Power Poppy's January Power & Spark Challenge with CardMaps!

Hello there and Happy Friday to you!  Today I have a special post.... this week Power Poppy teamed up with PageMaps by Becky Fleck to bring you some card samples using Becky's CardMaps wonderful card sketches!  AND it just so happens to coincide with our January Power & Spark challenge so that crafty and clever Julie Koerber has come up with an incredible challenge theme for you!  Just take a lookie at this...

And here is what Julie has to say about her challenge...

For this month's Power & Spark Challenge, we're asking you to "Grab A Map," and get in on some Power Poppy Fun! We've teamed up with Pagemaps.com's CardMaps to showcase 10 new sketches featuring some of Power Poppy's fabulous stamp sets. You can find all ten sketches along with design team samples HERE!  So grab a map, use it to spark a little cardmaking creativity and then, link your creation up HERE. If you play along, you'll be in the running to win a $50 Shopping Spree to the Power Poppy Shop! But wait, there's more! Becky Fleck, the fabulous Pagemaps guru, is also offering a $25 Power Poppy gift card and all you need to do is leave a comment on THIS post! The Pagemaps contest closes January 22nd, so hop on over soon! We can't wait to see what you create. 

Now doesn't that sound like fun?!  Here is the sketch I was given...

I just l-o-v-e square cards so this sweet sketch was right up my alley!  For my card, I chose to use Power Poppy's Bloomin' Wonderful stamp set for my image and paired it with the "Sending Love" sentiment from the Dynamic Duos: Glads and Gerberas stamp set.

My card base is actually a tag die but I thought it would make a fun card shape!  I stamped my image with Memento's Tuxedo Black ink on to a die cut and stitched card stock/patterned paper panel and colored it up with Copic markers.  Next, I die cut my sentiment pieces, stamped my sentiment, sponged on a little ink and assembled the layers.  Lastly, I adhered everything to my card base.  Oh, I did also add some shimmer with a Wink of Stella Clear brush pen.  Gotta have some shimmer on those blooms, right? ;) This finished card measures 3 5/8" x 4".

Just check out all of the beautiful little details in this bouquet!  That Marcella doesn't miss a thing, does she?  :)  Isn't this the perfect little winter floral arrangement?

So that is all for my card today, but several of my Bloomie AND Instant Gardener sisters have created some beauties for your card making inspiration.  You can see the link list here.  Make sure you leave a little blog love while you are there and then c'mon and play along with us!  Make sure you link up your CardMaps sketch inspired card for a chance to win a $50 shopping spree in the Power Poppy store!  Thank you so much for stopping by today and I hope to see you again soon....until then, take care!

~Katie

Supplies used:  Ink-Memento's Tuxedo Black, Ranger Distress ink in Tumbled Glass; Paper-Classic White card stock from Flourishes, patterned paper from My Favorite Thing's "Plaid Patterns Merry & Bright " 6x6 paper pad, Lucky Limeade card stock from Stampin' Up!; Other-Tag Sale Quilted die from Papertrey Ink, Stitched Square die from My Favorite Things, Classic Circle and Scalloped Circle dies from Spellbinders, Wink of Stella Clear brush pen, and these Copic colors-BG0000, BG000, BG01, BG02, B60, B63, B66, B69, B79, BV0000, BV00, BV13, C1, C3, C5, W1, E55, E71, E74, E79, YG0000, YG21, YG23, YG25, YG61, YG67, Y13, and RV02.

A Guest Post, A Birthday, AND a new Power & Spark Challenge, Oh YAY!

Hi there and a very happy Friday to you, dear friend!  I hope you have been doing well and I'm so glad you could pop in today....I have lots of news to share with you!  For today's post, I am participating in Becky Fleck's PageMaps April card sketch event.  This is a first for me and I am so honored to get to be a part of this....if you haven't discovered PageMaps yet, let me tell you....you really should check this site out....more creative page and card sketches than you can shake a stick at!  (Southern to English translation = a whole bunch of sketches!! ;) )  Here is a link to the PageMaps blog too!  So below is the sketch that I was given and as you will be able to see....I stayed very true to the sketch design....

When I saw all of those little bits I couldn't help but think of lots of little tags, so that is how I started and then I added the circles highlighting different blooms from Marcella's incredibly gorgeous Daffodils stamp set.  

I used an embossing folder to give some texture to the yellow background and then die cut my tags from some patterned papers out of Simple Stories' SN@P color vibe 6x6 paper pad.  I did a little stitching around where I wanted my daffodil blooms to go and also some zigzag at the seam.  Next I stamped a faint image of the same stamp and then my sentiment from one of the newest stamp sets, Bloomin' Wonderful.  Here is a little close up of Marcella's gorgeous daffodils.  I know she made many happy hearts when she created this lovely set.....

I am always in awe of how much detail Marcella can pack in to a single bloom...simply amazing!  And speaking of amazing.....can you believe that  Marcella's Power Poppy is turning 2?!  

Isn't she the cutest thing?!  Yes, it has been two years since this all of this blooming goodness started!  In honor of the big day, Marcella has planned a special sale AND a special digital image!  How about this for a darling birthday image?  On top of everything else, she can bake too!  ;)  Just take a lookie at these sweet words from the Bloom Whisperer, herself.......

Power Poppy is turning 2. WOOHOO! We want to THANK YOU, our sweet and encouraging peeps around the world, for helping us spread the botanical abundance and zest for life. Your creativity, love, and generosity of spirit is SO STRONG! We are thrilled to kick off another year of flowering and empowering together. 

From Friday through Monday we're offering 20% OFF all Stamps, Digital and Clear. Use discount code: MARCELLA at checkout to receive the special savings. PLUS, for four days only we have a special birthday digi for only TWO BUCKS! Visit Power Poppy to learn more.

AND, if that were not enough, its also time for a new Power & Spark Challenge.  This one is hosted by the incredibly talented and even sweeter Christine Okken.  

This awesome challenge a few different levels to it...you get to choose just how creative and brave you want to be.....intrigued?  Well, make sure you check this one out over on the Power Poppy blog  :)  

Whew!  As you can see.....lots going on at Bloom Central!  I am so glad you stopped by today.  Many of my Bloomie sisters have created all sorts of beautiful cards in celebration of all of these events so make sure you check them all out and leave a little blog love while you are there.  I hope you have a wonderfully relaxing weekend and manage a little crafty time too!  Until next time, take care!  :)

Allison Cope 

Christine Okken 

Cindy Lawrence    
Julie Koerber 
Kathy Jones 
Katie Sims <------You are here
Leslie Miller 
Stacy Morgan 
Tosha Leyendekker
Cheryl Scrivens
and Marcella Hawley

~Katie

Supplies not listed above:  Ink-  Memento's Tuxedo Black and Papertrey Ink's Classic Kraft, Chamomile, and Chai inks:  Paper-Rustic White and Lemon Tart card stocks from Papertrey Ink; Other- Embossing folder from Lifestyle Crafts, tag dies from Papertrey Ink,  3/8" corner rounder from We R Memory Keepers and these Copic colors:  Y11, Y13, Y15, Y18, YR18, YR65, YR68, E18, and E35.