Inspire Me Monday ~ Just Go For it!

 

Happy Monday everyone!  I'm Ally and I'm your hostess for Inspire Me Monday this week.

When I went to design something to share with you today, I can honestly say I was a little stumped.  I couldn't rattle anything off of the top of my head.  

So when I'm stumped I generally go to Pinterest to get inspired.  Sometimes I type in a color to strike up an image that will get the creative juices flowing.  Sometimes it's looking at glorious florals or sometimes it's even different patterns someone has drawn in their bullet journal.  

This time, I typed in the word "watercolor".  I scrolled.  But not for long when this image got those mental creative juices flowing...

Source

The looseness of the color.  The cooler, bluer tones with the slight touch of warmth.  I was inspired!

So I started by choosing my medium of choice.  I choice watercolor, just like the piece of art.

So I pulled out my watercolor paper and some ink refills that I was going to attempt to use.

I laid down a lot water all across the paper and just dropped soft color in at will.   Some soft purples, some somber blues with a touch of warm peachy tones... there!

Next I grabbed the large floral heart from the "Always Here" stamp set and stamped right in the swirling pool of color.

I then took all of my blues and purples and peach colors and began to losey drop them into the individual blooms and leaves and berries.  I didn't care if I keep my color inside the lines.  I wanted it to f.l.o.w....

I went a little warmer with my colors by adding a bit more of that peachy color but over all I like the loose, unconfined feeling of the final card.

Thanks for dropping by today!  I hope I've inspired you to create.  Now go... CREATE!

~ Ally ~

stamps: Power Poppy (Always Here)

cardstock: Strathmore Watercolor Paper

inks: Versafine (Black Onyx), Catherine Pooler Designs (It's a Boy, Serenade, Stone Blue, Bellini, Royal Treatment)

sequins: Studio Katia (Crystal Clear Confetti)

Inspire Me Monday ~ Take The Challenge!

 

Hello everyone!  Gloria here!  Today is a special day for Inspire Me Monday!  Instead of just one Bloomie, you get two!  Bloomie Allison and I are having a friendly challenge.  We each sent each other a challenge. We each picked a stamp set, a coloring medium and a sketch for each other!

The challenge that Allison sent me was:

• to use either Forest Friends or Gifts of the Sea stamp set,
• use Copic Markers and Colored Pencils as a combined coloring medium
• use the sketch provided (by Mojo Monday)

Well, not too big a challenge!  I really wanted to use the Gifts of the Sea image as I live in California and thought a beach-themed Christmas card would be awesome. However, I could not color such a detailed image to fit the small size needed for the card sketch! 

 

I ended up printing the digital version of Forest Fellas: Maximo Moose to color for my project. I colored Maximo with Copics and Prismacolor Pencils. 

 

I followed the sketch very closely and created a slimline card (tall and skinny is what we used to call these in the "old days"). My card is 8" tall and 4" wide. 

 

I had fun digging into my vast stash of 6x6 paper pads for some moose appropriate patterns for my card! I was thinking lumber jacks and log cabins! I love how it turned out!

I stamped the clear version of the sentiment in brown ink. A bit of twine and a few enamel dots finish off the card.

I had fun doing Allison's challenge! I hope the Bloomies can do more of these! Thanks for looking and make sure to visit me at Scraps of Life blog.

******

Howdy all!  Ally here now!  Isn't Gloria's card creation magnificent!??  I just love that moose paired with that plaid!!!

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 Gloria and I have inspired to get creating.  Why don't you take a wack at each of our challenges and join us!??! We'd love to see what you create!  Share with us below in the comments.

Have a great week everyone!

~ Gloria & Ally ~

12 Days of Christmas ~ Day 3

 

Happy Day 3 of the 12 Days of Christmas! I'm Ally and I'm here sharing a card made with the adorable "Season's Greenings" stamp set today.

This simple card uses the clear stamp set. I colored in my wreath with Copic Markers. The background was created by heat embossing a tarnished gold color over top of an embossed cover plate.

Note from Marcella: Let’s break this down for a glimpse into the genius that’s happening here, and take cues you can use in your next card. 

Take a look at Ally’s choice of background texture. See how the raised circles echo the roundness of the berries in the wreath? Notice how she colored the berries in shades of ivory, cream, and gold — playing up on the tones of the gold in her background. The red hollyberries, ribbon, and the tiny tag on a bunch of twine in the illustration were all colored red — which Ally underscores by choosing a red ink color for the sentiment and musical note border. Then, an elegant red cardstock border encases it all together with class.

Small choices like this add up in the end for a cohesive card that feels absolutely perfect.

Now, don't forget we offer all the parts of this gorgeous plant-arific clear stamp set in digital form!

There is "Season's Greenings: Wheelbarrow":

And "Season's Greenings: Wreath":

And also "Season's Greenings: Planta Claus":

Don't forget... 

ALL DIGITAL STAMPS 20% OFF — NO CODE NEEDED 

and

10% OFF CLEAR STAMPS — USE CODE 12DAYS

- - - - - - - -

Wanna WIN some amazing prizes?  

Don't forget to check out all the festive fun on our Day 1 post on the Power Poppy Blog, HERE.

Can't wait to hear from you!  Happy Holidays everyone!

~ Ally ~

Inspire Me Monday ~ Going Back in Time

 

Hello and Happy Monday!  I'm Allison Cope and I'm your hostess from Inspire Me Monday!

I've been racking my brain for days, trying to come up with something to inspire you all but my nothing came to mind. So instead, I thought I'd share some of my favorite previous cards and projects with you instead.

This distressed beauty features the digital "Bowl of Beauty" stamp set.  I colored in the image with soft Copic colors and then sprayed the entire card with the use of my Copic Airbrush system to give that vintage vibe. The sentiment is from the "Strong and Beautiful" stamp set; embossed in gold.

This next card features the bouquet from the "Pure Prairie" digital stamp set.  I used a technique called Joseph's Coat to create the fun background.

As you can see, this is not a card!  It's actually a piece of artwork that slips into the clear case protector for my phone!  This piece features the "soon-to-be retiring" stamp set, "Folk Heart". This stamp is still for sale in our shop... until supplies last!

Slimline cards are all the rage right now.  This slim card features the luscious digital stamp set, "Healing Bouquet".  I actually doubled up the image to allow it to cascade down the card.  This was so fun to color!

Like I said, not everything I stamp is a card!  Yup... it's a ROCK!  Not kidding!  If you didn't know, there's a fun trend out there to leave fun painted or colored rocks outside in populated areas for people to find.  Sometimes they contain a message or a fun quote or like my rock, they contain a fun image!

I used the "Fortunes of Fall" stamp set but it's also available in digital format as well; "Pumpkins and Pears".

 

Last, but not least, there's the beginning of the Christmas card making tradition.  This one happens to feature one of brand new stamp sets, "Heavenly Peace Dove". 

We have TEN brand new holiday and winter themed stamps (and digi's too!) for you! 

We will be starting sneak peeks of the final 5 stamp sets for you later this week!  I hope you'll join the Bloom Brigade beginning this Thursday at 4pm EST to check it all out!

I hope my cards and projects have inspired you kick off your shoes and head to your favorite space today... your crafty space!  See you again soon!  

Happy crafting!

~ Ally ~ 

Inspire Me Saturday ~ Festive Tag Fun!

 
Happy Saturday everyone!  Ally here!  I also want to say a belated Happy Thanksgiving to all of my fellow Canadian crafters!  I hope you've had a great holiday last weekend.

Welcome to Inspire Me Monday Saturday!  I have to confess. This was supposed to go live on the blog on Monday morning but I came down with an ugly flu late Saturday night and I was in bed until late Thursday before I was feeling well enough to even venture out of bed. But as of yesterday, I'm feeling almost 100% again... thank goodness. 

So today I'm going to highlight the amazingly fun and festive "Holly Golightly" stamp set. This clear stamp set contains a 3 beautiful images (a tag, a spray of holly and also a tiny bouquet) and 4 festive sentiments with a few special extras.

PLUS... we also have a complimentary digital stamp that allows you to create tags in any size and it's called "Holly Jolly Tag Digital Stamp".  Perfect for your quick download, print and create projects!

So now that you're familiar with today's stamp set, let's get creating!

So, to start, make your card sweet and simple!  Yup... some fun patterned papers in a fun color palette...

I love the pinks, turquoise and greens of this paper!

Next, go a little more detailed. Add some sparkle!  Whether it be some frames of glitter paper (Sorry, it's hard to see & photograph - it's the white border in between the plaid and cars!) or add some sparkle mediums like Stickles or Nuvo Drops, you can never go wrong with some some shine on your holiday cards and creations.

Next, why not try a shaker tag for your cards?  Our digital stamp version, the "Holly Jolly Tag Digital Stamp" would be perfect for this as you can enlarge your tag image to create a larger tag therefore, a larger shaker.

Now don't forget to decorate your packing!  Or heck, why not make your own! Grab some fun kraft wrapping paper from the dollar store and grab those fun colored inks and your stamps and go cRaZy!  When you're done with your wrapping paper, add that final touch of a tag to identify your recipient. 

 

QUICK PROJECT TIP: Try cutting your tag in a long rectangular shape instead of fussy cutting it out, stamp your tag in a fun ink color along with the "To" and "From" sentiments to create fun, fast tags for all your holiday gifts!

Plus, I think this tag would make a great name place holder for your Christmas table! You could make all your name place holders match your festive table colors!!

Thanks for sticking around for the end today.  I hope I've inspired you this weekend to go and create for the up and coming holiday.

Join me again next time!  Happy creating!

~ Ally ~

Inspire Me Monday ~ No Stone Unturned!

Happy Monday everyone!  Allison Cope here!  Welcome to Inspire Me Monday.

I don't know about you but I am constantly looking for inspiration all around me.  As a Scout leader, we're always on the go (when Covid isn't impacting us!) in the wild outdoors.

When we're not Geo-caching, camping or hiking we like to investigate the city we live in. So on our adventure one day, we came across this cluster of painted rocks.  Each one was decorated by someone different and each one was uniquely cool to look at. This art of decorating rocks is a trend right now.  An art perfect for any age.

So I decided to join the trend but incorporate stamps of course!

First, I sent out my 15 year old son and gave him the job of finding me some nice smooth rocks to check out.  He managed to find a few along our alfalfa field that were perfect.

I began by washing my rock and using my heat gun to dry it off quickly. (Can you picture this?!?!  Drying rocks with a heat gun?!?)

I grabbed the ever beautiful and Autumn themed stamp set, "Fortunes of Fall".  I just had to use that gorgeous stack of pumpkins on my rock!  I used Versafine Black Onyx ink and carefully stamped my image right on the surface.  Now, my rock was not totally flat so I carefully rolled my stamp all around to get full coverage of the surface.  Now because of the round surface, I knew I wasn't going to get a perfect image - no need to fret!  I knew I was going to cover up the ink lines with paint anyway!

Now I don't own all different kinds of colors of acrylic paint!  I just don't have the storage for it but I do own white acrylic paint....  Yup... and a LOT of re-inkers for some of my favorite hybrid inks.  So I simply took my white paint and used my re-inkers to color it up to what ever shade I needed!

So here's a little sneak peek of my in-progress project...

I tried to put down a few layers of tinted paint so my paints would be opaque.  I'm still working on my painting skills since I work mainly with Copic Markers so it's not perfect but I'm okay with that.  It's just there to put a smile on someone face after all.

Here's my final rock...

A little bit of varnish and it's ready for the real world!

A little close up.  I wish you could see the texture of the little white blossom areas!

I hope I've inspired you today to think outside of the box and how your stamps can be used in many other ways then just on paper!

Thanks for joining me!  I'll see you again soon!

Happy craftin'!

~ Ally ~

Inspire Me Monday ~ Rainbow Accessories!

Hello everyone and happy Monday!  Welcome to Inspire Me Monday. I'm your hostess this week, Allison Cope. I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

I'm here with you to share a fun project that isn't a card!  Oh my!  You heard me right!  Today I'm going to stamp and color a panel for my clear cell phone case.

First I used my paper template that I keep in my desk and I cut out a new thin cardstock panel to stamp and color.  Of course, every phone is different so you're going to have to create your own.  It's about trial and error until you get a good fit for your panel in your case.

Then I stamped my panel with Copic safe ink using the "Folk Heart" stamp set.  Now, be aware!  This stamp set is retiring but there are still a few left.  PLUS it's on SALE!!!!

I colored in my back ground first.  I used a rainbow of delicious Copic colors.

To finish of my cell phone panel I then coloured in my main image and all the adorable sunflowers.  I even added a little bit of black paint splatter to the surface just for a little more interest.

I have done project before and if you missed that tutorial, you can CLICK HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!  What do you think of this project?  Would you make one for your phone?

~ Ally ~

stamps: Power Poppy (Folk Heart)

cardstock: Recollections (#65 White cardstock)

inks: Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps (Wicked Black), Copic Markers

paint: DecoArt (Ebony Black)

Inspire Me Monday ~ Make it a Mini!

Howdy all!  Allison Cope here!  Welcome to Inspire Me Monday!

Today I thought I'd share just a little something with you... some Mini Cards!

I cut some cardstock pieces to 3"x6" and scored them in half at 3".

Then I stamped and colored each little card.  I used the "Under Glass" stamp set for all my cards today.

These little mini cards would make a great little gift to give a neighbour or a friend.

I hope you a chance to make some fun little mini cards too!

Have a great week!

~ Ally ~

Inspire Me Monday: Experimenting with a Copic Airbrush & Blender Solution

Happy Monday everyone!  I’m Allison Cope your hostess for today’s Inspire Me Monday!

Today I thought I’d do a little experimenting with you with some Copic related tools.  So I pulled out my Copic Airbrush System and some Copic Blender solution and had a go at it!  I also grabbed the fabulous “Cabbage and Kale” clear stamp set (Which is a STEAL right now in the Power Poppy Shop!!).

Come and join me at my desk as I use these tools to create a unique card front panel…

 Click here to view in HD.

Here’s a look at the final card…

I used the “Burst of Kindness” stamp set for my "Thank You" sentiment.

Thanks for joining me today!  I’d love to what you can make using these ideas today! 

Happy creating!

~ Ally ~


stamps: Power Poppy (Cabbage and Kale, Burst of Kindness)
cardstock: Recollections (110# White & 65# Black)
inks: Memento (Pistachio), Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps (Wicked Black), Copic Markers, Copic Blender Solution, Polychromos Pencils
dots: Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps (Party Time Dots)
tools: Copic Airbrush System

Inspire Me Monday ~ Fluttering Butterflies

Welcome to Inspire Me Monday!  I’m your host Allison Cope today.

Today we’re going to color up some clear stamp images and create a fun interactive card (my favorite!).

For today’s project, I used:

• stamps, ink and corresponding dies
• coloring utensils (Copics)
• a few pennies
• 110# white cardstock
• large & small circle dies
• small plastic spin & slide discs
• foam adhesive
• cloud stencil (optional)

Join me in my crafty space while I color in the 3 clear stamps set images including “Natural Beauties”, “Soothing Sympathy” and “Pure Prairie Spirit”.

Click here to see it in HD.

Here’s a look at the final card.  As said before, the yellow is so light it’s very hard to photograph.

And here you can see the shimmer pen I put all on the groovin’ butterflies…

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope this inspires you to make a fun and whimsical interactive card!  Now go get INKY!

~ Ally ~



stamps: Power Poppy (Natural Beauties, Soothing Sympathy, Pure Prairie Spirit)
cardstock: Recollections (110# White)
dies: Power Poppy (Natural Beauties Dies), Simon Says Stamps (Circle Thin Frames), Catherine Pooler (Circles Dies)
inks: Kraftin’ Kimmie Stamps (Wicked Black), Range Distress Oxide Inks (Mustard Seed, Wild Honey, Scattered Straw), Stickles (Star Dust), Copic Markers, Sharpie (Fine), Spectrum Noir (Sparkle Pen)
interactive card elements: MFT (Spin & Slide Discs)
stencils: MFT (Mini Cloud Edges Stencil)
sequins: Studio Katia (Summer Fusion)