Saturday, November 27, 2010

Holiday Swirls

Swirl Challenge



Time for Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge.  This week Lydia is challenging 
everyone to use swirls..
I chose Christmas Fairy Mint and added some swirly font..  Come join the fun...

30 days until Christmas but for me today is a really  important day.  A day of giving thanks for all my blessings.  Off to eat turkey and some pumpkin pie. 


Friday, November 26, 2010

Flourishes Black Friday Sale

Get those Shopping Bags Ready! Because we are having a...............



That's right... everything in the store is now 15% off EVERYTHING! To shop, simply use the code SAVINGS4U at the time of check out in the promotional code box. Stock up for yourself or think of those crafty folks in your life that might want some Flourishes goodies under the tree. And remember, if you can’t think of what to buy the crafter who has everything, we have gift certificates!

So, get shopping! This BLACK FRIDAY sale ends when Friday comes to a close -- 24 hours only!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Be Thankful

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow. ~Melody Beattie 

Turkey1

I created another card last week just for fun.  This image is available at Squigglefly. It is created by Crissy Armstrong and is called My Cart Overfloweth.
I colored with Copics and kept the card simple.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving to all my American friends and just as many blessings to everyone around the world.  It is a time for thankfulness in my home on this holiday.  

Monday, November 22, 2010

Scarecrow Love

Scarecrow2



I had created a few cards last week just for fun.  I have always loved scarecrows and have several different stamps that were begging to be inked.  This one is from High Hopes.

 


This one is also from High Hopes and one of my favorite.  

That's it from me...Hope you are having a terrific week.. 

Friday, November 19, 2010

Happy Birthday Julie


Christmas Bouquet

Tomorrow is the Flourishes' friend and fearless DT leader Julie's birthday.  If you have time stop on by her blog and wish her a wonderful day.  She  not only is an incredible DT leader but she is also a super sweet person.  Happy Birthday Julie.  

I used Flourishes Winter Bouquet for my Friday Focus card this week.  I love this stamp.  It is one of my favorites. I stamped my image onto Flourishes Classic White Cardstock.  I then colored this with Flourishes Green Grass, Fuchsia, and Hydrangea Copic Sets.  I shaded around the edge with the sets from the Robin's Egg Copic Collection.  The paper is the beautiful Memory Box Tinsel paper.  I used the May Arts metallic velvet ribbon and a
Karen Foster Scrapstick pin from Flourishes.

Snowballs2


  


This second project is dear to my heart.  I love it when my hubby and I can work on something together.  I wanted to make our 4 daughters a recipe box this year.  I typed
and hand wrote many recipes for their box.  My husband came up with the box in his shop and I made this recipe card for the outside of the package.  I used Flourishes' newly released Warm Winter Wishes.
set.  I colored with the Copic Collections Delphinium for all the blue and once again stamped it onto Flourishes Classic White cardstock.


I can now officially say I am done with almost all of my gifts this year.  I made so many different presents. I am glad I started early and can now relax and enjoy.  

Julie has a sketch for your inspiration today.. Check out what the rest of the 
team has for you:   

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Charity and a Tutorial

Charity2completei

It is time for another Mo's Digital Pencil challenge.   This week
Lydia is challenging everyone to use three punches on our creations.
I wanted to do something for Thanksgiving.  Those here in the
U.S. will celebrate  next week.  I used Charity from Mo's Digital
Pencil to create a place setting for my table on Thanksgiving day. I 
have a quick tutorial on how you can make your own pilgrim hat.   


All you need is a styrofoam ball, a clay flower pot and some 
chalkboard paint or black spray paint. I chose the chalkboard
because I am going to write names on the hat itself for
place settings.
Spray paint the flower pot with the paint.. Do it in a well ventilated area and 
allow to dry.  I used several thin coats.

Next take your wire cutters or old scissors and bend your wire in a shape that
will hold your picture of photo. I used about 6 inches of wire.


I placed my styrofoam ball inside the pot and stick my wire through the 
hole in the bottom.  Push down the wire until it is secure inside the styrofoam 
ball.  




I then colored up my Charity.  Used Spellbinders die, 2 square punches
and a Martha Stewart border punch to decorate the hat.   

Come join the fun over at Mo's this week. She has some really great new images
out too.. Check out her blog HERE to see what's new..

Monday, November 15, 2010

Grandma's Quilt

I love quilts. They can be a beautiful metaphor for so many life situations. Aren’t we all just putting little pieces together and doing the best we can? 

The Quilter 
by  
Melissa Rives


Sitting in her rocker
Holding needle and some thread...
Her fingers told a story
Without pen or pencil lead.

But written in the fabric,
Stories woven in her stitch...
While every block inside her quilt
Holds memories so rich.

Her stitches perfectly in line,
You would  find no flaw to see.
Her quilts were sewn by hand with care,
And not machinery.

Such talent in her fingers,
Created works of art...
The colors and the patterns blend,
The love poured  out from her heart.

For every stitch was sewn with more
Than just a piece of thread...
I'm sure she tucked some prayers in there,
Though she really never said. 

 This card was created for the Dirty Dozen.. It was my favorite out of all 6 months worth of stamping.   My grandma was a quilter and I have precious memories of her sitting at a treadle sewing machine sewing away.. She would pump with her foot and stitch with her hands.  Great memories.. So this card is dedicated to her.  She was always so proud of my sewing. 

This image is from Mo's Digital Pencil and is called Mummu's Laundry

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Snow Man Soup


This week over at Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge blog we were challenged to use acetate.  I decided to use Mo's Snowman image for my creation.  I colored with copics
R14, R24, R29, R59  and B0000, B02, B04

I wanted to create some snowman soup.. I filled my acetate package with: 
 

Then I filled up my box and added a ribbon and this adorable Mo's Snowman.

 

I wanted to include a card with my little recreated snowman soup poem.

HCcard

 

Here is my poem:

Snowman Soup

It's that time of year
when freezing weather is here.
Thought you could use some heat
so I enclosed a little snowman treat.
Complete with cocoa and canes.
Just add hot water and sweets
this will surely ease your aches and winter pains. 

Come join Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge this week. Check out the details HERE.
 

Friday, November 12, 2010

Flourishes Release Day 4

Snowman2

Welcome to our final release day at Flourishes. This last set is one that is sure to warm your heart.Not only is it perfect for the holidays but also for winter and even Valentine's day.   I used the Poppy Copics Collection for my snowman's hat and scarf.  I also used the Copics Water Collection for the shading.  Cut the snowman out with the Spellbinders Label Seventeen Die.  I used the Two Toned ribbon and the new Red/White Twine Flourishes has in the store.  


This second card uses one of the sweet pair of mittens that this set has.  I colored with the
Copics Violet collection and tied them together with Twine.  I used Debbie Olsen's tutorial for adding texture to the mittens. Just added Copics blender solution to an old sweater and lightly touched the mittens. 

Check out what the rest of the team created:

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Flourishes New Release

After being tempted and teased all week with the Design Team's delish samples, we are happy to report that the sets are now live and ready for the picking in the Flourishes Store! Here's a peek at.... Paperwhites Vintage Postcard Warm Winter Wishes
Keep in mind, if you buy all three in the New Release Bundle HERE, you get all three sets for 10% off! This offer is only good through November 19th! We hope you had fun this week! Be sure to stop by tomorrow to see what our ever-so-talented design team whipped up with our new Warm Winter Wishes set! You won't be disappointed! ;-)

Flourishes Release Day 3


Welcome to day 3 of the new releases over at Flourishes.  Today we are giving you a peek at this beautiful vintage set called Vintage Postcard.


Post Card 

This set really brings back some great childhood memories for me.  We used to ice skate on our creek and one year for Christmas my dad made a sleigh just like the one in this stamp.

I colored with lots of different copics from the Copic Collections at Flourishes after I stamped on Flourishes Classic Cardstock.  I used the Spellbinders Classic Frameability Die behind my stamped image.  I chose to embellish with the new Cranberry Nailheads and this gorgeous Green/Blue Iridescent two-toned ribbon.  

Check out what the rest of the team created:


This set is ready for preorder...Check it out here in the Flourishes Store:  

Don't forget to join us tonight at 9 p.m. CT/ 10 p.m. ET for our release party over on Splitcoaststampers. We have give aways and lots of fun chatter.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Flourishes Release Day 2



Welcome to day 2 of Flourishes New Release week.  The set we are showing today
is called Paperwhites.  These are such pretty flowers and I just happened to see today that
they are out in stores for the holiday season now.  I did some research (thanks Leslie)
to find out what would be the best way to color these flowers.
 Paperwhites1 
I chose to  watercolor this image with markers.  I tried
to keep the florals white but highlighted with just a little bit of yellow and then shadowed
with blues. I used this pretty paper from Memory Box Tinsel that is available at Flourishes.
Flourishes Cotton linen ribbon and a sentiment from this set and the card was complete.  

Want to win this set or maybe even the whole release? There are 3 ways to do this.
1. Create a card for the pre-release challenge in shades of blue and link it up to the 
flourishes blog.
 2. Leave a comment over at the Flourishes blog each day of the release.
3.  Come visit us over on Splitcoaststampers at 9 p.m. in the Flourishes Member  Forums for our release party.      

The new release sets are available for preorder if you would like.. Check it out HERE.

Check out what the rest of the Design Team created:



Monday, November 8, 2010

Flourishes Release Week and Shabby Tea Room

angellic2



It's Release Week over at Flourishes.  We are starting the week off today with a little 
sneak peek of this beautiful Alleluia Angel Set.  I stamped and colored with Flourishes
Copics Collection Water on Flourishes Classic Cardstock.  I used the new Mosaic Tiles around the edges of the Spellbinder's  Beaded Circles die.  I added the May Arts crocheted lace under the die. 

I wanted to also create another card with this set to show that it can be colored in many different colors too.  
 
 I used the Flourishes Copics Collection Fuchsia on Flourishes Classic White Cardstock.  I embellished with the the ZVA creative pearl swirls and braided trim on this pretty new Mirrored Metallic cardstock.   I embossed mine  my cardstock with a cb folder.

Check out what the rest of the Flourishes team has for you:
 

Lastly.. This month I am super excited to be the guest designer over at the Shabby Tea Room.  The sponsor this week is Lauren Meader. This is the  picture we were suppose to draw our inspiration from.






I chose to use Lauren's My Time Made Easy Tea  For You template to create this project.  I used Flourishes Classic White Cardstock and stamped the Flourishes Thank You flower set all over the teapot and colored with Flourishes Copics Collection Tea Rose ...  I added the sentiment from the Flourishes Let's Have Tea  I used the Scor-Tape to put this together.. I could not have created this project without it.. That stuff is awesome.. The top has some


Shabby Tea Room Challenge
Check out what the Shabby Tea Room Design team has for you and 
create a card and add to Mr. Linky over on the Shabby Tea Room
 Blog.  

Friday, November 5, 2010

Blue Christmas

blue prechallenge

This week over at Flourishes it is time for our Release Challenge. The challenge is to create  a card with different shades of blue..I used the Tuesday Trigger over at Moxie Fab World for my inspiration.. I LOVE this picture.  It was my starting point  for the tones of blue I chose for my card. You can see the details here:  A Study In Blue


For my card I chose the Flourishes sets All That Glitters (for the Christmas ornaments) and Christmas Classic has this sentiment. .  I used the Flourishes Copic Collections Delphinium.
The pearl snowflakes are new to the Flourishes store.. I just love them.  You can't tell in this photo but they are a light blue color.  Very pretty.  Everything was stamped on Flourishes Classic White Cardstock. At the top of each ornament I added a Nail Head.  They are a new embellishment that Flourishes now carries. 

Check out what the rest of the Design Team Created:
HOW TO PLAY: As the weather outside starts to turn to winter, let’s turn to the beautiful shades of cool blue – from deep and vibrant to soft and serene. We want to see these shades on your cards to enter our Warm Winter Wishes Challenge! Do it, and you’ll be in the running to win all three of our new releases for November. You have until Friday, November 12th at 5 PM EST to enter for your chance to win! Use Flourishes stamps if you have them but if you don’t, please play along anyway. If you upload to SCS, please use the keyword FLLCNOV10. Keep in mind, in order to be eligible, you need to link your creation HERE. We can’t wait to see your cool shades of blue to send out some Warm Winter Wishes!   

Thursday, November 4, 2010

More Pumpkins

Pumpkin Patch 1
This week over at Mo's Challenge blog the challenge is to create a card or project with a pocket. 

I thought I would create another pumpkin card with my Spellbinder's dies. I showed how to do this in this POST. I wanted to make a card to go with my pumpkins I have been sewing.   I chose Patrick In The Pumpkins.

I colored with copics and highlighted with prisma pencils.  I used felt for the stem and stitched around the edges and filled with some filling.  Then added some fiber that was wrapped around a pencil and sprayed with starch to help it keep the shape.   


 
Here is the card outside the front pocket.   

I sent out the rest of my pumpkins today.. I love the way these all turned out.  
 
Pumpkins2

Monday, November 1, 2010

Peaceful Wishes

This week over at Splitcoaststampers our Noel Christmas Challenge this month is Tag You're It.  Create a card or gift with a tag.. I didn't use a tag here but I did use the newly released A Gift For You set for my sentiment/tag.  I I colored with Flourishes Copics Collections Flesh Tones and Fuchsia.  I use these sets many times.  They are really great for coloring.
I stamped my image on Flourishes Classic White Cardstock. I used my Labels 15 die to cut out my tag from the set.  All of the stamps coordinate with Spellbinder dies.  
A Gift For You also coordinates with the Dove and Holly stamp set.  

Also on Splitcoaststampers CHERYLQUILTS is the featured stamper this week.. She has a great gallery and I chose to case her card HERE. I changed it up a bit but kept my layout the same..

Would you like to participate?  Create a card with a tag on it using your Flourishes sets and upload to Splitcoaststampers using the keywords FLLCNOEL7.  You could be entered to win..  Check it out HERE.