Bountiful Bouquet

Hello, sweet friends! 

Today I am happy to join my Power Poppy Instant Gardeners. Marcella Hawley has illustrated a brand new digital image release for us, and it is both beautiful and versatile. She colored it with her masterful watercoloring to delight and inspire us as we celebrate fall.

Here's what Marcella shared:

"Emanating autumnal élan, Beautiful Bouquet features TWO focal images! One illustration is large and in charge — with three Rudbeckia blooms intertwined with berries and leaves. A second illustration is a pitcher filled with the same Rudbeckia flowers, plus branches of fruiting persimmon and the vivid stems of pokeweed berries. Two sentiments encouraging happiness and mindfulness round out this bountiful digi set."

Since we live in South Florida, we do not experience fall as do our northern friends here in the States. Having grown up in New Jersey, I always looked forward to seeing the leaves turn gorgeous colors in the fall. Since Marcy shares the names of each flower and plant, we can find inspiration for coloring with a few clicks on the internet. However, she always encourages us to color as our hearts desire. So I decided to color this beautifully filled pitcher with vibrant colors (to remind me of what I am missing up north).

Since the pitcher image is tall, I decided to keep the layout simple and make the image as large as possible. I did a "test run" with my color combinations and then happily colored another "Marcella" beauty! The details in her illustrations are amazing, aren't they? After I finished coloring, I used a stitched die to trim my colored piece and then matted it with "Copic-enhanced" card stock to match the pitcher. I used my Mini MISTI to add the lovely birthday blessings sentiment from Artistic Bouquet clear stamp set. A dear friend has a birthday next week, and she loves and grows many flowers. I hope she will enjoy this card. 

Birthdays are special days to celebrate God's gracious gift of life here on earth. He has known us since before the earth was formed and joins with us in celebrating the joy of each birthday. As we awake each morning, may we be reminded that God has a purpose for us each day. May we find joy in each day.

For you formed my inward parts;
You knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well.
Psalm 139:13-14

For my stamping friends, you will find this new digital image at Power Poppy. Hop on over to the Power Poppy blog and see what Marcy shares about this wonderful new digital release and see what my teammates have to share. Of course, you have most likely been following Marcella's newest clear stamp release, Natural Wonders.

This week Splitcoaststampers has a fun Ways To Use It Challenge, and we are to use fruit on our cards. Persimmons are fruit, and I have some ripe ones in this lovely image. 

Oh, my dear and sweet friends, you are truly loved. Thank you so much for your visits and comments. I know there are special prayer requests that I have continued to remember, and I know that God will encourage and bless you all. May God give peace and comfort to those suffering loss and encouragement to us all. You are a joy to me.

Blessings, sweet friends,

Stamps: Bountiful Bouquet and Artistic Bouquet (Power Poppy) 

Paper: X-Press It Blending Card, Baja Breeze colored with BG72 to match pitcher (SU!)

Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine), printer
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, A2 Stitched Rectangle STAX Set 1 dies (My Favorite Things), Mini MISTI tool, Mini Perfect Layers tool, red tape

Card Size: 4 3/4" x 5 5/8"

Eat Cake...and Strawberries!

Hello, sweet friends! I hope you are keeping cool and enjoying your summer (for my friends in the States and in the Western Hemisphere). It's hard to believe at times that some of my friends who live in Australia (and other countries) are having winter. Brrrr. 

Well, I needed a birthday card and decided to participate in July's Power & Spark Challenge...to copy a Bloomie! What fun! I hope you'll consider joining the challenge.

I was inspired by today's Inspiration Challenge on Splitcoaststampers hosted by Audrie. I love her Saturday challenges and don't often get to participate. I decided to "copy" this card made by Cindy Lawrence, one of the talented Bloom Brigade (aka "Bloomies"). I must say that it is a bit intimidating to copy a card made by someone who has been a stamping "hero" and who is an amazing colorist...who also teaches Copic classes all over the country! However, it's always good to stretch ourselves and work at getting better by copying someone like Cindy (who is so dear).

I colored my image on X-Press It Blending Card, and it is so smooth and makes it easy to blend the background by first using the clear blender marker (zero) and then adding the blue. I learned this at my class with Debbie Olson (another "hero" I've followed through my stamping years...and who now is a friend after getting to meet her at the Copic classes she taught). I have learned to love using X-Press It Blending Card more and more. Anyway, I die cut the circle and matted it, and then I added the borders to the designer paper. I used twine and a button like Cindy did. I used my Mini MISTI to add the sentiment. Then I used some red tape and some Tombow glue to secure it all down...and it was done. And now it's ready for the birthday girl (but it's a secret...shh!). 

I am so thankful for precious friends God continues to bring into my life, and I am especially grateful for dear, long-time friends who have walked with me and encouraged me in my walk with the Lord. 

Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart,
and the pleasantness of a friend
springs from their heartfelt advice.
Proverbs 27:9

Even though Power Poppy is "on vacation" right now, the store is open. And digital stamps are 20% off with the VACATIONDIGIS discount code. Who could resist that?!

Sweet friends, thank you for your visits and comments that I love reading. Your prayers continue to mean so much to me...so thank you! And there are many of you for whom I am praying for specific needs. We love and need each other, and I praise God for our friendships both face to face and on the blogosphere. May God bless you.

Blessings, dear friends,

Stamps:  Tea in the Garden, Simply Camellias (Power Poppy) 

Paper: X-Press It Blending Card, Kraft (PTI), Melon Berry (PTI), White (PTI)

Ink:  Black Tuxedo (Memento), Onyx Black (Versafine)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Border Duo 1 die (Impression Obsession), Circles die (My Favorite Things), corner rounder punch (EKSuccess), Mini MISTI tool, twine (PTI), beeswax, button (PTI), Multi Mono Liquid Glue (Tombow), red tape, white tape

Card Size:  A2

Happy Birthday, Kelley!

Welcome to Our Daily Bread Designs Birthday Blog Hop, celebrating Kelley's birthday! 

Kelley Holland is owner of Our Daily Bread Designs, and the "breadsticks" have come together for this special hop to share cards using Our Daily Bread Designs stamps and custom dies to wish Kelley a wonderful and blessed Happy Birthday! We would love for you to hop along with us and leave birthday wishes for Kelley!

For my card, I decided to use this old-fashioned image called Elizabeth and colored it green with deep pink for the trim. This dress reminds me some of those worn in the wonderful television series, "Downton Abbey." I die cut the main Vintage Flourish Pattern die for the background, sponged it, and then glued it to the cream card base. Then I fussy-cut the focal image just a bit smaller than the solid inside shape so the sponging would serve as a mat and then pierced around it. I added my sentiment from Birthday Doily, edged the circle with a Copic marker, and popped it just to the right. A simple but heartfelt birthday card, Kelley! 

Thank you so much for joining us on the Birthday Blog Hop, and we hope you enjoyed it! 

In case you may have missed someone, here's a complete list, and you can see all the cards together on the ODBD Blog.

Chris Olsen * Lisa Somerville * Sandee Shanabrough
Grace Nywening * Wanda Cullen * Elizabeth Whisson
Robin Clendenning * Paula Bigelow * Linda Carson
Angella Crockett * Cathy McCauley * Silke Ledlow
Dawn Lusk * Diana Nguyen * Sabrina Jackson
Cheryl Scrivens

Happy birthday, Kelley! Have a wonderful birthday celebration, and may God continue to bless you! Hugs, sweet friend!

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Elizabeth, Birthday Doily (ODBD)

Paper: Classic White (Neenah), Vintage Cream (PTI), Pistachio Pudding (SU)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Black (Versafine), Pistachio Pudding (SU)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Circle dies (Spellbinders), Vintage Flourish Pattern dies (ODBD), Glue n' Seal adhesive (Ranger), white Enamel Accents (Ranger), piercing tool, 3M dimensional tape
Techniques: Paper-piercing, sponging
Card Size:  A-2

Birthday Roses

This week's Shining the Light challenge is Birthday with ODBD. Make a card or project to celebrate a birthday using ODBD products. (And you have two weeks to work on your card.)

I love this cluster of roses from the Rose stamp set and decided to color and fussy cut it. Yes, it took patience, but it's something we all need to work on, right? I used Ornate Hearts dies to add under my roses (sponging and popping the filigree heart die), used some of the beautiful Blushing Rose Collection paper pad (my favorite), and added the edge of one of the Beautiful Borders dies. I added the sponged "happy birthday" sentiment from Rose Bouquet, paper-pierced around the border and bottom corner, and I think it has a vintage feel to it. 

Roses are so beautiful, and yet, their thorns can pierce our skin. In life's journey, "thorns" can and do hurt us. Yet, we know that God is in complete control and allows the hurts and hard times to make us more and more into the image of Christ. He alone provides the comfort and encouragement we need in our trials. I'm reminded of an old hymn, "O To Be Like Him." But to be more like Him, we must endure trials and hardship. James 1:2-4 is a great passage that reminds me that all suffering I endure will continue to draw me closer to Him and prayerfully make me realize that I can do all things through Him Who strengthens me. Here are some thoughts about our suffering and trials from John Piper: They are not a surprise but a plan, they give evidence of our union with Christ, and God is glorified when we rejoice in our sufferings. Trust God alone.

Count it all joy, my brothers [and sisters], 
when you meet trials of various kinds,
for you know that testing of your faith
produces steadfastness.
And let steadfastness have its full effect,
that you may be perfect and complete,
lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4

To see all the designs in one place or join the challenge, please visit Our Daily Bread Designs Blog. You have until July 6 to join us. You may use any stamps to enter, but if you have any Our Daily Bread Designs stamps, we would love to see you use them. By participating in the challenge, you have an opportunity to win a $15 ODBD gift certificate good towards the purchase of stamps in the "stamps column" on the ODBD website or to be "spotlighted" for the Shining the Light Award. We would love to see your designs!

For more beautiful inspiration ideas for this challenge, please visit my precious design team sisters:

Chris Olsen * Diana Nguyen * DJ Rants
Elizabeth Whisson * Linda Carson * Robin Clendenning

I have also entered this card for this week's Word Art Wednesday challenge.  

Thanks so much for "stopping by" and sharing a comment, thought, or prayer request, and I hope you have a wonderful week!

For His glory,

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Rose, Rose Bouquet (ODBD)

Paper: Solar White (Neenah), Vintage Cream (PTI), Primrose Petals (SU), Blushing Rose Collection paper pad (ODBD)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Black (Versafine), Antique Linen distress ink (Ranger)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Ornate Hearts dies (ODBD), Beautiful Borders dies (ODBD), Petite Ovals dies (Spellbinders), piercing tool, 3M dimensional tape, red tape
Techniques: Fussy cutting, sponging, and paper-piercing
Card Size:  5 1/4"