Flourishes September Release ~ Day 2

 

 

Welcome to Day 2 of our fabulous September release week! Today both of our Friends of Flourishes Team and our Design Team will be showcasing a wonderful new stamp set created by our beloved artist Marcella Hawley. Marcella has packed this beautiful 4x6 stamp set called "Holiday Topiaries" with an array of beautiful holiday decorated greenery and 3 seasonal sentiments to match their holiday vibe. This sweet holiday stamp set will surely make an appearance on your homemade cards, handmade gifts, tags and more this season! 

Our Timeless Tuesday Challenge this week is...

"Make a Good Impression" - Incorporate dry embossing somewhere on your card or project. It could be an embossing folder, stencils, or even a household item for your embossing....just make sure you "Make a Good Impression"! (FTTC237)

 Don't forget... Hidden among the Design Team’s blogs today is our Mystery Blogger of the day. Comment on her blog and you could be chosen to win today’s set! The more you comment, the better your chances, so comment away!
  
I love the partridge, in this set, (I guess it could be a dove too) and the pinecones in that adorable weaved container.  So I stamped the image with Tuxedo Black Memento Ink and colored it with a variety of colors from the Flourishes Copic Collections.  The white lines in the feathers, of the partridge, were made using a white Sharpie pen, and then colored over with E31 to soften them.  I aged the circle panel by sponging Antique Linen Ranger Distress Ink around the border while the paper was still in the circle die.

For texture, I embossed the poinsettia, that I made using the Poinsettia Spellbinders die, and my framing is embossed.  I also embossed the back panel with a holly bg using a Sizzix embossing folder.

Here's the inside.  Short, Sweet and to the point.  I just love this sweet little boxed tree and wanted to include it on this card too.  :)

• Allison Cope
• Broni Holcombe
• Cheryl Lea
• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence
• Deborah Anton
• Heather Jensen
• Jenny Gropp
• Julie Koerber
• Katie Sims
• Maki Jones
• Silke Ledlow
• Stacy Morgan
• Tosha Leyendekker
• Kathy Roney, our September guest designer

Here are the links to the Copic Collection sets I used:  I only used the YR00 from the Burnt Orange Collection, YR02 from the Gerber Collection, E31 and E33 from the Flesh Tones 1 and Y38 from the Sunflower Collection.  I also didn't use the 100 from the Warm Neutrals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

DO YOU WANT TO WIN OUR ENTIRE RELEASE?

If you would like a chance at winning all five of our soon-to-be released September sets…

• You can play in our Get in Shape Challenge – we will have multiple winners there! Deadline for entries is FRIDAY September 13th at 5 PM EST. Check out the link for the official rules!
• All five of our September sets can be pre-ordered now, even before you see them all! Take advantage our New Release Bundle and get 10% off when you purchase all five sets together in a bundle. This discount will be available for only 1 week following the release.
• All sets will be live first thing Friday morning along with the coordinating cut files for this release.
• Come back to the Flourishes Blog Saturday for the Winner’s Circle where we’ll announce all of our winners of this weeks’ challenges!

That's it from me today.  Tomorrow I have one of my favorite cards to share with ya'll.
Thanks so much for stopping by, and for the encouraging comments.  They are a blessing!
Happy Stamping!

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Stamps:  Holiday Topiaries (Flourishes)

Paper: Vintage Christmas (MME), Core'dinations, Classic Ivory (Flourishes), Cryogen White

Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento), Green Hills (Hero Arts Shadow Ink Mid-Tone), Antique Linen (Ranger Distress)

Accessories:  Copics, Layered Poinsettia,  A-2 Fancy Ribbon Threader, Square and Circle dies (Spellbinders), Holly Embossing Folder (Sizzix), Rhinestones (Pizzaz Aplenty), Seam Binding Ribbon (Prairie Bird Boutique)

Flourishes Sept. Release Preview ~ Day 1

 

Welcome to our September New Release Week at Flourishes! We're so excited to have five gorgeous new sets to show off to you this month all with a Christmas and Holiday celebration theme! Can you believe there are only 106 days until Christmas? We know it's always great to get a jump start on those projects and cards early, so here we are with wonderful inspiration just for you. From our home to yours, this beautiful Home for the Holidays set offers welcoming words to share this Christmas season.

Illustrated by Marcella Hawley, this stately door is sure to send heartfelt seasons greetings to homes both near and far. The set also offers an accent swag and three beautifully scripted sentiments as well. The set measures 4" by 6". It's such a beautiful set of images and our Design Team is going to show off how festive it is today! Don’t forget to look for: Hidden among the Design Team’s blogs today is our Mystery Blogger of the day. Comment on her blog and you could be chosen to win today’s set! The more you comment, the better your chances of winning.
 

• Allison Cope
• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence
• Heather Jensen
• Julie Koerber
• Maki Jones
• Silke Ledlow
• Stacy Morgan
• Tosha Leyendekker

Here's a look at the inside.  I used the swag from the set and the rest of the sentiment.

To only ink up part of the sentiment and not have to worry about getting some of the letters inked that you don't want to, I isolated the parts I didn't want inked.  Click HERE to see the tutorial I made explaining how.

 Here are the links to the Copic Collections I used:

 

 

 

 

 

 

DO YOU WANT TO WIN OUR ENTIRE RELEASE? If you would like a chance at winning all five of our soon-to-be released September sets…
You can play in our Get in Shape Challenge –we will have multiple winners there! Deadline for entries is FRIDAY September 13th at 5 PM EST. Check out the link for the official rules!

• All five of our September sets can be pre-ordered now, even before you see them all! Take advantage our New Release Bundle and get 10% off when you purchase all five sets together in a bundle. This discount will be available for only 1 week following the release.
• All sets will be live first thing Friday morning along with the coordinating cut files for this release.
• Come back to the Flourishes Blog Saturday for the Winner’s Circle where we’ll announce all of our winners of this weeks’ challenges!

Join us back here tomorrow for a set ready to decorate your holidays with elegance.

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Stamps:  Home for the Holidays (Flourishes)

Paper:  Classic Ivory (Flourishes), Red and Black (PTI)

Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)

Accessories:  Copics, Quickie Glue Pen, Glitter 

Crazy 4 Challenges Guest

I have something really fun to share with ya'll today.  I'm a guest designer for the Crazy 4 Challenges group this month, and it's a special honor.  I've been good friends with Frances and Joanne for over 6 years, and have been blessed to have been on a couple of design teams with Betty and Silke.  All are true blue, warm, and genuine ladies!!  So when Hoots (a nickname Frances earned quite a few years ago...) asked if I'd like to guest design, of course I said "YES"!!

Today we were to make a card with Flowers and Pearls.  Now, I only have one flower, and one pearl, so hopefully that still qualifies.  :)  I created my background using leaves from the Waltzingmouse set Funky Flowers.  I love neutral colors and am "WILLING" Fall to come soon.  We are roasting (still in the 100's) here in California!! The sentiment is also from the Funky Flowers set.

My card is very CAS, but sometimes I like just playing with colors and background design.

That's it from me today.  I'm busy getting ready for two releases.  I'll start posting Flourishes previews on Monday, and Waltzingmouse previews the next week.  I can't wait to show you what these companies have in store for ya'll. 

Thanks so much fro dropping by!  I hope you have a fantastic weekend!!
Happy Stamping!!

 

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Stamps:  Funky Flowers (Waltzingmouse Stamps)

Paper:  Vintage Cream and Kraft (PTI)

Ink:  Wet Cement and Cup O' Joe (Hero Arts Mid-tone Shadow Ink), Soft Sand (Hero Arts Shadow Ink), Smokey Gray (Versafine)

Accessories:  Corner Rounder Punch, Flower (Prima), Border Punch (EK Success) 

Flourishes Get In Shape Challenge

 

 

We hope you've had a great summer Flourishes Fans! Now as we see the days turn the corner into deep blue skies, colorful leaves and cooler nights we see that Autumn is nearing! Many of us get back into "stamping shape" in the fall and this is the perfect challenge for you, turning your fingers to some paper crafting fun! In just a few short days we'll be unveiling our beautiful September Release of FIVE sets, and playing in this challenge is your chance to win our whole September Release! Want to know how? All you need to do is create a Shaped Card OR a 3D Item. You can either create a card using any non-standard shape (we encourage you to think creatively), or a lovely box, ornament, home decor item, or anything 3D....it's all up to you! Your keyword for entering into online galleries is FLLCSEP13. THE OFFICIAL RULES:

• Simply create a shaped card (not a standard rectangle) OR 3D object.
• Entries need to be in by Friday September at 13th at 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 FLLCSEPT13
• We’ll announce the winners on Saturday in our Winner’s Circle Post here on the blog on Saturday September 14th , so check back then to find out if you are a winner!

Boy did I have a blast with this week's challenge!  I haven't made a shaped card for quite some time and thought it would be fun to try my hand at a Twisted Circle Easel Card.  I knew if I went to Splitcoaststampers I'd be able to find the tutorial by Beate.  She's provided video for many, many fabulous creative tutorials.  For my main image, I chose to use the milk can scene from the Autumn Blessings set.  This set has jumped to the top of my favorites.  Now, it might be because Fall is my favorite season, or that we're dairy farmers, or that I collect pumpkins...who knows.  All I know is that I LOVE the images, and I LOVE the variety of sentiments.

I made this little basket with a Silhouette cut file and added the sentiment with the smallest Perfectly Pierced Classic Hourglass Template die.  I stamped the little wheat image, with Soft Sand (Hero Arts Shadow Ink), in the background.

 Isn't this a beautiful sentiment?  "Give Thanks for the simple things in life."  I think with life being so hectic and society focusing on "bigger and better", we can forget about the sweet little things that are such blessings!!  I love how this sentiment reminds us about the "simple things"!!

I also want to take a moment to reiterate what I've said before when I first joined the Flourishes DT.  I love coloring with Copics.  And the Copic Marker Collections they've put together makes it oh, so easy!!  Seriously!!  I'm not a pro like so many on this DT.  I totally do not get the whole "light source" thing.  And shadowing can even be a challenge.  But the collections make it a whole lot easier.  Of course, the beautifully designed images with the shading included helps a ton too!!  :)

Okay...enough about my coloring.

Thanks for stopping by today and we look forward to seeing what you create! We’ll see you here on Monday September 9th when our FIVE wonderful September Sneak Peeks start! Enjoy getting back into stamping SHAPE! And now for some wonderful shaped inspiration, our Design Team has pulled out all the stops to get your creativity jump-started:

• Allison Cope
• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence
• Heather Jensen
• Julie Koerber
• Maki Jones
• Silke Ledlow
• Stacy Morgan
• Tosha Leyendekker

Here are the links to the Copics I used for today's project:

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

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Stamps:  Autumn Blessings (Flourishes)

Paper:  Follow Your Heart (MME), Classic Ivory and Kraft (Flourishes)

Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento), Soft Sand (Hero Arts Shadow Ink), Smokey Gray (Versafine)

Accessories:  Copics, Perfectly Pierced Classic Hourglass Template Die (Flourishes), Circle Frame & Elements Die (Marianne Design), Circle and Oval dies (Spellbinders), Natural Burlap String, Button, Chrome Silver Pearl Pen (Viva Decor), Lace, Silhouette, Brad, Clear Bag

ODBD September Release

It's the first of the month, and that means it's time for the ODBD Release!! You are going to love these stunning sets. We're getting a jump on Christmas, so I have two Holiday cards to share with you today. 

You have an opportunity to win some fabulous ODBD goodies too.  One winner will be randomly chosen from one of the designers blog comments to receive a $50 Gift Certificate to the ODBD Store, to be used toward the purchase of ODBD Stamps.  You have until September 3, 2013 at 9:00 p.m. EST to make your comments!  The Winner will be posted on the ODBD Blog on September 4th, so be sure to check back there to see if you won.

I used the new set Holly Wreath for both of my cards.  The first one uses one of the beautifully fonted sentiments with a faux quilted bg that I created using my Scor-Pal and a stylus to burnish the back.  That gives the diamonds a "puffy" look.

For my second card I created a faux door to hang my wreath on using a Wood embossing folder by Sizzix.  The wreath was colored with Copics.

Here's a look at the inside of the card.  I cut a trio of Holly leaves from the wreath and added it to the sentiment flag.

If you haven't checked each one of these DT's blogs, you better hop right on over there.  They are just super full of inspiration!!

Sandee * Grace * Julie * Sabrina * Chris * Cathy * Dawn * Lori * Silke * Angie * Lisa * Audrey * ODBD Blog

That's it for me.  Happy Stamping ya'll!!