Today I am going to share a project I did for a friend of mine who has a friend who saw a project I did for my friend and wanted one like I did for her! Boy that was a mouth full! When I do my art, it is for non-profit. I do my art for fun and for ministry! I love to sow seeds! I know when I sow seeds that I will be blessed in doing so and hopefully the person I am sowing into or the place I am sowing into will receive a blessing. After all, my art is for the most part, God inspired and as such, carries its own weight, all I have to do is be obedient and the rest will follow! :)
Without going into detail, my girlfriend's friend lost a loved one recently and wanted a cross in remembrance of her loved one. She had seen a cross I had made recently as a surprise gift for my girlfriend and wanted one similar and asked would I make one. I was so touched and honored and knew right away that this was something I wanted to do. She expressed her favorite color was yellow and her loved one's favorite color was pink and she loved butterflies! What seemed like an easy request, so I dove right in!
This really was a simple cross to make. Things like this are time consuming, but easy none the less and especially when God imprints in your heart and mind a picture! I began this piece by collaging on scrapbook paper in her chosen colors with Mod Podge and then applying Tim Holtz's tissue paper to the back as well. I then did a light coat of gesso over all. I mentioned the other day that I love, love sprays and working with them, so I just went pulled out a ton of different kinds of my prays and just went to it. I just began spraying until I got the results I wanted. I used Tattered Angels sprays in Sweet Pea, Blue Skies, Cherry Blossom, Starfish, Sunflower and Pearl and then used Dylusions in Lemon Zest and Heidi Swap Color Shine in Gold.
I wanted to add some further texture so I pulled out some Stamps from Unity Stamps from the February 2014 and February 2015 collections and stamped with black Archival ink, I then took my Liquitex Modeling Paste and mixed it with Lindy's Stamp Gang Spray in Autumn Maple Crimson and applied it through one of my favorite stencils from The Crafter's Workshop, Well Rounded. I then applied some of Finnabair's yummy Glass Beads in Butter down the middle both ways of the cross. I love, love those glass beads!
It was time to open up my element drawer stash and I just started pulling things out. I, of course, knew I wanted a butterfly and I have this great little set from K&C Company that has various sizes and colors and low and behold (a God thing) there was the perfect one! LOL I stamped a dove from the Unity Stamp January 2014 collection onto some book page and sprayed it with the Tattered Angels Sunflower and then sprinkled with some of Finnabair's awesome glitter. I took some white Prima flowers and stacked them and then brushed the tips with Tattered Angels Sweet Pea and then sprayed all over with Heidi Color Shine in Gold and then added a Studio gem in the middle.
I applied some die cuts that had been sprayed with the Tattered Angels Blue Skies and the Lindy's Stamp Gang Autumn Maple Crimson and then again sprinkled with some of Finnabair's glitter. I made some little roses out of book page, covered the lightly with gesso and then sprayed with the Tattered Angels Blue Skies and then added a few other elements and gems from Paper Studio. Lastly I stamped the sentiment from one of my favorite Unity Stamps onto scrapbook paper, sprayed it with Tattered Angels in Blue Skies and Pearl and then distressed the edges with Distress Ink in Vintage photo. Voila! I was tickled with the outcome!
Sowing God's love is a humbling and precious experience. God's Word says "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness." (2 Cor 9:10) God supplies and He increases. The increase is for His glory! I love to sow because I know that it will not only bless another but bring my Father in Heaven such glory! I have been given, so I give! God blesses me in turn every time. He never fails! His Word does not return void! It WILL accomplish whatever He desires for it to and achieve the purpose for which it being sent if we will but be obedient! I want to be faithful with His work, how about you?
Won't you sow a seed and bless another today!
What a stunning cross. LOVE it. Your friend's friend will so love it. I don't do my art for profit either and what you say about sowing seeds is so true. Its a privilege and a blessing too. Did you notice that spray without the s is pray? LOL, just noticed a typo where you said you 'put a ton of different kinds of my Prays' !! You meant to say sprays but I'll bet you had done lots of 'prays' over the cross for your friend too :) Bless you, my friend. Many blessings to you.
ReplyDeleteLOL!! Too funny Susan! I didn't catch that, but what you said was sooo true! I did pray over that cross for that young lady! If I was going to make a typo blunder, that would be the one to do huh? LOL Thanks, as always, for your sweet, sweet comment!! I hope you are doing well my friend! :) Blessings to you! :)
DeleteIt is wonderful, full of color and hope. I am sure the person who receives it will be very comforted and blessed!
ReplyDeleteOh thank you so much Dana! I pray that is her reaction to it as well and that it becomes a good memory for her when she looks upon it! Thank you so much again, and many blessings to you! :)
DeleteI just love your cross!!!! I am partial to crosses, for the symbolism. A lady at my church a few years ago said that we should wear cross jewelry or whatever we have with a cross on it and use it as a witnessing tool. If you see someone with a cross on, ask them what it means to them, and then kindly share with them what your cross means to you. Prior to that I really felt that wearing crosses was not for me, but when she suggested using our jewelry as a witnessing tool, I loved it. I know this cross will be cherished for many reasons for many years to come. I love getting what God wants me to do in what I call "blink inspirations". In just the blink of an eye, I see the finished project and then have to set out to create it with His guidance. God is, after all, the Ultimate Artist!!! hugs, patty
ReplyDeletePatty, what an inspirational message! I can't thank you enough! I love what you said in the end about God being out Ultimate Artist! Isn't He just? I have always loved the cross for the same reason. It is such a symbolism for who I am. Not the cross per say, but the WORK on the cross! That's what people forget about, which s why the cross worn around the neck can become "commercial" if you will. But your friends suggestions about asking someone what that cross means to the person wearing it is spot on. So, let's say they really can't say, then it's definitely an open door for you to share your own testimony, thereby sowing a loving seed! Our witness is so important to the actual work on the cross, which is why I love doing my art that, I feel, is inspired by God. If "one" person sees it and is touched, then I have done Him justice!
DeleteThank you thank you for your precious comment and blessings, blessings back on you today Patty! :))))
Good for you for always striving to sow a good seed! It is a beautiful cross, I bet the person you gave it to loved it! Thank you for sharing the good news of Christ and for being an example of sowing a good seed. If you don't mind me asking, when and how did you begin your journey towards Christ and God?
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for visiting Kaitlyn and your lovely comment! I hope she does like her cross, it was made with love! :)))) I grew up in a Christian home although my "personal relationship" with the Lord did not begin until I was an adult, probably late twenties. My relationship has grown so much since then, but I don't ever regret for a day the decision! My life has never been better and I am a much better person because of Jesus's sacrifice on the cross for me that I could have the relationship with my Heavenly Father that He desires! I am a VERY thankful and blessed gal! :))) Thanks again for stopping by and many blessings to you! :)
DeleteThank you many blessings to you too! Wow, that is so cool! You are a very blessed gal! Did you grow up in a certain religion or did your Mom just raise you with Christian morals and beliefs?
DeleteYes, I am VERY BLESSED! I was raised in a "Christian" home whereby we did attend a church growing up, however I did not have a relationship with the Lord! So I knew "about" God and Jesus, but I did NOT KNOW THEM! There is a big difference! I "know" a lot of people, but don't have a relationship with them. It can be the same with our Heavenly Father! Thank goodness I do now because things would be very different for me otherwise and I am able to share that relationship with my children as well! :) His desire is to be "known!"
DeleteThat is so cool that your children will be able to be brought up in a christian environment or in a home that has God in it, and that they have you and your story of how you found God personally, there for them to learn from and there as an example to them on how they can do the same. I feel like that is why we have families, so that we can learn and be steered in the right direction in a safe and loving environment.They are such a blessing.
DeleteI agree Kaitlyn! I "hope" my husband and I have done our jobs well! We aren't perfect by any means, but we do what we can to sow the seeds God has given us!! Family is a dying art if you will and we try to do things as much as possible as a family and show them a value to carry on to their own family! It's the best! :)
DeleteThis cross is gorgeous, Felicia!!! Everything about it - the colors, pattern on the cross, the glass beads, and the wonderful mix of elements in the center!! An absolute blessing for your friend's friend, for you to make, and for us seeing it on your blog!!! Thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteOh my sweet friend Wanda, THANK YOU so much for your lovely positive and encouraging comments! This cross was such a "God thing" that it just flowed right out of my hands! I loved doing it and was just a pleasure knowing that she will have a token of remembrance for her loved one! I love being a part of what God is doing in another's life!!! Who would have thought that He could use little old me to speak to another, but He does and I am willing! He also uses your amazing creativity to do the same and I know you bless and honor Him as you do! Thank you again my friend! :)))))
Delete