Quality Time with Our Father

 “In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” 

Genesis 1:27 

For the past 15 weeks I have been talking about my art in this blog. This week I would like to encourage you, my beautiful art-blog friends, to create. Perhaps you consider yourself an artist, maybe you don’t. Maybe you believe yourself to be the least artistic person in the world. If you are an artist, or an art student, my opening sentence might have piqued your interest. If you are the latter, my opening statement might have left you feeling a bit worried. To all my worried friends: it’s going to be ok… deep breaths. Please stick with me, however you describe yourself, and allow me to share an idea that  just might bless and inspire you.

Summer’s Gift, 2020

Roses, leaves, and Mod Podge on watercolor paper

17.5 cm x 12 cm

Genesis 1:27 states that we are all created in the image of God. So if our Father is God the Creator (of everything) and He created us in His image, then we were literally created to create. The gift of creativity is then not limited to only a special few, but it is a familial trait that ALL people have been blessed with. All human beings are creative. Period. 

I originally ran across this assertion in a Bible reading plan entitled Created to be Creative, by Marian Parsons. This one simple idea resonated in my soul and blessed me in such a profound way. Think about it - YOU are God’s child and you are a creator just like your Dad!

My friend and student, Shirley, once shared a beautiful image on this topic with our drawing group. She related how much it warms her heart when her darling little grandson tries to copy her. Shirley extrapolated that our Heavenly Father must feel the same way. I couldn’t agree more! Our Heavenly Father delights in our efforts as artists, looking down on them with love and adoration not criticism and judgment. And not only is He watching us with an adoring gaze but I truly believe He wants to bond with us in our creative time. So today, my friends, I encourage you all - pick up a pencil, a paint brush, or even a crayon, and just go for it! No judgment, no comparison, just some quality time with your Heavenly Father.

If you are feeling inspired to create but don’t quite know where to start, feel free to join me with this special tutorial on making greeting cards!

Back in September I went on a big wild flower pressing campaign. It was so much fun that I even did a post about it called Forgotten Treasures. In said post, I promised you all a “future” Mod Podge card tutorial where I would demonstrate how to make your own hand-crafted flower cards. So what do you say - who’s down to get crafty?! If you missed the Forgotten Treasures post about pressing flowers, don’t panic. :) You can use any material you like in place of the flowers. Truly anything flat-ish would work as a substitution so feel free to get creative. Tissue paper, fabric, feathers, ribbon, and images from magazines are all fair game - if it inspires you, grab it! The most important thing to remember is that you are the artist and this is your creation.

Mod Podge Flower Card Tutorial

What you will need:

Mod Podge

pressed flowers (or something flat and pretty)

a piece of card stock (I use watercolor paper cut to size)

an inexpensive paint brush

a ruler

a pencil

masking tape or white electrical tape

paper plate(s)

paper towels

toothpicks

a spoon

Step 1) Prepare your work space and set up all your tools. I recommend putting down some Newsprint or Kraft paper as well. Accidents happen when glue and gravity get together so it’s best to prepare for the worst.

Step 2) Cut your card stock/watercolor paper to the desired size. 24cm x 17.5cm will fit perfectly (once folded) inside a standard greeting card envelope by the way. However, you can make your card any size you want.

Step 3) Find the halfway point on your card stock and make a light pencil dash on  both edges. This will become your fold. Pro tip: resist the urge to connect the dots and draw a line across your card! This only creates unnecessary challenges later.

Step 4) Use your tape to secure the card stock to your work area. Align the edge of the tape strip with your half way marks. The tape will serve two purposes: holding your card in place and preventing Mod Podge from getting on the backside of your card.

Step 5) Before you apply ANY adhesive, arrange your flowers. Take your time considering different compositions and combinations. Toothpicks can be used to make minor adjustments to fragile flowers. Once you find a winner, take a picture with your phone. Then, carefully set your flowers off to the side out of harm’s way. 

Step 6) Select an inexpensive clean brush to apply your Mod Podge. Pro tip: I recommend designating a paint brush specifically for glue and marking it “loudly” (mine has hot pink duct tape). A paper plate is also handy as a brush rest. Trust me, you do not want to be searching for somewhere “safe” to rest your brush in the middle of a glue emergency. It is also a good idea to have some paper towels at the ready.

Step 7) Apply an even layer of Mod Podge to the front panel of your card using long fluid strokes.

Step 8) Gently arrange your flower composition (refer to your photo if you can’t remember quite how it went). Pro tip: the handle of your brush can be used to tap down any rebellious stems or leaves that aren’t making contacts with the glue.

Step 9) Apply another layer of Mod Podge over your flowers. This layer should be a little bit thicker on the actual flowers sealing any gaps between them and the card. Don’t worry, the medium dries clear. Be sure to paint with the shape of the flowers not fighting against them as this might cause damage.

Step 10) Remove tape while the card is still wet and lift the card off of the protective paper to make sure your card doesn’t dry to your work station.

Step 11) Find something to occupy yourself with while you wait for your card to dry. I’m sure you’ve heard the expression “a watched pot never boils” …same thing. I find the best way to pass the time is by making more cards! :) It usually takes me a couple before I get back into a good rhythm so save your best flowers for last.

Step 12) Once your card is completely dry, fold it in half. I usually let them dry overnight, just to be safe. To fold: start by marking the halfway point on the reverse side (step 3). Then, align your ruler with the two marks and bend the card stock along it. Next, pinch the bottom edges firmly together to make sure they stay even and crease with the backside of a spoon. Oddly enough, with all of my professional art equipment, I’ve found that a soup spoon is the superior tool for creating a nice crisp crease. I bet you were wondering what the heck that spoon was for.

Step 13) Share some love with a friend and mail them your beautiful creation. :) 

Happy creating my friends! I pray that the beauty of the Lord will be upon you and establish the work of your hands! (Psalm 90:17).