Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Pretty Poinsettia

Hello Friends!  Hope this Tuesday finds you well.  It's been a busy weekend and start to the week for us. 

But, today is our day off, and I loved the softness to the color challenge colors over at SCS.  Sage Shadow, Pretty in Pink and Going Gray.  I took some time this morning to make this card: 



I started by embossing this gorgeous Poinsettia's from Flourishes with White Embossing Powder on Watercolor Paper.  I then did a very light wash of watercolor with my Stampin' Write Markers (just one or two layers of color), and then trimmed the poinsettia and leaves out.  The soft color with the white embossing is really pretty. 

I used several Nestability shapes for accents, the new Fancy Tags, the Lattice Border and Labels Five (sponged with Sage Shadow). 

I never have bought any Going Gray ink or papers, (GASP!), but I do have a Going Gray Marker, so I used that for the poinsettia center, shadows and the sentiment and gorgeous Flourish in the background on the Eskimo Kisses paper. 

Here's a closeup of the watercoloring: 



Alright, off to clean my stamping mess and spend some time with my husband.  It's my last SU workshop tonight, and I'm feeling pretty sad today.  The end of an era! 

Recipe:  Flourished Elements, Poinsettia and Boxwood;  Ink:  VersaMark, Going Gray (marker);  Paper:  Whisper White, Sage Shadow, Watercolor Paper, Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses DSP;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Nestabilites:  Labels Five, Lattice Border, Fancy Tags;  Velvet Ribbon, Kaiser Rhinestones, Sponge, SW Markers, Aquapainter, White Embossing Powder, Dimensionals

Thursday, September 24, 2009

One Set Two Looks

It's another Flourishes Friday and this week Leslie has challenged the Design Team girls to create two different looks with the same stamp set.  I love a challenge like this!  I think that's why I love Flourishes stamps so much, because you can achieve very different looks depending on the application you use. 

I love the Forest of Trees set because you can do so much with it...seasons, masculine, feminine, Christmas...., so I decided to create two Christmas looks with it.  Here is the pair together. 



I kept a similar layout for both cards but made them look entirely different.

Crisply Christmas


With this card I wanted to create a crisp icy feeling.  So I stamped the pine tree in a soft Bashful Blue, and then stamped over top of it with VersaMark ink and embossed it with Irridescent Ice Embossing powder.  I think this the BEST thing about clear stamps...you can see exactly where your stamp is stamping...and you can achieve perfect lineup!  The embossing powder gives you such a cool look...it glistens blue, silver, purple, green...all depending on which way you turn it. 

I've accented the tree with rhinestones, framed it with Nestabilities, and then added an embossed layer white on white.  Then embellished the card with satin ribbon and one of the Finishing Touches Ribbon Slides.



Warmly Christmas




This card is a little more in my comfort zone :)  I stamped the pine tree here on watercolor paper and watercolored it with reinkers.  Then I sponged the paper heavily using the Nestability Label as a template.  I love these Basic Grey Sultry papers and thought they made a lovely warm backdrop to the scene.  And a beautiful Silk ribbon bow to accent it as well as the beautiful Finishing Touches Flower. 



So, now you can see....just one way you can create very different looks with the same stamp set...even the same layout - and just by your color choices, stamp application and embellishments create different looks.

Leslie has a great post on the Flourishes Newsletter today about using one set and achieving two looks so be sure to check it out as well as all the girls' doubly delicious cards today:

Cindy Lawrence,   Laura Fredrickson,   Julie Koerber,    Faith Hofrichter,   Latisha Yoast,   Leslie Miller, Stacy Morgan

Recipes:  Crisply Christmas:  Stamps:  Forest of Trees;  Ink: Bashful Blue, VersaMark;  Paper:  Whisper White;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Rectangles and Scalloped Rectangles Nestabilities, Petals a Plenty Embossing Folder, Kaiser Rhinestones, Blue Satin Ribbon, Oval Punches, Finishing Touches Ribbon Slide (Silver), Dimensionals.

Warmly Christmas:  Stamps:  Forest of Trees;  Brown Stazon, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip;  Paper:  Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Basic Grey Sultry paper;  Accessories:  Labels Five Nestabilities, Big Shot, Ticket Corner Punch, Silk Ribbon, Oval Punch, Sponge, Finishing Touches Flower Brad (Copper), Dimensionals.

Petalsoft Peony

Today Julia challenged us over at SCS to do something out of our comfort zone.  Well, if you've been following me for a while you know I love rich colors, deep coloring probably in watercolor too, and probably more overstated than understated. 

So today I have something simple, understated and GASP!  ....pastel!  It's so rare that I make a pastel card!  So here it is and then I'll give you a mini tutorial into how I achieved the look. 


My Grandma had a beautiful garden.  I didn't ever get to see it, because she died before I was born, but I am named after her, so I feel this sort of kinship to her, especially after all my Mom has told me about her.  She had lots of peonies, and my mom divided the peonies from home and took them to her house, then she divided them again a few years ago and gave me that plant.  Now she's dividing hers again for my sister-in-law.  I love this sort of thing.  A deep sense of heritage and connection....and future growth. 

Here's what my Grandma's peony looks like, softly white, with a tiny touch of color inside and deep green foliage. 



So that was my inspiration for this card.  I wanted it to have more white softness than anything, but just a touch of color. 

When I went to my Copic Certification a month ago, Sherrie talked to us about making sure we don't touch our Copic markers to anything that could clog the nib.  So when you emboss something, you shouldn't touch your nib of your marker to the embossing (did you know that?).  So, I decided to try something that she had shown us.  I embossed my peony in white on cardstock vellum and then colored the back of the vellum (like a stained glass technique) to give it the color.  Because it's on the reverse side, you get a much softer version of the color too. 

Here is back-side of the embossed peony after I colored it. 



See it sort of has a mottled look because it's on vellum.....and here it is on the flip side....



See how the embossing gives it a completely different look, and the colors are so much more softened on the "right" side. 

Here is a closeup too....




So, understated, pastel, but a tribute to my Grandma...and my Mom who I'm going to give it too.  She continues to give to me and to our children a precious, beautiful heritage of Faith, sacrificial love and joy!

Recipe:  Stamps:  Flourishes - Peony;  Ink;  VersaMark, Always Artichoke, Blush Blossom;  Paper:  Blush Blossom, Whisper White, Cardstock Vellum;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder, Silk Ribbon, SU Button, White Embossing Powder, Copic Markers (Tiger Lily and Evergreen Collection). 

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Charming Razzleberries

Ah its the beginning of fall, and amazing to me I sent my kids to school today in shorts again.  It's supposed to be 28 degrees C here again today, somewhere in the 80's for my American friends.  I'm going to relish every second of it, because soon it won't be shorts we're wearing!

I was without internet for a couple of days this weekend.  Our wireless modem went crazy and kept rebooting itself every 30 seconds - 1 minute.  You really can't get much done in 30 seconds!  But, they replaced it and now I'm back in my little cyber world. 

Today's color challenge at SCS is a really rich one.  Crushed Curry, Basic Black and Rich Razzleberry.  I like deep colors so much and thought this had the feel of jewels.  So I used some VersaMark and Clear Embossing Powder to create this color blocked background (Mercy's Sketch) and then used my markers on the flowers.  I stamped the "frame" to this set twice, overlapping each other to create this larger black frame for the flowers. 


Otherwise it's sweet and simple,  I even neglected to put on a sentiment.  But somehow that would have taken away from the design.  So it shall remain sentiment-aless.  :) 

Recipe:  Stamps:  Charming;  Ink:  VersaMark, Rich Razzleberry;  Paper:  Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP, Crushed Curry, Whisper White;  Accessories:  Clear Embossing Powder, Razzleberry Ribbon, Vintage Brads, Piercer, Dimensionals, In Color SW Markers.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

HB to my Sport Buddy

Well, I did it, a Birthday card for a 10 year old boy.  I realize that I'm really limited on older boy sets, I had to go searching through the retired stash. 

I went over to Jen's SFYTT this weekend because I really wasn't sure what I was going to do.  I knew I probably wanted a sports theme because this boy and my son play a variety of sports every recess, gym period, lunch break...anytime they can.  And Jen's sketch was perfect! 



Sorry, I know the picture has some shadows...again I was in a rush!  I took the sports they play the most, football, soccer and basketball and watercolored all three of those balls and cut them out.  I chose really warm colors with this old western paper from SU...boy I can't remember the name of it - ok just found it - Outlaw.  I thought the stars went well with the theme too, so I ran everything in the patterns on the horizontal. 

In the smaller square I chose to focus on the HB for Happy Birthday (Letterpress Alpha) and popped the letters up, with some stars from the Sporting Goods set as background.  Below you can see the focal parts just a bit closer. 



Manly/boyish accents with the eyelets and twine, and some weathering on the paper edges, as well as sponging for warmth. 

Now that one is at the birthday party....I'm off to try and get the other two kids to help me clean the house!  We'll see how well this goes! 

Have a good rest of your weekend everyone!

Recipe:  Stamps:  Sporting Goods, Letterpress Alphabet, Teeny Tiny Wishes;  Paper:  Dusty Durango, Chocolate Chip Textured, Kraft, Watercolor paper, Outlaw DSP;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Pinked Circles Nestie, Eyelets, Twine, Modern Label Punch, SU Markers, Aqua Painter, Dimensionals, Sponge

Friday, September 18, 2009

Have a HOPPIN Birthday!

Our Kids' friend's Birthday seem to sneak up on me.  I realized I need a birthday card for a boy age 6 and a boy age 10 for this weekend. 

So I went to check out Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge and used that as a jumping off point for this card for the 6 year old. 

I have to say that this stamp set is ALL Tracy and Renee's fault!!!  I saw it in the catalogue, and thought it was cute, but then I saw wonderful cards they made with it, and it magically appeared on my wish list :) 



I colored the mama Kangaroo with Copic Markers (E31, E57), and then paper pieced her a shirt.  I just added lines to the sleeve ends, bottom and neck with a black pen.  The baby roo is popped up.  I think I could have smoothed out my colors a bit more with my markers...but I was in a rush...and it's all wrapped with the present already!

Because this little guy is one hoppin' 6 Year Old Dude, I added 6 presents to the card for fun (YG93, YG99, BG11, BG72, E31, E57)...and W2 for shadows. 

His name starts with G so I added a chipboard letter and circle, covering the circle with DP and just coloring the letter with BG72.     No other accents (GASP!)  but honestly a 6 year old boy won't notice if there aren't accents!  He's already rippin' open the present!  The card is really just for the mom :)  (LOL!)



Just cute and fun.  Now to the card for the 10 year old....this will be harder!  :)  Hopefully back with it later today or tomorrow!

Stamps:  Build A Roo, Teeny Tiny Wishes;  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Always Artichoke;  Paper:  Always Artichoke, Baja Breeze, Classic Ivory Paper (Flourishes), Manchester DSP;  Accessories:  Chipboard Letters, Sticky Tape, Copic Markers, Dimensionals,

Thursday, September 17, 2009

A Country Christmas

Well, this week Flourishes is sponsoring the Sketch at 2 Sketches 4 You...and today all the DT girls get to play with it!  You have one more day to play too....and you could win 2 Flourishes Stamp Sets!   Here's the sketch...



Despite the fact that we've been in the middle of a late summer heat wave, I've been in Christmas card mode lately. 


I wanted to put together the traditional and old-fashioned elegance of All That Glitters, with the non-traditional colors and country feel of this fantastic Basic Grey Lemonade paper.  So I watercolored the oranament, gave it some sponging and shadowing and edging to match it to the paper. 

I tried to give the embellishments that feeling of old and new as well....elegant pearls and taffeta ribbon, as well as gingham ribbon and linen thread, and faux stitching on pierced holes in the card center. 

I used the cool shape of the Labels Five Nestabilities trimmed down on both the main image and the sentiment. 

Be sure to stop by the Girls' blogs to see what the rest of the Flourishes DT has done with this great sketch!

Cindy Lawrence, Latisha Yoast, Leslie Miller, Laura Fredrickson, Stacy Morgan, Julie Koerber, Sharon Doolittle, Faith Hofrichter


Recipe:  Stamps:  All That Glitters, Rejoice;  Ink:  Stazon Black, Baja Breeze;  Paper;  Baja Breeze, Confetti Cream, Watercolor, Basic Grey Lemonade DSP;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Labels Five Nestabilties, Sponge, Aqua Painter, Reinkers, Kaiser Pearls, Taffeta Ribbon, Gingham Ribbon, Dimensionals, Linen Thread

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Peace Within Makes Beauty Without

It's a beautiful truth isn't it?  Peace within your soul and spirit brings beauty to your whole person, inside and out. 
My daughter and I both fell in love with this pretty stamp in the new catalogue.  It's rare for her to say, "Mom you need to get this one", but she did, and I did!  We have Adirondack chairs like this and they are great to cozy up in and read a book, or nap like this cat is doing.

I colored the scene with my Stampin' Write Markers.  I did this rather than reinkers because of the fine lines and details in this stamp.  Why? I find I get better precision on details with multiple colors when I used markers. 

After it was cut out with the Labels Two Nestie it was just a hair too big, so I trimmed it down to the embossing lines on the cut shape, then sponged it with Soft Suede to give it a better feeling of depth without the layers. 

Tip:  Notice all the horizontal and vertical lines in the stamped image?  You've got the vertical lines of the chair and the orchid plant mixed with the horizontal of the cat, pillow and chair seat...  Well, it's perfect to play that up with the vertical and horizontal lines of the sketch and the patterns of the paper.  Plus the woodgrain on the paper matches the chair.  I accentuated it more with the horizontal ribbon, sentiment and brads. 

Here's a closer pic of the watercoloring: 
I love the earthy look of the pot :) It was fun to color!  Oh, I also overstamped the orchids on the sentiment too to tie it in. 
Recipe:  Stamps:  Peace Within;  Ink:  Black Stazon, Soft Suede, Bermuda Bay;  Paper:  Bermuda Bay, Soft Suede, Watercolor Paper, Autumn Meadows DSP;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Labels 3 Nesties, SW Markers, Aquq Painter, Bermuda Bay Ribbon, Piercer, Dimensionals, Vintage Brads. Sponge.

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Pretty Whispery Suede

Today's color challenge colors over on SCS are Pretty in Pink, Whisper White and Soft Suede. I love Soft Suede, it's probably the color I've used most. I know some people aren't sure about it yet, but I love it's neutral quality that can be paired with so much.  These three colors together made me think of candy today, yum!  Especially if there's chocolate involved.   I created a sweet wintery scene with this first card:
To give this card the sparkly candy feel I added Chunky Glitter over Crystal Effects to give it some texture and sparkle.    Don't you love the embossing over the patterned paper.  It really looks pretty. 

I'm not often a button girl, but these sweet little buttons called to me.  I'm a girl who's ok with leaving a button naked (as in nothing in the holes), but I know it really weirds some people out!  So I threaded a teeny tiny sliver of whisper white paper through the holes and tied it in the back. 

I hope to have another card to add to this post later...it's in process, but I also have a Dentist appt this afternoon with the whole fam to get our toofers cleaned! 

Ok...I did have time to finish the other card before we left for the Dentist....a pretty Lacy feeling one.

I had to take the picture in goofy light, bright sunlight so it makes goofy shadows. 

I just LOVE these new wreaths from Flourishes.  I think Marcella did a wonderful job with them.  And this one had a kind of lacy organic feel.  I colored the wreath with straight Stampin' Write markers no blending.  Then I used the pinked Nestie as my template to sponge with Soft Suede. 

To keep that lacy feel I embossed the white layer with the Flourish Impressabilities and then sponged over top to sort of give it the look of lace.  Then I added the pretty Lattice Borderabilties.  And then some pretty crochet lace with pink velvet ribbon run through it.  All available from Flourishes. 

Here's a better light picture for the details.

Recipe:  Stamps:  Serene Snowflakes, Teeny Tiny Wishes;  Ink:  Soft Suede, Whisper White Craft, Pretty in Pink;  Paper;  Whisper White, Soft Suede, Pretty in Pink Prints, Christmas Cocoa DSP;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Finial Press Embossing Folder,  1 3/4 Circle Punch, Modern Label Punch, Scalloped Edge Punch, Buttons, Dimensionals, Satin Ribbon, Piercer, Crystal Effects, Chunky Glitter.

Lacy:  Stamps:  Flourishes - Seasonal Wreaths; Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Soft Suede, Pretty in Pink;  Paper:  Soft Suede, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Pinking Circles Nesties, Lattice Borderabililties, Flourish Impressabililties, Pink Crochet Ribbon, Velvet Ribbon, Rhinestones, Dimensionals, SW Markers, Sponge, Glue Dots

Monday, September 14, 2009

The Patterned Piney Woods

A new box of stamps came to my door last week, how could I help but stamp with them????  :)  It's always fun to play with the possibilities of a new stamp set.  When I saw this Hostess set in the Holiday Mini Catalogue I strategically planned my order to make sure it was MINE.  I love the patterned pines!  Something so fun and funky, yet country about them.  Plus they'll make easy and quick Christmas cards. 

I stamped the trees in three different inks, Vanilla Craft, Soft Suede and Real Red on Vanilla, then trimmed out, and popped them up on a Vanilla snow sprinkled sponged edged piece. 


I knew I wanted to use this gorgeous new paper Christmas Cocoa, but didn't even notice that one of the stripes on this papers is white, not vanilla (duh!).  So, that wouldn't work with the vanilla base on the trees.  I didn't feel like stamping them out again, so I had to get creative.  I took my E31 Copic Marker and colored the white stripe in the patterned paper to warm it up.  The rest is pretty easy peasy, though I think I should have cut my ribbon better!  Petals A Plenty embossing folder with the Curly Label Die and some Vanilla Brads. 

*TIP  OH, I did do something else...because the stripe in the paper is really warm, I wanted to unify it with my main images, so I colored in some of the patterned pines with the copic marker too....pulls it together.  See below....
Recipe:  Stamps:  Patterned Pines, Teeny Tiny Wishes;  Ink:  Vanilla Craft, Real Red, Soft Suede;  Paper:  Soft Suede, Real Red, Very Vanilla, Christmas Cocoa DSP;  Accessories;  Big Shot, Petals A Plenty Embossing Folder, Large Neutral Brads, Curly Label Punch, Piercer, Dimensionals, Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Copic Marker. 

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Blog Candy Winner!

First off I have to say thank you everyone!  Reading about your milestones and celebrations was such an encouragment to me!  Really if you have time, go through the post again and read some of the great things that really matter - things worth celebrating:  healthy marriages and anniversaries, children's or grandchildren's birthdays or graduations, being cancer free (woo hoo!  We celebrate it too!), losing weight (congratulations!), quitting smoking (so proud of you)!  Oh the list was so great to read!  Big or small milestones thanks so much for sharing them with me....

And now for our winner  Random.org picked   Result: 53

Which is  Melissa Sauls!!!! 

who said... 

"Congratulations on your milestone! I'll actually be celebrating a milestone this coming 30th...my first year of blogging! I can't believe it has been a year! It really feels like I just started blogging yesterday, lol. I doubt my blog candy will be as fabulous as yours! Thanks so much for sharing! melissa@instampingmode.com"

So Melissa, email me (listed under my profile picture) within the next 48 hours to pick your extras.  If I do not hear from Melissa I'll pick a new winner Monday!

Have a wonderful weekend everyone.  I think I need to do some yardwork this afternoon.  :)

Friday, September 11, 2009

The Feel of Fall

Well, have you enjoyed the sneak peeks of the Flourishes sets this week?  I hope so, it's always so fun to show them to you!  The store is open, and be sure to check out all the new papers, nestabilities and ribbons too!  The new release sets are 10 % off for the bundle for one week only!

I have one last creation to show you with my favourite set of the release here's a copy of the proof for the set:
Isn't the detail on this set by Marcella stunning?  What versatile wreaths too! 
I chose to use Beate's Weekend Sketch to pair with this beautiful sunflower wreath.  The wreath is colored with Copics, and I've added some of the larger sunflowers popped up.  I also colored the ribbon with my copic marker so it would be a perfect match!  And the Nestie behind the image is the new Lattice Shapeabilities also available at Flourishes. 
Ok girls, I'm pooped for tonight....here's the link for the New Release Bundle in the store.  Happy Shopping!
Come back tomorrow for the Blog Candy Winner!   

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Fight Like a Girl!

I have something special for you today.  Did you know that more than one million new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed this year?  And October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.  No doubt someone you know and love has fought a battle against Breast Cancer.  So these beautiful Flourishes women want to challenge all of us to Think Pink!  And to Fight Like a Girl! 

I absolutely love this set!  I think it's one of the most creative, fun and hopeful Breast Cancer stamp sets I've ever seen, and I think you'll agree!  I have two creations to show you. 

You'll see a common theme throughout this set...images of the breast cancer ribbon incorporated into all the stamps.  I think it's brilliant and so fun.  (great job Marcy and Julie!) I used the ribbon stamp inked in Melon Mambo on the background and then stamped the purse and colored it twice with copic markers (Tea Rose Collection), popping the top image up. 

I also took my Blender Solution for Copics and spritzed that onto a Canvas background stamp and then stamped it on my colored purse.  The blender solution picked up parts of the coloring and gave it a canvas purse look.  I also colored all the rhinestones with the darkest Copic Marker so they were a perfect match.  Isn't this new Blossom nestie shape fun?  I cut it out 3 x. 

Here is a picture where you can see a little of the dimension, the pretty rhinestones and the luscious bow. 


Here's a card I call "I Will Hope!" 

I stamped this beautiful ballerina dress twice, once in Memento Tuxedo Black on Classic White, and then on Vellum with VersaMark and embossed it with white EP.  I colored her pretty dress with Prismacolor Pencils.  And then colored the vellum layer with Spica atyou pens.  It has gorgeous sparkle. 

I made it all girly, with names of special women in our lives on on of the background layer.  ...for my sister, mother, grandmother, friend, aunt.  And the sentiment I Will Hope. 
Below you can see some of the shimmer and shine. 

When Flourishes started to design this one-of-a-kind set, Jan, Nancy and Sharon - the owners of Flourishes - knew they wanted to use this set to help others in the fight. That's why a portion of each stamp set sold will go to help STAMP OUT breast cancer and support Susan G. Komen for the Cure. This grassroots effort has, to date, invested more than $1 billion in the fight against breast cancer. Susan G. Komen for the Cure is an effort that is working to save lives, empower people, and energize science to find a cure. We couldn't think of a better group to join in the fight! If you'd like to read more, simply visit http://www.komen.org/.

A fantastic set...you'll want to see more of it from our Design Team's inspired work: 
 
Faith Hofrichter, Julie Koerber, Latisha Yoast, Laura Fredrickson, Leslie Miller, Stacy Morgan, Nancy Kirk, Sharon Doolittle


Want to win this set today?  See the Flourishes Newsletter

Be sure to come to our release party tonight too in the SCS Forum!  8:00 pm Mountain Time!

Recipes:  Fight Like A Girl:  Stamps:  Flourishes - Fight Like a Girl, Canvas (SU);  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Chocolate Chip, Melon Mambo;  Paper;  Melon Mambo, Chocolate Chip, Basic Grey Sultry, Flourishes Classic White;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Blossom Nestabilties, Copic Markers, Blending Solution, Chocolate Satin Ribbon, Rhinestones, Dimensionals

I Will Hope:  Stamps:  Flourishes - Fight Like A Girl;  Ink:  VersaMark, Memento Tuxedo Black, White Craft, Pretty In Pink;  Paper:  Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, Flourishes Classic White, Basic Grey Lemonade DSP;  Accessories:  Prismacolor Pencils, Spica atyou pens, White Embossing Powder, Labels Six Nestabilities, Sponge, Crochet Ribbon, Silk Ribbon, Dimensionals, Corner Rounder Punch, Circle Punches

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Home

The word Home has such beautiful connotations doesn't it?  Today's sneak peek from Flourishes has all the feel of entering in to a place called home. 

This stamp from the set is such a pretty road and it made me think of the four seasons, and how a beautiful road to visit a friend would look over the months that go by. 

Each panel is colored with copics.  Here are some closer pics:  Below you hopefully can see a little of the texture in the Soft Sky Layer.  I used my new Flourish Impressibilities to give it a subtle but gorgeous swirly look. 


Winter has some additions to strategically cover the flowers :)  It's Liquid Applique with a little bit of Shimmerz on top of the whole snow scene, as well as a little dusting on the trees.  I changed the colors of each season panel and how the shadows would be coming from the trees depending on the height of the sun during the season. 

I think I love the fall panel the best because of the way the leaves look.  I used a more dotted technique with my markers, more like the technique of Pointillism to give it that leafy feel.  Two nestie shapes used on the main images, Labels Four and Labels Five.

*A tip - when making a season card like this, look for unifying colors, and add accents that will go between all the seasons to tie it all together.  In this one, the skies and the path have the same tone in each panel so that's my choice for the base colors of the card, the rhinestones and the green ribbon pull it all together. 

Now for a little Vintage Home Blessing: 


When I surveyed you my readers a few months ago, one of the MOST requested things was for masculine cards.  So, I went with a very masculine color palette with this card.  I wanted it to have a really sepia feel, so I stamped the main image in Basic Brown ink, and then very lightly added a wash of color in Soft Suede, Dusty Durango and Crushed Curry, as well as sponging it with Soft Suede, and sponging the Jenni Bowlin paper heavily to distress it.  To me it has a very old photograph look to it.  Beate used this technique on one of her cards a couple of months ago and I just loved it! 
The image is cut out with the Labels Eight Nestability Shape.

The beautiful border is the Lattice Borderabilities from the Flourishes Store to which I added some sponging with the template as well. 


Want to see some other fabulous creations with this set?  Check out the Design Team's wonderful creativity with these links:  Faith Hofrichter, Julie Koerber, Latisha Yoast, Laura Fredrickson, Leslie Miller, Stacy MorganSharon Doolittle

Want to win this set today?  Check out the Flourishes Newsletter

Recipes:  Four Seasons:  Stamps:  Flourishes - Cottage Home;  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black;  Paper:  Basic Gray, Baja Breeze, Soft Sky, Classic White;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Labels Four Nestabilities, Labels Five Nestabilities, Copic Markers:  Sky Collection, Spring Greens Collection, C2, N2, W2, W3, Evergreen Collection, Tiger Lily Collection, Daffodil Collection, Silk Ribbon, Rhinestones, Liquid Applique, Shimmerz Sky Blue, Flourish Impressibilities, Lattice Borderabilities, Piercer, Dimensionals.

Vintage Home Blessing:  Stamps:  Flourishes  - Cottage Home;  Ink:  Basic Brown, Soft Suede, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango;  Paper:  Confetti Cream, Soft Suede, Jenni Bowlin Black Line;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Labels Eight Nestability, Lattice Borderability, Sponge, Aqua Painter, Finishing Touches Brad Copper, Texturz Plate, Floral Accent Shapeabilities, Dimensionals

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Falling Leaves

Always a favourite time of the month it's sneak peek New Release time with Flourishes today!  Today the Design Team girls are showing you TWO yes two fabulous Fall sets! 

I decided it was time for a new banner for our fireplace, a Thanksgiving themed banner with the colors of fall.  Our livingroom is neutral shades with a chocolate colored chair and couch and lime green pillows.  So to match our cozy fireplace spot, I used very autumn colors for the banner.
It has the letters for THANKS on it and the beautiful leaves from this set watercolored.  Here are some closeups. 
The letters are chipboard ones I had from several old SU alphabet sets, I inked them in VersaMark ink and then embossed them several times over in copper embossing powder, then placed them on a NEW Labels Five Nestabilty.  I used some of the smaller elements stamped on each pennant in one of the 3 main colors, Soft Suede, Kiwi Kiss and Dusty Durango.  Below you get a better look of the shine on the letters as well as the embossing. 
I used Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon on each pennant in different ways and Kaiser pearls as accents.  In between each pennant I added the new Lattice Pendant Nestability, this way you're not seeing the joins between each pennant, and it just look pretty :) 
All the leaves are embossed in copper and then watercolored with reinkers.  They color beautifully! 
Here's a second sample I made with this set: 
We have a maple tree in our front yard that looks exactly like these leaves!  I think it's a Manitoba Maple, it's become a lovely tree.  Those little swirly things that fall off the trees are actually the seeds and they plant little suckers everywhere!  But a small price to pay pulling out suckers for a pretty tree that brings shade to our house!  Actually when this tree started it was little more than a sucker, now it's probably 20 feet in the air! 
These leaves are colored with Copics, Evergreen Collection, Daffodil Collection and Dusty Rose, as well as W2 & W3 for the background shadows. 
I added a pretty Floral Accent and Finishing touches brad as jewelry :)  and a tiny popped up leaf with the sentiment.
 
To see more samples with this set and the other new set visit:  Cindy Lawrence,   Faith HofrichterJulie Koerber, Latisha Yoast, Laura Fredrickson, Leslie Miller, Stacy Morgan, Nancy Kirk, Sharon Doolittle
*Join us Friday at 9 PM Central for our Power Hour Release Party! It's an hour packed full of fun, games, chat with our designers and giveaways! After the party wraps up, all the sets we've shown off this week will go live in the Flourishes store!

*Want to win all four of our new sets being released for September? All you need to do is click HERE (link to Flourishes Newsletter challenge post) to find out how to enter our Feel of Fall challenge!

*If you like either of the sets we have sneak peeked today, hop on over to the Flourishes Newsletter today for your chance to win them!

Recipes:  Thanksgiving Banner:  Stamps:  Flourishes Falling Leaves, Ink:  VersaMark, Kiwi Kiss, Dusty Durango, Soft Suede;  Paper:  Confetti Cream, Soft Suede, Sultry Basic Grey DSP, Watercolor paper;  Accessories:  Big Shot, SU Pennant Banner, Nestabilities Labels Five, Shapeabilities Lattice Pendant, Kaiser Pearls, Copper Embossing Powder, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Dimensionals, Chipboard letters, Sticky Tape, Slit Punch

My Maple Tree:  Stamps:  Falling Leaves;  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black;  Paper:  Always Artichoke, So Saffron, Flourishes Classic White Paper, Basic Grey Perhaps DSP;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Floral Accent Shapeabilities, Finishing Touches Copper Brad, Copic Markers, Dimensionals, Modern Label Punch, Silk Ribbon.