Creative Confetti: Sketch It Out!

Hello all! Today's Creative Confetti Challenge is one of my favorite kinds of challenges. I absolutely love sketches! A few months ago, when I ushered in a sketch challenge here, I said we should do it more often and then I promptly forgot I said it! Do you ever have those moments? ;-) So, let's get to this week's fun! Shall we? 

HOW TO PLAY: Use the sketch below to create. Just that simple! Here's the fun part -- you can flip the sketch any which way. Use it upside down, on its side, the world is your oyster! Simply use this sketch as a launching point! If you want to stick to the basic sketch, that's perfect too! That's why I love sketches, it takes the guesswork out of creating!

And, here's a peek at my creation! I do have a confession to make. This creation is one that I previously posted on my blog. So... if you are REALLY good, you might remember it! I am in the midst of moving my craft room and so literally all my goodies are packed up in boxes and I won't be able to really get to them for at least another week! We are finishing off our basement (finally) and so I cut a sliver off my basement floor plan just for a creative little spot. Long story short, I can't really create right now. So, here's a peek at the inspiration for my sketch! 

I had printed off the Power Poppy digi Sunset Sway and after printing, I reached into my trusty bag of Copic Markers and these are the colors I grabbed!

Because this is a little larger of an image, I wanted to make sure it took center stage on my creation. So, I left the layout rather simple -- pairing up a few different, yet coordinating kinds of decorative paper, adding the sentiment from Easy Breezy Coneflower, and then accenting with some natural twine and a greenish yellow button!

Here's a little closeup for you! You can see that I did accent parts of this image with some of my favorite white gel pen!

And that, my friends, is it! Now it's your turn to take this sketch and make it your own! Can't wait to see what you come up with! Don't forget to link up your creation below once you do create because... as we always say... each and every link up is one more chance to win a $25 gift code to the Power Poppy Shop! Who wouldn't want to win that?

Because we are so close to the end of the month, I decided we should just start a new linky for May today and draw the winner of last month's Creative Confetti giveaway. If you do still want to participate today and link up for April, just make sure to use this new linky! So, after random.org threw all the names into the virtual hat, the lucky stamper was.....

Which means the winner is....

**** DONNA PHELAN ****

Donna created an adorable Easter basket for our 'Just Go 3-D' Challenge! And, the results are just too sweet for words! Check it out! Donna used Power Poppy's Potted Primrose stamp set for the main images and paired it with the Short Stacks set for the sentiment. Love it! Just too cute for words! I told her that I might be "CASE"ing this creation in the future (Copy and Steal Everything!) I'd give her credit, of course! ;-)

Donna, to claim your prize, simply email us at bloom@powerpoppy.com and we'll get your winning code for a $25 shopping trip to the Power Poppy Shop right to you! 

Thanks everyone for stopping by! And, like I mentioned before, we can't wait to see what YOU create this month. Who knows, maybe you'll be our next big winner? 

Happy Creating!

~Julie

a.k.a. Creative Confetti Thrower

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Creative Confetti: Merci Bouquet!

Hello my happy stampers! Okay, show of hands. Who is ready for spring? (Yes, I am raising my hand!) And, who feels like they are stuck in "Sprinter" -- the season where it should be spring but it still is winter. (Yes, I am still raising my hand!) I am not sure where it is like where you live but this week in Montana, we've had below zero temps and snow, lots of it. Today the high was -1! Yay! It's a day where I really needed a little bit of flower power in my life! So, that's why for this week's Creative Confetti Challenge, I thought I'd throw this little bit of inspiration up. Bouquets! Yes! Beautiful, lush bouquets! Check it out sweet peeps! 

HOW TO PLAY: Simply use a Power Poppy image that has a collection of different flowers. There are so many to choose from that it will be super fun this week to see which blossoms you choose! Just in case you need a little bit of inspiration, click HERE to see just some of the wonderful offerings from Power Poppy that could help you show off a bouquet of blossoms! I honestly started to link up all the sets and then after 20 I decided listing them ALL would create quite the list! ;-) The good news is, there are so many options in both clear and digital stamp sets that you should be able to find something -- even in an instant! ;-)

To serve as a wee bit of inspiration, I decided to pull some creations that would fit the blossom-filled bill for this challenge!

Don't have a bouquet set? Why not create one yourself with some fussy or die cutting and a floral set like Power Poppy's Abundant Petals? 

Artistic Bouquet is the epitome of a lush, beautiful bouquet. This card above might be one of my favorites of all time. I took Amy Shulke's online class on coloring up this beauty and am still amazed at how her tips really helped me create something with so much depth -- more so than I have created on my own in the past. Thanks Amy!

Sunset Sway is one of those easy breezy bouquets that doesn't take a ton of time to color up! And, who doesn't love that little fluttering butterfly? 

And last, but not least, this one above is more of a spray of flowers but it still fits the bill! I adore this image from Power Poppy's So Grateful set because of the range of colors you can use to bring it to life!

So, there you have it my friends! A bounty of bouquet options and my samples really only scratched the surface of possibilities! So pick your petals, get those fingers inky and link up your creation below! Every single entry is one entry into our monthly random drawing for a $25 gift code to the Power Poppy Shop! YIPPPEEEEE!

Thanks for stopping by! We can't wait to see what YOU create!

~Julie
Creative Confetti Thrower

An InLinkz Link-up

Hues to Use honors... Mr. Tibbs!

Hello sweet peeps! Are you ready for a super cute, fuzzy, and sometimes comical bit of inspiration for this week's Hues to Use? Well, I sure am! It's been a while since we've put this little guy in the spotlight and so, we thought it would be fun to have not only a guest hostess today but a debonair man at the center of it all! Are you scratching your head, confused as to what the heck I am talking about? Well, check it out, will you? 

IT'S MR TIBBS! Can you even stand how incredibly cute he is? Oh, my. Don't you wish you could just sit on a giant pillow all day and stretch like this? Yep. Pretty much! So, to play along this week, all you need to do is grab this color combo above -- Navy, Denim and Tan -- and create! Just that simple folks! 

And guess what? We have, like I mentioned above, an absolutely fabulous guest hostess to show off these color cues for us all! Are you ready to meet her? Say "Hello" to this fine lady as we hear her share a little bit about herself and her gorgeous creation! 

"Hello, I'm Tress Smyth. I'm currently retired and living in SW Florida with my adorable and craft-spending forgiving husband, Greg (He's says I am more of a collector of craft supplies than a user, LOL -- each month I eagerly await Marcella's new digi offering). We celebrated our 10th anniversary this month. I have two grown children, a married daughter and a son who is in the Army. In addition to my family, crafting and travel are passions of mine. We are headed to Paris in June (first time overseas for my husband). I have not been there for nearly 40 years and I am looking forward to rediscovering the city! When we are not traveling, we enjoy spending our days hanging out in our pool with family and friends, hosting parties, golfing, and crafting.

My crafty hobbies include coloring digi stamps.  I actually detest physical stamps and I am so VERY happy Marcella is creating beautiful images for us digi gals. I love scrapbooking, and making Christmas ornaments and wreaths (stitched felt, ribbon, cross stitch, decorated pinecones). I just invested in some watercolor pencils and am eager to give them a try. My workspace is a total wreck when I craft. The piles grow until I cannot stand it and have to clean before starting the next project. I'll begin with a large area to work in and by the time I finish my project I'm down to about a 6 x 12 space and that is only because I move my keyboard out of the way, lol.

My creative process for Hues to Use is a tad different from my usual approach to card making. Typically I search my digi library/stash for an image that suits a specific project or just because I think it would be enjoyable to color (Marcella’s being my favorite for sheer indulgence). The next step is picking colors to work with. Playing in a Hues to Use challenge makes me switch up the order of picking a stamp and picking colors. Hues to Use pushes me to consider colors first, then choose an image that works with those colors. With a prominent butterfly, a Clusiana Tulip (I took a bit of liberty with color here), and a wild Anemone, a cropped version of Sunset Sway seemed the best candidate.

For this particular challenge, the colors appeared to me as camel, grayed turquoise, and indigo. The Copic markers that best matched were E31, BG18, and B99. The highlight and shading colors were built around this foundation. This color combo is outside my comfort zone (I gravitate to the bright spring hues), but it was fun to work with a more subdued palate.

After coloring the image with Copics and adding a touch of colored pencils, I chalked the background. I use chalk rather than Copics or other inks as the chalks are more subtle and more forgiving. The color or blend can be changed if the first try doesn’t look quite right.

Then it’s on to picking papers. Hmmmm….both a pleasure and a pain. If the process comes together quickly, it’s a joy. When I search my hundreds (yes, I sheepishly admit to hundreds) of 6x6 paper pads and still cannot find the “right” paper for the “right” look, the process is a total frustration. Thankfully by looking at a few of my unloved boy themed paper pads I was able to find a pleasing combination!

Embellishments are minimal on most of my cards. A fishtail banner and three enamel dots complete this card.

Thank you for asking me to be a part of this Hues to Use Challenge! It was a privilege, and I cannot wait to see how others will use this palate for their creations!"

Thanks, Tress! I absolutely love your card and the serene elegance you whipped up here! And to think that you reached for some "unloved" boy-themed paper packs to get the job done! LOL! I have to say that I am with you. I have a few of those myself and you've inspired me to dig through them and pick a few papers that I wouldn't otherwise use! :-)

Do you want to play along with us this week? Pick up these three colors, create, and then, link up your card using the linky below! We'd not only love to see what you create, you might just be like Tress in the future and be the hostess with the mostess here for an upcoming Hues to Use! 

Thanks for stopping by & thanks again Tress for hosting!

Julie 

An InLinkz Link-up

Sharing Nothing but GOOD Vibes!

Hello peeps! Welcome to another fun-filled Friday here on the Power Poppy blog when we fill your basket of life with a handful of goodies for you to take in, ponder and hopefully let blossom somehow in your day! In today's Good Vibe 5, are you ready for a little trip? We head to the 'Great White North' for a little escapade with Bloomie Christine on our first stop! 

GOOD VIBE 1 

Goodness gracious, will you look at that canyon? What a picturesque gem in the heart of the Canadian Rockies! Now, that you've taken in that sight, you have to check out Christine Okken's  "people" on one of the bridges while on a hike through the Maligne Valley in Jasper National Park. Squint your eyes and you'll see those blond-headed beauties a.k.a. her three children! They are the only ones actually looking and posing for the camera! ;-) You might know this, you might not. But if you look at the Power Poppy team, most of us have been together in one form or another for going on 10 years. That means when I look at this picture and now see two legal adults and one that keeps growing? Oh, my! What wonderful human beings! Want to read more about this breathtaking view? Click HERE and maybe you'll be inspired to put YOUR hiking shoes on!

GOOD VIBE 2



I don't know about you but I would love to be a fly on the wall in Kathy Jones' stamping space to just watch her reach for colors and bring some of Power Poppy's images to life! That's why I love this image above. You get an up close and personal view of her in action! If you'd like to see how this beauty turned out using Power Poppy's digital stamp set Sunset Sway, I won't tease you any longer! 😀 All you need to do is click HERE!

GOOD VIBE 3

I am so sorry but I got the giggles when I found this post from Power Poppy fan Christina Dauven. It was filed under the caption, "How I feel every morning!" I'm with you, Christina. I am WITH YOU! I found my way to her IG when she hash-tagged Power Poppy on one of her projects. I thought this little photo above was the perfect reminder that IT IS FRIDAY FOLKS! Thanks Christina for the laugh!

GOOD VIBE 4

Okay, can I get a show of hands from all of you who remember when Twinkling H20s were ALL the rage? If you have absolutely no idea what I am talking about -- Twinks are those little shimmering paint pots that give a metallic edge to watercolored projects. I actually have a shoebox full! They literally last forever! And, thank goodness, because recently I was drooling over this project above by the absolutely fabulous Leslie Miller using Twinks and Power Poppy's stamp set My English Rose. Ahhhhhh! If you love to bring the bling then check out her post HERE and find ways to add a little sparkle in your own special way! 

GOOD VIBE 5

Can you even stand it -- the cute factor meter just broke with this photo above!! Meet Mr. Tibbs -- the official Power Puppy! I decided to make this little guy the Good Vibe #5 because studies show that taking a gander at darling puppy photos not only releases endorphins a.k.a. "happy feels" but actually helps your focus in your day. Yep. That's science folks, so by sharing this totes adorbs photo of Mr. Tibbs, I am just doing my duty to make you happy and smart! ;-)  By the way, if you wondered why Tibbsy has his little ears taped, I learned that these pups need a little help keeping their ears up as the cartilage hardens. As you can see by his "smile" -- he doesn't seem to mind a bit! 

There you go folks, a touch of nature, a bit of color inspiration, a way to bring a bit of bling, a little bit of funny and a whole lot of cute = Good Vibe 5! 

Now it's time to take this show on the road with a bit of a hop!

Stop by and see these wonderful ladies and the creativity they whipped up this week just for you!

Allison Cope

Christine Okken

Katie Sims

Stacy Morgan

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to swing back by on Monday when Jessie Banks will be here for another Inspire Me Monday! She's going big and showcasing one of Power Poppy's larger than life images by taking it to a whole new color level!

Have a great weekend!
~Julie

April's Instant Garden Digital Stamp: Sunset Sway

Not sure how this month has zoomed by so quickly — but we’re already past mid-April and approaching May. Each day brings new things into bloom where we live in St. Louis. Is the excitement at finding out what’s going to bloom next what’s making this month fly past? As I take my walks through the neighborhood in the morning or evening, I find myself so filled with gratitude that our local neighborhoods have so many flowers and flowering trees.

Now more than ever in my lifetime are people getting in to gardening! Nearly every house I pass has at least one or two flowering spring trees, from redbuds and dogwoods to magnolias, crabapples, lilacs, and cherries. The spirea bushes are fountains of white, the azaleas in every bold hue circle perimeters and enhance entrances. Thank you, neighbors, for helping to bring such delightful sights to my senses — and all I have to do is walk out the front door!

On a recent walk at sunset, I saw so many captivating tulips, that I knew I had to include them in a drawing. From traditional types to fringed French tulips, Parrots, and even a few species tulips (which typically are the first to rise) like the beautiful Tulip kaufmanniana and T. clusiana still linger in gardens.

I decided to create a little scene pairing a few tulips with a few anemones (the gal who lives next door planted the sweetest grouping of pinks and purples to go with her tulips and grape hyacinths, and I haven't snapped a photo but I may have to run over there and see if she’d mind me playing paparazzi with her plants.) In the meantime, we have today’s digital download introduction to the Instant Garden, Sunset Sway!

The Sunset Sway digital stamp set comes with two versions of this drawing, one has a little butterfly stopping by, and the other is only the dancing flowers. The image is large, but can be enlarged on your computer if you really want to get in and color that anemone with lots of detail. And remember, even if I draw a specific flower in my artwork, I welcome and encourage you to color these up in whatever way your heart tells you! Red, orange, blue, yellow, go for it, loves!!

There’s a sentiment in this set that really carries home the “sunset” part of this set’s title. I’ll let you find out on your own what the sentiment says. :)

Our Instant Garden team is here today with some gorgeous renditions of Sunset Sway — let’s go see the beautiful cards they’ve designed to show off this lively new digi!

Barbara Walker

Cheryl Scrivens

Debbie Olson

Jennifer Dove

Jessie Banks

Just in case you were wondering what kind of nut goes around taking photos of plants all the live long day, I was at my garden club last week and captured in the wild (literally) by my friend Eileen.

Lots of good vibes coming your way from the Gateway to the West, where I can hear birdsong just outside my window and the children are starting to wake up for school.... let’s kick a hole in this day!