Well, Happy New Year, and hello, precious friends! It's been far too long since I've posted, but life can just get in the way. But I look forward to a wonderful new year and continue to trust God in and through all things.
For this month's Power & Spark Challenge hosted by Julie Koerber, we're asking you to "Grab A Map" and get in on some Power Poppy Fun! We've teamed up with the Pagemaps.com's CardMaps to showcase ten new sketches featuring some of Power Poppy's fabulous stamp sets. You can find all ten sketches along with the design team samples HERE. So grab a map, use it to spark a little cardmaking creativity, and then link up your creation HERE. If you play along, you'll be in the running to win a $50 Shopping Spree to the Power Poppy Shop! But wait – there's more! Becky Fleck, the fabulous PageMaps guru, is also offering a $25 Power Poppy gift card, and all you need to do is leave a comment on THIS post! The PageMaps contest closes January 22, so hop on over soon. We can't wait to see what you create.
Truly, I struggle with sketches, so this was a good way to stretch myself creatively. I could color all day, but when it comes to making the card – I get stuck. Here's the sketch I was given to use.
I decided to use the sweet peonies from Soothing Sympathy, a sentiment from Simply Camellias, and a new paper pad. I selected three patterned sheets and started some quick coloring. After searching for a heart die, I decided to stamp the bitty peony bud and hang it as a heart with some very old thread that I found from my mother-in-law's stash (had some sentimental thoughts of how she loved needlework). The rest was a variety of other dies (see below in my recipe), and then edging several pieces with a Copic marker for a finished look and to make them stand out a bit. So here she is, and I am happy to have been inspired by this sketch. Perhaps I should try more, right? How about you? There are ten sketches to try – are you ready to stretch yourself creatively?
I'm sure that I am not alone in saying that God has allowed many difficulties in my life this past year. He has graciously given me the strength and endurance to trust Him and get through them all and has used each challenge to draw me closer to Himself. I look forward to the new year with great confidence that God is with me no matter what the future brings. This reminds me of a beautiful hymn that my dad used to sing so tenderly (and now my dad is with the Lord). Here's the refrain from "I Don't Know About Tomorrow" recorded by Bev Shea.
Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know Who holds tomorrow
And I know Who holds my hand.
Lyrics by Ira Stanphill
For this month's Power & Spark Challenge hosted by Julie Koerber, we're asking you to "Grab A Map" and get in on some Power Poppy Fun! We've teamed up with the Pagemaps.com's CardMaps to showcase ten new sketches featuring some of Power Poppy's fabulous stamp sets. You can find all ten sketches along with the design team samples HERE. So grab a map, use it to spark a little cardmaking creativity, and then link up your creation HERE. If you play along, you'll be in the running to win a $50 Shopping Spree to the Power Poppy Shop! But wait – there's more! Becky Fleck, the fabulous PageMaps guru, is also offering a $25 Power Poppy gift card, and all you need to do is leave a comment on THIS post! The PageMaps contest closes January 22, so hop on over soon. We can't wait to see what you create.
Truly, I struggle with sketches, so this was a good way to stretch myself creatively. I could color all day, but when it comes to making the card – I get stuck. Here's the sketch I was given to use.
I decided to use the sweet peonies from Soothing Sympathy, a sentiment from Simply Camellias, and a new paper pad. I selected three patterned sheets and started some quick coloring. After searching for a heart die, I decided to stamp the bitty peony bud and hang it as a heart with some very old thread that I found from my mother-in-law's stash (had some sentimental thoughts of how she loved needlework). The rest was a variety of other dies (see below in my recipe), and then edging several pieces with a Copic marker for a finished look and to make them stand out a bit. So here she is, and I am happy to have been inspired by this sketch. Perhaps I should try more, right? How about you? There are ten sketches to try – are you ready to stretch yourself creatively?
Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know Who holds tomorrow
And I know Who holds my hand.
Lyrics by Ira Stanphill
Now it's time for my stamping friends to hop on over to the Power Poppy blog and see what Julie has to share about this new Power & Spark Challenge for January along with links to my teammates to see what sketches they used and how. Sounds like fun!
Blessings, dear friends,
Stamps: Soothing Sympathy, Simply Camellias (Power Poppy)
Paper: X-Press It Blending Card, Pretty in Pink (SU!), Bundle of Joy Girl (Echo Park)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Onyx Black (Versamark)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Stitched Rectangles dies (Gina Marie Designs), Fishtail Layers STAX dies (MFT), Double Stitched Circle STAX dies (My Favorite Things), Large Holiday Shapes dies (Simon Says Stamp), Varicor variegated rayon thread #15 from Brazil, Thin 3M Foam Squares (Scrapbook adhesives), white tape
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Stitched Rectangles dies (Gina Marie Designs), Fishtail Layers STAX dies (MFT), Double Stitched Circle STAX dies (My Favorite Things), Large Holiday Shapes dies (Simon Says Stamp), Varicor variegated rayon thread #15 from Brazil, Thin 3M Foam Squares (Scrapbook adhesives), white tape
Card Size: A2
Copic markers used: Petals - RV00, RV11, RV52, R81, R83; Leaves - G20, YG93, YG95; Center - YG31
Copic markers used: Petals - RV00, RV11, RV52, R81, R83; Leaves - G20, YG93, YG95; Center - YG31
