Power Poppy Cyber Monday

Hello, sweet friends! It's me again with some great news for Cyber Monday. Hope Thanksgiving was a wonderful day as we all remember something for which we can be thankful. 

Power Poppy is back again with some great sales and news for Cyber Monday.

Power Poppy Cyber Monday

20% OFF your entire order with code 20CYBER

Offer starts Monday, November 26, at 12:01 a.m. CST, 

and ends Tuesday, November 27, at midnight CST.
Includes all in-stock stamps, dies, and digis

-- including brand new digis.

Cyber Monday SPECIAL: "Holiday Digital Blitz" 
Offering holiday images that had previously
been available in clear format only! 
Look for your favorites such as O Holy Night, 
Bough Wow Wow, Simple Joys, 
and Glistening Paperwhites

Have a fun shopping time...in your PJ's if you want...hehe!

Blessings,

Power Poppy Black Friday Sale

Hello, sweet friends! I hope all my dear friends here in the States have a blessed Thanksgiving. It's still hard to believe the year is coming to an end, but Christmas is around the corner. What a joy to celebrate the birth of Christ.

For everyone who is looking for the Black Friday deals, here's one from Power Poppy. 

Power Poppy Black Friday

30% OFF your entire order with code STOCKUP30

Offer starts Friday, November 23, at 12:01 a.m. CST, 

and ends Sunday, November 25, at midnight CST.

Includes all in-stock stamps, dies, and digis -- while supplies last.

Have a fun and safe shopping time!

Blessings,

Snowdrops & Tea Roses

Hello, sweet friends! 

Today I am happy to join my Power Poppy Instant Gardeners to introduce a new digital release that is simply gorgeous! It's called Snowdrops & Tea Roses! Are you ready for some fun?

Here's what Marcella shared:

"The first in a series of bouquets nestled inside vintage French café au lait bowls. Festive enough for Christmas cards; cozy enough for a winter's afternoon coloring session. This scene features a trio of hybrid tea roses arranged with crisp white snowdrops and variegated holly. Be open and adventurous with your coloring, i.e., berries can be white/pink/light green if you are using red roses. Holly doesn't always have to be red. Remember, we are making the picture; nature is just one of our inspirations.

Digital download includes a no-line version and two merry sentiments.

A few tea rose varieties to use as inspirations to make this bouquet especially festive: 'Bewitched' (pale pink), 'Neil Diamond' (red-and-white streaked), 'Cinnamon Dolce' (dark red with pink streaks), 'Gemini' (creamy center with coral pink edges), 'Word War II Memorial Rose' (light pink with tinges of red)."

I almost decided to use a portion of this new digital image, but I just could not. There is just so much beauty in this bouquet, and I love that it's in a sweet bowl. (I would love to have this on my dining room table.) Anyway, using Microsoft Word, I sized this image, added one of the sentiments from Merriest Berries, and printed two on a page (landscape - just in case I mess up the first one). I used my favorite coloring medium, Copic markers. The hardest part was deciding what color to use for my roses. After that, I got into my coloring zone (something that really relaxes me). 

Once I finish coloring, the real work for me is making a card. I had some idea before I started coloring, but it usually changes. Ha! I ended up using a scalloped rectangle die with gilded edges. This is definitely a "one-off" card, compared to many of which I color duplicates. I hope to be more adventurous with the next one, but this will be for someone special. I hope you like it, and I know you will love seeing the cards by the rest of my wonderful teammates who have amazing coloring skills.

As I was making this card, I thought about the meaning of roses. Red roses have traditionally been symbols of love. Christmas is when God sent His Son Jesus in the greatest act of love ever. May we remember the great love of God during this season of thanksgiving and as we approach Christmas.

For God so loved the world,
that He gave His only Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish
but have eternal life.
John 3:16

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. You will be inspired!

Oh, precious friends, you are always loved and remembered in my prayers. I so appreciate your visits and comments. I continue to remember the many special prayer requests. Thanks for sharing those with me. I know that God will encourage and strengthen you. May God give peace and comfort to those suffering loss and encouragement to us all. You are a blessing to me, and may God be glorified in all things.

Blessings, dear friends,

Stamps: Snowdrops & Tea Roses and Merriest Berries (Power Poppy) 

Paper: X-Press It Blending Card, 110# Solar White (Neenah)

Ink: N/A (printer)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Grand Scalloped Rectangles dies (Spellbinders), Krylon gold pen, white tape

Techniques: Digital images with Microsoft Word, Copic coloring
Card Size: A-2

The Card Concept #100 Challenge - Elegant Fall

Hello, sweet friends! It's me two days in a row ... wow!

Today I am happy to guest design for The Card Concept #100 Challenge, "Elegant Fall." Special thanks to my precious friend Julie Gearinger for asking me to be one of her guest designers. I am honored and loved making a card for the challenge.

Here is the Inspiration Photo, and it is gorgeous!

I was inspired by the lovely array of pumpkins dipped in gold, one with flowers, and one with a delightful flower and flourish array. I would say that my card is clean, simple, and layered. 

I chose a new clear stamp by Power Poppy that reminded me of the pumpkins on display with the lovely flowers and golden pears. After coloring with Copic markers, I used an oval die and then carefully used my Krylon gold pen for a gilded edge. I added a scalloped oval die underneath using designer paper that I sanded for some texture. I matted the two pieces of designer paper and used my Mini MISTI for the sentiment, but it still needed something more. That's when I remembered a long-ignored Ornare piercing template that was inspired by the large pumpkin with the flower. See that flourish? Lovely, right? So I decided to stop there (although I was tempted to add some sequins or pearls, haha!). Hope you like it.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *

One of the wonderful things about the stamping/blogging community is the number of precious friends I have met online (like Julie Gearinger who invited me to join The Card Concept Challenge). We help each other by sharing techniques and commenting on each others' cards. More frequently than one might think, we develop close friendships, and we are privileged to share prayer requests and to encourage each other. It's a joy to be able to share on a personal level with friends. Friendships are important ... especially to us gals.

Oil and perfume make the heart glad,
and the sweetness of a friend comes from his [her] earnest counsel.
Proverbs 27:9

Let each of you look not only to his [her] own interests,
but also to the interests of others.
Philippians 2:4

Sweet friends, you are truly loved ... and remembered. Thank you so much for your visits and comments. I am behind in replying to your comments and to visiting many blogs, but I look forward to catching up. May God encourage and bless you all. You are a joy to me.

Blessings, sweet friends,

Stamps: Fortunes of Fall and Simply Camellias (Power Poppy) 

Paper: X-Press It Blending Card, French Flea Market/Julie Nutting (Photo Play Paper)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Onyx Black (Versafine)
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Ovals and Scalloped Ovals dies (Spellbinders), Mini MISTI tool, Mini Perfect Layers tool, Krylon gold pen, Ornare piercing template, Thin 3D Foam Squares (Scrapbook Adhesives), Tombow Multi Mono Glue, red tape
Techniques: Copic coloring, paper piercing, sanding

Card Size: 5" square

Painting Pumpkins

Hello, dear friends! 

Today I am happy to join my Power Poppy Instant Gardeners, and we have a fun new digital release that I think you will love! It's called Painting Pumpkins! Are you ready for some fun?

Here's what Marcella shared:

"Painted pumpkins -- whether given a coat of chalky milk paint in pastel hues, a bold dip with metallic accents, or delicate dots with a fine-tipped brush -- are all the rage. Now you can paint the pumpkins in real life AND in your paper-crafting process. In this arrangement I have several pumpkins primed for your special creative touches. Paint pots and brushes await your artwork on the 'blank canvas' version, or use one of my pre-drawn patterns or jack-o-lantern faces. A series of four sentiments ranging from a general Thank You through Halloween and Thanksgiving allows multiple uses for this fresh fall imagery."

There are so many wonderful ideas for painting pumpkins...oh my! I have a new paper pad that was my color palette for "painting" my pumpkins, and I sure had fun.

I printed the "blank canvas" version and then decided to add a sentiment (like I've seen on the internet), and then I did some "doodling" of my own with a gold gel pen, a white gel pen, and dots with a Copic marker. I used my Mini MISTI and curved the sentiment from Olive and Oak Expanded to match the shape of the large pumpkin. Cute, eh? I used an oval die to cut out my focal image, and then I embossed that die on the card stock and fussy cut it to make a thin mat for the oval (using Copic BG72 to match the designer paper). Works like a charm. Then I put the papers together, matted it, and I added a couple of fishtail flags. And then I was done...what fun!

As I was making this card, I thought about how much I have to be thankful. God has given me the time, ability, and resources to enjoy making cards and sharing His love with others through my blog. What a blessing to have you all as friends. I want to share the blessing of having Christ as my Savior, for that is where I find true joy each day.

I will give thanks to You, LORD, with all my heart;
I will recount all of Your wonderful deeds.
Psalm 9:1

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. 

Nancy Sheads

Leslie Miller
Rhea Weigand
Cheryl Scrivens <me>
Broni Holcombe
Marcella Hawley on Power Poppy Blog

Oh, precious friends, you are dearly loved and remembered in my prayers. Thank you so much for your visits and comments. There are many special prayer requests that I continue to remember,  and there are always new ones. Thanks for sharing those with me. I know that God will encourage and strengthen you. May God give peace and comfort to those suffering loss and encouragement to us all. You are a blessing to me.

Blessings, dear friends,

Stamps: Painted Pumpkins and Olive and Oak Expanded (Power Poppy) 

Paper: X-Press It Blending Card, Cool Caribbean colored with BG72 to match designer paper (SU!), FarmLife (Mintay by Karola)

Ink: Smokey Gray (Versafine), printer
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Infinity Oval dies (Hero Arts), Fishtail Flag Layer STAX dies (My Favorite Things), Mini MISTI tool, Mini Perfect Layers tool, gold gel pen, white gel pen, 3M dimensional tape, Tombow Mono Multi Glue, red tape, white tape

Techniques: Digital images with Microsoft Word, Copic coloring, fussy cutting
Card Size: 5 1/4" x 6"

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"

5 Days of Digis - Gifts from the Sea

Hello, sweet friends! 

Today I am happy to join my Power Poppy teammates on Day 4 of the "5 Days of Digis." Marcella's theme of this release is "kindness, love, peace, curiosity, and meaning. Each of these images were created from the heart, with the intention of sharing part of myself with our customers...a little more than usual."

Today we have "Gifts from the Sea," a lovely arrangement from the gifted Marcella Hawley. Here's what she shares:

"First of all, I'm going to recommend that everyone stop, run to the library, and pick up a copy of Anne Morrow Lindbergh's book, Gifts from the Sea. Life-changing perspectives on life as a woman and mother, all written while she was staying in a cottage by the sea in Captiva, Florida. I read this book on the very beaches where she wrote the book years ago and collected seashells galore from the fertile Gulf of Mexico. This illustration is inspired by that experience -- with a bouquet of plumeria flowers and petite palm fronds, nestled in an ink-bottle vase. Seashells of every stripe surround the scene, where someone has been writing a postcard or maybe starting to write the follow-up volume to Gifts from the Sea. Whatever it is, I recommend all to Seas the Day."

Even living here in South Florida, I did not realize all the beautiful colors of seashells. Certainly, some shells are colored and sold to create lovely arrangements like this one. But it was fun to color this image. We have plumeria plants/trees throughout our area, and we call them frangipani. We first purchased a "stick" they sold at a craft fair, and the vendor told us to stick it in the ground. Truly, we were shocked when it grew and finally bloomed! They grow in so many beautiful colors. I must admit that I ended up coloring my flowers more vibrantly than I had planned, but it was fun. Hope you have as much fun as I did with this arrangement.

This card reminds me the need to make time for relaxation and "downtime" -- something I struggle with doing. My quiet time in the morning is spent reading God's Word, praying, and journaling. With life's many distractions -- especially as I age, it can be difficult to shut out the pressures of my daily schedule. That's why it's important for me to treat my quiet time as being equally important than any other item on my schedule.

Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
Psalm 46:10

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. Tomorrow is the last new digi, and I hope to finish a card to share. It's a darling one.

I would like to enter this card in Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge this week, which is Use a Die and/or Punch. Once again I used a die.

Sweet friends, you are dearly loved. Thank you so much for your visits and comments. I have begun reaching out and thanking you for your sweet comments (when possible). It's such a joy to encourage and be encouraged. I trust you will take time to enjoy some of the beauty that God has around you today. May God bless each of you and give you joy today and every day.

Blessings, precious friends,

Stamps: Gifts from the Sea (Power Poppy) 

Paper: X-Press It Blending Card, Flirty Flamingo (SU!)

Ink: Onyx Black (Versafine), printer
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Prismacolor pencils, Pleated Lace Rectangles dies (Gina Marie Designs), white tape

Card Size: A-2