Sharing a Little Power & Spark!

Hello all and welcome to another fun-filled Friday! I have to say, this day is proving to be my favorite day of the week for so many reasons. One of which is sharing a little bit of Power Poppy inspiration with you to help jumpstart your creative weekend! 

Before I forget, did you know that Power Poppy has a brand new 'sprout' in their Instant Garden? If you want to take a peek, just click HERE to see one of Marcella's newest illustrations that you can download, print and then color up right quick! Squeee! I am using this new digital stamp for my card today so you'll be able to see it in full color first! ;-) Here's a little peek at the new set Plant Kindness! 

This fanciful set offers flower-filled seed packs and heirloom plant listings, rosy-faced journals and calico garden gloves — these are a few of Marcella's favorite things! Color up this cheery gardening vignette for a quick card and plant a little kindness along the way! Just click HERE to see! 

While you're here, however, you need to check out our latest Power & Spark Challenge hosted by the most fab Aussie I know- Ms. Kathy Jones! 

HOW TO PLAY: This challenge is just as it sounds -- it's all about FRAMES! Just hear what Ms. Kathy has to say about her challenge to us all!

"This challenge is as easy as Framing It Up! Simply frame your image on a card, decorate a frame or frame your stamped piece as a bit of home decor!"

Do you want to know something super fun? When it comes to the Power & Spark Challenge, Ms. Marcella has UPPED THE ANTE when it comes to the winnings! Now, instead of winning a stamp set of choice you actually win a.....

$50 SHOPPING SPREE AT THE POWER POPPY SHOP! 

Just click HERE for all the official details!

Okay moving on! Because I just couldn't wait to color up Power Poppy's newest digital offering, I decided to mix it up and use it while playing along in Kathy's new Frame It Up Challenge! I had so much fun, I decided to make TWO projects for today!

This first one is pretty self-explanatory. Print the digital image, color with Copic markers (too many to list!) use a pair of rectangle die cuts to create a frame for around your image, distress/sand the frame (used C'ordination cardstock) for an earthy feel, sponge main image with Ranger's Antique Linen Distress Ink for a little added depth, mat onto card decked out in bright, springy colors and accented with candy dots and a bit of jute! 

Here's a close up! 

And here's how I decked out the inside! The little strip of herbs along the left side of my card was done using some Memento Cottage Ivy ink and one of the stamps from the Sage Advice clear stamp set! 

 Now one funny thing happened while crafting the card. I had printed this image below to use on the inside of my card but I printed the Plant Kindness sentiment entirely too large! So, I grabbed more stamps from the Sage Advice stamp set and stamped those around the sentiment, decked it out with some paper piercing and added a dark green mat and voila!

Now you might ask, what are you going to do with that? Well, I am following Kathy's lead in this Frame It Up Challenge and using this as a statement to ponder in a space on my work desk! I had this little easel and thought it just fit perfectly there! 

And that, my friends is it -- a card and a little reminder to live each day planting and sharing a little bit of kindness and love! 💗

Now, it's time to pay a visit to some of the sweetest stampin' sisters a gal could ask for.... THE BLOOMIES! Just click on through our linky list and see what kinds of wonderful they've been up to!

Allison Cope

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Julie Koerber >> you are here! 

Kathy Jones 

Stacy Morgan

Tosha Leyendekker

Thanks for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me!

~Julie

Searchin' for the Mojo!

Hey peeps! It's Friday, which means the Power Poppy gals a.k.a. the Bloom Brigade are ready and raring to go for their Power Poppy Parade and today, I'm joining in on the fun!

I know more than a few of you know what it's like to sit back with plans to create, stare at the blank paper before you and come up empty. The mojo just doesn't want to flow. I was there this week and so I decided that I would grab a cuppa joe, turn to one of my favorite places -- PINTEREST -- and see if I couldn't look for someone else to help me spark that creativity. People, there is no shame in being inspired by others. I mean, isn't that why we are all here?

So, I found this blog post HERE from Olesya Kharkova, of Russia. Yes, I "traveled" five thousand miles for inspiration! ;-)

If you click on over to Olesya's post, you'll see that I pretty much CASE-d it, which means copy and steal everything. I loved the blue and pink combo, the splash of vellum, the white embossing -- I loved it all. So, I dug around my craft room for similar supplies and... here's "my take!"

So, as you can see above, this card is not really "my style" -- it was a bit of a stretch for me and that is exactly why I chose the card I did to CASE. I knew I had THIS stamp set -- Peony Muse by Power Poppy. And, I had the rest of the supplies, so all was good. The sentiment is a portion from the Sending Happy Wishes stamp that's a part of the Natural Beauties set. I just stamped, embossed on black and snipped that front portion off. 

Here's how I went about making it -- I stamped using Versamark Ink on white cardstock and then embossed with white detail powder. From there, I used my Distress Markers in Picked Raspberry and just scribbled the marker onto a palette and picked it up with my Wink of Stella Glitter Brush Pen. 

This was literally my color palette here! Acrylic Block - Check! Pink Marker - Check! Wink of Stella Glitter Brush Glitter Pen (Clear) - Check! 

And as you can see, the glitz shows when you move this card through the light. I have done this technique a few times -- you can see those cards HERE and HERE and I just love the results. It just gives the front of your card that extra "something" without being overwhelming. It's subtle flair! ;-)

From here, I took the cues from my inspiration card, cut out the vellum, and layered it pretty much just the same as Olesya did. I did add a few sequins and rhinestones instead of enamel dots-- mostly because my enamel dot stash is running a little low.

And that, my friends, is it! One way to have some fun, get that mojo a flowin' and be inspired by some of the absolutely fabulous designers out there on the web. Like I said, this one happened to live 5,000 miles away! What a BIG and yet small little crafting world we live in!

Speaking of inspiration from far and wide, it's time to turn things over to the Bloom Brigade for their weekly Friday parade! Pay them a visit, take in their artistic talents and then... be inspired!

Cindy Lawrence
Julie Koerber >>> you are here!
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker


Thanks for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me! I'll see you all back here soon!
~Julie

Who wants a deal?? :-)

Just click on the graphic above to head straight -- don't walk, RUN -- to the Power Poppy Shop!

~Julie

Grab A Sketch... or 2 ... or 3!

Hello all! Hope you had an amazing week and are looking forward to a beautiful weekend ahead! Last week, Power Poppy kicked off a brand new challenge designed to ignite that design power and creative spark! And guess what? Yours truly is the hostess! This little challenge offers not one, not two, but three ways to......

PICK-A-SKETCH!

This little challenge is as easy as picking one of the three sketches below, using that as your inspiration and clicking HERE to share your creation with the Power Poppy linky! Just that simple! I already shared these cards over on the Power Poppy blog but I thought since some of you might have missed it -- I'd recap it here on my little place in the blog-o-sphere! I'd love it if you joined me and used these sketches because -- if you are the lucky winner -- you get your pick of a Power Poppy stamp set or a trio of digital stamp sets! How fun is that? So, let's check out these sketches, shall we? 

WILL YOU CHOOSE SKETCH 1?

Want a little inspiration using this sketch? Check out my card using Power Poppy's Succulent Singles stamp set! 

HOW ABOUT SKETCH 2? 

And here, my friends, is how I put this little sketch to use! I stamped Power Poppy's My English Rose and fussy cut around it to serve as my focal point. 

OR, MAYBE YOU LOVE SKETCH 3?

For my take on sketch 3, I went bold and I also added some other elements like a sentiment oval and a little ribbon with a bow. I used Power Poppy's Potted Primrose stamps set in vivid oranges and yellows! Like I said, all of these sketches are a launching point -- a place to start in your creative happy place! So, if you want to add to the sketch, go for it! I'd love to see your "take!" 

And that, my friends is it! Again, all you need to do is click on over to this post HERE for all the "official rules" as well as the linky to share your creation! 

The Bloom Brigade just so happens to be on stand-by, ready to share some of their latest creative endeavors! So, hop on over and see....

Allison Cope
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence

Thanks for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me! For those that celebrate, I hope you have a beautiful Easter Weekend!

~Julie

Power Poppy & Sweet Petunia HOP!

Hello all and welcome to a super fun post! If you came here from Lydia Fiedler's blog you are in perfect order for the Power Poppy & My Sweet Petunia Hop! If not, you can start HERE and track back to the Power Poppy blog. I'm so glad you joined us for this fun, creative and collaborative hop! 

Because Power Poppy just unveiled a brand new line of dies to coordinate with its new Spring Fling Collection, I thought it would be great to showcase how you absolutely CANNOT live without the MISTI when trying to stamp on super fussy die cut shapes. Check this out, will ya? I used the Mini Misti for this tutorial. 

I decided to use the stamp set Natural Beauties with the set's coordinating dies and this, my friends, is the card I made! 

One side note before I get to the "How To" of using the Misti with dies, I am loving my Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Pen. To color my image -- literally in minutes -- I scribbled some watercolor pencil (Derwent Inktense) on my stamped image and then blended using the Wink of Stella glitter pen. You can't see the glitter when you are looking at the image straight on, but check this out-- little flakes of sparkle all over! That just makes my heart happy! It is one of those tools that just leaves a bit of "Wow" behind and is a breeze to blend with.

OKAY, MOVING ON! How do you get a perfectly stamped image on a super-detailed die cut shape? Here's how my sweet stamping friends! First, I started by cutting out a piece of white cardstock with the large Natural Beauties die for the long grouping of flowers. 

Remove the die cut, leaving just the cut-out frame and secure the piece of paper using either the Creative Corners for the Misti or the super strong magnets that come along with your Misti! 

From here, lay the clean stamp face down on the cut-out frame so that the cut out perfectly frames your stamp. I know my stamp looks like it has ink on it but it is just stained from using permanent inks. It really is clean! Also, it is hard to tell that my stamp is lined up perfectly. It is a lot easier to see this in real life! ;-)

Close the "door" of the Misti to make sure the back of your stamp clings to the plastic cover. Open it back up and, as you can see below, put the die cut shape back inside the frame.

Ink up your stamp....

... and then "shut" the door again, letting your inked stamp fall perfectly over the die cut shape!

Look at that will you? A perfectly stamped die cut shape, each and every time! I timed myself as I did this -- FIVE TIMES -- just to prove how quick and easy it is to cut, line up, ink and stamp to get a perfect image. I kid you not, it took 64 seconds from start to finish. ;-) It would take a whole lot longer for me to eye-ball and then, not get it lined up "just so" and line it up again and... well, you get my point! The MISTI makes it amazingly easy!

So, how amazing would it be to WIN a MISTI or a $25 Gift Certificate 
to the Power Poppy Shop? Well YOU can!

All you need to do is whip on through this blog hop and leave a comment on each of the blogs on the hop for a chance to win not only a MISTI (either original or mini)but a $25 Power Poppy Gift Certificate with two different winners! So, my friends, comment away for your shot at one of three fabulous prizes!

MISTI Winners will be announced on this page of the My Sweet Petunia blog on April 14th. Power Poppy Winners of (2) $25 gift certificates will be on the Power Poppy Blog on the 14th.

Like I mentioned if you came here from Lydia's blog-- fabulous! If not, go back to the Power Poppy Blog at the top of the link list and make sure you comment on each blog for your chance to win!


Power Poppy
Lydia Fiedler
Julie Koerber >>> you are here!
Ilina Crouse >>> hop here next! 
Christine Okken
Jeanne Streiff
Cindy Lawrence
Maureen Wong
Ally Cope
Kia Gibson-Clapper
Kathy Jones
Ceal Pritchett
Tosha Leyendekker
Giovana Smith
Stacy Morgan
Katie Sims
My Sweet Petunia

Thanks for stopping by and hopping along! Good luck and happy commenting! ;-)

~Julie

A Cheery Hello!

Hello and happy Friday folks! I have a super quickie post to share today because -- in all honesty? I am surrounded by boxes as we speak! I mentioned a couple times here on the ole blog that we spent the last few months building a home and last weekend brought moving day! It's wonderful but the hard work starts trying to find a "home" for all your stuff! So.... long story short, this post is going to be short! ;-)

When I first got my hands on Power Poppy's Spring Fling Collection, I fell in love with the set Sweet Memories featuring snippets, bits, and tendrils of Sweet Peas! I think these fanciful flowers are so delicately beautiful, I just find joy coloring them up. I have colored sweet peas many times over the years but I have almost always reached for shades of pink. This time, I mixed it all up!

On to my creation!

I only reached (surprisingly) for a few markers -- V01, V04, and V06 for the violet shades and G21, G24 and G28 for the greens. The image was shaded with BG10, BG000, and BG0000. After I was done coloring, I did add a few dots thanks to a white gel pen. 

The layout is pretty darn simple. I had a few different small pieces of decorative paper that I cobbled together. I added a bit of lace and die cut my image thanks to a stitched fishtail die. Here's a little close-up for you!

And that, my friends, is it! A Cheery Hello that will one day be mailed to a cheery friend! Speaking of friends, you have to check out what my fellow Bloomies created this week just to share with YOU! Stop by and see.....

Allison Cope

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Julie Koerber >>> you are here!

Katie Sims

Stacy Morgan

Tosha Leyendekker

Thanks for stopping and spending a bit of your day with me! :-) See you back here soon!

~Julie

It's the BIG DAY!

Hello all! Well, today is the day that we've all been waiting for. It's the day that all the sets (and dies) that the Bloom Brigade has been talking out this week are ready to grab up in the Power Poppy Shop! Say "Hello" to the Spring Fling Collection! 

Today, we have one more fabulous set to unveil! You might have seen this set -- Tiger Lily XL --already HERE with Kathy Racoosin of thedailymarker.com's fabulous show and tell as she kicked off her 30 Day Coloring Challenge! Or HERE as she showcased how to color up this beauty with colored pencils. But, if you missed that for some strange reason, take a gander, will you?

The final introduction is something new for Power Poppy! Wait until you see how XL this Tiger Lily really is! It's a 5" by 5" canvas and this bad boy takes up almost all of that space. Marcella added in a few leaves and a fabulous sentiment as well. The goal was to be able to get in and really color up this highly detailed work of art! We hope you really love the XL size because if you do, there's more where that came from! Think of all the flowers that could be amped up in an extra large size!

On to my creation!

When I saw this image, I wanted to make mine more like a Stargazer Lily coloring. See HERE? Mine didn't turn out as vibrant as these beauties are in real life but I did have fun grabbing those lovely shades of pink and green! Next time, I think I'll stamp the lily in a lighter shade of ink to really let the beauty of the flower sing when it's colored! Here's a peek at the markers that I used.....

After stamping and coloring, the rest is just matting it all up! I added a chartreuse background paper and rose, a little gold cording and then used only a portion of the sentiment from the set so that it just focused on the word "Peace" thanks to a little masking magic. The full sentiment is actually a quote from Mother Teresa which says, "Peace begins with a Smile." I love that! It's a beautiful thought that will be great for all occasion cards. 

Here's a close up! You can see that in addition to the Copic Markers,  I did a little impact thanks to a white gel pen... 

And that my friends is it! Now be sure to run on over to the rest of the Bloomies' Blogs to see how they rolled out this final day of release! I know you will be wowed! And then, hop on by the Power Poppy Shop to see this amazing collection yourself! There are so many fabulous illustrations and creative opportunities with this set of 8 brand new stamp sets! 

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

Thanks for stopping by! I'll be back Friday with another Power Poppy Hop and I hope you'll join me then!

~Julie

Power Poppy Sneaky Peek Day 4!

Hello folks! Can you even stand it? We are nearing the end of sneaky peeky week at Power Poppy! Tomorrow is the big day peeps! Tomorrow, all of the stamp sets that the Bloom Brigade has been showing off will be ready for the buying! Today, we have two more sets to sneaky peek and.... They. Are. FUN! 

Introducing....

Peony Muse features two big fat peony blooms, a bud, several leaves, a stem along with two berry clusters to create any kind of arrangement that your little heart desires! What's even more fun is that after you stamp, this set has a coordinating die set to make cutting and arranging these blooms a breeze! Go simple, go robust! It's all about customization with this one. Handlettered sentiments in this set are by Marcella herself! 

Artful Display offers a grouping of decorative objects that folks can play with to create "room scenes" with dishes, platters, and even a vintage Oyster plate. There's even a little Staffordshire Dog figurine and bouquet of Ranunculus that can be used all on its own to make a statement! I love how Marcella made a splash with this set that's completely inspired by decorating trends right now. Check out these fun inspiration pieces!

Source

Source

Now, with a little ink, you can create the same feel with fun sentiments to match!

On to my creation! I just had to pick up Peony Muse for my creation because I just knew I wanted to snip and create my own little bouquet to frame this beautiful sentiment! 

I started by stamping some of the blooms and leaves in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then I let my Copics go to town with shades of pink. I used R81, R83, R85, RV00, RV02, G21, G20, G24, and G28 with Y32 and Y35 for the centers with a little YR04 dotted as well. It's pretty bold, but I think it's happy! I want to try this card again only with super soft shades like THIS. 

And, here's a close up for you! 

And that, my friends, is it! Guess what? Only one more day until all of the stamp sets that we've been sneak peeking are in the Power Poppy Shop! Woot! Woot! And, remember, four of the stamp sets will have coordinating dies to make creating not only a breeze, but downright fun along the way!

The Bloomies are on standby right now, ready and waiting to show you what they've created using these two new sets so, stop by and see them, will you? ;-)

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

Tomorrow -- Release Day-- be here (please)! Until then,

~Julie

Power Poppy Sneaky Peek Day 3!

Hello Folks! Are you super excited yet? Only two days -- TWO DAYS -- until the Power Poppy Shop sprouts some brand new clear stamps as a part of the Spring Fling Collection! And, aside from the fact that there are 8 Fresh and FUN new stamp sets, four of those sets have coordinating dies to make creating extra easy and breezy! 

Before I get carried away, let's take a peek at the two sets being sneaked today!

Introducing.....

Stop. Smell. Savor the virtual sweetness of Sweet Memories! It's a set that offers little flouncy blooms that look like they were just snipped and clipped ready to enjoy as a bouquet, arranged as a border, grouped or even seen as a solo on a card. Want a little more "oomph?" Try adding sweet little tendrils, leaves or even little peas in a pod! 

Loving Tulips offers one of the images that flew off the digital shelves at the Power Poppy Shop --
Tulips in Hobnail Pitcher. Now creative peeps have a clear stamp option that comes with so many "extras!" Marcella paired this image with an exuberant Hello script and yet more polka dot accented sentiments and hearts to make this set sing with a fun and spunky flair! 

On to my creation! When I set my sights on the "hello" in this set, I just knew it would be perfect for sweet and simple creations that you could make in a jiffy. So, I stamped the image with Versamark ink and heat embossed with silver detail powder. Afterward, I went to town adding various sizes of small rhinestones -- just to get that extra bling on! 

You can see I added that bit of bling around some of the curves of the word as well as on the little heart! I had fun pairing this apricot orange with a fun black and white pattern. Punchy & Fun! 

This one was a ten-minute creation for sure! And, it is one that I could recreate in a whole host of colors for a fun card set! I really wanted to showcase this card because I know how many of us struggle when we need to make a card in a jiffy. Well, sweet friends, this is one that you could get done and popped in the mail in no time! ;-)

While I love this sentiment, there's so much more to this set and the Bloom Brigade is on stand by to show just how far you can take this set creatively! So, hop on over and see....

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

Remember -- these sets go live in the Power Poppy Shop on March 14! And, four of the brand new fresh and fun sets have coordinating dies to match! So fun! 

Be sure to swing back by tomorrow for yet another sneaky peek! This one offers an eclectic display of decor and a robust set of blooms that's just ready and waiting to be mixed and matched! Have I piqued your curiosity?? Hope so!

See you then!

~Julie

Power Poppy Sneaky Peek Day 2!

Hello all! The fun continues today with not one but two new sets from Power Poppy that will be unveiled really soon! Want to take a peek at TWO more from the Spring Fling Collection?

Introducing....

Burst of Kindness is a giant bouquet that made a digital splash HERE in the Power Poppy Instant Garden. Well, now sweet polymer loving friends, you can now stamp your little heart out with this 4" wide image full of unique blooming spring flowers!

Succulent Singles  -- what can I say about these bunches of plump succulents? Marcella made this set to compliment the clear set she released three years ago called Sassy Succulents. This fresh and fun set offers varieties of different succulent plants, perfect for creating little mix and match groupings! AND.... when release day hits on March 14th, you'll even be able to order a coordinating die set with this stamp set to make creating with it even more fun!

On to my creation! 

OOOooOOOoo.... don't you love all the creative opportunities with this one? Each individual succulent can be stamped and arranged however you like for a gazillion different variations! I chose a bunching because I actually made my card base first. (I am trying new creative things these days!) 

I stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black and then grabbed my Copics and used a mix of YG greens plus V01, V04, V06, RV00, RV02. I love the way these little plants just explode with unique color. Each plant seems to have its own unique flair. Love it! 

Here's a close up for you! You can see that I cut out each plant and popped it up for a little extra dimension. 

And here's another close up showing this fun and snarky little sentiment in the set. Too funny, right? I can't wait to send this one to one of my gal pals to spark a smile! 

And that, my friends, is it!  Be sure to mark your calendar folks! Stamps go on sale March 14th with dies available that same day for pre-order! Woo Hooooooo!

Thanks so much for popping in and saying "hi!" I hope you swing back by tomorrow to see tomorrow's sneaky peek which offers a pair of flouncy blossoms that will melt your heart and ignite your creativity! I just know it! Be sure check out my fellow Bloomies' take on today's two sneaky peeks! Prepare to be inspired!

Allison Cope 

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Julie Koerber >>> you are here!
Kathy Jones
Katie Sims
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker
Marcella on the Power Poppy Blog

See you all back here tomorrow!
~Julie