Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday #252








Hi there, everybody!  It's been a little while since my last post!  Did you all have a nice Christmas holiday?  Spend lots of time with family and friends and eat lots of good food?  Oh, I hope you did!  :)  Well, as you can tell it is time for another Timeless Tuesday Challenge.  This week, our Guest Hostess is the wonderfully talented Jessi Fogan!  She has challenged us to make a shaker card....how FUN!  You can read all of the details here


As as extra little bonus, here is a fabulous tutorial from Splitcoast Stampers.  For my card, I decided to use the new Lots of Thoughts set.  I love that little champagne glass and strawberry!  I also decided to make this card a little on the shabby side...a technique that I admire in cards but struggle with in execution.  The patterned papers are from an Authentique 6x6 pad and I also used Flourishes Classic White card stock and papers from the Color Made Easy Poppy Collection.  


My image was stamped using Memento Tuxedo Black and colored with Copics.  I used the Spellbinders' Card Creator Fancy Postage Edge and A2 Card Creator A sets for my window and panels.  Then, I did a little stitching around my card.  For my shaker element, I used a variety glass beads to serve as my champagne bubbles. A little lace, ribbon, and the sentiment oval finish this card off.  I originally planned on this being a New Year's card but with the use of these pink papers, I think it could be used for other special occasions too.  


Well, that is all for my little card, but you should really check out what my team mates have created....I am sure there is a whole lotta shakin' goin' on.....lol!  I hope you can play along with us this week for this super fun challenge....be sure you link up your creation for a chance to win a prize too!  I can't wait to see what you create!  I hope you have a  wonderful New Year's and I'll be seeing you next week with another fun challenge! Take care...

Supplies:
Stamps:  Lots of Thoughts
Paper:  Flourishes Classic White card stock, Color Made Easy Poppy, Authentique Essentials 6x6 pad
Dies:  Spellbinders' Card Creator Fancy Postage Edge, A2 Card Creator A, and Fancy Framed Tags 2 sets
Other:  ribbon, crochet lace, glass beads, foam tape, Flourishes' Crystal Clear cardstock
Copics:  R20, R22, R24, R29, G82, G85, YR30, YR31, Y26, W00, W1, W2, W3

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday #251




Hi there and welcome back for another Timeless Tuesday Challenge!  I hope you have had a great week....are you ready for Christmas?  Have all of your shopping done?  Me either...lol!  Every year I say I am going to start earlier and I actually did do some of my shopping this summer but I still find myself with plenty to do and not much time left to get it done!  Well, rather than think about that right now, why don't we find out about the challenge this week?  It's a goodie.....use Vellum on your project!  You can thank our wonderfully talented Guest Hostess Greta Hess for this great theme and read all of the details here.


For my card this week, I decided to show off one of the beautiful sentiments from the Holiday Topiaries set.  I love the mix of fonts on these sentiments!  I stamped my sentiment on Vellum with Versamark ink and then added silver embossing powder and heat embossed it.  I made a little wood grain frame by using a wood grain embossing plate then die cutting it out.  



Speaking of die cuts, the card frame and base is Spellbinders' Labels  Twenty Five and Flourishes Classic White card stock.  My blue print paper is from a My Mind's Eye 6x6 pad.  I contemplated what to add to my card to finish it off and decided to break in a new Spellbinders' die set....the Layered Poinsettia!  I cut it out with more Flourishes Classic White card stock and edged the petals in my Krylon Silver Leafing pen.  I added a pretty gem brad for the center and a couple of leaves cut out of brushed silver paper.  As a last touch, I sponged a bit of white ink on the vellum.  This is a little different from my "normal" colors for a Christmas card but I really like the way this turned out.....that sentiment stamped like a dream and has such beautiful detail...


Well, that is all for my little card this week, but I hope you will go see what the rest of my team mates have created for your inspiration.....I know you will love what they have done for you!  Make sure you leave them a little blog love and then play along with us by creating your own Vellum project!  Don't forget to link up to the challenge for a chance to win a prize! So come on and play with us!  I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year full of time with loved ones AND plenty of crafty time too!  :)  Thanks so much for stopping by and I'll be seeing you soon!  
~Katie~

Supplies:
Paper:  Flourishes Classic White card stock, silver paper, My Mind's Eye "Moments" 6x6 pad, Vellum
Ink:  Versamark, Palette White, Ranger Antique Linen Distress Ink
Dies:  Spellbinders Labels Twenty Five, Layered Poinsettia
Other:  Antique Gemstone brad from The Paper Studio, Krylon Silver Leafing pen, Silver embossing powder, Wood Grain embossing plate

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday #250


Hello there and Happy Tuesday!  Did you have a nice weekend?  It has been cold and rainy here!  Perfect stamping weather if you ask me!  Well, it's time for another Timeless Tuesday Challenge and we have a great challenge for you from this week's Guest Hostess....the oh-so-talented Tricia Traxler!  Her theme will really get you thinking.....you can read all about it here!


I thought about this one for a while!  One of my goals for the upcoming year is to simplify things....declutter, reorganize, and make things clean and simple.....I think we all have had this goal at some point.  For me, it is an annual resolution that I try to keep, but somehow get sidetracked and all of my good intentions go undone.  Sooo, like clock work, it's December so it's time for that oh so familiar "clean and organize" resolution again.....lol!  Yeah, it's usually followed by another repeat resolution to get more exercise and eat healthier....sound familiar?  Enough said about that...lol!  So, for my card, I decided to have my card style reflect my goal.  I know, not exactly what it says, but I think I embraced the spirit of the challenge, don't you?  And to be quite honest...this "clean and simple" card took me just as long if not longer than my other cards usually do!  I struggle with CAS style....just like I struggle with those resolutions I mentioned above...but I stuck with it.  


The little tea cup is from the retired Christmas Tea set and the sentiment is from Snow Wonderful .  I used a couple of die cut layers using Spellbinder's Mat Basics A and B sets, Flourishes Classic White card stock and the darkest red paper from the  Color Made Easy Poppy collection.  I edged my image panel with a Krylon 18KT Gold Leafing pen....no, I have not found mine yet.  I borrowed this one from my mom.  I only used a few Copics to color the tea cup and that finished up my card.  Whew!  I did it...a CAS card!  Now, let's see what you come up with to illustrate one of your New Year's Resolutions!  Please check out what my team mates have created and make sure you leave them a little blog love then come on back and play along with us....remember, you could win a prize!  I can't wait to see the gallery this week with everyone's resolutions!  I am so glad you were able to stop by...I hope you have a great week!  :)

Supplies:
Stamps:  Snow Wonderful, Christmas Tea
Other:  Krylon 18KT Gold Leafing Pen, Spellbinders Mat Basics A and B sets
And these Copic Markers:
YG13, YG17, R24, R29, E40, WO, Y23, Y26

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday #249



Hi there again, and here we are all gathered together for another Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge!  I hope all of my US friends had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Did you eat plenty of turkey and get some nice rest and relaxation in?  I hope so!  Are you ready to find out about the challenge this week?  Our hostess is our Guest Designer for the week, Kerin Sylvester!  Kerin has challenged us to use stitching on our project.  You can read all of the details here:

  

A challenge made just for me!  I LOVE to sew on my cards!   Well, let me rephrase that...I love to sew on my card when my sewing machine is behaving like it should.  Unfortunately, that was not the case for this card.  The tension was off (I think) and the stitching is not quite right.  I decided to just go with it and add some random stitching passes to make it look a little more purposeful.  You won't tell anyone, right?  I am not the most knowledgeable person about sewing machines ( I would honestly be embarrassed to tell you how little I know about them) but I did not want to waste a perfectly good assembled card! Sooo...




 My card template came straight from Silhouette's library.....they have some of the most adorable shapes. It came together really quickly and I used minimal supplies...mostly buttons!  A bit of felt and ribbon add a little extra on my tag.  I thought that the Christmas Cookie template would make an adorable shaped card and I knew just the sentiment to go with it...from Sweets of the Season.  Another way to get some use out of your sentiment stamps...gotta love that too!  Flourishes has such pretty sentiments, don't you think?


Now don't look too close at that stitching....remember, we are once again pretending that I meant it to be that way!  ;)  Have you noticed there is a lot of make believe in my recent cards....lol?!  I think the little frosting swirls are so cute and isn't that sentiment perfect?   Can you smell  the Christmas cookies baking?  I'll take two, please...and some milk!  :)  Well that is all for my card today.  I am so glad you were able to drop by!  Please make sure you check out what my team mates have created for you....it will be amazing, for sure!  I would like to welcome our guest designer this week, Kerin Sylvester!  You will be in for a real treat, I just know it!  Leave these amazing ladies a little blog love and then come on and make a stitched creation and play along with us!  I can't wait to see what you come up with!  And like my card, I am wishing you all of the best this wonderful holiday season!  I'll see you next time and I hope you have a great week!

~Katie~

Supplies
Paper: Flourishes Classic White card stock, Kraft, Green Polka Dot
Dies/Punches:  Spellbinders Holly Motifs and Labels Four die sets;  SU!  Decorative Label punch
Other:  Buttons, twine, ribbon, felt

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday #248



Hi there and welcome back for another Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday Challenge!  This week the hostess is our amazingly talented Guest Designer Connie MacFarlane!  She has challenged us to Score it, Pierce it, and Color it!.  You can read all of the details here.


For my card, I started with a card base using Spellbinders' Marvelous Squares die set.  I stamped my image using the Naturally Merry stamp set and my sentiment is from the Trimmed with Love set.  I colored the holly leaves and berries with Copics and sponged some Ranger Peeled Paint Distress Ink behind it for a little shading.  My pierced element comes from the dies I used ( I know, I feel like a cheated a little since it was done for me, but hey, pierced is pierced, right?)  My scored element is the red square on the card base...I actually scored the edge multiple times and then sponged on a little white Palette ink to show the detail.  Unfortunately, when I added my die cut square and image to it, you can't see it very well....but I promise, it really is scored!  :)  I have a little shadow on the bottom of this photo that makes it look like I distressed the card, but I did not...it is my photography skills...so just play like that is not there, k?


Ok, time for a true confession here....the plan was to keep this pretty clean and flat for mailing, but as seems to be a growing trend lately, I smeared a tiny bit of red ink on my image piece.....grrrrr.  I don't know why, but it seems whenever I have red ink on my table I am going to end up getting it on something!  Soooo, to cover up that little oops, I added a tiny ribbon bow in that corner.  I actually like it there, so I guess you could call it a happy accident...lol!  Here is a little close up so you can see the detail of this beautiful holly image (and not see the red ink smudge)


And her is another to show off those score lines....I promise, they are really there....just not sure you can see them in the photos...


I would've added some Krylon leafing in either gold or silver, but Alas....both of my pens are missing right now!  I know....it's a very BIG deal...lol!  Honestly, I am not surprised considering the state of my craft room right now.  I am working out of boxes and trying to remember where everything is has proved to be a challenge.  I am sure they will turn up eventually.  Anyways, that is all for my card today.....but you really need to check out what my teammates have created....I am sure that there is plenty of beautiful work for you to feast your eyes on and get inspired to create your own Scored, Pierced, and Colored creation!  Leave them a little blog love and then come play along with us....remember, you can win a prize!  I hope all of my US friends have a wonderful Thanksgiving this week and I'll be seeing you all next week for another Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday Challenge.  Thanks so much for stopping by!  :)
~Katie~

Supplies
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo BlackRanger Peeled Paint Distress Ink, Red ink, White Palette ink
Dies:  Spellbinders' Marveous Squares set and Classic Squares Large set
Other:  White ribbon, Atyou Spica Clear Glitter pen, Martha Stewart Score Board
and these Copic Colors:
 
And G12, G14, G16, G17, G19, G28, R22, R59, YG21

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

There's a Princess in the house...and it's her birthday!



Today is a special day for the Flourishes Family to celebrate our Birthday Girl - Julie Koerber!  And Julie is definitely worth celebrating!  She's the right hand on so many levels of what's beautiful about Flourishes, and we're so grateful for her and blessed to also call this lovely lady friend.  

This summer a number of the Flourishes Senior Design Team girls gathered for a weekend in Yellowstone National Park.  It was a fantastic time of fun!  One of the great things some of the girls did was go Whitewater Rafting.  Because there were family members along, Julie graciously said she'd sit in the middle of the raft so the kids could get the most out of the experience.  The raft guide however thought that would be a fun opportunity to tease Julie about her "Princess" status.  She gracefully took it and we love to tease her about it - and so the idea for this Princess Birthday Hop was born!  Julie we love you and your fun, spunky spirit, and also the warmth and grace you live your life with!  Happy Birthday from all of us at Flourishes!  




 In honor of our Princess, I created a royal-themed card.  I found this adorable card template on Silhouette America's site and knew this would be perfect for my card!  I added some flowers colored with Copics from the fabulous Summer Blossoms set and the sentiment is from the Winter Blossoms set.



My banner is a Spellbinder's die.  I added a little bejeweled brad and outlined my crown with my Atyou Spica clear glitter pen and voila.....a card fit for a Princess!


I had so much fun playing along today!  Julie, I hope you have a wonderful birthday and thank you so much for all that you do for all of us!  And I also want to give a little shout out to Tosha Leyendekker....Happy Birthday to you too!!  Hope you enjoy your special day too!  :)  

We invite you to hop along today with many of our Flourishes Family to see our pretty Princess and Birthday inspiration, and join in on our wishes for Julie!

Comment along the way and you could be entered to win any Birthday set of your choice from the Flourishes Store!  Winners will be chosen and announced on Saturday November 23rd on the Flourishes Blog.

And don't forgot to drop by Julie's place to send her your Happy Birthday wishes too!

Allison Cope
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Heather Jensen
Silke Ledlow
Stacy Morgan
Tosha Leyendekker
Cheryl Lea
Deborah Anton
Jenny Gropp
Judy Rozema
Katie Sims
Aleksandra Mihelič
Kathy Jones
Meredith MacRitchie
Naomi Gong

Supplies:
Stamps:  Winter Blossoms, Summer Blossoms
Paper:  Flourishes Classic White card stock, Yellow card stock
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Antique Linen Distress Ink
Dies:  Spellbinders Banner, Postage Edge and A2 Card Creator A sets; tag die-PTI; flourish die-MFT
Other:  jewel brad, Crown Card Template-Silhouette America

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday #247










Hi there everyone!  I can hardly believe it, but it is Tuesday once again!  The days really are flying by this month.  I am so glad you were able to stop by today and I do have another Flourishes Timeless Tuesday card to share with you.  Deborah is our fabulous hostess this week and our theme is "Winter Scene"(FTTC247).  You can read all of the details here.




I knew exactly what stamp I wanted to use for this project!  Isn't this image from the Vintage Postcard set gorgeous?  It is a recently retired set.  Now, I know I didn't actually create the scene, but I think I can still squeak by...lol.  I did do something completely out of my norm...not a single Copic marker was used on this card....gasp.....I know, can you believe it?  AND....not a single Krylon leafing pen was used either.....what is the world coming to, right?  I have been wanting to do a red and white card for a while and so I decided this would be the card.....I LOVE how this image looks stamped in red and you can't go wrong with red gingham on a Christmas card so I added that along with the medium red paper from the  Color Made Easy Poppy collection.  I stitched a zig zag around my frame to give it a little more detail.




I used a couple of Spellbinder dies to frame out this wonderful image.  My tag is stamped with images from the Handmade Snowflakes set.  A little glittered flourish, bit of ribbon, a gem, and some silver jingle bells finish off my card.  I did use my Atyou Spica clear glitter pen to fill in the trees and church on the image but you can't tell from the photos.   




Ok...I am officially in the Christmas spirit now!  I am ready for my Christmas music, comfy pj's, and a nice hot cup of cocoa.....what about you?  But don't stop here.....you really need to check out all of my team mates' creations....they are sure to be amazing and provide you plenty of winter inspiration!  Make sure you leave them a little blog love while you are there and then create your own winter scene and play along with us!  Remember, if you use Flourishes stamps, your chances of winning go up!  I can't wait to see what you create!  Hope you have a wonderful day and thanks so much for stopping by!  :)


~Katie~

Supplies
Stamps:  Vintage Postcard, Handmade Snowflakes
Paper:  Flourishes Classic White card stock, Color Made Easy Poppy, Red Gingham-Making Memories
Ink:  Primrose Petals-Stampin' Up!, Ranger Antique Linen Distress Ink
Dies:  Flourish die-My Favorite Things, Spellbinders' Card Creator Fancy Postage Edge and A2 Card Creator A sets
Other:  White ribbon and gem-SU!, jingle bells-Michael's, glitter-Martha Stewart Crafts, Atyou Spica Clear glitter pen

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday #246



Hi there everybody and welcome back for another Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday Challenge!  This week, our fabulous hostess Allison has provided us with a couple of wonderful sketches...all you do is pick your favorite and create your project (FTTC246)!  You've gotta love a good sketch for getting those creative juices flowing...you can see all of the details here.



Both sketches were awesome but I decided to use the first one.  I stayed pretty true to the design with one small change....I only used two buttons on the sentiment banner and put the third in the upper right corner of my image.  Speaking of image, this adorable cuppa is from the Sweets of the Season stamp set.  I thought that little mug would fit perfectly in the image space.


I colored up my image to coordinate with these sweet prints from  Echo Park's Christmas This and That 6x6 pad and some papers from the Color Made Easy Pistachio and Color Made Easy Poppy collections.  I also added a little pom pom trim that I have been saving for just the right card and did some stitching on the machine for the borders.  The background is a Spellbinders M Bossabilites in Garden Lattice.  


Well, that is about it for my card this week.  I had so much fun with this challenge and I know that you will too!  Why don't you start by checking out what all of my teammates have created for your inspiration, leave them a little blog love and then get to work on your creation.  Make sure you link up on our site to have a chance to win a prize!  I am so glad you stopped by and I hope you have a great week!  Until next time, take care!  :)
~Katie~

Supplies
Dies:  Spellbinders Grand Scallop Squares, Large Squares, Large Circles
Other:  Spellbinders M Bossabilities Garden Lattice, Cream Pom Pom trim, buttons
And the following Copic Color Combinations:
 
 

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday #245


Hi there and can you believe it....it's Tuesday already?!  So here I am, back with another Timeless Tuesday Challenge card to share with you.  Today's challenge is brought to us by the ever-so-talented Cheryl and it is a goodie....Negative Energy (FTTC245)!  What on earth is that about, you ask?  Well, you can check out all of the details here!


I don't know about you, but sometimes I get stuck in a rut of using the same ideas on my cards and this challenge really called me out on it, lol!  I hardly EVER think of using negative die cuts on my cards!  I don't know why, because it frames out an image beautifully.  So here is my "negatively framed" cabin....all ready for Christmas.


I really went way out and decided to use non-traditional colors for my Christmas card too....if I am gonna get out of my "box", I might as well go all the way, right?  My image is from the lovely Snow Wonderful set.  I stamped it on Flourishes Classic Ivory card stock with Memento Espresso Truffle ink.  Next, I colored it in with a few Copics and added a little sparkle with my Atyou Spica clear pen.  My card is made up of a few Spellbinder layers using Marvelous Squares, Classic Squares, and Decorative Labels One.  My frame has a negative space using Spellbinders' Labels Eighteen die set and then....you guessed it...I had to pull out a Krylon pen again, but this time I went with silver (I guess I didn't get as far out of my box as I thought...lol)!  I edged my frame and also silver leafed the cut work on one of the layers.  I backed my image with the darkest paper from the Color Made Easy Tonal Neutrals papers.  If you have not tried these out yet, you really should!  Perfectly coordinated papers and the product line includes inks and ribbons too!  Gotta love that!  I think it really frames out this adorable image beautifully!  And speaking of image, here is a closer peek at all of that wonderful stamp detail...  


My card is finished off with a card base from the largest die from the Marvelous Squares set, a little handcut banner strip, and a bit of satin ribbon.  Did you notice the polka dot detail on my frame?  I used an embossing folder for that texture while my dies were still in place...it was a little tricky, but I like the way it turned out!  Well, that is all for my card for this week's challenge, but please make sure you check out all of my team mates' creations AND our Guest Designer for the month...the fabulous Connie MacFarlane!  I am such a huge fan of her beautiful work and I cannot wait to see what she creates this month!  We are ALL in for a real treat!  Welcome, Connie!  :)  Hope you all have a fantastic week and thanks so much for stopping by today!

~Katie~

Supplies
Stamps:  Snow Wonderful
Dies:  Spellbinders' Labels Eighteen, Decorative Labels One, Marvelous Squares, Classic Squares Large
Other:  Ribbon, Krylon Silver Leafing Pen, Atyou Spica Clear Pen, Polka Dot Embossing Folder-Lifestyle Crafts
And the following Copic Color Combinations:
 
 

 
And Y23.