Hello!

Hello friends!  I hope you are enjoying a wonderful Lord's day!  It's a beautiful day here in NC!  

Today I have another card to share using the July ODBD release.  It's pretty CAS for me but I actually like how it came out.

I used the newly released Hibiscus Dies, the Tropical Leaves Die, and past released Hello Die, Pierced Rectangle Dies, Double Stitched Rectangles, and Boho Bolds Paper Collection. 

So I thought I'd catch you up on what's going on in my life, as many have asked.  I am doing pretty well, though I am having lots of pain issues, which presumably are from the medication I am on, and perhaps some from just being out of shape and old.  :(   I have been cleared to go until Nov. without seeing my Oncologist unless I develop symptoms.  The frustrating part of that is... what are symptoms?  If I called him every time I have a new pain he would be my personal Dr. and have no time for anyone else!  So... I wait and pray.

On another front, my hubby has been having some concerning symptoms where he feels like he is passing out, and sometimes does go to the ground, though he has not totally lost consciousness.   So he has been undergoing multiple tests, including a 30 day heart monitor.  The stress test did show a problem and the Cardiologist gave him some meds to stabilize his heart rate and make it beat more efficiently, and there is a procedure he will need to have done when the Dr can figure out which one of three possible  causes  is the reason for his symptoms.  He officially retired on June 2 and we haven't hardly had time to realize it, having lots of family here for 11 days, and with Alan having these tests.  It's been a busy time, but it was so special to spend this time with family from CA whom we don't get to see very often!   Our goals for the next few  months are to get our house ready to list, and get it on the market.  We have purchased land in TN near to our daughter and her family and look forward to building a retirement house there whenever the timing is right.  We have been traveling up there nearly weekly trying to tend to things there, and can't wait for this next adventure to begin! 

So as you can see.... there's no lack of excitement here!  But we are praising the Lord for His hand of protection upon us and continue to seek His leading in all these things.  We continue to thank you for your prayers.... they mean so much.... and we do covet them!!!

Have a wonderful day!!!

Grace

Welcome to the ODBD July Release!

 Hello friends!  Welcome to the July ODBD release!  Our theme this month is going tropical!   If you have not had a chance to see the full release yet, you can do so HERE.

As always, we have prizes! 

Three randomly selected winners will each receive a $25 Gift Code to the ODBD Website  just for commenting on the Design Team cards!  You have until July 2, 2017 at 9:00 p.m. EDT to leave your comments on the Designers Blogs for a chance to win!  The Winners will be posted on the ODBD Blog on July 3rd so be sure to check back there to see if you won!

For my first card above I used the new Bon Voyage stamp set for my image and sentiment, and I used the Hibiscus Dies, Tropical Leaves Dies, and the Ferns Dies, as well as past releases, Lattice Background Die and Mini Tags.  I used papers from the Boho Bold Paper Pack for the blue background behind the lattice, and the big tropical leaves.  To create my hibiscus flowers, I played with a couple different techniques.  The large pink flower was colored using Derwent Inktense pencils, which are colored pencils which when you wet with water, the result is permanent ink.  I did this on watercolor paper, colored in the die's embossed veins, then used water to draw that out, leaving the veins darker and the surrounding area various shades lighter.  For the pink and yellow flower I sponged Memento Lux ink in to the center of the flower, following the embossed area of the flower die, then sponged the edges very lightly in pink ink, lightly drawing it inward on the petal, and then I took clear water on a brush and drew it more in toward the center, allowing the pink to penetrate into the embossed veins on it's own.  For the solid yellow flower  I just watercolored with my  cake  watercolors, using a tiny brush to add the veins.  I did a lot of hand embossing and curling of petals on my piercer to shape the blossoms, and for a couple of them, I snipped the blossoms a bit deeper toward the center so I could overlap petals or roll them a bit differently than the die allowed.  The yellow and pink one is not snipped at all and represents the die exactly as it is, and I scrunched up the petals before gluing.  I added the die cut stamens to which I had added flower soft and Mudd Puddles Maui to the centers.  I added some tropical leaves and ferns and stamped the sentiment, then die cut that with a Mini Tag.  It is tucked in with little pink satin ribbon.

For my next card, I used the new Bon Voyage stamp set, the Ferns dies, and the Fragnipani  Dies.  I also used the past released ODBD Custom Ovals dies, Pierced Ovals,  and the ODBD Baha Bold Paper Pack.   The scene is water colored on watercolor paper which I masked with an ODBD Oval die cut.  Once that was dry I added the front palm tree image and the distant palm trees using VersaMark ink.  I cut several ferns from the new Ferns die set, and a Fragnipani flower,  which I water colored and curled on my piercer.  I stamped the sentiment from the Bon Voyage set and die cut with the ODBD Custom pierced ovals, and matted with an ODBD Custom Oval die cut of paper from the Boho Bold pack.  I added one crystal to the center of my flower.  I also stamped an extra palm tree and hand cut the middle greenery so I could pop it up over my sentiment. 

I hope you enjoyed my samples today!  To recap, here are the NEW ODBD sets and links that I used today:

Now, here are the links to the other designer's blogs.  Just leave each a little love for your chance to win!

Cathy * Sandee * Lisa * Dawn * Angie * Grace * Lori * Chris * Diana

I have a lot going on at my house right now but am doing pretty well!  I continue to covet your prayers, and now please keep my husband in your prayers as well as he is having some concerning symptoms and having a lot of tests done this week.  Thanks so  very much!!!

Blessings,