Hello Friend!

Hello all and happy Friday! Hope you have had a fabulous week. I have a little Power Poppy fun to share with you today. I needed an all occasion card to have on hand and so, I decided to dig deep into my stash of Power Poppy stamps to play with an oldie but goodie -- Dynamic Duos: Glads and Gerberas! 

On to my creation!

After stamping my image, I knew I wanted a real soft look, and so after I grabbed some scraps of pink decorative paper that I had in my scrap bin. I used a mix of light yellow Copic markers and then added a wee bit of pink here and there to pick up on the pink of the paper. Add some razzle dazzle with the help of some glitter glue and... ta da!!! See?

I matted it all up with a sentiment flag stamped with a sentiment from the new set Folk Heart. And that, my friend, is it! I do have a bit of news for you!  You have had to have been really sharp to catch one of the little surprises in the Power Poppy shop that dropped yesterday! Since it was the 25th, that means Power Poppy added another beautiful digital image to its Instant Garden Collection. And, just like when we were kids, you kind of had to hunt for it, just to get a glimpse of it's lucky charm! You'll have to click HERE to see Power Poppy's new digital stamp set Wish You Luck!

Time now for a little Bloom Brigade Parade folks! I happen to know that some of the gals reached for fun new sets while others dipped a little bit into the Power Poppy past! So, hop, skip and jump your way through this week's link list to see just what these fine ladies have in store -- just for YOU!

Allison Cope

Christine Okken

Julie Koerber >> you are here!

Leslie Miller

I'll see you back here real soon! Enjoy your weekend!

~Julie

Power Poppy's Grow Everyday Collection is HERE!

After five days of fun-filled sneaks with explosions of color and ingenuity, the Bloom Brigade is sparking a Power Poppy Hop, helping us to roll out five new sets that will keep you coloring and creating your heart out! Welcome to the official release day of The Grow Everyday Collection! 

Have  you checked out the Bloomies' creations this week? If not, I strongly encourage you to traipse back through this week's posts to play a little bit of catch up over on the Power Poppy Blog!  Those gals were on creative overdrive and I know you won't be disappointed that you took the time! With all of that inspiration out there in the blogosphere, now it's your turn to get those fingers inky with these brand new sets! Each set comes with a style all its own and--- guess what? They are all available now in the Power Poppy Shop! 

Take a peek at these beauties, will you???

My English Rose

Bloomin' Wonderful

Small But Mighty Affirmations

Folk Heart

Planning For Magnolias

On to MY creation for the hop! I know playing aroung with Copic reinkers isn't a new technique but as I was grabbing for my markers, I thought it might be fun to literally drip color on my paper and use that as a backdrop for one of the new Power Poppy sets -- Small But Mighty Affirmations!  I started with a little YG00.

And then, broke my piece up into two sections and added BG11, BG000, BG0000, G0000, G11, and then a little YG13 in the top portion....

I liked the way the colors mixed and melded as each drop hit the paper! Here's a peek at what both looked like with the sentiment stamped on top!

And, as you can see below, this is how it all came together with a mix of blue decorative papers, a little snippet of silver cording, a green glitter button, some paper piecing and some green pearl paper for a bit of extra color. 

And that, my friends is it! In the spirit of this special day, the Bloomies have yet another card to share for a full-fledged, color infused Power Poppy Pop in honor of this new release! Woot Woot! Way to take this one into overtime ladies!

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

Thanks for stopping by and spending a wee bit of your day with us! I have to say that I hope you had a chance to play along in Power Poppy's February Power & Spark Challenge. Last call is coming your way, just 8 days from now! The good news is leap year does give us one extra day in February to let your creative mojo flow! Take advantage of it my stampin' peeps! 

Until then, why not hop over to the Power Poppy Shop to stock up on a fresh crop of clear stamp sets? All the best to you and yours on this fine Sunday! 

~Julie

Sneaks Day 4: Small But MIGHTY Affirmations!

You know those times when you just want to share a word to say, "Hey, chin up!" or "You've got this!" Power Poppy knew you needed affirmations to share with loved ones and that's why Marcella put her fabulously fun hand-lettered spin on what she calls.....

Enter Small But Mighty Affirmations!  Use these little powerful and mighty words to help change up someone's thoughts, brighten their day, let them know that you are in their corner! Or, all of the above! Marcella is the QUEEN of positive thoughts and she always has a quote nearby to help her work through the things of life. So, it comes as no surprise that this little set was her brain child with some of the very quotes/affirmations that mold and shape her daily life! How cool is that? You'll have to head on over to the Power Poppy Blog to read up on this set and her inspiration! 

On to my creations! 

I aboslutely love the sentiment "GO ROCK THIS DAY" -- it's got a spirit of life that I wish I could truly live each day. So, why not make it into a fun and vibrant card to hold onto for that moment when you know someone needs a lift? I also decided this little sentiment needed some razzle dazzle, bold colors and a little extra "something-something!" So... a shaker card I created!

Here's a peek at the inside. I used different elements from the set to stamp my sentiment and then added the rays of light stamp on the inside. The sentiment was punched thanks to a stitched circle die. See?

And since I wanted my sentiment to show through, I used a shaker window and put acetate on the backside. Inside, I put all kinds of sparkly little sequins! And then, I covered my mechanics with some pretty aqua paper. Ta da!

Because this stamp set is ideal for little "love notes", the timing of this set was PERFECT. My daughter -- just today -- had to give a 5 minute speech on how bringing her best brings out the best in others. She was nervous as we headed off to school. She dressed up in a dress, had me curl her hair and looked at the clock constantly, knowing that her speech was set for first period. As she got out of the car, I handed her this.....

On the back, I scribbled a little note letting her know that I knew she would ROCK her speech, that she worked really hard, that I was proud of her and above all.. loved her! This set is perfect for those little notes! She left with a big smile and texted me later in the day to let me know she only stumbled once and hit the mark on her timing. YAY! She put my little note in her pocket as a way to bring me with her at the front of the class. Awwwwww! (excuse me while I tear up a bit!!)

Want to see how these Small But Mighty Affirmations might lift up someone else in need? Hop on over to see.....

Allison Cope
Cindy Lawrence
Julie Koerber >>> you are here!
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker
Power Poppy Blog & Marcella


You'll have to stay tuned to the Power Poppy blog for tomorrow's set that promises to bring a breath of spring into your stamp room! See you back here on the 21st for the Power Poppy Hop -- when all the new sets parade themselves into the Power Poppy Shop! 

Have a good one!

~Julie

Power Poppy Sneaks Day 2: Folk Heart!

Hello all and welcome to day 2 of the Power Poppy Sneaky Peeks! Today is all about digging into that soulful part of ourselves and pulling out a little folksy charm! Check it out my friends!

Look back to vintage hooked rugs, crazy quilts and the art of yesteryear and you'll get a glimpse at just some of what inspired Marcella Hawley in this latest clear stamp set called Folk Heart! Look for not only this darling little chirping bird nestled in a heart shaped wreath but a heart in hand image and a flower filled vase that I am going to show off shortly! It's the perfect little set for those coloristas who just want to pass some time putting their markers or pencils to use! 

On to my creation! 

I knew when I stamped this image that I wanted it to be an explosion of color! Being that I normally pick out my decorative paper AFTER I stamp and color my card, I realized that would be pretty darn dangerous to just to "expect" to find the right colors! So, I dug through and found this paper pack by My Mind's Eye. It's a pretty old one but I loved the blue sheet with the funky little flowers that reminded me of the same style in this set! So, I matched up some coordinating patterns and then reached for my Copic Markers in these colors to bring this folksy vase to life! 

And, here's a close up so you can see how it all came to be!

I even stamped the same image inside using a little Memento Tangelo ink and some Versafine Onyx for the sentiment -- love the crisp look this ink pad delivers!

The rest is just matting it all up. I started literally by cutting my image out askew and then using those lines to cut my mat as well after I glued my image to each piece of paper. It was a bit risky, I'll admit, but thankfully, it worked! Add a little cotton ribbon and a fun Stampin' Up Crystal button and... ta da!!!! Fini!

Now it's time to groove on over to some of my fellow Bloomies to see how they brought the folk out in this set! 

Allison Cope
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Julie Koerber
Katie Sims
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker

Tomorrow brings a new day of sneaks and this next set is all about LOVE! So, come on back and see what the Bloomies have in store! 

~Julie

Power Poppy Sneaky Peeks start TODAY!

Hello all and welcome to a week full of beauty! I am so happy to say that Power Poppy will soon be out with a fresh crop of clear stamps and you'll see sneaks of these sets all this week, right here on the 'ole blog!

This first set is a absolute stunner!

This set, Planning for Magnolias, is inspired by the love Marcella has for not only this plant, but for two very special women in her life. First, her beautiful mom, Susan, who adored Magnolias and grew them right in her own back yard and, second, her daughter, Lulu, who has been hit by the Planner craze. Not only do you have a gorgeous branch of Magnolia in bloom but a fun and colorful planner loaded up with stickers, decorative pens, swatches, clips and of course, a little washi tape! The Star Magnolia that is placed on top is truly the star of the show there! Throw in some "save the date" kind of sentiments, and you have a beautiful stamp set that is begging to be used when trying to catch up with old friends!

On to my creation! I knew I had to color up this larger than life branch and I also knew that whatever I did, I had to move toward a clean and simple design. So, that's where I started! 

After stamping this image on some white card stock, I really spent the first part of my coloring focusing on the background. I wish you could see the background a wee bit better because the upper portion of my image has a yellow glow to it, while the bottom is draped with a bit of blue and purple. I had been wanting to color the background up with Copic markers and then try that technique where you remove some of the color by dampening a cloth with Copic Various Ink and then pressing it into the card stock. Well, I forgot you needed to use a white cloth so that the color from the rag didn't transfer! My rag was a maroon color. :-( After taking off the rag and seeing that bit of dye on my paper, I decided I would "go with it!" I actually think it is interesting! Let's just chalk this one up to a 

bit of a "happy accident!"

After the background was finished I picked up these Copic markers RV00, R81, R83, R85, YG00, YG13, YG05, Y0000, Y11, BG0000, BG000, BG11, BV00, BV0000, E31, E33, and E55 and colored up my branch.

Here's a close up for you! 

From there, it was simply matting it all up. I stamped the sentiment (also from the set) and then punched it out using a 1-1/4" circle punch. Add a bit of silver cording and some paper piercing and... ta da! 

And that, my friends, is it for me today! I happen to know that not one, not two, but ALL of the Bloomies have some creative card making to share with you all today. So, stop by their places here in the blogosphere to see their Planning for Magnolias creations!

Allison Cope
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Julie Koerber
Kathy Jones
Katie Sims
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker

Tomorrow, we're going to get a little "folksy" with our sneaky peek so you'll have to swing on by and share a little of your time with me! :-) See you then! 

~Julie

Creating With Sunshine!

Hello Power Poppy Fans! Goodness gracious -- a lot going on in Power Poppy Land -- I tell ya! I have a new digital image to share AND a few challenges to entice you to get those creative juices flowing!

So... for starters, why not bask in the glow of a brand new member to the Power Poppy Instant Garden?This image delivers a big splash of sunshine to dress up those dreary winter days and share the message that spring is indeed around the corner -- Punxsutawney Phil even said so! ;-)

Magnolia Sunshine leaps off the page with its showy medallion-shaped bouquet featuring a mix of Saucer Magnolias, Trumpet Daffodils and Snowdrops. It's jam-packed with joyful details and it is the perfect springtime digi to add to your collection! Add in a Frances Hodgson Burnett quote and you have the finishing touches on an uplifting card for sure! 

For my creation today, I decided to pair this beauty up with a fun new Power & Spark Challenge! 

This one is brought to you by the color-lovin', colorista Ally Cope! Today, she's challenging us to switch it up in the shade department and use a coloring medium that you don't use that often! 

So, moving on to my creation, I picked up my Ranger Distress Ink Markers. They were a medium I "HAD" to have and I think I've used them only a handful of times. Shame on me I say! This challenge was a great way for me to reacquaint myself!

I started, of course, printing my image onto white Cougar Opaque Card Stock and then colored away with my markers (see below for a listing of what colors I used!)

My layout today is inspired by Kathy Racoosin of The Daily Marker and a card she did HERE showcasing not only fun ways to shade with distress ink but to create a layout with a kaleidoscope feel! I had circle dies and I had foam tape --- so in my mind -- I was half way there! I took three coordinating patterned papers and began the layering process starting with the largest and working my way down. 

In between my layers, I attached thanks to some foam tape so that each layer would indeed stand out! 

See?

And, here's a gander at the inside of my card! I used the digital sentiment that came along with the Magnolia Sunshine image --- using one on the outside and the other on the inside for some words of encouragement! As you can see, I used Power Poppy's Daffodils stamp set and some Dandelion Memento Ink to create a little more interest on the inside!

And, here's a peek at the colors that I used for my card! 

So, how can you play along? All you need to do is click on over to the Power Poppy Blog to THIS challenge for all the official details! Contest closes on February 29th at 8PM EST and winner gets a Power Poppy stamp set of choice from Power Poppy Shop!

And... if you need another challenge to keep you busy during this momentous Superbowl 50 Weekend, we have one that won't last just for a few days -- it's a 30 Day Challenge designed to get your fingers coloring each and every day for that bit of artistic solitude! 

Blogging and stamping bud Kathy Racoosin is at it again --- ushering in yet another fun-filled 30 Day Coloring Challenge to last the whole month though! Just click HERE to head on over to The Daily Marker, where all the fun is there just waiting for you! There are even prizes on the line and some of the creations will be honored in a weekly post by Kathy!  

And now, (not to leave these fine ladies hanging one second longer!) we bring you.... THE BLOOMIES along with some of our INSTANT GARDENERS as they show off and share a little Magnolia Sunshine!

Allison Cope

Cindy Lawrence

Julie Koerber >>> you are here!

Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan

Tosha Leyendekker

Cheryl Scrivens

Barb Walker

Thanks for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me! I have been BUSY in my studio lately and I have lots to share in the coming weeks --- hint -- some of it revolves around a brand spanking new Power Poppy release! ;-)

~Julie

Change of Plans!

Well dear stamping friends, last week I colored up THIS image and promised to be back with it today to show you what I came up with. Sad to say, I had lost my mojo! If someone finds it can you please send it back to Montana for me? ;-) I am hoping that it isn't too obstinate and comes home soon!

Actually, I did create a card though. When I set my eyes on the new digital stamp from Power Poppy called Follow Your Heart, I had a color fest while watching TV and before I knew it the paper was flying and I was making a card out of it!

On to my creation!

After I was done printing and coloring with my Copic markers, I cut the image out and then, using foam tape, popped it up on a Spellinders Shapeabilities Lace Hearts Die. While the die was still on my paper, I sponged on some Spun Sugar Distress Ink for a soft glow. I mixed and matched up some decorative papers. Cut one snippet of paper out thanks to a fishtail style banner die. Added an arrow die cut. Popped on some sequins and... ta da! I had a lot of fun adding the different dies to get the end result!

Here's a close up for you! I did add some razzle dazzle thanks to some glitter glue as you can see....

And that, my friends, is it for me today! If you want to see what some of my fellow Bloomies whipped up using this new image, follow this link list below for Power Poppy's weekly Bloom Brigade Parade! 

Allison Cope

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Julie Koerber
Katie Sims

Leslie Miller

Tosha Leyendekker

Before I say so long and farewell, don't forget that there's one day left to play along in the Power & Spark Stretch Yourself Challenge! Entries will be taken through Sunday, so have some fun and play along with us Bloomies! :-)

~Julie

Everything's Rosy!

Hello sweet stamping friends! Hope your week is ending on a colorful and creative note! Mine is a bit of this and a bit of that. I do have some fun news to share however. If you are a fan of Power Poppy's Instant Garden images -- a.k.a. their digital stamp collection -- listen up! There's a brand new and, dare I say, BEAUTIFUL image that is hot off Marcella's sketch pad!

Check out this triple dose of pretty with Power Poppy’s brand new addition called Everything’s Rosy! This new illustration features cups that overfloweth with sweet looking and sweetly scented blossoms picked straight from the garden. It’s a tablescape of beauty that is so much fun to color! Plus: It comes with TWO sentiments that help you send somebody rosy wishes.

I have a confession to make! While I had every intention of making this beauty into a card, I only got as far as coloring it! So, dear friends, you can take a gander at my progress and you'll have to come on back next week to see how I fashioned this into an actual card! ;-) 

To color this up, I did put aside my Copic markers and chose to reach for my Distress Markers instead! Here's a peek at the colors that I used....

Until next week,  I know some of my fellow Bloomies have some fabulosity to share today! So, make sure you stop by and say hi! I know many -- if not all -- put this new digital stamp on display! Fun stuff!

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

Before I go -- if you are looking for a bit of fun that offers up a challenge on the side, don't forget to check out Power Poppy's Power & Spark Challenge for February! You can click HERE to check out all the official details! Just think TALL & NEW! That's your little hint about the challenge!! Have a great weekend everyone and I'll see you all back here soon!

~Julie

Happy Friday to YOU!

Hello all and the happiest of Fridays to you! I have a little bit of Power Poppy fun to deliver today (as I do most Fridays!)  So, let's get right to it, shall we?

I have to admit that I did not have a lof time to create this week. I was kind of hoping I could cash in on the Powerball so that I could quit my day job and just play all day and be crafty but, not my luck! ;-) So, in search of a ten minute creation, I came up with this!

I used the Power Poppy stamp set Orchids Rock and stamped my image on some kraft colored decorative paper using Memento Rich Cocoa. I should mention the sentiment is from Power Poppy's Simply Camellias stamp set! I colored up the stem, leaves, and centers using Copic Markers but wanted my flowers to have a pop that only white can bring. Instead of using white colored pencils, which I was first going to do, I simply used a white paint pen. It is a pen I got from Michaels and is a part of their Recollections line. I just used outward strokes instead of "coloring" to add the splash  of color. Honestly -- I am not sure I love this. Some of the ends have dots from where the marker ended and I wish that wasn't the case. In a hurry however, it gets an average grade! HA! On the positive side, it did get me to turn to something that I wouldn't have really thought to use as a way to add color. 

Moving on! Did you see that Power Poppy kicked off something new and fun last week? That's right, it's a FUN Power & Spark Challenge to kick off the NEW year! Chick-Check-Checkity it out! 

If you didn't catch the details, here's hostess Tosha Leyendekker's challenge in a nutshell -- all you need to do is STRETCH YOURSELF! This is a double challenge that encourages you not only to create a card with a tall format but stretches your creativity by encouraging you to try or use something new in the process! You can read up on all the official details HERE. That's also the spot where you'll link up your card once you finish playing along! Can't WAIT to see what you whip up! 

The Bloom Brigade whipped up some fun just for you! You'll have to hopskotch your way through this list to see what fun these crafty cats are showcasing on their blogs today!

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Julie Koerber

Kathy Jones

Stacy Morgan

Tosha Leyendekker

And one more note!!!! Be sure to check out the Power Poppy Blog on Tuesday! Why, you ask? Well, Marcella and the Instant Gardeners will be unveiling another addition to our Instant Garden a.k.a. our digital stamp sets! Wanna peek? Okay, okay!!! Take a gander! This image was literally ripped from Marcella's sketchbook -- how cool is that????

Now, don't you want to see the WHOLE thing? Check out the Power Poppy blog NEXT TUESDAY -- January 19th --and get ready to be WOWED! Have a fabulous weekend everyone and I'll see you back here soon!

~Julie

~Julie

Happy New Year (of Creativity!)

Hello folks! Happy 2016! This is my first official post, so it's my first chance to tell all of YOU Happy New Year! I hope the first few days are off to a great start and you have nothing but feelings of promise for the year ahead!

With a new year, comes a new challenge to kick off a bit of creativity! As always, Power Poppy is ready to help you "spark" a little design "power" in it's first of 2016 Power & Spark Challenge. Check it out!

HOW TO PLAY: The Power & Spark "Stretch Yourself" Challenge is a DOUBLE challenge. We want you to start by stretching yourself with a tall card format AND then stretch your creativity by trying a new technique or using a new product that you've been wanting to try in your creative pursuits but haven't yet! 

You will have to click on over to the Power Poppy Blog HERE to see hostess Tosha Leyendekker's amazing creation! That's also where you'll find all the official rules as well as details on how you can link up your card and have a shot at winning a Power Poppy stamp set of YOUR choice! 

On to my creation...

As you can see, I did whip up a "tall" format card and mixed and matched some simple pink and green papers. I thought with the design on the simple side, I could showcase not only the new digital stamp set Hellebores from Power Poppy, but I could accentuate the image with one of my new stitched circle dies. I ran a large circle through my die cut machine just to emboss and then I used the smaller sized die to make the cut on the inside to create a kind of adorned frame. 

See?

After printing the image, I used my Copic markers to color it all up and I used these colors: RV00, RV000, R81, R83, R85m G20, G40, G43, YG00,  BG0000, BG000, BG10, R01, and R0000.

Along the bottom, I printed the sentiment that also comes with the Hellebores digital stamp, I love this quote, so perfect for many of us who hope to tackle some resolutions this year. ;-) After that, I added a little bow with some white seam binding ribbon, a little green button and ta da! That, my friends, is it!

Some of my fellow Bloomies did some stretching as well! Hop on over to see what they whipped up and then, get creating yourself! 

Allison Cope

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Julie Koerber >>> you are here!

Katie Sims

Leslie Miller

Stacy Morgan

Tosha Leyendekker

Thanks so much for stopping by and spending a bit of your day with me! I hope you have a wonderful weekend and.... as always... I'll see you back here real soon!

~Julie