Beautiful Word
An oil painting of three passions

The original artwork for this greeting card was created in an oil painting workshop taught by nationally-known impressionist painter and friend, Mark Gingerich. I arranged the still life that included items representing my passions – my Bible, flowers and study books, symbolizing the beauty and depth of God’s Word. 

The trees clap 
You will go out with joy!
Isaiah 55:12

The original artwork for this art card was created with vibrant Ukrainian ink dyes and pointed pen calligraphy. The dyes were sprinkled and sprayed across the paper. The delicate lettering on the spray is Isaiah 55:12, “The trees clap their hands!” and was penned with white gouache (opaque watercolor) with an oblique pointed pen (designed after the old quill pens).

High mercy 
Psalm 103:11

All of God’s works are covered by the huge umbrella of His love. Everything He does emanates from the higher purpose of His love!

Spacious place 
He rescued me!
Psalm 18:19

The calligraphed words on this card were a result of my Hebrew word study for this verse.
He brought me forth into a spacious place of freedom;
He rescued me because He delights in me!

Nani 
A Brief Beauty

The text on the back of the card is:
This rare hibiscus, a gift from a friend, took my breath away one morning. The span of her bloom measured eight inches and lasted one day. Another friend named her Nani, the Hawaiian word for beautiful or splendor. Her photograph was superimposed onto a green watercolor wash to show off her exquisite salmon color.

Our Father 
The Lord's Prayer

In the 1990s in my small art room, I would press pansies in phone books and let them dry for a few months. Then, I would arrange them in sprays on different papers using glue sticks. Then, I would calligraphy with the script pen around the floral designs. I loved how the flourishing of the Zanerian Script alphabet harmonized with the shapes of the flowers!

Spirit of power 
Do not be afraid
2 Timothy 1:7

The original art for this card was commissioned by a counselor for his office wall. It was quite large and matted and framed. The art is called an illumination because the text has been decorated. It incorporates four calligraphy styles:

Springs in the midst 
Refreshment in the valleys

He brings forth springs in the midst of the valleys;
They flow between the mountains.  Psalm 104:10

In the valleys, God’s presence brings springs of refreshing until that time when we are through the valley and walking up the mountain again.

Quiet confidence 
Print the PDF

Dear friends,

At the end of this writing, I share the steps I took to paint this landscape. If you follow the simple instructions, I think it would be fun for you to try. This method would also be fun to share with children. But first, here is a bit about the text on the card:

The words on the front of the Quiet confidence Art Card are:
In returning and rest you will be saved; in quietness and trust is your strength. (Isaiah 30:15)

Hesed
The Indescribable Love of God

In the autumn of 2004, I heard about the Hebrew word hesed (or chesed) for the first time. My new husband and I had left our jobs to go to a 22-month Bible school in a new city. I remember walking out into the dark night after a class in a trance of joy. The deep, vast meaning of hesed captivated me.

Great love
Lavished upon us!

Behold, how great a love the Father has lavished upon us that we should be called the children of God! (1 John 3:1)

Beloved
I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine. (Song of Songs 6:3)

Many waters cannot quench love, neither can a flood drown it. (Song of Songs 8:7)

 Though the earth should change…

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change
And though the mountains slip into the midst of the sea;

How are your sins like scarlet?

“Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.”  Isaiah 1:18

Zephaniah's Song
He Quiets Me

Dear friends,
 
Sometimes I have days. Days with disturbance in my emotions or mind. Days when I look up to my Father and ask for mercy and clarity. Last Monday was one of those days. Words that would describe my emotions were “limited, constricted, disquieted.” A friend listened to my heart and prayed for me. I went to my Father’s Word. Ahhh!

His Grand Compassion

The Grand Compassion Art Card is from the Thy Faithfulness Collection and is also available as a 4-Pack at Flower Girl Greetings.com

In April 2001, I traveled with a friend out west. I took this photograph in Arizona at the Grand Canyon as the sun set. The Canyon was bigger than anything I had seen; I just couldn’t grasp its magnitude in my humanness. And yet…

His song will be with me in the night
Gazing on grace

The Song in the night Art Card is available as a 4-Pack at Flower Girl Greetings.com

The Book of Psalms is a collection of songs for God’s people. They are filled with beautiful poetry that expresses the depths of the human heart. From raging pain and questioning to bursting praise and thanksgiving, the Psalms affirm that it is good to pour out our hearts before our loving God for in Him is our help, security and comfort.

I will never leave

The I will never leave Art Card is from the Presence Collection at Flower Girl Greetings.com

Your Bridegroom, Jesus, is closer to you than you can comprehend. Yeshua is His Hebrew Name. After you received Him (John 1:12-13), you became His child. He surrounds you, but then came in you. Look for Him. Peer through your tangible surroundings to see Him there. Look all around for Him. Your loving Savior wants you to develop an increased awareness of His presence and His voice calling out in love every single moment.

Lloyal
Lloyal was Not Forsaken—A Tribute

Dear friends,

Within the Portrait Art Card Collection, Flower Girl Greetings spans the ages. The original artwork for the Lloyal Art Card was given to my friend, Brenda, for her birthday.

The card was painted with watercolor from a photograph of her father whose name was Lloyal. Mr. Lloyal Burkey inspired me with his loyalty to the Lord Jesus Messiah over many years and his passion for his Lord’s love letter, the Bible. He read the Bible completely through every year of his life. This card was a tribute to his life. I penned Psalm 119:105 over the pages of his Bible, “Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Sparrow

The original artwork for Sparrow was created with pointed-pen calligraphy and cut and torn paper that I painted with various metallic paints and inks.

The encouragement to create this card was found in a hymn called His Eye is on the Sparrow. The entire hymn is found on the back of the card:

The Love of Christ

The love of Christ Art Card is available in a 4-Pack at Flower Girl Greetings.

To read the text on The Love of Christ card, please continue reading:

Daddy Loves you!
Avinu Abba - Engulfed in His Gaze

The Avinu Abba card is from The Hebrew Names of God Collection at Flower Girl Greetings.com

Dear friends,

Today I remember 7 years ago when my father passed away. I think about him a lot when I “engineer” or analyze a drawing, a document, a task or a plan. I think about him when I do things that reflect what he did, like putting little labels on drawers and paint jars, and appreciating handmade wooden furniture and puzzles, and finding satisfaction in a job well-completed. I’m grateful for the little and big traces of good things that came to my life because of him. 

Celebrate with Anna!

Anna is from the Portrait Collection and is also available as a Celebrate His Birth 4-pack.

“She continued to speak of Him to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.” (Luke 2:38b) 

In the Bible, Anna was a woman of strength, dignity, faithfulness, vigilance, peace and joy in her redemption in Jesus!
The text on the back of this card says: 

Together, let’s raise praise!

The Grateful praise Art Card is found in the Thanksgiving Collection and is also available as a 4-Pack. 

On October 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln gave our nation’s first formal Proclamation of Thanksgiving in Washington D.C.  The proclamation was written by Secretary of State William Seward, and was an invitation to thank God collectively for His provision and care!

Shout joyfully!
Celebrate with thanksgiving!

Shout joyfully is a high-quality art card that can be sent with just one regular stamp! It is available in the Thanksgiving Collection at Flower Girl Greetings.com

Shout joyfully to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of His name! Make His praise glorious! (Psalm 66:1-2)

Share His salvation!

The Simeon Art Card is available in the Celebrate His birth-Simeon 4-Pack and the Portrait Collection at Flower Girl Greetings.com

The text on the front of this card is, My eyes have seen Your salvation! The inside is blank, so you can share your own personal message or include a letter. The back includes a paraphrase from the passage from Luke 2:21-32 about Simeon...

Remain steadfast!
He was looking for the city…

Steadfast is from the Portrait Collection and is also available as a 4-Pack at Flower Girl Greetings.com 

“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise for He was looking for the city that has foundations whose architect and builder is God.” (Hebrews 11:8-10)

Be patient in hope.
He will come!

Springs rains is from the Thy Faithfulness Collection at Flower Girl Greetings.com

Let us know, let us press on to know the Lord; His going forth is sure as the dawn, He will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth. (Hosea 6:3) 

Here is a little hymn that have so shaped my life...

O satisfy me...
in the morning with Thy lovingkindness

O satisfy me in the morning with Thy lovingkindness that I may sing for joy and be glad all my days. (Psalm 90:14)

The Psalmist encourages us that God is waiting to feed us with His presence. This morning, I read Psalm 84 that also encourages us to dwell in His love.

Springs of joy!
Celebrate a new birth!

Psalm 87 is a beautiful gem of rejoicing!  It reflects with nuances of the joy of the Lord Most High, His city, His kingdom and His people. The sons of Korah sing of Adonai’s love for His people and the place of their birth. Verses 5-7 read:

Of Zion it shall be said,
“This one and that one were born in her,”
And the Lord Most High Himself will establish her.
He shall count and say, “This person and that person were born there.” Selah.
And the singers and musicians (dancers) shall sing:
All my springs of joy are in thee!

His presence
Our solution

Under His shadow is available as a 4-Pack at Flower Girl Greetings.com

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High God
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God in Whom I trust.
(Psalm 91:1-2)

Shāmar
The fullness of God's protection

Shāmar is a Hebrew word that expresses the rich fullness of God’s protection. This card is available as a 4-Pack here at Flower Girl Greetings. A devotional word study is found on the back of this Art Card. Here are the words:

Shāmar is the detailed all-encompassing, constant, permanent protection of the Sovereign Creator God over His children. English translations use words such as keep, guard, watch over, and preserve to attempt to convey its meaning. God cares for us as a good shepherd cares for a flock or a gardener delicately tends the garden.  

Full earth!
O Lord, how many are Your works!
In wisdom You have made them all;
The earth is full of Your riches.
Psalm 104

O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8:9

Woven
You wonderfully wove me!

In January 2017, I painted this portrait of my new grandniece within a womb of light. The rainbow colors symbolize the miracle of life, the child’s progression in the womb, and the surrounding warmth, protection, and love. I painted each oval one at a time filling it with water first and then dropping the watercolor onto the wet surface to create the gradations. After the painting was dry, I added white chalk highlights.

Over and over, the Scriptures speak of the lovingkindness and compassion of the Lord. The Hebrew word for compassion is râchâm and means the nurturing love of a mother for the child in her womb. That is how the Lord loves us. His compassion is infinitely tender, watchful, and hopeful.

Maidens in the midst
Let us exalt His Name together!

In July of 2012, some friends in our precious home group congregated in our basement to pose for pictures from which I would paint. Maidens in the midst  was created from that photo shoot. The letters are crudely painted with Watercolor Art Masking Fluid...

Strength and dignity
She rejoices at the future!

In July of 2012, some friends met to pose for pictures for me. Strength and dignity and Maidens in the midst are two Art Cards that were created from that photo shoot. The crude letters on these cards were created using Watercolor Art Masking Fluid. The watercolor was painted over the masked letters. Then, the dried masking fluid was peeled off to reveal the white, cold-pressed, cotton, watercolor paper underneath. It is very difficult to create letters with masking fluid! You may read the Maidens story here.

Great faithfulness
His Steadfast Love

The letters on the original artwork for the Great faithfulness Art Card were created with a pointed brush filled with blue and purple watercolor and painted onto Arches Cold Pressed watercolor paper. The border was created with torn paper that I painted with gold, purple and blue metallic inks.

Great faithfulness Cross Stitch
His love is new every morning

The original artwork for the Great faithfulness Cross Stitch Art Card was designed on graph paper and cross-stitched with gold, pink, and light green floss on purple cloth. The border was painted with metallic inks.

Free place
The Art Card Story

The original artwork for the Free place Art Card was created by painting the letters onto heavy cotton Arches paper with watercolor and a pointed brush. The border was created with thick, torn, painted watercolor paper.

Lifted hands
The Flower Girl

At the age of 45, I married. A year later, we left our jobs and moved from Dayton, Ohio to Columbus, Ohio to participate in an intense 22-month Bible training that was specifically designed to span denominations, so that our convictions would be our own, rooted in the infallible Word of God. Sometime after we completed our courses and graduated in 2005, and during tedious employment grading 3^rd grade papers online, I took a short break to uncover my watercolor paints from their boxes.

In Him we live
and move and have our being

The text from Acts 17:22-31:
      So Paul [on his missionary journey] stood in the midst of the Areopagus [in Athens] and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in all respects. For while I was passing through and examining the objects of your worship, I also found an altar with this inscription, TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Therefore, what you worship in ignorance, this I proclaim to you.

Come unto Me
The Art Card Story

The original artwork for this Art Card was created by painting the letters onto heavy cotton paper with art masking fluid. This fluid repelled the vibrant powdered Ukrainian ink dyes that were sprinkled onto the paper and sprayed with water. The colors soaked underneath the masked letters because I left it out in the rain. I added the gold letters, “I will give you rest.”

Everlasting arms 
The Art Card Story

The original artwork for this Art Card was created with watercolor on wet Arches Cold Pressed paper. The letters were painted with a pointed brush. The verse on the back is from Deuteronomy 33:26-27