A few little tidbits from the Good Vibe Tribe!

Hello, sweet stamping friends and happy Friday! Are you ready for a restful and relaxing weekend ahead? I know I am. For those of you in the States, I hope you cherish this pre-holiday weekend and enjoy all the sparks in life (in the air and in your heart!)

Okay, since we have a ton of good vibes to share, let's get right to it, shall we? Get ready for sudden squeals of excitement, feelings of wonder and maybe even a little silent introspection! It's all here for you this Friday! 

Some of the Power Poppy gals had a chance last year to meet the amazing (and sweet) Michelle Houghton and so it is ALWAYS a treat when she takes one of Marcella's images for a spin. This week, she posted this little number above (using the Va-Va-Valentines digital stamp set) with a FUN video that you can cue up to watch her create this whimsical creation. Grab a cuppa something you love and settle in my friends! 

I am so glad that Elizabeth Zaffarano jumped on the alcohol inks and foil bandwagon because the cards that she's been pumping out using this marbled and colorful effect have been stunning! Take a trip over to her IG page HERE and see for yourself! And, if you want to watch a fun little video of one talented woman doing this technique as a tutorial, just click HERE. I haven't tried this one yet but, I have all the tools to do it and know I am going to have to give it a try... soon! 

Every year at about this time, we love to remind you that there is a series of digital freebies aimed at sharing messages of freedom and independence! They are awesome for cards to boost the spirits of the military men and women in our life. The quotes are great for all occasion cards as well! Want to check out the full line of liberty-inspired freebies? Just click HERE!  You can also see a few creations over on our Power Poppy Rocks Pinterest board HERE!

Okay, let's be honest. Did you gasp when you saw this bold and beautiful dahlia above colored up by the skilled hands of Amy Shulke? I sure as heck did! That woman is a master. It's on my bucket list to meet her and spend a little time coloring with her! ;-) The good news for all of us is that the next best thing is actually available! She is teaching this little number above in one of her upcoming Livestream classes! Not only will you learn, step-by-step to color up Power Poppy's Dahlia digi, but intermixed in that lesson comes a few tips on underpainting when coloring up sunshiny florals -- basically creating depth without muddying up those bright and bold colors! Click HERE to check out all the deets peeps! 

Warning! If you aren't in the mood for a little quiet introspection, fast forward to the link list with our beloved Bloomies. If you wouldn't mind some contemplation, keep reading. Have you asked yourself, "Whats my why?" It's a question that keeps rising to the surface in my life -- mostly with my work day. I think about it, journal about it, and even bought THIS daily time management journal based on working by your "why". I'm in that mode where I really need to dissect my day so that I can experience great joy in the morning, waking up with a clear sense of why this day matters professionally, why every day matters. What's your "why?" What's your "why" at work? What's your "why" in life? What's your "why?" when you hit your crafting room for a little creative time? Share your "why" in our comments -- let's inspire others to take this step and bring a little extra beauty to our days! 😍

And that concludes our Good Vibes for this Friday! I know some of the Bloomies have more on tap...

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Katie Sims

Stacy Morgan

Thanks for stopping by and sharing a bit of your day with us! Inspire Me Monday will be taking a holiday break next Monday but will be back in full force on July 9th! Also, look for a brand new Power & Spark challenge next Friday too! So much fun brewing!


Until then, happy stamping!

~Julie 

Inspire Me - When to Walk Away

Hello Friends! My name is Kathy  and I love popping in for another installment of "Inspire Me Monday". How are you today? Have you ever walked away from a project you were working on and happy that you did? Or is walking away difficult like it is for me? 

Walking away isn't easy for me ... it's always like ... I will just add one more thing or one more color and then I wished that I had walked away. 

For today's card I added one more color and not only was it more of a time commitment but, it moved me a different direction from what I wanted. 

I was going for a soft look on the dahlia and because I HAD to add one more color my soft look was left behind ... So I need to learn to take a walk. Next time when I return to my project I might have a different perspective. Either way I am so in L.O.V.E. this extra large Dahlia stamp!! Like OMG love!!! 



This flower stamp is big and juicy and it's a great stamp for any medium and for techniques. True it will take you more time but, the end results will be so worth your time.

I hope you will check out my video and a thumbs up is always appreciated if you like it. 
The large dahlia was inked up with Simon Says Stamps barely beige ink and colored with Chameleon colored pencils. 

Using the grey pencil first in mostly the nooks and crannies was easy I promise.

Then I added a soft layer of pink with a very light hand. When I was satisfied with that I used a dark pink for  my third layer always keeping the tip nice and sharp to get that pronounced line on the petals. 

This is the point where I should have walked away. I wanted to add one more color and once you add that color to one petal .... it's a commitment! Plus it changes the look you were going for. 

I discovered a new tip ... when you don't get a perfect embossing what do you do?  Rather than make you watch my video I will tell you lol. Use a white gel pen to fill in the areas that are not embossed. Worked like a charm! 

Thanks for your visit today it's always appreciated and I hope you picked up a tip to two. Have a good week. Hugs, Kathy 

Inspire Me Monday: Yin & Yang!

Happy Monday everyone!  Welcome to Inspire Me Monday.  I’m your hostess Allison Cope!  I hope you’re all having an amazing summer.  My family and I are off on vacation this week to do a little camping together.  Before we know it, our son will be “too old” to go camping with his parents!

Today I’m sharing a fun tutorial on how I made what I’m calling “Yin & Yang” cards.  Trust me it’s SUPER simple!

In Chinese philosophy, yin and yang (also yin–yang or yin yang) describe how seemingly opposite or contrary forces may actually be complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world, and how they may give rise to each other as they interrelate to one another.

So grab something refreshing to drink and join me at my scrappy desk to see how my fun cards are made...

To see the video in HD, click here.

I’m so glad you could join me today.  Here’s a quick review of all the cards…

The cards we made today feature the glorious “Vibrant Thanks” stamp set.

My other example cards include this pair made using the “Tree of Life” stamp set.

And my final set of cards features the “Dahlia XL” stamp set and sentiment from the “Pure Prairie Spirit” collection.

So what do you think?  Is this the kind of card you’d like to attempt making on your next adventure in your crafty world?  I sure hope so!

I made a very similar card last year using the gorgeously detailed stamp set "Lilac Time".  You can see that card right HERE on my blog.

Have a great week everyone and thanks for stopping by.   I’d love to hear what you think and give that video a quick “thumbs up”.

~ Allison Cope ~



Tree of Life Cards
Stamps: Power Poppy (Tree of Life)
Cardstock: Recollections (110# Medium Light Cloud), Simon Says Stamp (Black, Apple Green)
Embossing Powder: Ranger Adirondack (Lettuce),  Stamp n’Stuff (Detail Black)
Dies: Simon Says Stamp (Stitched Rectangles), Catherine Pooler Designs (Circles)
Ink: Versamark  

Hey There Dahlia Cards
Stamps: Power Poppy (Dahlia XL, Pure Prairie Spirit)
Cardstock:  Simon Says Stamp (Audrey Blue, Fog Grey)
Dies: Spellbinders (Labels 28), Studio Katia (Stitched Loops)
Ink: Catherine Pooler Designs (It’s a Boy), Versafine (Onyx Black), Copic Markers (N0, N1)

Hi Friend Cards
Stamps: Power Poppy (Vibrant Thanks)
Cardstock:  My Favorite Things (Pure Plum), Strathmore (Watercolor Paper), DCWV (Gold Foiled Cardstock)
Embossing Powder:  Recollections (Detail Gold)
Ink: Versamark, FineTec Pearlescent Colours
Dies: Lawn Fawn (Stitched Rectangles)

Abundance preview, Day 4: Dahlia XL

Good golly, it’s a BIG day today, and we aren’t even at the end of the release yet. When I say “big,” I mean a day of terrifically beautiful card samples by the Bloom Brigade — all featuring a large scale flower that you just might recognize! But first, some background.

Earlier this year, Finn and I ventured to the St. Louis Art Museum to check out their exhibit, “Cross-Pollination: Flowers in 18th-Century European Porcelain and Textiles.” Girl, you know that kind of thing is right up my alley! We learned how botanical engravings and paintings influenced housewares, fashion, and textile design in the 1700s. The image above of Hibiscus flowers is from a massive tome called Hortus Indicus Malabaricus, published in 1686, the first book sharing the flora of India. I found this link if you’d like to see more drawings from these pages — there are multiple volumes and the drawings are quite exciting! I love how gigantic these flowers are, sweeping across the layout spread.

Seeing the intricate image of huge Hibiscus flowers got me in a huge flower state of mind! I decided not to draw a Hibiscus on this go ’round (to quote the show Hamilton, “Just You Wait!”), but I have been captivated for some time by the prettiest pastel Dahlias I see on Instagram that are grown by Erin Benzakein of Floret Flowers in Skagit Valley, Washington (@floretflower — Erin is a MUST-follow, her sun-splashed photos of life as a farmer-florist delight the soul!). After geeking out on Erin’s photos for hours, I got to sketching, adjusting my pencil to a “go big or go home” state of mind.

One of the varieties grown at Floret that’s positively incredible — so beloved that it’s now a huge trend in the garden world — is called ‘Café au Lait’.  The flower heads are stunning in size, and would be referred to as Dinnerplate Dahlias. Perfect as a model for an “XL”-sized stamp! What a multitude of glowing petals that twist and turn in a frenzy of beauty.

Source: Floret Flower

I’ve not grown large Dahlias before — I stick to the smaller ones I can grab our local St. Louis nurseries. If you’re interested in seeing some photos that will make your head spin, along with sharing invaluable Dahlia growing information, here’s a wonderful post from Erin at Floret to read when you have a few moments.

Café au Lait Dahlias go through a number of color phases, and can be shades of pink, peach, vanilla, rose, creamy yellowy apricot — all the way to lavender — sometimes all on the same flower! I tried my hand at painting my first impression from our new stamp set — Dahlia XL — in these beautiful rosy-peach tones.

I can say from personal experience that this flower was a BLAST to color. The shading in the petals shows you exactly where to put your deepest shadows and your midtones, leaving the remaining areas for highlight. You’re almost guaranteed great results. The flower is so large (4-1/2 inches across!) so you can really get your coloring medium inside the petals without trouble. I didn’t even have to dig out my teeniest tiniest paintbrushes, I used an “0” sized sable brush rather than the “000” that some of our images might require. And you know what? You can color this thing in SOOOOO many ways.

Dahlia XL is a LARGE SCALE flower, it comes on a 5" x 5" canvas, and is complete with a few leaves and sentiments! It will be available to purchase on Sunday, July 30. Hey, that’s TOMORROW!!

Now to see what the Bloom Brigade has made to help get you in the mood.... please, remain seated while viewing these cards. For it is possible that you could topple over in a shear state of swoon-osity.

Allison Cope

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Julie Koerber

Kathy Jones

Stacy Morgan

Tosha Leyendekker

Folks, we have ONE MORE adorable set to share tomorrow — and THEN, you can start shopping! If you are a fan of the vignettes in our Short Stacks and Cozy Cupfuls clear sets, then this new design will be right up your alley.

We’re launching a special promotion to be announced tomorrow — if you’re planning on getting multiple sets, you can save big bucks, so stay tuned.

xoxoxo!