Blossoms to Warm Up Your Winter

Howdy peeps and welcome to our very first Power Poppy Power & Spark Challenge to set your 2017 off right! This one is near and dear to my heart because when you live in colder parts of the country, you long for those bright splashes of flowery color to warm your heart... and your winter! 

So, let me introduce you to the Winter Blooms January Challenge:

HOW TO PLAY: This challenge comes with a 100% smile guarantee because our hostess with the mostess Stacy Morgan wants to see your creations in full bloom! Here's what she had to say about this month's quest for colorful creativity!

“When winter comes, many of us long to say goodbye to the chill and say hello to those cheerful and fresh spring flowers! Did you know there are lots of blooms that sprout at the end of winter? How about Camellias, Crocus, Paperwhites, Holly, Snowdrops, or Poinsettias? Let’s see how you can bring these pretty little petals and glorious greens to life and enjoy this last bit of winter as well!”

Thanks Stacy! Now, if you are a little stumped on what qualifies as a winter bloom — we’ve taken the guesswork out of it for you and created a link to all the stamps in our store that would work beautifully (we include winter AND early spring blooms, plus what you might find in a hothouse this time of year - think Orchids and Succulents)! Just CLICK ON OVER HERE to see all the beauty that awaits! On top of that, Stacy provided us some extra inspiration with this clean and classy card using Power Poppy’s Simply Camellias stamp set! Not only is it perfectly colored but the embossed backdrop and little pink pearls add that extra splash of visual interest! 

You can click on over to Stacy's blog listed on our Bloomie link list at the end of this post to read up on all the "deets" of Stacy's card!


THE OFFICIAL RULES:

• Use Power Poppy stamps if you have them, if not, it is a great way to win some! 
• 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
• Winner will receive a free clear or three digital stamp sets of their 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 January 31 @ 8:00pm EST. At that point, we’ll draw the winner randomly and make the announcement right here on the first Friday of  February!

And now... drum roll please... it is that exciting time when we look at all the entries from last month's Power and Spark challenge, dip our hand into the random.org machine and see who is our lucky winner! So, without further ado.... the winner was:

ESSIE!

You could say Essie created such a creative spark that she was “on fire!” She had not one, not two, but THREE entries in our Power & Spark Challenge for December and all of her creations were equally as wonderful! For this cute duo of holiday tags, she used one of the wreath digital stamp sets that Power Poppy recently released named Wreath: Birch and Evergreens.

Essie, to claim your prize, just email us at bloom@powerpoppy.com, and let us know what clear stamp or three digital stamps you'd like. Thanks everyone for playing -- the creativity that you share abounds and inspires! 

Speaking of inspiration, I mentioned that there are some of our fabulous Bloomies on standby to share their latest creations with Power Poppy stamps. Why not pay them a visit?

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Julie Koerber

Kathy Jones

Katie Sims

Stacy Morgan

Tosha Leyendekker

Thanks for stopping by and sharing a bit of your day with us!  We love our little visits! Be sure to swing back for another edition of Inspire Me Monday when the fabulous Ally Cope takes center stage and shares her latest tips and card making tricks!

Have a great weekend!

~Julie 

An InLinkz Link-up

We'll Be Back!

We’re busy planning exciting projects and tutorials, new designs, and collaborative creativity to spread good vibes in 2017. Please visit us later this week or check out the tutorial archive of Inspire Me Monday!

A Fond Farewell to 2016!

Hello sweet stamping friends! All of us at Power Poppy hope you had an amazing holiday filled with the love of family and friends and seasoned with many new memories! We are also hoping the next few days bring nothing but the best because, why? Well, because that is a wonderful way to close out 2016! Because we love to showcase some of YOU and the ways you use Power Poppy's fantabulous digital and clear stamps, let's get to it! We have some "goodies" today!

For starters, remember how I said last week that I really hoped Misseke showed us how this project below turned out?

Well, I am -- squeeeeeee ---- so happy that she did! Check out this three-paneled lovely. I gasped when I saw it because I thought of all the time and care she took to make this amazingly beautiful delight for the eyes! As I mentioned last week, Misseke used Power Poppy's clear set Simply Camellias!  I am not sure what "Van Harte" means in Dutch but I am guessing it is "With Heart" or "With Love." Anyone out in blog land know? ;-)

Emily White crafted this watercolor-washed beauty with white embossed detail. I love the sweet and simple design and the dreamy quality of the finished card! She also used Simply Camellias for this creation, which goes to show just how versatile and beautiful this stamp set is when your creativity moves you!  

A.J. Bodine's sunflower sensation just makes me SMILE! I love the bright and cheery turquoise backdrop, the die cut frame, the fabulous way she colored this illustration up and then accented it with a bit of bling with sequins! It's purely delightful using Power Poppy's digital stamp set Sunshine of My Life. 

And just because the Christmas season isn't officially over until the 12 days of Christmas have passed, we needed to show off this shapely design from Patti Willey using Power Poppy's Glistening Paperwhites stamp set. I personally think this is a wonderful Christmas card or even a creation to send in thanksgiving for this beautiful season!

And that, my sweet stamping friends is it for our little show and tell Friday! But, here's the good news, we're not completely done with the eye candy! Some of our fine Bloomies happen to have some artistry to share as well! So, hop on over and see.....

Allison Cope

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Julie Koerber

Thanks so much for stopping by! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
~Julie

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

The Christmas season is here and if you celebrate this most beautiful holiday, I have a few little itty bitty questions for you! Have your stockings been hung by the chimney with care? Have your packages been wrapped up in boxes with bows? Did you know the best way to spread holiday cheer is to sing real loud for all to hear? I sure hope you answered YES! ;-)

To get you in the holiday spirit, we figured it might just be one of our last opportunities this year to share some of the holiday creations of others that we spotted and fawned over here in the blogosphere!

SO LET'S UNWRAP THAT CHEER, 

SHALL WE? LET'S ACT LIKE SANTA AND TAKE A CHRISTMAS TRIP AROUND THE WORLD!

These first cards show that no matter what the language, creativity, and holiday spirit are universal! Take these decked out cards by Annette Nielsen all dressed up for Christmas from Denmark! Annette used Wreath: Boxwood and Cranberry and Snowglobe Greetings -- both digital stamps in the Power Poppy Shop! Psst! Guess what? Digital stamps are available anytime -- 24/7. So.... if you have some last minute crafty goodness to pump out, we have got the bases covered for you. Just purchase, download, color and.. GIVE! 

Oh, my. This next holiday-dressed card hails from deep in the heart of Texas! I was honestly speechless when I set my sights on this amazing Prismacolor penciled beauty done by the hands of JoAnn Danchik. I can't imagine how long it took her to bring this illustration to life but I do love with all my heart what she had to say about it. Jo Ann shares: "It gently whispers all the hope that we have for the world as we usher in the birth of our Saviour." We agree JoAnn. We truly agree!  Just in case you wondered, this stamp set is O Holy Night.

And, we'll finish our little tour up in the Netherlands, where there's not a seasonal sight but one to be seen none the less! Take a gander at this art in action shot from Misseke who is proving her coloring prowess with Power Poppy's Simply Camellias stamp set!  I sure hope she does another show and tell when she finishes this three-panel card!

And that, my friends, concludes our little Power Poppy World Tour! It’s time to turn things over to a handful of our Bloomies who have some of their works of art to share with all of you!

Allison Cope

Christine Okken

Julie Koerber

Katie Sims

Stacy Morgan

One last announcement for everyone... if you happened to have stopped by after Thanksgiving, we had a fun little “hunt” for a mystery digital download that you could nab for $1. We’re bringing it back for the next several days — go grab Candy Cane Classic for a dollar to use on those last-minute gift tags!

Here’s some whimsical and wonderful inspiration from Katie Sims...

We wish you all the joy possible during this most wonderful time of the year! Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and wishes of love, peace, and kindness to all!

~Julie

Inspire Me Monday - Quick Watercolored Tags

Hello Friends, How are you today? I am excited to be back for another Inspire Me Monday. For my post today I was inspired by the Power & Spark Challenge. You can read about it here. 

One of our holiday traditions is to make treats for family and to make some for the stockings. I love adding homemade treats to my children's stockings & it's kinda nice that they fill the stocking up pretty quickly. 

Putting the Chex Mix in a zip lock baggie was a practical choice for me. Then I saw the Power & Spark Challenge so I decided to ramp up my homemade treats with some homemade tags, ribbon & jingle bells.

Today I am watercoloring some quick tags to jazz up my Chex Mix bags. If you want to watch the video in HD click here. 

                                        

These tags really didn't take much time to cut out & I am grateful that they really made my homemade treats more special for the recipients. 

Adding some ribbon and jingle bells make my treats much more festive.

In case you might want to give this easy recipe a try here is the link. I always double the recipe and mix it all in a roasting pan and take that straight to the oven. 

Thanks for the opportunity to share with you today and I hope you all have a wonderful holiday filled with love. Hugs, Kathy

P.S. Yesterday I finished up some of these and they are quick to make and are always popular. If you want to see how quick here is a video for you. :)

Happy Festive Friday!

Climb aboard, buckle up and get ready for a ride around the blogosphere taking in some of the most festive handmade offerings out there! Some people jump in the car to take in Christmas lights -- we do that too -- but we love motoring around the web catching glimpses of holiday cheer too!

Our First Stop.... is to take a peek at this positively perky poinsettia from Cheryl Horvath (@cardsbycheryl on Instagram) using Power Poppy's Poinsettia stamp set. Look at those pencil strokes done "just so" to bring out the absolute best in this set with a clean and classy design!

Let’s just say Essie was a busy little crafter recently! If you click on her name and head on over to her Flickr page, you'll see a handful of gift card holders and tags designed to make the season bright! I love this decked out gift card holder with a die cut flair showing off the special digi we offered Black Friday weekend, Power Poppy's Candy Cane Classic — which will back in the Power Poppy Shop on Saturday if you want to grab it! 

If you wondered what our own Instant Gardener Jennifer Dove is up to this weekend, check out these four lovely bits of hand-made correspondence overflowing with holiday charm! If you're near Phoenix -- Sun City West to be exact -- Ms. Jennifer is teaching some of her Copic know-how at The Paper Collage using the Fully Stocked and Cozy Cupfuls stamp sets! Take a gander....

Linda Carson made my jaw drop and smack the floor with this card below using Power Poppy's Partridge in a Pear Tree digital stamp. This one, she says, was her first Christmas creation of the season and I happen to know quite a few stampers out there in cyber space who said she should just go ahead and send this sparkling and exquisitely colored creation to them!

And we saved perhaps the sweetest part of our show-and-tell for last! Check out this little wonder from Charlene Gribben's granddaughter Ella.  Now, I don't know how old Ms. Ella is but goodness, she loves her friends because she spent some time with her grandma coloring up this wreath (Power Poppy's Succulents and Baubles) with such delight. I happen to love Ella's extra "doodles!" I mean, who doesn't love a few extra hearts, stars, and snowmen?!?

Before I bid you adieu, I did want to remind you of our monthly little challenge....

Join Christine Okken and the rest of the Power Poppy gang as they deliver a little handmade cheer with the Sweet Treats Challenge! You can read all about it HERE and then, you can get craftin' in your own space to share some of your creative ingenuity with all of us!

A few of the Bloomies are on standby ready to share some of the things they've been working on this week. So, if you have a little time, hop, skip and jump on over to see what they have in store!

Cindy Lawrence

Stacy Morgan 

Tosha Leyendekker

That's it for us this Friday! Hope you swing by Monday to see what the fabulous Kathy Racoosin serves up for another edition of Inspire Me Monday! 

~Julie

Inspire Me Monday: Quick & Easy Gift Idea

Howdy everyone!  Welcome to Inspire Me Monday!  I’m Allison Cope, your hostess this week and today we’re talking a little bit about that last minute gift idea.

I’m always on the look out for a few items that I can tuck away somewhere in the house so that I know I have as a last minute gift to grab.  I especially love edibles in fun and funky tins or cool containers.

For today, I’m featuring some festive digital stamps we offer here at Power Poppy.  I’m using Hollyberries, Wreath: Felt Leaves & Fruit and Wreath: Succulents & Baubles.  You can see both of these wreath stamp sets plus TWO more in our fun Wreath Multipack Collection.  Psst... it's on sale right now!!!

So join me today while I jazz up a simple candy tin for a quick and easy gift using these fabulously festive digital stamps…

See it in HD.

After all my videoing was complete, I broke down and coloured up my foiled creations for my tins.  So I used my Copic Markers to quickly colour up my holly and parts of my pretty wreath.  I used some bold yellows and soft greens to complete it.

Copics Markers: Y15, YR23, E47, YG00, G43

I think my little tin topper turned out cute and was so quick to make!

So the next time you’re looking to jazz up a gift and make it your own, think digital stamps and fancy foil!

Don't forget to play along with our Power & Spark Challenge this month.  For more details, please visit HERE.

Thanks for joining me today!  Have a great time decorating and personalizing your holiday gifts this month.  Happy Holidays all!

~ Ally ~

stamps: Power Poppy (Hollyberries, Wreath: Felt Leaves & Fruit, Wreath: Succulents & Baubles)
paper: XPress It (Copic), Green Foil Cardstock (DCWV)
dies: Stitched Circles (MFT), Scalloped Circles (Spellbinders)
foil: Green (iCraft Deco Foil), Gold, Teal (Heidi Swapp)
ink: Copic Markers