Creation Station April Hop--Music to My Ears

 

Welcome  to the Creation Station April Hop!

We are an international group of Stampin' Up! Demonstrators who create a hop to inspire you each month on the first Sunday of the Month.  This month our theme is Music to My Ears and our inspiration comes from one of our favorite songs.

Be sure to hit the "Next" link at the end of each post to enjoy all the projects we are sharing with you this month.

For my music inspiration today, I chose Brandon Lake's song "Wildflowers".  Here is one verse with chorus:

"Planted deep and taking and taking hold, From the soil Your life unfolds

Some things only love can grow, Blooming free without control

Colors of Your love explode like Wildflowers in my soul

'Cause Your love is amazing, I can hardly contain it

It's the greatest thing I've found

And Your love doesn't waiver, Both now and Forever

It's the greatest thing I've found."

Over three years ago, God met me in my deepest valley, drew me closer to Him, and walked with me on my up and down journey of illness, medication changes, treatments and surgery.  He gave me comfort, peace and even joy.  Yes, His love is amazing and I experience it most when I am outside listening to the music and experiencing the majesty of His creation. 

For my Wildflower projects today, I used three different stamp bundles and three different techniques.  I also chose to highlight our retiring In Colors:  Evening Evergreen, Soft Succulent, Pale Papaya, Polished Pink and Fresh Freesia (which is actually not retiring but joining our core colors as part of our Color Refresh this year).  

This card features the retiring Nature's Harvest Stamp set (#156495) and coordinating Harvest dies (#156504).  I used the alcohol blending technique on Vellum card stock (#101856) with Balmy Blue, Soft Succulent, Tahitian Tide and Pale Papaya Stampin' Blends.  Card stock used:  Pale Papaya, Soft Succulent, Tahitian Tide, Soft Suede (also retiring) and Basic White.  Ink pads used:  Pale Papaya and Evening Evergreen.  Ribbon is Soft Succulent Open Weave  (#155780).  The gems are from my retired embellishment stash.

This 5-1/2" square card features the Dainty Delight Bundle (#160675).  Before I embossed the background square of Crumb Cake card stock with the Timeworn Type 3D embossing folder (I believe this one is retiring), I sponged the inside front of the folder (the side with the Stampin' Up! logo) with Soft Suede ink.  This technique brings out the texture created with the embossing folder. The wildflowers were stamped in Crumb Cake on Basic White card stock and colored with Stampin' Blends:  Soft Succulent, Polished Pink, Pale Papaya, Fresh Freesia, Rich Razzleberry (also retiring), Tahitian Tide and Orchid Opulence.  I addition to Crumb Cake and Basic White, I used Soft Succulent and Polished Pink card stock.  The greeting was stamped in Soft Suede on Crumb Cake and die cut using a label die from the Harvest dies.  The ribbon is Polished Pink Open Weave (#155714).  Brushed Brass Butterflies (#158136) complete the card. 

This last card is all about Watercolor.  It features the Quiet Meadow stamp set (#155082) and Meadow dies (#155852).  The background is a messy watercolor wash on Watercolor paper (#149612) using Tahitian Tide ink and then splattered with a Soft Suede Stampin' Write marker.  The flowers and leaves were die cut out of Watercolor paper, then colored using a Water Painter (#151298).  Colors used:  Pale Papaya, Soft Succulent, Evening Evergreen, Polished Pink, Fresh Freesia, and Orchid Opulence.  The greeting was stamped in Early Espresso on Watercolor paper and die cut using a Stylish Shapes die (#159183).  Card stock used:  Polished Pink and Tahitian Tide.  Linen Thread (#104199) completes the card.

Next up is Denita Wright-Smee.  I can't wait to see the musical inspiration she is sharing with us today!

To Denita's Blog. . .

I hope you will be inspired to create based on one of your musical favorites!

Wishing you a Blessed Easter!

--Sara Nell

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Psalm 23:4