Power Poppy Preview, Day 5: Floribunda

If you're a clear stamp kind of stamper and you love birds and blooms, Marcella has come through for you.  She's turned another one of her gorgeous digital sets into a clear stamp set.  Introducing Floribunda.

Okay... if you follow me regularly you probably recognize the image in the above graphic as the digital version (Hummingbird Paradise) which I colored when it was released on June 15.  Trust me, you get all that and more in the Floribunda clear set.

Today I gave it a little bit softer look, but still colorful, by watercoloring with Tombow markers.  As you can see, I isolated just a small part of the image by stamping the whole thing then cutting with an oval die.  I turned the oval upside down so the hummingbird would have a flower to enjoy.  It works!

In case you'd like to know, the die is by Marianne Designs, called Anja's Oval.  I adore anything with lattice, especially when it comes to flower stamps.

Marcella has packed this stamp set with beautiful sentiments that pair up perfectly for the card front and the inside.

I'm so smitten with this stamp set I didn't want to put it away.  The two cards pictured below were made with relatively little coloring.  The one is gold embossed on green with watercolored dahlias and hummer.  The other is stamped in blue on blue, then the background filled in with a white Prismacolor pencil.  I stamped the upper corner in blue again on watercolor paper and watercolored just the fuchsias with Tombow markers.  Fussy cut and glued in place.    The hummer comes as a separate stamp.  I watercolored him, too.  He's very easy to cut out by hand.

Why, yes, I have been busy!

Again, please visit the Power Poppy Blog for much, much more and do come back tomorrow for the big hop with some special friends.  Thank you so much for your visit today!

Power Poppy Preview, Day 4: Summer Berries

It's Summer Berries today, friends.  Enjoy a sneak peek at its fruity deliciousness:

I chose to color two of the smaller images today and I made the bird a Goldfinch, or some semblance thereof.  I used Copics, but I'm eager to do it again in watercolor.  I think this is the prettiest stamp!  At first I thought it was a small stamp, but, you know, it's really a very nice size.

I fussy cut the additional strawberry stamp and used it as an accent.  Hmmm... only one picture today.  Well, as I mentioned, I'll definitely be coloring this one again... plus the other main image... sigh...

So far we've seen berries and birds, flowers, treasures of the forest floor... tomorrow I'll be back with the final set in this release, but there's still another day to come when the sets go live with a big hop we're doing with friends.

Today, please see the Power Poppy Blog so you don't miss what Marcella has to say, plus she'll give you a link list to all the sweetness the team has to offer with the Summer Berries set.  Take care and have a delicious day!

Power Poppy Preview, Day 3: Strong and Beautiful

Hello!  Back for Day 3 of the Power Poppy Enchanted Garden clear stamp previews.  Today we're showing Strong and Beautiful (link will be live on July 1).

Perhaps you'll remember these flowers as a previously released digital stamp called Bowl of Beauty.  It was too pretty not to release in a clear stamp set!  Marcella tweaked it ever so slightly and gave it some very useful sentiments and, voila, a clear set is born.

I spent some extra time with this one because I used Prismacolor pencils and I'm very slow with them.  I did not use Gamsol for blending.  Just pencils.  I blended over and over again until the pencil lines virtually disappeared.  I'm probably too dogged about that.  After all, they're pencils; they're supposed to look different.

Before I picked up a pencil, however, I created the background with Copic markers.  Colored random patches of  green, blue, and pink, then dropped colorless blender fluid onto it using a very skinny eyedropper (pipette from my medical lab days).  Final background touch was to add all the little dots that float up and away.  The sentiment was added last and colored with pencils.

You'll find more info from Marcella and a link to all the dreamy team samples on the Power Poppy Blog.  I'll meet you over there 'cause I want to see them, too.  Have a beautiful day!

Power Poppy Preview, Day 2: Woodland Carpet

We've gone from flowers to forest today with Power Poppy's Enchanted Garden clear stamp release.  Today we're previewing Woodland Carpet (link will be live on July 1).

This stamp set and sentiment has my heart.  I do find rest in the cool and calming forest and, aside from the garden, it's my favorite place to be.

I colored this one with Copics, smudged a little ink for shading, added a hand drawn partial border.  The 5" card leaves room for designer paper which I always love, but sometimes it just doesn't fit.  It could be a masculine card... or not.  It's a beautiful quote for a friend who needs soothing.

Now... I'll meet you over at the Power Poppy Blog to see Marcella's post.  She'll also link us up with the rest of the team for samples.  I can't wait to see!  Back tomorrow.  Till then... have a happy day!

Power Poppy Enchanted Garden Preview, Day 1

Hello, friends!  I hope you enjoy the next few days here on the blog as much as I enjoyed preparing for them.  The Instant Gardeners have teamed up with the Bloom Brigade to bring you previews of a brand new clear stamp release at Power Poppy.  Five fabulous sets and I'm sure it goes without saying that I love them all.

We're starting off with Big Sexy Blooms.  This is a large background stamp with all kinds of possibilities.  The link will be live on July 1 when all the sets are available in the store.  My card:

White embossed and watercolored in pastel shades, I couldn't resist coloring the whole thing.  I split it into panels for this 5" card.   The sentiment is from a set we'll be previewing on Day 5.  Note to self:  Do more white embossing.  It's perfect for pastels.  This was such easy coloring!  I used SU's Watercolor Wonder Crayons.

Waste not, want not... I used the leftover strip inside where I'll write my own message.

We're off to a great start!  I'll send you over to the Power Poppy Blog where Marcella will tell you all the details and give you a link list to more beautiful samples.  Wishing you a lovely day!

Double D Challenge: Pick a Pattern

Oh, my goodness, it's time for another Double D Challenge!  Darlene has chosen a good one for us this time:  "Pick a Pattern".  I'll show you my card and explain in a minute.

Naturally, the sentiment is going to play an important role, but the card design is all about the pattern.

Pictured below are the patterns to pick from.  Don't worry, it doesn't have to be an exact match.  Just let yourself be inspired, as long as the pattern is prominently featured in your project.

Random winner prize is a paper pad of patterns galore:

I have so many designer papers I could have used for any of those patterns, but I focused on the pretty blue bowls and made an ink-blended and stamped background.  The stamps I used are from a Stampendous Laurel Burch set called Fish Wishes.  I probably never would have thought of this card if it hadn't been for the challenge, but I like how it turned out and you know I've been feeling a lot of love for clean and simple lately.

Wait till you see the team samples.  Inspired and inspiring!  So, pick a pattern and play along.  I hope to see you in the gallery!

Stamps:  Stampendous Fish Wishes by Laurel Burch  Paper:  SU Whisper White  Ink:  SU Brilliant Blue and Bashful Blue, Memento Tuxedo Black  Accessories:  Silver cord, Scotch brand foam mounting tape, Beauty Kate makeup blending brushes  Dies: Tutti Designs Stitched Nesting Hearts, Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets

CAS Christmas Card Challenge Reminder

Hello!  Back again with a mid-month reminder for the CAS Christmas Card Challenge.  We're almost halfway to mailing time and I've got less than half of my Christmas cards done, so any inspiration or encouragement is appreciated.  The prompt this month is "Gifts".

I pulled out a cute oldie Inky Antics stamp set for this one.

Colored with Copics and backed up with a grocer's kraft card base, which is one of my new favorite things.  I added a stripedy holly die cut and some glitter.  Keeping it simple, but fun.

Total Christmas cards so far this year:  20

Hop over to the CAS Christmas Card "Gifts" Challenge to pick up some inspiration and encouragement of your own.  Great samples over there!  It was a treat being guest designer for one of my favorite challenges this month.  Thanks, team!  Have a wonderful day!

Stamps:  Inky Antics Holiday Bazooples #2  Paper:  X-Press It Blending Card, grocer's kraft, Graphic 45 'Twas the Night Before Christmas designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Stickles Stardust glitter glue, red Viva Decor Pearlen Pen and red microfine glitter for holly berries  Dies:  Lil' Inker Silly Stitched Die Set, Cheery Lynn Holly Corner

Hummingbird Paradise

How about some color today and lots of it?  I went right to town as soon as Marcella at Power Poppy made this Hummingbird Paradise digital stamp available.  It's a dream!  Trust me, you don't have to color the whole thing, but I couldn't resist.  I used Prismacolor pencils on the flowers and bird, Copics on the background.  To finish, I dotted here and there with white acrylic paint.

What kind of hummingbird is this?  I have no idea.  I'm hummingbird challenged so I probably mixed a few different types together, but I like blues and greens and it fit right in with the flowers.  I chose pencils for the detail and the ease with which you can blend one color into the next, hoping for an iridescent quality.  I still need a lot of practice, but I'm working on it.

In the next photo you can get a better idea the texture added by the dots of white acrylic paint.

That's a lot of color, isn't it?  What a gorgeous digi set this is.

But wait... that's not all.  Check out Perched in the Orchids, another new digital set at Power Poppy.  I haven't had a chance to color it yet, but hope to before long.  It's already printed and waiting.

I'm heading back to the coloring table.  There's lots going on in my stamp room this month.  Stay well and I'll see you back here soon!

Peaceful Time

It's a most wonderful thing to sit in the garden on a quiet spring morning and listen to the birds in the trees, and that's why I find this Penny Black mini-set aptly named as Peaceful Time.

It's another new to me stamp, purchased with the matching die which makes it all the more versatile.  I've not always gone for the matching dies in the past, but that's going to change.  It's so much easier, especially when it comes to those inner parts where I need to use a craft knife.

I embossed the bird in black and watercolored very simply with my old SU Watercolor Wonder Crayons.  For the background and frame I used two different watercolor pieces which were made ahead and sitting in a drawer.  Having all kinds of spare backgrounds sure makes a card come together quickly!  Even the ivory card base was pre-cut.

Moving right along, I'll have another pre-scheduled and very colorful card on the 15th.   It's a busy month!  Enjoy your day!

Twofer Card Challenge No. 17: Bees

Hello and welcome back for Twofer Card Challenge #17!  Darnell is asking for bees this time.  I thought this sounded like a fun challenge and, sure enough, it was!

Remember the rules, and find more info on the Twofer Blog.

I've made a "hello" card and a "get well" card using a Frantic Stamper Lady Bug & Bee die and a few other wonderful things that live in my stamp room.  All these delightful toys, sigh... I love when I can really "play" with a card.

(Additional:  Cheery Lynn Chicken Wire Frame, purchased daisies, Power Poppy sentiment)

The first one was quick as a wink.  I pictured it almost immediately when I saw the challenge prompt, so when I got down to business it just fell together.  Best of all, I really like it!

The get well card was a bit more of a challenge.  I knew I wanted to use this sentiment and paper.  The layout was no problem.  But the jar...  Now, I know you're probably wondering where I got such a funky looking jar stamp.  Or maybe you already figured out that I drew the jar myself and that's why it looks so funky.  I know!  Hahahaha!  Nevertheless, it's functional, holding the one bee captive within its glossy glass confines, Stella-winked lid screwed on tightly.

(Additional:  Spellbinders Standard Circles Large and SB Blossom Nestabilities, Impression Obsession Grass and IO Leaf Cluster, flower punch, Whipper Snapper sentiment)

The bee in the jar was set flush into the card stock layer underneath.  I was hoping the gloss coating would smooth everything over, but it didn't quite manage.  Still looks cute, though.  You can see the expression of dismay on the captive bee's face, and her friends are fretting over how to get her out of there.  Don't worry... since I made the card I can also make up the story that she was later released in good health.

Come play along at Twofer.  It's an intriguing and fun challenge, and it really makes you think twice about your stamps.  The team and our guest designers have some fabulously inspiring samples.  Have a good day!

Just Checking In

On Goldens and Garden today.

Thank you!

Blue Peony

Hello and welcome!  I hope this Friday finds you in the pink, but today I'm sharing blue.  I sometimes forget how enjoyable it is to color in a monotone.  I stamped this flower in SU's Bashful Blue and watercolored with one Tombow #535 marker.  After coloring I fussy cut and layered onto an embossed background with a sentiment stamped in turquoise.  Very CAS and that's the point because I made this for the CAS Watercolor Challenge.  The theme this month is "Something Blue".

It's a beautiful stamp, isn't it?  Called Vintage Peony Inspiration, it was designed for Sparkle N Sprinkle by my friend, Donna Ellis, and sent to me as a gift.  Sparkle N Sprinkle is closing their doors, I believe at the end of this month.  They really do have some nice stamps.

The translucent blue embellishment dots are Viva Decor Glass Effect Gel - Crystal Clear - over Copic B05.  This clear gel is something in my stash I forget to use, but it's a favorite medium.  Never plugs, always goes on perfectly, dries firmly.  Great stuff!

Well, I think that's all the particulars.  Most of my posts this month were scheduled way ahead of time as I expect to be away a lot, but while I'm here I'll squeeze in a little something extra.   These things I find comforting and restful:  Coloring, gardening, and my Golden Retriever bubble.  Especially the latter.  Wally and LuLu have a most wonderful way of drawing me and Rich in when they sense we need some emergency happy.

Everyone should have some kind of bubble.

I'll leave you with a wish for a happy day and see you back here again on Monday.

CAS Watercolor Challenge - "Something Blue"