Look Who's Turning 1!

Hi there!  I'm so glad you could pop in today for a little birthday celebration.  Guess who is turning 1? Can you believe that Power Poppy has been enabling bloom enthusiasts for a solid year now?  The time has flown by, that is for sure!  It seems fitting that we are just entering Spring too, doesn't it?  :)  So, unbeknownst to the Bloom Whisperer herself, the Bloom Brigade has been conspiring to do this day up right!  So how about a little birthday blog hop, hmmm?

Now this isn't any ordinary blog hop.  Did I mention we wanted to do this day up right?  Well, you can check out all of the details on the Power Poppy Blog.  I will let you in on a little secret though....there is a BIG prize on the line.......take a look at this, will ya.....

That is one gigantic carrot to dangle, isn't it?  Wanna know how to win this big ol' gift certificate?  It is going to involve some hopping, some counting, and some mouse clicking.  Intrigued?  Well, you will have to check out all of the details on the Power Poppy Blog. :)

So before you jet outta here, can I show you my birthday card made especially for this day?  Ok, I'll try to be quick.....

I just had to use the Short Stacks set again!  Those sweet little stacks of lovelies are just waaaay too fun to color and I always think a cupcake is a good idea, so I chose this image from the set.  I stamped it with Memento's Tuxedo Black ink onto white card stock and then colored it with Copics. I used kraft card stock for my base and first layer and then layered a couple of pretty papers to make my little short stack feel at home.  The sentiment is also from the Short Stack set and I stamped it right on to some of the patterned paper with Papertrey Ink's Smokey Shadow ink.  I die cut my colored image with Spellbinders Labels Twenty Two and sponged some Ranger Distress Ink in Frayed Burlap to ground my image a bit.  I punched a couple of slits in the sides of my die cut so I could thread the ribbon through and tie my bow.  I added a button and a silver bloom charm for a little extra pretty and then used some Ranger Glossy Accents and my Wink of Stella clear pen to give a little shine.  

That short stack looks party ready, don't you think?  Well, I'm hoping that one Peep-in-Chief thinks so!  **Marcella, I hope that you have a wonderful day today celebrating Power Poppy's first year and here is to many more to come!  I have loved every minute of this journey with you and all of the amazing Power Poppy ladies.  What you have been able to accomplish in one year is incredible and I cannot wait to see what all you have in store for all of us in the future.  I am so proud of your success and even more proud to be a part of your beautiful company.  Sending much love and gratitude to you, dear friend, on this special day!  

Ok, so now are you ready to see what the rest of the Bloom Brigade has created to celebrate Power Poppy's big day?  Make sure you leave them a little love along the way and check out the blog to find out how to win that a-mazing prize!  ;)  Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing all of the fun...it just makes it that much more special!  Oh, and remember......Power Poppy's April stamp release is just around the corner so pop back by soon, ok?  Until then, take care!  :)

Allison Cope 

Christine Okken 
Cindy Lawrence  
Dawn Burnworth  
Julie Koerber 
Kathy Jones 
Katie Sims <------You are here
Leslie Miller 
Stacy Morgan 
Tosha Leyendekker

~Katie

Supplies not listed above:  Paper- Patterned papers from Echo Park's "Fine and Dandy" 6x6 paper pad and My Mind's Eye's Lost & Found Two "Blush" 6x6 paper pad, Classic White card stock from Flourishes; Other-Ribbon and Stampin' Chalk marker from Stampin' Up!, button and twine from Papertrey Ink, charm from Michael's and these Copic colors:  E40, E41, E42, E44, R11, R20, R21, R22, R24, R27, R29, YG21, YG23, YG25, YG60, Yg63, YG67, Y32, BG0000, BG000, BG53, and BG57.

Power Poppy's March Power and Spark Challenge

Hi there everybody!  Can you believe it is March already?  Mercy, these frigidly cold days certainly have been flying by lately!  I hope you have been able to keep up with the goings on over on the Power Poppy blog these last several weeks.  Marcella has really been kicking things up a notch with new digis every month, the addition of a digital release team-the fabulous Instant Gardeners, and the new monthly Power and Spark challenges.....whew!  It's enough to make your head spin!  Today is the day for the start of the March Power and Spark Challenge and the incredibly talented and super sweet Tosha Leyendekker is your hostess.  Now, let me just say, this girl knows the way to my heart....do you know what her challenge theme is?!?  Well, just feast your eyes on this...

I know, right?  If there was ever a challenge with my name on it, then this is it!  :)  Me and my Krylon 18KT Gold Leafing pen have been tight for quite a while....lol.   So let me show you what I did for this awesome challenge...

I have been smitten with that little stack of tea cups and sweet birdie from the Short Stacks stamp set since I saw this image.  Those cups remind me of some of my grandmother's old china.  It is soft blue and white with gold edging....the edging is worn in several places from lots of use, but that makes me love it even more.  I thought it would be fun to try to gives these darling cups a "well loved" look by making the gold edging look worn.  I started by stamping my image with Memento's Tuxedo Black on to white card stock.  I colored my image with Copics and stamped my sentiment from the Geraniums Take Two set with Versafine Onyx Black ink.  Next, I die cut my image and gold leafed the edge.  I have a gold pen that my dear friend and fellow pen nerd gave me so I thought I would try it out for some of the fine gold detail on these cups....and it worked like a charm!  I used it to fill in the wee leaves and buds on the cups with gold.  I wasn't sure how it would work on the handle, so I tried something new.  I took my Krylon gold leafing pen and dabbed some of the ink until it pooled on to a spare piece of paper and then took a fine paint brush and dry brushed  a little of the gold leafing ink onto one of the cup's rim and handle.  You have to have a  light touch doing this....I loaded up my brush and then blotted it before I actually painted my cup.  It gave it a great look....kind of worn, which was exactly what I was going for here! 

Next, I worked on my frame for my image.  I ended up using two of these die cuts to fit the size of my main image oval and gold leafing them with the same Krylon Gold pen.  I wanted my frame to look a little tarnished and worn, so I took a fine grit sand paper and lightly sanded the frame.  If you are careful, it will just take off the shiny top and leave the dark tint below...instant aging!  :)  My card base is A2 size and layered with card stock and patterned papers to coordinate with my colored image.  My panels are stitched and some of them are gold leafed along the edges.  A couple of the layers are popped up with foam dimensionals.   I wrapped some ribbon around two of the corners of one of the panels and added a bow.  To finish this card off, I added a really pretty rhinestone brad in the bow center.  I took another close up from a side view to try to show the aged frame and brushed gold on the image...

GAH, I still think that little bird is the cutest thing!  :)  So, are you getting inspired to go for the GOLD?  Before you start pulling out your supplies, you really need to see what my insanely talented Bloom Brigade sisters have gilded up for your viewing pleasure and inspiration.  Make sure you leave them a little love while you are there and then get going on your own gold masterpiece.  Remember to link up at the Power Poppy blog for a chance to win a prize!  I am so glad you were able to stop by today for a visit and I can't wait to see what you create!  Until next time, take care!  :)  Oh, and remember....we are only a few short days away from the next incredible Marcella digital image release and another stunning display from the Power Poppy Instant Gardeners...eeeeeeee!  I can hardly wait!  :)

Allison Cope 

Christine Okken 
Cindy Lawrence   
Julie Koerber  
Katie Sims <------You are here
Leslie Miller 
Stacy Morgan 
Tosha Leyendekker 

~Katie

Supplies not listed above: 
Paper:  Stampin' Up!'s Naturals White card stock, Flourishes Classic White card stock, red card stock from scrap, patterned papers from Teresa Collins' Fabrications "Canvas" 6x6 paper pad; Ink:  Ranger Distress Ink in Frayed Burlap, Papertrey Ink's Chamomile ink; Spellbinders die sets Classic Ovals Large, Opulent Ovals, A2 Matting Basics B; Other:  ribbon-Stampin' Up!'s Lost Lagoon taffeta ribbon, gemstone brad from The Paper Studio, Ranger Glossy Accents for the flowers on the tea cup, gold pen from Tul, and these Copic colors:  R11, R12, R14, R17, R39, BG0000, BG000, BG53, BG57, BG78, Y26, W00, W0, W2, W3, W5, and E50

Power Poppy's February Release-Day 3

Well hello there!  I am so glad to see you back!  I hope you have been enjoying Power Poppy's release thus far....I surely have loved making cards with these adorable images and today's is certainly no exception.  Today's sneak peek set is called Short Stacks.  This set speaks to my love of treasured memorabilia.  There is not a room in our house that I don't have precious items from the past tucked here and there on bookshelves, coffee tables, chests, or any where else I can find a way to display all of those sweet memories.  There is something so comforting about being surrounded by those cherished trinkets.....an old photo frame, antique bread bowls, glass candlestick holders, and one of my all time favorite things......serving trays and dishes.  You would be surprised how much stuff I can group on a single tray.....lol!  What some may think of as cluttered, I think of as warm and homey.  I love the memories these items evoke and the feeling of family and love.  And as added little bonus here.....I got a bit of a chuckle with the fabulous name for this set because we have been known to refer to our dear little dachshund as "Short Stack" from time to time.....lol.  So why don't we have a peek at Short Stacks, the stamp set....shall we?  :)

For my card, I chose to use the darling stack of a book, tiered plate, flowers, and coffee mug.  There are a few "short stacks" in this set to choose from and I imagine when you get to hopping a little later you will see them all!  :)  I thought it would be fun to play with the "stack" concept and have my image on a stack so I started by stamping my image on my die cut card stock rectangle positioning it where I could tuck in some card stock layers.  I colored my image with Copics, sponged on some ink and then ran my image panel through my Grand Calibur with a linen impression plate from Papertrey Ink.  Next, I used a blade and cut around the bottom outline of my image to allow my card stock strip to slip underneath it.  I layered a couple more card stock strips and some stitching...my papers are from Echo Parks' adorable 6x6 paper pad "Fine and Dandy" by Lori Whitlock.  To give my image a little more detail, I added some Ranger Glossy Accents to the water glass and the lenses of the glasses and added pearls and a gem to the flower centers.  A few swipes with my Atyou Spica clear glitter pen gave some sparkle and a little polka dot bow seemed to fit right in here.  All that was left was to layer the image panel with some blue paper and then adhere the whole thing to a white card stock base.  

  

I just love the detail that Marcella put in to these sweet collections. Each one is sure to steal your heart and the sentiments are pretty special too!  

Now this just makes me want to curl up with an afghan, a cup of coffee and the best book ever....what about you?  Oh, let me not forget.....our own little "Short Stack" is sure to be curled up by my side too!  Speaking of....here is a photo (from a few years ago) of our little guy, Baxter, aka Bax Man, Baxie, Short Stack, and an assortment of other silly names.  He has some distinguished looking gray on his face and he moves a little slower now, but he is still our sweet boy....

So, how about those short stacks, hmm?  Are you itching to make this stamp set your own and get to coloring up these precious images?  Well, you won't have to wait long, because the entire release will be available on February 1st!  I hope you found a little inspiration here today, but please make sure you check out what my incredibly talented Bloom Brigade sisters have created for you....you know it will be out of this world gorgeous, right?  Make sure you leave them a little love while you are there and then get ready for Day 4 of Marcella's fabulous release.  Hope you'll be able to pop back by tomorrow....until then, take care!  :)

Allison Cope 

Christine Okken 
Cindy Lawrence  
Dawn Burnworth  
Julie Koerber 
Kathy Jones 
Katie Sims <------You are here
Leslie Miller 
Stacy Morgan 
Tosha Leyendekker
and .....
Marcella Hawley

~Katie

Supplies not listed above:  Ink-Memento's Tuxedo Black, Ranger Distress Ink in Tumbled Glass; Paper- Stampin' Up!'s Naturals White and Island Indigo, Flourishes' Classic White card stock; Other-Spellbinders' die set 5x7 Matting Basics B, Ranger Glossy Accents, Stampin' Up!'s pearls and gems, ribbon from stash, and these Copic colors-BG0000, BG000, BG53, BG57, YR14, YR15, YR18, E40, E44, E55, E59, Y13, Y19, Y32, Y35, YG11, YG13, YG17, G40, G43, G46, B93, B97, R21, R22, R25, RV55, RV63, RV66, and RV69.