Climbing Clematis

Hello, sweet friends, and what a week it's been for me. I celebrated my birthday on Wednesday, and it was a glorious day...week actually! I am still receiving cards and birthday wishes - and I feel so blessed by family and friends...and so thankful! God is so gracious!

It's the 5th of the month, and I am playing with the newly remixed digital image from Power Poppy by Marcella Hawley called Climbing Clematis. Clematis is a flowering vine that is able to scramble up walls, fences, and buildings...and even provide ground cover. This digi comes with a fitting sentiment.

I love Marcy's images and take great delight in looking for ideas when I color. I chose a bright pink for my clematis, but just wait until you search for clematis to see all the amazing colors - wow!  Here's the clematis that inspired me, and I used some card stock to guide my coloring.

Once again, this was an easy card using GIMP to remove the backgrounds (erase the one butterfly) and Microsoft Word to resize my image and to add the sentiment. I started coloring with one layout idea in my head and ended up with a totally different card (life is sort of like that, isn't it?). Seeing so many images of clematis growing on trellises, I ended up going that route. You surely know how much I love decorative dies, so one of them became my "trellis" -- and the rest was easy (well, with some fussy cutting...hehe!). I die cut two white "frames" to give some depth and layered that onto the card base. I cut a pink mat with Labels 28 (used three layers glued together to raise it rather than use adhesive foam dimensionals). Then I placed the die over my focal image and lightly traced inside with a pencil. I very carefully cut inside the pencil line to achieve a thin pink mat and cut around the "out-of-the-box" part of the image -- to make it look like my clematis is growing on the trellis. Glued the matted focal image to my card...and it was done!

Because of a busy birthday week, I didn't color two cards (like I normally try to do). However, with the annual "Hope You Can Cling To" challenge starting October 1 on Splitcoaststampers, I will definitely use this new digital release -- such beautiful flowers and a great sentiment to encourage. 

Now it's time to visit my amazing teammates! Be sure to visit Power Poppy to get this new digital release to use today. While you are there, check out the entire digital collection...it's growing! 

Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence

Cheryl Scrivens <me>

Marcella Hawley

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and surely you or someone you know have been touched by cancer. Let's all remember that we too can continue to "keep climbing" by supporting cancer research with our donations and encouraging those battling cancer with our prayers and support. What comfort it is for me to know that our true and only hope is in the Lord.

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from Him.

Psalm 62:5

Thanks so much for "stopping by" and sharing a comment, thought or question. I am always happy to answer questions, so don't hesitate to email me. I am entering this card for today's Inspiration Challenge on Splitcoaststampers, the weekly challenge at Word Art Wednesday, and this week's Simon Says Wednesday Challenge.

I hope you have a wonderful Labor Day Weekend!

Blessings,

Stamps:  Climbing Clematis (Power Poppy) 

Paper: Solar White (Neenah), Regal Rose (SU), White (PTI) 

Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Devine Eloquence and Labels 28 dies (Spellbinders), Glue n' Seal adhesive, red tape

Techniques: Digital images using Microsoft Word and GIMP, out-of-the-box technique

Card Size:  A-2
Copics used:  Flowers - RV10, RV21, RV13, RV52; Flower Centers - Y32, Y17; Leaves/Stems - G20, G43, YG01, YG03, G46, E31; Butterfly - Y000, Y32, W5; Background Shading - YR30, YR31, 0