Created to create

The Bible says that we were created in God's image. So if He created the whole universe, including the people in it, then He created us to create. I realize that means more than being an artist, but there is something to that. I'm not the world's most artistic person, however. I mean, I can be creative in other ways, but when it comes to making "art" I'm all thumbs. But when I came across this on Pinterest a while back, I knew I wanted to flex my creative muscles and give it a shot. Plus it was a new way of using the creative gifts God has given me and I wanted Him to be glorified through the process. All I needed were the supplies and the time and I finally acquired both today!

In the original blog that inspired my bout of creativity, she used magazines, pages from old books, sheet music and a whole host of other things for her canvas projects. I don't have magazines, nor was I about to spend upwards of $15 on something I was about to tear apart and I can't foresee ripping pages from any of my books (unless it was my old accounting textbook, but who wants to make art from that??), but the sheet music I had and with a flash on inspiration, I settled on using the fronts of old greeting cards. A trip to Wal-Mart, and then to Target for the vinyl lettters, later, I settled down to start working on the first project.

For the first project, I selected a few cards I liked and began separating the fronts from the backs then once I determined I had enough to fill my 11x14 canvas I started arranging them how I wanted and using Elmer's Craft Bond I glued them in place. Then I had to decide what quote or saying I wanted to use. This was honestly the hardest part of the whole project as I didn't have enough of the letters I needed for my original idea (note to self: buy 2 packs of vinyl letters), but the letters are easily removed so I was able to start, and restart, several times. Eventually I settled on You Are My Victory, which is a great song off of Jimmy Needham's new album, Clear The Stage.

Next, I decided on my paint colors and covered the entire thing. Once my creation had dried, I set to work peeling the letters off to reveal the final project. A quick coat of Mod Podge and my "artwork" is complete!

For the second one, I decided to make use of some old sheet music I had from a church choir performance that happened several years ago. I had already decided on How Great Thou Art as my quote, so why not use the sheet music as well? The steps from there are basically the same as the first, so I won't bore you with that again, but I really think I like my second attempt better than the first. Both look good, but I'm a big fan of the purple :-)

I'll let the pictures do the rest of the talking....


 Project 1: You Are My Victory

 

Project 2: How Great Thou Art

 The final product!!!

All in all, not super time-consuming and I love the results! I will definitely be making more of these. Now I have to figure out where and how to hang them....