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.