Thursday, September 22, 2016

Butterfly Trio - inspired by Virginia Lu

One day into Fall and a beautiful Indian Summer seems to follow the hot Summer days we had. The days are cooler and much more comfortable. That makes crafting a little easier and the new stamps I purchased give the necessary inspiration!
Well, it was actually Virginia Lu who inspired me with her beautiful summer cards using these butterflies. They can be seen here.
Before I show you my cards, just a huge thank you to those who are so nice to leave me feedback, I really appreciate it. I have recently just came back from a Mission trip to Bratisalava and in a week's time will be in Spain. The time I have over after work are precious hours that I like to be creative in, which means cooking, making jewellry, painting furniture, and yes, card-making!

So this is my first card. I have never used alcohol ink on vellum before, but that is the tip I got from Virginia. Just dab alcohol inks with an applicator on the back of the embossed image, before you cut it out - that is what I did with the butterfly, which is a new stamp set from #Penny Black. The sentiment is #Hero Arts.


This second card is a little different as I stamped and embossed the butterfly direct to the distressed panel, and adhered one pair of vellum wings to give some dimension.

Here is the set.

Thanks for your inspiration, Virginia.

I want to share something with you that might encourage or help somebody who happens upon my blog today.
A little while back I read this sentence:  God is faithful to accomplish the Plan He has for your life - but not your own plans... it was instant revelation. I may seem dumb but I hadn't really grasped this in my spirit. We sometimes think of God being a Father who blesses us in all we do and in our daily lifes, which is true BUT - God has his own specific plan for our lives which could be totally different than ours!! You know the line - Let Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven .... that means HIS will and not mine. This has really dawned on me and I notice myself wanting His Will and His Plans more than ever. And finding the discernment to ask Lord, is this You or is it me???
These following words gave me so much joy - they are confronting, deep and exposing, but the truth will always set us free:

Sometimes….
The thing you never would choose for your life, chooses you for a reason.

Sometimes…
The thing that you’d never pick, picks you to become brave.

Sometimes….
You get what you need  — by walking through what you never wanted.

The thing you never wanted, may turn out to be be the thing you need most.
The thing that may make you fall a bit apart, may be part of what one day holds you a bit together.

There are reasons we don’t understand that someday will help keep us standing, there is pain that isn’t a poison but a prescription, there are broken ways that are actually breaking us free.

The cross you’ve been given —
is always God’s kindest decision. 
The cross you carry — is carrying you toward who you are meant to be. 

The article in which this was written can be found here. I would recommend you read it as many, many people carry crosses we never know about but have a faith that holds on to God no matter what! That's what I call faith!!!

May your day be blessed!
Jacqueline


21 comments:

  1. Glad to be seeing your beautiful cards again. What a lovely sentiment.

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  2. Thank you for your thoughts today, Jacqueline, and your cards are lovely, as always.

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  3. Lovely cards today. You make that PB butterfly stamp set so appealing with your beautiful card designs. It's hard to resist, but I really think I have enough butterfly stamps! WOW! Did I just write that? It's true! Thank you, too, for your thought provoking words of inspiration.

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  4. I am truly honored to have inspired you, Jacqueline! Your cards are simply a work of art! The colors, balance and use of supplies... surpass my original work! I love the first with it's clear placement of stamped images and tiny splatter truly makes this design a stand out. I also love the rich colors in the 2nd card...there is so much depth and textures in the 2nd one. Thank you for the message and thoughts. Trusting in God and keeping faith are/should be my priorities now. What a timely reminder. Thank you for making my day!

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  5. Jacqueline thank you for sharing these encouraging words. I could definitely relate to that. Both my mother-in-law and mother passed away in July and August within three weeks's time. I was and still am devastated!! My husband and I had just started our retirement in July and planned to spend more time with them and bring them to trips with us. I could understand that it's God plan and not mine.

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  6. Beautiful cards Jacqueline - love the alcohol ink on the back of the vellum. And thank you for sharing your thoughts and words - they are a great encouragement.
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  7. Oh they're gorgeous Jacqueline!! Beautiful work!

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  8. your card work is divine Jacqueline! You've been missed in your blog absence, but I'm sure your presence elsewhere in Bratisalava was so deeply appreciated! Bless you!

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  9. Wow these are just gorgeous, makes me want to break out my butterflies. Such pretty softness and colors in the first and like the dimension you brought to the second.
    Great words, always good to ask is this me or what you want Lord!

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  10. Lovely butterfly cards. Your words of faith and inspiration were beautiful as well.

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  11. Bonjour Jacqueline, please see if you have time to access your Flickr mail.
    I mailed you. I know it's been too long.

    Your cards are as always gorgeous but the inspirational article you posted
    is exactly what I needed to hear too. You and your faith are truly a
    blessing:-)))

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  12. Your work is inspiring.Yet--it is your story that is the most wonderful of all.
    You are living a life that is purposefully reaching out to the lost. May you have encouragement from us for what you do and the added part is that we get beautiful cards. Thank you.

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  13. Just love your two butterfly cards! You are so creative. I have not worked with vellum very much but this technique intrigues me. Thank you as always for the inspiration. (and your encouragement)

    Shirl

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  14. Gorgeous butterflies Jacqueline! Thanks for the link to the full article you shared snippets of:))

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  15. More beautiful cards! Love your use of alcohol inks on Vellum, now you are inspiring me again to get mine out and play. And thank you for sharing those words and that article, I needed to hear that this morning! It was just yesterday evening that I found myself whispering "God, your will, not mine", but simultaneously realising that I most likely did not mean it 100% because what I was referring to I really wanted, but what if God didn't! And that's the hard part, really, really giving over to God and having faith!

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  16. So glad I happened by this blog post today, Jacqueline. It was just the encouragement i needed for where i am right now. Bless you for being faithful, dear friend!

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  17. God bless you, Jacqueline! This is what I needed to hear today. And if you didn't already know this....You are an artist. That is your gift from God!

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  18. What an uplifting post, Jacqueline! The butterfly cards are both gorgeous and your words of encouragement mean so much. Thank you.

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Thanks so much for your visit - I so appreciate it!