Textures of Nature ~ Flourishes

Wow! This is an exciting day for me.   At the beginning of the year I cut back on my design team commitments because I wanted to explore other areas of creating.  Although I've enjoyed doing that, I realized that paper crafting is where I'm the happiest.  I was also really missing having more deadlines.  Have any of you felt like the deadlines were overwhelming, but when they were gone you realized they were actually quite inspiring?  Well, that's what happened to me, and just when I was at my peak of suffering from withdrawl, Christine contacted me and asked if I would like to join the Flourishes Senior Design Team.  Talk about perfect timing!!  So now I am thrilled to share with ya'll that I've joined this elite team of paper crafters, colorists, and just plain genuinely warm ladies, and I couldn't be happier!!  

Enough about me, this post is really about this weeks Flourishes Challenge.  And it's a fun one!!

In just a few short days we'll be unveiling a new round of stamps at Flourishes inspired by the outdoors, and we're really excited to show them to you. So today, we're challenging you to be inspired by the TEXTURES of nature!

 HOW TO PLAY: Create something with an outdoorsy texture in mind - or use an element from nature as part of your design. It could be the texture in an embossing folder that has woodgrain, leaves or vines, it could be a leaf rubbing behind your image, something glossy like rain or shiny like a berry. The interpretation is up to you!

 Let me share with you how I was inspired by this week's challenge.

I LOVE Bee Skeps and actually have quite a few.  One of which is from Germany and is over 100 years old.  I think they're beautifully designed and ooze character and texture.  So I thought the Bee My Honey set as well as the Honeycomb background image would work beautifully for today's challenge.  

I colored the Honeycomb background image, with Copics, to use as a border. I stamped the bee skep and it's beautiful flowers from the Bee My Honey set in the corner, colored them with Copics and gave the flowers a bit of sparkle with some glitter.

 For the inside I included the charming honeypot from the Bee My Honey set, with one of the sweet sentiments as well as one of the darling bees.

Here are the Copic Collections I used.

 

 

 

 

 

That's how I interpreted the Texture Challenge for today.

  
If you play along with us, you could win Flourishes entire June Stamp Release! If you upload to SCS please use the keyword FLLCJUN13. You can enter as many times as you like, but we want you to know if you use your Flourishes stamps, your entry counts twice! You have until Friday June 14, 2013 at 5 PM EST to enter. Just be sure to enter your creation using our InLinkz Widgit on the Flourishes Blog. Enjoy exploring those nature textures! How would you like to be inspired by our Senior Design Team before you get started? Hop on over to:

• Amanda Havon
• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence
• Heather Jensen
• Julie Koerber
• Maki Jones
• Silke Ledlow
• Stacy Morgan
• Tosha Leyendekker ...you are here.  

THE OFFICIAL RULES:

• Simply create a card using any textures from nature, or inspired by nature
• Entries need to be in by Friday June 14th, 5 PM EST
• Those entries using Flourishes Stamps will be counted twice
• You must link your creation on our InLinkz Widgit to be counted
• You must have a link to our challenge in your blog post or gallery post
• Please DO NOT combine challenges. Only those entries that don't combine will be in the running
• If you upload to SCS please use the keyword FLLCJUN13
• We'll announce the winners on Saturday in our Winner's Circle Post here on the blog on Saturday June 15th, so check back then to find out if you are a winner!

Thanks a bunch for dropping by!  I hope you have a fantastic, fun-filled weekend!!
See you TUESDAY June 11 when Sneak Peeks start!


Happy Stamping!

___________________________________________________________________

Stamps:  Bee My Honey, Honeycomb (Flourishes)

Paper:  Cryogen White 

Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Accessories:  Copics, Natural Burlap String, Sparklet (Webster's Pages), Corner Rounder Punch, Glitter, Quickie Glue Pen