Beauty for Ashes

That was the song that was running through my head when I started using a technique that Priscilla Styles posted on her blog for making that chiffon flower at the bottom of my card. You have to use flames to sear the edges of the chiffon and as I was making the flower, I was singing Beauty for Ashes. How often life descends into the flames, but with God's help he makes beauty from the ashes that we thought initially might destroy us.

The chiffon flower technique is very cool, I can see using it again. You'll find the instructions here.

The card layout fits the Midnight Madness sketch challenge #14 and I used my Flourishes Sweet Pea set for the first time, it was just the right size for this sketch and perhaps it suits the Flourishes challenge to make a card fit for royalty. The flowers are all shimmery because I painted them with Twinkling H20s, I love using those shimmery paints for flowers, because when teh sun hits the petals of a real flower, they so often shimmer beautifully.

I used a combination of Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette and Pixie Pink to paint the chiffon with an aquapainter to match the colors of the sweet peas. The flower looks more like a rose than a sweet pea, but I'll play with the technique some more and see what I can do. There are pink stickles along the edges of the petals and a PTI blush button sewn on with silver thread to match the silver threads in the ribbon underneath the flower. Thanks for looking, hope you like it.

© copyright Crystal Lewis
(Isaiah 61:1-3)
He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair

When sorrow seems to surround you
When suffering hangs heavy o'er your head
Know that tomorrow brings
Wholeness and healing
God knows your need
Just believe what He said

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair

When what you've done keeps you from moving on
When fear wants to make itself at home in your heart
Know that forgiveness brings
Wholeness and healing
God knows your need
Just believe what He said

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair

I once was lost but God has found me
Though I was bound I've been set free
I've been made righteous in His sight
A display of His splendor all can see

He gives beauty for ashes
Strength for fear
Gladness for mourning
Peace for despair