Colorful Recap for YOU!

Happy Friday folks! I have a fun little recap to share on the 'ole blog today and it revolves around the colorful combo we unveiled earlier this week on The Blog over at Power Poppy!  Have you checked out this week's.....

I love this little challenge because it really encourages us all to look to some of the less used hot spots on our own personal color wheel and grab some combinations that we might not normally reach for! That's a good thing, right? It's called -- getting out of the comfort zone! 

This week's inspiration is one that touches my heart. Anyone who knew Marcella's amazing, artful, creative, joyful, exuberant, charismatic, and endearing mama --- Susan -- knew that she loved her New York Times crossword puzzles. So, when I spotted this photo below on Marcy's IG feed, I knew we had to make it the centerpiece of a Hues to Use Challenge. This is a photo below of Marcy remembering her mama and rising to the crossword of all crossword challenges in honor of this special lady. On top of that, who doesn't love a good, vibrant, and "contrasty" combo of pitch black, alabaster white and cardinal red? 

On to my creation! Not too long ago, I was walking around my neighborhood and spotted the most beautiful red azalea bush in full bloom. Honestly, living in the colder climate that I do (Montana), I didn't think we could grow azaleas. So this, my friends, was a bit of additional inspiration for my Hues to Use project for the week. Take a gander at this beauty, will you? This isn't my neighbor's plant but it looks just as vivid and lush! 

Source

 And so, after gazing on these rich red blossoms, this is what I came up with! 

I started with Power Poppy's stamp set Azalea, stamped it in Tuxedo Black Memento Ink and then, grabbed these Copic marker colors to get started!

I have to admit, coloring in shades of red is NOT my strong suit. Soooo....this was more than just a color challenge for me. It was an out and out challenge. Red has, in fact, always been the trickiest color for me. That's why I just breathed in the photo above before I even got started -- just to try to plan my color attack. I will say that I started dark to light with this one so that I could try to better control where the dark shades went. And this was the result.....

While it wasn't easy for me. I am rather pleased with how the coloring turned out! I actually might not shudder in my shoes next time I decide to go red! Moving on from there, it was all about the fussy cutting and matting. I grabbed bits and pieces from my decorative paper stash. Some of the paper is from My Mind's Eye. Some of the paper is from Stampin' Up. All of it is forever old! So, I was glad to be able to put some of these papers to good use! And that, my friends, is it!

BEFORE I LET YOU GO, I HAVE SOME 

EXCITING NEWS! 

Starting next month, those who play along in the Hues to Use challenge just might earn a spot guest hosting the post! In turn, that person will get access to some of the prettiest images on the planet! We'll supply a digital stamp set and let you strut your stuff! So again, how do you get in on the action? Play along! Marcella and I will be selecting people based on Hues to Use entries starting next month! So get those fingers inky and take these Hues to Use for a test drive and put cardinal red, pitch black and alabaster-white into creative play!

Now it's time to turn things over to my stampin' sistahs -- the Bloomies! Stop by, say "hi" and, take in just some of what they've been up to in their crafting spaces!

Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Julie Koerber >> you are here!
Katie Sims
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker


Thanks for stopping by! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

~Julie

Buzzin' In With a Color Challenge!

Happiest of Fridays Peeps! If you are a fan of  'The Blog' over at Power Poppy, then this little post below might be a re-run of sorts for you! I posted there and now, I am posting my card and inspiration.... here on my little space on the web! Each Tuesday, yours truly hosts this little challenge below to help you kickstart your creative week! 

While scrolling through Ms. Marcella's Instagram, I stumbled upon this whimsical wonder and just knew the color scheme could help spark creativity! Say "hello" to the Idea Garden full of the skilled handiwork of the Master Gardeners of Champaign County, Illinois. I love those beautiful purple puffs, a.k.a. Allium, that just appear to stand at attention! So, this is how our color palette for this week's Hues to Use sprouted with shades of vibrant violet, weathered grey, and leafy green. See? 

This is how my creation began! I used Power Poppy's Asters Abuzz digital stamp set and colored it up with my Copic markers using a mix of leafy greens in G21, G24, G28, YG00, a bit of vibrant violet using V00, V01, V04 and V06, and the grey, I saved for my card layout. You can see I used some light blue Copic markers to add some pop and fizz with some stippled accents! 

So, I have a confession to make. It's actually a tragedy to share! :-( So, I colored up this image above and decided that I needed to cut out this image with a die cut circle. So, I put my little image in my Spellbinders "sandwich" and started cranking! Well, when I opened it all up, I didn't see the die that had been stuck to the other side of my die machine plate. OH. MY. GOSH!

THERE WAS A SCALLOPED EDGE DIE THAT CUT OFF THE TOP PART OF MY IMAGE! 

Instead of throwing away my colored up and cut up image, I decided to make lemonade out of lemons! After staring at it for what seemed like an eternity, I decided the only thing I could do was to cut it up further with a 1-1/4" circle punch. So, with one eye closed, I worked to "save" what was left!

And this is what I came up with!

I have to admit, It was tough "recovering" from my mishap! HA! But, I actually do love how this turned out and made the image more of an accent to the sentiment than the other way around. 

Here's a closeup of those little fuzzy bumbles....

And, did you notice that my card is two-fold? This little creation also could be in the running for this little challenge!

So, my sweet stamping friends, now you have TWO ways to challenge yourself this week! Hues to Use.... and this month's Power & Spark Junebug Challenge, which urges you to add a little bug to your card or creation!

Thanks for stopping by my friends! I'd love to see you put vibrant violet, weathered grey and leafy green to the test! When you do, make sure to link up your creation HERE! I cannot wait to see what you come up with! Seeing you share your creative endeavors makes my heart smile! ;-)

As you go hopping along your way, make sure to pay these fine ladies a visit to see what wonderous paper creations they've whipped up ... just for you!

Allison Cope
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Julie Koerber>>> you are here!
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker

Have a fabulous weekend creative peeps!
~Julie

Good Vibe Friday!

Good Friday to Y'all! I am not sure if you've been checking out the Power Poppy blog on Tuesdays but yours truly is hosting a new color challenge of sorts! It's where we find inspiration in real life and put those colors into card making play!

This past Tuesday's little color exploration features a favorite of Ms. Marcella's! Just set your sights on this little firecracker on two wheels below!

If you didn't know it, Marcella's beau, Doug, loves to fix up vintage bikes. If you scroll through Marce's Ista-stream, man-oh-man you see the passion those two have -- and the soirees that they organize -- all for the love of the vintage bike! So, I thought it especially fitting since Marce just celebrated a birthday yesterday (she's not 46 -- she's forty-sassy!), that we'd honor this little number in this week's Hues to Use! Check-check-check-ity it out! So grab those shades of firecracker red, electric yellow and go-go green --- and get to creating!

On to my creation! On Tuesday, I shared how summers are such a busy time for my family. My daughter plays travel softball and when Tuesday rolled around we were already on the road -- hundreds of miles from my craft room! So, this is what I shared-- just a colored up creation using Power Poppy's digital stamp set Juicy Strawberries!  

Well, it's amazing what a difference a few days makes! I grabbed some spunky red and green decorative paper and went... to... TOWN! ;-) Here's the result!

Just in case you wondered, I grabbed my Copic markers for this little number and reached for YG03, YG17 and YG67 for the go-go greens! I used Y13 and Y35 for the electric yellows and then reached for R20, R32, R27 and R29 for the firecracker red strawberries! As you can see, I accented with some white gel pen and then highlighted my image with Y00 and YG0000 just to add a bit of glow! I also used some different card making dies to pull off this card layout for a super bright and perky creation designed to share some love with a friend!

Here's another little closeup for you!

I hope you play along and see where this trio of colors can take YOU! Once you do, be sure to click HERE and link up your creation so we can all see! ;-)

Until then, the Bloom Brigade is on standby, waiting to share some of their crafty goodness! Be sure to hop on over to these lovely ladies' blogs to see what they've been up to this week! I know you will leave their spaces inspired!


Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Julie Koerber
Katie Sims
Stacy Morgan

Thanks for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me! See you back here soon!
~Julie

Let Your Creativity Soar!

Hello folks and Happiest of Fridays to YOU! Are you ready to take flight with a brand spankin' new challenge designed just for Power Poppy Creative PEEPS? Well, being that it is a new month, there's a new Power & Spark Challenge and this one already earned its wings! Yours truly is the hostess this month so I invite to take a creative step back and... check it out!

HOW TO PLAY: This little challenge has us in search of digital and polymer winged creatures to help our creations soar! For our Junebug Challenge, all you need to do is use a 'bug' on your card! Just that simple -- ladybug, buzzy little bumble, beautiful butterfly, it's up to you!  You'll have to click on over HERE to see the official rules! I've also rounded up a fun little list of all the fabulous winged wonders in the Power Poppy Stamp Set arsenal that you can easily grab to get in on this challenge action! 

On to my creation! I had this digital stamp set  -- Climbing Clematis -- printed and ready to go and had it laying on a stack just waiting to be colored so I thought -- no time like the present! 

This card is really pretty easy peasy! I used die cut shapes to get literally every cut. The sentiment is also from the Climbing Clematis digital stamp set and the paper is a mix of Stampin' Up and some scraps from my decorative paper bin. I had a blast coloring this image and really love the vibrant colors. I used my Copic markers, of course, and reached for B60, B63, B66, RV00, G20, G21, G24 and G28. The butterfly was colored with Y35, YR04 and YR07. The whole image was highlighted thanks to RV0000 and R00. Then, when all was said and done, I did accent the little fluttering butterfly with some white gel pen and some sparkle gel pen as well! 

Here's a close up for y'all!

And that, my friends, is it! I almost forgot to mention -- if you play along and are the lucky winner for the Power Poppy drawing, you win a.....

$50 SHOPPING SPREE

AT THE POWER POPPY SHOP! WOOT WOOT!

Isn't that fabulous? You'll need to get those fingers inky and join me in the fun!

I will add -- there's so much going on at the Power Poppy Shop this weekend that you just might need to buckle yourself in for a few days! First up, if you missed the Good Vibe 5 for this week, just click HERE to see ALL the ab fab inspiration that Marcella has rounded up for you! It's a post that is always BIG on the warm fuzzies! And then, mark your calendar for next Monday, June 5th. That oh-so-special day just so happens to be Ms. Marcella's BIRTHDAY! And boy does she have a digital party planned! Look for a sprinkling of new sprouts in the Instant Garden, ready to download, print and create with! I CANNOT WAIT! Can you?

See you back here real soon!
~Julie