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Wednesday, February 15, 2017

Graceful Still Life

Hello, dear and precious friends! It's been a while, so I'm happy to join in the Power Poppy blog hop today. It is my hope that I will resume posting a bit more often soon...Lord willing. And I so cherish your continued prayers for me. 

Today's gorgeous digital stamp set is called Graceful Still Life. Here are some thoughts from dear Marcella: "To me, the most relaxing scenes are composed of elements that feel familiar, with touches of nature, style, and beauty. My home is composed of little 'still lifes' -- arranged on shelves, tabletops, windowsills, and basically anything that is not moving. This springtime still life is similar to what I'd set up in my living room: a Susie Cooper teapot filled with fresh-cut roses and trimmed branches of flowering dogwood, piled on top of a stack of decorative books (the books have to have cool-looking spines with great colors or nice typography, or they will not make the cut). Completing the scene, a straw hat with a millinery rose and berries to suggest we've just come inside from gardening. But who knows if we have? Maybe we've just been sitting here coloring up this still life."

Power Poppy, Marcella Hawley, Graceful Still Life, Instant Garden Digital Image, February 2017

This stunning artwork has so many possibilities, and there is a graceful dogwood branch included that I used for my card. I needed "easy peasy" this week. So I used GIMP and Word and arranged two dogwood branches...leaving space for the sentiment from the clear stamp set, Dynamic Duos: Foxglove & Ranunculus. It's one of those perfect sentiments for almost anything, and I printed a bunch of these to relax and color up and then add the sentiment. I think there are lots of other ways to use this lovely dogwood branch, and you will see another one on our hop. 

After coloring my dogwood branches, I used my MISTI to stamp the sentiment. I knew it needed something extra for some sparkle, so I added some sequins that are varied in color...I like how that looks in real life. Next I decided to add some Wink of Stella. Oh, I love the shimmer it gives. Well, suddenly my "Stella" (bad girl that she was) started leaving "blops" below one of the blossoms. Hmmm...well, I had to really get creative, so I said, "okay, girl, if that's how you want to play...." So I took my fingers and started flicking adding some splatter and "played along with her!" Hehe! And of course, now the card has some really pretty glimmer and splatter that is so popular (yes, I am always the last one on the band wagon with techniques). I matted it with a light gray mounted on a pink card base. Voila...ready to mail to a friend with a special note inside.

Power Poppy, Marcella Hawley, Graceful Still Life, Instant Garden Digital Image, Dynamic Duos: Foxglove & Ranunculus, CherylQuilts, Designed by Cheryl Scrivens, February 2017

Once again, many of you know how I've struggled with health issues the last couple of years as we continue to seek a definitive diagnosis. Scripture gives us many verses filled with hope and the knowledge that we can rest safely in our loving heavenly Father's hands. This verse is a very special one for me, and it reminds me that I must continue to trust in the Lord. He is my strength and my Redeemer.

You will keep him [her] in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he [she] trusts in You.
Isaiah 26:3

Now it's time for my stamping friends to hop on over to Power Poppy and purchase this beautiful digital image and use it today. But first, be sure to visit my teammates to see what gorgeous cards they've made and to read what Marcy has shared about this amazing digital stamp set. I know she will delight...she always does!
Sweet and loving friends, I am so very grateful for your visits and love reading each one of your comments. Thank you for visiting with me today...and I hope to see you again in a few weeks. May God bless you. (And I am entering this card for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge using flowers...how could I not resist?)

Blessings, dear friends,



Paper: X-Press It Blending Card, Pink Pirouette and Smokey Slate (SU!)
Ink:  Onyx Black (Versafine), printer
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, MISTI tool, Wink of Stella, sequins, Irresistible Pico Embellisher, white tape
Techniques: Digital images using GIMP and Microsoft Word
Card Size:  A2
Copic markers used: Petals - RV10, RV11; Petal tips and flower centers - Y23; Branches - E31; Leaves - G40, G43; Shading - B0000

31 comments:

Lin said...

A beautiful card for this time of year, Cheryl, a breath of spring! The dogwoods are gorgeous!

Heidi MyLittleStampingBlog said...

Cheryl, your card is just beautiful. I love how you showed the versatility of the digital stamp set by just using a portion of it. I have had that issue with the wink of stella, and I love how you just went with it!

It is lovely to see you posting. I will keep you in my prayers.

Louise Fox said...

What a beautiful card and you used such great imagination and design skills to create it - really thinking out of the box which is such an inspiration to me. Blessings, Louise

Caly Person said...

These blossoms are beautiful, Cheryl! Thinking of you always and hope that your strength is renewed each day. Hugs, friend!

Pretty Paper Junkie said...

I think pain must have given way to beauty. Your card is so lovely. The layout with the pretty sequins and splatter of Stella is just enough to still give it a clean and simple look. I love the matting too. Matting always makes a card so polished.
Continued prayers for you my friend.

Marisa said...

Dogwood is BCs provincial flower and I just love them. You have coloured them beautifully and love the added touches of glitter. SO sorry to hear you are still struggling health wise ((hugs))!! Praying for a resolution.

SewPaperPaint said...

Oh Cheryl, I am so thankful for this Word today and for the inspiration you've given with this beautiful design! Well done! Happy belated Valentine's Day, Autumn

Unknown said...

How beautiful, so Springy! On these dull winter days cards like yours are a breath of fresh air! Love!

Helen Gullett said...

Cheryl, that is gorgeous blooms!

Shirley N said...

What a beautiful card Cheyl, love your card design! I love dogwood blossoms and you colored them beautifully! Great to see you back, take care!

Patti Willey said...

Thankful to confirm this is dogwood I'm no Farm Girl with a green thumb so it's appreciated to clear this up! Love your display of images lightly colored with the palest blue background! A breath of Spring! Praying for your diagnosis and wellness my dear Cheryl xoxo

Bev - Guneaux Designs said...

Oh, Cheryl, your card is so beautiful!! I love the coloring of the beautiful dogwood! Lifting you up in prayers! Hugs, my special sister!

Cheryl said...

Dear friend! I think of you and am praying for you as the dear Lord brings you to mind. I do trust He will completely heal your body and give you relief. He is a Friend Who sticks closer than a brother to His trusting children. Sending you love and hugs. :)

Barbara said...

Your card is the image of a beautiful spring day. So lovely and feel good card. I have been wondering about you, as I had not seen you in blogland lately. You will be on my prayer list and I hope that your health is renewed. Hugs!

Conniecrafter said...

Oh Cheryl as you know you can continue to be in my prayers, as you have been over the years, I so pray God will soon touch you with his healing touch.

Your card is absolutely lovely and sure to bring a smile to your dear friends face. I love the way you used the digi and showing us that we can get many different looks from one stamp. Beautifully colored and lovely script on the sentiment.
Wishing you well and sending hugs :)

Leslie Miller said...

Cheryl, you've been in my thoughts and it makes my heart happy to see your beautiful card today. Those dogwoods are so gorgeous and you've colored them beautifully. They fill up this easy to mail card with a glorious reminder of spring time. I'm looking forward to seeing my pink dogwood blooming this year. The sequins add such a sweet touch, and the sentiment is one of my favorites. You made that bad girl, Stella, work for you in a way I never would have thought of. So lovely!

Robin Clendenning said...

I meant to come over here yesterday to see your beautiful card but got busy and forgot till I saw your sweet comment on my Shadow Box card.
Your cards is so beautiful and colored so beautifully!! I love the sequins and dots you added and the blue around the flowers make it look so lovely!!
You know where I live in the Sierra, just a couple miles up the road where it starts getting higher, we have forest full of Dogwood. Ours are all whitish color but I used to have a pink one growing in my yard. I think it just got a bit too hot for the sweet tree!
Beautiful card my dear sweet friend!!

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Oh what a combination, dogwoods and roses in lovely setting wow, if it weren't for the fact that I still haven't used my last digi from PP I think I'd have to get it.
I love the gimp arranged dogwood, must try doing that sometime I guess you're just using the layering tool...
Mm suspect it's harder than it sounds love the colours as well as sequins and splatters, too dear Cheryl. Praying for your health of course.
Thanks for sharing your inspiration!
Shaz in Oz.x

{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}
{Thank You Candy at Shaz in Oz Blog}

*Vicki* said...

Oh my this is quite stunning my friend!! I just love the soft pink petals with your light blue shadowing around them reminding us that Spring is right around the corner! :) Hope you are doing very well my friend as I've been thinking of you! Thanks for sharing this stunning card!! Enjoy the weekend!! HUGS

Susan Lankford said...

Such sweetness in pink, Cheryl...I picture your home as being very gracious. Praying for a definitive diagnosis and healing for you.

Chris Olsen, Glowbug said...

Hi sweet friend!! Sorry for the delay in commenting. I have been down and out with the flu this week. I continue to pray for you dear friend and hope to talk to you soon!! Your card is gorgeous!! I love the soft pink and gorgeous coloring of the flowers!! Your creations always inspire.
hugs,
Chris
TTYS!

Patti J said...

Cheryl, you are way at the top of my prayer list - sure hope you receive news soon, and can begin working towards getting much better. Your card is beautiful, and of course, living in Missouri, the Dogwood is special to me! As always, you've brought this image to life, my friend!!!

Tracy said...

I adore dogwoods. Some kind of blight came through this area several years back and just about killed them all out. So sad. I love driving down the road seeing their pretty white blossoms in the woods. You made such a pretty design with the branches Cheryl. The splashes of Stella and the sequins are a lovely compliment. Hugs!

Donna Ellis said...

Good Morning, Cheryl! My heart always melts at your incredible coloring skills, and the magic you create with each stamp set. The way you've used this digital image is FABULOUS! Loving the pretty colors, the pale blue outlines, the "flipped" images so everything is not facing the same direction, and the little pops of color-magic with the sequins. Just lovely! Thank you for your recent visit to my blog - it was great hearing from you. I do understand how time slips away because there simply is not enough of it to go around! LOL Wishing you a fantastic day, and a lovely new week. hugs, de

Christina said...

Hi Cheryl. It is good seeing your beautiful work and to hear from you once again. What you did with the dogwood is amazing! The layout is as if one stand up close to a section of the branches and have a closer look at its beauty. Such softness and warmth and love from this card Cheryl. Just like your beautiful heart. So good to hear from you again and I wish you a very lovely new days ahead. Sending hugs and prayers to you.

krishna said...

the card is so beautiful..

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Monika/Buzsy said...

What a lovely card Cheryl. Those dogwood branches look wonderful. I like how you used the image. The sequins are a nice touch. Oh, I am praying you will be able to resolve or at lest manage your medical issue(s). That scripture is beautiful!

jenn shurkus said...

beautiful card!! I hope you are able to get answers on your health issues soon! thanks for joining us on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge!

Dandi93 said...

You sure got the upper hand on that Wink of Stella Cheryl... Gorgeous card my dear. My prayers are with you.. Sending big hugs from TN

Jen Timko said...

Oh my goodness, this is stunning work! I just love your shading on the flowers. They look just like the ones in my yard!! I hate it when Stella misbehaves but it looks like she was on to something....it simply took your genius to interpret it! :-)

stampingbowd said...

This is so beautiful!! I adore pink flowers! I love the way you added shadows. Pretty sequins too! Beautiful card!