Circles and Butterflies

Back today with another Pinterest pin inspiration.  I tried to stay near the inspiration on this one, but use the tools and supplies I have on hand.  Here's the details:

• You'll remember this card.  I way overdid it with the circle die cutting.  This is because I wanted to select just the right pattern for that card and I felt like I needed a lot of choices (read:circles) to do that.  What better use could I put those spare scraps than on this design?  I simply cut a few circle frames using the same die out of a light green cardstock.
• The flowers were cut using my Heartfelt Creations Vintage Floret dies and shaped.  They have pearl centers and both were brushed with my Ink Blending Tool using Vintage Photo Distress Ink.
• The sentiment was stamped with black Archival Ink onto a piece of cardstock and then cut out using my paper trimmer.
• A little seam binding ribbon bow nestled in with the flowers. 
•  The butterfly comes from a 3D sticker set, not my own work, but it was beautiful in person.  Not sure the picture highlights that enough.

Most important is the purpose to which I put this card.  I have been aware of the work done by Compassion International for a few years.   Several times I've looked into sponsoring a child through their ministry and just didn't follow through.  I'm sure that was because my opportunity to participate was waiting for this past December when I finally signed up.  Compassion allows you to sponsor a child in a poor or underdeveloped community throughout the world.  The money is put towards after school and other care programs including healthcare.  The ministry also then uses those opportunities to spread the love of Jesus to the children in the community.  They don't seek to rescue children out of their communities, but instead focus on making an impact on their lives for good.  As a sponsor, you get the opportunity to enter into that impact by financially supporting their ministry and then writing letters and sending small packages of paper made items to your sponsored child.

I signed up to sponsor Yuli Ester Garcia who lives in the Dominican Republic with her family.  She attends school regularly and participates in Compassion's outreach in her community.  For only $456 a year (or $38/month), I can sponsor Yuli's educational, healthcare and spiritual growth.  That seems such a small cost to me and such a large gain for her.  I sent her this card and a handwritten note to introduce her to me and my family.  There will be a bit more letter writing throughout the year.  I'm thinking it is a good marriage between my desire to impact a child who is in need and my paper crafting production.  Now, I have a reason to send pretty cards to Yuli.  I'm thinking she's really going to like the butterfly, don't you?

If you've never checked out Compassion International's program before, I'd recommend you click through the link and read a little.  Based on the background work I've done and what my experience has been so far, I have every reason to believe that they really are making a difference in the lives of children right now, today.

I've linked this project up over at Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge Blog: Simon Says Anything Goes with Pearls.  Come on over and join the fun!

I am in no way affiliated with Compassion International (other than as a sponsor to Yuli) nor have I been encouraged to write this post by anything other than my enthusiasm for their program.