Power & Spark - "Grab A Map"

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

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! 

As always, sweet and precious friends, thank you for your visits and comments that I love reading. Your prayers continue to mean so much to me...so thank you! May God bless each of you and give you strength.

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

Card Size:  A2
Copic markers used: Petals - RV00, RV11, RV52, R81, R83; Leaves - G20, YG93, YG95; Center - YG31

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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

Whimsical Wreaths Release and SALE!

Hello, precious friends! I hope all my friends from the U. S. had a blessed Thanksgiving! We have so much to be grateful for, and I continue to count each and every blessing that comes from our loving Father.

Well, today marks the start of Christmas shopping, and just wait until you see the beautiful new digital stamps...yes, there are four sets...and you will love each one! 

The Instant Gardeners are being joined by the Bloom Brigade, and what fun we've had with this release, Whimsical Wreaths. Check out the Power Poppy blog to see each of the new sets...they are amazing! And what a variety of beautiful cards and projects that will inspire you! AND there is a storewide "SALESGIVING," including a treasure hunt of sorts to search for the Mystery $1 Holiday Digi. Sound like fun to you? It does to me!

Well, one look at the Felt Leaves and Fruits had me. Being a life-long crafter, I could easily remember crafting with my grandmother. She was my dad's mom and was Scottish, and each summer my sister and I would spend a week with my grandparents. During the day while grandpa worked, we would craft. What fun and great memories...and I am still crafting!

I resized this digital wreath in Microsoft word, die cut it, and then colored it (my favorite part of making a card). I decided to join in on this month's "Think Pink" Power and Spark Challenge hosted by Tosha Leyendekker. These puffy little tufts so wanted to be pink! Hehe! The little "berries" are teal. I used a stitched die and ended up having to fussy cut the green for a mat. I started with an idea to use some designer paper, but I was going through my scrap bin and found this beautiful lattice die. So I cut another one and layered them together and then popped it with a LOT of dimensional tape to lay over the green card stock. I added the ribbon and finally mounted the wreath on the card. It's definitely a box card. 

When I used to sing in choir, I remember the song "Come Into His Presence" by Don Moen. I loved singing it, and you can listen to it here. It's based on Psalm 95:2 and reminds us to give God thanks and to praise Him...both in our words and in song. What a great way to start the Christmas season.

Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

Psalm 95:2

Now it's time for my stamping friends to hop on over to Power Poppy. So get out that wish list and add them to your shopping cart, check out this new digital release, and search for the Mystery $1 Holiday Digi! What fun, eh? And don't forget to leave some "love" for my teammates. You will surely be inspired! 

Cindy Lawrence
Tosha Leyendekker
Katie Sims
Stacy Morgan

Cheryl Scrivens <me>
Christine Okken
Jennifer Dove
Broni Holcombe
Nancy Sheads

Debbie Olson

As always, sweet friends, I so appreciate your visit and love reading your comments. I am always happy to answer questions. And one day soon I hope to watercolor a digital image again. (I am entering my card in this week's Simon Says Wednesday Challenge.)

Blessings, dear friends,

Stamps:  Wreath: Felt Leaves and Fruits (Power Poppy) 

Paper: Solar White 80# and 110# (Neenah), Pear Pizzazz (SU!)

Ink:  Printer
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Stitched Mats: Circle dies (Lil' Inker Designs), Interlocking die (Penny Black), Mini Perfect Layers tool, seam binding, Matt Finish Seal 'n Glue adhesive (Ranger), 3M dimensional tape, white tape
Techniques: Digital images using Microsoft Word, fussy cutting

Card Size:  A-2
Copic markers used: Leaves - G20, G21, BG93, YG93; Berries - BG10, BG72; Fruity Tufts - RV000, RV00, R02, RV21, R81; Branch - YG91; Shading - W2, W0, W00, 0

Sweet Simple Things

Hello, dear friends, and I trust you had a wonderful and safe Fourth of July (and for my Canadian friends, a happy Canada Day on July 1). 

I was delighted to color up the newly remixed digital image from Power Poppy by Marcella Hawley called Sweet Simple Things. I would say that this is truly sweet, and I love both sentiments! Marcy shares this:

"Imagine coming upon an old-fashioned bee skep perched between cottage blossoms, with honeybees buzzing about to collect the nectar. Well, I once imagined this scene, and now I have reseeded the garden to bloom with foxgloves and cosmos -- and two brand new sentiments. Share this one with your sweetest friends! Or just color it up for the sheer joy of it."

I had fun coloring this newly remixed digital image, and I also learned a new word -- to me, anyway -- but my dear husband, the avid reader, knew it. In the center is a skep, and it's amazing to see how they are hand woven. Just "google" for them, and wow! However, for those of you who loved "Downton Abbey," Highclere Castle is where it was filmed. And Lord and Lady Carnarvon own it. Lady Carnarvon has a blog, and here is the post about a new skep on the estate. It's quite an amazing blog and website that could easily keep one busy for many hours. Here is the main website, and I believe you will be enthralled as I was. But I digress, so back to my card.

As I searched for a piece of designer paper, I came upon this adorable piece in a paper pad with these chubby little bees. Aren't they sweet? I am allergic to bees, so I stay clear of them in real life, but these were irresistible and helped me with my color combination. I used a stitched die and then matted both my focal image and the designer paper with So Saffron. Thinking it needed a little something else, I used some So Saffron taffeta ribbon. And it was done!

The sentiment I used was just perfect for the card front, and I will use the beautiful quote from Laura Ingalls Wilder inside the card. It reminds me of this wonderful Scripture verse that emphasizes the value of kind words in dealing with one another. Oh, may I daily remember that myself.

Gracious words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
Proverbs 16:24

Now is time to hop to see what my teammates are up to and leave them some love! And then you will surely want to go to Power Poppy to get this new digital release to use today -- and also check out the entire digital collection.

Barb Walker

Cheryl Scrivens <me>
Debbie Olson

Jennifer Dove
Nancy Sheads

Marcella Hawley on the Power Poppy blog

Ooh, and because I have some BEES, a BEEHIVE, and a BOW, I am going to enter this in this month's Power & Spark Challenge - B Happy, hosted by Kathy Jones. 

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

Blessings,

Stamps:  Sweet Simple Things (Power Poppy) 

Paper: Solar White (Neenah), White (Recollections), So Saffron (SU), and Garden Party paper pad (Pebbles)

Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Dual Stitched Squares dies (Lil' Inker Designs), So Saffron taffeta ribbon (SU), Wink of Stella, Lemon Yellow (Kirarina Wink), Perfect Layers tool, white tape, red tape
Techniques: Digital images using Microsoft Word

Card Size:  6" square