April Beautiful Blossoms Challenge : Thinking of You

 Hello and welcome back to another wonderful Blossoms Challenge! Have you been enjoying the team's examples and monthly inspiration photos this year? I hope so, it's been truly a fun challenge every month to come up with a card to inspire you!

Speaking of, here is this month's inspiration photo.

So pretty, right?! I enjoy Daisy's and the pretty colors shown in this photo. I don't have any Daisy stamps, but I chose something as close as possible to the look of one.

I stamped out My Favorite Thing's "Flowers in Bloom" stamp and cut it out with the coordinating die, then colored it in with Copics. I cut out a white frame using Papertrey's April die and layered it over MFT's "Orange Sherbet" paper cut out using MFT's A2 Stitched Rectangular Stax Set 1. I stamped out my sentiment from Honey Bee's "Perfect Sentiments" set, then added a dark purple cardstock frame from Core'dinations ColorCore collection. Then I finished the whole look by adding some gems from Spellbinders in their "Orchid" collection.

Honestly, I was trying to find a light purple cardstock to match the flowers and the purple in the cardstock, but I honestly couldn't find anything in my stash!! I'm shocked! I honestly thought I had ALL shades of cardstock in my stash, but it looks like I don't! LOL! Oh well, It still turned out nice.

I hope this card inspired you for this month's challenge. I can't wait to see all of your creations, and until next month, keep crafting and I'll be back with another card inspiration! :)

Hello

 Hey Crafty Friends! Welcome back to my little corner of crafting paradise. 

Today, I'm submitting a card for Altenew's blog challenge, for January 2025, which you can find HERE.

Here is the challenge photo.

What beautiful colors, right?! I Love the color depths, but decided to keep my image colors lighter than the shades shown.

I chose to use Altenew's Timeless Tulips stamp set, coloring them in with Copics, and the sentiment from Altenew's Gracious Peonies set. I cut out the image with a die from Momenta, but I don't have a name of the die shape. Then I put popdots under the image and added that over some polka dot design paper from Bazzil called "Mint", diecut into a scalloped rectangle shape using the Taylored Expressions "Petite Scallop Mini Stacklets" die. I placed more popdots under the polka dot design paper to pop it off of the white cardstock from Brutus Monroe called "Not Your Momma's Cardstock".

I love how the dies really show off the image without distracting from it, but still adding to the overall look. I really enjoyed layering everything together and how clean and simple it is.

I look forward to seeing you again on my little blog, and until then, have a great crafting day!

Love You Very Much

 Hello again Crafty Friends! I'm back again with a new Card Challenge that I found online. This weeks challenge is from My Favorite Things. Their challenge this week is a Sketch, and here it is.

I Love, Love this sketch and I got so many ideas from it! Without further adieu, here is my submission.

I chose MFT's "Wish You Were Hare" stamp & die set, colored it in with Copics, and set it aside. I cut out and embossed the background with Taylored Expressions Diamonds Piercing Plate, then I cut out the Stitched Mini Scalloped Square to frame the background. I chose to use Bazzil'z Blush Polkadot pink background, cut into scallops using Simon Says Stamp's "Slim Line Borders", sponged in with "Tattered Rose" Distress Inks. I cut the Sentiment out using a retired die set from MFT called "Blue Prints 2", and finished the card using some blush pink Zva Pearls.

I absolutely love how cute the card turned out and non-fussy it looks. The only difficulty I had was choosing what design papers I wanted to use! :)

Well, that's it Friends! I'll see you the next time I post my challenge creations. Until then, stay Crafty! :)

Baby Blue

 Hello again Crafty Friends! I'm back again with another crafty card for this weeks blog challenge from Addicted to CAS. 

This week's challenge is : BLUE

I chose to use Nellie's Choice "Elephant with Star" stamp, colored in with a few of the lightest blue Copics, then cut out the image with MFT's Double Stitched Rectangle Stack. I matted the main image with Bazzil's Polka Dot "Teal" papers with MFT's Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle. 

I actually enjoyed this challenge and obviously kept it super simple. I love the way it turned out, though I do feel like it's lacking a little something somewhere. I always look forward to these CAS challenges though, because I Do feel like less is always more!

Thank you again for joining me, Craft Friends! Until next time :)

Peace on Earth

 Ok, I'm back again with a new card I made from a challenge I found online that I'm pretty excited about! I have never heard of this challenge, but I stumbled across it while looking for online paper craft shops. It's called Addicted to CAS. CAS means Clean And Simple. I love that!

So the theme is : BRRR!

I chose a stamp set that I found at a crafter's Garage Sale. It's a cute stamp without a name, but I think it's from a UK company called Lily of the Valley. I watercolored it in with Letraset Watercolor markers.

Then I used Spellbinders "Scalloped Symphony Notecard" die set to create the card base, with Kraft paper. I cut out a banner for my sentiment with MFT's "Skinny Strips", and stamped a sentiment from Power Poppy's "Heavenly Peace Dove" stamp set.

I kept everything CAS and though the card feels a little naked, it's nice to keep the focal point on the stamped images and the message.

I'm looking forward to their next challenge! :)

Peace and Joy

 Once again, it's Christmas in July!! In only six more months it will be Christmas Day! I can't wait! All those fun, festive traditions, food, and family fun! I love it!

Until then, I'll enjoy the countdown to the festivities by creating Christmas cards, inspired by Power Poppy's Monthly Blog Challenge. Why not? :)

I chose to create a card using the Power Poppy "Simple Joys" stamp set and coloring it in simply with Copics, only emphasizing the red glass ball ornaments. I chose some fantastic cozy looking patterned paper from Brutus Monroe called "Playful Plaid", adding some simple craft store lace, a blue silk ribbon, and some bronze pearl embellishments. 

I purposely kept everything simple so that the image and sentiment shines, but cheery paper colors to keep it from looking too dull.

I really enjoyed this months' Power Poppy challenge. At times it's great to get the old inspiration gears turning and realize new ideas and creativity by accident, just by participating in a fun challenge! I'm looking forward to next month's Power Poppy Challenge!

 

Flourishes May Release Challenge!

We're excited to welcome you to May's Release Challenge at Flourishes! May brings most of us to those warmer sunny days anticipating summer, and in some cultures May Day is celebrated by presenting loved ones with flowers or ringing the doorbell at someone's home and leaving behind a basket of flowers and treats....today we're bringing you flowers of our own,  asking you to be inspired by the colors in this beautiful illustration...

HOW TO PLAY:  There are so many beautiful combinations you can be inspired by!  Choose all of the colors in the illustration - or pick three that work together for you and create!  If you play along with us, you could win Flourishes entire May Stamp Release!  If you upload to SCS please use the keyword FLLCMAY13.  You can enter as many times as you like, but we want you to know if you use Flourishes stamps, your entry counts twice!  You have until Friday May 10, 2013 at 5 PM EST to enter.  Just make sure you enter your creation below using our InLinkz Widgit.  Have fun getting inky!

With this challenge, we also want to let you in on a little secret! Do you like the image above? Well, next week you will see this very flower in its full glory as our designers sneak peak the work of a brand new artist at Flourishes -- Sam Pickard! Sam hails from England and many folks have seen her work on her blog - Planet Sam. We are so excited to share this artist's work on polymer! We know you will love what we have in store!

Don't you just love the Release Week colors for the challenge? They're my ultimate favorite colors to work with!! I'm keeping the challenge color graphics for my personal inspirational file!
After I looked at the inspiration photo, I was inspired to create a Teabag Purse with the colors.

I used Flourishes Garden Gate stamp set that I stamped in Versafine Onyx Black and fussy cut it out. I chose to color my image in with Poppy, Sweat Pea, Beehive, Evergreen and Olive Green Copic Collections. I used Flourishes Kraft cardstock for my purse and stamped out a background with the Flourishes Vintage Wallpaper in Memento Toffee Crunch ink. After that, I sponged the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink, and made faux stitching with the Picket Fence Distress Marker. I sponged Tattered Rose Distress Ink on a doily that I folded over the purse and added a few accents with some Spellbinders Fancy Tags dies that I sponged over, with the Tattered Rose and Vintage Photo ink. Then I stamped the sentiment from Tulips for Friends in Rich Cocoa ink. I added some Blush Pearls, and some Baby Pink Ribbon from the Color Made Easy line for the handle, and I hand dyed the ribbon bow on the handle with a Tea Dye Distress Ink re-inker.

Here is the inside of the Teabag Purse.

Here, you can see the teabags tucked in the pockets snugly, and the Vintage Wall Paper stamped design on the inside flaps in Memento Toffee Crunch ink, with Vintage Photo sponged around the edges for accent and emphasis. 


We know you'll also be inspired by our Senior Design Teams Creations so go ahead and visit:

 Amanda Havon
  Christine Okken
  Cindy Lawrence
  Danielle Kennedy
  Heather Jensen
  Julie Koerber 
  Maki Jones
  Silke Ledlow
  Stacy Morgan

THE OFFICIAL RULES:

Simply create a card using 3 or more of the colors of the inspiration photo above
Entries need to be in by Friday May 10th, 5 PM EST
Those entries using Flourishes Stamps will be counted twice
You must link your creation on our InLinkz Widgit to be counted
You must have a link to our challenge in your blog post or gallery post
Please DO NOT combine challenges.  Only those entries that don't combine will be in the running
If you upload to SCS please use the keyword FLLCMAY13
We'll announce the winners on Saturday in our Winner's Circle Post here on the blog on Saturday May 11th, so check back then to find out if you are a winner!

Thanks for stopping by and we look forward to seeing what you create!

Flourishes Release Week Challenge: Summer Lovin'!

Ahhhh..... summer will be here before we know it and... that means longer days, hotter nights, sitting under the stars and soaking up the nice weather. We know the grass is just starting to green up and spring flowers haven't even really begun to see their full glory -- but that doesn't mean we can't celebrate those warmer days ahead! We're getting in the spirit of outdoor fun now and if you play along with us, you could win Flourishes' entire April release! All you need to do is play in the...

Summer Lovin Challenge

HOW TO PLAY: To join us in this challenge, all you need to do is be inspired by this beautiful color palette above OR create with summer in mind! This one can be loosely interpreted -- bottom line, we just want to see the fun things you create! If you upload to SCS, please use the keyword FLLCAPR13.  Enter as many times as you like, but know that if you use Flourishes stamps, your entry counts twice! You have until April 12, at 5PM EST to enter. Just make sure you link your creation up below using our Inlinkz widget. As we said, winner gets our full April Release. So get those fingers inky!

I love so many things about summer, but I've always loved to travel, so I pulled out my Dreaming of Florence set.

I stamped Dreaming of Florence out on watercolor paper and colored it in with Letraset Aqua Markers, then matted it with Color Made Easy Rich Brown cardstock, then tucked some Chocolate Laurel Venise Lace underneath. I wrapped some Ivory Jute Twine around the matted image, then added Ivory, Emerald Coast, and True Blue buttons from the Color Made Easy line.

The OFFICIAL Rules…..
    

 Simply create a card and be inspired by the photo above or by... SUMMER!

 Entries need to be in by Friday, April 12th at 5 PM EST.

 Those that use Flourishes stamps will be counted twice for their entry.
 You must link your creation on this post using our inlinkz widget in order to qualify.
 You must have a link to our challenge in your blog or gallery post.
 Please DO NOT combine challenges. Only those that don’t combine will be in the running.
 If you upload to SCS, please use the keyword FLLCAPR13
 We’ll announce the winners Saturday in our Winner’s Circle Post  on Saturday, April 13th, so check back then to see if you’re one of the lucky winners!

If you need a little inspiration, it’s never far away with our design team’s creations! Hop on over and see…


Amanda Havon
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Danielle Kennedy
Heather Jensen
Maki Jones
Silke Ledlow
Stacy Morgan

Thank you for visiting and have a great day!

Flourishes Birthday Bash Banner

It's Flourishes 5th Birthday and we think that's a reason to celebrate! So... we are ushering in a 2-4-6-8, Help Flourishes Celebrate Day! We think that's a banner of a day and that's why banners are the focus of this final challenge for today! If you missed our 2PM Challenge, just click HERE.  Our 4PM challenge is HERE and our 6PM challenge can be found HERE if you need to catch up! If you play, we have some FUN goodie bags for our winners! Are you ready for the grand finale... the 8PM Challenge?

 

HOW TO PLAY: We're celebrating a Banner Day!  So, use a banner or pennant style embellishment on your card or creation! Use Flourishes stamps if you have them -- your entries will count twice. If you don't have Flourishes stamps, play along anyway, you could win some! If you upload to SCS, please use the keyword FLLCIS5D. You have until August 31st to enter and can enter as many times as you like!

Some of our designers hung banners to help Flourishes celebrate!  If you need some inspiration, be sure to hop on over and see... 

The OFFICIAL Rules…..

             

Simply create a banner inspired card or creation! Create a banner shaped card or add a little banner embellishment or tag!

Entries need to be in by Friday, August 31 by 5 PM EST.

Those that use Flourishes stamps will be counted twice for their entry.

You must link your creation on this post using our inlinkz widget in order to qualify.

You must have a link to our challenge in your blog or gallery post.

Please DO NOT combine challenges.

If you upload to SCS, please use the keyword FLLCIS5D.

We’ll announce the winners Tuesday, September 4th at noon CST!

HOW CAN YOU WIN?  Play in this challenge and that counts as one entry for a stamping prize pack (including stamps and other goodies!) Play in all five and you will be entered toward our grand prize! Winners will be drawn randomly but if your card is one of our designers' faves, your work will be added to our Customer Cards Gallery on Pinterest for all to see! So get those fingers inky and join us for our birthday bash!

I created a banner for the party that says "Happy"!

A close up of one of the "Y".

The side profile of the "P" on the banner pennant.

I chose to hang it in my youngest daughter's room, because she's not a morning person, like her mommy; so it can remind us to enjoy the mornings together ;)

For the banner, I used Flourishes Letters In Blossom set that I watercolored in with the following Letraset Aqua Markers: Bamboo, Spring Green, Eggshell, Straw Yellow, Raspberry, Sangria and Twilight Blue. I sponged around each letter with Scattered Straw and Antique Linen Distress Ink to pop them off the background of Flourishes Classic White and Kraft paper. The letters are cut out with Spellbinder Parisian Accents, I popped up on popdots and placed them over an open cutwork design cut from my Silhouette Cameo. They were then layered over the Spellbinders Nested Lacey Pennants and under the pennants, I adhered a paper lace doily. The pennants are hung on Flourishes Kraft Jute Twine, with tiny clothes pins and as an added finishing touch, I added some gold pearls here and there.

Have a peak at the other Flourishes Banner inspirations we have for you!

Broni Holcombe

Silke Ledlow

Allison Cope 

Amanda Havon

  

Thank you for visiting and have fun with your challenges!