Perfect Peace

Wednesday = New Challenge at Word Art Wednesday.  Our theme verse this week is Isaiah 26:3, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."  In times of difficulty, only by keeping our mind focused on The Lord will be we able to experience the "peace that passeth understanding."  During some of our darkest days, as we've dealt with our children's chronic illnesses, I've imagined God's promises as a literal bar (think trapeze type bar) that I'm holding onto.  It felt like we were hanging in mid-air and yet by holding onto God's promises and trusting Him to take care of them we were able to make it thru.  Our children still suffer daily pain, and I still sometimes have to imagine my "bar" of God's promises, but from the years of experience I KNOW He will always take care of them.

We've had several family connections enter/re-enter the valley of a cancer diagnosis in the last couple weeks.  This week's card is one of several that I need to mail.  Since the best encouragement comes from God's Word, this week's verse is perfect as the focal point of the card front.   As I'm designing a card, I sometimes ask my husband, "does this look right?", "does this cardstock go OK with this paper?", "what else does this card need?"  He patiently offers opinions and ideas - and I usually use them.  :)  This week, when I asked, "what else does this card need?" his response was, you know it would look really cool if you cut a hole in the front of the card with your die and had a 3D object on the inside come out through the hole.  You could put a frame around it."  So.....this is how I implemented his idea.  I really like how it turned out and just had to give him credit for the idea.  The card is a standard A2 size.

 For the frame around the flower opening, I nested a circle die inside a petite scalloped circle die to cut the frame.  While the cardstock was still in the dies, I embossed the frame as well.  I used the circle that was cut out of the frame center to help me line up where to cut the hole first in the patterned paper panel and then again in the card base.  The card has lots of faux stitching and all the flowers are accented with Stickles.

The card has lots of dimension and will take some extra care when mailing.  The colors remind me of spring - it IS on the way right?  I really like seeing all the flowers bloom this time of year.  All the flowers on this card just say "happy" to me so I'm hoping they lift the spirits of the recipient too.

The interior is decorated as well.  An "I am praying for you" sentiment was placed below the flower and a panel for writing a message is included.  The scalloped edges used on the front on the frame and sentiment panel is mimicked by the border punch along the edge of the writing panel. There's lot of faux stitching on the inside too.  While it's hard to see because of the bow and sentiment panel, the polka dot background paper is also used on the front on the horizontal strip.

Supplies:
Cardstock:  Georgia Pacific, Bazzill
Patterned Paper:  Simple Stories (Vintage Bliss 6 x 6 pad)
Ink:  Versafine (Onyx Black)
Stamps:  WORDart by Karen (Isaiah 26:3), Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps (Comforting Pines clear stamp set - retired)
Tools/Embellishments:  Spellbinders dies (Petite Scalloped Circle Large, Standard Circle Large, Classic Square Small, Petite Scalloped Ovals Small, Petite Ovals Large), Fiskars border punch (Threading Water), small flowers (Recollections), large flower (Prima), Stickles (Star Dust), Staedtler tri-plus fine point black marker, Uni-ball Signo white gel pen, ribbon (Michael's)

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:
Sentimental Sunday Challenge #199 - Flowery Springtime
Cuttlebug Mania - Dotty (use dotty embossing folder, paper or stamps - I used dotty paper)
Catered Crop - Spring Fever (anything to do with spring - colors, holidays, themes, etc.)
Crafty Ribbons Challenge #81 - Anything Goes with Ribbon
Crazy 4 Challenges #228 - Make a card
Scrapbook Blessings Club Challenge #15 - Say What? (use a sentiment)
Just B Creative Crazy - Anything Goes
Faith, Hope Love Scripture Challenge #4 - Use Scripture on your card (now this is a challenge right up my alley!!  :)  )

Why not give this 3D pop-out style card a try?  It's actually pretty easy and is so unusual.  If you have any questions on how I did something, leave me a comment or send me an email.

Please stop by the Word Art Wednesday blog to see what the rest of the Design Team have made.  While you are there, don't forget to grab your free digi stamp.  Thanks for stopping by today.