Art Imitating Life

Hello sweet peeps! Are you ready to see what creative confetti we throw into the air in the hopes of inspiring YOU in your stamping space? Well, I sure am! This challenge is for those times when you see things in nature that kind of give you pause. Is it a spectacular sunset? A blossom illuminated with light? Or, in my case, a creature that just wears a work of art on it's body each and every day. 

Let's get right to it so that you can see what I mean! 

I was sitting outside not too long ago when I turned my head and spotted this little guy below! Isn't he something else? Look at that iridescent sheen! Trust me, he was even more lovely in real life. Not quite sure what kind of beetle he is -- a jewel beetle perhaps? --  but... he's kind of awesome! I knew he would be the perfect inspiration for a card. :-)

So, after staring at his beauty for a bit to see which stamp set would really work, I settled on this one -- Big Sexy Leaves --  I know. It's perfect, right?

And then, I decided I would make this card a really sweet and simple creation -- something that didn't require a ton of coloring and one that could just "sing" on its own! So, I stamped the leaves, scanned the image and then printed using my laser printer so that I could add a little razzle dazzle in the form of some gold foil! I should mention, I decided to print this image on some dark green card stock -- to bring out its inner beetle!

I also chose the sentiment from this digital stamp set -- Hyacinth Bulb in Glass. I printed this on black card stock so that the sentiment would really pop. See?

It's funny, the foil looks like it is variegated. It isn't. It's just plain old gold foil but because I took the shot outside, You see the sky and my silhouette casting a bit of a shadow so that it looks like a multi-colored foil. Oh, one more note! I die cut my sentiment panel using a stitched die and decided after the fact to layer it over top some mirror gold card stock so that you would see some gold peeking out beneath the little stitched marks created by the die.

To accent, I added some gold cording and some iridescent sequins to bring the beetles shimmer to the forefront of my creation.

And that, my friends, is it! Art imitating a real, live beetle! ;-) So go out with eyes wide open and see those cool things around you. Snap a photo and use it as inspiration to create! I will love seeing not only your cards but the photos as well! And, when you are done, don't forget to link up your creation. There's a $25 gift code on the line folks! One lucky stamper will be chosen at the end of the month -- so keep creating with us each week!

Happy Tuesday & Happy Creating! 

~Julie
Creative Confetti Thrower

An InLinkz Link-up

Need a Background Check?

Hello folks and welcome to another little inspirational party here on the ole Power Poppy blog! Just as we do almost every Tuesday, I'm throwing up some creative ideas to see just how they fall into your oh-so-artsy hands! 

Okay, if you've been glued to the news, background checks have kind of dominated the political landscape lately. What, you haven't noticed? PERFECT! Regardless, I decided to put a new AND FUN spin on this phrase and get you thinking out of your creative comfort zones! Take a look my friends! 

HOW TO PLAY: It's as simple as trying a background technique and making it sing on your card or creation! Just that simple folks! If backgrounds aren't really your schtick, try a stencil that needs a little love. Pick up some embossing paste. Or, grab a sponge and dare to get those fingers inky!

On to my creation! Recently, I took one of Amy Shulke's classes which gave more than a few pointers on coloring glass. I was so intrigued by her sample that I had to give the class a try. I watched the video replay and so, I was able to rewind, rewind and rewind again to try to get it right. Honestly, I did not have one ounce of faith that I would be able to do this -- NOT ONE OUNCE! But Amy is an amazing teacher and I have to say, I kind of feel my attempt wasn't too shabby. I have much room for growth, but hey, don't we all? 

I started by printing the Hyacinth Bulb in Glass in a light colored grey and then, I followed Amy's class! I will say that the background is created by masking the digital stamp. I printed the image on an Avery full sheet removable label. I cut around the image on the label and then masked my main image. From there, you sponge on different shades of distress ink. I used Tumbled Glass, Broken China and Peeled Paint inks, making sure to blend as I went along. From there, you just literally flick water on top to get this fun water splotched background effect!

Here's a close up of the background effect! The sentiment was stamped in Versafine Vintage Sepia ink and is from Power Poppy's Peony Muse stamp set.

After that, I just matted it all up, added some silver cording, a fun button and... ta da! Fini! I have to say without the removable labels, I would not have been able to do this technique -- it really snugs down on your image to prevent the ink from bleeding underneath. I do love the effect and will be doing this one again... SOON!

HOW TO PLAY:

• Use a background technique on your card or creation. Better yet, if you happened to use a tutorial for your project, why not link it up in your post so that we can all see!?!?
• Use Power Poppy stamps if you have them, if not, you might win some if you're randomly chosen. Each month, we'll round up all those that play in any of the month’s Creative Confetti challenges, and draw a name from the entries to win a $25 GIFT CODE for the Power Poppy Shop!
• To enter, link up your creation below, sharing the direct link to your card from your blog, Instagram, or card gallery.
• Our link will be open all month for you to play along with us! Try one Creative Confetti Challenge or partake in them all for extra chances to win!

So, now it's your turn! Why not try a new technique? And then, when you're done, make sure to link up your creation below so that we can all see! Keep in mind, like I mentioned, one lucky stamper will win a $25 gift code to the Power Poppy Shop!

Speaking of winners, since it's a new month, we have to draw a winner from our September master linky! Random.org threw all the entries into a virtual hat and drew...

That means the winner is....

**NANCY FROM SEASIDE CREATIVITY!**

Take a peek at her winning creation!

I absolutely love how Nancy colored up Power Poppy's digital freebie Kindness is the Way. Have you snagged YOUR copy of this digi yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Just look at the beautiful things you can do with this one! Nancy took us up on the Pumpkin Spice Challenge and colored her Gerbera Daisy in shades of autumn using colored pencils. Just lovely Nancy -- lovely! One more note, Nancy played along a few times in our Creative Confetti Challenges this month, which just goes to show, the more you play, the more chances you have at winning! Nancy, shoot us an email at bloom@powerpoppy.com and we'll go ahead and get your gift code sent right to you!

Thanks everyone for stopping by and checking out our first Creative Confetti Challenge of October! Be sure to get inspired, create and then share your take on this challenge for your chance to win!


Until next time!

~Julie 

a.k.a The Creative Confetti Thrower

An InLinkz Link-up

Good Vibes... speed style!

Hello happy stampers! Ready. Set. GO! I am about to call this little edition of Good Vibes 5 -- Good Vibes on Speed! Wait, that didn't sound right. Speedy Good Vibes? Good Vibes in 60 seconds? Okay, I think you get the gist! Since there's sunshine to be captured, (which should be a good vibe in and of itself) and a holiday weekend to plan for (at least here in the States), let's get right to the action.

Get in on our sale to snap up the newest designs at a discount...

This is one vibe that you are going to want to cash in on because the clock is ticking my fine friends! This fabulous 10% off sale ends at the stroke of midnight CST Saturday, March 26th! So, if your fingers have been itching to get inky with these new stamps -- now is the time to hit the Power Poppy Shop! Use code IAMCURIOUS at checkout.

Have you been following Marcy's “mushlyfe” vibe lately? It started when she made the trip to Washington and traipsed around Whidbey Island on a mushroom hunting excursion. Since then, she's whipped up delights in the kitchen decked out with morels, she's hunted them on her morning walks with Mr. Tibbs, she's drawn them and then, above, she's created spore prints. Huh? Yes, that's what I said too... spore prints??!??? It's when you place the mushroom cap down on paper and this organic print just pops up thanks to the deposit of spores. Since it makes our fearless leader so happy and abuzz with excitement, we think it's a good vibe. And, we happen to love her illustrations in our newest release -- Wild Mushrooms -- inspired by her own nature walks!

I know I have probably said this before but I really wish I had as much talent as Ally Cope has in her pinky finger. I'd be happy with just that! Why? That girl is CA-RAZ-ZEEE talented and this week's Inspire Me Monday proves it when she shares her video on adding gilded stitches to your cards or creations. Click HERE. Watch it. You won't be sad you did!

I just had to make this photo above a good vibe because of, well, a few things. First up, don't you just love how with some ink, Power Poppy's M-Powering Words stamp set and a Misti Stamping Tool, you can create this unique, organic look that says SO much in a small space? I do!! I love the message too. "You are enough! It's unbelievable how ENOUGH you are!" Love. That is all.

Okay, this next good vibe just makes my heart melt a wee bit. Check out this amazing card by Ms. Cindy Lawrence -- can you even? I can't. I can't even. So sweet! It features Power Poppy's new baby set -- Precious Baby! But, what's even sweeter is the fact that this card is very personal since she's expecting her second granddaughter in less than a month! I know. I know. She isn't old enough to have a granddaughter, let alone two, but hey, she's an amazing grandmother, so she just deserves to revel in those pint size little loves!

This last vibe is a sight to behold to me personally. This customer creation was done by Kathy a.k.a. @mrsefs on Instagram. I am wowed because I took this class by Amy Shulke of Vanilla Arts last weekend and while I am kind of proud with my results, I didn't capture the look NEARLY as well as this fine wonder above. She nailed it! So dreamy! The class uses Power Poppy's digital stamp Hyacinth Bulb in Glass.  The good news is, if you are a clear stamp lover, it has just been released in photopolymer in a set called Hellebore and Hyacinth!  Well done Kathy! 

Well, I think that was a little bit longer than 60 seconds and, guess what, there's an encore brewing! More good vibes? Yes, my friends, MORE good vibes!

Check out these lovelies and the fabulous works of art that they have to share.

Allison Cope

Stacy Morgan

Be sure to swing back by on Monday. Jessie Banks will be in the house and will be showing off another way to use one of her favorite mediums. Any guess what that might be??? :-)

Well, I just gave you a major hint! ;-)

Come hang out with us next weekend, June 2, for a massive blog hop celebrating the 10th episode of Kathy Racoosin’s Coloring Challenge — there will be giveaways and inspiration galore from a bunch of wonderful papercrafting companies, including Power Poppy. We hope you’ll join in, it is ALWAYS fulfilling and fun, and on a day with so many folks participating, it’s gonna be a bonanza!

Thanks folks for stopping by and sharing a little bit of your day with us. If you live here in the states, we hope you take some time to honor and remember our servicemen and women lost in action this Memorial Day Weekend! We deeply appreciate all those who wear the uniform and do so bravely in order that we may all be free. 

Take care sweet peeps and we will see you back here real soon! 

~Julie

Digis on the 5s release: Hyacinth Bulb in Glass

“I have an appointment with Spring.”

Henry David Thoreau, from his journals

Do you find yourself waking up a little bit earlier, bounding from bed with enthusiasm to greet the new day, the Spring-saturated air, tittering of the birds, the bright green emergence of plant life at every turn? When I read this missive from Thoreau the other day it stirred something in me, because I too feel that extra verve in the Spring. I strive to channel the feeling throughout the year, but it’s simply easy to get excited when renewal is happening all around you.

Today’s “renewed” illustration is a cherished one for me, for it pairs the energy of Spring with an appreciation for the old days. Hyacinth Bulb in Glass is a portrait of a splendid, fragrant flower sprouting from its hardy bulb, which has been suspended over water in a special “hyacinth glass”. Have you seen one like this before, or have you ever tried it yourself? 

The practice is known as forcing, essentially, bring the bulb into bloom by supplying it water and comfy place to sit (a special glass vase that cradles the bulb), and when placed in a window with some sunshine, the flowers burst forth. I first read about Hyacinth glasses in the early days of Martha Stewart Living magazine, and once I saw them, of course all of a sudden would notice them in antiques shops — they’d been there all along but I just hadn’t known the purpose. 

Let’s zip back to the 18th century Holland, when Hyacinth bulbs were quite the rarified rage. People could not get enough of the beautiful scents and rich colors, helping to drive the business of professional flower growing hot on the heels of the Tulip. Soon folks were forcing the bulbs into bloom indoors to brighten their windows when it was too chilly for anything to flower. 

In a nostalgic nod to these wonderful windowsill displays, we have Hyacinth Bulb in Glass, so that you can have blooming hyacinth whether or not you have a bulb and a glass. I’ve also lettered a quote by that glorious spirit, Coco Chanel, which is such an inspiring thought, it could be enlarged and used on its own!

Earlier this week a peek at this stamp set was spied on Instagram... you may want to lurk around over there and see what’s happening (it’s just an app you can add to your smart phone or tablet that enables you to add photos and interact with people all over the world so easily, and so visually!). Elizabeth Zaffarano (@saffronkingfisher)’s Hyacinth was printed out so that it is life-size! Makes coloring that much easier. 

We joked that she could spritz the card with perfume or essential oils so that it would smell as realistic as it looks. I would love to see people start doing that! 

Two of our lovely Instant Gardeners are helping me usher in this new digital stamp set, which you can download straight-away from the Power Poppy Shop. Come and long with me and let’s go see their full cards, and leave some sweet comments for our talented friends!

Cheryl Scrivens

Nancy Sheads

Barbara Walker

And my dear ones, I have some fun news for you... this month we are celebrating 3 years of Power Poppy! The anniversary of our very first stamp set sneak peek was April 1, 2014, featuring Springtime Love, and the month following was a thrilling whirlwind! Every month since has deepened my hopes that sharing the art from my heart will help spread good vibes and encourage  others to bloom in their own artistic ways — to bloom in their daily lives! I know that my experience starting Power Poppy, meeting you all, interacting with you either through email or comments or even through actual cards — means the world to me. I really don’t know how I’d have gotten through some of the rough stuff without the love, prayers, and encouragement of my peeps! I THANK YOU!!!

We’re going to celebrate 3 YEARS OF POWER POPPY all month long — and later today I’ll be announcing our first surprises, along with sharing favorite cards and creations of mine from Bloomies and customers alike. I hope you’ll join us, my darlings! Addendum... coming soon! (Sorry for the long wait, too much happenin’ on the home front)