Black-Eyed Susan

Hello, dear friends! What a fun-filled post we have today. So let's get started.

First, it's September 15, and here is the new Instant Garden digital stamp set called Black-Eyed Susan. This is a simple early-autumn botanical paired with three sentiments. Marcy has been so fascinated with prairie wildflowers (note the Pure Prairie Bouquet), and this Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) goes along with that thinking! Now isn't this a beauty?

I had hoped to try some watercoloring but decided on doing something totally different from what I've done so far with the digital images. I fussy cut the image - oh my! Yes, I printed it out to fit the size I wanted for my layout (one of the benefits of a digital image), colored it, and fussy cut it! Oh, how I loved doing that! And this pretty black-eyed Susan is easier to cut out than I thought it would be. I CASE'd one of the beautiful birthday cards I received (thank you, Tracy)! I embossed the teal designer paper and sanded it to show the raised portion. Next I printed one of the sentiments from Cuppa Buttercups and then used the notebook edge die, rounded the edges of the "notebook" and popped it over the embossing. I used my Empressor tool to add some shape to the petals and leaves, added something dimensionals, and popped it in place. And I even added some Wink of Stella to the petals and sequins! Wow, I think I am really getting wild, eh? But I think they work with the card. 

I was reading from one of my devotionals yesterday morning, and it was about having a grateful heart versus an unthankful heart. One is full, and the other is empty, and the difference is almost always gratitude. She challenged us to make a "gratitude list" of what God has provided. It sure makes me "full in the things that matter most." I praise God for all He has given me...for He is good and loves us with an everlasting love.

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;

for His steadfast love endures forever!

1 Chronicles 16:34

NEWS: As we help kick off Power Poppy's brand new release, Black-Eyed Susan, we have some other fun to share! A selection of our favorite digital designs is available at a special price! These late-summer flowers and fruits are in full bloom -- ready for you to download, print, and color to your heart's content. Power Poppy's brand new Black-Eyed Susan, plus Pure Prairie Bouquet, Sunshine of My Life, Cuppa Buttercups, and Apples in Season are just $4 each (save $2 per set), OR get all five digital stamp sets in a bundle for $15 (a total of $14 savings). What's even better? Play along in our weekend Coloring Contest over at Passionate Paper Creations and Friends using one of these five digital stamp sets, and you could win a $20 gift code to the Power Poppy Shop! The contest and sale close Monday, September 19, at midnight Central Time. A winner will be announced sometime on Wednesday, September 21, on the PPCF Facebook page. WOW! Isn't all this exciting?

AND have you seen the new Free Coloring Downloads from the first Power & Sparklette Mini Challenge? They are free and available to download here. Congratulations to our winners. And don't forget to visit the newest Mini Challenge here for an opportunity to win a $25 gift certificate.

Now it's time for my stamping friends to hop on over to Power Poppy to get this new digital release to use today -- and also check out the entire digital collection. Then be sure to visit the Power Poppy blog to see what my teammates have in store for you. 

Jennifer Dove

Broni Holcombe

Cheryl Scrivens <me>

Debbie Olson

Barb Walker

Nancy Sheads

Jessie Banks

I so appreciate your visit and sharing a comment, thought, or question. I would love to know what you are thankful for and challenge you to join me in making a "gratitude list."

It's always such a joy to hear from you, and I love reading your comments. I am always happy to answer questions regarding digital images. And I hope to watercolor a digital image again soon. (I am also entering my card in this week's Word Art Wednesday challenge.)

Blessings, dear friends,

Stamps:  Black-Eyed Susan, Cuppa Buttercups (Power Poppy) 

Paper: Solar White 80# and 110# (Neenah), Genteel/Fancy-Free Collection (Fancy Pants Designs)

Ink:  Printer
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Notebook Edge die (MFT), Pierced Rectangles dies (ODBD), Charles embossing folder (Cricut/Cuttlebug), sequins (Verve), Empressor tool, corner rounder punch (EKSuccess), Wink of Stella, Diamond Glaze, Thin 3D Foam Squares (Scrapbook Adhesives), white tape
Techniques: Digital images using Microsoft Word

Card Size:  A-2
Copic markers used: Flower Petals - Y11, Y35, Y26; Leaves - G40, G43, G46, YG01; Flower Centers - E55, E57, Y11

May We Never Forget...

Today is a day filled with deeply sad memories, and I am sure that we each remember where we were and what we were doing on September 11, 2001. I still remember how our entire country (no matter what political affiliation, what nationality, what color) rallied together -- and even prayed publicly and often. And the world mourned along with us.

Yesterday, I decided to color this image -- a beautiful stamp a dear friend gave to me. From her apartment just blocks away, she personally witnessed the horror that day in New York City, and she said it was surreal. Fifteen years ago today, many people going about their normal lives in the Twin Towers lost their lives, along with those who ran to help. Yet that day also included an attack on the Pentagon, where many brave and courageous people lost their lives, including those who also ran to help others. And finally there was a failed attack that tragically ended in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, due to some very courageous passengers. It was devastating to watch the events that day and for many days following, and my heart still aches for the many families who lost husbands, wives, sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, and others. May we never forget the horror of that day and pass its memory on to the next generation so that they too may be willing to work together for the good of our nation.

Since September 11, 2001, we have seen continued loss of life and conflicts within our country and throughout the world. But we should never fear or lose hope -- for God is our only true security. May we continue to trust in Him and not be afraid. He is still on the throne and will be forever.

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Psalm 46:1

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the LORD,
"He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."
Psalm 91:1-2

I read the entire chapter of Psalm 91, and I encourage you to do the same. It was a blessing to me. Thanks so much for visiting and sharing a comment, thought, or question. May God bless and encourage you today, sweet friends. You are dearly loved.

Blessings, dear friends,

Stamps:  God Bless America (Stamps Happen)

Paper: Solar White (Neenah), Poppy Red (PTI)

Tools/Accessories: Copic markers and pencils, Blueprints 3 dies (My Favorite Things), Wink of Stella, white tape

Card Size:  5¼”

Well, Hello Dahlia

Hello, my precious friends! It's Labor Day here in the States, and I hope you are having a good weekend. I know a lot of people have had some bad weather, but I hope you are all safe and comfortable...and relaxing.

Today I am sharing a newly remixed image that is a lovely grouping of dahlias in earthenware vases in three different images with two sentiments. This new digital set from Power Poppy by Marcella Hawley is called Well Hello Dahlia.

Yesterday, I enjoyed my afternoon and colored the largest of the three digital images. What a sweet arrangement of dahlias in earthenware. It was a special treat for me to start and finish a card in a single day - that's a big deal for me, the tortoise! Hehe! Of course, you can see the layout is an easy one, so coloring was the most fun and so relaxing. By the way, I had some real fun trying to get the earthenware vases to look as "earthy" as I could. So I used quite the variety of colors and blended a lot. The pot on the right is actually more green than it appears. I was inspired by some that I found on the internet, and I'm sure you will enjoy coloring them as well.

I decided to use a sentiment from Potted Primroses and used my MISTI to stamp it. Then I used a stitched rectangle die, matted it with my Mini Perfect Layers tool, and finally adhered it to the card base. Voila! I love that it is very mailable, and I hope my friend will like it. 

One of the members of our small group is a teacher, and we were talking about joy, which led into kindness. She shared how she is teaching her students using her "Kindness Tree." When an act of kindness is done, a leaf is added to the tree. Scripture reminds us of the importance of being kind to one another, and it's especially true today. 

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another,
as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32

Now it's time for my stamping friends to hop on over to Power Poppy to get this new digital release to use today -- and also check out the entire digital collection. Then be sure to visit the Power Poppy blog. And be sure to leave some "love" for my teammates!

Barb Walker
Cheryl Scrivens <me>

Nancy Sheads

Tosh Leyendekker
Power Poppy blog

Don't forget about the brand new Power and Sparklette: Mini Challenge Week 1. It's guaranteed to get your creative juices flowing, and there will even be prizes! 

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

Blessings, dear friends,

Stamps:  Well Hello Dahlia, Potted Primroses (Power Poppy) 

Paper: Solar White 80# and 110# (Neenah), Ruby Red (SU)

Ink:  Onyx Black (Versafine), printer
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Stitched Rectangles dies (Gina Marie Design), MISTI, Mini Perfect Layers tool, white tape, red tape
Techniques: Digital images using Microsoft Word

Card Size:  A-2
Copic markers used: Flowers - R20, R17, R29, R39; Leaves - G40, G43, YG10; Grounding - W0, W1, W3; Earthenware Vases - B21, BG10, BG11, W1, W2, special blend marker of BG0000 and B0000; E41, E42, E43; BG90, BG93, G40, G43