Twist of Faith #35 - Trees

This week's Twist of Faith #35 challenge theme is:

TREES!

We want to see trees in your creation.

Your creation should also include a scripture, uplifting verse or positive words/quote 

Our sponsor for this week is Eureka Stamps! Please check out some of their other tree sets used by our design team members at Twist of Faith this week.

I have been in love with trees as long as I can remember. I love their skeletal silhouettes in winter as well as their foliage during the growing season. In the fall my hubbie and I take photo trips to capture their brilliant colors in the landscape. My favorite verse about trees from Psalms 1:1-3 was a little long to put on the front of my card:

1. Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

That was the passage I was thinking about when I chose this image. It looks like a really strong tree. I placed it on a hillside at sunset, the best time of day to see black silhouettes of trees. I kept the rest of the card simple so it would highlight the scene and the sentiment, which came from Amy Carmichael, the author and missionary to India a century ago. She opened an orphanage and started a fellowship to help over 1,000 children in India, especially young girls who were enslaved in Hindu temples. Her life story is amazing and inspiring. Her quote on the front of my card is closely related to the passage in Psalms. Difficulties may come, but as Christians they should move us closer to God and His Word for help and respite. Ultimately, those difficulties only make us stronger like the tree.

I kept my card simple so it wouldn't detract from the tree or the message. I also hoped it could be masculine. All of the materials used are from Close To My Heart. I sponged Honey, Sunset, Slate, and Black inks  to make the background. I used torn paper placed over the lower half to ink first the sky, then used the other half of the torn paper to cover the boundary of the sky and ink the hillside with slate and black. The mats are Sunflower textured cs and Sunset Dotty For You. In the corners I put Sunset Button Brads which are recessed in the center, where I added Black Sparkles. I used Adobe Photoshop to add the tree and the text at the bottom after I inked the background. You could do the same with a Word document if you choose 4" x 6" for the size and insert a picture and text box.

I tried to make my sky look like storm clouds are gathering at sunset, like this photo from For Your Inspiration Challenge #44 that was my inspiration:

May God bless you through the stormy times of life and show you the path to strength in Him!  I'm looking forward to seeing

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:
Charisma Cardz #16 - Polka dots
Craft Your Passion #160- add text
For Your Inspiration #44 - photo and colors
Happy Campers #15 - use a mask or stencil (torn paper mask to sponge the sky and hill)
Papertake Weekly - weather (storm clouds gathering at sunset)
Pumpkin Spice #17 - nature
Word Art Wednesday #77 - anything goes with encouraging, uplifting sentiment
Word Play Saturday for April - weather ( I tried to make storm clouds gathering)