Season's Seatings

Hello, sweet and lovely friends! 

Today I am happy to join my Power Poppy teammates in sharing the newest "Digis on the 5s" digital release, Season's Seatings. Here's what Marcella shares about this new release. 

"We love any scene that exudes cozy fall goodness — a second-hand chair in the garden? Of course! It's the ideal perch for a rustic pumpkin bouquet. You may recognize this image from our popular clear stamp set 'So Grateful.' What's especially neat about this digital download version is that you get two focal images, one of the large chair vignette and a second large image of the pumpkin bouquet by itself featuring dahlias, berries, and black-eyed Susans. The verse from Ecclesiastes, 'He has made everything beautiful in its time,' is the perfect accompaniment, and you'll also get a shorter 'Hello, Beauty' sentiment. A coloring feast awaits!"  

In South Florida we do not see many real carved pumpkins, and if we do, they are inside our air-conditioned houses. It's far too hot for pumpkins to survive very long. So to have a pumpkin filled with fall flowers is a delight for me!

Using Microsoft Word, I arranged the flower-filled pumpkin next to the Scripture verse for a wide card, printed it on X-Press It Blending Card, and started coloring. I found this vibrant fall plaid designer paper and kept it simple with a wonky-stitched die, thin mat of Tangerine Tango, and it was done. I dug through all my embellishments but finally decided to keep it simple — flat and easy to mail. ;)

I truly enjoyed making this card, and I read on in Ecclesiastes where it tells us that there is nothing better for us to do than to be joyful and to do good as long as we live. This is God's gift to us. As I considered the enjoyment I experienced in making this card, I am reminded that pleasure is fleeting and that true and lasting joy is found only in Jesus Christ. May I glorify God in all I do. 

He has made everything beautiful in its time.
...there is nothing better for them than to be joyful
and to do good as long as they live; 
— this is God's gift to man..
Ecclesiastes 3:11, 12b, 13b

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 digital release and see what my teammates have to share. 

This week Splitcoaststampers has a wonderful Inspiration Challenge, and we are to be inspired by one of the flags. There were many I could have used, and I think it's a wonderful website to inspire many other future cards.

Precious friends, you are truly loved. As always, I thank you so much for your visits and comments. I continue to pray for many of the special prayer requests, and I know that God will encourage and bless you all. I thank God also for how He is answering our prayers. May God give peace and comfort to those suffering loss and encouragement and joy to us all. You are a precious gift to me.

Blessings, dear friends,

Stamps: Season's Seatings (Power Poppy) 

Paper: X-Press It Blending Card, Tangerine Tango (SU!), Perfectly Plaid Fall (Lawn Fawn)

Ink: N/A (printer)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Wonky Stitched Rectangle STAX dies (My Favorite Things), Mini Perfect Layers tool, white tape

Card Size: 5" x 6"

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"

Casting all your cares on Him...

Hello, sweet friends! It's been a busy time, and I know we are all looking forward to spring. While our weather has been lovely, I know that snow still is falling in parts of the country. Wishing you warmer weather soon!

This month I am honored to be a guest designer for the Splitcoaststampers Color Challenge. It's a challenge that I love but one that has often stumped me. So the best way to fix that is to meet it head on! As a guest designer, I know the colors ahead of time and place half sheets of the card stock on my table to be inspired by them and visualize what I might do with the colors. This week's colors are Blackberry Bliss, Mossy Meadow, and Soft Sky (Stampin' Up), and they just spoke flowers. You know my love for coloring flowers, right?!

I found a Penny Black stamp that I could color with my Copic markers blending from the darkest areas out to the petal edges with Blackberry Bliss (and just a wee touch of yellow in the center -- can you see it?). Of course the leaves were easier with Mossy Meadow, and then I added some shading using Soft Sky with pointillism. My positioning of the flower allowed for the precious Scripture verse that I know will encourage my friend.

I used a decorative die, added some paper piercing, and then adhered it to the base. I added a make-shift easel on the back that folds flat for mailing, but it allows the card to be displayed like a normal card. 

*     *     *     *     *

This Scripture verse is such a great reminder for us all that no matter what our cares are (and we all have them -- big and small), God cares for each of us and wants us humbly to place all our burdens and cares on Him. I sometimes think that "Oh, I have this under control." But He wants us to bring all our cares to Him. Nothing is too big or too small for God to handle. That brings me great peace, and I trust that it will bring you peace as well.

Cast all your cares on Him
for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7

Oh, sweet friends, thank you for your visits and comments. I love reading each one and pray for you and your requests. Your prayers for me continue to be an encouragement, and I thank you! May God bless you and give you joy today and every day.

Blessings,

Stamps: Full of Glee (Penny Black), Faith Medley (Verve)
Paper: X-Press It Blending Card, Soft Sky (SU!)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Onyx Black (Versafine)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Grand Decorative Labels One dies (Spellbinders), MISTI tool, Mat Pack (SU!), piercing tool, Tombow Multi Mono Liquid Glue
Card Size: 5" square
Copic markers used: Flower Petals - V01, V15, V17, V09; Flower Center - wee touch of Y15; Leaves - G20, YG91, YG93, YG95, G99; Shading - BG000, 0

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

Dare to Get Dirty Challenge on Splitcoaststampers 2017

Hello, sweet friends! This year I am hosting another one of the Dare to Get Dirty challenges at Splitcoaststampers. 

Splitcoaststampers (SCS) is the world's largest stamping community with more than 400,000 members, many of whom are Fan Club Members. Each year a number of the past and 12 current designers at SCS (known as the "Dirty Dozen") have a week-long challenge fest known as "Dare to Get Dirty (DTGD)." This special week-long event is just for Fan Club Members to say "thank you" for their support. It's an amazing community for inspiration and encouragement, and I have come to know and love so many wonderful friends from all over the world. If you aren't a Fan Club Member yet, click here to learn more about it. There's plenty of time to have fun! And if you need to "give" yourself permission, here's one from the Dirty Dozen.

I can't tell you what my challenge is, but I am sharing my card with you. I know there are some Fan Club Members who follow me, so I would love to see what you do (and you know where to go to see my challenge). And my sample card makers have made some absolutely beautiful cards to inspire!

My card is colored with Copic markers, my go-to color medium. I find coloring so relaxing, but once I am finished the real challenge for me begins...designing the card. So here is my card...but that's all I can share with you...hehe!

I do hope to see a card from some of my sweet friends! You have until Wednesday, August 9, 11:59 p.m. Central Time, to post your cards.

I always prefer to use an encouraging sentiment or Scripture verse. This sentiment is a paraphrase from God's Word in this verse. Oh, what words of encouragement as we go through difficult times. May we always be encouraged and trust God through it all.

Be strong and courageous.
Do not be afraid or terrified because of them,
for the Lord your God goes with you;
He will never leave you nor forsake you.

Deuteronomy 31:6

Thanks so much for "stopping by" and sharing a comment, thought or question, and I hope you have a wonderful week! I look forward to a fun week as we continue this annual Splitcoaststampers Challenge!

Blessings,

Stamps:  Pansies (Power Poppy), Blessed (Simon Says Stamp) 

Paper: X-Press It Blending Card, Winter Wisteria (SU!), Coffee in the Arbour (Maja Design), Solar White 110# (Neenah)

Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine), printer
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Double Stitched STAX dies (My Favorite Things), MISTI tool, Mini Perfect Layers tool, Mat Pack (SU!), piercing tool, sequins (Pretty Pink Posh), Diamond Glaze, Multi Mono Liquid Glue (Tombow), white tape, red tape, 3M dimensional tape

Card Size:  5½" square
Copics used:  Flower Petals – BV0000, BV000, BV04, BV11, BV13, B60, B63, V000; Flower Centers – Y11, Y23; Leaves – G40, G43, G82, G99, YG00; Shading – W1, 0