Pardon My Purple!

Well, it's finally Spring here in Northern Colorado...it has been a very long winter and I am enjoying the past two days of Spring like weather. The Pear trees are bursting forth in bloom and I need to go get a photo of those quick before the wind blows them away! We have Lilacs right under our deck where we have our morning coffee and they are so heavenly when they bloom. I saw Power Poppy had a sale on this set "Lilac Time"  last weekend...and it just reminded me to pull mine out and use it.

It may be hard to see any detail on those blooms as they were gold embossed which left little space for shading, etc...but I used a variety of lilacs and purples using my Zig Markers to watercolor these and also the tiny ladybug on that leaf...so fun! I also used a new to me embossing folder from Stampin" Up on the purple layer...it gives the base a tufted look which is very feminine. The panel was given a gold liquid pen treatment along the edges and then an organza ribbon and matte colored gems were added. The sentiment is from Power Poppy's set, "Potted Primroses."  The entire image was splattered with some of the watercolor and it gave a nice little splattering of color without overwhelming the main image. I had initially created this card for the April challenge but I ran out of time posting it...so here it is. I am sure I will have an occasion to use this!
For some reason a lot of people comment on my purple cards by prefacing that they don't really like purple..but they like my card...which always makes me laugh and hence the title of this post.
I love purple...but lilac is even better in my book!
I am so happy you stopped by and hope you enjoyed your visit. Thank you!
Have a beautiful day and hope you get to be out and enjoying Spring in your part of the world!

Creative Confetti Challenge "On the Grid"

Hi friends. I am going to quickly share a card creation today for Power Poppy's Creative Confetti Challenge~"On the Grid."
I decided to use a copy of an original copic colored Columbines from the oh so cute "Cup of Columbine" by Power Poppy just in case I messed up the colored copy in the cutting process. (Because...yes, I do and I did.) Anyway, after I made a copy of my colored image...I then added highlights and shading to the copy and then used a sliver of paper as Julie explained in her excellent tutorial as spacers. I decided to back the image in blue because I had a lot of blue in the Columbines.

It was hard to capture this in the photo...but I made doubly sure to line up the bird's beak and top of his head so it wouldn't look too wonky and that helped the whole image. Since there was quite a bit of white space in both corners...I had the idea to add sentiment banners on both ends taken from the set, "Folk Heart." Oh my heart...I decided to color pearls to match the blue in the Columbines using a blue copic marker also and it is so cute in person! A twine bow along the side to add to the natural look and there you have it.
This was fun and I may try it again before this month's challenge is over!
And here is a picture I took while walking in our Botanical Gardens of some Columbines...I definitely need to try this image again in these lighter shades of  lavender blue.

Thanks for your visit and always enjoy reading your comments and what you're up to!  Blessings on your day, friends!

Power Poppy~Inspire Me! July Challenge

Hi friends! I had to make an appearance for this month's July Power Poppy Challenge-Inspire Me! There is always so much inspiration; but this time I found a retired Bloomie, Leslie Miller, to follow as my inspiration! She showed us how to make envelopes to match our cards...and I must say that even I, the measuring challenged person that I am...was able to do this one! Such easy and clear to follow instructions! The tutorial is here on the Power Poppy "Make it Monday" post.
I used a retired Flourishes stamp for the sweet teacup with some designer paper for the envelope. I have a pretty Prima daisy that I may add as an envelope closure if I decide to hand deliver this card.
Oh, I guess I should show a photo and stop jabbering...

I water colored the cup and saucer...and added just a bit of colored pencil shading. The sentiment is from Power Poppy's "Potted Primroses" stamp set. So cute together! I outlined the word "hello" in a pink copic marker.

The strip of paper is the same I used for the envelope, then I added a wee bit of pink designer paper along the border.
I am a bit rusty in stamping...but so very thankful for being able to revisit my pretty stamps and papers...it is such a relaxing and fun hobby!
And that is it for today! We just visited the Oregon coast last week so I hope to post some photos from our trip here in a couple of days!
Thanks so much for popping in and wishing you a blessed day!!

All About Bees

Hi friends! I have been a little remiss about posting my cards here on my blog...so will try to remedy that this week!

I received my Power Poppy stamps a couple of weeks ago and have had fun playing with this set, "Bee Kind Toile." I actually posted this on Instagram already. Oops!

I really am smitten with the Bee Skep on the pretty cake stand! 

I found some old Stampin' Up designer paper in this pretty blue color...so I stamped the tiny sentiment on the top in that banner "Happy-Bee-Day" to match. The border around the bee skep is made by a repeat single bloom stamped in a circular border. I added some Wink of Stella to the honey dripping over the sides and used a fine black tip micron pen to add some detail to the bees antennae and stripes.

The oval border cut out is from Papertrey Ink. 

I think that's all the detail...I worked awhile on my card and was pretty happy how it turned out. 

I hope you enjoy and thanks so much for stopping by!

Power Poppy~Vitamin ME!~April Challenge

Hi there!! I so enjoy reading the Power Poppy blog, and collecting all kinds of beautiful stamps that inspire me to create! I loved April's Challenge by Marcella to just write about what you do for yourself for "Vitamin Me!" 
I actually had to think about this one for awhile...but three things come to mind.
Creating...as in mostly cards...but also in becoming better with techniques through tutorials and practicing.
Nature:   I do love to walk, and especially in areas where God's beauty abounds for me...like along mountain trails, anywhere near a quiet stream, in the orchards behind our home and Botanical Gardens and waterfalls...it doesn't have to be far away to fulfill me.
God~Reading His word, the Bible, listening to beautiful hymns, reading Christian non-fiction, and worship at our church...these are all things that inform and ignite my faith, fill my cup, and encourage me to love others well.

This Power Poppy stamp, "Short Stacks" is one of my very favorites. I had a lot of fun making a colorful vignette, then matched up the papers...not the normal way of doing things...but I think the papers actually do set off this image pretty well. I added a banner in the top portion, and a pretty floral gem on the bottom!! Also, a tiny cut out heart to adorn the side...notice the bottom of the stack, "Best Book Ever..."  I love it!! 

Your visit just tickles me...would love to know you stopped by! Wishing you many blessings on your day!

Snow Kissed Stocking~

Hi friends! Just a quick post here. These past few days the South and East were hit by unprecedented snow...in places like Texas and Atlanta, Georgia, Alabama, and such! Which makes this post even more newsworthy as we live in Colorado...and no snow in sight! We've had 60 degree weather, setting records and actually...I am kind of glad. Because I am planning on a drive over the mountain passes to see my elderly Dad. It's a trip I've often had to cancel as the roads can be bad. And I'm planning on leaving in just a few days. So...here is my nod to snow...
I saw this pretty Christmas~y paper, "Birds and Berries," on Stacy's blog and really loved it. So I bought it...the only purchase of paper I've made for Christmas.
I used the Power Poppy newly released set , "Snow Kissed." It has some darling images! I made this stocking late at night...deciding to stamp it directly on the pink designer paper...and didn't really love it at first. I almost threw it out...but then decided to fussy cut it and added some glitter...and then figured out a die cut to make it stand out a bit more. Now...I really like it...whew! I really don't like to throw things out.

The image was stamped in Momento Gray which gave it a very soft feel. Colored with copic makers...then used ovals and two pieces of the pretty designer paper to mat. A gold tinsel bow was added to the top. The glitter added a lot...but you can't see it too well in this photo! Also, each of the ovals and the stocking were mounted in dimensional tape...so there is a lot of depth to this card!
Thanks so much for stopping in! Do you have any snow in your part of the country?

November Power and Spark Challenge~Portion Control!

Hi again! My, but this isn't the most timeliest of challenges with our typical American Thanksgiving Day just around the corner with a lot of feasting and celebration going on! I am actually going to attempt to bake two desserts ahead of time and freeze them! That's because I don't like standing for hours on my hard kitchen floor and this way I can make as much ahead of time. But I also am wanting to try making small bars rather than pies...because if your family is anything like ours, no one can have just one dessert. The polite thing to do, I guess, is try one of everything. Aha! So this year, I'm going to be ready for the buffet line and make small bars to go on plates rather than your standard pie size. Think it'll work? Well, I'll let you know!
Sorry to get off on a tangent...what has me thinking "portion control" is this week's Power Poppy challenge by the Bloom Brigade, Cindy Lawrence, to practice "portion control" in your card making. I took out my very favorite Christmas stamp, "Heaven and Nature Sing," and just started playing around with it.  What I ended up with is the rose image stamped and white embossed in all four corners...and then I did the same with the holly image in this set on the tag. I don't recall that I've used this Spellbinders Die before...but the card turned out very pretty and very large. And it actually made me a bit dizzy with all the swirls and flourishes....What do you think?
It was really fun to see my stamps differently and find a new way to use this set and also be happy with the outcome!

I used silver glitter paper for the tag, and threaded two ribbons, a dark pink and white on top of each other and threaded those through the tag.

Here's a close up of the center panels:

This card brings back a memory...as do so may cards I make. Isn't it funny how our creativity so often comes from long ago memories filed away from childhood, or travel, or ??  Once I finished this and examined it closely...I realized I had first seen this color combination as a child when I'd been taken Christmas shopping by my Mom. I stood behind the gift wrap counter (in those days they had several samples of wrapped packages on the wall,) and thought as a young girl that I'd never seen anything more fancy and beautiful than  the bright pink package with silver ribbon and was so bedazzled by it. I don't recall if we took that package all wrapped up home with us, or even what the gift inside might have been...but that memory came flooding back when I saw my finished card.
Thanks so much for looking, and have a blessed day!

First Ever ~ Mustard Seed Faith Challenge!!

Hi and welcome to the first Mustard Seed Faith Challenge! I am excited about this new team of talented ladies who love stamping as a creative art; but more importantly, they view their craft as a way to share their faith in Jesus!
I've had the opportunity to work with the founder of our blog, Peggysue, and know you will be encouraged and challenged as you read her words here today on our new blog, Mustard Seed Faith!
Please pay her a visit so you can learn more about our key verse, our mission, and our bi-weekly card/Bible journaling challenges!
Our first challenge is taken from the verse Matthew 17:20, which is our key verse for our blog.

"He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you." 

The challenge is easy...use the color gold or yellow (like the mustard seed) in the making of your card and project.

I wanted to make something cheerful, joyful, and also a bit like spring! I always love seeing these primroses blooming this time of year...their blooms remind me of cheerful Easter bonnets, and they exude joy! 

Stamps: Power Poppy Potted Primroses

Paper: PTI white, DSP (assorted)

Ink:  Memento Black for coloring; Versafine Black: sentiment

Accessories: Spellbinder dies, copic markers, pearl (colored to match with copic marker),burlap ribbon,  foam for popping up card

 ( close up view) 

Thanks so much for stopping by. I hope your weather is showing signs of new life...and I hope you visit our new blog and join us in card making!!

Ho~Ho~Go!! Power Poppy Action Santa!

Hi friends...hope you're not feeling too frenzied or rushed right now. Every year I try to make a card for both of our daughters. Sometimes it is cute, or a fun shaker card, defininitely something a bit more special than the generic card.
When I saw the "Action Santa" Marcella Hawley designed for this year's Power Poppy Christmas release...I immediately thought of our youngest daughter who is always on the go and has wanted a Vespa scooter for awhile now. Not that we're getting her one...Ha! But she likes to get around...and boy does she! She has traveled  more countries than I ever will...and has spent 6 months in Singapore/China/Thailand and other areas with her career. And she has no fear. Anyway...as a Mom I say a lot of prayers on her behalf. I know God honors our prayers and I am so thankful I can lift up others to Christ when I am anxious or concerned and those I love are too far away to be of any help.
So isn't this the cutest?

This is Erin and her puppy, Walter taken last winter. He is too big to carry now...but the sweetest large animal I have ever known. Besides my dog.
So my card is for her:

She likes plaid (as seen in her vest above.) So I thought this festive Christmas red plaid was a good backdrop...then a blue with embossed snowflakes, topped with the Santa image. A Spellbinders dainty snowflake in Shimmer white and a red sparklette are the embellishments.

Here's a little close-up of Santa:

I will admit, this took me a long time to color. I am not fast by any means...but I am getting better over the years and Power Poppy images are my favorite to color because of the exquisite detail and vintage feel to so many of the images.

Thank you so much for indulging me another card and hope you have a wonderful day!

Cozy Cardinals

Hi there, crafty friends! I am popping in for a brief interlude between family obligations. My dear Father-in-law took flight to be with the Lord. His services are tonight in Denver and all day tomorrow. I wanted to take a breather from the heaviness to lift my spirits with these sweet cardinals.
Stacy Morgan hosts a Dirty Dozen Christmas challenge monthly, so wanted to play along for the month of October!
I love this sweet image from "Cozy Cupfuls" by Power Poppy! I used a herringbone patterned paper in reds and greens, framed out with scalloped white.

The coloring was done with copic markers and highlighted with a white prisma pencil. They eyes were done with a very fine micron black pen and highlighted with a white gel pen. The bowls have a bit of glaze to give them a more authentic look.Red satin ribbon was added and two Webster Sparklets on the sentiment tag.

Wishing you blessings on your day!

Prairie Cheer

We've had beautiful Fall weather the past two to three weeks here in Colorado! My husband and I have had to take a break from travel for awhile as our three year old Golden Retriever had to have knee surgery on very short (one day) notice. I will write about that in a future blog post.
Meanwhile...since I'm sticking pretty close to home for the next few weeks...I'll be sharing more of my cards.

Here is one I made recently using one of this Fall's newest Power Poppy's Prairie Cheer floral! I love the ease of coloring these blooms...especially when stamped and white embossed on Kraft card stock. I used Prisma pencils and tried to match my background paper which is a very old Basic Grey and the stamp and paper seemed to suit each other. I used a pretty berry paper for the solid color, some twine and this country bouquet seemed to call for a button!
Thanks so much for popping in and viewing my card creations. I certainly appreciate your visit and love to read your comments and questions! Have a blessed day!
I'm entering this in a new challenge blog:
The Flower Challenge
and Word Art Wednesday

Painting Outside the Lines~Power and Sparklette Week 3 Challenge

Hey there, and thanks for stopping by! I had the need for some creative inking; if you know what I mean. I spent a few days just mulling over Marcella's Power Poppy Challenge and after a few swirling ideas; set on this one...water coloring outside the lines! 

I just received this set in the mail not long ago..."Sunny Harvest," and used my Kuretake Gansai Tambi water colors for this. I spent more time on the outside shading and filling in color than the actual image...the colors gave the card a very warm glow which is what I was hoping for. I embossed the image with gold detailed embossing powder and layered shading on the Chinese Lantern blossoms. The little buds didn't receive as much detail...I just added varying shades and later realized those were maybe leaves on the side...not sure...so this is an "artistic rendition" which means me just playing around with color. I added a little white signo gel pen for highlights on the smaller buds. Certainly not perfect...but I still like the result. I stamped the setiment in Versafine Sepia which actually appears a little darker on the card than this photo indicates...but still keeping with the glowing look of perhaps candlelight and parchment?   A few gold sequins were added for some sparkle. I enjoyed this challenge and thank you for your kind comments! Blessings on your day!

April Showers~May Flowers!

Hello sweet friends! I know it's been awhile...we have had a" Major Moment" at our house...lasting about a month thus far. I recall back in late March my husband estimating the time it would take to complete an upstairs guest bath renovation. "I can do that in about five days," he says!!  Ha ha...I love that he is such an optimist...but me, the realist, said kindly, I will be happy if it takes 3 weeks. Well, we are going on about a month now and through lots of glitches, fixes, and numerous trips to Home Depot and Lowe's...we are nearing the finish. Once the plumbing is in...it will be up to me to finish out the details...and of course, I can't do that until I'm able to step into the room with the colors and see how they look together. I am so thankful my husband is a "can-do fix-it type " a mechanical engineer which has come in very handy with the plumbing.
Anyway, because a lot of my stamp room has not been accessible for awhile...I have not been up to my usual creative outlet. However, I have found that the art of color wheels and color challenges has helped me in other decorating endeavors like the bathroom for example. We can find ways to use our creative minds in all kinds of ways, and it is so healthy for the brain to do so.
I do believe all creativity stems from God, who this spring has graced us with lots of rain, sleet, and even snow...but the result is beautiful snowy white and pink blooms on trees giving way to verdant green baby leaves...and His color and creativity are ever evident in nature and all around us if we just pause to see.
My card today is for this month's Power Poppy challenge from the wonderfully talented and sweet lady, Katie Sims! The challenge to make a card/project using flowers...whoa...I think I can manage that! I have a lot of floral from Power Poppy...but this set is retired from Marcella from Flourishes. (no longer in business.)

I wanted to get back to some of my favorite colors: raspberries, soft pinks, and sage greens for this one. The coloring was achieved with copic markers and features a big floppy bow from a favorite snippet of ribbon that alas, is almost gone now...and a strand of gold thread.
I am submitting this card to this week's Word Art Wednesday blog as well...a wonderful stamping blog that glorifies God and has a weekly devotional as well!
Thank you so much for your visit...I know I haven't been blogging much; so if anyone is here...hello, hello, hello??? I appreciate you!
Have a blessed day!

Shy Pansies ~Power Poppy Challenge

Hi friends,
We are enjoying more spring like temperatures for the month of February. Since this is leap day I decided to take the opportunity and "switch up my shades" for this month's Power Poppy Challenge!!

This is another retired set from Marcella "A Year of Flowers." This time I used Kraft paper with a white embossed image and literally scribbled in some of my prisma pencils to achieve this look. The hardest part was the layout...I struggle with a circle if there isn't something on top of it. It reminds me of a bald lady's head...does anyone else feel that way?! So I made a frilly "bonnet" out of a doily, scrunching and ruffling it up...found some paper in lavender and purplish hues and added a vellum bitty dot butterfly to make her even more feminine. I have so enjoyed this month's Power Poppy challenge...I am sure I would have waited longer to try these and I've got to say I am loving the fun looks of different coloring mediums.

So what do you have planned for Leap Day? 

February Farewell~Garden Primrose!

Hi friends! I couldn't resist entering Power Poppy's monthly challenge to Switch up Your Shades this month!

I used a retired Flourishes stamp that I had never inked...this beautiful Primrose that I think looks almost regal in its refined state!! Usually primroses look so carefree...not sure but maybe the purple tones made it seem a little more formal. Either way, I used watercolors once again in a variety of shades and then a few tiny specks of white highlights with my signo gel pen. The blooms have a slight wash of glimmer with the Wink of Stella Pen. I was cleaning a cupboard and as usual, found a few hidden "treasures" like this washi tape duo which I decided, why not just try it in the corner to offset the cute as a button button in the bottom right corner. I liked the way it looked!!

I can't believe it is February here in Colorado. My climate reading in the car was 56 degrees which is unusual...but I spotted a young lady with tank top, shorts, and sandals walking...she looked a little blue with chill. But I think everyone is ready for Spring. We're fortunate to have had some above normal temps and blue skies! I hope you have a wonderful weekend...and thanks so much for dropping in!

I heart you! Valentine

Just sharing a quick Valentine I made this week for a girl friend! I used the sentiment from Power Poppy's "Springtime Love" set. I was searching for a good saying to go with this cute little heart stamp I've had for years, and this worked great, I thought! There is a vellum strip that I heart embossed and then added these Webster Sparklets "hide" the dimensionals. A pretty quick Valentine; and one that I hope brings a smile!

 A close up of the Vellum...thanks to Christine Okken of Christine Creations for giving a tutorial on  ways to use Vellum in card making  on the Power Poppy blog...this idea was fresh in my mind!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by...and your comments are always a bright spot to my day!

Power Poppy Challenge: Switch up Your Shades!

This month the Power Poppy challenge from Allison Cope is to use a different coloring medium than you normally do! I normally color images using copics...so this time I stretched myself a little bit and  used reinkers  diluted with water and fine tip paint brushes. The floral image is a SU! hostess set.   I followed a SCS tutorial on the" pleated skirt" fold for the cute paper fold. I made this for my daughter's birthday card and wanted something feminine and flirty. The designer paper is also from SU! The tiny paint splatter look is SU! Gorgeous Grunge which I used to add a bit of texture to my circle die and three sequins in sky blue from Doodlebug found at my local scrap booking store!

Thanks so much for peeking in~wishing you a blessed day!

Miss Manners says, Send a Thank You note!!

Here is a trio of thank you cards I made to mail out after Christmas! I used SU's "Elements of Style" for the floral image and the sentiment is also SU! Apothecary art. They went so well together. The inks are Crumb Cake, Night of Navy, and Cherry Cobbler. I actually liked the crumb cake on the cream colored cardstock the best. The images are stamped and then mounted on the same color paper to give the card a little more presence. I almost added a pearl...but then that would have made them more difficult to mail. Instead, I brushed them with a Pearl Ex powder in pearl white...which adds a subtle shimmer. I didn't add that to the red, but the crumb cake and night of navy have a pearly look...which of course, always looks better in real life than on camera!  So, I basically have a one layer card and if I can just discipline myself to write out a note;  I can get these out soon.
This is my last entry for Power Poppy's Rewind  challenge, gifts! These would make a great gift set...I made 6 so I would have a few extra just for that purpose.
Thank you so much for popping in...wishing you a very Blessed New Year!!

One last peek at Christmas!

I am not one to put away my Christmas decorations the day after, or even tomorrow, New Year's Day! I love the twinkling lights of my tree...and it helps me to keep it up for at least part of the cold dreary month of January to cheer me and warm my soul. So...on that note; I am sharing my last Christmas card using Power Poppy's adorable stamp set, "Cozy Cupfuls."

I get so much inspiration from the Power Poppy Brigade's Design Team...I saw this tree stamp done in a tall card size on Katie Sim's blog and thought it looked a little more grand with the length...so I went with the size and framed it out with a gold glitter paper. The sentiment was gold embossed on a polka dotted vellum...trimmed with lace. A textured bright pink card base added a little pop! The balls are glittered up in diamond stickles.

This card is for this month's Power Poppy challenge...add the gold, lots of gold and glittery goodness in this card!!

 Thank you so much for all your visit today! I hear birds singing outside my window...the sun is shining and hopefully we will warm up past our recent highs of way below freezing!!

Power and Spark Rewind Challenge!

It's beginning to look a lot like the mess before Christmas...in my house and especially the stamp room! As I "make merry" with all things ink and ribbon and jingle bells, chalkboard paint and stamps...but you wouldn't know it by coming here...so I hope to add a few of my Christmas cards and projects in the next few days!
This month my favorite stamp company, Power Poppy, is having a "Rewind Challenge," a repeat of any challenges over the past year. I chose to do the "Embellish It" challenge as that is what I do most often.
This Poinsettia card is watercolored and embellished with some intricate lacy dies and a big floppy bow of a pretty mix of Christmas ribbons and pearls.

I chose a soft vignette and even though it doesn't show the depth of reds and greens, it does make for a dreamy effect. Speaking of dreamy...the snow has left drifts among the pines and Christmas lights sparkle underneath. 

I am also entering my card for this week's Wordart Wednesday scripture challenge blog, "Anything Goes."

Wishing you joy as you prepare your heart for Christmas this year.