Sunday, July 31, 2011

Hip-hippo-Ray!

This week our featured Trendsetter Corinna is challenging us to create a card that Celebrates Summer! From ice cream cones to camping and everything else in between, the possibilities are endless! Have fun and we can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Despite all the crazy rain we've had this summer (we were beginning to feel a little like Noah here....) the last days have been so warm and sunny and dry and my kids LOVE to play in the water, from the sprinkler to water fights, to a pool.  So I thought these adorable hippos from the new TSG set Zoo-Pendous would fit perfectly for a summery challenge...


Isn't this pair just CUTE??? I so love their cute grins with those teeth and their googlie eyes!    You can probably also see that I stamped the rain drops from the set Under the Weather, cause I think they're so fun with their little smiley faces too, then I embossed the dotted embossing folder over top.  Lastly, some fun "waves" added with the dotted border punch along the designer paper (old SU DP).  


Brand new cardstock from SU as well, one of the new In Colors called Pool Party.   Yummy shade :)

So join us in some summery fun!

To be eligible for the giveaway, you are to create a card that celebrates Summer, and then come back to the TSG Blog to add your name and a link to your project in the InLinkz that is located at the bottom of this challenge post. This challenge is open until the winner has been announced on the following Monday (August 8). The winner will get a $5 gift certificate to use in the TSG Web store! 

Traveling Somewhere Exotic...


Travelling somewhere exotic...and a little out of my comfort zone! :)   This card is a sample for Edna's Dare To Get Dirty Challenge today!  It's a fun one so be sure to check it out.  For me -  this card sort of took on a life of it's own.  Once I started I didn't know where to stop.  :)


I wanted to make something that looked very old world and masculine, so I pulled out my Ranger Distress Inks and just went a little crazy.   I incorporated two Flourishes sets, Antique Map and the new Moments in Time set.  I wanted to give the feel of a very distressed map background with a rolled up edge, so I stamped the map in Vintage Photo Distress ink, then crinkled up the paper, and then just took lots of other Distress ink colors to sponge, rub on and distress.  Then I added the various map and time images over top.  


I rolled up the corner and tied it through with some twine adding the peek-aboo fancy brad underneath.  Then I thought a little punched border (Martha Stewart Quilt Edge) would look nice too.  

So....out of my comfort zone, but fun to play.  I hope you can join us in the DTGD Challenges.  If you're not yet a Fan Club member there's still time to join!  

Saturday, July 30, 2011

Super Sneak Peek and Dare to Get Dirty


OOO today is a really fun day!  I have two special privileges....one is that I am a Hostess in a challenge today in the Splitcoaststampers Dare To Get Dirty week!  Woo Hoo!  It's that time of year again :)  Fan Club Members can participate in special challenges each day.  Please jump in!  Many of the Dirty Dozen Girls and Alumni are hosting challenges and making samples for challenges, it's our special gift to you Fan Club Members each year.  HERE is where the challenges will be listed each day, and you can find out the details of each challenge and participate!

And my second great privilege today is that for this challenge I get to SUPER Sneak Peek a set for you from Flourishes...Jan Marie gave me permission to show off this beauty before it will be release in about 2 weeks.  It's SO gorgeous!


YUM.  This is part of these beautiful new set that will be called Italian Garden.  SIGH!  I colored up these gorgeous tomatoes with Prismacolor Pencils and OMS to achieve a really vibrant depth, and then I did a lot of framing with Spellbinders dies, Square Nestabilities, and Fleur De Lis Square Nestabilities, as well as the Fancy Scalloped Borderabilities.   And then some texture with the Square Lattice Embossing Folder.  The card is 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches.   I can hardly wait for you to see the rest of this set!


I just love the sentiment!  I cut it up to spread it out over the card face, popping it up.  The designer papers you see peeking out are from Webster's Yacht Club paper and the ribbon is a gorgeous Ruffled Edge Sheer from the Flourishes Store. 

So be sure to check out the Challenge on Splitcoast today...I have two gorgeous sample makers in cindybstampin and Chupa as well and they're cards are gorgeous!  

Thanks for stopping by today friends :) I really hope to catch up on some commenting and visiting your blogs in the next days I'm SO behind!  

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Flourishes Christmas in July



Here we are in the hot days of summer and I'm showing you a snippet of a Christmas card!  With some of the temps out there some of you would probably be welcoming something cooler :)  Well you've likely noticed that for the last week we've been having a Christmas in July sale at Flourishes.  All the Christmas Stamp sets are 20% off!    A great deal if you like to plan ahead, or just can't bear another day without some of the gorgeous Christmas sets that are available in the store.  I think Flourishes has some of the most beautiful Christmas stamp sets out there!


This little snippet features a beautiful set is called Warm Winter Wishes and it incorporates this wonderful whimsical snow man, mittens, snow...all the elements to make something precious for Christmas or winter.  You can see more on the Flourishes Blog today along with a whole list of Christmas Inspiration from the DT this week!  Here's Thursday's Link,  Wednesday's Link, and Monday's Link.  


A little more on the details....I colored up this fun little guy and his stripedy scarf with Prismacolor pencils and added that stripedy feeling to the design of the card with some Webster's paper from last year.  I added some soft white to the dots of the Beaded Oval Nestabilities and then wove some of the pretty Raspberry cotton crochet ribbon through it.  Then I also colored up the snowflake pearls with Copics to match the paper.  

So don't miss out on this great deal on these Christmas sets at Flourishes!  And be sure to check out Danielle's Blog today, she's showing off Vintage Postcards and it's beautiful!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Proud as a Peacock


Oh today is just the CUTEST new TSG set gang!  It just makes me smile!


Peacocks, and hippos and snakes, oh my! Judy Rozema was our lucky winner from this year’s Mother Of All Blog Hops and one of her prizes was the chance to work with TSG to design a stamp set in a theme of her choice. She said that she would like a fun zoo stamp set that incorporated some animals that are different than you might find in other stamp sets and we knew just who the perfect illustrator would be for this! Melyssa’s adorably whimsical zoo animals will have you going wild! 

Zoo-pendous is a 6x8 set that will sell for $24


Isn't it adorable?  I had a really hard time choosing which image to start with 'cause they're all so cute!

I colored up this fun little bird with a lot of Copics (BG70, BG53, BG05, V05, V06, V09, YG21, YG23, YG25, G21, G24, G28).  Then I used the Pinked Circles Nesties to cut it out.  The papers are Sweet Threads from Basic Grey.  One of my new fav packs.  My sweet friend Stacy surprised me at CHA by buying me this filmstrip die that I had been eyeing.  She's the sweetest.  So I added it to this card him in the deep eggplant color, and added some fun bling that I found at CHA too...perfect for a proud peacock!


Isn't that fluffy bow the perfect topper for his fun little face?  

You will be delighted to follow along the Blog Hop today....so many cute things!

And if you'd like to win this set, be sure to leave a comment on each of the DT members blogs, and then leave your name on the Link List at the TSG Blog.  

You should have come from Ann's Blog and now you can head to....Corinna's Blog for more fun!

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

I Miss you a Boatload!



I love this set today!  I think it combines the sweetest elements together to make something adorable!



Awhile back Torico had posted some of her sketches on her Facebook page and this adorable boy and his puppy got lots of attention! So many of you said that it needed to be made into a stamp and we agreed. Not only is this mini set great by itself but it can also be combined with many of Torico’s other TSG stamp sets for even more versatility! 

Float My Boat is a 3x4 set that includes a total of 9 stamps and will sell for $7 


Isn't it just the cutest?  I just LOVE the little guy and his pup and the flags.  Isn't the little boy's curly hair cute?  I switched them around to be stamped together as a pennant...I love the nautical feel.   I paired the image with the very perfect Webster's Yacht Club paper.  


I colored this cute pair and the seagulls and banner with Copic Markers giving the water a swirly feel.  Then added some twine and brads as well as the sentiment on a fish tale flag too.  

You will some some adorable cards today, and if you'd like a chance to win this set, be sure to hop along to all the designers, leaving a comment on each and then head back to the TSG Blog to leave your name in the Link list.  

You should have come here from.... Ann's Blog and now you're headed on to Corinna's Blog for more fun nautical goodness!

Monday, July 25, 2011

Flip Flop Flippin' Out!



It's a great 3 days ahead showing you some fantastic new sets from There She Goes!  This release has a real summer-fun feel.  I know you'll enjoy them.



Melyssa will have you giggling at this mini set that features fabulous flip flops and sassy sentiments! These ‘thongs’ are perfect for coloring, paper piecing, creating backgrounds and so much more. This mini set will be the perfect addition to your summer stamp collection! 

Get Your Thong On is a 2x6 set that includes a total of 11 stamps and will sell for $7


Aren't these cooool summery shades for a hot summer day?  I wanted to create a very fun beachy scene with these great flip flops in some of the different designs.  I tore the Kraft paper into the sand hills and then sponged it with Crumb Cake ink, it gives it that warm cozy feel. 


I love how the flip flops look popped up on the page.  :)    A very fun set to play with!

So...would you like to win this cutie patootie set?  All you need to do is follow along and make comments on each of the DT members blogs on this post and then add your name to the linky list at the TSG Blog.  Easy Peasy...and you'll get some great inspiration and eye-candy along the way.  If you get lost head back to the TSG blog to find the entire list.    

You should have come here from the lovely Ann's Blog
Next up in line on the Blog Hop is....the fun and talented Corinna!

Stamps:  There She Goes - Get Your Thong On; Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Crumb Cake;  Paper:  Pixie Pink, Tempting Turquoise, Kraft, Flourishes Classic White, SU Designer paper;  Accessories:  Dotted Wavy Border Punch (EK Success), Sponge, Corduroy Ribbon, Fancy Flower Brad, Copic Markers, Dimensionals, piercer. 

Sunday, July 24, 2011

You're Amazing

I'm trying to get back into the swing of things after CHA!  Whew, that heat (115 degrees with the humidity) really wore me out!  I'm so glad to be back with my family.  Yesterday we sent off our daughter for her first solo flight to visit her cousins.  She was both nervous and excited...so I slipped a little card to her before she left, based on this weeks TSG Challenge Sketch.


I am very proud of her, it's a big accomplishment to go on your own on a plane.  Thankfully we could pay for a guardian to take her from gate to gate and plane to plane.  But, I know she will experience a new sense of independence because of doing this.  But as every mom knows, she needed a little extra reassurance that everything would be well and that God would take care of her at every step on the journey.  


I pulled out the gorgeous new set Hibiscus illustrated by Torico...ooo is it pretty. And for a change, I used the solid images rather than coloring them in.  I layered the different shades of Memento ink over top of each other to make a pretty little arrangement.   And then I added the very pretty Sentimental set from Julie Lacey...it was the perfect addition.  


I added some pretty layers of Spellbinders borders (Fair Isle Borderabilities) and a pretty half bow in satin as accent.  

We'd love for you to join us in this week's challenge!  It's a New Release Sneak Peek Week...so if you win you could get extra $$ to spend in the TSG Store!  The new sets are FANTASTIC :)

To be eligible for the giveaway, you are to create a card that uses the sketch provided, and then come back to the TSG Blog to add your name and a link to your project in the InLinkz that is located at the bottom of this challenge post. This challenge is open until the winner has been announced on the following Monday (August 1). The winner will get a $5 gift certificate to use in the TSG Web store! 

Stamps:  TSG - Hibiscus, Sentimental;  Ink:  Memento Dandelion, Tangelo, Rose Bud, Lilac Posies, Pear Tart;  Paper:  Whisper White, Purely Pomegranate, Kiwi Kiss Patterned Paper, Pumpkin Pie;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Labels Seventeen, Fair Isle Borderabilities, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Kaiser Pearls, Corner Rounder Punch, Dimensionals. 

Friday, July 22, 2011

CHA Chicago 2011

Hello Friends!  I'm back from the Craft and Hobby Association event in Chicago and I had the BEST time!  It was my first time at CHA and I enjoyed it even more than I expected.  I was so thrilled to be meeting my Flourishes Girls there, walking the show and making choices for the FLLC Store.  For many of the team, it was the first time we would meet in person.  I have spent some great time with Julie Koerber before, but meeting Jan Marie the store owner, Sharon Doolittle who keeps the store organized and does all the purchasing, Stacy Morgan, Cindy Lawrence, and Barbara Anders on the Design Team - I was meeting all of them for the first time.  And it was so fun!

I thought I'd show you some pictures from CHA, I have tons, and I actually will have a post on the Flourishes Blog later today with a lot of pictures from the show, the many things we saw and loved...so you can get some different shots there as well.  Here I thought I'd show you the people that MADE the show for me!


This was some of us Flourishes girls right before the first day of CHA waiting to get in.  The Flourishes girls wore pink and black that first day.  Right to left is Julie Koerber my treasured friend at our DT Coordinator, Jan Marie Caruso Flourishes' wonderful owner :),  Stacy Morgan and Sharon Doolittle, Flourishes Purchasing Agent.  These are such wonderful women!  Cindy Lawrence isn't in this picture and we were waiting for Barbara Anders to arrive. 


This is in the show with my sweet Stacy.  She and I really had the best time getting to know each other.  This lady is an absolute gem inside and out.  And I feel blessed to call her friend.  We had some great conversations, deep talks, and lots of laughter!


How blessed was I to meet up with Lori Craig for the first time!  She is one great lady that I've really wanted to meet for a long time, she's is so genuine and funny and lovely!


Here are some of us meeting up with some blogging friends for the first time, it's Jen (from Deconstructing Jen's blog), our DT sister Barbara Anders, Jessica Diedrich, myself and Cindy Lawrence.   It was really fun running into people in the industry that we meet in this wonderful blogging world!  


And here's the DT Team that was at CHA together, myself, Cindy Lawrence, Barbara Anders, Julie Koerber, and Stacy Morgan.  We had the best time helping choose new merchandise for the Flourishes store!  I'm so excited about what is in store for the next months.  


My very favourite colorist anywhere, the incomparable Debbie Olson.  The kindest thing she said to me when I walked up to her, "I know you!" How amazing to be recognized by THE Debbie Olson, I just about fell over!  And as so many people have said about her, she's so down to earth, so kind and funny and totally gave me some tips on shadows that I had been dying to ask her about.  


EEE!  Beate Johns!  It did my heart good to hear her German accent and see her sweet personality to match.  I love her work and I've loved doing some work with her at SCS. 


One of our dinner's out...this one was at The Ram...yummy food there.  As you can see below they had Ice Cream Cupcakes for dessert.  Julie was expressing her love of this dessert.   Isn't she adorable?


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Our first dinner out to Carlucci's (I think), really good Italian food.  Jan Marie and Sharon look so nice here.  


Just some of the pretty flowers on the way to the Convention Center, these were lovely deep colored Day Lilies.  


And a whole row of beautiful flowers, I love the Black Eyed Susans. 


Sweet Beate at the Supershow showing a Make and Take at the SCS Booth.  


And the delightful Lydia Fiedler at the SCS booth.  She is SO much fun.  


The MFT booth at the SuperShow.  MFT and Taylored Expressions had great booths at the Supershow...but I have to say, I was quite sad to see so few good booths there.  The Wholesale show was so much better!


Our own Barbara doing double duty for MFT, this is a cute picture of her.  


With Lori Craig and Beate Johns, this was right before we left to get everyone to lunch and then the airport.  


Our last lunch was at Giordano's and I got to have some very yummy deep dish Chicago pizza.  


I enjoyed it :)



I love this girl.  


Cindy and I had the best time as roomies :)  .  I SO enjoyed getting to know her.  She is such a beautiful kind easy going personality, fun and funny, and we had some great late night talks.  Thank you sweet lady for making it a great week for me!


Julie Koerber....there is no one else like her.  She is one smart cookie, and one big sweetheart.  I'm blessed to know her and call her my friend.  


Sharon is the best!  She's so smart going into the purchasing of all our items at the booths, and yet she has such a wonderful designer's heart too.  She was giddy with us when we found something we loved!  Such a gem!


And beautiful Jan Marie.  She makes this all possible for us, and she is a true Southern lady.  So incredibly generous, kind hearted and good to us girls.  I am so blessed to work for her and this company.   Thank you again Jan Marie for everything.  I'll never forget it!


Best girls ever!  My only disappointment was that Leslie, Dawn and Danielle couldn't be with us too.   We really missed them!

So gang, all in all, the MOST FABULOUS week.  Even better than I hoped for.  I'm filled up to the brim with joy, creative ideas, excitement to stamp, excitement for all these new goodies coming, thankful for such wonderful people who I am able to share this passion for creativity with.   

I know some of you were looking for more of the GOODIES...and I'll tell you my favourites another day...but do check out the FLLC Blog later today for some pictures of what we loved...