Let's Chill...and Then Shop!

Hello, sweet friends! Well, today is the day, and I'm sure many of you will be out shopping in malls and shopping online. It's the big day that many stores hope to make it into the "black" in profits, hence Black Friday.

But today is a big day at Power Poppy. Not only is the new 25th digital remix available, but there is a 20% off storewide sale! The new digital image from Power Poppy by Marcella Hawley is called Let's Chill, and just wait until you see the entire set - a sweet "snowdude," a snowy background, and a sentiment.

But before you run off to shop, here's my card using this adorable "snowdude" that I just love from Let's Chill. I used only the snowman and used a sentiment from Wreaths Plain and Fancy. It's been a busy week, and I decided to keep it simple.

After opening Microsoft Word, I dragged this little fella in and resized him (and as you know, I always print two at a time). I colored up this cutie and used a new stitched banner die that my little "snowdude" fit into perfectly and still allowed for a sentiment. I had planned on using the snowy background but chose a simpler card. I used a sentiment from Wreaths Plain and Fancy that fit just perfectly and also fits for someone sending a card from South Florida - ha! I fussy cut a "mat" for the banner by tracing the outside of the die and fussy cutting it, and then I matted the designer paper with red as well using my Perfect Layers tool. I added a ribbon, and then adhered it all to the card base.

We had a quiet and lovely Thanksgiving yesterday, and I praise God for the many blessings He has given my husband and me over the years. During this busy season, I trust that we will all take some time to reflect on the many blessings from God...even when times are hard.

Look to the Lord and His strength;
seek His face always.
Remember the wonders He has done.
Psalm 105:4-5

Now it's time to visit the Power Poppy blog and see what Marcella has to share with us, and then blog hop to see the other beautiful cards my friends have designed.

Be sure to visit Power Poppy to get this new digital release to use today. While you are there, don't forget to check out the entire digital collection! Remember, it's all on sale!

Thanks so much for visiting and sharing a comment, thought, or question. I love hearing from you and am always happy to answer questions, so don't hesitate to email me. (I am entering this in this week's Word Art Wednesday challenge and also this week's Anything Goes Simon Says Stamps challenge.)

Blessings,

Stamps:  Let's Chill, Wreaths Plain and Fancy (Power Poppy) 

Paper: Classic White (Neenah), White and Pure Poppy (PTI), Merry (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Black (Versafine)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Stitched Jumbo Fishtail Banner STAX dies (My Favorite Stamps), Red Riding Hood taffeta ribbon (SU), Perfect Layers tool
Techniques: Digital images using Microsoft Word, fussy cutting

Card Size:  A-6

Thank You For You Sale!

Hello, sweet friends! I hope you have had a wonderful Thanksgiving here in the United States and enjoyed being with family and friends. It's still hard to believe the year is nearly over.

Many of you are wondering where the new digital is for the 25th of the month. Well, it's coming tomorrow. 

To celebrate you, hope over and get 20% off everything in the store at Power Poppy!

PLUS -- the new digital set, Let's Chill, featuring a sweet "snowdude," a snowy background, and a sentiment -- debuts tomorrow and will be ONE DOLLAR. Sale starts Friday, November 27, at 12 a.m., and ends Monday, November 30, at 12 p.m. CST.

Come back tomorrow, and I will be posting my card with this sweet "snowdude!"

Blessings,

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

Hello, sweet friends, and I trust that you have had a good weekend. It's so nice to share another card for you in November.

It's the 15th of the month, and I am so excited about this month's new Instant Garden digital release from Power Poppy by Marcella Hawley called Partridge in a Pear Tree. It is an absolutely beautiful pear tree with ornaments and a sweet partridge - all "growing" out of a darling teapot. Just look at this amazing new Instant Garden digital. Is this the sweetest??

Oh my, this set is special because it comes with two main images - one with the words on the teapot and one without for versatility. There are also two wonderful sentiments.

I found several beautiful images that inspired me, and I used the main image without the sentiment in the teapot. I wanted to make a card that I could use to send several people and used one of the sentiments from Cozy Cupfuls. But I definitely plan to use the other image along with the sentiments in this set (you must see the whole digital release, Partridge in a Pear Tree).

I simply opened Microsoft Word, dragged in the main image, resized it, and then made another copy so I could print two. (Please see last week's post for details about how to do this so that your images will move and stay where you want them.) So then the fun began as I started to color (after finding some wonderful inspiration photos). Once colored, I die cut it using a stitched die, and then off to my MISTI to add my sentiment from Cozy Cupfuls. It still was missing something, so I dared to use BG70 to color in the entire background while it was still in the die. Next, I decided to use my gold Krylon pen to gild the edges (very carefully so some of the white inside would show). It just seemed to call for a traditional feel to me. Wanting to pull out the red from the sweet "ornaments," I used Pure Poppy to border it using a small scalloped die. Then I adhered it to the white card base, and it was done! What do you think? I know it will mail well, and I will make more of these. (Hint: I photocopied the original before coloring the background using "Best Quality" on Neenah, and then I Copic enhanced it followed by doing the BG70 coloring.) So try it with your printer to see whether it works. I was delighted, and my dear husband could not tell the difference (good test, eh?). And it will help me to make more cards. (I send out a fair number of cards to family and friends who don't live nearby to stay in touch.)

After finishing my card, I realized just how much I am looking forward to Christmas. (And I  must admit that this image had me singing the "Twelve Days of Christmas!" What fun!) But what true joy to celebrate the birth of our Savior. He came to this earth to live as a man and to die so that we might have eternal life with Him. That's the true gift of Christmas.

Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call His name Immanuel
(which means God with us).
Matthew 1:23

Now it's time to visit the Power Poppy blog and see what Marcella has to share with us, and be sure to visit Broni Holcombe and Debbie Olson to see their beautiful cards. 

Then hop on over to visit Power Poppy to get this new digital release to use today. While you are there, don't forget to check out the entire digital collection! Have you seen how many digital stamp sets they have? And I love them all!

Thanks so much for visiting and sharing a comment, thought, or question. I love hearing from you and am always happy to answer questions, so don't hesitate to email me. (I am entering this in this week's Word Art Wednesday challenge.)

Blessings,

Stamps:  Partridge in a Pear Tree,  Cozy Cupfuls (Power Poppy) 

Paper: Solar White (Neenah), Pure Poppy and White (PTI)

Ink: None - Printer
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Stitched Rectangles dies (Simon Says Stamps), Blueprints 20 dies (My Favorite Things Stamps), MISTI, gold Krylon pen
Techniques: Digital images using Microsoft Word

Card Size:  A-2

A Warm Autumn Welcome!

Hello, sweet friends, and I trust that you have had a good week and are looking forward to the weekend soon. Yes, it's been far too long since I've posted (where did October go?). But I'm back and have a special treat for you (and it really got me coloring again).

It's the 5th of the month, and I am playing with the newly remixed digital image from Power Poppy by Marcella Hawley called Maize for Days. Here's what Marcy shared, "Maize for Days is a bough of colorful Native American Corn (also called Indian Corn and Calico Corn - how cute is that!!) extending a token of friendship and a warm welcome to everyone, and it colors up beautifully in autumnal tones. Three sentiments allow you to have a straightforward sentiment – or two jaunty puns!"

This delightful image is exquisitely designed, and I love its beautiful detail. I found some wonderful inspiring photos to guide me in coloring my corn, and I used a lot of colors. I decided on a green ribbon for contrast, and I matted my focal image with green and sponged inside the die with Antique Linen and the edges of the card base. I know this is going to be a perfect image for lots of occasions, especially with the sentiments (and of course many other Power Poppy sentiments).

So, for any non-techies or those who are hesitant about digital images, today I'm going to explain how to use a digital image in Microsoft Word only. I know you can do it – I have confidence in you. First, I opened Microsoft Word, dragged in the main image and resized it (clicking on the image and using the corners only to push and pull for resizing). After I resized my main image, I righted click on that image, chose Wrap Text, and selected Tight. Now you can click in the center of the image and move it anywhere you want (you'll see the blue border around it). Easy, eh? Then I clicked anywhere in the white area to "unselect" the main image and dragged in the sentiment. If you do that, the sentiment will be "on top of" the white space of the main image. Repeat the Wrap Text and select Text procedure. Resize it and move it where you wish near the image. If you want to make multiple copies of this "arrangement," hold the Shift key down and select both images. Then right click, hover over Grouping, and select Group. Voila! Now move that "group" to where you want it, copy it, and paste it. Then move the second one where you want. Now you are ready to print two copies to make two cards (if you wish, do all four). If you have any questions, email me.

Well, this image really has put me in the fall and Thanksgiving mode, and I am reminded of all the many blessings God has given me. And in good times and bad, He is always my strength.

The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.
Therefore my heart exults.
And with my song I shall thank Him.
Psalm 28:7

Now it's time to visit the Power Poppy blog and see what Marcella has to share with us, and then hop over to see what "a-maize-ing" cards Christine and Stacy have done!

Be sure to visit Power Poppy to get this new digital release to use today. While you are there, don't forget to check out the entire digital collection! 

Thanks so much for visiting and sharing a comment, thought, or question. I love hearing from you and am always happy to answer questions, so don't hesitate to email me. (I am entering this in this week's Word Art Wednesday challenge.)

Blessings,

Stamps:  Maize for Days (Power Poppy) 

Paper: Classic White (Neenah), Wild Wasabi (SU)

Ink: Antique Linen distress ink (Ranger)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Stitched Rectangles dies (Simon Says Stamps), Perfect Layers tool
Techniques: Digital images using Microsoft Word, sponging

Card Size:  A-2
Copics used:  Corn and husks - Lots of Y, YR, E - just have fun with the colors; Ribbon - YG61, YG63, and YG67