Flourishes Release Week Noon Time Challenge

Flourishes Release Week Day 2 Noon Time Challenge is up and running!! The challenge is a color challenge: Light Green, Deep Rose & Tan.
If you play along you could win the entire December Release from Flourishes! You can find out all the details and more right HERE on their blog.


I am squeaking under the deadline wire, for this challenge, but I'm here! :)

I used Flourishes "Berry Sweet" stamp set that I colored in with Tombows and cut out with a large Spellbinder Oval and Scalloped Oval. I used papers from DCWV "Rustic" paper pack and My Mind's Eye Lost & Found. The lacy diecut border is from MFT dies, and the pearls and ribbon are from my LSS.
I ruffled up the diecut borders to help them stand out and added some pearls. This is the side view to show the side angle of the ruffled "lace" border.

I love, love the challenge colors, but I did struggle trying to figure out what stamp set to use! LOL! But I have to admit, it's been far too long since I have used this particular raspberry image, and I've fallen back in love with it! It paints up so beautifully I can't help but move it back up to my favorite stamp position :)

Flourishes Noon Time Challenge

It's Flourishes Release Week!! It feels like the month has flown by! And for Flourishes Release Week they are offering us a chance to win their entire December Release (YEAY!) if you play along with their challenge. You can find out all the details HERE on their blog.


Today's Noon Time Challenge is: Night & Day. Showcase a night or day time scene or use the colors associated with day or night, it's open to interpretation :)
I chose to use sunny colors and bird on a flower, to suggest day time.

I used Flourishes "Spring Has Sprung" stamp set that I colored in with Tombows. I used My Mind's Eye Lost & Found 2 paper. I used a Fiskars "Swiss Dots" punch along the bottom, then I added some vintage lace, hatpins, and a Ivory Ribbon from Flourishes.

I love yellow and how it makes me feel when I see it :) I love it so much that four rooms of the eight rooms in my house are yellow ;) It's my feel good go-to color so I had to use it in this challenge :)

Flourishes Opposites Attract Challenge

Who doesn't like a little challenge in their scrapbooking every once in a while? I know I do! 
This week Maki is offering up a pretty crazy challenge this week in Flourishes Timeless Tuesday: Opposites Attract! Use the stamp stamp set and make two different cards with two totally different looks, styles, colors, ect..!
If you play along, you could win a GC from Flourishes to use in their store ( In know I want that!!). You can find out more details HERE on their blog post.

I chose to make the same exact card and use different colors to make them different from each other.

I used a Cheery Lynn "Dutch Scallop Frame" die as my base for both cards, which I over laid with a Spellbinders "Lacy Square" die that I cut the middle out of. I added an embossed matting inside for both cards using Sizzix "Christmas Set #6" - One done in Flourishes "Classic White Cardstock" and the other one in Bazzil "Dark Crabapple" cardstock. I used a Tim Holtz "Paper Rosette" die to make my paper rosettes in Flourishes Classic White paper. I placed a Spellbinder "Scalloped Circle" diecut over the rosette one in white and the other in "Dark Crabapple" CS. For the main image I used Flourishes "Calendar Set 3: September through December" I colored in with Tombows, and cut them out and popped them up on popdots. I added pearls for my finishing touch, and a vellum banner.


I am knee deep in Christmas cards I am trying to get done and I had a few extra images that I had colored in just in case, so I used them ;) 
I bought the Sizzix Embossing plate and Tim Holtz Rosette die (along with his Mini Rosette), last Saturday at the crazy Sizzix sale at my LSS, and I had been going crazy wanting to try them out! I am so in love with them and I feel better now that I've "broke them in" :)

Feminine Flair

Flourishes is gearing up towards Release Week! I Love this time of the month because I really, really love their images! So in honor of Release Week coming up, the Flourishes Design Team is offering us a challenge and a chance to win the Entire Collection of Flourish's December's Release stamps! You can find our more about the challenge HERE on their blog :)


Julie and the team has challenged us to: Use Feminine Flair (i.e. Pearls, Ribbon, Lace, ect)!
I really love a good challenge like this and feminine can be a fun theme to work with. When I think feminine, I think pinks and creams, so that's what I used.

I used Flourishes "Feminine Charm" set, as it seemed only fitting to use this set with the challenge :) I colored my image in with Tombows, cutting out the image with a Spellbinders Large Oval die and matting that with a Labels #18. I pulled my only and very precious "So Sophie" paper from My Mind's Eye and matted that with Bazzil's "String of Pearls" shimmery Cardstock. The stickpin is from Jenni Bowlin Studios, the flower is from Prima, and the butterfly punch is from Martha Stewart. I finished it all off with some ribbon, lace from Flourishes and some pearls placed here & there.


I am pretty happy with how it turned out, though I was pretty worried about it after I cut my paper wrong. And seeing that is my only sheet and I can't find it anymore, I wish I had bought more of that paper, it's gorgeous in real life! :)

Amaryllis

It's been too long since I have entered Flourishes Bring Back Beautiful challenge and I missed it! 
Flourishes Bring Back Beautiful Challenge this month is: The Beauty of Winter or a Holiday Themed Creation. 
I am combining it with Color Throwdowns Color Challenge for this week: 

Why not combine the two? :)


I decided to go rouge a bit and use a flower image used that you would see at Christmas. Does that count as a "Winter" themed image? :)

I used Flourishes " Calendar Set 3: September through December" stamp set that I colored in with Tombows, and cut out with a craft knife, then added Glossy Accents to it. I used a Spellbinders Labels 20 that I sponged in with Distress Inks. The paper is from My Mind's Eye and my CS is Prism Papers "Birchtone: Medium". I stamped the month on a piece of vellum that I sponged in with Distress Inks, then tied a bow on from Flourishes.


I know what your thinking, why is the bow on the bottom, it's getting all smooshed! I was going to used a punch and punch out a border on my top & bottom matting, but when it came time to put it all together, I totally forgot, and by the time I realized it, it was already on! You can't win em all, I tell you =)


I chose this particular set not only because it's my new set, but because December is my birthday month and I think it's a gorgeous flower! I have a few other favorite flowers that are closer to my heart but this is one amazing flower! When I looked up some images of it, I was so surprised at the variety of reds and red striations that they could have. It's such a unique and pretty flower to enjoy at Christmas :)

Honey Bee

It's time for my Timeless Tuesday card, I just love Tuesday's :) 
This week Silke challenging us to make our cards using this sketch:

Here is the card I made following her sketch.

I used Flourishes "Bee My Honey" stamp set that I colored in with Copics. I used a Spellbinder Oval & Scalloped Oval as my centerpiece, that I sponged in with Memento "Dandelion" & "Cantaloupe" inks. I used a single piece of My Mind's Eye paper, as a personal challenge to myself. The ribbons are from MFT and the smokey bling was a gift from my Mom :)


I won't lie, this sketch posed quite the challenge to me. I couldn't seem to find the right mix of stamps and papers, but that happens to everyone :)
I can't wait to go to my LSS (1 hour away) this Saturday! She is having a Sizzix sale - all of them being being 60-90% off (with the blessings of Sizzix)! And I NEED more adhesive, I have been a good girl hardly scrapping, to save it until I could get more this Saturday.And while I am there, I think I might get a few more Copics, so I can shade in some of my images better! I'm thinking I might need a few browns since my poor bee is "skin" colored - LOL :)

Being Cute Is What I Do

I finally got my Color Throwdown card done! Weee!
This weeks colors are:

I love these colors but I have never used all of them together before. But I found just the right papers I wanted that had all the right colors and shades.

 

I used MFT "Being Cute is What I Do" set that I paper pieced with some MME papers and colored in with Copics. I used some paper from October afternoon as the background papers with Bazzil Basics "Cajun" CS. I used a Spellbinder Square as my image base and then used a  Spellbinder Lacy Square to cut my inverted scallops out. I used remnant ribbons and pearls, then Flower Soft to finish it all off.

I had so much fun with the colors and trying out my Copics to color the skin in, for the first time. I honestly need a few more "filler" colors to fill in those skin blending gaps, but I'm pretty happy with my first skin coloring attempt :)

Please forgive the grainy pic, I had to take it at night with low light and our camera has grainy pics when the light is low.

Holiday Wreath

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday has brought my blog back to "life" after my long turkey slumber :) I hope everyone had a beautiful Thanksgiving! We had a wonderful one with my Mother-in-Law and Brother-in-Law. I won't tell you what happened to my turkey, although I KNOW I did everything right, brine and all :( Lets just say I'll forever be grateful for Mom's ham she brought along! Thank you, Mom! 


Anyway, back to the good stuff ;) Cindy is offering up a recipe challenge, to use a : Flower, Ribbon & Tag on our creations. 

I used Flourishes "Christmas Wreath" set colored in with Copics, and cut out with a craft knife, then popped up on popdots. I added some Diamond Glaze to the larger berries, oranges and ribbon, to give it that color depth and interest. I used a Lacy Square Spellbinder and a Spellbinder Impression (I don't remember the name) to create an embossed background on my Neenah Solar White paper. I used a red remnant ribbon and resin flower I colored with a red Copic marker from my stash, then placed it in the middle of the bow. I kept my ribbon long so I can use it to tie around a gift and use it as a tag card (it's flips open to a card).


I am pretty happy with how the wreath turned out. I colored it all in with the few Copics I have. I don't have too many Copics, and I used just over half of what I own on my wreath. I think I did pretty good with what I have to make it work. I am not happy with the oranges, though. I must have colored and re-colored over those poor things atleast 50 times, trying to get a nice deep orange or something close to an orange. I used the "Skin Tone" Copics and that can be hard to achieve if that's the only "oranges" you have access to! Then I decided to add Diamond Glaze, figuring, it couldn't hurt. I think it actually helped deepen it all a little.

A little different subject, here. Did you do any Black Friday shopping? I placed only two online orders, one to Flourishes and one to Our Daily Bread Stamps. I had been saving for Black Friday for a while, but admittedly every sale was lack luster to me, so I kept with the companies I loved. 
While here on Thanksgiving and staying the night, Mom (MIL) kept talking about us (her & I) shopping at 2 AM! I have never been BF shopping before so I said I would go (I was secretly worried about how crazy it could get). We hit Target at 3 AM, which was deserted, and found two pairs of shoes for each of us for dirt cheap. Then we hit up JCPenny, and surprisingly it wasn't as crazy as I have heard it could be, the only stress was the long lines. I ended up finding jeans and a sweater for me and some clothes for our girls. I didn't spend hardly anything (YAY!) and I promised Mom we'd do it again next year. She's the shopper, I'd rather be scrapbooking then go clothes shopping - I don't find clothes that important as a new stamp set ;) But it makes Mom happy and that makes me happy that she's happy :)

Happy Spring!

I know what your thinking - It Isn't Spring Yet! I know, but it's a Sketch & Holiday theme at Creative Sketches. If you want to know more about Creative Sketches please visit their site HERE.

Here is out sketch for this week:

I am going to go out on a limb and pretend the first day of Spring is a holiday :)

I used the Spring Unity stamp set because it's so warm and cute! I am using the "Rustic" pack of papers from DCWV. And I am using the Spellbinders Square & Scalloped Square dies. I colored everything in with Tombows and I used a Zva Pearl strand with a Prima flower.


I love, love this sketch and had so many ideas and could have gone in so many directions, but this stamp set was calling and so were the papers :) So I chose to use Spring as my "holiday" ... After a long winter any new season is a holiday, right ;)

Adore

Ok, I'm sure you've noticed my Color Throwdown linky on the side of my blog for the last year, right? I have been jonesing to play along for that long, but have had so much going on that I just couldn't squeeze another card in my busy schedule. But, last night I did it!! I made my first Color Throwdown inspired card!! Yeay me!


This colors they have this week are:

I somehow missed the "Gray" color suggestion and made Black one of the colors! Oopsie! See, don't try to remember the colors from memory like I did - LOL :)

 

I chose to let the paper do the "talking" and work for me and not use a stamp. I had an image all inked up and painted in, but I couldn't cover up that wonderful sentiment and all of that wonderful glitter. So I kept it and added some Kaiser Craft Red Pearls to re-enhance the red cardstock peeping out from behind the My Mind's Eye "Lost & Found 2" paper. You can't tell from the front angle but I popped the Adore and the red cardstock up off the black cardstock, to give it depth and dimension.

I love a good challenge and using a color challenge is my favorite kind of challenge, so I hope that I can somehow squeeze in the time and join in with Color Throwdown! I hope you join in with me and go check them out using the linky I have on the side of my blog. I hope to see you there, too :) 

Violets

It's that time of week again when I get to play along with Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenges :) 
This week Tammy is challenging us to use: Flags, Banners, or Pennants.
If you play along you could win a GC to Flourishes online shop! All of the details are HERE.


I knew exactly what I wanted. I had this idea rolling around for a bit but I was looking for the perfect stamp set to show off all of the swirls and flourishes.

I used Flourishes "Sweet Violets" stamp set for the image and sentiment. I colored everything in with Tombows and Distress Inks then cut it all out and popped in up on small popdots. After cutting out the flowers, I added some Glossy Accents to stiffen up my image and add some color depth. I sponged some "Scattered Straw" & "Dried Marigold" Distress Ink on my background. I created my base with the Heartfelt Creations/Spellbinders "Decorative Oval Window" die. I added some Bazzil pearls as my finishing touch.


 As you can see, I kept everything but the flowers in creams & yellows. In real life you actually barely see the yellow, but I love the little accent it gives. I love little details like that :)
Interestingly enough the violets are actually deeper then they appear, but every time I try to "show" that, it looks fake and Photoshopped.
I do my best to keep it natural and lit well in my homemade booth. I may need to just take it outside and hope for a more natural lighting out there :)

Creative Sketches Color Challenge :)

I really love color challenges! This week Creative Sketches is challenging us to use: Saffron, Mustard & Red! 
Here is our inspiration photo.

I was totally inspired here so instead of using fall colors I decided to use the bold and spicy colors you would normally use in the summer time. I wanted everything to POP, since the challenge colors could be bold or subtle in the color spectrum. 

 

I used Flourishes "Hello Hyacinth" stamp set and chose to highlight the sentiment so it would be a bold focal point. I sponged "Scattered Straw" and "Dried Marigold" Distress Inks around the edges of the Deckled Edge Oval, layered over a Scalloped Oval Spellbinders die cut. I used DCWV "Citrus" papers from their 6x6 paper stack (LOVE that paper!!). I cut a 2" strip of paper and scored it at 1/4 intervals and folded it to make my fan. I added some ribbon and red pearls from KaiserKraft to finish my card.

I love how bold it came out! When I saw the inspiration photo all I knew is that with those challenge colors I should go bold or go home! If you have seen my cards before, I am very much a "safe" color card maker although I WANT to be able to use them well. So I have to say that this is my new favorite card, I was able to break through that barrier and have fun doing it, too :)

May Your Christmas Flourish

Well, Flourishes Noon Time Release Week Challenge is up and running! 
Today's noon Challenge is: Let's Play Tag!! 
All you have to do is create a tag and you could win Flourishes Entire November Release!! You can find more details HERE on their blog post.


I wanted to make something vintage (I love vintage Christmas stuff) yet simple so the image would stand out. Here is what I came up with ( I don't have my Christmas tree up so pardon my fireplace topiary :)

I used Flourishes "Sleigh Ride" and the sentiment from Flourishes "Flourished Christmas" set. I used an old piece of Graphic 45 paper for the fabric on my sleigh. I am using the Spellbinders Lacy Squares as my base, with an embossed Spellbinder Square background. I cut a frame with the largest two SB Square dies and added a flourished bracket in all four corners. I added Glossy Accents to the sleigh and added glitter to represent snow.


I'm not sure if you can tell, but I used some of my Copics to shade the "fabric" on my sleigh for depth and shadows. I can see it in real life, but I'm not sure if it shows up well in the picture. I hope it does, the Copic shading over the paper is pretty seamless. I am loving these Copics!!
I really love how my last sleigh card turned out and I really love how the glitter represents snow. I tried that puffy stuff for snow once and it ruined my cards, so I really like sticking with what works. 

Timeless Tuesday - Release Week!!

Yeay! It's Release Week at Flourishes - I LIVE For This ;)
Today being Timeless Tuesday, Flourishes has offered up another challenge. Today's challenge is : Double Embossing! You can find the tutorial HERE. If you play along you could win a GC from Flourishes. You can find all the details out HERE.


I made a card that played on the same design and theme that I used last year for our Christmas cards, but I made it into a fall theme.

I used Flourishes "Apple of My Eye" stamp set for the sentiment and the Caramel Apples. I colored the apples in with Tombows and added Glossy Accents to the apples and bows, then I cut them both out with my craft knife. I stamped an Italian script on to some paper to use as my background paper and embossed it with a Sizzix folder. Then I cut out some "windows" with my Scalloped Squares Spellbinder die. After cutting out the windows I added a stamped word acetate in the "windows". I added a border with my EK Success "Swiss Dots" punch and placed popdots under the front or top layer, to pop it off of the paper behind it. I added some lace, a Spellbinder Fancy Tags diecut with a Fleur de Lis accent on top of it. Then I added my sentiment and a Prima flower and some hat pins on my Fleur de Lis accent piece.


Here are my Christmas cards my husband and I came up with last year (Yes, he loves to help me with our Christmas cards :). We made a red and a green version of them.
This one is the red one we sent out.

 

Here are the green versions.

We really had fun coming up with them and the assembling them part. He was interested in seeing how all my tools worked :) Now to only come up with this years Christmas cards.... :)

Merry & Bright

Yeay! It's challenge time at Flourishes Release Week!! And this one is a fun & Fabulous one!! If you play along with the challenges, you could win the entire November release! Find out all the details HERE.

The challenge is : Snowy Delights! Use Flower Soft, Glitter, Bling or anything else to create a snowy feel :)

I used Flourishes "Sleigh Ride" that I paper pieced, cut out and colored in with Copic markers. I used all My Mind's Eye papers and sponged Distress Inks around the edges. Then I added some Glossy Accents and Donna Salazar "Fine Fairy Dust Glitter" (THAT went EVERYWHERE!), some ribbon and bling on the sleigh.


Let me just say I learned one valuable lesson tonight, Never Ever add your glitter as your LAST finishing touch to your card :) You'll have glitter E-V-E-R-Y-W-H-E-R-E on your card! I'm sure all of you have learned that lesson before and think I should know that :) But it's midnight and I'm just trying to squeeze one last card in and thinking straight isn't really as important as getting it done - LOL ;) .... I wish you could see all the lovely sparkle, in real life, this card has! It's lovely :)

Grace

I am entering my very first Our Daily Bread challenge - Yeay! :) I'm using my only sets so far: "Scripture Series 2" & "Scrolly Borders". This is so exciting :)


The challenge is to use your scripture stamps, so I used my new sets and came up with my card.

 I used a Fiskars "Upper Crest" border punch on Vellum to create an edge, then I used my Scor-Pal, scoring it at 1/2 inch intervals to create the fan. Then I ran my Marvy Gold Gel pen along the inside of the fan. I added pearls and hand dyed lace under the Spellbinders diecut. I sponged some "Antique Linen" and "Scattered Straw" Distress Inks onto my diecut piece. I used a My Mind's Eye "Lost & Found" paper and a Creative Imaginations paper under that, and added a ribbon to finish the card.
I know the card looks brown gray but in real light it looks nice and warm yellow/gold :)

 Our Daily Bread offers a GC to the challenge winner each week. You can find more details about the ODB challenge HERE on their blog.

A Timeless Tuesday Hello!

It's Time for my Flourishes Timeless Tuesday entry - YEAY!!! This week's Timeless Tuesday, Beate has challenged us to try the : Out of The Box Technique.
Every Tuesday Flourishes offers up a challenge for us and at the end of the week, they give a GC to the winner. You can play along and find more details: HERE.
 With out further ado my entry for this weeks challenge :)

 I used Flourishes "Humming By" stamp set, colored in with Tombows, and partially cut out with a Circle Spellbinder die and a craft knife. I colored the Humming Bird in with Tombows then cut it out with my craft knife, and popped it up with popdots. I used a My Mind's Eye "Lost and Found" paper and added  a Bazzil Scalloped Edge White CS then I stitched around the edges.

Let me tell you, when I first read the challenge on the Flourishes blog, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I had everything done in an hour, but...! I had NO paper that really made the flowers and bird pop. I  searched my papers and scraps for two days and finally found this one. I have never had an image not work with any of my papers before! I have tons, and more then tons, of paper then I'll ever know what to do with, so this was a first! I am an hour from the nearest scrap shop so I hope ( for sanity sake ) that never happens again :)

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday

Hi everyone, I'm back with my entry for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday's Challenge. I have been trying to get my house in order for fall house cleaning and wait for a warm day to shampoo my carpets, but alas, I may just end up waiting for Spring at this rate ;)


This weeks TT Challenge is: Trees & Leaves
Perfect for the season, thank you Maki, for a great theme! You can find out more about the challenge and the details HERE.

I used Flourishes "Flourished Christmas" & "Peaches and Cherries". I used the small cherry cluster from "Peaches and Cherries" that I colored in with my Tombows and added Glossy Accents, then cut it out with a craft knife and popped it up on popdots . I used paper from My Mind's Eye under a paper doily with a Spellbinder "Renaissance Hearts" diecut. I stamped the Christmas tree from "Flourished Christmas" sideways on a Spellbinders Labels #20 in white then sponged on some Distress Inks. I used some remnant ribbon, lace and pearls with some bling to finish it off.


I apologize for the frayed ribbon edge, I clipped the one side but I forgot to clip the other side :(  That was literally the very last of it too! Except for the images, everything is a scrap piece or end of something, from my scraps bucket. I love it when I can put those to good use :)

Wild Honey

It's Release week at Flourishes and during the week they offer up challenges at noon, that you can enter to try to win their newest releases!! Today's noon challenge is: Name Game! 
The idea is that you take your First, Middle and Last initials to come up with creations that has things that start with your initials :)
Mine are:


A ~ Adhesive (Couldn't think of anything that started with "A")
N ~ Neutrals
H ~ Honey (a bit of a stretch so I used a stamp set with "honey" in it)

I used Flourishes "Bee My Honey" stamp set, colored in with Copics. I used a Spellbinders Butterflies diecut, cut from an old Hambly paper & a My Mind's Eye Lost & Found paper under that. I used the Spellbinders Classic Lace die to make my lacy border, to which I added pearls. I embossed a single frame around my card matting, at the end.


I apologize for the color and clarity of my picture. I had to keep the lighting low so you could see the embossed frame around my card.

I kept everything, including the coloring of my picture, very light. To keep with the neutral "rule" and I love it. I really hemmed and hawed about adding the pearls, since I seem to add pearls to everything I do. But I think I will keep adding them to my cards, and not worry about them being over used. Besides, I love them too much to give them up, it's what makes me happy - LOL  ;)

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday

Flourishes has a really neat challenge this week for their Timeless Tuesday and in honor of their Release Week, if you join in, you might win all FOUR of their new releases!! You can read all the details HERE on their blog.The challenge this week is : Christmas cards that feature an ornament or create an ornament. In honor of their Christmas releases :)

I used Flourishes "Drummer Boy" French Horn image, that I colored in with Copics, cut out and popped up on popdots. I added Glossy Accents to make it stand out and I used the Spellbinders Renaissance Hearts Pendants die as my ornament base. Then I added pearls from Kaiser Craft and fishing line to hang my ornament. 
 ~ I apologize for the horrible background in my pic and the coloring. I am using Neenah Solar White paper and for some reason I can't seem to get a great photo when I use this paper. My main images get "washed" out so I had to use my photo tent outdoors. That's why it looks so yellowy-pink colored.

I had so much fun creating my ornament, this is one of those challenges I love! I love trying something new. I enjoyed it so much I think I will try to squeeze in one more, if I can :)

Ode To Julie :)

Splitcoast Stampers has a Featured Stamper, and this time it's none other then Julie Korber, from Flourishes!! SCS is asking us to pick a card from her Gallery and CAS it, as a fun challenge. I really, really had a hard time deciding on what card to CAS! She has some super talent, and some of her cards gave me some great inspiration :)
But I decided on this one:

I really love the shape, the colors and the use of stitching and punched borders :)
Since I am supposed to CAS it and not copy it exactly, I did keep many things the same, including the color scheme, but I decided not to use a ribbon and stitch on the edges.

I used Flourishes "Clematis & Butterflies" butterfly stamp, stamped in Memento "Desert Sand" ink and colored in with Tombows. I used: 243,451,373,990.
Then I added the Crackle Glaze, let it dry, cut it out and added B01 (Mint Blue) Copic color just to enhance the blues in the wings. I cut out a base from a Spellbinders Classic Circle die and layered that over a Spellbinders Scalloped Circle diecut. I stamped the butterfly image on the circle diecut too. I used Bazzil "Aloe Vera", "River Reed" and "Creamy White" CS and paper from K&Co. I used the Lace Doily diecut from MFT for my border edge, then I added silver pearls for some sparkle.


~ Splitcoast Stampers "Featured Friend" - Julie Korber

~ Flourishes Bring Back Beautiful "Beauty of a Technique Challenge" : Crackle Glaze Medium

Flourishes Wants Your Heavy Metal

Did I get your attention? Flourishes is having a Release Week challenge called : Heavy Metal. They want you to use Copper, Silver, Gold or any other metallic on your card. You can join in  and maybe win some stamps, too! All the details are found HERE, in their blog.
Honestly, I don't use metallics much so this really was a challenge. Especially since I wasn't even sure if I had any metallic CS in my stash. Glitter paper, sure! But metallic? I was fortunate enough to find 2 pieces of brushed silver to work with, though! 

I used Flourishes "City of David" stamp set stamped in Anna Griffin "Grey" ink. I colored the images with Tombows and Distress Inks, then cut out and popped up on popdots. They were placed on a sponged Spellbinders Large Ovals background and backed with a Spellbinders Labels 18. I used DCWV "Pearlized & Metallic" Luxury stack paper scored at 1/4 intervals for a textured background, matted with metallic brushed silver CS. I used the Spellbinder Classic Lace die for my border, I added pearls then used a dark gray grosgrain ribbon and a hat pin for my accessories.


After I finished Flourishes Design Team's Release Week's blog hop, I was faced with the undeniable - Christmas is only 3 months away and I haven't even started my cards! So I used this challenge to make a Christmas card, hoping that I would be motivated to get started on them...soon :)

Fall Inspiration

It's finally fall here in the desert! It rained yesterday which sent me into a fall baking tizzy, on top of fall house cleaning :) In between all of that, I was able to squeeze a quick card in for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday. It's all about priorities ;)


Every week, Flourishes picks a random winner, from the entries to win a store GC! For more info please visit their blog HERE. 
 Flourishes Timeless Tuesday challenge this week is this fall picture:

I just love front porches, don't you? Growing up, my Mom insisted every evening meal be eaten out in our back porch, during the summer weather. I cherish those wonderful memories and conversations :)

I used Flourishes "Seeds Of Friendship" and "Bee My Honey" stamp sets, colored in with Tombows. I used TCP Studios paper and bronze metallic cardstock, and I pulled out a decorative edge scissors to cute the edges of my CS. The ribbon is from American Crafts and the pearls are from KaiserCraft.


When I saw the inspiration photo, I thought of fall being harvesting time. But since I don't have Flourishes "Garden Fresh" or "Season of Thanks", I decided to start at the beginning. It all starts with seeds. If we don't plant anything, we don't reap our harvest :)

WCMD

World Card Making Day was this past Saturday, did you join in? I didn't, I was at my local scrapbooking shop at their 5th anniversary sale. I picked up some Copic markers for $4 a piece about $3 less then retail! That is a pretty good deal, I am told. Because I'm still so new at this, it still seems hard to believe these things are cheap - LOL :)


As you know, Flourishes is my favorite stamp company and for WCMD they are issuing a challenge: "Think Like a Kid and Make a Card Inspired By the Colors Of Your Favorite Animated Character!"  
I'm combining this challenge with Flourishes Bring Back Beautiful: "Techniques".


Ok, not to be difficult or anything, I don't have a favorite animated character :( I lived in Northern Minnesota growing up and it was a rural farming community.  We didn't get the greatest TV reception for many years, so I didn't watch much TV. After some thought, I decided to use this image from our girl's nursery fairy decor for my inspiration piece.

The art is from Cicely Mary Barker, who painted the most amazing fairies, in the 1920's or 30's. I have been a fan of her art ever since I found this image in wall decals, for our nursery a few years ago.
I really love this picture because my little girls look almost exactly like these two fairies, it's crazy! 

I used Flourishes "Apple of My Eye" because my inspiration image has Apple Blossoms. I colored my apples in with Copics and double heat embossed them for a shiny look so it wouldn't look dull next to the clear and shiny transparency overlay from MME, placed over a Pink Paisley paper. The frame is also from MME and the blinged out ruffled ribbon is from Prima. I used some extra butterflies left over from a topiary I made for Brigette's birthday, where I used velum, a pearl and an image pattern from Flourishes "Fanciful Flourishes" stamp set.


~ For the WCMD, I used Pink & Brown for my inspired colors.
~ For the BBB "Techniques" challenge I am using the Double Embossing technique.

Even though I was really struggling with what to inspire me and what to create, I really enjoyed these challenges and adventure! Thank you Flourishes DT for all your unique and fun challenges! :)

September's Blessing

Blessings. They seem to come when you least expect them to :) This month I was blessed by being asked by Julie Korber, to be Flourishes October Limelight Designer! This is an absolute surprise and dream honor. I hope you will come and to Flourishes blog HERE every Sunday starting today, and visit, please :) 

Brigette's Birthday Butterfly Topiary

Whew! Try saying that title five times fast! 
I know I haven't posted anything lately, but trust me, I was working behind the scenes cooking up a few nice things I will be showing you. I will be posting them soon.


I made a birthday center piece for the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge: Set the Table. Use your Flourishes stamps to create a table scape or decor. You could win a $10 GC! More details are found on their blog: HERE.

Brigette is having a Butterfly Garden themed birthday, and I needed to come up with something fun.

I know there looks like there are a million pins in it, but there are only 20 on a 3 inch round Styrofoam ball. I used Flourishes "Fanciful Flourishes" stamp set stamped on vellum in Opalite "Winter Rust" and VersaMagic "Pixie Dust" inks, then heat embossed them in clear embossing powder. Then I cut it out with a Spellbinder's Shapeability "Butterfly" die. I hot glued some moss to a 3 inch Styrofoam ball and affixed an old sponge paint brush handle colored in with G99 Copic marker for the green topiary "stem" I needed. I used a glass spice jar as my container/pot. I used florist's pins I added Zots (glue dots) to place my butterflies on, then added pearls to the centers of the butterflies.


I really enjoyed making this project! I kinda wondered if it would look odd, but I'm so glad I tried it. This is going to be for my daughter Brigette's 2nd birthday. It's just going to be my husband, Rheanna (oldest daughter), Brigette and I there, but I think I'm going to see if I can try to make some fun place cards to match the topiary. She will be turning 2 next month, so I have some time to think about what I want to do :)

A Wonderful Friend

I have Finally been able to make my card entry for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge : A Shaped Card.
It has been one busy week I was so worried I wouldn't get to complete it :)

I used Flourishes "Hello Hyacinth" and the Flourishes "Clematis and Butterflies" stamp set. I stamped my image on Neenah Solar White paper, colored it in with Copics, cut it out and popped it up on popdots. I used two of the classic Oval Nested Nesties cut out to make the oval frame and a Nestie Scalloped Circle for the sentiment. Then I used a Making Memories red journal page for my background and pearls from Zva.


If you read through the description of my card, you might have noticed one tiny difference in my description that is different from my normal descriptions. Apparently there has been a "train" that I haven't gotten on, or rather refused to get on, in the cardmaking industry. Everyone uses and raves about this product, but I avoided the stuff as much as I could, and even embraced the polar opposite medium, all in the name of saving money. You guessed it, I am taking about using Copic markers. This past Saturday, I was selling some of my extra craft supplies at my LSS "Crafter's Garage Sale" along with some fellow scrapbooker vendors. While that was going on, the shop had a free make n' take with the owner of La-La-Land Crafts, using what else - Copics. She taught us how to use the Copics to color in their images, and let me tell you, I Fell In Love with them!! Now I see what everyone is raving about and why everyone loves and uses them. I love how they colored my image in so nicely and how the colors are so vibrant! Here is my make n' take I made that convinced me to start my own Copic collection :)

So between the crafter's Garage Sale Copics and the shops Copic Collection I ended up being able to buy 19 Copics for $40!!! I am both humbled and in Heaven. But this doesn't mean I'll completely give up on my Tombows, though, either. A girl can enjoy the best of both worlds, can't she? ;)

Sweet Peas

Flourishes has issued their day two noon time challenge, for their Release Week :) If you play along you could win their entire September release! There are many ways to win, if you want more details go to Flourishes blog HERE :)

Today's challenge is: Use Three Layers.

 I used Flourishes "Sweet Peas" and Flourishes "Seeds of Friendship" stamp sets. I colored it in with my Tombows and popped it up on some small popdots. I used a doily  and added some pearls from Zva, and placed that on some paper from MME, then placed a flower from Prima on the corner.

 I purposely wanted the seed packet to look faded and washed out.  I am not sure if my image counts as a layer, but I tried my hardest not to use any more then I did.  I actually don't use much paper, but this one stumped me a bit, but I love how it turned out :)

Handpicked Just For You

Flourishes has issued a challenge for their Release Week called: Let's Get Sketchy. You could win their whole Release bundle if you play along. There are a few ways to win, just go to Flourishes Blog for the details :)
Here is their sketch I followed:

 So here is the card I made using their sketch and I also decided to use some of the Colors of Fall Challenge colors, just for fun.

 I used Flourishes "Lilac and a Flourishes sentiment from "Berry Sweet" stamp set. I colored in my lilac with Tombow numbers 623, 673 & 676. I cut it out with my craft knife and popped it up on popdots. I used paper from TCP  Studio and folded it over  a little bit, and layered some DCWV under it. I used some KaiserCraft paper with a scalloped bottom under everything. I added some ribbons and pearls for my finishing touch.

My Colors of Fall I used are:
Emberglow
Phlox
Nougat


I knew there was a Flourishes challenge sometime today, so when I got home from dropping my daughter off at school, I sent myself into a tizzy rushing to clean up my kitchen, throwing ingredients in my bread maker for dinner and pulling the rest of dinner out of my freezer. All so I could scrap a card uninterrupted, so when the challenge was issued (10 am, my time) I would be ready :) I was so "deep" into my card making, when the bread machine beeped (at 1 pm), I walked into my kitchen thinking "Who Cleaned my kitchen?!?!?" True Story! I actually had a decent looking kitchen but had all my canning equipment, canned food, jars, and breakfast everywhere this morning! LOL! 

In All Things

 This is my card I made for Flourishes "Fall Fashion Challenge". Whew! This one was pretty close to the wire, too! I spend so much time trying to find the right image to go with the Fall Colors Challenge.

I used Flourishes "Irish Blessings" image and a sentiment from Flourishes "Life Lines" set. I colored the clover in with Tombows and cut out it out popping it up on popdots. I used my Classic Rectangle  & Scalloped Rectangle Spellbinders to place my clover and sentiment on. I used K&Co papers, some pleated ribbon from my LSS, ribbon from MFT, and pearls.

I chose the following colors, from the Challenge color pallet, for my card:
Honeysuckle
Cedar
Deep Teal
Coffee Liqueur 
Quarry


I personally chose the clover bouquet because it was unexpected and I think it's an underused stamp set, of mine. When I made my first purchase from Flourishes I bought three stamp sets, and this was one of the sets I bought. So this set is pretty near and dear to my heart, and with that being said, I need to use it more! :)

A Friendly Hello

Flourishes has issued their Bring Back Beautiful challenge: Monochromatic! 
I really loved making my card for this challenge and included a few sets together, just to challenge myself :)

I used Flourishes "Spring Has Sprung", "Swan Lake" and a hello sentiment from "From The Desk Of" I masked most of the images on, colored them in with my Tombows and cut it all out with a Spellbinder Label # 8. I used papers from My Minds Eye and CS from Bazzil. I used my corner rounder to cut scallops in my paper and a EK Success "Swiss Dots" punch for my border. The pearls are from Zva, the ribbons are from my LSS, and the tag plate is from Bo Bunny.

Tombows used: 990, 991, 055, 526, 451, 772, 847, 899, 969, 947, 977, 942, 098 & an Old Olive SU pen.


I have to admit, I was inspired by Maki's Swan card, she recently made. I realized I haven't used that stamp set in a while, so I pulled it out. But I wanted to try something different, so I added the "Spring Has Sprung" image and just had so much fun coloring everything in :) 

Creative Sketches Thursday

Good Morning all you Creative Sketches Fans!! Today we have yet another Creative Sketches challenge, and this is a great one! Today is a color challenge using:


Basic Gray
Cherry Cobbler
Peach Parfait


Even though these are challenges, they are not set in stone, just do the best you can! It's just to stretch you a little bit and discover colors you'd never thought of using, together. For my card, I couldn't find any peach, so I used a yellowy-orange and did the best I could :)

I used "Miss You A Latte" by My Favorite Things, colored in with Tombows, cut out and popped up on popdots. I sponged some "Old Paper" Distress Ink around the Spellbinders Oval diecut,with the matching Scalloped diecut under it in "Warm Steele" cardstock. I used an October Afternoon "Thrift Shop: Still in Box" paper with a co-ordinating cardstock as matting. I used some Cream MFT ribbon and pearls to finish it all off.

I really love the color combination and how it turned out. I wasn't sure about the gray, but I'm glad it is there, it kinda has a calming effect on the eye, after all the strong colors I used :)


I apologize on the grainy picture. I retook this photo so many times, that I think it's an internal camera problem or scratches on the camera lense. 

Flowers Feed The Soul

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Design Team is challenging us to use : Water.  You can use any medium that includes water, on your cards, so I picked Flourishes "Lenten Rose" set and watercolored it all in. 

I used Flourishes "From the Garden" for my sentiment. Then I used Tombows to watercolor it all in, cut it out and popped it up on popdots. I used a Spellbinders Circle and Scalloped Circle die, placed over a Lost & Found My Mind's Eye paper. I used a small Spellbinder Flourish in the corner with some Kaiser Kraft Champagne Bling. I used some Ribbon from Flourishes and a metallic ribbon from Making Memories.


When I started my card, I heard Adele's "Set Fire To The Rain", her new radio single.  I was really inspired by the music and the emotions, and decided to make my card a bit bolder and spicier then I usually do. I colored the flowers deeper then I normally would, so they would really pop off the page. Then I used a dark, espresso cardstock to accent and to the drama of the bold flowers. I left it largely unembellished and I think it looks better that way.

Tombows used: 772, 847, 055, 991, 993, 098, 451, 452, 491, 493, 528

Good Morning, it's Creative Sketches Thursday :)This week we have a sketch for you to try!

 

Here is my card I made, with some stamps my mom had sent me for Mother's Day but hadn't touched yet - so sorry Mom! :(

I used a Penny Black "Blooming Pansies" stamp colored in with Tobows, and cut out with a craft knife and popped up on popdots. I used a Spellbinder "Fleur de Lis" shape behind it in Cherry Wine paper with pearls added. I used a Spellbinders "Long Rectangle" to cut out the windows and placed some patterned vellum behind it. The patterned paper is from My Mind's Eye and the purple lace and bling are from Prima.

This was and extremely hard card to photograph, and I have no idea why. I had to add some light it, since it has purple in it. The purple color always reads almost black. 

I'm so glad I finally used the stamp my Mom had sent, I felt so bad not using it, but being gone all summer and jumping straight into school when we arrived home, I've had no time. But I'm so glad I did, I love it and coloring it in was a Breeze :)


On a more somber note, please remember my family in your prayers. Today is the 4th anniversary when God took my father home to Heaven. It was so sudden, no one was able to say goodbye. That makes it all harder, especially when I see my Mom struggling without our Dad there. So please hug your loved ones, tell them you love them, life is short, and only God knows our future.

Flourishes 4th Birthday Bash!

Flourishes, my favorite stamp company is celebrating their 4th Birthday, and everyone is invited to join in on the fun :) They are having a Birthday Card contest in celebration, and the prize is a bundle of stamps!! You can read all about it here on their blog: Flourishes.

This is the card I made for their contest.

I used Flourishes "Sweet Pea" for the flowers, "Seeds of Friendship" for the frame (flipped upside down), and Flourishes "Flourished Words" stamp set. I colored the Sweet Peas in with my Tombows, then cut them out with my craft knife and popped them up on popdots. I used Cosmo Cricket "Making Plans" and October Afternoon "Sleeping Bag" paper, clipped into scallops with my corner rounder punch. The cardstock is a metallic "Bronze" from The Paper Company and "White Scallop" paper from my LSS shop. I used some old lace I picked up at a Garage Sale, stick pins from Maya Road, a gold ribbon from My Favorite Things, and pearls from Kaiser Kraft.


I love, love the blue/green papers, they're just so soothing to look at and use :) The only bummer is I wish I had picked up more of these papers, I love how soft and easy they were to pair together :)

Tree of Life

Creative Sketches has a sketch and a Halloween/Fall theme to challenge us this week! I'm so excited to jump back in, after being gone for so long :) Here is their sketch:

 I apologize for the blurriness I just can't get a sharper image.

 Here is the card I made from the sketch and Fall theme.

 I used an old PSX stamp my Mom sent me, colored in with Prisma Pencils. The paper is from Melissa Francis, Graphic 45 and K&Co. The pearls are from Kaiser Kraft, and the transparency is from an old My Mind's Eye called "Bohemia". I loved that line!

 I have never used that stamp before and wanted a rustic look for the image, so I stamped it on textured paper. I did try to water color the image with my Tombows but wow, it didn't work, so you'll have to put up with my less then stellar colored pencil talent, this week  ;)
It is a dark card, so it was hard to photograph, but I love how it turned out. It's different and I like the deep fall colors :)