Nature Under Glass

I've said it before -- Power Poppy is my weakness... and that's how I wound up with the entire new release.  I know!  I wasn't going to treat myself to any new stamps until I've caught up with all the not yet used stamps, and I haven't... since (ahem) the last Power Poppy release, but I've been making good progress.  That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

So... I started in right away with the Under Glass set.  It's a unique concept with five different images, a bell jar, and three sentiments.  You can use the images with or without the bell jar and visa versa.  I'll share the visa versa later.  As of this writing I've made three cards with this set, just going with the inspiration.

The birthday sentiment is from an entirely different set -- Dynamic Duos: Peonies and Tulips.  Initially I was going to leave this sentiment free for options on future use, but then I thought of a few September birthdays and realized I'd best be prepared.

The nature arrangement was stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa and the bell jar in Memento Toffee Crunch, then colored with Copic markers.  After I put the whole card together with the image panel popped up I coated the bell jar with Glossy Accents.  Since I needed to cover a sizable area with the Glossy Accents I squeezed a pool of it into a jar lid and used an inexpensive paint brush to paint it on the jar.  If the glass looks wavy or has tiny bubbles we can imagine it's very, very old (or cheap) glass.

Love that pretty lattice die cut?  It's another one Sherri sent in a very generous and fabulous package of die cuts.  It's Joy Crafts Square 6002/0147.  Everything will be summed up in the recipe below.  I wish you all a very happy day!

Stamps:  Power Poppy Under Glass, Dynamic Duos: Peonies and Tulips (sentiment)  Paper:  White, SU Garden Green, Prima Romantique designer paper  Ink:  Memento Rich Cocoa and Toffee Crunch, SU Garden Green, Copic markers for coloring  Accessories:  Inkssentials Glossy Accents, SU Candy Dots, Scotch brand foam mounting tape, Joy Crafts Square 6002/0147, Memory Box Stitched Scalloped Circle

All White Double D Challenge

It's Double D Challenge time again and for this go around we're asking to see All White.  I love all white cards, but I'll admit this was a true challenge for me as I was determined to not let a speck of color touch my card.

I figured if I was going to do a white on white sentiment I'd better make it a layered die cut so it would show up.  I also wanted some texture, but not so much that it would interfere with the sentiment.  Hence, the plain panel in the center.  That panel is actually scored every half inch, but for the life of me I could not arrange the lighting to make those score lines show properly.  The lower edge of the card is scored horizontally.

Have a look at the gorgeous inspiration board:

And a cute prize for a lucky random winner:

I added sequins and ribbon for yet more texture.  I'm thinking I'll change the ribbon, however.  That bow knot makes such a hard lump and takes away the ease of mailing.  I know... the ribbon police will be after me, but don't worry, only the bow will go.  I'll figure something out.

My card may be a bit much for sympathy.  Not sure about that.  I think it depends upon the person you send it to.  I suppose it could be used for get well or hard times or just because.  At any rate it will find a home eventually.

If you haven't done so yet, you just have to see the DT gals' cards.  They really know their way around white on white!  I think there's going to be some very pretty entries for this one and I can't wait to see yours.

Supplies are listed below.  Enjoy your day!

Stamps:  None  Paper:  Neenah 110 lb white  Ink:  None  Accessories:  Offray ribbon, Doodlebug sequins, Sizzix embossing folder (sold by Stampin' Up at one time, name forgotten), Sue Wilson Thinking of You die

Tulip Block

Hello again!  I'm back with some sparkly watercoloring today.  First time to watercolor a Bugaboo digi (ordinarily use Copics), but I'm loving those Spectrum Noir sparkle watercolor pens just a little too much to put them down.  The image is called 4 Block Tulip Square.

I certainly could have cut out those blocks and popped them up, but decided to leave it whole because I so often go to way more trouble than necessary and, hey, it's summer so the beautiful days are calling to me.

In the rather glaring photo below you can see the sparkle from the watercolor pens (much prettier IRL), plus the glossy sentiment (Paper Smooches Hello Words) and the glossy dots throughout the image.  The sentiment was cut from a small scrap of black mirrored card stock -- my last little scrap.  It's incredibly glossy, isn't it?  That's what gave me the idea to carry the gloss through to the image, so I touched the dots with a black Sakura glaze pen.  Easy and quick.

I popped up the whole panel on a textured white card base.  No matting.  Sometimes I just like it very clean.

Today I'd like to thank my friend, Donna, for this and one other Bugaboo that she emailed to me with Bugaboo Jodie's blessing.  I tell you, I do get by with a little help from my friends.  When I think about some of the things I've received...  I'm a lucky girl.

Playing along with the following challenges today:

• Cards in Envy challenge:  Bug Me!  Card must feature a bug and fit nicely in an envelope for easy mailing.
• Little Red Wagon challenge:  Bugs and Slugs.  I'll take ladybugs over slugs any day!
• The Paper Players challenge:  The Great Outdoors.  Flowers were specifically mentioned as a qualifying possibility.

It's fun to join some challenges.  I need to do that more often.

That's it for today!  Have yourself a sunshiny, but not too hot, happy day!

Row of Houses in Two Seasons

Hi there!  Today is an example of how I get by with a little help from my friends.  I know... another Christmas card in the middle of summer, but I couldn't help it.  This row of houses just begged to be on a Christmas card.  And then Santa came along with the perfect sentiment... I just had to do it.

So how did my friends help me with this?  Well, my friend Sherri sent me the most wonderful package of die cuts.  You wouldn't believe how many and they're all fabulous!  I immediately set to work with this row of houses die cut.

Santa is Power Poppy's Action Santa.  The stamp set has Santa on a moped, too, which is more appropriate with the "zoomin'" sentiment, but I won't worry about that.  He's cute and I love him with the houses and it was such a simple card to make.

Next up is a sunny day in the neighborhood with my first step card which I never would have made if it wasn't for my friend, Lynette, who sent me several pre-cut and scored step card bases.  I had another plan entirely for my first step card, but when I saw this row of houses my plan changed.

It's another simple card, seeing as how Lynette and Sherri did some of the work for me.  I added the Poppystamps Stitched Landscapes and Evergreen Trees and a sentiment on a Die-namics Mix and Match Banner.  The heart is punched.  I made this card for my realtor girlfriend to send to one of her clients.

So, Sherri and Lynette, thank you so much!  You girls are the best and I couldn't have done it without you.  Happy day to everyone!

His and Hers Art Impressions Birthdays

Hi, there, stamping friends!  I have two birthday cards today which I made in early July (maybe late June?).  I can't believe that much time went by before I'm posting them.  But then, I can't believe how we're nearing the end of summer and it's almost time for fall cards.  I won't give up summer that easily, though.  We're just getting started!

Both cards are Art Impressions colored with Copics.  The first is Gordon Golfer for a golfing guy friend who did get a hole in one at the country club and has a plaque to prove it.  He'll tell you a humble story about how it was a stroke of luck, but he's actually a very good golfer.

Where are Gordon's eyes?  I forgot to leave whites for the eyes, so Gordon has little beady eyes.  I don't know how he sees to golf with those tiny peepers.  When I was a kid I wondered if people with tiny eyes could see as well as people with large eyes.

Gordon Golfer uses some Bo Bunny Camp-a-Lot designer paper and the following dies:

• Poppystamps Stitched Landscapes
• Sizzix Primitive Stars
• Sue Wilson Pierced Flags

The next card is an AI stamp set called "Fire Out".  Made it for a girlfriend who said she laughed all day over it.  That's a good thing.

This one is very simple.  I hand cut the speech bubble.  The presents are part of a full-card-length Die-namites die called "Presents Border".  I didn't need the whole border, but it's a very cute not-yet-used die which I've been wanting to use, so with a little a lot of snipping I finally used it.  There are more presents decorating the inside of the card.

I hope you're all having a good summer.  A lot of places are too hot to be outside.  I couldn't bear it.  Our temps have been in the mid to upper 70s and 80s this week.  A warm air current is bringing in smoke from wildfires all the way up in Washington state and the mountains east of us.  No fires near us, just a smoky haze.  All these fires every year... I wonder how we have any forest left.  It's so distressing.  Take care, and I hope you're able to stay cool where you are.

Climbing Clematis

Hello!  Believe it or not, I'm going to try for a quick post today.  I'm sharing a card that didn't take long to make so it shouldn't take long to tell you about it.  I'm having some busy days and I've got lots more coloring I'd like to do if and when I can make time to do it.  There I go yakking again...

I colored up a pretty Power Poppy digi called Climbing Clematis.  I've had it printed and waiting and it was so nice to make a card "just because".

It was printed on X-Press It Blending Card and colored with the following Copic markers:

I colored the die cut "hello" with the darkest pink marker and coated with Glossy Accents.  Dotted with Nuvo Oyster Grey glossy crystal drops.  The white card front was covered with a subtle designer paper.

Gosh, I feel like I'm neglecting something by keeping this so brief but, really, that's all folks.  Supplies are listed below.  I'm off and running again so I'll say "so long" till next time and hope you have a very happy day!

Stamps:  Power Poppy Climbing Clematis digital stamp  Paper:  X-Press It Blending Card, other white for die cut and card base, Prima Sweet Fairy designer paper  Ink:  Printer, Copics as pictured above  Accessories:  Nuvo Oyster Grey glossy crystal drops, Inkssentials Glossy Accents, Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets, Paper Smoooches Hello Words

Anniversary Birds

Hello, there!  It's time I finish up these anniversary cards for a friend.  One more to go.  I'm sure glad she's not in a hurry for them.

I accomplished a couple of things with this card -- I tried a new-to-me technique (the wood-look background) and used a not-yet-used embossing folder (the music score).  My wood background looks like someone turned a three year old loose with a paint brush and a can of stain, but I still love it.

When I saw Kathy Krug's background on this card I knew I'd have to try it.  Now I'm wondering if I'll ever get around to using all that wood grain designer paper I have, because this is so easy and turns out fantastic.

Score white paper every half inch and swipe two or three shades of ink straight down.  The embossing after scoring is optional.  I scored, swiped two shades of brown, then embossed and swiped the third, darkest brown.  Make sense?  Kathy sent me a link to the video where she learned the technique:  Weathered Wood Background

I may try it in a color next time, like old paint.

The rest is die cuts and the music-embossed oval and one little sentiment.  I colored the flowers with Copic markers and used both white Nuvo drops and Glossy Accents for enhancement.  All details are in the recipe below.

I'm onto the next coloring project which needs to be finished soon for mailing.  It's not always easy to find time for stamping in the summer, but we somehow find time for the things we love, right?  See you again soon.  Till then... wishing you a happy day!

Stamps:  Crafty Secrets Bird Notes sentiment  Paper:  Neenah 110 lb white, SU So Saffron and Old Olive  Ink:  Ranger Distress Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, and Walnut Stain, CTMH Parchment (on embossed music score), SU More Mustard to sponge bird's wings, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Nuvo Gloss Simply White Crystal Drops, Inkssentials Glossy Accents, Sizzix Elegant Bouquet embossing folder, Darice Sheet Music embossing folder  Dies:  Spellbinders Elegant Ovals and Classic Ovals, Elizabeth Craft Birds, Poppystamps Sylvan Sprig, Memory Box Saraphine Laurel

The Monthly Christmas Card, Sparkling and Twinkling

I've been at the Spectrum Noir watercolor sparkle pens again and I can hardly express how much I'm enjoying them.  I now have the Vintage Hues set (12 markers) in addition to the three others I started with, so I thought I'd try them out on the monthly Christmas card.  Christmas is a good time for sparkle, isn't it?  I know... anytime is a good time for sparkle!

So here we go with a favorite Power Poppy Christmas set called Heaven & Nature Sing.  It gave me a chance to try a few different colors.  The birds, however, were colored mostly with Twinkling H2Os as there were no suitable browns in the Spectrum set.  I may supplement my Spectrum markers later, but for now I'm enjoying the Twinks, my interest in them having been rekindled by the Spectrum sparkle pens.

The degree of sparkle you get with these pens varies depending upon how much water you use and how much you spread the ink.  Some areas may have very little sparkle and other areas will have a lot.  I like that.  It's a gentler effect.  The photo below shows where the sparkle gathered in this painting.  Please note that the camera made some of the sparkle appear silver, but it does not look silver when seen simply through your eyes.

Each color was brushed onto a plastic palette and picked up with a watercolor brush.  The green of the holly leaves is a mix of Emerald Green and Ocean Wave.  Ocean Wave is a rich teal blue and Emerald Green is more of a lime green.  I brushed them separately onto the palette and then mixed them together with a paint brush.

One more card ready for Christmas.  My total so far:  11.  Hey, it's better than zero.

Supplies are listed below.  Wishing you all a happy day!

Stamps:  Power Poppy Heaven & Nature Sing clear set  Paper:  Arches 140 lb hot press watercolor, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Bazzill light purple  Ink:  Palette Noir  Coloring:  Spectrum Noir Sparkle pens Vintage Hues set plus Emerald Green, Twinkling H2Os Dark Umber  Accessories:  Sequins, Spellbinders A2 Divine Eloquence, Spellbinders Labels Twenty Eight