Power Poppy's Sneak Peek Day 3: Azalea

Hello all! Welcome back for Day 3 of Power Poppy's Sneak Peeks for April's release.  I think this may be a set that a lot of you have been waiting to see since you caught a glimpse of Marcella's sketchbook....am I right?  I know the first time I laid eyes on this set I was completely blown away and I know you will be too!  So, I certainly don't want to keep you in suspense for a moment longer.....

Sweeping and free, this set simply named Azalea is begging to be colored with reckless abandon. It could inspire an outrageous upsurge in your use of pink markers, colored pencils, and paint! Use the lush blooms of these images to let a friend know how much she is missed, or to say thanks to another who is just plain amazing! This 4" by 6" set was illustrated by hand with a whole lotta love by Marcella Hawley. 

Being the Georgia girl that I am, I cannot tell you how much I love azaleas!  I mean, come Spring, they are everywhere here...including at the Master's Golf Tournament in Augusta for you golf fans out there...one area of the course is called Amen Corner and it has some of the most beautiful azaleas in that area!  In fact, we have our own "Amen Corner" in our yard complete with a few varieties of azaleas.  One of my most favorites that we have planted here are called Indica Azaleas....they are the big variety with gorgeous blooms.  They come in many colors...we have" G.G. Gerbing" (which are white) and "Formosa" (which are purple)...so I decided to color up this gorgeous image like my purple azaleas!

Ours are actually not in bloom right now so I had to do this from memory...which, in the 40's is not as great as it used to be, let me tell ya!  Any ways, I stamped my image with Tuxedo Black ink on to white card stock and then colored it in with copics.  Next, I fussy cut it out which took a wee little bit o' time but I think it was worth it.  I then adhered it to my Spellbinders Labels Four panel that I had sponged some Ranger Distress ink in Tumbled Glass and of course....gold leafed using my leafing pen.  You didn't think I would forego the gold leafing for this beautiful image, did ya?  The rest of my card is really just a couple of simple panels...one that was embossed using an embossing folder and one panel that had some pretty patterned paper from Teresa Collins' 6x6 paper pad Fabrications "Canvas" and some stitching.  I tied a white satin ribbon on the stitched panel, stamped my sentiment, and adhered everything together.  

I cannot get over the gorgeous detail in this image....it really doesn't get any better than this and I can tell you this set is going to be one that I will treasure forever!  :)  So....

Doesn't that flower just make you swoon? Don't wait to exhale, breathe in the beauty and hop on over to see the rest of the Bloom Brigade!

Allison Cope
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Danielle Kennedy
Dawn Burnworth
Julie Koerber
Kathy Jones
Katie Sims <------you are here!
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker

Tomorrow's set is sure to deliver a little dose of serenity. Need some? Check on back to see the Bloom Brigade and all its Zen-like creativity!

~Katie