Introducing... Dynamic Duos

Introducing... Dynamic Duos: Peonies & Tulips!  This amazing stamp set is blooming with the gorgeous images of stunning Peonies and Tulips.  It also has a wide variety of fun sentiments for any card creator.

I  do not have a card to share with you today but some of my fellow Bloom Brigade do!  So check out these lovely ladies blogs today...

Danielle Kennedy
Katie Sims
Julie Koerber
Tosh Leyendekker
Marcella at the Power Poppy Blog


Happy hoping everyone!

~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Power Poppy

Introducing… Sassy Succulents!

I’d have to say… this is my favourite set of our June sneak peeks and it’s called “Sassy Succulents”  and it’s super cute!  Not only does it have this stunning grouping of hens & chicks but it contains 6 MORE images of succulent plants and 7 fabulous sentiments!  It will surely be a stamp set you’ll grab time and time again!

For today, it was all about experimentation for me!  Not only did I experiment once… but I experimented TWICE!  So I have 2 fun cards to share today.

For my first one, I started by stamping my hens & chicks image onto a script paper I had.  Then I took some Ranger Distress Inks and dabbed them on my craft mat and used my water brush to paint my succulent plants.

For my second creation, I started by scoring out a panel on my light kraft cardstock and then stamped those pretty little hens & chicks once again inside the panel.  Then I used my pencil crayons to add colour.  My photo really doesn’t do this card justice… it’s very soft and subtle and actually quite layered with colours!

I played around with just a simple cross hatching of the back ground using my pencils and then added some glittery dots all around…

I truly had some fun with my inks and pencils with my cards today!  Thanks for stopping by!

Don't forget that TODAY is the last day to come and PLAY ALONG with us.  Here are a few ways to do so...

Come Follow Us to Win!

Pop Goes the World Challenge

The Unabashedly Upbeat Challenge

Get Sketchy! Challenge

Enter to win by 3pm EST today!

Come and check out what the Bloom Brigade did with this lush set of beauties…

Allison Cope -- you are here!
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Danielle Kennedy
Julie Koerber
Katie Sims
Tosha Leyendekker
Marcy on the Power Poppy Blog

~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Power Poppy

Supplies:
So Glad We’re Friends:
stamps: Power Poppy (Sassy Succulents)
cardstock:  Bazzill
patterned paper:  My Mind’s Eye (Stella Rose)
edge punch: Fiskars
ribbon: Offray
ink: Memento, Ranger Distress Inks
tools: We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board
other: thread, Glossy Accents.

We're All in this Together:
stamps: Power Poppy (Sassy Succulents)
cardstock:  Bazzill
ink: Memento
pencil crayons: eeBoo
tools: Scor-Pal
other:  Stickles.

Introducing... Play Ball!

It’s Day 2 of our June sneak peeks for Power Poppy’s latest stamp sets.  Introducing “Play Ball!” our latest fabulous stamp set for all those sport enthusiasts out there!  Both girls and boy alike will love the wonderful detailed images of this fabulous baseball inspired collection.  Images included in this stamp are a pennant, a ball cap and a base with bats and balls and there’s even some stitching lines just like on your baseballs!  Super cute and perfect for Father’s Day!

I decided to go all out on my card today and share a fun and more 3 dimensional card creation… a box card!

Here is my open card.  This card opens up to reveal a card filled with lots of sports lovin’ fun!  All of it’s sport’s equipment just pops right out at ya!

On the back of the card is a space to write your message.

Each flap of the card is different and unique and is paired with the fun mini sports cards from my patterned papers…

And since this card is super, duper… it even folds flat to fit in my cute little custom made envelope…

I made a stitched belly band to hold the flaps closed within the envelope.  Don't you just love that stitching detail?!?

I hope you have enjoyed my project today!  Thanks for stopping by today!  Make sure to hop on to the next Bloom Brigade member and check out her fabulous creation today...

BLOOM BRIGADE: Unveil your sportsmans like creations ladies...

Allison Cope -- you are here!
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Danielle Kennedy
Dawn Burnworth
Julie Koerber
Kathy Jones
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker
Marcy on the Power Poppy Blog

~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Power Poppy
 
Supplies:
stamps: Power Poppy (Play Ball!)
cardstock:  Recollections, Bazzill
patterned paper:  Graphic45 (Good Ol’ Sports)
die cut shapes: Spellbinders
pennants: American Crafts
metal clip: BasicGrey
ink: Memento, Ranger Distress Inks, Copic Markers
tools: We R Memory Keepers Envelope Punch Board
pen: Sakura
jute: Darice
other: thread, clear cardstock, eyelets.

Introducing... Lavender!

We have the start of the newest release for Power Poppy today!  Our very first stamp set for June is the stunning new “Lavender”.  This beautiful stamp set is packed with four gorgeous images and 9 wonderful sentiments.   It’ll make you wanna go out and pick up some lavender for sure!  I just love that smell!

Here is my lovely lavender creation for you today…

I began by stamping the 3 stems of lavender with Memento “Elderberry” ink and then I coloured them in using Copic Markers.  For my sentiment, I stamped it using Versamark ink and heat embossed it with white powder.  Super simple!

 I even added a bit of sparkle to my lavender blooms!

Now… check out what my fellow Bloom Brigade members have instore using this beautiful stamp set…

Allison Cope ~ you are here!
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Danielle Kennedy 
Dawn Burnworth
Julie Koerber
Kathy Jones
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker
The Power Poppy Blog
 
Thanks for stopping by!

~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Power Poppy
 
Supplies:
stamps: Power Poppy (Lavender)
cardstock:  Recollections
die cut shapes: Spellbinders
patterned paper:  Authentique (Remembrance)
ink: Memento, Versamark, Copic Markers
embossing powder: Stampendous!
other:  thread, Stickles.

A Sneak Peek for Power Poppy!

Here’s a sneak peek at one of my projects going live for our new June Reveal for Power Poppy!

Make sure you check us beginning tomorrow as the Bloom Brigade begins the reveal of FOUR fabulous stamp sets for Power Poppy!  Trust me… you won’t want to miss this!

~ Ally ~

You Build Me Up… Buttercup!

So glad you could join me again today! This week is my week to share a sketch over at Splitcoaststampers for our weekly Sketch Challenge.  This week’s sketch is a tiny bit different… different in that it isn’t your typical A2 sized card but a square card this week.  Just thought I’d mix it up this week for everyone!


Here is this week’s sketch:  SC489

And here is my card sample for everyone…

I used the sweet stamp set by Power Poppy, “Good Thinking: Renewal”.  The stamp set is packed full of cute celebratory images including this cuppa blooms and sentiment on my card.  I used Copic Markers to colour it in and used some bright and fun patterned papers from Echo Park to finish it off.

Thanks for stopping by!

~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Power Poppy
 
Supplies:
stamps: Power Poppy (Good Thinking: Renewal)
cardstock:  Recollections, Bazzill
die cut shapes: Spellbinders
patterned paper, brad:  Echo Park
ribbon:  Offray
ink: Memento, Copic Markers
other:  thread.

The Unabashedly Upbeat Challenge

It’s Friday and time for another fun challenge over on the Popper Poppy Blog!

For this week’s challenge we have amazing album cover to inspire you…

Could this album cover be a card? That's the question behind this inspiration challenge! Be inspired by the colors, the layout of the art, the elements -- whatever you like! 

This challenge will run through May 30th at 3PM EST with the winner announced June 2, after the June Release. Use the keyword PPUPBEAT1 when entering it any gallery. The winner of this challenge wins a stamp set of their choice. Hooray!

To link up your card creation for this challenge, click here.

For my challenge example, I chose to take inspiration from the line art and the watercolour texture and the beautiful rich dark purples and ocean blues.  So I layered a whole bunch of our “Tulips” digital stamp image on top of one another, toned down the lines and then printed it out on water colour paper.

Then I proceeded to water colour below my tulips using Ranger Distress Inks in “Feathered Peacock” and “Dusty Concord”.  I also stamped a simple sentiment over top from the “Good Thinking: Renewal” stamp set.  I just love how easy and simple it turned out!

I sure hope that you’ll check out my Bloom Brigade companion, Julie Koerber’s, blog today too for some more fabulous challenge inspired creations!

Don't forget to check out our other ways to WIN with Power Poppy this month:

Pop Goes the World - Our 1st Challenge!

Power Poppy is PINteresting! ~ Follow us on Pinterest!

We hope you’ll play along with us this week!  Good luck!

~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Power Poppy
 
Supplies:
stamps: Power Poppy (Tulips, Good Thinking: Renewal)
cardstock:  Ranger Distress Watercolour Cardstock, Flourishes Classic White
tool: Scor-Pal
ink: Ranger Distress.

New Theme for the Dirty Girls!

Come on out and check out the newest theme for Splitcoaststampers Fan Club members!  Can you guess what it is…

If you are not a part of the Splitcoast Fan Club, why don’t you come and check it out for yourself.  For more details, click here.  You'll have a blast!

Thanks for peeking!

~ Ally ~

Precious Daisies

Hello happy stampers!  Come and join us on Splitcoaststampers today for the latest Sketch Challenge.

I also decided to also combine my card today with this week’s Color Combo challenge also over at Splitcoaststampers. This week’s colour challenge was to use…CC478:  Real Red, Old Olive and Daffodil Delight.

 Here is my card today…

I chose to use the beautiful “Gerbera Daisies” limited-time digital stamp set from Power Poppy.  There is just something so fun and happy about these beautiful daisies.  I coloured them using Copic Markers, added some glossy accents to their centers and then added some clear microbeads to them.  I love the texture they give the centers of the blooms!

And here is the sketch for this week, SC488:

As you can see from my card above, I actually flip flopped the sketch for my card.  Goodness I love sketches!


Thanks for stopping by!


~ Ally ~


Sponsored by:  Power Poppy

Supplies:
stamps: Power Poppy (Gerbera Daisies)
patterned paper:  Echo Park (So Happy Together, Beautiful Life)
cardstock:  Recollections, Flourishes Classic White
die cut shapes: Spellbinders
ink: Copic Markers.

Cards For Him Class

Hey gang!  Do you have a hard time creating masculine cards?  Well this is the card class for you!

Check out Catherine's video to find out more...

Click HERE to join the class!  StampNation members can click HERE and find their 50% off coupon!

The discounted price for the class only lasts until May30th so sign up now!!!!

~ Ally ~

Tips for Digital Stamps

Power Poppy has ventured into the land of digital crafting this month with their new release of some amazing digital flower stamp sets and sentiments; Gerber Daisies, Gladioli, Tulips and Peonies.  Come along with me and find out how you can create using these beauties using a FREE photo editing software called GIMP.

Join me on the Power Poppy Blog today to find out how I created the focal panel for this card...

See you there!

~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Power Poppy

Pop Goes the World: Take Two!

So have you checked out Power Poppy's first official challenge yet??  So the challenge is to create with at least THREE of the four colours shown in the photo above: greens, yellows, oranges or purples.  (You can see my challenge card creation here!) Click here for more details on how you can participate and WIN too!

Here's another card that fits the colour aspect of our challenge but doesn't actually use a digital stamp but I thought you might like the design and use of colour so here it is to share...

I began my card by using my Copic markers (YG13, Y18, YR16, YR18 and BV13) and creating a rainbow effect using my airbrush tool.  I took the “Think Peaceful Thoughts” sentiment from the Good Thinking: Renewal stamp collection and “inked” it up using Copic Blender Solution and stamped it all over my rainbow back ground.  The Blending Solution of course, pushes the colour deeper into the paper and leaves that section of the paper lighter.  A super cool effect!

Then I stamped my beautiful Spring bouquet from the Springtime Love stamp collection using Memento “Black Tuxedo” ink and coloured it in using Copic Markers.  I backed it with a couple of new lacy Spellinder die cuts from the “Elegant Ovals” die set and a cool diamond embossed paper, also from Spellbinders and voila... my card is finished!

Here is a quick close up of my rainbow back ground created using the Copic Blender Solution…

Thanks for stopping by! I sure hope you’ll play along with us this week!  Make sure to grab all of our brand new, limited-time-only digital stamps and create along with us for a chance to WIN the entire June release.  Challenge entries will be excepted until May 30th at 3pm EST and a winner will be announced on June 2nd on the Power Poppy Blog.  Trust me… this is worth it just for the chance to win our entire June release stamps!

Thanks for stopping by!

~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Power Poppy
 
Supplies:
stamps: Power Poppy (Springtime Love, Good Thinking: Renewal)
cardstock:  Recollections, Flourishes Classic White
die cut shapes: Spellbinders
ink: Memento, Copic Markers, Copic Blender Solution.

Power Poppy… POP Goes the World!

Welcome to the first official challenge for Power Poppy!  We’re so glad that you could stop by and have a gander at some new creations by the Bloom Brigade. Come and create along side our wonderful designers.  You can click here for the official challenge rules.

So your challenge is to create with at least THREE of the four colours shown in the photo above: greens, yellows, oranges or purples.  

Isn’t that photo spectacular?! It reminds me of the summer sun setting here on the prairies of the Alberta with the Rocky’s in the distance…. so beautiful!

For my card creation, I chose to actually use all four colours on my card!

For my card I decided to use the glad-orgeous digi stamp, Gladioli.  I first created some cool digital back ground paper using some FREE software called GIMP and then printed out my image and coloured my Gladioli with Copic Markers.  I'll be showing everyone on Monday EXACTLY how I created this on the Power Poppy Blog so stay tuned for that!!!!

Thanks for stopping by! We sure hope you’ll play along with us this week!  Make sure to grab all of our brand new, limited-time-only digital stamps and create along with us for a chance to WIN the entire June release.  Challenge entries will be excepted until May 30th at 3pm EST and a winner will be announced on June 2nd on the Power Poppy Blog.  Trust me… this is worth it just for the chance to win our entire June release stamp sets!

Check out my fellow Bloom Brigade challenge creations:

Allison Cope -- you are here!

Christine Okken

Dawn Burnworth

Julie Koerber

Leslie Miller

Stacy Morgan

Tosha Leyendekker

Thanks for stopping by!  Don’t forget to visit the rest of the Bloom Brigade for more colourful challenge inspiration!

~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Power Poppy
 
Supplies:
stamps: Power Poppy (Gladioli)
cardstock:  Recollections, Flourishes
die cut shapes: Spellbinders 
embossing folder:  Darice
gems:  Doodlebug Designs
ribbon: Offray
ink: Copic Markers, Ranger Distress.

Pretty Paper Packages

Come and join me on the Scrapbook and Cards Today blog today for a fun tutorial on how to make a some cool personalized envelopes for your fabulous cards.

You can see the making of my matching card right here on my blog.

Come and found out more about the Envelope Punch Board by We R Memory Keepers!

Hope to see you there!

~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Power Poppy

Supplies:
stamps: Power Poppy (Good Thinking: Renewal)
cardstock, patterned papers, stickers:  We R Memory Keepers (Inked Rose)
ink: Memento, Copic Markers
tools: sewing machine
Stickles: Ranger
other: thread.

Hit Refresh!

Welcome to another fabulous sketchy Wednesday creation over at Splitcoaststampers!  I had a ball creating this layered lovely this week using some gorgeous patterned papers, cardstock and stickers by We R Memory Keepers featuring their "Inked Rose" collection.

I played around with paper layers, lots of stitching and some Stickles this week...

For my sentiment inside and out, I featured the gorgeous stamp set, "Good Thinking: Renewal" stamp set from Power Poppy!

Check out the inside...

And here is Cathy's amazing sketch for this week's challenge... SC487:

Come and join us for our card sketch this week!

Make sure you join me tomorrow on the Scrapbook & Cards Today blog.  I'll be sharing some pretty packaging for this card!  Happy Wednesday everyone!

~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Power Poppy

Supplies:
stamps: Power Poppy (Good Thinking: Renewal)
cardstock, patterned papers, stickers:  We R Memory Keepers (Inked Rose)
ink: Memento, Copic Markers
tools: sewing machine
Stickles: Ranger
other: thread.

Be Power Poppy PINspired!

Hi everyone! Ally here, sharing a bit of fun that will be taking over the Power Poppy blog over the next few weeks! Tune in each Friday and you’ll not only get a chance to get in on some fun challenges using our new “Instant Garden” Release, but you’ll have a chance to win some Power Poppy goodies!

First up, have you checked out the Power Poppy boards over on Pinterest? If you haven’t — man are you missing out! There, you’ll find all of the creations from the Bloom Brigade and they are categorized by set — meaning all you need to do is click on over for instant inspiration in your own stamp room.

Here’s just a taste of what we’ve got going on! Look at all that eye candy!



So, how can you win? If you aren’t yet a follower of our Pinterest Boards, why not right? If you become one, we’ll draw one lucky follower to WIN the Power Poppy release for June – that’s a $72 value — just for signing up and being inspired in the process! Again, just log into your Pinterest account, click HERE and then click on the red button and you’ll be in the running! The winner will be announced on June 2nd after we unveil our fun-filled June release!  

Here's another fun card creation using our newest stamp release set, "Peonies".

I used my Photoshop program and designed my own patterned paper by created a linen textured back ground and then added my multiple peony digital stamps resized to fit my paper scale.

Here's a close up of my patterned paper detail.  You can see the texture of the faux linen behind the semi-transparent peonies...

Thanks for stopping by today.  Make sure you check out the entire new "limited time only" digital release from Power Poppy!

Good luck and we’ll see you at the Power Poppy Hot Spot (a.k.a. the blog) soon! 

~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Power Poppy

Supplies:
stamps: Power Poppy (Peonies)
cardstock:  Recollections, Flourishes Classic Black, Bazzill
die cut shapes: Spellbinders
ink: Ranger Distress
twine:  Darice tools: Photoshop CS3
other:  thread.

Power Poppy Hop ~ Bring on the Bloom Brigade!

At Power Poppy we have given in to your inner voice that craves instant gratification!  This month the entire release is all digital - meaning you can download, print and use the images as soon as they land in your inbox!  

And then, it gets even better...Are you ready for some incredible fun?  During the whole month of May, we’ll not only share ideas on how to use these beauties, but we’ll also give those who purchase them extra ways to win some Power Poppy goodies!  Each Friday during May, we’ll usher in challenges designed around our new and beautiful digi images!  

It’s been fun to already see many of you trying out these digis in galleries around blogland!  

Make sure you stop by the Power Poppy Blog today Marcy has some fabulous words of wisdom!  Check out all the amazing stamp sets for May...

Have you got yours yet?  Click here to purchase!

For the hop today, I was feeling like I needed to showcase not one , not two but ALL of the gorgeous blooms for our May release.  So I resized my images so they would fit on a reasonable sized circle for a card front and printed them out.  I chose to colour them using a sepia toned Copic marker colour palette today...



Here's a little close up of the blooms and their fabulous sentiment from the "Good Thinking: Renewal" stamp set:


Thanks for stopping by today!  Make sure to hop on to the next Bloom Brigade member and check out her fabulous creation today...

BLOOM BRIGADE: Unveil your secret garden of Spring beauties...

Allison Cope -- you are here!
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Danielle Kennedy
Dawn Burnworth
Dina Kowal 
Julie Koerber
Kathy Jones
Katie Sims
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker

Thanks for stopping by!  Don’t forget to visit the rest of the Bloom Brigade for more Spring bloom inspiration! 

~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Power Poppy

Supplies:
stamps: Power Poppy (Gerbera Daisies, Peonies, Gladioli, Tulips, Good Thinking: Renewal)
cardstock:  Recollections, Flourishes Classic Ivory, Bazzill
patterned paper:  Authentique (Abroad)
die cut shapes: Spellbinders
ink: Copic (E50, E51, E53, E55, E59, E31)
tools: Photoshop CS3.