Creative Confetti: Feeling Fall

Hello all and happiest of Tuesdays to you! Well, yesterday we ushered in the first day of Fall. So now, we can officially love all things pumpkin spice, spicy scented candles and, of course, sweater weather! In honor of this change of seasons, I thought there was no better time than now to have a kick-off celebration and use Creative Confetti to really ramp up our use of fall-themed stamps or color schemes! So, without further ado, check out this week's challenge!

HOW TO PLAY: It's just as simple as the graphic suggests, create with Fall in mind! It could be an image. It could be a color scheme. It could be using fall themed embellishments! It's just as easy as that!

On to our creations for the week!


Because this season is so beautiful, I thought I would share some fall-themed creations, not just from me but from some of the Bloomies to show you just how far you can take the challenge this week!

I absolutely love this creation from Ally Cope using Power Poppy's Fortunes of Fall  stamp set! For those digi lovers, this beautiful-for-fall stamp also comes in a digital format and it's called Maize for Days! This card is a perfect reminder to not only celebrate the season but to show some love to the shades of colored pencils that might not get a ton of use! 

Check out this masterpiece by Christine Okken, using Power Poppy's Olive and Oak digital stamp set.  I love how Christine can make any Copic creation almost have that dreamy watercolor feel. Sigh.... just too pretty!

This image above that Stacy Morgan captured so well called Fall Wellies is a heart-warming homage to autumn -- a time when we kick up our rain boots, taking a few fallen leaves with them! I adore how she not only colored up the fall leaves on the image perfectly but added a few as embellishments to boot! (pun intended).

For my creation, (which is one I actually did a while back), I chose to use just some bits of the Olive and Oak expanded stamp set.  I kept the design rather simple, letting the mix of patterns work their magic. I let the sentiment be the focal point and then adorned the die-cut and sponged panel with the cluster of leaves and acorns in this set. The Bible verse in this set is one of my absolute favorites!

Okay folks,  now it's your turn to enjoy "Feeling Fall!" Remember, after you create and play along, link up your project using the linky below so we can all see. Every entry is one more shot at a $25 gift code to the Power Poppy Shop! Woo hoo!

AND... a little teaser for you! You're going to want to check in on October 1st! Marcy will have a digital extravaganza -- releasing more fall-themed images for you to enjoy!

Also, I mentioned this last week! DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR AN UPCOMING CHALLENGE? Email me at juliekoerber@gmail.com and fill me in! If your idea is used, we'll honor you on our blog for the week! Now don't be shy! I can't wait to hear your ideas! We already got a couple of emails and we can't wait to share!

Until next time,

~Julie 

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Are you feeling the (good) vibes?

Hello Power Poppy Peeps! It is.... FRIDAY! And, you all know what that means, right? Come on... of course you do! Not only will we have some eye candy to share from some of the Bloomies, we have a hit list of fun things to click on and check out designed to bring nothing but GOOD VIBES! 

This week we have some extra surprises hidden in this list, so make sure you are reading in between the lines! ;-)

Your Good Vibes 5 Hit List! 

1. Giving a little Power Poppy Love We absolutely sigh when we see Power Poppy fans bring Marcella's illustrations to life and Corinne Jones did just that this week -- several times over! You really need to click HERE to take a little trip to her blog to see exactly what I mean. She has a half dozen cards including this one above using Power Poppy's Trumpet Vine Visitor that are eye-poppingly vibrant and dripping with her coloring talents! 

2. Mixed Media Marvel What do you get when you combine a digital stamp, a stencil, some modeling paste and some mixed media inks? Heidi Jakobs gives us the answer with this showstopper using Power Poppy's Olive & Oak digital stamp set. Click HERE to check out her step-by-step tutorial and.... prepare to be amazed! 

3. I've got a secret! Have you been following the fun over at Passionate Paper Creations and Friend's Facebook page this week? Well, Power Poppy is a sponsor and not only does Ms. Rhea cue up a fun video showing how to transform a spring peony into a autumnal delight, if you become a member of this talented and upbeat group, there just might be a sweet surprise that you could cash in on at the Power Poppy Shop. (Yes, that was your hint!)

4. Delight on Dark I love it when people stretch their creative comfort zones to try new things. "Aussie Annie" knocked our socks off giving texture paste and powders a try to take part in our Creative Confetti Design in the Dark Challenge. Click HERE to check out her experiments using Power Poppy's Azaleas stamp set! 

5. Large & In Charge! Last Saturday the Instant Gardeners hand picked a brand new digi from the Power Poppy Shop and I mean to tell you, there are so many different takes on our brand new set Bountiful Bouquet that you might just want to take a trip back in time -- or just click HERE -- to see all the fabulous ways these designers used this stunning fall-themed bouquet! 

Now these next few tidbits could easily be number 6 and number 7 on the good vibes list but that would push us over the edge! So, oblige me as I share! ;-)

If you love a good bargain, check this out...

That's right - 15% off STOREWIDE ends this Monday! Okay, who doesn't want  need a little more Power Poppy goodness in their lives? And, to think you can get some of the images on your wish list for a little less? Like I said, sale ends Sunday so, hit the Power Poppy Shop before then and use the code WONDER15! 

And don't forget about this page-turner of a challenge!

Hit the Books with Ms. Katie Sims and earn a chance at a $50 Shopping Spree at the Power Poppy Shop! All you have to do is create a book-inspired creation. The options, my friend, are endless! Just click HERE to read all about our latest Power & Spark Challenge! 

Need a little inspiration to help jump start your creative weekend? Well, this Bloomie duo is happy to share! Just hop on over to see... 

Julie Koerber

Stacy Morgan

Thanks for stopping by my sweet peeps to see what fun we had in store! We have much more coming your way as we kick off next week, so as they say, "Don't be a stranger!"

Until then, enjoy your weekend!

~Julie

Hues that Give Thanks!

Hello fine folks! It's that time in the week when we spin the color wheel and see what "Hues to Use" for our creative endeavors! Since this week brings a special holiday here in the States, I thought I would cue up a charming little photo from Marcella's IG Feed that truly shares the mojo of the Thanksgiving Holiday! Take a look at the shot below and *try* not to lick your computer screen! I know it will be tempting, but please try! ;-) 

To play along, all you have to do is use these rich shades of pumpkin, latte and cocoa in one of your creations! Then, don't forget to link it up below and share with us all! We LOVE to see your take on our weekly trio of colors! 

With that treat, I get to usher in yet another! We have a fabulous guest designer who's making this trip over to the Power Poppy blog from the eastern half of the states. Say "hello" will you to......

Hi, my name is Julie Gearinger and I live in Frederick, Maryland with my wonderful husband of 34+ years and two beautiful kitties, Angel and Victoria. Since childhood, I have been artistic and was always drawing and/or painting- my mother would have to pry me away from my artwork to help with the housework- lol!!

In 1999 I attended my very first stamping home party and was immediately hooked! I love the fact that with stamping, we can create something beautiful that will encourage others in addition to sharing with them how they can be artists as well!

I started my blog Stamping with Julie Gearinger in 2010 and have enjoyed being on several Design Teams over the years. I feel so honored to be the Guest Designer for this challenge at Power Poppy and hope that --- after you see my card -- you'll be inspired to join us!

JULIE'S CARD

I know, many of you may cringe at the thought of digital stamps and feel that digital images are too intimidating, but trust me, they are so easy to use!! You can import them into photo editing software (I generally use the retired Stampin’ Up! My Digital Studio™ program or Word) or you can use another word processing program. You can enlarge or reduce the image, flip it and/or crop it, then print it out on cardstock, watercolor or other paper. Then you just color as you would a stamped image. It is so easy to create different looks with just one image plus another major benefit for me is that they do not take up space in my stamping studio :-)

This week’s "Hues to Use" neutral palette is perfect for so many different types of cards and with the celebration of Thanksgiving this week here in the States, I decided to use the main image from the Olive and Oak digital stamp set and the sentiment from the Bittersweet Wreath digital stamp set.

TO CREATE THIS CARD:

1). Open an 8 ½” x 11” document in your word processing/photo software program, import or insert the Olive & Oak image into the blank document (I enlarged it a bit) and import the sentiment from Bittersweet Wreath into another area of the document. I positioned them both on the same page but made sure I had enough room to cut out the main image panel and that the sentiment would be the correct size for the 4 ¼” card (again, this is what I love about digital images!!). Print the images using black printer ink onto white cardstock. FYI- you can use watercolor paper or other colored cardstock as well – just as long as your printer will handle the weight. I tend to use an 80lb weight white cardstock that has a very smooth surface.

2). Use a water brush with antique linen distress ink, watercolor the entire image. Use a heat tool to speed up the drying and continue to color the image using watercolor pencils, distress ink and markers and shadows with a water-soluble graphite pencil until you are satisfied with the results. I also used an alcohol marker for the background (to try to achieve an antique paper look). Use a stencil with antique linen distress ink to lightly stencil in the background.

3). Die cut the image with a rectangle stitched die, mount onto rust cardstock, trim close to the die cut edge and mount onto espresso cardstock. Create the photo corners using a square punch from rust cardstock and trim the edges for the photo corner. Add the chocolate brads in the corners and mount the entire panel onto a piece of rust cardstock.

4). Using a tutorial from Splitcoaststampers for an easel card (see tutorial here), I cut a piece of espresso cardstock to 4 ¼” x 11” and scored at 5 ½” and 8 ¼”. I folded on the score lines to create the easel.

5). Hand trim the sentiment to approx. 3 ¾” wide, watercolor with the antique linen distress ink and watercolor pencils for a wash over the sentiment panel and stencil around the edges with the same stencil as used above for the main image panel. Mount the sentiment onto rust cardstock, trim and mount onto espresso cardstock, trim and mount onto rust cardstock again for the layers.

6). On a separate piece of espresso cardstock (approx. 4 ¼” wide by 5” tall), add the crochet lace and chocolate ribbon. Wrap the ribbon ends behind this panel and adhere the panel to the lower portion of the easel card. Mount the sentiment with dimensional foam (this is the part of the card that will help keep the easel portion open).

7). Adhere the front panel onto the small flap of the easel card, test out the easel movement to make sure that it will work smoothly.

8).To finish off the card, add shimmer to the main oak leaf with a clear shimmer pen.

Stamp Sets: Olive and Oak, Bittersweet Wreath (both digital stamps from PowerPoppy)

Ink/Mediums: Inkjet Printer- Black Ink, Tim Holtz® (TH) Antique Linen Distress Ink, TH Gathered Twigs Distress Marker, Stampin’ Up! (SU!) Markers- Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Rexel Derwent® Watercolor Pencils-#53 Sepia, #57 Brown Ochre, #62 Burnt Sienna, #64 Terra Cotta; Derwent® Water Soluble Graphite Pencil- HB Light Wash; Spectrum Noir™ GV1 Alcohol Marker & Clear Glitter Pen

Cardstock/Paper: Whisper White, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso (all Stampin’ Up!)

Accessories: Big Shot™, MFT Stitched Rectangle STAX Dies, AquaPainter™, Ivory Crochet Lace, Chocolate brads, 1” Satin Ribbon from my stash

Thanks again for taking the time to stop by! I hope I have inspired you today and that you will be able to join us for the Power Poppy “Hues to Use” Challenge! Thanks again for the honor of being your Guest Designer for this challenge! Hugs and I hope you have a very blessed Thanksgiving and Christmas!!

Well, thank YOU Julie! You created an absolutely gorgeous easel card that is picture perfect for this time of year. The richness in color truly brings on the WOW factor! We were lucky to have you this week! Remember folks, the "Hues to Use" Challenge is a weekly color challenge that's never ending -- meaning you can create using that color palette any old time and link up whenever your heart desires! I invite you to travel back in Hues to Use time and see what color combos we've already played around with! Then, link up your creation! We also use these linkies to pick future guest designers! All the more reason to play along with us!

Thanks for stopping by! Get those fingers inky & link up your colorific creations below!
~Julie

An InLinkz Link-up

Nothin' But Good Vibes!

Hello Power Poppy Peeps! It’s been a few weeks since we've shared good vibes from the tribe! Of course, every single word written here on this place we call home is filled with good vibes for all of you. But this post is extra special since we hand-pick all of these delicious items to share with YOU — some of our favorite people of all time! So, let’s get right to this little bit of show and tell...

GOOD VIBE 1. 

We know some of you remember our official mascot like THIS, when he was just a newcomer at the Power Poppy residence. But this, my friends, is what happens when time moves on. You get a pup who ditches the babyface for a more dapper look. Just look at this handsome man at 5 months, will you? We thought Mr. Tibbs (the Official Power Puppy) was posing in such a debonair way, we couldn’t help but share!

GOOD VIBE 2. 

The night of fright is upon us..... and Patti Wiley is helping us get in the spirit with this "boo-ti-ful" creation using Power Poppy's clear stamp set Feeling Fall. Isn’t her coloring and color palette divine? I love all the extras she added like the embossed base, all the fussy cut images and that fabulous die cut backdrop. If you click on Patti's name above, you'll see ALL of the fall-themed creations she's put up on Instagram that are equally as crisp, creative and colorful!

GOOD VIBE 3. 

Would you take a look at that? Do you even know what's in that picture? Well, this is what happens when the UPS man finally delivers freshly produced polymer for our Happiest Holiday 2017 release. You get towering stacks of stamps! Marcella admits she is going to be one happy picker and packer, fulfilling the multitudes of orders that have been rolling in! As the graphic says... time to stalk the mailman!

Just a heads up, if you have yet to place your order for this oh-so-fab collection, you have a few more days to take advantage of this beauty of a sale!

GOOD VIBE 4. 

What do you get when a professional illustrator and artist picks up a little bit of Power Poppy goodness? You get EVEN MORE GOODNESS! Amy Shulke of Vanilla Arts just let the cat out of the bag on one of her upcoming classes, and we couldn't be more overjoyed that she chose Power Poppy's Olive and Oak digital stamp set to share her coloring tips and tricks! The class is called Amy’s Color Kissing and it's a priceless live tutorial to help you tint your Copic Markers with colored pencils. When you sign up, not only will you gain admittance to her online class planned for November 18th but you get a discount on the digi as well! To learn more, just click on over to her site on Patreon HERE! You'll want to stay tuned, Amy will have some little tips to share as we get closer to class time. We can't wait...

GOOD VIBE 5. 

Speaking of digital stamps, in case you missed it (I.C.Y.M.I.), Power Poppy has a freshly baked digi with some darling holiday characters just ready for your creative juices to get a hold of them! Click HERE to check out Power Poppy's new Gingerbread Family, and then head on over to my blog HERE to see for yourself why this digi is so darn fun to play around with!

And here's I.C.Y.M.I. Part 2! We have a fabulous guest designer this week for Hues to Use! Berina Febin is showing us all what happens when a little apple crumble cake inspires your latest round of card making! Check her card out below and then click HERE to join her in this week's bit of color-coded fun!

There’s been a lot to absorb over the past 10 days here at Power Poppy. We not only released 8 new clear Holiday stamps and all... but be sure to soak up a few more cards from the Bloomies:

Christine Okken

Julie Koerber

Stacy Morgan

THINK SMALL: Have you made a card for our Mini and Mighty October Power & Spark Challenge, hosted by our rocking Bloomie, Stacy Morgan? There’s a $50 Shopping Code on the line, peeps. You have until Tuesday night at 10pm to enter your creation:

Thanks so much for stopping by and picking up the good vibes we’re putting down!

Be sure to tune back for a fresh edition of Inspire Me Monday, coming your way in just a few days. Elizabeth Zaffarano will be in the house with a beautiful tutorial featuring vellum.

Take care & have a great weekend!
~Julie

Holiday 2015 Collection: Olive & Oak ... Expanded!

Hello friends! Today’s sneak peek is a set you’ve already had a peek at. Some of you might even have the main image as a digital stamp. When we introduced Olive and Oak set a digi in September, we were absolutely blown away at the positive response. (Not to mention slack-jawed at the GEE-OR-GEE-OUS creations made by both the Instant Gardeners and the Bloom Brigade design teams!!) I immediately received inquiries about this one coming out in clear polymer.... so after adding extra clusters of acorns and olives, and some versatile fall sentiments of thanks and giving, I’m happy to say that Olive and Oak Expanded has arrived!

So, Olive and Oak is a part of our Holiday collection... because quite frankly, I think this set can be used for celebrations throughout the year, whether it’s Thanksgiving or Christmas (add gold, silver, or bronze accents or stamp in a single color!), or heralding a birthday in June. The main idea behind the set is the intertwining of the Olive branches and the Oak leaves — for a combined message of PEACE and STRENGTH — which I believe I may have mentioned when we launched the digital version, we can all use now and then. :)

I thought I’d share a few images from my sketchbook before I introduce the Bloom Brigade’s beautiful cards using this set, as you guys seemed to get a kick out of it the other day when I shared my pencil-sketched Botanical Tree. I so appreciated reading all of your kind messages about seeing my process! Thank you to everyone who took a moment to share their thoughts.

When starting out with my illustrations, one of the big considerations is orientation and composition. I may know in my head that I want to do something with Olive branches and Oak leaves (and don’t forget the cute lil acorns!), but how to go about it? Is a bouquet of leaves the right direction? What about a few wisps wafting across the page? Maybe a tight boutonniere arrangement? I spend a little while sketching through the various concepts in pencil in my sketchbook until I get the feel for the various components. For this image, for a time, I messed around with adding Rosehips to the bouquet for a little sweetness... but then decided to leave them out (you’ll see they appear in a more stylized manner in the Botanical Tree arabesque!).

I think about how the stamper may want to use the image. Is there a fun little spot where a sentiment can be tucked? Should it be loose and open or packed tight with excitement? Would horizontal or vertical work better for this image? I think about these things and about 100 other random details. Ever wonder why I’m always talking about mindfulness and taking breaks outside to relax? My mind is usually going on overdrive. :)

Speaking of all of these little details... I’m quite certain that our design teams consider many of these questions and more when determining how to go about a card design. When you add color, that is a whole new ballgame!! And pattern, too? And ribbon, sequins, sparkle? Forget about it. It’s just too cool. Have I told you all lately how much I admire the talents that you have for creating the awesome cards and creations that you do?

Endlessly wowed.

PLEASE join me in skipping over to see what these two dears have created for today’s clear stamp peek at Olive and Oak Expanded:

Christine Okken 

Julie Koerber  

There will be even more designer card samples to see on our Blog Hop on Sunday, so you’ll have loads of ideas to get you going! And if you just can’t wait, I want to remind you of what was created with the digital version of this set just within the last month... tiptoe over to see:

Tosha Leyendekker

Stacy Morgan

Allison Cope

Leslie Miller

Jennifer Dove

Cheryl Scrivens

Debbie Olson

Rhea Weigand

Broni Holcombe

and... another card by these fab chicks:

Christine Okken

Julie Koerber

Is that enough inspiration for ya? We aim to please!! This set will be available in the shop on Sunday, October 18th, along with the entire collection. But wait... TOMORROW we have one more new set to spring on you... and it’s a CUTE ONE!!

Have a wonderful day, and for those of us needing a little extra peace and strength, I hope you find some today.

Find Peace and Strength in today’s introduction: Olive and Oak

NOTE: If you were directed here and you are looking for Snowglobe Greetings, please click here! Sorry about that. :)

Hello beautiful people! We are back with an all-new image today that combines the historic symbolism of two glorious plants in an image that has a masculine look with a bit of whimsy.

Whether admired on the branch while gazing upward, scooped up into giant piles with a rake, or spotted on the ground, plucked, and pressed into a book for safekeeping, the oak leaf is a symbol of strength, endurance, and stability. I’ve drawn leaves with sweetly capped little acorns that will one day grow up to be mighty oaks themselves. And then, to see just how far I can stretch our imaginations, I’ve paired the oak with branches of another tree that isn’t likely to show up in the same forest, as it is native to a more Mediterranean climate: the olive.

Olive branches — known since Biblical times as a symbol for peace — have their juicy fruits clustered between the leaves. Olive and Oak, joining forces with a message of peace and strength, is an image I hope you’ll turn to again and again.

This digital Olive and Oak stamp set can be colored in so many ways — from full fall splendor to pale greens and golds and grey-blues, to monochromatic browns... it’s up to you to bring out the best in this drawing and make it your own.

I have to laugh ... I hadn’t realized that not too long ago I introduced another set, Ranunculus, with a single-line sentiment that is also “sending peace”. Can anybody tell that I am in the mood to get some peaceful vibes out into the universe?


Today I have the great honor of introducing the hardest working digi team in show business. These women put so much thought, care, and time into their creations to share with you!! I know their Olive and Oak posts are going to wow you, especially those of you who are into no-line coloring. I mean, mama mia! These are some inspiring cards...

SHOW ’EM WHATCHA GOT, INSTANT GARDENERS!

Jennifer Dove

Broni Holcombe

Cheryl Scrivens

Debbie Olson

Rhea Weigand

Thank you so much for coming by to see the newest botanical blossoms from Power Poppy! As always, this DIGITAL set is available from the Power Poppy Shop right now, so you can be coloring up this fall fantasy today! Enjoy the rest of your day and I wish you peace AND strength! :)