Running With Scissors...

Pretty in Purple

It’s Flourishes Friday and anything goes with the team today.  No focus or challenge, we’re just stamping what our hearts desire, and that’s my favorite kind of stamping.  I thought I’d bring out a set I haven’t used in a while – Seasonal Wreaths.

Might as well use one of those somewhat neglected colors, too.  As soon as I saw this wreath colored up in violet and green, I wondered why I don’t choose this combination more often.  Searching through designer papers, I found not many that worked with this and still gave the card the soft and feminine appearance I was hoping for, so I fell back on these gentle greens which do not compete or overpower.  I can always rely on green.

I colored with Copics on Flourishes Classic Ivory and trimmed with satin, lace, and velvet over a scalloped paper border.  I colored some additional roses and cut them from the wreath for a little accent arrangement.  The sentiment is included in the set.

Spellbinders dies used are Nested Lacey Pennants, Blossom Nestabilities, and Classic Circles Small.  A full list of ingredients can be found in the recipe below.

You’re sure to enjoy what the rest of the team is sharing with their Flourishes stamps today.  Have a look:

Barbara Anders

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Danielle Kennedy

Dawn Burnworth

Julie Koerber

Stacy Morgan

Thank you so much for your time today.  My posts have been scant this week… just going with the flow.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Stamps:  Seasonal Wreaths  Paper:  Memory Box Bamboo cardstock, Flourishes Classic Ivory, Webster’s Pages Lullaby Lane & Life’s Portraits designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Chocolate Chip, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Velvet and satin ribbon, lace, pearls, Spellbinders Nested Lacey Pennants, Blossom Nestablities, and Classic Circles Small, Martha Stewart edge punch, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Clean & Simple Zinnias for Flourishes Friday

Hello, there!  How about something clean and simple to finish up the week?  One of my favorite ways to let a beautiful image shine is to keep the rest of the card very clean and uncluttered.  Can’t say I do that as often as I’d like to… you know I’ve got a real “thing” for designer papers, sigh…  My first inclination for this image, however, was to just let it be.

I’ve used my new Zinnias from Flourishes with a little Swiss Dot embossing for texture and a simple gingham ribbon tied with linen thread.  Coloring was done with Copics.

Let’s see what the rest of the Flourishes team is sharing today:

Barbara Anders

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Danielle Kennedy

 

Julie Koerber

Stacy Morgan

There are two things I’d like to mention before I go:

• First, this month’s release from Flourishes was a pretty wonderful three sets of stamps, and today is your last chance to pick them up at a 10% discount when you purchase all three in the New Release Bundle.  Not included in the Bundle, but a great deal for the price are the two digital downloads – Fresh Recipes (recipe cards), and Fresh Labels (labels and tags).
• You may like to check out the amazing blog candy Christine has up for grabs.  Read the story behind it and see it’s for a very good cause.

Wishing you a lovely weekend and everything your heart desires.  See you again soon!

Stamps:  Zinnias  Paper:  Flourishes Classic White  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Ribbon, linen thread, Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Word Scramble

Sorry this is late.  Darn computer/blog/me issues... but here you go:

Hi, all, and welcome to the grand finale of Flourishes Sneak Peeks!  When you visit the Flourishes store, you’ll see all of our offerings for June are ready for the taking (or shopping).  Before we put the wraps on this release week, we thought we’d give you another chance to WIN with one last noon time challenge.  If you hop through the link list, below, you’ll find each designer has a letter on their noon time blog post today.  Take all of the letters from this hop and see if you can unscramble the hidden word.

My letter is…

E

Now, be sure to grab the rest of the letters at these designers’ blogs:

Barbara Anders

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Danielle Kennedy

Dawn Burnworth

Julie Koerber

Stacy Morgan

After you’ve unscrambled the word, all you need to do is email us at [email protected] and your name will go in the hat to win the entire June release.  So, put that thinking cap on and let’s test out your word skills.  Good luck!  Don’t forget to find out who won all of Flourishes challenges this week in The Winners Circle.  Flourishes will post all the lucky names over on the Newsletter tomorrow at noon CST.

Thanks for stopping by!

Flourishes Preview, Day 3: Garden Fresh

I’m excited!  I was wondering when Flourishes was going to do vegetables and now look what Marcella Hawley has drawn up for us this month – Garden Fresh – beets, carrots, and peas!  Love all these glorious colors.  They color up just as pretty as any of the fruits or flowers.  What can you do with a vegetable set?

How about a card with a pocket for a bookmark and a coordinating acrylic coaster?  It’s hard to see in the photo, but the pocket is made with Clear Cover Cardstock under the half circle frame.  As for the bookmark… well, that’s something new from Flourishes, too!  Bookmark, tag, labels, recipe cards – all available as digital downloads.  The recipe cards are in one file called Fresh Recipes ($1), and all the tags and labels are in another called Fresh Labels ($2).  Very fun!  I’ll refer you to the Newsletter for more information on that.

A close up of the coaster:

 

I wanted to make one with the carrots, too, but I ran out of time.  This is a 3 1/2” square acrylic block like you’d use for stamping.

• I made the designer paper frame with Spellbinders Classic Circle and Square Nestabilities and glued the edges to the back of the block with Mod Podge, being very careful to brush it on smoothly and work the air bubbles out to the edges of the block.
• I then fit the image behind it, glued with Mod Podge on the edges, in the same manner as the frame.
• Finally, there’s chipboard under that to finish off the backside.  In that case I brushed the entire surface with Mod Podge before gluing it on.  Then more designer paper on the backside, coated with Mod Podge, and sprayed with matte sealer.  This protects it if it comes in contact briefly with a wet surface.  It’s not submersible, but a little water won’t damage it.

This works perfectly well as a trivet (hot pad), too.  I placed a teapot full of boiling water on it until it cooled and no harm done.

More complete instructions for making this type of coaster can be found here.  Thank you, Rebecca Oehlers!

I stamped the envelope flap with all the set’s images.  There’s stamping inside the card, as well, and the back of the bookmark is covered with matching designer paper.

All my coloring was done with Copics.  I should mention that the beets were done with the Petunia Collection (RV09, RV19, RV99) with a little help from RV02 to lighten up their middles.

Now all I need is a cookbook to go with the bookmark, and a decorated gift bag to present it in, and I’ve got a nice little gift.

The girls have done some very cute things with the Garden Fresh set.  See them all here:

Barbara Anders

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Danielle Kennedy

Dawn Burnworth

Julie Koerber

Stacy Morgan

Sharon Doolittle

I think I’ve probably talked your ear off these last three days, so I’m going to leave it up to the Newsletter to fill you in on all the festivities you can take part in.  Please do check back with me a little later (noon CST) for a word scramble game.  It’s another chance to win all three sets in Flourishes June release.  Hope to see you then!  Have a great day!

Stamps:  Garden Fresh  Paper:  Flourishes Classic White, Clear Cover Cardstock, Wild Wasabi, Pumpkin Pie, BasicGrey Oh, Baby Boy designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Fresh Labels digital download, acrylic block, ribbon, linen thread. hardware, buttons, Spellbinders large and small Classic Circle and Square Nestabilities, Cuttlebug Herringbone embossing folder, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Flourishes Preview, Day 2: Make a Wish

Welcome to the second day of Flourishes’ new set previews!  Today we’ll be looking at Make a Wish, which you may enjoy if you have a sweet little princess in your life.  Darling images, fun to color, it could work for a big princess, too, but today I’ve made a set for a little girl.

I colored with Copics on Flourishes Classic White cardstock and enhanced with glitter.

The box is a department store jewelry box which will hold a gift fit for a princess.  To sparkle up the lid I pressed it into pink pigment ink, sprinkled with clear glittery embossing powder, and set with my heat gun.  The tag was made with Spellbinders Nested Pennants, and I added a rhinestone heart charm and princess crown charm to the ribbon.

I sparkled a mat for the card’s focal image the same way I did the box lid, but using Classic White cardstock.

Now, for a quick rundown of how you can win either today’s set (Make a Wish) or maybe even win all three of our new sets:

• Visit each team member every day (Wed – Fri) and leave a comment on their Flourishes preview.  Who knows who the Mystery Blogger is?  One of us holds the prize that could be yours – the stamp set of the day.
• Check the Newsletter each day (Wed – Fri) to see what new challenge is up.  There’s one new challenge each day, presented at noon CST.  Challenge winners take home the entire release.
• Don’t forget the Star Spangled Challenge here – another way to win the entire release.

We’re talking about a lot of prize winners this week!  All deadlines are this Friday at 5pm CST.  Winners will be announced on the Flourishes Newsletter Saturday, noon CST.

See some dreamy sweet and utterly divine creations by the rest of the team:

Barbara Anders

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Danielle Kennedy

Dawn Burnworth

Julie Koerber

Stacy Morgan

Sharon Doolittle

It was good to have you here today.  We’ll have one more set to show you tomorrow and I really think you’ll love what the team has cooked up for that one.  See you soon!

Stamps:  Make a Wish  Paper:  Pixie Pink, Flourishes Classic White, Prima Sweet Fairy designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Green Galore, pink pigment ink, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Ribbon, glitter, sparkly embossing powder (Stampendous Stardust), oval punch, Cuttlebug D’Vine Swirls embossing folder, Spellbinders Nested Pennants dies, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

How About a Sketch Challenge?

Here I am again!  So soon, you say?  Well, I’m back with a sample for the sketch challenge which is part of Flourishes’ release week festivities.  Reminder:  See my previous Zinnia post if you’re looking to leave your Mystery Blogger comment for a chance to win today’s set.

Love how these Zinnias color up.  I wanted to be sure and use these single blooms before I put the set away, so I made a little floral arrangement to fit the sketch.  Coloring was done with Flourishes’ Tea Rose and Sunflower Copic collections.  The paper is an older Memory Box collection called Grove.  Got that from Flourishes, too, but it was a long time ago.  I liked the soft green behind the blooms, and it all seemed to work nicely for a sympathy card, which I can always use, unfortunately.

If you participate in the sketch challenge and link it to the sketch post on the Flourishes Newsletter, you’ll have a chance at winning all three of this month’s new stamp sets.  Certain rules apply to this challenge, so please see more details on the Newsletter.  Here’s the sketch:

More droolworthy Zinnia sketch samples can be seen here:

Barbara Anders

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Danielle Kennedy

Julie Koerber

Enjoy, and good luck to all the players!

Stamps:  Zinnias  Paper:  Green Bazzill textured, Flourishes Classic Ivory, Memory Box Grove designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Ribbon, ribbon slide, brads, Martha Stewart branch punch, SU! Word Window and Modern Label punches

Flourishes Preview, Day 1: Zinnias

It’s that time again!  Flourishes new stamp sets will be revealed one day at a time and, we’re starting with some some wonderful samples made with the Zinnias set.

What a lovely and cheerful bunch of blooms!  You’ll see these colored and designed every which way today.  I used Copics for coloring and framed the bouquet with a doily and pretty papers.

We’re playing Mystery Blogger again this month, so if you leave a comment with each designer you’ll increase your chances of winning the Zinnias set.  See them all here:

Barbara Anders

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Danielle Kennedy

Dawn Burnworth

Julie Koerber

Stacy Morgan

Sharon Doolittle

Be sure and check the Newsletter today for more information.  We’ll have a challenge up later which could win you the entire release.  I’ll be back with another sample for that, too.

Oh, and don't forget the Star Spangled Challenge.  There's another chance to win the entire release!

Making this a quick post because, oops, I forgot I was in a different time zone and as I write this, I’m late for the deadline – shame on me!  I’m usually more on top of things.  I sure hope you enjoy the Zinnias, and I’ll see you again soon!

Stamps:  Zinnias  Paper:  Poppy red, banana yellow, Flourishes Classic White, Memory Box Brioche designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Ribbon, twine, doily, Spellbinders Classic Circles Small, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Consider Yourself Challenged!

Throwing down the gauntlet here – get your stars and stripes on, or at least your red, white and blue.  Don’t hail from these United States?  How about showing us your own country’s colors?  That’s the challenge Flourishes presents this month as we get ready to reveal a whole new batch of stamps.  Your participation could win you that whole new batch of stamps – all three of the new sets Flourishes is releasing in June.  I think you’ll love them!  The coloring possibilities are delicious!

Here’s the deal:  Create a card or project in your country’s colors, whether it be patriotic in theme or not, and link it on the Flourishes Newsletter.  Look for the June Pre-release Challenge post for all the details.

My card isn’t exactly the red, white, and blue of our flag, but I’m putting it out there, anyway.  The way things are going weather-wise, our Fourth of July celebration will probably require rubber boots and umbrellas.  I’m feeling just a tad bit excited, though, because we’re expecting a beautiful weekend.  Oh, they’re so few and far between this year – fingers crossed!

I’ve always meant to come back to this April Showers set which was released in April.  So cute!  Love every image in the set, and I’ve still yet to use the bucket of tulips (making note to self), but oh, my, girls, don’t be caught in the garden this year without your tres chic rubber boots!  Okay, so maybe they’re only chic in the garden circles, but that’s where I travel these days.

I colored with Copics and worked with the paper, ribbon, and button from my Brioche Kit, which is one of those fabulous all-in-one kits Flourishes has been releasing one at a time recently.  This kit sold out quickly (no wonder), but new kits are coming along regularly.  The current kit is Venice.  Oh, my word!  You have to see it!  Vintage lovers take note – teal crushed silk, peach wire-edged ribbon, brads, mosaics, pearls, trims, 7 Gypsies 6x6 designer paper pad to coordinate with all of it – LOVE!  But, I digress…

Find inspiration from the Flourishes team here:

Barbara Anders

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Danielle Kennedy

Dawn Burnworth

Julie Koerber

Stacy Morgan

Please join us in this challenge.  I’ll be watching for you…  Take care, and have a wonderful weekend!

Stamps:  April Showers  Paper:  Poppy red, Wasabi green, Flourishes Classic White, Memory Box Brioche designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Ribbon, button, linen thread, Spellbinders Blossom Nestabilities,  Classic Circles Small, Nested Lacey Pennants, SU! Scallop edge punch, Scotch brand foam mounting tape

Blinged Up Birthday

Hello!  Just popping in with a quick something as I head into the abbreviated work week.  I hope you all had a pleasant weekend.  My three day weekend consisted of a Wally Day, a Family Day, and a Do Your Own Thing Day.  We didn’t have the best weather, and the forecast wasn’t entirely accurate, but at least our Wally Day had a little sunshine in it.  On to the card. . .

It’s almost clean and simple.  Can you call a card with that much bling clean and simple?  If I can make it in the duration of one cup of coffee, it qualifies in my book -- quick stamping, quick coloring, no designer paper to fuss with, and a quick application of bling.  I had to come back later to finish the inside and the envelope so it would be ready to mail, but still – quick.

I used Flourishes’ Let Them Eat Cake stamp set and ZVA butterfly bling, also from Flourishes.  This is the last of my butterfly bling, save for some leftover tail pieces.  It’s big bling, but, of course, you don’t have to use the whole piece at once.  The leftovers will show up on other cards later.

Coloring was done with Copics in two shades of pink.  I traced over the cake’s flourishes with the darker pink to give it shading.  I also outlined and underlined the image with light gray (C1).  The candle flame has a touch of glitter on it.

Pictured below is the envelope flap.  The cake plate turned upside down made a nice little flourish when stamped off the edge.

And that’s it!  Have a super fine day!

Stamps:  Let Them Eat Cake  Paper:  Flourishes Classic White  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, dark gray, turquoise, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  ZVA clear rhinestone butterfly bling

Flourishes Friday: A Little Bit of Copic Coloring

Hi, everyone!  We made it to Friday and I feel like celebrating.  I’ve been on jury duty all month, but the word from the recording today is I’m done for the month.  One less thing on my mind.

So… I have a card today with a little bit of coloring.  Not quite the kind of coloring I’m yearning to do, but I’m still a little pressed for time, and this was some pretty quick and easy coloring.  White daisies can get by with nothing more than a little blush of blue and those cheerful yellow centers.  I used Flourishes’ Sky and Buttercup Copic collections:

 

Aside from easy coloring to fit my time constraints, I have additional reasons for making this particular card:

• To begin with, I have multiple stamped images laying around waiting to be colored.  My intentions were good when I stamped them – if I stamp them, the coloring and cards will happen, right?  Well, not necessarily so.  For various reasons there’s always another image, another card that needs my attention first.  At this time, however, all needs aligned and this image and card fit all the requirements.  One less uncolored image on my stamp desk!
• Of all the uncolored images, why this one?  It’s for a coworker who was pining away for a similar card I made using the hydrangea heart from the Hearts & Flowers set, paired with this sentiment from Angelic Love.  I, personally, used the other card for my own dear friend, so I thought I’d offer this one as a consolation.
• Finally, Cindy is focusing on Flourishes’ new Copic collections on the Newsletter today, and the team has made samples in support.  Though I’ve colored with Copics, I do not have any of the new collections.  I will rectify that as soon as possible.

If you haven’t already been there, you may like to pay a visit to Cindy on the Newsletter.  You’ve seen Cindy’s gorgeous designs before?  Well, ‘nuff said!  How about checking out the rest of the team’s samples, too?  Trust me, you’re in for a treat:

Barbara Anders

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Danielle Kennedy

Dawn Burnworth

Julie Koerber

Stacy Morgan

Everything I used on this card is listed in the recipe below.  For those who are observing it, I sincerely wish for you a most enjoyable Memorial Day weekend.  Folks everywhere can appreciate the reason for this occasion – love, loss, and honor do not recognize international boundaries.  Take care.

Stamps:  Hearts & Flowers, Angelic Love  Paper:  Memory Box Key Lime, SU! So Saffron, Flourishes Classic White, BasicGrey Urban Prairie designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics for coloring  Accessories:  Ribbon, rhinestones, SU! scallop border punch, Spellbinders Labels one Nestabilities, Classic Circles Small, Nested Pennants