Inspirational Cards

As a gift to yourself or someone else try making an inspirational deck of cards or bookmarks. This is a fun project offering  you a way to combine scripture and the wise words of saints and create fifty-two or three hundred and sixty five individual pieces of art. These small cards can be created on a daily basis,  one to three cards at a time during your devotional time.  I often keep my finished cards in various places in my home or desk at work to remind me of the simplicity of my faith and to provide inspiration, strength and hope.


What you will need:

• 3x5 index cards, blank or lines, whatever you prefer, or repurpose a deck of playing cards, or cardstock cut into 1 1/2 x 12" strips.
• scrapbook paper
• strong-hold tacky craft glue or rubber cement
• scissors, cri-cut is handy if you have one
  
• alphabet and decorative image stamps if you like to use them (not necessary
• black ink pad (in a pinch you can use a waterbase marker if your stamp pad is dry)
• Pigma Micron fine-point pen, fine point Sharpie or any fine point pen brand you prefer
• paintbrush (small and high quality)
• inspirational books, magazines, used greeting cards
• sandpaper, fine grit 
• embellishments (glitter, yarn, jewels, stickers,etc)
• tote or box to keep your supplies collected 

2. Prep all of your cards with scrapbook paper. First, brush a layer of craft glue on one side of the card. If you use sandpaper to lightly roughen the card first, it will provide the texture needed to firmly adhere the paper and glue to the card.

3. Place the card on a piece of scrapbook paper. Repeat until the paper has as many cards as will fit.
Repeat with the entire group of cards.

4. Allow the glue to dry and cut out the cards. You can work with one card at a time or prepare multiple cards at once.

When the glue has set, let your heart guide you, finding words, scripture or inspirational phrases that inspire you. Let the designs evolve. You are creating these cards for you; whatever may be holding you back from creating freely give to God in prayer. Play with the materials, make designs.

5. Cut out small pieces of paper with different shapes matching the scrapbook paper backgrounds. Glue one to the center of a card or slightly to one side of a card.Use a large rubber stamp and black ink to add another design element on top of it all. Rubber stamp designs such as feathers, leaves, birds and flowers will add a unique touch and contrast to the card. If you don’t press hard enough with the stamp, you can fill in your letter with a black pen.

6. Cut out words from a book or use word stickers to add inspirational phrases along the side of the stamp. If you do not have the word you are looking for, use your rubber letter stamp set on your card or hand write or print the word or phrase. If you make a mistake you can cut out a mini piece of paper to cover that area and then stamp or write again on top of it.

Inspiration Words:
Faith
Hope
Love
 Joy
Peace
Serenity
Jesus
Abba Father
Living Water 
Holy Spirit

7. Accent a word by placing it farther away from other words and drawing an arrow to it, or drawing a box around it with a black pen.
Keep these cards around your house, in your car or at work to inspire you, or carry them with you to share with others.
You can attach these cards to your business card with a paperclip, or even frame a few of them together to create a piece of wall art.
 This tutorial was previously published in the book Art Journal Art Journey by Nichole Rae, copyright 2014. CreateMixedMedia.com and North Light Books.)

http://www.createmixedmedia.com/make/make-an-inspirational-card-deck-mini-art-journal
and adapted by Art As Prayer.
Image lifted from: http://www.randomcreativeart.com/2012/11/friday-feature-thanksgiving-cards.html Check out her site, many awesome ideas for this project!