Power Poppy's June Power & Spark Challenge~Pencil Me In!

Hi there and a Happy Friday to you!  Can you believe it is already time for Power Poppy's Power & Spark Challenge again?  It seems we were just fussy cutting to our heart's content with this past challenge and now, that super sweet and amazingly talented Christine Okken has thrown down the gauntlet with this theme...

That's right....it's time to pull out those pencils (or in my case, I had to borrow some!)!  You can read all about this challenge on the Power Poppy Blog!  Now Christine can color with pencils like nobody's business so I know her project is going to be incredible and will definitely get you in the pencil spirit!  :)

I was still in the tag frame of mind, so I decided to make a tag for my card.  I used a Papertrey Ink tag die, then stamped my image and sentiment from Power Poppy's new Go Wild stamp set in StazOn Brown Timber ink onto Papertrey Ink's Rustic White card stock.  Next, I colored my image with some Prisma pencils that my good friend let me borrow for this occasion.  I have a few pencils that came over on the Mayflower and they were just not working out.  I used Gamsol to blend my colors together.  Now, I don't know if you've noticed, but I just don't use pencils for anything.  Me and my Copics have been inseparable for so long, that I really just don't use any other medium.  I have tried water coloring a few times.....it never went well. Then I got my Copics and never looked back...so, here is the first image I have colored with pencils in a very. long. time.  I definitely need more practice, but I really enjoyed the challenge of trying something new, and I think I'll be looking for some pencils soon....so if you have any suggestions on type or brand, I am all ears!  :)

I added a few highlights here and there with a Stampin' Up! Stampin' Chalk White marker and used a Wink of Stella Clear pen to add some shimmer to the petals and jar.  My card base is A2.  My other layer is 4" x 5 1/4" and I embossed it with a Papertrey Ink wood grain texture plate. (Both of these layers were made with more Papertrey Ink's Rustic White card stock.)  I added a couple of strips of patterned paper from My Mind's Eye's Dilly Dally 6x6 paper pad, some stitching, and distress inks in PTI's Chamomile and Chai.  I also sponged on some Ranger Distress inks in Frayed Burlap and Evergreen Bough.  The ink spatters were made using a SU! spritzer tool with SU!'s markers in Soft Suede and Crumb Cake.  The ribbons, twine, and button were added to finish the tag off before adhering to my card panel with foam dimensionals.

I just love that little mason jar!  I have several old blue ones with the original zinc lids that were my husband's grandmother's.....they have a special place of honor in the kitchen china cabinet.  :)  Well, that is all for my card today....whew, it has been a big week for me....first Marcella has me coloring motorcycles and now Christine has me coloring with pencils!  :)  And no one is more surprised than me to read this, but I enjoyed every minute of it!  :)  Now, make sure you check out what my incredibly talented Bloom Brigade sisters have penciled in for you and then why don't you create your own pencil masterpiece and come play along with us?!  You could win a stamp set.....how's that for some inspiration?  ;)  Thanks so much for stopping by...I can't wait to see what you create, and until next time, take care!  :)

Christine Okken     

Julie Koerber 
Kathy Jones 
Katie Sims <------You are here
Leslie Miller 
Stacy Morgan

~Katie