Welcome

Are we used to the war yet? After weeks of frontpage news, the fighting reports seem to have become a routine, and the world seems to have become indifferent to the agony of people who are suffering on a daily basis. I like to think that Ukrainians get all the help they need to defend their country, but I feel like we prefer the personal comfort of "not getting involved" over actively making decisions that require balls, a backbone, a brain, and a heart. 

I hope that help is coming at least to the refugees who have lost everything, whether they are internally displaced or living abroad. For one of the care packages I packed, I prepared a little "Welcome" card inspired by Ukrainian colours. 

For the main motif, I used a background paper with blue butterflies. Originally, I planned to complement it with a "Welcome" sentiment in Ukrainian which I had already placed on yellow cardboard. However, it turned out that the amount of yellow on the card was rather small, meaning it didn't shine like I imagined. To resolve the issue, I'd have to look for ways to make it more prominent.

In an attempt, I tried using a strip of yellow paper which is embossed with a butterfly/floral motif. It seemed like a good match to the blue butterflies in the background, so I decided to place it in the lower part of my card. Atop of it, I then placed the sentiment. I think the blue and yellow combination is now more like what I had in mind originally, with yellow being concentrated on the bottom of the card, just like it is in the Ukrainian flag.

To create a transition between both papers, I used a couple of stickers from my stash: the tiny flowers resemble blooms in the fields of wheat, while the shimmering butterflies float into the sky to join the blue insects in the background. I hope the fluttering creatures resemble the desire for sorrows to disappear, as well as the endless freedom I associate with butterflies and the sky - a freedom that shall soon come to the people of Ukraine. 

The card itself is pretty much gender-neutral as I couldn't decide whether I'll place it into a male or a female package until the last moment. I sent it to a female in the end, and hope it can bring a sense of being welcome in a land far from home. 

challenges:

- krafty chicks: all occasions

- 613 avenue create: ATG 
- a place to start: ATG

- classicdesignchallenge: ATG DT 

- crafty calendar: ATG 
- crafty catz: ATG with optional twist "all about the girls"

- craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper

- creative moments: ATG with optional twist "summer's here"

- intaas: say it with flowers

- love to craft: ATG

- pennys papertake: ATG
- scrapping4fun: ATG

- sparklesmonthlychallenges: floral frenzy
- traumfabrik: Epic - a hidden kingdom (tiny forest creatures - butterflies)

- through the craftroom door: ATG
- unicorn challengeblog: include pearls/bling (shimmering butterflies)
- use your stuff: a touch of gold (gold shimmer on the butterfly stickers)

- vesela hiska: flowers
- wortartwednesday: ATG
- worldwide open design team challenge: ATG