Thursday, March 31, 2011

In the Christmas Spirit

THE CHALLENGE IS - A Sketch!

HERE'S HOW TO PLAY: Use this sketch for your creation. Please use Flourishes stamps and when you wrap it up with a bow, just link up to the Christmas Spirit Challenge 12 thread in the Flourishes Contests and Challenges Thread subforum here and you'll be in the running to win! What do you win? Well, 10 lucky winners will be handed one of the Alleuia Angel stamp sets!! If you upload to SCS, please use the keyword FLLCNOEL12. You have until April 30st at 5 PM EST to submit your cards. Flourishes will announce the winner when we issue next month's challenge!
      And don't forget about the GAMBLER's SALE gang!  Sale items are now 50% off!  There are some great things on the sale page here. 
      Copics:  E00, R00, Y0000, E31, E43, E44, E47, RV34, RV17, RV29, RV93, RV69

    Monday, March 28, 2011

    An April Calendar Set

    Some of you may remember way back at Christmas I made a Calendar and Card set for my sister-in-law...I've been showing the different months as we go (and you can see them all by clicking on the word Calendar in the bottom of the post).  We're now in April!  Can you believe it's almost here?  

    I love this one because it's so warm and cheerful.  Here is the set together, using the beautiful A Year in Flowers I  stamp set from Flourishes.  



    Now here are the closer photos:



    And an even more detail shot on the card....


    You can see I made the sentiment label punch smaller by sliding the original punched shape through the back of the punch again and cutting off a little more on one side to better match the size of the sentiment.    I kept all the details somewhat similar with the use of the Labels Sixteen Nestabilities, and the pretty little scallops and ribbon.  

    This calendar template is still a free download at Flourishes.  Here's the LINK.  

    Have a great Sunshiney day friends!  

    No Space Like Home

    Today is the 100th Challenge over at There She Goes!  Wow :)  And it's a fun one too, and you'll never believe who it's from, our own Kim Teasdale, the queen of coloring WOW with Tombow Markers.  She's challenged us to lay down those markers of any form, and do our coloring using some other medium.

    So today I chose my Prismacolor pencils and Odorless Mineral Spirits.  They're so fun to blend.


    One of our graduated students is off in Eastern Canada in University, and I've been thinking about her lately and missing her, so I thought I'd send her a little card, letting her know I'll look forward to her being home this summer.   So, I thought a purple astronaut would be fitting for her :)  Papers are all In Color from SU, and I've used a Viva La Verve sketch from this month too.  



    Isn't the astronaut fun?  I love this set from TSG - Out of this World.  It just makes me smile.  Hope you can join us in the challenge, there's TSG Gift Certificates on the line to win!  More deets on the TSG Blog 

    Thanks for stopping by today!

    Stamps:  There She Goes - Out of this World;  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black;  Paper:  Concord Crush, Concord Crush DP, Going Gray, Flourishes Classic White;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Labels Sixteen Nestabilities, Slit Punch, SU Metallic Brads, Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals, Corner Rounder, Prismacolor Pencils, OMS, Blending Stumps. 

    Thursday, March 24, 2011

    Bluebird and Bluebells

    It's another Flourishes Friday!  Today we're showing you some more beauties from the March release at Flourishes.  Today is your last day to be able to purchase the New Release Bundle at a discount!


    I so love the bluebird in the Spring is Sprung set.  She's just flying in perching on the stem of the bluebell and I love the feeling of her lighting and the feeling of motion :)  She's colored up with Copic markers to match a picture I found of a bluebird and then I added some extra bluebells popped up from the other bluebell stamp in the set.  I love how it looks!  It was a little bit of fussy cutting, but worth the effort I think.  This layout is this weeks Mojo Monday sketch 183 :)  


    The White Metallic Velvet ribbon is from Flourishes, and so are the rhinestones.   It's a delightful touch of spring on this day :)  

    Now the fantastic Flourishes girls have even more beautiful things to show you from this release:

    And other good news...the Gambler's Sale discount at Flourishes is now 45% off!!  See the sale page here!

    Stamps:  Flourishes - Spring is Sprung;  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black;  Paper:  Brilliant Blue, Flourishes Classic White, SEI On the Coast DP;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Labels Four Nestabilities, Lacey Circles Nestabilities, MFT Ric Rac Border and Texture, Basic Grey Bling, White Velvet Metallic Ribbon, Dimensionals, Tulip Embossing Folder, Copic Markers

    Wednesday, March 23, 2011

    My Little Friend



    Ok, you will just LOVE today's set from There She Goes!  I know I do and I had so much fun with it!


    There's no place like GNOME!  Yep...you guessed it!  Torico has created a fabulously whimsical set featuring some outstanding gnome images and coordinating sentiments.  


    The images are just SO darn cute in this set, and the sentiments are so funny and punny they just crack me up!   I had so much fun with this set I created two cards :)

    I colored up this little mushroom villa in Copic Markers to match the Max and Whiskers DP from Basic Grey.  I like that homey warm feel it has.   Some sewing, some cute accents like buttons, twine and felt ribbon and it was done.  But oh so cute :)  I'm thinking housewarming card, welcome to the neighbourhood, welcome home from a trip...so many possibilities!


    Now here's the second card....


    So doesn't that sentiment just crack you up too????  It does me!  I colored this little Gnomie trio up with Copics to match the Basic Grey Marrakech paper and trimmed them out adding them to the layout popped up.  I thought the colors really suited what I imagine a gnome theme to feel like.  


    Aren't they SO cute!  Thank you Torico, I love this set!  

    My Little Friend is a 6 x 8 stamp set that is jam packed with a total of 31 stamps and will sell for $24.  

    Would you like to win the My Little Friend stamp set?  Here's what you need to do - go to each of the Trendsetter's Blogs and leave a comment on their My Little Friend Blog Hop Challenge post.  After you have finished checking out the eye candy and have left some love, return to the TSG Blog and add your name to the Mr. Linky at the bottom of that post.  A winner will be chosen randomly and will be announced on Saturday March 26 at the Release Party Chat!  

    You'll have so much fun checking out the great samples today by the Trendsetters!    You should have come here from:  Ann's Place

    and now you're headed to:  Corinna's Place

    Tuesday, March 22, 2011

    Tech and Tulips :)

    Now there's an out there title for you today!  Welcome to Day TWO of Sneak Peeks from There She Goes!



    Whether you're one of those individuals who suffers from technological meltdowns, or you're one who has the world of technology all figured out;  you'll roll on the floor laughing when you get a look at this hilarious set illustrated by THE Jessica Knutsen :)  She's covered all her bases too, from cell phones, to PC's and she's included sentiments that will crack up anyone that receives a card illustrated with this set.


    Now how many of us could relate to this hey????   What I love about this card is that I paired it with some Cosmo Cricket paper - The Boyfriend that has sheets of ScanTron images.  Remember the tests we took where you had to fill it in ABCD or E,  in dark pencil circles?  Our daughter still uses them at school for certain exams.  I thought it had that fun computer code sort of feel.  


    If you click on this pic above you can see the little dp strip reads "please use a no 2 pencil"  hee hee!

    Technology Bytes is a 4 x 8 stamps set that includes a total of 20 stamps and will sell for $18




    And now come the Tulips .....

    Spring is in the air, and nothing says spring like tulips!  This new set from Chris Dark showcases her flawless and realistic illustration of a single tulip and is paired with several sentiments that coordinate with the image.  This set is a must-have for any flower lover!


    I've colored up this pretty tulip stem with copics to match this perfect designer paper from K & Co.  It's called Susan Winget - Spring Blossom.  The pinks and greens really say spring to me!  


    I added some pretty gems from Prima and rhinestones from Zva to accent this beauty, and also sponged the main image so it would have that soft pink glow.  


    I love how the sentiment fits together inside the card and out.  


    Tulip is a 3 x 4 stamp set that includes a total of 8 stamps and will sell for $7.  


    Now...would you like a chance to win the Technology Bytes AND Tulips sets?  Here's what you need to to - go to each of the Trendsetter's Blogs and leave a comment on their Tulips and Technology Bytes Challenge posts.   After you have finished checking out the eye candy and have left some love, return to the TSG Blog and add your name to the Mr. Linky at the bottom of the Blog Hop Challenge post.  A winner will be chosen randomly to receive their own Technology Bytes and Tulips sets.  

    You should have come here from Tulips terrific designer Chris' blog   

    and now you can head to the lovely Corinna and see what lovelies she has for you today!

    Thanks for stopping by and have fun on the hop!

    Monday, March 21, 2011

    Greetings Earthling



    I'm so excited to show you this month's There She Goes New Releases!  Today's set is a blast! Literally!

    Do you know someone who is out of this world, or maybe even someone who could have come from another planet??? :)  If so, then you'll definitely love this new fabulous and whimsical set illustrated by Melyssa Connolly!


    Is that not completely adorable??? My boys will love this set, and it will be great for Birthday cards and just fun cards to a friend.  I colored up the little alien and the planet, and earth with Copics, trying to give the planet especially some mottled coloring to have that out of this world feel and texture.  The little alien (look at his cute belly!) is popped up and so is the earth in the distance.  These very fun papers are old Cosmo Cricket - The Boyfriend.   


    And look at his fun sparkly googly eyes!  Too cute.   I just added some glitter pen after it was all colored up.  

    Out of this World is a 4 x 8 stamp set that includes a total of 19 (adorable) stamps and will sell for $18.

    Would you like to win the Out of this World stamp set? Here's what you need to do - go to each of the Trendsetters Blogs and leave a comment on their Out of This World Blog Hop Challenge post.  After you have finished checking out the eye candy and have left some love, return to the TSG Blog and add your name to the Mr. Linky at the bottom of the Blog Hop Challenge post.  A winner will be chosen randomly to receive their very own Out of This World stamp set.  

    Enjoy the hop!   I know you'll have fun!

    Going in order you should have come from the Amazing Ann's Blog, and now you'll head to  the Creative Corinna's Blog...  if you get lost along the way head to the TSG Blog where all the links are listed :)  

    Sunday, March 20, 2011

    The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow

    I have a really fun card today....it's Release Week at There She Goes and our challenge for today...and for you...is being issued by our fearless leader, Jessica!  She wants us to create a ONE LAYER card that has images stamped in the same color as the card base (monotone) to create a background scene, and then stamp the main image onto a separate piece of cardstock .  The main image must then be colored, cut out, and added to the monotone card base to complete the scene.  Here's an example:  Happy Mail by Jessica Knutsen (see second image in post).  It's such a cute card so check it out.

    Ok...so this got me thinking and I had an inspiration!  (and you can see it means I cheated a bit) :)


    I thought right away of this very fun set Under the Weather from February's Release and a rainbow!  

    So...you can see it's not monotone...but each section is monotone, will that count????

    I began by coloring up the sun, and cute little raindrops with Copic and trimming them out with a little white edge.  Then I cut out my paper....


    I used progressive circles from my Grand Circle Nestabilities in the Grand Calibur machine , to make the progressive cuts.  All you do is layer one circle over the other one color at a time like you see the sections of color looking like  - almost like a crescent moon shape, and run them through the machine.  Then you layer and adhere them smallest to biggest size.    Then once they were on the card base I stamped each row of rainbow with the very fun umbrellas that I curved when placing on my acrylic block.  


    I just added some color with copics to the rhinestones and the sentiment.  

    It just makes me smile when I look at it!

    To be eligible for the giveaway at TSG, you are to create a card that utilizes the idea of Standing Out from the Background, and then come back to the TSG Blog and add your name and link to the InLinkz at the bottom of the challenge post.  The winner will get a $5 gift certificate to the TSG Web Store!

    Stamps:  TSG - Under the Weather:  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Almost Amethyst, Cool Caribbean,  Certainly Celery, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Poppy Parade;  Paper:  Flourishes Classic White, Almost Amethyst, Soft Sky, Certainly Celery, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Poppy Parade;  Accessories:  Spellbinders Grand Calibur, Grand Circles Nestabilities, Ribbon Tags Trio Shapeabilities, Satin Ribbon, Rhinestones, Copic Markers, Dimensionals.

    Friday, March 18, 2011

    For Our Monkey

    When our niece turned two I knew that one of the gifts I wanted to give her was a little set of finger puppets - and this would be a gift to her from our 3 kids.  She loves puppets and soft little things, and when I saw January's PTI Release and Nichole's set of Finger Puppets I melted on the spot.  Had I not won that set, I would have bought it no matter what!

    So I took the cues from Nichole and put this sweet little ensemble together, very much inspired by her design.


    Here's the different pieces....  the very cute finger puppets cut out of felt in girly colors.  Sewn or glued together with Craft Glue (my french knots really need some work!)


    The little gift box/purse that you can put the puppets in...it's just the PTI stamp packaging with the top cut off.  


    And here's the gift tag...  I love the little leaves and the felt flower :)  My kids chose the *party animal* for the tag.



    And finally here is the card, I've added a felt border along the bottom and stamped happy birthday in white Craft ink.  


    I so love making gifts where everything thing goes together in a theme.  It was really fun to make!  

    So, I hope to catch up with many of you soon on your blogs...I've been so swamped this last week and right now with tons to do, including a sermon to write for preaching with my husband next Sunday!  But I hope to get caught up soon!  Thanks for stopping by!

    Stamps:  PTI - Tiny Treats Birthday;  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, White Craft ink;  Paper:  Early Espresso, Real Red, Blushing Bride, Flourishes Classic White Cardstock;  Accessories:  Big Shot, PTI Letter Impressions Plate, MFT Scallop Die, Felt, Sewing Machine, Two Step Bird Punch SU, Twine, Dimensionals, Circle Punch, Copic Markers, Gingham Ruffled Ribbon, Wide Chocolate Grossgrain Ribbon, Scor Tape, Corner Rounder, MFT Rolled Flower Die, Buttons, Glue Dots, Embroidery Thread

    Thursday, March 17, 2011

    A Banner Day!

    This fun set just screams celebration and offers 6 different pennants and flags all designed to coordinate perfectly with Spellbinders Nested Pennants (S5-028)&  Spellbinders Lacey Nested Pennants (S5-029). There are also 9 sentiments and 8 accents in the set that you can use to deck out your pennant shapes in fun and different ways! Want a little more to coordinate with your cards? How about our new Strips and Stripes background set? This set offers three strips to use together as one background or separate as three different strips that coordinate with our Birthday Pennants set! Since the set was just released last night, we can show you it in its entirety now!

      


    It's such a cool PAIR of stamps everyone!  I'm so happy they are in my Birthday Collection now.   The Spellbinders Nested Pennants, and Lacey Nested Pennants will be in the Flourishes store as soon as they arrive and you can pre-order them now by clicking on the above links!  It is such a great stamp set to pair with the dies with our illustrator Marcy making it beautiful.

    So you probably remember I showed how I made an apron and chef hat for my niece the other day?  Well I put this set to paper for the matching card.  Our niece was turning 2 so you can see two little Birthday Banners. 


    I used the very cool Strips and Stripes set to form the long vertical strip, using the Baby Wipe Technique dropping reinkers onto a Baby Wipe and inking the stamp with that as my ink pad.  I also inked the pennants this way too, and the little candles.  I love the variation of color you can get.  I've added the banners on to some pretty satin ribbon and trim with pretty buttons and twine as accent.  


    The strip is surrounded by the Fair Isle Borderabilities Petite  cut in half and adhered on each side of the strip.  

    And here was the ensemble together.  I love the cheerful yellows :)  

    Because we just knew this set was a match made in heaven with the Spellbinder's Pennant Dies, we asked some of their ever-so-talented designers to join the Flourishes team for a little show and tell! Make sure to hop on over and see....

    Barbara Anders
    Christine Okken  (you are here)
    Cindy Lawrence
    Danielle Kennedy
    Dawn Burnworth
    Julie Koerber
    Leslie Miller
    Stacy Morgan
    Jan Marie Caruso
    Heidi Blankenship
    Beth Pingry
    Margie Higuchi
    Holly Simoni
    Mona Pendleton
    AJ Otto
    Latisha Yoast
    Deborah Young
    Kazan Clark
    Terre Fry


    Would you like to win these sets? Just leave a comment here on this post! FLOURISHES BLOG:  We'll draw one lucky name for both sets and announce it tomorrow on the Flourishes blog!


    Stamps:  Flourishes - Strips and Stripes, Birthday Pennants;  Ink:  So Saffron, Reinkers in So Saffron, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie;  Paper:  So Saffron, So Saffron Prints DSP, Very Vanilla;  Accessories:  Grand Calibur, Spellbinders Nested Pennants, Fair Isle Borderabilities Die, Circle Punch, Satin Ribbon, Trim, Twine, Kaiser Pearls, Dimensionals, Baby Wipe, Buttons

    Spring Shopping

    Wow... did this week go fast and did we have fun! As we wrapped up YET ANOTHER fun and fabulous Release Party, it's time to report that all of our sets being released for March are now in the store and are ready for YOU! Want to see them in their full glory? Introducing....

    Lenten Rose
     Spring Is Sprung
     Birthday Pennants
     Strips & Stripes


    You'll have to stay tuned for samples of our Birthday Pennants and Strips & Stripes sets -- look for our Design Team to show off their creations tomorrow along with some very special guests! Since our Birthday Pennants set is designed to coordinate with Spellbinders Nested Pennants and Nested Lacey Pennants, we've asked some of Spellbinders' finest designers to join us for a good old fashioned blog hop. So, stay tuned! See you back here tomorrow!

    Can't wait to get your hands on these stamps? Just click HERE to go shopping! :-)

    DID YOU CHECK OUT FLOURISHES FIRST EVER SPEED CHALLENGE? Click HERE to find out how you could QUICKLY win this entire release!

    Wednesday, March 16, 2011

    Spring Is Sprung!


    Oh how I wish that were true here...but we've got snow to melt till the cows come home!  Though I think it will feel like spring when you see this beautiful set illustrated again by Marcella.  I just about squealed when I saw it.... it really combines some beautiful images of spring and Easter but can be used year round for many occasions.


    As soon as I saw the nest I knew that I wanted to color it on Kraft paper with Prismacolors.  That white/blue combination of pencils just pops on Kraft.    I like the cute Easter Border Petites along the bottom too - and it's on sale at Flourishes too :)  Just thought you might want to know that :)


    Now how about the total adorable factor....


    Just look at those bunnies in the flowers and grass!  That totally says spring :)  Coloring is with Copics on Flourishes Classic White Cardstock. 

    I've created a little lattice work/basket weave on my Lacey Circle Nestability to lay the bunnies on, and isn't this the perfect paper?  It's new in the store from Prima called Jack and Jill Celebrate.  Such adorable prints in this pack of paper.  


    Just look at those cute little bunny tails!  My heart just smiles!

    The Design Team has beautiful things to show you again today...


    THE FYI's

    This beautiful set is available for Pre Order HERE.

    You can win this set by commenting on the Flourishes Blog today

    You can enter to win the whole New Release by playing in our Cut Above Challenge

    And the New Release Party is Thursday Night TONIGHT....8 PM MTN Time...a Power Hour of fun, games, chances to win, chatter, samples of the new sets and Set Reveals!  Please join us!

    AND Lastly....Sale Items in the Flourishes Gambler's Sale are now 40% off!  WOW  Here's the LINK