Take The Challenge!

 

Yesterday I was up on the Power Poppy blog sharing a fun challenge where my fellow Bloomie, Gloria Stengel and I challenged each other to create with certain perimeters.  

We decided to:

• choose 1 or 2 stamps to choose from
• choose a medium to use
• choose a fun sketch

The challenge that Gloria sent me was:

• to use either Garden of Gratitude or Maize for Days stamp set,
• use Watercolor and Colored Pencils as a combined coloring medium
• use the sketch provided (by Mojo Monday)

I chose to use the bloom filled wellies image from the Garden of Gratitude stamp set.  I stamped the image using Antique Linen Distress ink for a no-line effect and then I water colored them using Derwent Intense Pencils.  Then to add all the fine detail back into my image, I used my Polychromos Pencils.

I haven't watercolored in a long time so it was a great challenge that Gloria had me using this medium.  It was super fun to create this holiday card.

I hope I have inspired to get creating. Click HERE to go and check out the challenge I gave Gloria plus her gorgeous end project!

Have a great week everyone!

~ Ally ~

stamps: Power Poppy (Garden of Gratitude)
watercolor paper: Canson (Cold Press 90#)
cardstock: Catherine Pooler (Chocolate)
inks: Derwent Intense Pencils, Polychromos Pencils, Distress (Antique Linen), Kraftin' Kimmie (Marvellous Mocha)
patterned papers: Simple Stories (Very Merry 6x8), PhotoPlay (Dear Santa 6x6), MFT (Proper pinstripes Pastels 6x6)
dies: MFT (Stitched Rectangles)

Black & White Plus a Pop!

TGIF everyone!  I hope you’ve had a great week so far and have fun plans for the weekend.

Today is the first Friday of the month so Power Poppy has a brand new Power & Spark Challenge for you.  This challenge courtesy of Christine Okken, is a lovely one… Black, white and one color… it’s that simple!

For more information on the challenge and how you can win a $50 shopping spree in the Power Poppy Shop.

I chose to use my favorite color… purple.  Like that’s a surprise right?!?!  I pulled out the “Under Glass” stamp set and I stamped the glassware upside down!  Yup… I did it!  Then I used the “Sweet Memories” stamp set and created a simple bouquet of Sweet Peas.

I colored all of my blooms using Copic Markers.  I used a variety of shades of the V family of Copics.

The genius of this stamped image is the use of the little peas from the “Sweet Memories” stamp set.  Instead of using them as peas, I used them as glass beads at the bottom of the glass vase.  Brilliant right?

Now don’t forget to not only come play along but check out what my fellow Bloomies have come to create and share with you today…

Allison Cope

Christine Okken -- go here next!

Stacy Morgan

Power Poppy Blog

Thanks for dropping by!  Hope you have a great weekend!

~ Ally ~


supplies:
stamps: Power Poppy (Sweet Memories, Under Glass)
inks:  Kraftin’ Kimmie (Wicked Black), Copic Markers
dies:  My Favorite Things (Stitched Rectangles), Spellbinders (A2 Tranquil Moments)
patterned paper:  MFT (Dots & Stripes Neutrals 6x6, Proper Pinstripes Pastels 6x6)cardstock: Recollections (White 110#, Black #110)
other: Stickles (Star Dust)

12 Days of Christmas

Oh good golly!  Where is my head!  It's been a super busy last few weeks for me... mostly with fun Scouting adventures with my Scouts but so many fun memories made with all of them for sure!

Come and check out my fun blog post on the Power Poppy Blog right HERE.

There are also 11 more tutorials for you to gawk over too.  Come check them all out HERE.

Have a great Hump Day everyone!!

~ Ally ~

Power Poppy: Popping By to Say Hello!

Howdy all!  Happy Friday!  I had a busy July already with a trip to Nova Scotia with my Scout troop for 11 days and celebrating a 12th birthday for my son Spencer!  I was so happy to have a rest from creating and I’m back with a great creative mojo again – it was much needed.

I haven’t actually posted much this month so here’s a quick review for all those Power Poppy lovers out there!

First off, it’s my turn to host the monthly challenge for Power Poppy, the “Power & Spark Challenge”.  This month I’m asking you to COPY a Bloomie!  Click here to find out all the details!

Don’t forget to check out this month’s Hues to Use too!  These are photo inspiration pieces to get that creative mojo running using different colour combos.  Here’s a sneak of this month’s Hues to Use…

And finally, I’m up on the blog Playing with Plastic this month!  Come on out and check out my Inspire Me Monday article where I go back to a fun childhood creative media… shrink plastic!  Find out more here!

Now, on to today…

I’m playing along with my own Power & Spark Challenge today and I’m copying my fabulously wonderful and big hearted friend, Tosha Leyendekker!  Today I’m CASEing this particular card.

It features the big beautiful bouquet of Ranunculus blooms form the “Dynamic Duos: Foxglove and Ranunculus”.  My simple greeting is from the “Poppies” stamp set.  I had fun colouring it with my Copic Markers yesterday.

Well, let’s check out what the rest of my fellow Bloomies have created to share with you today…

Allison Cope – you are here!

Christine Okken – go here next!

Katie Sims

Stacy Morgan

Marcella on the Power Poppy Blog

Thanks again for joining me today!  I hope you have an amazing and creative weekend!

~ Ally ~


Stamps: Power Poppy (Dynamic Duos: Foxglove and Ranunculus, Poppies)
Cardstock: Recollections (140lb White)
Ink: Versafine (Onyx Black), Memento (Tuxedo Black), Sakura (Jellyroll White Pen)
Patterned Paper:  My Favorite Things (Farm Fresh Gingham 6x6, Sweet Sunshine 6x6), Your Next Stamp (Hugs and Kisses 6x6), Copic Markers
Die: Spellbinders (Labels 17), Honey Bee Stamps (Hexagon Bunches), SugarPea Designs (Stitched Flags)
Sequins: CraftMedley (Princess)
Other: Thread.

Just Buzzing By...

Howdy all!  Happy Friday!  I hope you've had a great week!

Today we begin a brand new Power & Spark Challenge for the month of June.  And this month's it's a fun one...

It's called the June Bug Challenge.  For this challenge we want to some bugs or insects in your creations!  How fun is that!!  And one lucky participant will win a $50 shopping spree in the Power Poppy Shop.  See the Power Poppy blog for all the fun details.

For my card today, I chose to feature some of the cute little bees from the Burst of Kindness .  The sentiment is also from this same stamp set.

 Copic Markers: Y11, Y13, Y17, YR12YR68, YR18, BG11, BG13, BG15, BG72, BG18, BV31, BV23, YG03

My card also features a medium succulent from the Succulent Singles stamp set, a feather from the retired "Marcella’s Mixed Tape: Vol. 1" stamp set and the leaves and blooms from the glorious Peony Muse stamp set.  I had a ball creating this card!

Today’s my birthday!  Yup… it is!  But I’m not receiving gifts today, I’m giving one away.  All you have to do to WIN this brand new “Sweet Memories” stamp set is leave a comment answering the question (and leave your email address please)…

The best birthday present I ever received was...?

 
Good luck!

I will draw a winner and post it next Friday right here on my blog. 

Now check out what my fellow Bloomies have created for you to check out today…

Allison Cope – you are here!
Julie Koerber - go here next!

Stacy Morgan
Marcella on the Power Poppy Blog

Thanks again for joining me today and good luck!

~ Ally ~

 
Stamps:  Power Poppy (Peony Muse, Succulent Singles, Burst of Kindness, Marcella’s Mixed Tape: Vol. 1)
Inks: Memento (Tuxedo Black), Ranger Distress Oxide (Fozzilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade), Copic Markers, Pen-touch Calligrapher (Gold), Spectrum Noir (Sparkle Pen)
Cardstock:  Recollections (110# White), Stampin’ Up! (Pool Party)
Dies:  Honey Bee Stamps (Hexagon CP: Stipple Layer)

Power Poppy: Winter Blooms

Happy Friday the 13th everyone!  Yup… today’s my lucky day!  My Mom is a Friday the 13th baby so for me, it’s a lucky one!

This month over on the Power Poppy Blog for our Power & Spark Challenge we are showcasing all things wintry floral!  Come and check out all the challenge details right here.  You could WIN a stamp set just for sharing your creation with us!

So for my wintry blooms, I chose to use the beautiful Joyful Lilies digital stamp set. This gorgeous set comes just like the image seen below or it comes wrapped around a beautiful cross for Easter plus a few sentiments.  I then used a birthday sentiment from the Party Time clear stamp set.

 Copic Markers: Y06, YG0000, YG000, YG01, YG03, YG17, B41, B23, BV00, R20, R21, R22, R27

I chose to create a card with a bumped up layer of the larger lily blooms.

I'm going to share this with the Seize the Birthday Challenge this week: "Anything Goes" this week.

Now come and let’s check out all the other Power Poppy creations today…

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence
Julie Koerber

Stacy Morgan

Power Poppy Blog

 Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you have an amazing day!

~ Ally ~

Supplies:
stamps: Power Poppy (Joyful Lilies, Party Time)
cardstock:  Neenah (Solar White), DCWV (Gold Cardstock)
inks: Memento (Tuxedo Black), Copic Markers, Wink of Stella (Clear)
patterned papers: My Mind’s Eye (Market Street)
dies: My Favorite Things (Stitched Circles, Dimensional Banners), Spellbinders (PageMaps – On the Edge)
sequins: Pretty Pink Posh (Metallic Gold)

Just Make it Move Baby!

Hey Power Poppy Lovers!  It’s Friday and Thanksgiving weekend here in Canada so I’m anxiously awaiting my husband’s arrival home tomorrow to spend our first Thanksgiving together in many years – typically he’s working on this holiday but not this year!  Woohoo!

This week we begin with a brand new Power & Spark Challenge and I’m this month’s hostess.  For this month, we want to see You Move It, Move It!  That is, we want to see an element of your card move.  It could be anything from a pull-out tag, to some sequins in a shaker card to a fun element that jiggles all on its own!  Let's see you Make it Move this month!

If you haven’t already seen my first card, you can visit the Power Poppy Blog for my card and a quick video.

So I thought I would make a new card to share with you all especially in mind…

So my card is a two-fold moving card.  First off, it has a shaker element on the front.  It contains some clear sequins and clear & silver micro-beads too!  It features the amazing wreath image from the "Wreaths Plain and Fancy".  The "Happy Holidays" sentiment also comes on the wreath stamp set plus the lower greeting is from the "Cozy Cupfuls" stamps.

My card is called a “Surprise Pop Up Card”. You can see a tutorial on this style of card at Splitcoast right here.

Here is my card with the tag pulled up…

Copics:  R05, R17, R46, R59, YR01, BG72, BG93, G02, YG45, YG63, YG93

The gorgeous sentiments and the poinsettia image on the inside both come from the "Poinsettia" stamp collection.

And here's a rather fuzzy pic of the top tag when pulled out...

I hope you’ll continue on and check out all the amazing card creations from the rest of my fellow Bloom Brigaders today…

Allison Cope – you are here!
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Julie Koerber
Katie Sims
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker
Power Poppy Blog

I hope you will join us in out challenge this month.  I can’t wait to see some innovative moving card elements from all of you!  Happy creating!

~ Ally ~


supplies:
stamps: Power Poppy (Wreaths Plain and Fancy, Poinsettia, Cozy Cupfuls) 
cardstock: Recollections (Black & White), Staples (Clear Acetate)

patterned paper: Lawn Fawn (Perfectly Plaid Christmas 6x6)
dies: My Favorite Things (Stitched Circles, Dimensional Banners)
inks: Memento (Tuxedo Black, Love Letter), Simon Says Stamp (Mint Candy), Copic Markers, Sakura (White Gel Pen)
sequins: Pretty Pink Posh (Sparkling Clear)
tools: EK Success (Corner Rounder)
twine: Stampin’ Up! (Basic Black)
micro-beads: Recollections
snowflake: Jesse James
ribbon: Offray

Sending Peony Love!

Hello Power Poppy fans!  I hope you’re having a fabulous Friday!

Today is the first Friday in May so that means a brand new Power & Spark Challenge over on the Power Poppy Blog! This month’s theme is April Showers Bring... "May Flowers” and what that means is that you have to create a card using at least one bloom on it and share with us on the blog.  Super easy challenge this month.

For further Power & Spark Challenge details, click here.

So blooms it is!  I chose to use the newly release digital stamp, “Peony Love”. This new digital stamp set includes two stunning peony images and 2 awesome sentiments.

And here it is… I chose to keep my card super simple today and just focus on the blooms…

Copics: YR01, YR02, R02, YG21, YG23, YG95, BV31, BV23

I also pulled in my clear stamp set, “Potted Primroses” and stamped out a little greeting for my banner.

For my card design today, I took a cue from the CAS(E) This Sketch challenge for this week and flip flopped my version... click the image below to take you to their blog.

 Now, off you go and check out what the amazing Bloom Brigade has put together for you today using some blooms…

Allison Cope – you are here!
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Julie Koerber
Katie Sims
Stacy Morgan
Power Poppy Blog
 
Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you enjoy the creative journey today!
 
~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Power Poppy

Supplies:
stamps: Power Poppy (Peony Love, Potted Primroses)
cardstock:  Recollections White & Black Cardstock
patterned paper: Penny Black (Painted Blooms 6x6)
ink: Versafine (Black Onyx), Copic Markers
die: My Favorite Things (Stitched Ovals), Simon Says Stamp (Sending)
sequins: Pretty Pink Posh (Metallic Gold 4mm).

Only 3 Markers ~ Take 2!

Howdy all!  Happy Monday to you all!

Today I’m over on the Power Poppy Blog today sharing a card creation for my Inspire Me Monday episode, right HERE.

Come and check out my second card for Christine’s fabulous Power & Spark challenge for April.  It’s a good one!  I thoroughly enjoyed creating another fun card for it.  To check out my first card, click here.

Here’s a little sneak peek for you…

Thanks for stopping by!  Please leave me a comment over on the Power Poppy blog. I’d love to know what you think of my card and the challenge.

~ Ally ~

Switch Up Your Shades!

TGIF everyone!  It’s a new month and so that means it’s time for a new challenge over at Power Poppy! Today’s it’s my month to host!

Your Power & Spark challenge is...
 

This month I want you pull out a coloring medium that you don't use that often.  So if you tend to use Copic Markers for instance, pull out your water color paints or your colored pencils instead!  Let's see you use up some of those not-so-used mediums this month.

For further challenge details, visit the Power Poppy Blog here.

Today I'm also joining along with Kathy Racoosin’s “30 Day Coloring Challenge” over at Kathy’s blog, “The Daily Marker”.  And my challenge falls in perfectly with Kathy’s challenge too! For more about Kathy’s challenge visit her blog here.

So if you follow my blog, you all know I LOVE my Copic Markers so in keeping with my theme of using a colouring medium that I don’t tend to use a lot, I picked up my Derwent Colored Pencils.

Plus, I also printed out the newest digi stamp released TODAY called “Magnolia Sunshine” and sunshine indeed!  Isn’t it darling and sunny?!?  awwww!

Marcella always makes the most amazing bouquets to colour!  She took inspiration for this beauty from all of her Mama’s favourite flowers…

My simple circular sentiment is from the “Azalea” stamp set!

Derwent Colors used:  Sun Yellow, Sherbet Lemon, Apple Green, Felt Green, Iris Blue, Fuchsia, Chilli Red, Sienna Gold, Baked Earth 

Now, off you go and check out what the amazing Bloom Brigade has put together for you today using these five new beautiful stamp sets…

Allison Cope – you are here!
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Julie Koerber
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker
Cheryl Scrivens
Barb Walker 
Power Poppy Blog

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you enjoy all these new inky creations from the Bloom Brigade today!

~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Power Poppy

Supplies:
stamps: Power Poppy (Magnolia Sunshine, Azalea)
cardstock:  Canson 90lb Coldpress Watercolour Paper, My Favorite Things (Tickled Pink), Stampin’ Up! (Very Vanilla)
patterned paper: MFT (Homespun Gingham 6x6), My Mind’s Eye (Collectable)
ink: Derwent Colored Pencils, Simon Says Stamp (Willow), Sakura (Gold Calligrapher Pen)
dies: MFT (Stitched Circles), Spellbinders (Scalloped Circles, On the Edge – PageMaps), Pretty Pink Posh (Mini Tags)
ribbon:  Offray.

Make it a Tall One!

Welcome to the first official Power & Spark challenge of 2016 for Power Poppy! I’m excited about this challenge because I always love the look of a tall card and that’s what our first challenge is… to STRETCH YOURSELF.... maybe a TALL card or a trying a new technique to you?  Super easy right!?  The possibilities are endless!

For all of this month’s challenge details and rules, click here!  Good luck!

For my tall card I decided to use a few of my favourite Power Poppy stamp sets. The cardinals and their cups is from the “Cozy Cupfuls”, the 2 piece sentiment is from the “So Grateful” set and the bows & hearts are from the “Good Thinking: Love Notes” collection.

Here’s a close up of the back ground…

And since I was having so much fun, I decided to make a second one with a slightly different back ground.

And here’s a close up of the second back ground…

Now, off you go and check out what the amazing Bloom Brigade has put together for you today for our fun tall card challenge…

Allison Cope – you are here!
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Julie Koerber

Katie Sims
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan

Power Poppy Blog


Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you enjoy all these new inky creations from the Bloom Brigade today!

~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Power Poppy
 
Supplies:
stamps: Power Poppy (Cozy Cupfuls, Good Thinking Love Notes, So Grateful)
cardstock:  Neenah Solar White Cardstock, Recollections #110 White Cardstock, Stampin’ Up! (Cherry Cobbler), Flourishes
ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black, Love Letter), Versafine (Black Onyx), Simon Says Stamp (Teeny Bikini - Hybrid), Copic Markers, Clear Wink of Stella
die: Lawn Fawn  (Stitched Rectangles), My Favorite Things (Stitched Circles).

Power & Spark: Snowglobe Greetings!

Happy Friday everyone!  I have been creating up a storm this week as my mojo has returned with a vengeance (and thank goodness for that!)

With this being the first Friday of the month, the Bloom Brigade and some of the Instant Gardeners are here today to usher in a brand new Power & Spark Challenge for December.  This one’s a fun one…

So you get to pick from any of our past challenges.  Here’s a quick reference for you…

2015 CHALLENGES

• The Sky's the Limit (Sunsets, blue sky, gray sky, use any color found in the sky)
• Go for the Gold (Use gold in any way – color, embellishments, embossing)
• Pop of Pastel (Use soft pastel colors)
• Cut it Out (Fussy cut all or part of your image)
• Pencil Me In (Color with pencils, including watercolor pencils)
• Hang Some Paper (Use at least three different patterns or colors of designer paper)
• Shabby & Chic (Soft, feminine, romantic, the appearance of age and wear)
• Gifts from the Heart (Gifts or gift packaging, tags, etc.)
• Bits & Pieces (Use just a portion of an image. Stamp off the edge or cut it out, etc.)
• Embellish This (Use embellishments)

For further challenge details and rules, check THIS out!

So for my cards… yes, I said CARDS … I used two of the challenges above.  I used the “Go for the Gold” and “Cut it Out”challenges.

I also get to introduce you to our newest little digi too!  Meet “Snowglobe Greetings”… a sweet little snow globe featuring Santa and a sack full of toys plus a new holiday greeting!  This new stamp will be available tomorrow.

Now, if you want to see how I made my three cards today, check out my latest Christmas Cards 2015 Series…

Direct Link Here

Marcy has a few fabulous holiday stamp sets on SALE right now in the Power Poppy Shop PLUS take 10% off all Holiday sets (clear and digital) when you enter HOLIDAY10 in the discount code box at checkout this weekend!!!

Now, off you go and check out what the amazing Bloom Brigade has put together for you today using these five new beautiful stamp sets…

 

Allison Cope – you are here!
Christine Okken
Julie Koerber
Kathy Jones
Katie Sims
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Marcy on the Power Poppy Blog


Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you enjoy all these new inky creations from the Bloom Brigade today!

~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Power Poppy
 
Supplies:
stamps: Power Poppy (Snowglobe Greetings – digital, Merry Littles)
cardstock:  Neenah Solar White Cardstock, Recollections #110 White Cardstock, Stampin’ Up! (Real Red)
ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black), Copic Markers, Clear Wink of Stella, Versamark, Sharpie (Gold Fine Tip Pen)
embossing paste:  Ranger (Translucent Gloss)
embossing powder:  Stampendous! (Detail White)
die: Lawn Fawn (stitched rectangles)
stencil:  Tim Holtz (Holiday Knit)
glitter:  Martha Stewart
other:  gold thread, washi tape.