Greetings Cards - Yours Faithfully Hannah Kirk

Eco-Friendly Cards and Packaging

by Hannah Kirk | May 24, 2021

Hi there,

It’s been 2 weeks since I last posted because life took over last week.

I thought it would be nice to update you on the ways Yours Faithfully Hannah Kirk products and packaging are eco-friendly.

Greeting Cards

All of my greeting cards are environmentally friendly – they are made from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified card, and the inks used are all soy or vegetable-based. All 49 designs are created by me with either my photographs or original art on the front. Each Greeting Card is blank inside for your own message, making them perfect for any occasion. They come with a white envelope. Size A6.

Packaging

Greeting Cards:

When packaging my Greeting Cards, I first place them in tissue paper and seal them with washi tape. Then I put a bookmark and note in with the greeting cards. Depending on how many are going to the customer I then either place them in a cardboard backed ‘do not bend’ envelope or a small cardboard box. As you can see – both the products and packaging (minus the washi tape) are eco-friendly.

Here is a video to show you my packing process for greeting cards:

Original Art:

When packaging my original art I wrap in tissue paper and biodegradable bubble wrap (it even comes in a green colour!). Then I add a bookmark and note. I then make sure that it’s packaged nicely with cardboard before sending it securely on it’s ways.

Here’s a video of me packing up a painting that went all the way to Australia!

I think you get the idea, that where I can I am as environmentally friendly as possible.

I’d be willing to chat to you about this further if you have any questions.

Browse my products

I hope you have a good week. Bye for now. Yours Faithfully, Hannah Kirk.

Baptism Cards

by Hannah Kirk | May 11, 2021

Hi there,

In this blog post, I spotlight all of my greetings cards suitable for believers baptisms. I’ve also included cards suitable for Christenings and Baby Naming Day’s.

Baptism Cards

All of my greetings cards are environmentally friendly – they are made from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified card, and the inks used are all soy or vegetable-based.

All designs are created by me with either my photographs or original art on the front. Each Greetings Card is blank inside for your own message. They come with a white envelope. Size A6.

Acceptance

The painting I used for this design, ‘acceptance’ was originally painted as the first in my collection of faith-based discipleship paintings. The collection is being painted alongside writing a book on the complexities faced within Christians discipleship.

Boundaries

For this Boundaries Christian Greeting Card, I used a print of the painting ‘Boundaries’. It is the second painting in a new collection of faith-based discipleship abstract paintings.

Boundaries play an important part in discipleship. Some are ridged and firm, others are soft and float around hardly noticed – like bubbles. Boundaries, in their best form, aren’t for punishment, rejection or exclusion.

Connection

The painting printed on the front of this greeting card is the third painting in my collection of faith-based discipleship paintings. I’m painting this collection alongside writing a book on the complexities of Christian discipleship.

Here is a snippet from the chapter on Connection: I find the concept of connection difficult. I feel socially inept and that has had a very negative impact on my ability to relate at any great depth. The About the Author section at the end of the book, explains, at least in part, who I am and the sorts of ways I experience life, and why. I, therefore, won’t repeat myself here. Despite my difficulties in connecting with people at any great depth, it’s something that I ‘enjoy’ – if that is the right adjective! At any rate, it’s something that I, and indeed every human being, need. As Brené Brown says, it is a deep need for all of us to connect with others. I also believe that it is a deep need for us to connect with Abba-Jesus-Spirit, whom we often refer to as, simply, God. A deep connection with God and others is what my heart and mind crave and longs for. But, it’s complicated! That need has got warped in my experience of life in the past – which makes the way in which I sometimes try to get that need met unhealthy and inappropriate. I’m now exploring and working on healthy and appropriate connections with people. (© Hannah Kirk, 2020)

Cross Through Time

The painting that is printed on the front of this Christian greeting card, ‘Cross Through Time’ was originally meant to be the Lion of Judah!

I made a mistake and in frustration, I started to scrub the paint. Out of my frustrated scrubbing appeared this, which I’ve named Cross Through Time. It showed me that my gift for painting comes from God and that they are timeless and that what Jesus accomplished on the cross is way better than anything else.

Since then I have let Abba-Jesus-Spirit direct my path and teach me what they want me to paint.

Dialogue

The original dialogue painting is the 4th painting in my collection of faith-based discipleship abstracts.

Dialogue can be messy, bumpy, and beautiful. I used sap green, rose pink, orange and white because those colours communicate with each other on the colour wheel.

I’m creating these paintings in conjunction with a book that I’m writing on the complexities of discipleship. Here is a snippet on Dialogue:

Since 2015 I’ve grown and developed a lot. I used to be dyslexic, I used to struggle with communicating. I was shy and emotionally unstable (that’s explained by a later diagnosis of Trait Specific Personality Disorder). That did not allow much room for good, healthy, or helpful dialogue or relationships. It’s something that I’m getting better at all the time. Spiritually, I’ve always had a good-enough inner dialogue between myself and God. When I was very little, I spoke often to God – good, bad, and ugly. I remember asking Him things and telling Him things. I relied heavily on Him for comfort, particularly at night-time. But, even though my dialogue with Him was ‘good enough’, it wasn’t based on a right relationship with Him. Although I looked to Him for comfort, I feared Him. I feared punishment. I feared getting it wrong. I feared to upset Him. Since 2015, but especially since September 2016 when I gave my life to Jesus – properly, I have begun to have a collaborative dialogue with Abba-Jesus-Spirit. By that I mean dialogue where I have equal respect for myself and Him. Or at least that is what I intend, I don’t always succeed! (© Hannah Kirk, 2020)

Dancing to the Beat

I painted the original on the front of this dancing to the beat greeting card as part of the course I attended called School Of Acrylic Painting. I loved the background because it enhances the feeling of movement. The dancer is beautiful too.

Does God Have a Blueprint

When I was deciding which designs to move forward with I asked my husband for help with choosing the final cut. He suggested I get rid of this one because he wasn’t sure it was saleable. About a month later, I had a stall at Yeldall Manor, for their annual Open Day. It was by far my best seller!

I painted the original as a response to a service at church with the same title. When asked whether God has a blueprint for our lives I said ‘yes’. This painting flowed out of me as I let my response settle.

For the original painting, I sploshed Cerulean Blue around the canvas without thinking. Immediately I saw a cross in the top left corner. Then I painted my hand with purple paint and made a handprint on the right of the painting.

Finding God at Depth

I love the therapeutic benefit of using a palette knife to cut through acrylic paint to gradually expose a beautiful painting. I named this one Finding God at Depth based on the sermon series at the time. There is hope, I believe, in Jesus. He rescues us from the darkness.

Fisher’s of Men Verse

I love the therapeutic benefit of using a palette knife to cut through acrylic paint to gradually expose a beautiful painting. I named this one Fishers of Mankind because it reminds me of the Fishers of Men verse: “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” (Matthew 4:19 NIV)

Fly High

A couple of years ago, I had the opportunity to paint prophetically for people at a public community event in the town I live. It was a great opportunity and I painted lots of different images and then offered them to strangers and passers-by – as the Spirit led me.

My pastor saw this one and ‘knew’ who it was for, and so asked me if I minded if he gifted it to someone. I, of course, said yes. One of my gifts is to bless people, and I most often do that by blessing people with gifts of artwork or words of encouragement.

The Bible verse I was meditating on when I painted this was, ‘But those who wait for the LORD will renew their strength. They will mount up with wings like eagles. They will run, and not be weary. They will walk, and not faint.’ (Isaiah 40:31 NHEB)

Garden of Eden

I painted this at the weekly art group (term time only), in Yateley (before Covid!). We have an optional theme, but I chose to do my own thing. This is one of my favourite techniques – to just paint as the Spirit leads and letting the painting flow out of me.

I love cutting into the paint with a palette knife and eventually creating a calming and colourful scene. This is an abstract painting, so it’s open for the viewer to interpret what they see, think, and feel, when they look at the painting. What do you see? What do you feel or think when you look at it?

I see the Garden of Eden and a beautiful waterfall. I used bright and calming colours for this painting.

Christening and Baby Naming Day Cards

Candle

I painted this during a dark point in my life.

Jesus has been the light in my darkness and has helped me through the toughest years of my life.

I pray this card brings peace, comfort, and hope to you in your darkness (or to those that you buy this for).

Cygnet in Transition

Have you heard the story The Ugly Duckling? I have! When I was little I watched the video and it resonated with me so much; I felt like an ugly duckling. By that, I mean that I never fitted in. The reason I believed that was because I was told that I was ugly, stupid and that I didn’t belong. For most of my life, I believed these lies and developed mental health disorders as a result.

A few years ago, my pastor re-framed this mindset into ‘You’re not an ugly duckling, you’re a beautiful cygnet and you are transitioning into a beautiful swan’. I believed him. Therefore, my love for cygnets and swans grew, and I have followed the lives of several swan families near where I live ever since. It has also sparked my recovery!

This painting, which is printed on the front of this cygnet in transition greeting card, was painted using one of my own reference photographs.

Cygnet Siblings

These cute cygnet siblings lived at a local lake. I followed the lives of these cygnets until they ‘flew the nest’. I visited them most days for a couple of years and have photographed them growing up.

The thing I love best about this photo is that I wonder what they are thinking about and saying to each other. It reminds me of sitting with my best friend, Patricia, and having a good old natter.

Cygnet Sitting

This super cute baby cygnet lived at a local lake. I followed the life of this cygnet until they ‘flew the nest’. I visited this cygnet most days for a couple of years and have photographed them growing up.

This cygnet is sitting on its parents back. I had never seen that before, so I was over the moon to capture something so precious. Have you ever seen a cygnet sitting (or sleeping) on their parents back?

Cygnet Sleeping

This extremely cute cygnet lived at a local lake. I followed the lives of this adorable cygnet until they ‘flew the nest’. I visited them most days for a couple of years and have photographed them growing up.

This cygnet is sleeping on its parents back. I had never seen that before, so I was over the moon to capture something so precious. Have you ever seen a cygnet sleeping on their parents back?

Browse other designs of my Greetings Cards

Which one do you like best? Is there one of my other designs that you think should be in my Baptism Card list?

I hope you have enjoyed browsing my Baptism Cards, along with my Christinaing and naming Day Cards.

Yours Faithfully, Hannah Kirk

Anniversary Cards

by Hannah Kirk | May 3, 2021

Hi there,

In this blog post, I’m going to share with you all of my greeting cards suitable for anniversaries.

Anniversary Cards

All of my greetings cards are environmentally friendly – they are made from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified card, and the inks used are all soy or vegetable-based.

All designs are created by me with either my photographs or original art on the front. Each Greetings Card is blank inside for your own message. They come with a white envelope. Size A6.

Calm Coast

Despite painting the original from my imagination, the scene is reminiscent of the Mallorca coastline. I love it and I’m glad the original painting has gone to its forever home. Fear not, there is the option of buying this greeting card and framing it or purchasing it to bless someone else.

Here is what the customer said about the original painting, ‘I liked this painting as soon as Hannah posted a picture of it, so I’m thrilled to have the original hanging on my wall. It certainly lives up to its name – although the composition is simple, it gives me a real feeling of peace when I look at it.” M.W (Derby)

Dancing to the Beat

I painted the original on the front of this dancing to the beat greeting card as part of the course I attended called School Of Acrylic Painting. I loved the background because it enhances the feeling of movement. The dancer is beautiful too.

Elephant Safari at Sunset

I love animals and landscapes so this was a perfect lesson for me. I had great fun doing the background and the trees. The shape of the elephants was trickier, and getting the shading right was a challenge. I’ve always wanted to go on safari and see elephants in the wild. I love how the baby elephant is following its dad. It makes it quite spiritual for me because it reminds me that I’m Abba’s child and that I am following Him with my art and writing.

I love watching the sunset. I often watch at a lake in Hampshire that I’m fond of, but also love it wherever I am. I can only imagine how spectacular it would be to see the sunset while on safari! What an awesome thought. I hope I’ve captured its beauty without ever seeing it – it flowed out of my inmost being and my imagination.

Lake Reflection

I painted the original as part of my Level 2 School Of Acrylic Painting course, in Gloucester. The technique we were learning was “silhouettes” so I chose to do a lake scene with silhouettes of trees and their reflections. I love the peaceful and calm nature of this painting – really soothing.

Love Bursts Forth

This is one of my most popular paintings to date. My husband has asked me if he could keep it. I of course said yes, but that has upset a couple of people who wanted to buy it!

Love is one of the most powerful emotions, isn’t it? But, it’s not just an emotion it’s also an action and a state of being.

I believe that we are able to love because the Living God has first loved us – “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17 NHEB) That, for me, is awesome.

Love Spirals

This Love Spirals greeting card can make a great Anniversary Card. The original artwork was created using mixed media (pen and acrylics) on canvas paper.

Love is one of the most powerful emotions, isn’t it? But, it’s not just an emotion it’s also an action and a state of being.

I believe that we are able to love because the Living God has first loved us. When people get married, one of the most popular Bible readings is 1 Corinthians 13.

More of the story behind this artwork can be found on my website.

Pine Walk Puerto Pollensa

I holiday in Mallorca twice a year with my family.

During our last holiday there, I went on a romantic evening stroll along the Pine Walk in Puerto Pollensa with my wonderful husband. It was that walk that inspired this painting.

The beautiful sunset, the glorious mountains, and the little boats dotted around the bay.

We stood in this spot for a while, enjoying the sunset and each others company before going to have dinner together while the girls were spending time with their grandparents.

I used my own reference photograph for this painting which I’ve had printed on the front of this Pine Walk Greeting Card.

Purple Sunset

I painted the original quite a while ago when I was first starting to paint. I think this was my first ever sunset/landscape. I was overly critical of it, but people loved it.

The original has sold and this is one of my most popular greetings cards. The stock is running low, so if you’d like one I wouldn’t hang about.

Steam Train

Although, this steam train greeting card is most popular amongst males, it is suitable for any gender, and for any occasion. I painted the original in watercolour, on watercolour paper, for my father-in-law (as a commission). He’s a steam train enthusiast.

Although watercolour is not the medium I use most often, I’m incredibly pleased with how this turned out. My father-in-law loves it, which is a bonus.

I am open for commissions, so please do get in touch if you’d like to commission me for a piece of artwork.

Browse All Greetings Cards Here

Which one do you like best? Is there one of my other designs that you think should be on my Anniversary Cards list?

I hope you have enjoyed browsing my Anniversary Cards.

Yours Faithfully, Hannah Kirk

Birthday Cards For Them

by Hannah Kirk | Apr 26, 2021

Hi there,

In this blog post, I’m going to share with you all of my greeting cards most suited as birthday cards for them.

The majority of my cards are gender neutral and suitable for any occasion.

With that little introduction out of the way let’s take a look at some of my greeting cards.

Birthday Cards for Them:

All of my greetings cards are environmentally friendly – they are made from FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified card, and the inks used are all soy or vegetable-based.

All designs are created by me with either my photographs or original art on the front. Each greetings card is blank inside for your own message. They come with a white envelope. Size A6.

Blue Tit

I drew the original in soft pastels and pastel pencils on pastel paper. I’m very happy with how this turned out. I especially love the beautiful spring colours in the background.

Calm Coast

I painted the original during my first lesson at School Of Acrylic Painting, based in Gloucester. It also featured in my first ever group exhibition in Aldershot.

Despite coming from my imagination it was reminiscent of the Mallorca coastline. I love it and I’m glad that the original has gone to its forever home. Fear not, there is the option of buying this greeting card and framing it or purchasing it to bless someone else.

Here is what the customer said about the original painting, ‘I liked this painting as soon as Hannah posted a picture of it, so I’m thrilled to have the original hanging on my wall. It certainly lives up to its name – although the composition is simple, it gives me a real feeling of peace when I look at it.” M.W (Derby)

Cygnet Siblings

These cute cygnet siblings lived at a local lake. I followed the lives of these cygnets until they ‘flew the nest’. I visited them most days for a couple of years and have photographed them growing up.

The thing I love best about this photo is that I wonder what they are thinking about and saying to each other. It reminds me of sitting with my best friend, Patricia, and having a good old natter.