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Monday, December 05, 2016

Stand Here...for Kisses

Hello, sweet friends, and happy December to you all!

It's time to really get going on my Christmas cards. I have been making cards and have been making duplicate cards, printing off four on a page and cutting them down to color. Then I begin constructing them, one process at a time. We'll see how many I actually finish. 

Today's sweet digital stamp set is a darling sprig of mistletoe called Stand Here: "When you just need to have that Christmas kiss, like, right now. All you have to do is print out this bunch of mistletoe tied up in a bow! With two sentiments for your holiday loves. Illustrated with a whole lotta love by Marcella Hawley."

Power Poppy, Marcella Hawley, Stand Here, Remixed Digital Image, December 2016

I started by pulling the larger sentiment into GIMP (the free photo-editing software available for both Windows and the Mac). I wanted to make the "with extra kisses" green to match my designer paper. I did a "save as" so as not to overwrite the original image. Then I pulled in my altered image along with the mistletoe into Microsoft Word and resized them to fit my layout.

I colored the mistletoe with Copic markers and then used some colored pencils to add some shading. (My sweet husband bought me an early Christmas gift of Prismacolor pencils, and I am just starting to get used to them.) I then used color pencils to color in "Merry Christmas" to give it an ombre look. The pencils left a nice waxy/shiny finish, and I added some Wink of Stella in strategic places on the bow and the berries. Then the fun (for me at least...not really...hehe!) begins in constructing the card, making sure the mats are even with my Mini Perfect Layers tool. The finishing touch was the little heart button threaded with some DMC floss. Obviously, this is for my dear husband (who has seen it), but he will still enjoy it on Christmas day!

Power Poppy, Marcella Hawley, Stand Here, Remixed Digital Image, CherylQuilts, Designed by Cheryl Scrivens, December 2016

During this Advent season, with all of the festivities and celebration, there are many who are feeling heightened grief at the loss of family and friends. However, we remember the consummate gift that God our Father gave us in the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. While we celebrate the birth of Christ, it's also a time to remember God's deep love and promise to always take care of His beloved children. 

My God shall supply all your need
according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19

Therefore the LORD Himself will give you a sign.
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and shall call His name Immanuel [God with us].
Isaiah 7:14

Now it's time for my stamping friends to hop on over to Power Poppy and purchase this delightful digital image and use it today. But first, be sure to visit my teammates to see what delightful cards they've made and to read what Marcy has shared about mistletoe...you just might be surprised and fascinated as I was!
As always, sweet friends, I am so grateful for your visits and love reading your comments. I am always happy to answer questions. (I am entering my card in this week's Simon Says Wednesday Challenge.)

Blessings, dear friends,



Stamps:  Stand Here (Power Poppy) 
Paper: Solar White 80# and 110# (Neenah), Pure Poppy (PTI), Comfort and Joy (My Mind's Eye)
Ink:  Printer
Tools/Accessories: Copic markers, Prismacolor pencils, Stitched Square STAX dies (MFT), Heart Buttons dies (Memory Box), Mini Perfect Layers tool, white DMC floss, Wink of Stella, Thin 3D Foam Squares (Scrapbook Adhesives), white tape
Techniques: Digital images using GIMP and Microsoft Word
Card Size:  A-2
Copic markers used: Bow - R21, R14, R35, R46, R59; Leaves - YG61, G46, YG01; Berries - Y11, G20; Stems - YG91; Shading - Prismacolor pencils; "Merry Christmas" letters - Prismacolor pencils