Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday #260

Hi there everybody...so glad you could stop by!  Can you believe it's already time for another Timeless Tuesday Challenge over at Flourishes?  Where has the week gone?  I feel like I have been pedaling like crazy and not getting anywhere....do you ever have days like that?  I hear ya!  Well, why don't we just check out this week's challenge?

Our hostess is the amazingly talented Cheryl and she has an awesome theme for us.....if you like math...just kidding!  You can read all of the details here.

Intrigued? Excited?  I was at first and then I got started on  my project and realized that sly Cheryl had really thrown me a curve ball!  I did not realize just how heavily I used my Copics....like, all the time!  Talk about Linus and his blue blankie....that is me and my Copics!  LOL!  All right, the throw down had been issued, so now what was I going to do?  I reached for the stamp set that was still sitting on my table and got to work!  I used the gorgeous set Cherry Blossoms....I think it is wishful thinking on my part, because I am so ready to see these blooming on the trees here....Come ON Spring!! 

 I used one of the smaller bloom images in the set and stamped it in pink ink a few times without reinking to give it a faded look on my little notebook page die cut from Flourishes Classic Ivory card stock.  I sponged on a little Ranger Distress ink in Antique Linen and Vintage Photo then stamped my sentiment, which is from the Botanical Bookplates set. Ok.....Cheryl said no coloring of the image but that doesn't mean this card has to be colorless, does it?  Noooo, so I added some very sweet papers I've been hoarding saving for just the right card.  I thought the colors in the rose patterned paper were so pretty so I added a couple more patterns in coordinating colors from the same paper pad to create my distressed layers and it just so happens that those are the same colors I used in my stamping! Coincidence?  ;)  I used a Spellbinders Nestabilities set, Large Labels , for my panel and backed it with some dark pink paper.  If you look really closely, you can see it......yep, a little gold leafing around the edge of that panel! 

 I guess the Krylon gold leafing pen is another one of my "blankies" but I didn't have to give that one up this time...lol!  I stitched a zig zag on my main panel to give a little interest and also borrowed a trick from a fellow stamper's bag, the wonderfully talented and super sweet Julie Koerber!  See that little white detail edge around my card?  I scored a line around the paper and then sanded it so it would mimic a stitch line....without the stitching!  At least, I think that is how she does it...lol!  That is what I did here, and I love the result! To finish, I added some satin ribbon, a few scattered buttons and there you have it....a non-colored but completely colorful card!  I sure hope you can play along with us this week! Before you go though, please stop by my team mates' blogs and see what they haven't colored for you! :)  Make sure you leave them some blog love while you are there, then get to work on your own "Less is More" creation!  I can't wait to see what you come up with!  Ya'll take care and I'll be seeing you soon!

• Cheryl Lea
• Deborah Anton
• Jenny Gropp
• Katie Sims--that's me!

~Katie

Finished card size is 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Supplies:
Stamps:  Flourishes Cherry Blossoms and Botanical Bookplates
Paper:  Flourishes Classic Ivory card stock; Stampin' Up! Raspberry Ripple card stock, My Mind's Eye Lost and Found Two "Blush" 6x6 paper pad
Ink:  Ranger Distress Inks in Antique Linen and Vintage Photo; Stampin' Up! inks in Primrose Petals, Whisper White, and Coastal Cabana
Other:  Spellbinders Nestabilities "Large Labels"; notebook paper die; ribbon; buttons; Krylon Gold Leafing pen

Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday #259

Welcome back!  Are you having a good week so far?  I am getting a little worried about us down here in the Deep South....ice storms, snow, and now earthquakes...two to be exact in as many days.  I know it is not completely unheard of to have earthquakes here, but it definitely is not something that happens often.  The weather has been interesting here lately, to say the least.  But I am guessing you did not pop in for just a weather report, did you?  ;)  So why don't we talk about the Timeless Tuesday Challenge this week at Flourishes instead?  The amazingly talented Jenny is our hostess this week and she has an awesome challenge for us...

You can read all of the details here.  For my card this week, I really embraced the challenge and went all out polka dots!  I used the beautiful Think Pink Fight Like A Girl set.  Please notice that I am again trying to get out of my box and go a little more clean and simple...not a button, not a bow, not a bit of metallic leafing anywhere....just sayin'!  See, miracles never cease, do they?  ;)

 This set comes with a darling T shirt image and some images and sentiments to stamp on the shirt and also larger ones for general card sentiments.  For my sentiment on the Tshirt I had to tweak it a bit...I wanted it to be two colors so I stamped it first in pink ink and then went over part of it with a Copic Black Multiliner pen....it did pretty well, although I wished I had one with a finer point on it to make it a little easier to cover up the pink ink.  I shaded the T shirt with a few copics, then  fussy cut it and popped it up on foam dots to a Spellbinders circle die cut that I had sponged with some gray ink.  I added a little fussy cut ribbon image (from the same set) that I also colored with Copics for a little extra something something.  

My card base is some gray card stock from my stash with the top right corner rounded.  I used a polka dot embossing folder to give a little texture and then a bit of gray chevron stripe paper for a little contrast from all. those. dots.....lol!  Then I used two scales of pink and white polka dot paper to fill in this sweet little dotty border die that I have had forever and don't think I have ever used...I think it works great for this card!  I did go over the "girl" part of the sentiment with my Atyou Spica Clear Glitter pen and it looks great IRL but you can't really tell in the photos.  And that as they say, is that.  I think I met the polka dot requirement, don't you?  :)  Now, I hope you will check out all of the lovely projects that my teammates have created for your inspiration, leave them a little blog love, and then get going on your own Polka Dot creation.  Don't forget to link up on our site for a chance to win a prize! While you are there you really should check out the Gambler's Sale going on right now...a whopping 50% off!  I can't wait to see what you create and I'll be seeing you again real soon....so glad you could stop by!  Take care!

• Allison Cope
• Cheryl Lea
• Deborah Anton
• Jenny Gropp
• Katie Sims--that's me!

 *On a personal note- This card is going to a very special lady.  I may have mentioned that my family has certainly had it's share of breast cancer diagnoses in the last two years.  My mother and one of my cousins have undergone all of their treatments and most recently another cousin is in her battle.  I made this card for her.  She is tackling this with a style and grace that is so typically her.  My heart aches for what she is having to endure right now, but she is a woman of strong faith and I know that and the love of her family and friends is what is going to get her through this.  T- You are beautiful inside and out...many prayers and much love is sent your way on a daily basis.  You GO girl!  

Supplies:

Stamps:  Think Pink Fight Like A Girl

Paper:  Flourishes Classic White card stock; Color Made Easy Poppy Collection; Simple Stories' "SN@P" Color Vibe 6x6 pad

Ink:  Tuxedo Black-Memento; Antique Linen Distress Ink-Ranger; Basic Gray, Melon Mambo and Whisper White inks-SU!

Other:  Border die, Polka Dot embossing folder, Circle die

And these Copic Colors:  0, C1, C3, R81, R83, R85, R89

Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday #258

Hi there and welcome back!  Are you ready for another Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge?  This week, your hostess is yours truly and I have a question for you..."Wood" You Be Mine?

 

That's right....I am challenging you to use any wood element on your card or project!  You can read all about it here.

Now, despite the play on words...it does not have to be specifically a Valentine's card, any card or project will do as long as there is some kind of wood element present...let your imagination run wild!  I decided to do a birthday card this week and use the gorgeous stamp set Cherry Blossoms for my main image.  This is the first time I have used this stamp set, but I am already besotted.  

You may have noticed this is not my usual card style...at all.  I wanted to try something a little different for this card. I was going for more clean and simple, although simple is an interesting word choice...it was anything but simple for me.  I thought the cherry blossom branch paired with a wood texture plate would make an interesting combination.  I ended up stamping my image using Memento Tuxedo Black ink on to Flourishes Classic White cardstock then coloring it in with Copics.  Next, I used the "Out of the Box" technique for my oval die cut/sentiment treatment...actually, this is the reverse of that with my fussy cut portion of the image spilling into the negative space, if that makes sense.  There is a wonderful tutorial on this on Splitcoast Stamper's website here. 

Next, I ran my panel through my Spellbinders Grand Calibur with a wood grain texture plate.  Now...I will just go ahead and tell you this for future reference, I will try using the texture plate first next time before I die cut my space because the little branch was so delicate, that when I ran it through to emboss....well, I bet you can guess....it tore the branch.  Soooo, I glued it back on.  I am hoping that it is not noticeable!  Live and learn, right?  The rest of the card is simply another white cardstock panel underneath the image panel and a card base of Tonal Neutrals Color Made Easy card stock.  I did pull out my trusty Krylon 18KT Gold Leafing pen for some of the vertical edges and I also sponged some Ranger Distress Ink in Tumbled Glass to give a little pop of color for my sentiment and some Ranger Distress Ink in Antique Linen for some detail around the edges.  And speaking of sentiment, it is actually from the Hollyhocks stamp set.  

For my finishing touches, I used my Atyou Spica Clear Glitter pen, a Faber-Castell Pitt artist pen in white, and some tiny pearls.  I am not sure if you can see it in the photo, but there is a little sparkle on the open cherry blossoms from the glitter pen.  

Well, that is all for my card this week.  I hope you are inspired to play along with us this week....but before you go getting all Paul Bunyan on your own project, please check out what my incredibly talented team mates have created for you...and make sure you leave them a little blog love while you are there!  Don't forget to link up your project on the Flourishes site for a chance to win a prize!  I can't wait to see what you come up with....take care and thanks so much for stopping by!  :)

• Allison Cope
• Cheryl Lea
• Deborah Anton
• Jenny Gropp
• Katie Sims-that's me!

~Katie

Supplies:  

Stamps:  Cherry Blossoms, Hollyhocks

Paper:  Flourishes Classic White card stock, Flourishes Color Made Easy Tonal Neutrals

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Ranger Distress Inks in Antique Linen and Tumbled Glass

Dies:  Spellbinders Classic Oval Large set

Other:  Wood Grain Texture plate, Pearls, Krylon 18KT Gold Leafing Pen, Atyou Spica Clear Glitter Pen, Faber Castell Pitt Artist pen in White, Foam Dimensionals

And these Copic Colors:  R000, R81, R83, R85, R89, E70, E71, E74, E77, E79

Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday #257

Hi there everybody and welcome back!  Before we get started with our challenge this week, have you heard about the sale going on at Flourishes?  You really need to check it out....30% off this week!  You can read all about it here.

Now, on to the challenge this week.  The oh-so-talented Deborah is our hostess this week and she has a beaut for you...."Feel the Love".  Yes....just in time for Valentine's Day....you need to incorporate "love" and the color red in your card or project.  You can read all of the details of the challenge here.

Now...I don't know about you, but nothing says love quite like chocolate....am I right?  So of course, I was instantly drawn to this darling image from the Love Sweet Love set.  That sweet little box of chocolates done up in red most certainly evokes love, don't you think?  :)

I started by stamping my image in Memento Tuxedo Black ink on to Flourishes Classic White card stock.  I actually stamped it three times and fussy cut and stacked each layer with glue dots to give it a little more dimension.  The rest of the card is made up of die cuts from my most favorite die set from Marianne Design...it's called Anja's Squares and it still makes me giddy to use it...perfect for a Valentine, right?  I also used Spellbinders Heart and Scalloped Heart dies to build up my sentiment area.  Speaking of sentiment, isn't this one gorgeous?  I love the font! It is in the same set as the image and it is perfect for a Valentine for my Matt. The rest of the card came together pretty quickly using more Classic White card stock and some pretty papers from Carta Bella's "Beautiful Moments" 6x6 pad.  After I die cut the pink heart, I decided it needed a little something else so I put it back in the die and pierced a border around the heart to give a little more detail.  To finish it off, I added a few sparkly gems and we're done!  Here's a close up of those sweet little chocolates...

This brings back precious memories of when I was in elementary school and we had Valentine's Bags so all of your classmates could put your Valentines in it.  One year, somebody put a heart shaped box of chocolates (much like this one) on my desk because it would't fit in the bag!  Oh, what a wonderful day that was!  Now if this doesn't make you want to haul out your paper, scissors, and glue and get to work on your own Valentine, I don't know what will!  But before you get to work, please make sure you check out what my wonderful team mates have created for your inspiration...you will definitely be feeling the love there.....and make sure you leave a little blog love for them in return!  I am so glad you were able to stop by today....take care and I can't wait to see what you create! Til next time.....

• Allison Cope
• Cheryl Lea
• Deborah Anton
• Jenny Gropp
• Katie Sims-that's me!

~Katie

Supplies:
Stamps:  Love Sweet Love
Paper:  Flourishes Classic White card stock, Carta Bella "Beautiful Moments" 6x6 pad
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black ink, Ranger Antique Linen Distress Ink, Stampin' Up!-Bravo Burgundy
Dies:  Marianne Design-Anja's Squares; Spellbinders Nestabilities Heart and Scalloped Heart sets
Other:  gems-Stampin' Up!
And these Copic colors:  R20, R22, R24, R27, R29, R59, RV11, RV13, RV14, BV000, C3, YG11, YG13, YG17, G28, E40, E42, E44, E47, E49, E51, E55, E57, E59

Snow Days!

Hi there everybody!  Hope all is well with all of you!  I thought I would share a few photos of what has been going on around here....SNOW!  Now, I know that a lot of places have been seeing snow this winter, but you have to understand....here in the Deep South, not so much.  So, when it does snow here, it'a a really big deal.  I have to admit, when it does snow or if the weather man is even talking about the possibility of snow, I turn into a giddy child!  I just can't help myself.....maybe it's the memory of being out of school when it snowed, or the thought of being warm and snug at home....I don't know exactly what it is.  Now, if I had to deal with it as much as some of my blogging friends do, maybe it would not be so nostalgic for me....but it is such a rarity here, you'll just have to indulge me for a bit!  Let me set the scene.....the fireplace has a roaring fire in it, I have a pot of Perfect Potato Soup on the stove....recipe compliments of the lovely Pioneer Woman  Ree Drummond, and it looks like this outside....

This is the view off of our front porch....what you are looking at are a couple of dozen azaleas that are in shock!  Lol!  I hope this deep freeze is not going to affect the blooming that should be taking place in a couple of months...we'll see.  Now, I ask you....doesn't this look like the perfect snow day?  

Here is another shot of our azalea area and the lonely little frozen bird bath....even the birds don't know what to think right now!  Which reminds me, I have to go fill the feeder up again!  The temperatures have been positively frigid....we were in the single digits this morning when I took these!  Sheesh, again...we are not used to this here!  I have one more shot for you....this is my little guy that you may have heard me mention from time to time.  He has many nick names....Little B, The Little Prince, Bax-Man, Baxie Boy.....but officially, this is Baxter, our Longhaired Miniature Dachshund...

That is one cold dog....I had a hard time taking this photo!  As you can see, he is concentrating hard on the path to the front door!  LOL!  I managed to get this one photo and then he was done!  He is my stamping companion....my little "heartbeat at my feet" and constant shadow.  To say we pamper him around here would be an understatement!  Anyways, there he is belly deep in snow and ready to make a run for it!  Don't worry, his mama will dry him off good when he gets in the house and he will get all snuggled up in his blanket...seriously, he is one pampered boy!

Well, that is all for my little Snow Day photo shoot.  I hope all of you have a wonderful day...I plan on getting a little crafty time today.  I'll be seeing you soon...take care until next time.  Oh, and Baxie sends you a doxie kiss!  Thanks so much for stopping by today!  

~Katie

Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday #256

Hello fellow Flourishes fans! It's Tuesday and we're here with another fantastic Timeless Tuesday Challenge for you! Have you checked out the latest and greatest Gambler's Sale this week? You don't want to miss this... it's 20% off everything in the store. Things go fast, so shop now to ensure you get all those stamps on your "must have" list! Click here for more details and your shopping code. This week Allison is our hostess and she is challenging you to create using the newest Pantone Color of the year... Radiant Orchid... but any shade of purple will do!

   

 According to the Pantone View, "Since 2000, the Pantone Color Institute™ has been designating a Color of the Year to express in color what is taking place in the global zeitgeist. A color that will resonate around the world, the PANTONE Color of the Year is a reflection of what people are looking for, what they feel they need that color can help to answer. Not necessarily the hot fashion color of the moment, but a color crossing all areas of design which is an expression of a mood, an attitude, on the part of the consumers."

Now that we have all of the details for our challenge, let me show you my card!  Purple is not a color that I normally work with so this was a great challenge to get me out of my color "box".  I thought the With Gratitude stamp set would be perfect....the cone flowers from this set are gorgeous and so are the beautifully scripted sentiments!

  

I stamped my image with Memento Tuxedo Black on to Flourishes Classic White card stock that I had die cut with a Spellbinder's rectangle die.  I then colored my image with Copics and stamped the adorable thank you sentiment across the bottom of my image using some Craft colored ink for a subtle horizontal line across the bottom. I then stamped my main sentiment with more Tuxedo Black ink on more white cardstock, cut out using Spellbinder's Labels Eighteen die and sponged some purple ink on it.  I added a few layers with some patterned papers from Paper Studio and some solid purple cardstock, did some stitching, added a ribbon and my sentiment and called it a wrap!  OH, I did add a little sparkle in the centers of my cone flowers with my Atyou Spica Clear glitter pen.  I don't think you will be able to see that in the photos, so just pretend- k?

 

I love, love, love the sweet sentiments in this set!!  The font is so delicate, don't you think?  And...drumroll please...not a speck of gold leafing anywhere....can you believe it?  :)

Well, that is pretty much all for my card today, but you know what's next....you have a ton of inspiration to see from my wonderful team mates...including our Senior Design team!  Yes, they are joining us this week for our challenge!  Have fun using purple in your creations this week! Take a moment and leave some lavender love on each one of our designers' blogs, then go create your own purple masterpiece, link up to our site and play along with us!  See you there and I am so glad you could stop by today for a visit!  :)

• Allison Cope
• Cheryl Lea
• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence
• Deborah Anton
• Jenny Gropp
• Julie Koerber
• Katie Sims
• Silke Ledlow
• Stacy Morgan
• Tosha Leyendekker

Supplies:
Stamps:  With Gratitude
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Antique Linen Distress Ink, Crumb Cake and Elegant Eggplant-SU!
Paper:  Flourishes Classic White card stock, Patterned papers from Paper Studio
Other:  ribbon, Atyou Spica Clear Glitter pen, foam dimensionals
Copics:  V01, V12, V15, V17, YG00, YG01, Y04, G40, G43, G46, G28, YG91

Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday Challenge #255

Hello there!  Hope this finds you all well and rested from your weekend!  We have a really fun challenge for you this week at Flourishes...."In With the New"!  That sweet Cheryl is the hostess this week and she has challenged us to create a card that celebrates something new.  You can read all about it here.

What a fun challenge and very timely, indeed, as I needed a wedding card!  I started by stamping one of the floral swags from the Spring Blossoms set on to Flourishes Classic Ivory card stock with Memento Tuxedo Black and colored it with a few Copics.  Next, I die cut my card panels using Marianne CreaTables Square Frames set, Spellbinders Classic Squares Small set, and Spellbinders 5x7 Elegant Labels Four set with more Flourishes Classic Ivory card stock.  I used some of the lightest pink paper from the Color Made Easy Poppy Collection.  Then I used  Ranger Antique Linen Distress Ink and Ranger Worn Lipstick Distress Ink to sponge on a little color on my panels.  Next....I know you know...yep, I took out my trusty Krylon 18KT Gold Leafing pen and went to town.  I mean, if you can't use it on a wedding card, when can you use it....right?  I added a little ruffled ribbon trim to one of the layers and started assembling my card using a lot of foam dimensionals, saving my sentiment panel for last.  I stamped a sentiment from the retired set Happily Ever After in more Tuxedo Black ink.  A bit of pink satin ribbon threaded through one of the panels and some tiny accent pearls finish everything off.

Here you can see this sweet floral image a little better...just right for an almost Spring wedding.  Does it count if you are really looking forward to Spring...lol!    

Now that is one dainty wedding card with a whole lotta layers!  Well, that is all for my card today.  I hope you will go check out what the rest of my team mates have created for your inspiration today, leave them all a little blog love, and then create your own card celebrating something new!  And another little tid bit....you seriously need to check out the sale going on at Flourishes!  If you have a stamp set or two (or in my case dozens) on your "list" that you can't live without, now is the time to scarf them up before they are gone!  You can read all about this amazing sale here.  I hope you all have a wonderful day and I really thank you for stopping by for a visit!  Until next time, take care!  :)

• Allison Cope
• Cheryl Lea
• Deborah Anton
• Jenny Gropp
• Katie Sims-that's me!

~Katie~

Supplies

Stamps:  Spring Blossoms and Happily Ever After

Paper:  Flourishes Classic Ivory card stock and Color Made Easy Poppy Collection

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Antique Linen Distress Ink, Ranger Worn Lipstick Distress Ink

Dies:  Marianne CreaTables Square Frames set, Spellbinders' 5x7 Decorative Labels Four and Classic Squares Small sets

And these Copic Colors:

RV 10, RV11, RV13, RV14, RV17, RV19, BV13, BV17, G40, G43, G46, E55, E57