator God. Also included are “Identity Statements,” verses that proclaim who you are in Christ for you to memorize, meditate on, and claim in your life.
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10
Goal: Using Alcohol inks you will create a beautiful work of art. then you can take your artwork and turn it into a card that you can give to someone that you would like to remind that they are a masterpiece created by God.
Supplies:
Note: All items can be found on Amazon, at a craft store such as Michaels or Hobby Lobby, while some items can be found at Dollar Tree. The alcohol inks can be a messy project so do this in a space that you don’t mind getting a bit messy.
Time frame expected: 1 – 2 hours.
Alcohol Inks
Rubbing Alcohol
Smaller Squirting bottles
Alcohol Ink paper
Straws
Scissors
Typed up and cut out Bible Verse
Gloves
Table Coverings
Paper towels
Glue sticks
Step 1
Prepare the space
Cover all the tables with a plastic tablecloth.
Put down paper towels as a place mat for each person with some extra paper towels for each person to absorb any extra mess.
Put plastic gloves out for each person.
Open all bottles of alcohol inks in advance if they are brand new.
Place alcohol inks in center and place one piece of alcohol ink paper on top of their paper towel place mat.
Put one small squirt bottle, filled with alcohol ink at each place.
Place one straw at each place.
Step 2
a. Put a few drops of alcohol ink on the paper.
b. Add a few drops of rubbing alcohol on top of the drops of ink.
c. Use straw to blow the liquid about until you are satisfied with the art.
d. Repeat, as desired, using different colors.
e. Put sheet of artwork aside to draw and create another one. Artwork will dry by itself in approximately 20 minutes. If you would like to move it along more quickly use a hairdryer on low.
Step 3:
a. After the artwork has dried, take the sheet that you like the most and fold in half to create a card shape.
b. Cut sheet in half so that you can make two cards.
c. Open up and glue the printed-up Bible verse into the card
d. Write a message to a friend to remind them that they are God’s masterpiece. (Be aware that the more you handle the ink the more it spreads to your hands and all over the white paper. Also, it will leak around the edges when you are initially doing the ink work).
Other ideas: Take a cookie cutter and cut out a shape from your alcohol ink masterpiece. Then glue it to a white piece of construction paper folded in half to make a card. Finally glue your masterpiece note inside and write a personal note to a friend.
By Major Lynn Stewart Kapolei Kroc, HI – Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division
This Easter craft is not only a beautiful centerpiece, but it’s also a perfect visual for devotional purposes. It’s great to know that you don’t necessarily need a Cricut machine, as lantern templates can be found online. To make the enchanting Easter Lantern, you’ll need to gather the following supplies:
Supplies List
You will need a Cricut Explore or Cricut Maker machine to cut the intricate designs.
Use a 12×24 Cricut mat with a Standard Grip to secure the materials in place during cutting.
It’s best to use high-quality 12×24 Olive paper, available on Amazon for the best results.
Purchase 12×12 Vellum sheets to create a delicate, translucent effect. (Amazon)
You will need a scoring tool and fine-cut blade for precise and clean cuts.
Instructions
Open Cricut Design Space online and search for the “Easter Lantern” project.
Gather all the necessary materials and prepare the cutting mats.
Use the scoring tool to mark the designated lines on the paper. Cricut Design Space will prompt you to insert the scoring tool at the right time.
Assemble the lantern by gluing the sides together and adding the optional bottom to complete the project. For easy and secure attachment of the pieces, I recommend having a glue gun or clear glue dots on hand. It’s also a good idea to pre-cut all lanterns prior to your women’s ministries program so that the ladies can simply assemble them.
By Lt. Colonel Noelle Nelson Director of Special Services Adult Rehabilitation Centers Command
Instead of throwing out your old hardback books, rescue them from the trash heap and make a knife block! It’s easy, unusual, and sure to be a conversation starter. Maybe springboard the conversation into how God rescued you and gave you a new purpose in life, just like these old books!
Supplies:
3 or 4 hardback books, of similar size/height. It looks best if the colors match or coordinate. If you don’t have books that match or coordinate, you can opt to spray paint the books in the color of your choice.
Hot glue gun
Popsicle stick, chopstick, or a pencil . Use this to press down on your ribbon after applying hot glue. Blisters are no fun!
Ribbon (I used Burlap) – choose different colors, widths, or textures that will play off the color of your books
Lace or twine
Scissors
Knives
Directions:
Make sure books are clean, dry, and dusted off.
Line up books in the order you’d like them to be.
Hot glue the books together. Some glue on each corner and a bit in the middle should do the trick.
Stand one book on its end and press it against the next one.
Repeat until all books are glued together. Press the stack together to make sure the glue is secure.
Wrap your ribbon around the stack of books and hot glue ends of ribbon together, on the back side of the books. (this is where the popsicle stick, chopstick, or pencil comes in handy!) You may want to measure your ribbon first to make sure it won’t be too short.
Wrap Your lace or twine over the ribbon, and secure with hot glue on the back side. (use the popsicle stick or chopstick or pencil)
You can also add any fun or seasonal embellishments for extra flair.
You are now ready to store knives in your new knife block!
You are Priceless! You are Loved! That is the theme of this month’s newsletter.
And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. Ephesians 3:18 NLT
Included in this month’s newsletter is a devotion, prayer idea, conversation starters, and a Bible reading plan that focuses on the immeasurably great love God has for us. Also included are “Identity Statements,” verses that proclaim who you are in Christ for you to memorize, meditate on, and claim in your life.
By Captain Serina Woods Haines, AK Corps – Alaska Division
Supplies Needed:
Cardboard for each person 8 x 11 (recycled cardboard)
Puzzle Pieces (500 is what I used)
1 Big heart and 1 small heart (patterns included in the downloadable instructions)
Glue
Scissors
X-Acto Knife
Red Spray Paint – fast drying
Cutting board or large cardboard piece
Cardstock for banner
Directions:
Before craft preparation
Step 1: Print out hearts – one large and one small for each person (Pattern included in the downloadable instructions below).
Step 2: Print Banners using cardstock (I used Baguet Script – 48)
Working on craft
Step 3: Glue big hear to cardboard, cut out big heart around out edge.
Step 4: Cut out small heart and glut to big heart, center it. Then using X-Acto knife to cut out small heart. This will create a frame heart.
Step 5: Glue puzzle pieces to frame heart making sure some pieces are a little off the frame on both the outer frame and inside frame as as close to each other as possible.
Step 6: Place more puzzle pieces on top of the first layer to make it a double layer. Put glue directly on to puzzle pieces. Let glue dry for 10 minutes.
Step 7: Take fast drying spray paint outside in a shallow cardboard box. Spray heart piece two times. Allow time for first layer to dry. (Optional spray some pieces a different color for a top color).
Step 8: Turn over to glue banner on to back of frame
By Major Peggy Helms, Riverside, CA Corps & Major Angela Strickland, Divisional Women’s Ministries Secretary – Golden State Division
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV)
Don’t be swayed by the thoughts and comments of others. Understand who’s you are and how much God loves you – so you can understand and love yourself. God wants you to give Him the places in your heart that you won’t let others see. When you look into the mirror, allow the reflection coming back to be whom God sees – as you are “fearfully and wonderfully made” – Psalms 139:14.
Materials:
Small mirror (handheld or stand type)
Butterfly or flower stickers (3D style)
Colored chalk markers (reversible tip)
Clean cloth and water or glass cleaner
Directions: ⦁ Choose mirror style, handheld or stand type (Dollar/discount shops have them) ⦁ Wipe mirror so that it is free of dirt and smudges ⦁ Write “You Are Beautiful” on the mirror (you can print vinyl stickers with Cricut) ⦁ Decorate the mirror with your stick-on butterflies and/or flowers. You can also use a hot glue gun for items that are not stick-on.
Additional Scripture: So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:7
Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Colossians 3:5-10
Enjoy this song, “Mirror”by BarlowGirl to remind you that the mirror does not define you.
https://usw-womensministries.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/IMG_2588-scaled.jpg25601920Beth Desplanckehttps://usw-womensministries.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/uswLogo-300x75-300x75.pngBeth Desplancke2024-12-16 13:07:272024-12-16 13:07:51January 2025 Craft: Created In His Image Mirror
You are Priceless! You are Beautiful! That is the theme of this month’s newsletter.
You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you. Song of Songs 4:7
Included in this month’s newsletter is a devotion, prayer idea, conversation starters, and a Bible reading plan that emphasizes what the Lord wants His daughters to “wear,” to look and act like Christ. Also included are “Identity Statements,” verses that proclaim who you are in Christ for you to memorize, meditate on and claim in your life.
You are Priceless! You are Saved! That is the theme of this month’s newsletter.
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Included in this month’s newsletter is a devotion, prayer idea, conversation starters, and a Bible reading plan that traces the salvation story through the lives of women. Also included are “Identity Statements,” verses that proclaim who you are in Christ for you to memorize, meditate on and claim in your life.
By Major Jessyca Carr Education Officer College for Officer Training
There are so many different combinations of fabric or ribbon and lights; you can check out YouTube for other options. Using fabric is the MOST economical way to do this craft, but it may take more time. I had several rolls of Costco ribbon, so I used what I had. Last year I used a combination of fabric and ribbon. That was pretty too. NOTE: If you plan to do this with your ladies, I suggest precutting the ribbon/fabric. I had our ladies bring me their selections two weeks before the meeting. I cut all the ribbon/fabric and placed them in baggies for each lady. During our meeting, we began our garland and got 1/3 done. (We chatted a lot!) What was not finished during the meeting they were able to complete at home. Below are instructions to make a 100 Light Ribbon Garland. You can follow these instructions for the fabric style, just the sizes used will be different. See fabric notes at the end.
Supplies: ⦁ Christmas lights – 100 lights ⦁ 12 -15 small zip ties (You can use yarn) ⦁ At least 400 8”-10” strips of ribbon – This will vary depending on the size of the ribbon or fabric.
⦁ Pictured: 7 ribbons used – 5 were 2.5’ and 2 were 1”. If you use a smaller ribbon, you will need more strips. ⦁ If you use a set of 50 lights you will need fewer ribbons/fabric. See below for Fabric details.
Preparation: ⦁ Cut the ribbon – I removed the wire from my ribbon that was wired. ⦁ Place the ribbons in a pattern you like best.
Process:
Fold the strand of lights in half.
Using zip ties or yarn connect the two sides of the lights together.
Cut off the excess zip tie or yarn.
Begin to tie the ribbons around the two strands of lights – only one knot.
Keep the pattern going until you reach the end.
Fabric notes: ⦁ ¾ of a yard of at least 3 coordinating fabrics. ⦁ Use pinking shears or a rotary cutter to cut fabric 1” strips. ⦁ In the picture I didn’t use traditional Christmas lights. These are battery-operated.
Here is a coordinating devotional, way you can pray for people as you make this craft.
As we prepare for the holiday season, consider adding a homemade decoration that also helps you focus on the Reason for the Season! Do you ever think to yourself, “Man, I have a lot of people to pray for lately”? Do you need a reminder to pray for those people you said you would lift up in prayer but actually forget to pray for? Or perhaps you want to spend some significant amount of time in prayer but are easily distracted. This craft may just help you. Using fabric and or ribbon, tie a knot around Christmas lights for a beautiful fabric garland.
Prayer Focus Options:
As you tie knots you can:
Designate each color for a different prayer focus.
Designate each set of knots to a prayer focus.
Designate each light to a different prayer focus.
As you tie the knots pray for the person you plan to give the garland to as a gift.
Color Example:
Red – Pray for the Salvation of those who don’t know Jesus.
Green – Pray for the spiritual growth of those who do know Him.
Gold – Pray for the corps.
White – Holiness within yourself, Your walk with God.
Patterned – Pray for your community.
Each time you look at the garland throughout the season, you will be reminded to say a quick prayer for those who you covered in prayer as you made the garland.
Enjoy the song “God Came to Save Us” as you make this beautiful craft.
