Retreat Recap!

The StampNation Virtual Retreat was an absolute blast!  Our full week event was filled with challenges, videos, giveaways, prizes, chats and fun.  Look at some of the entries so far...


Although we have stopped adding new challenges to the event, the fun still continues!

Members have until May 15th to enter the challenges to be eligible to win prizes from our sponsors.  Still lots of time to play along yet!!!!

MISTI
(Most Incredible Stamping Tool Invented)
from My Sweet Petunia

$50 Gift Certificate to Pretty Pink Posh


Not a member yet? Why not join now?

It's not too late to participate in the Virtual Retreat and you'll get access to SO much more!

Look what one of our members says about the Virtual Retreat,
"I have been popping in and out all week, checking out the challenges and everyone's cards, and I have to say that this place, SN, is unlike any other place online. We are challenged, guided, encouraged, enlightened, our days brightened....I could go on and on. I am sorry I have not had time to comment individually, but wow is there some amazing creativity on these challenges! I just wanted to thank everyone, from Catherine and Maureen and the DT, to all of you that share your talents and your hearts with the rest of us."

Click here to learn more and to join now!

~ Ally ~

MISTI Winner Announced!

Thank you to all the lovely ladies who visited my blog, Pinterest, Instagram and all the places I like to share and play.  A huge thank you to My Sweet Petunia for the amazing MISTI prize package to giveaway on my blog!

The lucky comment number is…

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:
68
Timestamp: 2015-04-27 13:53:05 UTC

And that comment belongs to…

CONGRATS Regena!  You now have 72 hours (until 8am MST April 30th) to contact me via email to claim your prize.  Please put "I Won a Misti" in the subject line and provide your full name and mailing address.  Thanks! 

If the prize is not claimed in that time frame then a new winner will be announced.  Please see my contact tab for my email address.

~ Ally ~

And the Party’s Still Raging over at StampNation!

If you don’t already know, StampNation has been celebrating all this past week with our fabulous Virtual Retreat 2015!

Each day we have shared a fun new challenge having to go along with our virtual retreat theme.  Today was our final day of posting challenges but you still have a number of days to play along for a chance at winning one of our amazing sponsorship prizes.  My Sweet Petunia, owner & designer of the MISTI tool and Pretty Pink Posh have generously provided us with some cool things for you to win!  There’s even a discount coupon for Ellen Hutson too!

Not only that some of my few Dream Team members are giving away prize packages of their own.  Check our these Dream Team members’ blogs for further details…

Don’t forget about my own MISTI giveaway… right HERE!

Remember, the challenges at SN are open forever BUT Catherine Pooler has extended the deadline for entering to be eligible to win prizes from our sponsors to May 15th!! COOL!!!!

Good luck!  I hope to see around StampNation real soon!

~ Ally ~

StampNation Virtual Retreat - MISTI Tool Giveaway!

StampNation’s Virtual Retreat is here!  We began our celebrations this morning and we have already posted the first challenge!

We have two amazing sponsors that have contributed some amazing prizes for some lucky event participants.  Our sponsors include “My Sweet Petunia”, creator of the MISTI tool and also Pretty Pink Posh!

So in honour of this event, I am giving away a…
Yup… a MISTI tool plus a magnet and pad of graph paper!

Here’s how you can win.  Please read the rules carefully.

You will receive one entry every time you do something on the list below so leave a comment for completing each and every item on the list. (ie: if you a SN member, post a link of FB & subscribe, you should have 3 comments!!!!)
  1. Subscribe to my blog either through email or through the Google Friend Connect in the right column. 
  2. Subscribe to my YouTube channel: Thecircleguru.
  3. Follow me on Pinterest.
  4. If you are a StampNation member, please leave your first name and SN username in a comment.
  5. Share the image above in your Facebook, Pinterest, personal blog or Instagram account and post the link in a comment.
  6. And also leave a comment answering the following question:  How did you find my giveaway?
I will be picking a winner next Sunday, April 26th.  The winner will be posted here and have 72 hours to claim their prize via email (see "Contact Me" in the above tabs).  If the prize is unclaimed than an alternate winner will be chosen.  All comments that don't meet the above guidelines will be deleted.

Contest is open to Canadian and continental USA residents only due to shipping costs.

Good luck!

A WINNER HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED!  
Click here for the announcement.

~ Ally ~

Fabulous Flowering Branches

Marcella from Power Poppy has done it again!  She has created another digital stunner for everyone to colour!  This one is of beautiful blossoming crabapples on their glorious branch.  This new digital stamp set & double sentiment released this week will surely delight the gardner in your life and it’s perfect for Mom too!

Introducing… Flowering Branches!
If you happen to miss the Power Poppy Instant Gardners (our Digital Release Team) in action this week, you might want to check out THIS post on the Power Poppy Blog!  These ladies really know how to colour!!!

For my card today, I began by printing out my “Flowering Branches” image onto white cardstock and then die cutting a single rectangular panel around it.  Then I coloured the whole thing with my Copic Markers and then die cut the panel twice more to create nesting rectangles.
But instead of lining them all up again, I adhered them all a little wonky! 

To add some shimmer and shine, I added some fun Wink of Stella pen to my stamped sentiment (from the Simply Camellias clear stamp set) and some of my open blooms.

Now… check out what the rest of the extremely talented Bloom Brigade designer blogs have in store for you...

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



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

~ Ally ~

Sponsored byPower Poppy


Supplies:
stamps: Power Poppy (Flowering Branches, Simply Camellias)
cardstock:  X-Press It White Cardstock

patterned paper:  Studio Calico (Classic Calico)
Copic Markers:  leaves: YG03, YG21, YG63, YG67, YG91 branches: E70, E74, E77  background: BG90, BG70, BG000, B00, YG91, 0  blooms: RV10, R81, R83, R85 crabapples: R00, YR02, YG03

ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black), Ranger Distress (Pumice Stone), Wink of Stella (clear)
die: Lawn Fawn (stitched rectangles), Spellbinders (Fancy Tags 1)

gems:  Doodlebug Designs.

Yin Versus Yang

Howdy all!  Wednesday sure came quick this week.  Last week my son was off of school for his Spring break so had a relatively relaxing week of doing nothing so it was back to the daily grind this week.

It’s my week as hostess for the Card Sketch over at Splitcoaststampers!  I opted for a really simple sketch this week.  Check this out…
I had one technique in mind when I created this sketch.  I was basically taking 2 identical stamped panels (Thanks to my MISTI tool for that one!!!) and colouring one panel and leaving one panel darker with a lighter inked image; known as the Split Negative technique.  Sadly the deep dark purple cardstock I used doesn't photograph well so it looks more black than purple... sigh!

And so with the sketch, this is one of the cards I created (and my favourite of the two):

Both cards feature the stunning stamp sets “Lilac Time” and “Good Thinking: Renewal” by Power Poppy. Then I had all the leftovers to create an “yang” card…
It was really fun to come up with a stamped design that would highlight on both cards.

Which one do you like the best?


Another fun thing happening today is Power Poppy is revealing their newest digital stamp release today!  Check out the Power Poppy Blog today (after 8am CST) for the Instant Gardners Digital Stamp Release Team to reveal today’s new stamp set and accompanying sentiments.  It’s a beaut!

Typically on Wednesday, I also have another fun challenge sneak peek or a card for our StampNation weekly Wednesday challenge but this week is special.  We’re preparing for our Virtual Retreat which begins THIS Sunday… April 19th instead!

But for those of you up for an easy challenge, I have my “Let’s Talk Sketchesepisode #4 up and I’m giving away some stamps as a prize to one random lucky participant if you participate this week.  It’s a pretty easy sketch so I know it won’t take too long to create something for it.  There’s already tons of great inspiration posted by SN members.  Good luck to all those enter!

Don’t forget… I have a GIVEAWAY coming up this weekend!  You’re not gunna want to miss it!!! Stay tuned this weekend for details on how to WIN!

Have a great Hump Day everyone!

~ Ally ~

Sponsored byPower Poppy

Supplies:
stamps: Power Poppy (Lilac Time, Good Thinking: Renewal)
cardstock:  X-Press It White Cardstock, Stampin’ Up! (Blackberry Bliss)

Copic Markers:  leaves: G20, G21, YG17  bugs, branches: R14, R17, E15  background: Y0000, Y000, Y00, C00, C0, C1  lilacs: V12, V15, V17, BV02
ink: Memento (Elderberry), Versamark

die:  Lawn Fawn (stitched rectangles)
embossing powderStampendous! Detail White
sequinsPretty Pink Posh (4mm Clear Sparkling), CraftMedley (purple)
#:  #prettypinkposh.

We’re Havin’ a Par-tah!

The countdown is on for the StampNation Virtual Retreat. The party begins on Sunday and last all week long.  Each day of the Virtual Retreat we will have a new challenge and some great inspirational videos.

Stay tuned to this blog here because I’m GIVING AWAY something very special to one lucky commenter/participant.  Stay tuned because on Sunday I’ll reveal my surprise!  This is something you don’t want to miss!!!

Now’s the time to join so you can participate in all fun.  Subscribe for a single month or to a quarterly subscription and you won’t regret it!

Can’t wait to reveal my surprise!  You’re gunna love it!

~ Ally ~

Inspire Me Monday!



Check out my fun and fast colouring tutorial today over on the Power Poppy Blog!

I grabbed my MISTI, the fabulous Power Poppy "Simply Camellias" & "Good Thinking: Love Notes" stamp sets and some great Ranger Distress Inks and some water and had a ball creating not one but FOUR card fronts super quick and easy.

Here’s a little sneak peek for you…

I hope you hop on over and check it out.  Maybe it’ll inspire you to create today!  Enjoy my video tutorial.

~ Ally ~


Sponsored byPower Poppy

Supplies:
stamps: Power Poppy (Simply Camellias, Good Thinking: Love Notes)
cardstock:  Strathmore Watercolor Paper, Stampin’ Up!
ink: Versafine (Black Onyx),  Ranger Distress Inks (Picked Raspberry, Wild Honey, Abandoned Coral, Peeled Paint)

die:  Spellbinders.

It’s Sketchy Time!

It’s my turn to share some sketchy fun over at StampNation today!  It’s the 4th episode of “Let’s Talk Sketches” and I’d love to come and have you check it out!  I'm actually giving away a prize to one lucky participant of this episode's sketch this time.

Here’s a little sneak peek of my card creations for this episode:


If you are not a member of StampNation, then NOW's the time to join!  For only the price of less than 2 Starbucks coffees a month gets you...

http://www.thestampnation.com/
If you’ve never been a member while we had one, sister!  Jump in now and experience it for yourself!

At $9 a month, you get access to every single video, project, card, tutorial, and discussion that has ever taken place on the site.  Membership is month-to-month, you can cancel at anytime, but we think you’ll love it and make yourself at home with us.

We also have an amazing quarterly event coming up!  Catherine Pooler, our founder & owner made the theme announcement today for our event!  The Dream Team and I are super excited about all the fun we're gunna have...

 
You can check out Catherine's official announcement here!

Can't wait for you to experience StampNation at its finest!  

~ Ally ~

You Make My Tag Wag!

Join me today over on the Scrapbook & Cards Today blog for a fun card tutorial featuring some fun products from My Favorite Things and Spellbinders.
I hope you enjoy my video tutorial!

Click HERE to go directly to my post today.

Thanks for stopping in!

~ Ally ~

#mftstamps

A Pretty Pop of Pastel with Power Poppy!

Happy Friday everyone!  I hope you are all having a wonderful Good Friday and have some fun traditions to take part in this fine Easter weekend. Today’s the first Friday of the month so over at Power Poppy we have a new month long “Power & Spark” challenge already for you to be inspired to create with and I'm your hostess this month!  Enjoy!


"With Spring slowly making away across the land, it reveals the beautiful of so many gorgeous blooms and buds: blooms of soft buttery yellows, light lavender purples and pastel rosy pinks. So for this month's challenge, I want to see you create with a soft, subtle color palette of PASTELS. Let's see those creamy oranges, delicate grassy greens and beautiful soft shades of color on your cards and creations. I was inspired to create a card using the subtle palette of watercolor on my bouquet. I can't wait to see what you create!"

For all the challenge details and deadline, CLICK HERE.

And here is my pastel inspired card…
I stamped my image on a die cut piece of Strathmore Watercolor Paper first and then masked it off, created my watercoloured stenciled back ground and then coloured in my bouquet with subtle shades of pastel.

I even added a touch of shimmer by taking my GellyRoll Clear Star pen around all the embossed edges of the label shape.

Now… check out what the rest of the extremely talented Bloom Brigade designer blogs have in store for you...

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



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

~ Ally ~

Sponsored byPower Poppy

Supplies:
stamps: Power Poppy (Daffodils )
cardstock:  Strathmore Watercolor Paper, Flourishes
stencil:  Tim Holtz (Gothic)

ink: Versafine (Black Onyx), Staedtler Watercolour Pencils, GellyRoll Clear Star pen
die:  Spellbinders (Labels 25, Majestic Labels 25)
gems:  KaiserCraft.

Daffodils, Camellias & Lilacs Bloom Today!

Today’s the day… the day all the new ink-ready blooms go on sale in the Power Poppy Shop!  This collection, known as the Scents and Sensibilities Collection is now ready for your purchasing pleasure.  It contains…

I thought I would feature the first set of this month’s release, Lilac Time.  I chose a simple design with some fun colouring, some lilac ribbon and a neat Copic Marker created plaid paper!

I know Marcy originally created this image thinking “lemons” but I decided they were limes instead



Smile
Now… check out what the rest of the extremely talented Bloom Brigade designer blogs have in store for you...

Power Poppy Blog
Allison Cope – you are here!
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Dawn Burnworth
Julie Koerber
Kathy Jones
Katie Sims
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker

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

~ Ally ~

Sponsored byPower Poppy

Supplies:
stamps: Power Poppy (Lilac Time)

cardstock:  X-Press-It White Cardstock, Flourishes
ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black), Copic Markers
die:  My Favorite Things (Stitched Speech Bubble)

other:  Seam Binding Ribbon.

I Knead You Today!

Howdy all!  Today’s Wednesday and that means a new challenge at both StampNation and Splitcoaststampers!

Over at StampNation, we’re gettin’ our “ha ha” on!  Can you guess what our challenge is for today?  Here’s a little sneak peek of all the Dream Team members playing along this week…

Here’s my specific peek…

For this week’s Card Sketch, we have a pretty simple sketch to play with:

Cool right?!?  Well I took that sketch and stretched it a bit and this is the card I came up with.

It features the cute little kitties from the My Favorite Things stamp set “I Knead You”.  Aren’t they cute?!?!

Thanks for stopping by today!

~ Ally ~

Supplies:
stamps: My Favorite Things (I Knead You)
cardstock:
  X-Press It White Cardstock, Stampin’ Up! (Pumpkin Pie), Recollections 110lb White Cardstock

diesSimon Says Stamp! (Stitched Rectangles, Stitched Squares), My Favorite Things (Stitched Speech Bubble)
patterned paper:  Lawn Fawn (Beachside)
ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black)

Copic Markers:  orange cat: YR21, YR02, YR04, R01, R12  grey cat: W0, W1, W3, R01, R12  other: BG10, BG34 YR82, R08, E34, E35, E37
other:  Gellyroll Glaze Pen

#:  #mftstamps .
 
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