More colored pencil fun with digital stamps from Power Poppy!

I spent some time over the last several days practicing my coloring skills using this absolutely stunning digital stamp from Power Poppy! This is the Graceful Still Life Digital Stamp Set from Power Poppy by Marcella Hawley. What I am loving so much about digital stamps is my ability to resize the image to make any size card I want! I decided to make a 5 x 7 inch card, which is larger than the A2 sized card I usually create that measures 4.25 x 5.5 inches. I find that it's actually easier for me to practice blending when the image is a little larger.

After downloading the image to my computer, I inserted it into a Microsoft Word document. I was able to fit two images, sized for a 5 x 7 inch card, on an 8.5 x 11 inch layout. I printed the image on Canson Mi-Teintes paper. This paper comes in a ring bound paper pack that I tear out and trim to 8.5 x 11 inches to fit into my printer. I recently started using the Canon PIXMA MG3620 printer, and I've been really happy with the results.

The colored pencils I use are by Prismacolor, and I really like them. I have the complete set of Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils because I have "complete set syndrome," which affects many crafters and stampers, so I've come to realize.

There were several instances during the coloring processes where my perfectionist tendencies flared up, and during those moments I believed I had made a irreversible mistake that would ruin the entire project. But I forced myself to keep going, and I was able to complete this image and create a card that I am very proud of and believe is very beautiful!

What I learned from this card:

• Just keep coloring! Just keep coloring! In the end, anything that I thought was a "mistake" during the coloring process, melted seamlessly into the completed project, and no one would even notice.
• Burnish, burnish, burnish! In my next colored pencil project, I'd like to see if I can color an image with less of the white card stock showing through.
• Ask yourself, "Do I really NEED to color the background?" On this card, it was only after I started coloring the blue background that I realized I was going to be coloring for a long time! I'm really happy with the results - I think the blue background really finishes the card and makes the image pop- but, let's be real, it took me FOR-EV-VER! I may reconsider full backgrounds in future projects.
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This card is also an entry into the September Power & Spark: Hitting the Books Challenge on the Power Poppy blog.

I want to thank you so much for stopping by my blog! I completely dove head first into this whole blogging thing, but I'm so glad I did. I really, really do love creating and sharing projects. Don't forget to comment, and have a good day!