~~~ Easter Blessings ~~~

Hi Y'all. Whenever I think of Easter, I always think of the Dogwood tree. Driving to and from the lake is a wonderful experience this time of year.The woods are bursting with blooms as the Dogwoods and the wild Wisteria paint the hills and lake side with color! That beautiful sight inspired me to create this card. I used 50 States for the Dogwood blossom, but it really didn't look like any Dogwood that I had ever seen, so I snipped the middle of each petal and then inked it with a dark red ink. I made the flowers using a soft pink Vellum. I guess it's a type of vellum,( It's sold right next to it at Hobby Lobby ) its not as sheer as the vellum I have worked with before, but it is soooo pretty! I did add one layer of the sheer vellum to the flowers. I used a hole punch for the centers and then added tiny gold beads.I used Camp Out for the branch as well as the weathered wood. It's the sign on that cart, but I used it so symbolize the cross that Jesus was crucified on. You can read the Legend of the Dogwood, below. Thanks for taking a peek....God Bless !! xoxo Joy

The Legend of the Dogwood

At the time of the crucifixion,the dogwood had reached the size of the mighty oak tree. So strong and firm was the wood that it was chosen as the timber for Jesus' cross.To be used for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the dogwood.While nailed upon it, Jesus sensed this, and in his compassion said."Because of your pity for my suffering,never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enoughto be used for a cross. Henceforth, it shall be slender, bent, and twisted,and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross–two long and two short petals. "In the center of the outer edge of each petal will be the print of nails. In the center of the flower,stained with blood, will be a crown of thorns so that all who see it will remember."