A Creative Smorgasbord!

Hello lovelies and happy Friday to you all! Before I get started on the big show of creativity we have here each and every Friday -- did you see these little numbers that came out last weekend? Goodness gracious, if you have someone who loves to hit the river in search of a great catch, this series of digital stamp sets are just for YOU! There's Fly Guy, Leaping Trout and Reel Deal!  A little birdie told me that some of the Bloom Brigade are showing off these new sets with their Friday posts, so you will HAVE to hop on over to see their creations for yourself!

Moving on -- a new week -- a new chance to show you our inspirational round up of fantabulous projects out there in blog land using Power Poppy! Woo hoo!

I have to start my little show and tell this with beauty by the uber talented Mindy Baxter! 

Not only did Mindy do an amazing job bringing these roses from Power Poppy's Everything's Rosy digital stamp set to life, but she has a tutorial over on her blog HERE to showcase just how she did it! Don't you just love that? I bookmarked it already in hopes of grabbing just the right markers to follow along! 

On top of that, Mindy entered this little number in Cindy Lawrence's brand new....

You will definitely have to play along in this month's Power & Spark Challenge because folks, it is just too easy! All you have to do is create a card, promise to put a stamp on it, and mail it off as a random act of kindness to someone you want to share a little happy mail with! What's better than that? You can read up on this month's challenge HERE and find out how you could win a Power Poppy stamp set just for playing along! 

Okay, I have a few more creations to share with you all before I pass things over to our Bloomies! I was strolling through the gallery at Splitcoaststampers and stumbled upon this stunning creation from Linda Paider a.k.a. Holstein. Woah... is that not dreamy? Linda used reinkers to color up Power Poppy's digital stamp Climbing Clematis and then, get this, hand lettered the sentiment! I love the bit of embossed detail she added too! 

Last but not least, Nancy Bramucci Sheads, over at Rowhouse Greetings wasted no time pulling out the Copic markers and taking our new digital stamp Fly Guy out for a fishing trip! And, I might add, I am sure glad she did. Take a peek for yourself! 

I not only love the way Nancy colored up this outdoorsy dude, but I adore her layout as well! It's got spunk and style! 

Our Bloomies definitely have got it going on in the spunk and style department and we almost have a full house today of those designers playing along and showing off some of their latest creations! So, hop on over and see what they've got going on in their creative bag of tricks!

Allison Cope

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Julie Koerber

Stacy Morgan

Tosha Leyendekker

Thanks for stopping by. Be sure to tune in on Monday for another "episode" of Inspire Me Monday, designed to start your week off with just the right creative kick! :-)

Have a fabulous weekend!

Julie

Summer Has Arrived!

Hello all our flower lovers!  This is Rhea here today for Monday Inspiration.

How about this 8x8 framed wreath of Flowers with a touch of metal?

This digi is called Peony Love

I increased the size to be 7.75" x 7.75" so it would fit within the 8x8 frame.  I wanted to make it unique and happy.  As I was framing it the inside was missing something then I realized what it was.

It was a butterfly.  I searched for dies and had a couple picked out then I remembered I had metal!!!

What a way to make it even more unique.  

The colors used were:

YG13, 97, 99 and YG21 as a highlight on leaves

Pink Flowers:  V01 highlights, RV11, 52, 66, 69

Purple Flowers:  BV31, 43, 04, 08, C9

Yellow Flowers:  Y11 highlights, Y21, YR21, 23, 24, 27, Y28

Another framed piece for my Flower Wall.

Ode to the Outdoors: Three New Digis

To kickoff summer, I’m adding three outdoorsy images to our digital download arsenal — yep, three in one day! They share a common theme, admiration for the sport of fly fishing. I hope you’ll find these images are a nice complement to my florals and garden images, and can see them as focal points for more masculine cards, or when that outdoorsy feel is just the right look!

Growing up, my brother and I could frequently be found near beautiful Missouri streams, springs, and
secret spots that our dad had staked out as good places for kids to fish. We fished from boats and from the shore, then a little later in life, while outfitted in waders and standing right there in the water! Dad bought both of us kids a fly tying vise and an array of threads, feathers, and beads, and he taught us to tie our own fishing lures, called flies. Daddy is a fisherman and particularly a fly fisherman to the core, having fished streams across America and central America and restoring antique bamboo fly rods. Andy caught the bug as well, often catching (and then releasing) lunkers in the Metolius and Deschutes Rivers of central Oregon, and leading fly fishing trips in Patagonia!

While I didn’t quite hang on to fishing as one of my core loves the way these two did, it is certainly a part of my life in a big way, even today! Working with a fly tying and fishing outfitter in my design business, it’s great fun to help serve up fishing enthusiasts their catalogs throughout the year.

Let’s take a look at these new sets, three of them all together, that might be perfect for the fishing enthusiast in YOUR life! Introducing our latest Digis on the 5s release, ready for you to download today:

Leaping Trout

Fly Guy

Reel Deal

Remembering those mornings waking up before dawn to get in just the right spot on the stream, and knowing what peace and joyfulness it brings to the fisherman — I so hope you can capture those good feelings in your cardmaking! The recipients will surely feel the fantastic fly vibes with these digital stamp sets! Each one comes with three sentiments for lots of fun and versatility.

Some of our wonderful and talented Bloom Brigade and Instant Gardeners have made cards with these sets today. I know you’ll love seeing how they’ve brought these outdoorsy sets to life:

Kathy Jones

Tosha Leyendekker

Cheryl Scrivens

Enjoy your tour around the blogosphere, and here’s wishing you a fabulous day.

So Much HAPPY!

Hello all and HAPPY WEEKEND AHEAD! We have so much fun headed your way, you might just want to grab a cup (or glass) of your favorite drink and settle in for a little visit! What’s going on, you say? We have a new challenge! A fun weekend celebration! A sale! A winner from last month’s Power & Spark Challenge and.... some extra fab creations from our beloved Bloomies!

LET’S GET ON WITH THE SHOW...

First up, we card makers love, love, love to create and share and this challenge, hosted by the one and only Cindy “Marathon Mama” Lawrence, is ALL ABOUT sharing! So, let’s hear it for the...

HOW TO PLAY: How many times have you created a card only to have it sit in a basket waiting for that perfect occasion? This time, let’s flip that around and create a card with someone in mind and then, slap a stamp on that baby and put it in the mail! Keep in mind, we want this to be a card “just because.” Sure special occasions are important, but THE HAPPY MAIL CHALLENGE is all about simply sharing the love – not for birthdays or graduations or anniversaries—a “just because you care” kind of card for someone you’ve had on your mind. The challenge runs through June 30th at 8PM EST for a chance at a Power Poppy stamp set of choice.

You might have picked up that I called Cindy the "Marathon Mama" -- well, last weekend she entered her very first! So, this little challenge was a beautiful way to share a little love with the friend that trained each and every day with her. How sweet is that and how sweet is this little number? 

Cindy used one of my absolute favorite images -- the little cup of buttercups -- in the set Marcella's Mixtape Vol. 1. and dressed it up in such a cute and folksy way. I love the gingham, the twine and the fun little enamel dots she used to set off her perfectly colored image! (Note, this stamp set is out of stock, but look for this sweet up of flowers coming soon to our Instant Garden of digis!)

Doesn't that make you want to jump in your creative space and figure out who to send your work of heart to? Goodness, what fun! 

THE OFFICIAL RULES:

• Use Power Poppy stamps for this challenge please!
• Link your creation below using our Linky (please use the exact URL from your post instead of a generic blog address.)
• Please mention Power Poppy in YOUR blog or gallery post with a link back to THIS challenge
• The winner will receive a free clear or digital stamp set of choice from the Power Poppy Shop
• Enter as many cards as you’d like, as long as they fit the theme of the challenge!
• Deadline to enter is June 30 @ 8:00pm EST.  At that point, we’ll draw the winner randomly and make the announcement right here on the first Friday of July!

WE HAVE A WINNER!

Did you play along in last month’s May Flowers Power & Spark Challenge? Well, if you did, listen up! After putting all the entries into our fancy schmancy number generator, this is who was chosen!

And that means the winner is....... 

PAULINE GODFREY! 

The way Pauline colored up those flouncy tulips (from the Tulips in Hobnail Pitcher digital stamp set) is to die for! The fun die cut, sequins, decorative paper and lace all just bring this little number to life! Beautiful Pauline! Simply beautiful! For winning our Power & Spark May Flowers Challenge, you get to choose a clear or digital stamp set to add to your collection! Just email us at bloom@powerpoppy.com to let us know your snail mail addy and your pick and we’ll get your winnings in the mail!

MORE FUN NEWS!

So, we’ve shared the Power & Spark Challenge for June but that’s not all that's going on right now with Power Poppy! We are hosting a fun-filled weekend over at the Passionate Paper Creations & Friends’ Facebook Page -- ALL WEEKEND LONG! 

Play along and be a Power Poppy Peep all weekend long! Grab your favorite coloring medium and let’s see what you’ve got. Feeling fruity? Ready to Blossom? Need to crank up the tunes? We feel your passion! Now, put it on paper and show us your finished colored Power Poppy image. Put your link as a comment in the Power Poppy post on Passionate Paper Creations & Friends' Facebook page and we’ll draw one lucky winner to nab a $25 gift code to the Power Poppy Shop.

10% OFF thru SUNDAY

Stock up on Power Poppy stamps to play! Enter discount code MORECOLOR at checkout to get 10% off any clear or digital stamp sets that your little heart desires! We can’t wait to see what you pick and help make blossom with your creative skills. (In-stock clear sets only, offer ends Sunday, June 5th at midnight central).

Well, there has been a lot of blossoming going on in the stamp rooms of some of our favorite card designers. Stop by, say “hi” and as I love to say, prepare to be amazed at the creative talents of our Bloomies!

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Julie Koerber

Katie Sims

Stacy Morgan

Tosha Leyendekker

If all of this wasn’t enough, we should tell you that Power Poppy is back with our Digis on the 5s digital stamp set release, next one is June 5. Sunday, we’ll release a trio of digital stamp sets that are PERFECT for the dudes in your life. These outdoorsy images come just in time to wish those men in your life a very Happy Father's Day! So, be sure to swing by and see what our Power Poppy Peep-in-Chief Marcella has up her insanely talented sleeve!

Until then!
~Julie

An InLinkz Link-up

Remembering.....

Hello all, after surfing blogland and stumbling on a beauty by one of our former Bloomies, Leslie Miller, I thought that Memorial Day was the perfect day to share her creation. 

As we remember those men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country this Memorial Day, Leslie took one of Power Poppy's stamp sets for a patriotic spin. Never in my wildest dreams would I have looked at the La Vie En Rose digital stamp set, and have seen this.....

But somehow, the creative and amazing eye of Leslie did. Check out the unfurling layers of rose petals colored up in red, white and blue and the stamped stars she added as well -- just so perfectly! The scalloped border and die cut stars are the icing on the cake if you ask me! As Leslie mentioned in her post, she added the digital sentiment "Let Freedom Ring" that is still available as a digital freebie HERE on the Power Poppy blog.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend and just as Leslie showed us, sometimes its the things we don't see in a stamp set that can bring out a new level of creativity in our artistic spaces. Thanks Leslie for showing us what's possible with this beautiful illustration!

~Julie

Flowers = Happiness!

Hello to all of you! Are you having fun watching things sprout here in Power Poppy land? I call this past month one giant dose of happy! And, we've got 4 more days to enjoy our May Flowers Power & Spark Challenge. We can't wait to see these last bits of flower power come in and join us in this challenge!

If you've missed out on the fun, you can click on the graphic below to read up on the challenge, and what you could win if you play along with us!

Like I mentioned, the pop of color and creativity is parading its way onto the Power Poppy blog and boy, today's show and tell is so fun, I am not sure I will be able to contain myself! We have three bold creations that are so unique, they are sure to inspire! Want to see?

First up, this card, bathed in shades of mauve, grassy green and deep purple is about as elegant as they come with all that die cut detail and the phenomenal coloring job by the hands of Ms. Pauline Godfrey. She used Power Poppy's Planning for Magnolias in such a sweet way and tied it all up with a classy satin bow!

I nearly squealed when I saw Kerry Piader's creation below. It is so "happy" and is accessorized to a tee! The stitching! The corner accent! The little ruffle border! All I have to say is LOVE! Kerry used Power Poppy's Folk Heart stamp set. Kerry said she lost all sense of time when she started this card and I have to say, you can truly see the joy she had while putting this little ball of sunshine together!

And for our final showcase card, I am turning to a designer that is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Lisa Lara's coloring for this clean and classy creation below is a showstopper. The depth mixed with that light blue halo of shading creates a breathtaking combination using Power Poppy's Peony Love digital stamp set. So much so, I just had to share this little number today!

So take the lead from these fine ladies and let's see how you can bring your favorite blossoms to life! If you need a little extra inspiration to kick off a bit of weekend creativity, never fear! We have our Bloomies on standby to share a few more creations... JUST FOR YOU! So, stop by, say "hi" and breathe in the beauty!

Allison Cope

Cindy Lawrence

Christine Okken

Julie Koerber

Kathy Jones

We'll be off on Monday taking time for the Memorial Day holiday and giving thanks to those men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice while serving their country. We will be back at the very latest next Friday, when we reveal a new Power & Spark Challenge and share who walked away a winner for our May challenge!

Enjoy your weekend!
~Julie

Coloring On Anything Other Than White!

Hello Power Poppy friends!  It’s Christine here bringing you a little inspiration today.  Do you ever feel like you get stuck in a rut when you’re creating?  Stamp the same way, colour the same way....today I have some ideas that might get your "inspiration thinker" moving in a different direction.  

I normally pick an image, stamp it onto XPress It Blending card stock and then colour with Copics.  But, what if you chose something else to stamp and colour on...something non-white?  Here are my 4 card experiments, colouring on paper other than white!

1.   Patterned Paper - Embossing and Watercoloring

I’ve been on an Inktense Pencils and watercolouring kick lately, which has been really fun.  I like these pencils a great deal because they give such vibrant colour, wash in so beautifully, still retain their vibrance, and they require very little water to blend.  This means you can use other types of paper rather than just watercolouring card stock.  

I decided to stamp the rose from Power Poppy’s My English Rose stamp set onto apatterned paper that was full of text.  I embossed the roses in white over the text, and then gave them some colour with the Inktense Pencils.  With stamping and colouring over text, you want a colouring medium that will give you nice deep colour coverage, so that the text is still visable, but you really see more of the colour than the text.  

This is what it looked like as I was colouring/watercolouring.  On the top rose you can see I’ve washed in that first layer of red (I’ll add more colours as I go), but on the bottom you can see how very little pencil lines you need on the paper.  I barely have to add any water, just a damp brush and it blends really well, and because you don’t have to add a lot of water it doesn’t pill the paper either.  Inktense Pencils are actually ink, so if you wash in your colour and then let it dry, it’s permanent.  That means you can add other colours over top or other treatments and your colours won’t get muddy.  I’m finding that to be a great feature.  

Here’s a closeup of the finished design.  You can see I added some other deeper red and blues into the roses and leaves.   I love how the resist of the embossing gives it a subtle outline, and the text still peeks through the colouring too.  

This next design is similar in that it also uses patterned paper, but this time I found a soft neutral vining-pattern in my paper stash. It pairs really well with the flowers from our Poppies Set.  

This is the colouring after the first coat of orange is washed in, I’ve added some deeper reds that I’ll wash in and I’m about to work on the first wash of the greens on the leaves.  There’s quite a bit of texture in this patterned paper, almost like a watercolour paper without the thickness.  

The subtle pattern in the paper changes the feeling of the design in a fun way.

I hope this will have you looking at your patterned paper in a new way as a potential colouring paper. Just look for more neutral designs with subtle patterns and experiment.  Copics would also work really well as a colouring medium with patterned paper, if you’d like to try them out.  I would suggest having some scrap paper underneath your patterned paper as Copics may bleed through the lighter weight.  

  

2.  Colouring on Coloured Cardstock

Colouring doesn’t just have to be on white card stock...why not pick a lighter shade of card stock and stamp and colour on it?  I created this lovely monochromatic bluey-green design, stamping the gorgeous Planning for Magnolias branch onto the Pool Party card stock.    Then I added in some soft matching colouring just a tone deeper than the paper (BG11, BG13, G00).  Your base colour is essentially done for you by using the card stock as the lightest shade.  All it takes to finish this one is a layer that’s been embossed to provide a little texture and subtle contrast, seam binding and some sequins in the same shade.  I think it has a lovely peaceful feel.  

Kraft paper is also another great colour to colour on (wow that’s a funny mouthful!).  I often colour it  with prismacolour pencils, but Copics work great on Kraft card stock too.  It gives a richer tone...and automatically warms it up.  Here I’ve printed one of my favourite Power Poppy digital images,  Sunflower Power onto Kraft and then added Copics.  I find with colouring on Kraft you have to add deeper shades than you would normally to get the colour you’d like, but it all really adds to the rustic charm.  

Some buttons, twine and a sentiment from Dynamic Duos - Peonies and Tulips add to the earthy appeal, and below you can see the Copics I used for the sunflower.  

So there you have a little inspiration for your Monday, I hope it encourages you to go and dig through your papers and test them out!  Thanks for joining me today!