Mixed Media Scripture Art Cards

"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires" (Heb 4:12 NLT).

Jan Paron | December 11, 2014

          One of my church's ministries plan to distribute Scripture cards to those of whom they serve this Christmas. We wanted something bright and beautiful that would feature the Gospel message as a keepsake. Our goal is to have the Word penetrate their hearts long afterwards. So, we came up the idea for Scripture cards that I would make on the order of a mixed media journal page.

          Since I have a short timeline in which to create them, I needed a quick and easy method. Additionally, I wanted durable cards that lend cross-cultural appeal. You can view a few samples from the Scripture card collection below. Scroll down for directions on the Calvary Set (top card).




Calvary Set
Jan Paron, Copyright 2014




John 3:16 Set
Jan Paron, Copyright 2014

 

Salvation Set
Jan Paron, Copyright 2014


 

Method for Calvary Set

 

Materials

• Basics: School glue, 3" x 5" index cards, small mist water bottle, old magazine, baby wipes, wax paper, makeup wedge, Soffit sponge bar and cover (or Q tips); hot glue or super glue, expired plastic card (like a bus pass)
• Paint: Pebeo Studio Acrylic dark cadmium yellow, neon orange, violet blue florescent and silver iridescent; Plaid acrylic baby pink, pink, bright red;
• Gel Mediums: black gesso; light modeling paste, Golden Polymer Medium Gloss, Mod Podge Sparkle;
• Embellishments: pie tin
• Stamping: Color Box Pigment Stamp Pad magenta and frost white; Scripture Stamp
• Gelatos: red;
• Inks: Daler Rowney ink flame orange, Dylusions funky fuschia, postbox red, and bubblegum pink ;
• Pens: Bic Mark It, fine; Uni-ball Signo broad;
• PanPastel: Red and dark red;
• Stencils: One large with circles, bubble wrap.

 

Method:

 

STEP 1: PREP THE INDEX CARDS

          Prepare your index cards by gluing three together. Flatten each card layer with an old plastic card of some type. Place them in between sheets of wax paper, and weigh them down with a book 

 



Step 1 Prep the Index Cards

Step 2: ADD UNDERPAPER

          Tear up pieces from a magazine or catalog that go with your color scheme. Squeeze glue and mist water onto the index card. Lay the magazine strips down. Squeeze more glue on top and even it out with a paint brush.

 

Step 2: Add Underpaper

 

STEP 3: PRIME THE CARDS

          Prime the cards with baby pink and pink. Light at the top right corner and dark at the bottom. I use a baby wipe to move the paint around. Don't cover up all the underpaper when you paint. You want some of it to peak through for the card design.

 

Step 4 Prime the Cards



STEP 4: LAY THE STENCIL

          After you spread your paint, blow dry it. Lay down your stencil and apply it with a dry makeup wedge by dabbing the paint. Hold the stencil taut around the area you work so paint doesn't leak underneath. Before you remove it, press a sheet of bubble wrap over to texturize the paint. Gently lift up the stencil when you finish. I hold the bottom of each card with one hand and the stencil with the other. Dry it afterwards. Hold each card to the dryer, rather than point the dryer down to the cards.

 

          Note: I stenciled one half of the cards with the positive image and pressed the negative (flip side) to the other half.

 

Step 4: Lay the Stencil

STEP 5: SPRAY INK

           Spray two different inks (postbox red and funky fuchsia). I sprayed the ink on the makeup wedge and gently tapped it on the card. I applied the inks to the set with the positive stencil image to tone it down a bit. A little ink goes a long way.

 

Step 5: Spray Ink

 

Step 6: STAMP SCRIPTURE

          Stamp the set with the positive stencil image in white and the other magenta. Dry thoroughly.

 

Step 7: Stamp Scripture


Step 7 ADD CROSS AND HILL

          Cut strips of aluminum from a pie tin. The vertical should be twice the length as the horizontal. I ended up gluing my down with hot glue. The strips defied every other type of adhesive I had. Paint black gesso underneath it in a shape of a hill. Dry it again.

 

Step 8: Add Cross and Hill

Step 8: Enhance Cross and Hill

          Apply modeling paste over the hill with a smaller circle stencil. I painted bright red to the stencil first and dried it a bit so the red mixes in with the modeling paste. Spread the paste in a thin coat over the stencil. Hold the stencil taut as you layer the paste over it. If some paste oozes underneath, don't worry about it. You can cover it up with a black marker later.

 

           Outline the cross with black marker and hill with white. Paint the modeling paste dots in a bright red. When dry, dot each with Mod Podge sparkle. I added just a touch of cadmium orange to the larger dots after the Mod Podge dried.

 

           When all this dries, apply Pan Pastel red around the cross area and dark red to the left of the hill at the bottom. (I either use the Soffit sponge bar or a Q tip with the PanPastel.) Then, outline the hill with neon orange.

 

Step 8: Enhance the Cross and Hill

 

STEP 9: FINAL TOUCHES

          Outline the edges of the card with red gelato and smooth it with your finger. I dribbled some flame orange ink and neon orange acrylic over the red on the card set and neon orange over the other.

 

          I drew on the message with a Mark it pen in a large font because many who read our cards have low vision. Then, I'll type a Scripture, the ministry address, and contact information and add it to the back.

 

         Next ,apply the gel gloss either with a brush or your finger. Dab it so you don't smear anything. When it dries, flip the card over and spritz ink on it. (I set the cards in a box when I spray ink).

 

         The final step is to punch a hole at the top middle and string through ribbon.

 

Step 9: Final Touches

 

 

 

NOTE: PLACE SOMETHING HEAVY ON TOP OF YOUR CARDS FOR SEVERAL DAYS TO FLATTEN THEM!