Cup of Columbine

Hello, sweet friends! It's Saturday, and next Tuesday is the first day of spring. After a long, hard winter, we are all looking forward to seeing flowers bloom and the weather warm.  

I am late for this month's Instant Garden release by Marcella Hawley, but it is a darling one called Cup of Columbine. Here is Marcy's wonderful description: 

"A delicate tea cup overflowing with pretty plants is steeped in detail and delight. Columbine (Aquilegia) flowers intermingle with ruffled miniature Hosta leaves for a bouquet that will tickle your coloring fancy all the way through summer. You get two designs -- one with the flowers and tea cup only, and a second, more challenging composition with a baby robin snapping up a few of the Columbine seeds. Both images have a lighter 'no-line' version included. 

For this Color Story, I'm envisioning an exploration of blues and purples -- the classic Columbine colors, and you may not know that Hosta leaves come in lots of blue hybrids. Hostas also often have variegated foliage, which can be streaks of vanilla, chartreuse, chalky blue, and various greens -- all on the SAME LEAF! Do a bit of Googling, and create a piece in blues that does anything but give YOU the blues! :)"

There are so many beautiful colors for Columbine flowers, but my favorite color is blue (not that you would know that with all the pinks I've been using lately...hehe!). I found some lovely ideas and colored the flowers and leaves. I was struggling with the color for the Susie Cooper tea cup and found today's Inspiration Challenge on Splitcoaststampers just what I needed. It was an unlikely image that inspired me -- a frog. Haha! Yes, it is a blue frog on green leaves with some dark gray/black. Since some of Susie Cooper tea cups are found in dark colors with white polka dots, I finished coloring the cup a darker color and used a white gel pen for the polka dots. I added some stripes to the cloth after I finished coloring it (since I used a regular blue writing pen). Not sure it's my favorite, but I enjoyed the challenge. I used a new decorative die to add a bit of frill and then mounted it on a Marina Mist card base. Voila! It is done, and I hope you like it. I think it is growing on me a little. ;)

Yesterday I found out that a dear young mom of five was called home to the Lord after a two-year battle with cancer. Please pray for her family as these dear young ones will surely have precious few and fading memories of a mom who loved them dearly. I am thankful for the church family they have to love and encourage them on this hard journey.

Many of us are looking toward Holy Week, celebrating Good Friday when Jesus was crucified and died and then Easter (Resurrection Sunday), when Jesus rose from the dead. I praise God that we do not live without hope and that this young mom is now in the presence of her Savior with no more pain and suffering. And when He calls me home, I look forward to being with Jesus as well for all eternity. May we consider the true meaning of Easter this year.

Jesus said to her, 
"I am the resurrection and the life.
Whoever believes in me,
though he die, yet shall he live."
John 11:25

For my stamping friends, you will find this new digital release over at Power Poppy. Hop on over to the Power Poppy blog and see what Marcy shares about this beautiful new digital release. 

I would like to enter this card in The Flower Challenge, which is Anything Goes. I just love the design team and of course always love flowers!

Precious friends, thank you for your visits and comments. I read each one and pray for you. Your prayers continue to encourage me as well, and I thank you! May God bless each of you and give you joy today and every day.

Blessings, dear friends,

Stamps: Cup of Columbine (Power Poppy) 

Paper: Solar White (Neenah), Marina Mist (SU!)

Ink: Printer
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Pleated Lace Rectangles dies (Gina Marie Designs), white gel pen, white tape

Card Size: A2