Graceful Speech

This week's focus at Word Art Wednesday is Colossians 4:6, "Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."  This verse is one of those that makes me say, "Ouch!" According to Dictionary.com, some synonyms for grace are: forgiveness, charity, mercifulness, kindness, love, and leniency.  I know my speech is not always full of grace. Many times I'm too quick to be critical or harsh (antonyms of grace).  In Bible times, salt was valuable and sometimes used as currency.  So for something to be seasoned with salt meant it was valuable.  To apply this to our speech, it means what we say should be of value to those that hear us.  Another "Ouch!"  How often is what I say worth hearing?  Not often enough! I don't know about you, but I need this reminder to let my speech be full of grace and to speak things of value.   I should post it where I can see it often.

For my card this week I chose to use this new digi by Deedee's Digis.  I thought this little kitty and his bird and butterfly friends looked like they were very friendly and kind.  After all, in real life, it would take a very kind cat to let a bird perch on its head and smile about it.  :)  Want to know something else very kind about this kitty image?  He's a freebie on the Deedee's Digi Blog!!  You can find him here.

 I really like easel cards and decided to try my hand at making a circle easel card.  I kept it monochromatic by using papers in various shades of green.  The grass, bird and butterfly make me feel like I've just stepped outside on a sunny day and am spending some time enjoying the wonders of nature.

Rows of green gems set off the verse and the top row acts as a stopper for the image panel.  I used faux stitching around the circles to add a finishing touch to the edges.  I added some stickles to the butterfly and bird for a little additional sparkle.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific
Patterned Paper:  Studio G
Digi Stamps:  WordArt By Karen (Scripture), Deedee's Digis (Cat and Bird)
Copics:  R20, 81, 83, 85; Y11, 13, 17; YG03, 05; N0, 1, 3, 5
Tools/Embellishments:  Staedtler Fineliner (green), Uni-ball Signo (white), Sakura Glaze pen (on kitty's nose), Stickles (Star Dust), gems (Studio G), Spellbinders (Grand Circles, Lacey Circles, Standard Circles Large and Small)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sentimental Sunday #171 - Something Tweet (have a bird or birds on your card)
Digi Darla's Challenge #79 - Anything Goes
Twist of Faith #54 - Monochromatic
Inky Chicks #12 - Stitching (real or faux)
Cuttlebug Mania - Back to nature
Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge #144 - Anything Goes
Scrapbook Blessings Club Tutorial Challenge #2 - Circle Easel Card

Thanks for stopping by to visit for a few minutes.  I hope you'll go by the Word Art Wednesday blog to see what the rest of the Design Team has to show you and to pick up your free digi.  I also hope you'll be able to link up some projects (up to 5 are allowed) this week.  Our sponsors for this challenge are Digi Darla's and Nice Crane Designs.  They both have a nice prize to be given to random winners.