ChristineCreations: December 2008

Blooms to Cheer

I really loved the color combo from yesterday at SCS...but not so much the Handsome Hunter part. I looked at the sketch challenge last night and thought I'd like to make a card with it...but also with SOME of the color challenge colors....so I substituted Kiwi Kiss as my green and ahhhh so much better for my taste. Doesn't it have a warm feel?

I love Bella Blossoms, it's just so different, but as I looked at it last night, I was thinking of another way to use it, the smaller rose blossom combined with the stem and leaves from the larger blossom...sort of a Hydrangea bloom (now I know Hydrangea's don't come in this color...but it's my creation :) ). The blooms are stamped and sponged with Saffron and Burgundy, and then the centers stamped in Burgundy and sponged with Saffron and Burgundy...it unifies it all I think.

For friends of ours that we work with...his mom passed away just recently, and I wanted them to know again that we are thinking of them and praying for them.

New Years Eve! ...no big plans for us tonight, just going to pick up our kids from Grandma and Grandpa's - they had a sleepover, we'll have supper and play some games together and come home. Nice and simple :) Happy end of 2008 everyone!

Recipe: Stamps: Bella Blossoms, Beautiful Borders; Ink: So Saffron, Bravo Burgundy, Kiwi Kiss; Paper: So Saffron, Kiwi Kiss, Bravo Burgundy, Vanilla, So Saffron Prints, Kiwi Kiss Patterns; Accessories: Dimensionals, Sponge Daubers and sponges, Piercer, Rich Regal Brads, Word Window Punch.

Toonie Tuesday - Copic Christmas

My sweet husband bought me some Copics Markers for Christmas. I held off a long time on these (I'm not an early adopter on anything), but we found a place that sells them here where we live in Canada, I don't have to pay exchange and they are immediately available to me...so I took the plunge.

I have to say, I'm going to have a steep learning curve on these babies. I am so used to watercoloring, I don't *think* much about how I'll watercolor something, I just feel it. I know how my blending works, I know my colors and how to achieve them, and how highlight and depth work for me, but Copics are a whole new ball game. I found it pretty intimidating actually! I went to all the Master's... Debbie Olson, Sharon Harnist, Jami Sibley and the Copic girl herself Marianne Walker and just did a lot of reading, partly to help me with color selection. I'll be following Marianne's blog to learn more about using them too. Jeanne Strieff and Cambria Turnbow also come highly recommended by me.

I think I'm still a watercolor girl at heart....but it's nice to have some options. So be kind here, it's my first Copic card. My second card today is back to watercolor.

Dad's Day

Today is my Dad's Birthday, so I wanted to create something masculine for him, so I pulled out my Flourishes Figs and Pomegranates set and stamped it on Watercolor paper. Everything I'm reading says that your paper is extremely important in using Copics and achieving the color shading and blending you want, and though SU Whisper White and Very Vanilla are GREAT stamping papers, they are not good Copic Papers. So, I've ordered some paper from the US, but it's not here yet, so watercolor paper works in this situation. After I colored the figs and leaves, I carefully trimmed it out and placed it with Dimensionals on the Vanilla piece which I had pre-stamped and sponged.

Two of the other layers (Close to Cocoa and Kiwi Kiss) are also stamped and sponged with the smaller version of the fig/leaf stamp in the set.

Because it's for my Dad, I couldn't do anything too frou-frou..but I did add a little ribbon, brads and piercing.

Back to Familiar Territory

Alright...this is for today's color challenge, So Saffron, Bravo Burgundy and Handsome Hunter. Pretty don't you think? I had to use up my scraps! I rarely use Handsome Hunter and was really low on Saffron too!

Here I watercolored the flowers and cut them out. Stamped the *leaves* on Vanilla, and colored them in with a SW Marker and a little soft watercolor for highlight and then placed the arrangement together with dimensionals.

To me it has an Asian feel so I tried to give it that type of sentiment feel.

This will be for my Mom in law who's best friend just passed away, and I know she will miss her very much.

Recipe: Dad's Day: Stamps: Flourishes - Figs and Pomegranates, Autumn Flourishes; Ink: Brown Stazon, Kiwi Kiss, Always Artichoke, Elegant Eggplant, Close to Cocoa; Paper: Always Artichoke, Kiwi Kiss, Elegant Eggplant, Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla, Watercolor; Accessories: Copics, SW Marker, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Brads, Dimensionals, Sponge, Circle Punches, Piercer

Floral Arrangement: Stamps: Embrace Life, Beautiful Borders; Ink: Black Stazon, Bravo Burgundy, So Saffron; Paper: Bravo Burgundy, So Saffron, So Saffron Prints, Handsome Hunter, Vanilla, Watercolor; Accessories: Reinkers, So Saffron Brads, Wide Burgundy Ribbon, dimensionals, SW Markers, Circle Punch

Blog Candy Winner - New Draw!

Well, sadly I didn't hear from our first winner :( so I just had Random.org pick a new number

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:21
Timestamp: 2008-12-29 18:12:52 UTC

And that person is...... JenMarie!

who said....

Congrats to YOU! Woo Hoo!
I'm especially grateful for my amazing DH!
December 19, 2008 10;36 AM

JenMarie please contact me by December 31st midnight....(tcokken at telus dot net) with your info and I'll get this sent right out to you!

Just Buzzin' By to say....

The New Catalogue is almost here!

Woo Hoo! I love new catalogue time.

This is a preview of an adorable little set that will be in the next SU catalogue (I believe we can begin ordering January 19th). I saw this cute set in our demo preview and just couldn't resist. I think the bees are so fun.

I had the worst headache last night, it woke me in the middle of the night too. So then sometimes I think *stamping*...and this idea came to me. The warm colors, tons of sponging and using Itty Bitty Backgrounds. I mean seriously, I haven't used that little set in forever.

So, not having stamped in almost a week, I finally sat down on Sunday night and put this together.

The hive and the bees are watercolored with Stampin' Write Markers on watercolor paper. I cut out the door of the hive and stamped it onto the Very Vanilla piece and added dimensionals between the layers to really give it the feeling of an entry way. Like my little shadow under the hive? The sun and highlight is coming from the top right, so I really wanted to give it that feel in the shadow too.

Lots and lots of More Mustard and Chocolate Chip sponging. I also stamped the pretty flower from the set onto the Ruby Red layer and gave it lots of sponging too. I added the Itty Bitty Background spots throughout.

Yes, I am crazy, I cut out the bees individually and attached them with dimensionals. And GASP! I cut one's leg off. I gasped out loud when I did it too, my husband was worried something serious happened :) but, I fixed it and you can't even tell which one I bet!

Recipe: Stamps: Just Buzzin' By, Itty Bitty Backgrounds; Ink: Black Stazon, Ruby Red, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip; Paper: More Mustard, Chocolate Chip, Ruby Red, Very Vanilla, Watercolor Paper; Accessories: SW Markers, Dimensionals, Sponge, Vintage Brads, Wide Grosgrain Ribbon

Blog Candy Winner!

Thanks everyone for all your wonderful comments, it was so fun to read all the things you are especially grateful for. Family, health, employment, friendships, the enjoyment of creativity...so beautiful and refreshing to read!

Well....here is the winner of the blog candy:

From random.org

Here is your random number:81

Which is a post from Happi

"Congratulations! I love your cards, they are so incredibly gorgeous. I am grateful that my family is all going to be together this year. I love having my kids around me.Thank you for the chance to win this stamp set, I really would like to have this set. Have a wonderful holiday and by the way I love your blog."

So Happi....send me an email to: tcokken at telus dot net (I think you get what I mean - just trying to prevent spam), and I'll send the Poppy Patch set, card and envelope to you!

If I don't hear from our winner by Sunday at midnight I'll draw for another winner.

Thanks so much everyone for playing!

Flourishes Secret Swapper

Well...how was your Christmas everyone?

We've had some great time with our family, extended family and Church family.

Today I have some fun things to show you. Back in late November the Flourishes girls decided to do a Secret Swapper Exchange, sending each other cards for Christmas.

Here is the beautiful card I received from Nancy Kirk, one of THE Flourishes :) . It's gorgeously stamped and embossed in golds against the whites, such a dramatic and elegant card! Thank you so much Nancy it's a treasure!

And here is the card I sent...Nancy and I both used the same set All That Glitters, can you tell I was in a bit of a crazy mood! It's for my friend and fellow Flourishes girl Betty Wright. She's so much fun that I wanted to create something a bit whimsical for her. And I had this cool Basic Grey paper...so the card just sort of took over from there!

Check out the Flourishes Newsletter to see all the swap cards today!

Blessings on all of you! I'm drawing for my Blog Candy tomorrow...today is your last chance to enter! HERE

Roses Just Because Set

Wow...my 100th post!

And I'm done the gift sets!

This is my last set for my sister-in-law. So, I thought I'd go all out in watercolor for this set. This I Love Roses set from Flourishes is so stunning and perfect for watercoloring.

Here is the set, 4 cards, envelopes and a A2 card box to hold them in.

Here is a closeup of the watercoloring on the Rose. I stamped with Stazon on Watercolor paper and watercolored with reinkers and Stampin' Write markers (on the leaves and stem). I'm so pleased with the vivid color. I wanted to make these cards suitable for any occasion, Birthday, Thank You, so the sentiment is from the Siberian Iris Set. Do you like how I stamped the little rose bud in the lower left corner?

Here is the gift box, I used simple stamping on the box, stamping and sponging the leaves on the top and then simple stamping on the label. And a gorgeous Satin bow. Again I used Beate's Tutorial over on SCS.

Alright...done the gifts, just need to make some tags and we're almost set!

Don't forget my blog candy entry at the bottom of this post HERE. Drawing will be on Saturday.

And....something I'm grateful for today...that God's timing is just so much better than mine. Over and over in the past few years we have seen evidence of that as a family. Things that you pray for, answers you hope for, change you desire to see happen...it may not come when YOU want it, and yet, you can always see the purpose of His timing when the answers come. We were reminded of that again this past week very vividly. An employer we used to work for is closing it's doors, and we are very grateful for where He has placed us in ministry now - exactly when He did. We didn't understand His timing way back then....for now we see in part...but then we shall see fully. He's a good God. Blessings on your day friends!

Recipe: Stamps: Flourishes - I Love Roses, Siberian Iris Ink: Black Stazon, Purely Pomegranate, Always Artichoke Paper: Purely Pomegranate, Very Vanilla, Watercolor, Always Artichoke, Holiday Harmony DSP Accessories: Scallop Punch, Sponge, Pomegranate Satin Ribbon, Sticky Tape, Rich Regal Brads, Piercer, Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals, Oval Punch

Lovely Dreams Set

Well...we're at 3 out of 4 sets for my sister-in-law for Christmas! This one uses a new set to me, Dreams du Jour...it really stamps nicely!

I really like the look of Pacific Point paired with lots of white, it looks really crisp don't you think? The focal images were stamped on Whisper White with Stazon and colored with reinkers. I've added the butterflies as a soft of background paper.

On the *Dreams* card, I also added a pretty scalloped circle with my Big Shot and stamped Floral background in White Craft on it, as well as some Sizzlit flowers and leaves.

Here on the *Love* card I also used scallops and repeated the ribbon theme, but added a little patterned paper for some contrast.

Recipe: Stamps: Dreams du Jour, Floral Background Ink: Black Stazon, White Craft, Pacific Point Paper: Pacific Point, Basic Black, Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss Prints, Kiwi Kiss Accessories: Scallop Square Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Scallop Circle Dies, Big Shot, Birds and Blooms Sizzlits, White Grosgrain, Black Grosgrain, Black Brads, Dimensionals

A Friendly Little Somethin'

Our daughter is blessed to have friends who are twins who celebrated their birthday this weekend. They are such fun girls, and their friendship means a lot to our girl.

So this is what I created for them for their party.....it's all new SU! Can't wait for the new catalogue, the countdown is on!

This adorable set will be in the new catalogue in just a few weeks...It's a Level II Hostess set called A Little Somethin' and has some fun images. Sort of *Pretty Grunge*, is that a style? Can you imagine that listed in an SU catalogue as a style watch! LOL

I actually used the stamps in a different way. The star stamp says *Rock Star* on it and the heart stamp says *Lovey Dovey*. Well, that won't work for a friend birthday card, but the set also has this pretty *Friend* stamp, so I layered it all together to cover over the original text with Friend.

This is also brand new gorgeous paper from the new catalogue, it's called Raspberry Tart, I love it so much I could hardly bear to cut into it. It's so warm and combines colors of Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red, Pink Pirouette, and Cameo Coral. So yummy.

I gave the card background a little *grunge* distressing scrubbing it across my ink pad and dotting it into the pad and running my fingers pit pat...over the card base to give it more color.

I also colored the brads with my Signo gel pen to make them white. Don't you wish SU had white brads? I do!

My Blog Candy Alert HERE.... And here's what I am grateful for today.....The friendship of my children with one another. Something we've always prayed for and told them was that our desire would be for them to be FRIENDS, not just siblings. That as life goes on, they would know they can always count on each other, talk to each other, and support each other. Other friends may come or go, but their siblings would always be with them. There is something very powerful about that bond, and I see it beginning to really take root in their lives, especially in our older two kids. I'm so grateful for that.

Alrighty....thanks for stopping by today!

Recipe: Stamps: A Little Somethin' Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Rose Red, Cameo Coral Paper: Rose Red, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Cameo Coral Accessories: White Grossgrain, Circle Punches, Brads, Dimensionals, Top Note, Big Shot, Piercer, Signo Gel Pen

Dirty Dozen Challenge - Holiday Wrap!

What a fun challenge Jami issued to all the Dirty Dozen current and almuni girls....

This month it was A Christmas/Hanukah/or Winter Card inspired by a childhood holiday memory or favorite thing about the season. Tell us about the memory or inspiration in your gallery description

Required Element: Wrapping paper. Use a piece of holiday wrapping paper on your card in some way.

Restricted Element: No snowflake stamps, papers or embellishments.

Well, as soon as I saw the challenge I knew exactly what I would do. In fact when I first saw this All That Glitters set from Flourishes, I HAD to have it because of this very Christmas memory!

Setting up the Christmas tree was something we really looked forward to as kids. My mom had sets upon sets of old-fashioned ornaments. But one in particular was very special. It was a glass bird, just like in the Flourishes set, with a feathery tail and it had a springy grabber to attach to the tree. It was silver and blue and my brother and I would fight over who would get to put it up each year....I considered it *mine* (LOL) and I'd sneak into the ornaments and make sure I got to put it on the tree each year. It was so beautiful and there was something so special about it to me, I wish mom still had it, but sadly one year it broke.

So this card is a reminder of that Christmas tradition for me.

I embossed my little bird in silver onto watercolor paper and then used the Zig Painty to color in other parts of the bird in silver as well. Then I watercolored the rest. I put him onto some tree branches stamped in White Craft mixed with a little green ink, and added silver Zig painty to highlight it as well, and trimmed it out.

I found the wrapping paper a few weeks ago and thought it was perfect...silvery and blue and tree branches....and no snow! I cut it out with the Top Note and also added silvery branches with an Encore pad on the main card base.

If only I could find another bird like that for my tree!

My Blog Candy Alert HERE, and here's what I'm grateful for today: My marriage - it's a precious and wonderful thing, and I don't take it for granted. My husband is such a good man. He's so good to me. We have so much fun together, we laugh together, and he's so supportive of me. He's walked through really difficult times right beside me with compassion and love. He is my stability when life gets rocky, and he can fix anything, find anything, cook and he's learning how to stamp too (here's his gallery!) . I am beyond blessed that God has given me him. 14 years sweetie!

Recipe: Stamps: Flourishes - All That Glitters, Rejoice Ink: VersaMark, Silver Encore, Bordering Blue, White Craft Paper: Bordering Blue, Silver Metallic, Watercolor, Wrapping Paper Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note, White Taffeta Ribbon, Silver Cording, Oval Punch, Zig Painty, K & Co gems, Dimensionals, Scallop Edge Punch.

Cool News, Blog Candy and Creativity!

It's another Flourishes Friday with 3 great things for you!

1. First the Cool News!

I am very excited and honored to let all of you know that Flourishes has asked me to move up to the Senior Design Team beginning in January! I am the kind of person that needs to love what I stamp, and being a part of the Friends of Flourishes blog team has been so much fun. I truly love Flourishes stamps, its been a real joy this fall for me. And that Marcella Hawley...she's got such a talent for illustrating for stamps, and that Julie Koerber...she's a gem, and persuasive too! So I'm so excited to be a part of this new team, and I hope to bring you lots of inspiration with regular Flourishes creations.

AND in other news (I feel like a newscaster).....moving onto the Friends of Flourishes Blog Team is none other than the ultra-talented Silke Ledlow! She will be a fabulous addition to the team, she does white space mixed with gorgeous like no one else! So be sure to congratulate her!

2. Now the Creative...as it leads into the Blog Candy!

Today's Flourishes Friday is all about blue. Here's what Julie is challenging us ...and you to!

Don't be so "blue" this holiday season! Join us for week three of the Festive Flourishes Friday Challenge! The theme is just as it sounds ~ "You'll be doing alright with your Christmas of white but I'll have a blue, blue Christmas!" Grab your favorite Flourishes stamp set and dress it up with a dose of blue! It doesn't have to be a Christmas card! Any style will do! Remember, you can join into our challenge at any time and, if you make up past challenges and complete all four - your name will be thrown into the hat for a free stamp set of your choice! Link your card HERE (Flourishes Blog)to a blogpost or your SCS gallery. Don't forget the keyword FFFC3 on Splitcoast! Please remember to use the code FLLC when you upload to ensure it gets into our company gallery!

I have two blue samples for you!

Blue Wreath

Here I have this wonderful new Autumn Flourishes set and haven't had a minute to use it! So, even though it's an Autumn feeling set....you can make it look beautifully Christmasy too! All I did was created a layered wreath stamping first on cardstock vellum with silver embossing powder, then on Blue Bayou with Blue Bayou ink, and then on white cardstock with Blue Bayou ink....then I cut out each section and layered them over patterned paper that has that same flourished feel to it. I've added some pretty ribbon curling the grey taffeta ribbon around the design to give it an even more swirly feel. I also like the look of silver embossing on the silver metallic paper.

The Merry Christmas sentiment *ribbon tab* is from the Rejoice set, and I've added pretty piercing as accent.

My Poppies...and Blog Candy

This second sample has something special in it just for you!...keep reading!

When I was in the mountains a few weeks ago, I also worked on another design that could be a frameable piece. I love the Flourishes Poppy Patch set, and it reminds me so much of our poppies in our backyard, they are such pretty flowers, though they multiply like crazy...and the blooms only last a day...but there is a fragile and beautiful persistence to them. I like that in a flower...it teaches me something :)

So I created this 5.5 x 5.5 card, that I could frame if I wanted to...and I might! The poppies were masked and stamped in Brown Stazon and watercolored with Stampin' Write Markers and Reinkers. I wanted to give it a very contrasting background so I added a deep wash of Not Quite Navy, and I also stamped the Poppy word in NQN on the card base and sponged it deeply. I've added accent in rich Chocolate Satin Ribbon.

I really love the sentiment. Especially now in the deep freeze of winter, gratitude brings a real warmth inside of you, one that is not dependent on the weather outside.

3. So....the Blog Candy for YOU is......

A brand new and beautiful Poppy Patch stamp set courtesy of Flourishes, and a smaller version I created of the larger card! This card measure 3.25 x 5.5 and includes the matching envelope. All you need to do to be entered to win is to leave a comment on this post below telling me something you're especially grateful for as this year draws to a close. I'll draw for a winner on Saturday December 27th after all the festivities are over. Check back for the winner!

Pfewww....after all that you don't want to miss the other fabulous Friends of Flourishes girls' BLUE creations:

Dee, Kimberly, Cindy H, Betty, Julie, and Becca

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED....I'll be drawing before 10 AM MTN time today Saturday Dec 27!

Recipes:

Blue Wreath: Stamps: Autumn Flourishes, Rejoice Ink: VersaMark, Blue Bayou Paper: Blue Bayou, Blue Bayou Prints DSP, Whisper White, Silver Metallic, Cardstock Vellum Accessories: Silver Embossing Powder, Scallop Edge Punch, Piercer, Dimensionals, Basic Gray Taffeta Ribbon, Silver Cording,

My Poppies: Stamps: Poppy Patch Ink: Brown Stazon, Not Quite Navy Paper: Not Quite Navy, Pumpkin Pie, Watercolor Accessories: Reinkers, Stampin Write Markers, Piercer, Scallop Square Punch, Circle Punch, Oval Punch, Gold Brads, Chocolate Satin Ribbon, Dimensionals, Sponge

Pomegranate and Toile Set

Here is my second set of 4 cards for the 2nd Sister-in-Law. I looked at the sketch challenge today and honestly it took me till late this afternoon to figure anything out! I was a little stumped...well that and I had a school band field trip with my daughter this morning, and had to take my son to a doctors appointment this afternoon.

So here is the set:

I was looking for a little more neutral set of cards for her this time. She loves fushia and greens and blues....but I also see her wear a lot of browns too. She has really gorgeous brunette hair and olive skin....I often take cues from what people wear.

I stamped the Bella Toile background stamp on watercolor paper with Brown Stazon and spent some time watercoloring it with reinkers and a chocolate chip Stampin' Write marker. Then I added the pretty patterned paper tabs, a little piercing and brads and the gorgeous satin ribbon.

Back on Friday with more...and something exciting too!

Recipe: Stamps: Bella Toile, Best Yet Ink: Brown Stazon, River Rock Paper: Chocolate Chip, River Rock, Purely Pomegranate, 2007 Holiday Mini Christmas paper...can't find my name sheet!, Watercolor paper Accessories: Scallop Square Punch, Sponge, Dimensionals, Pomegranate Satin Ribbon, Reinkers, SW Marker, Gold Brads, Piercer

Bella Blossoms Gift Set

Well, my other sister-in-law, the one that lives here...the one who's having a baby also asked for handmade cards for Christmas...I was really thrilled, because she's hard to buy for. So, I hope to make her 4 sets of 4 cards before Christmas Eve, this is the first set. I used today's color challenge over at Splitcoast as my color starter.....Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray and Not Quite Navy. Wonderful bold warm colors.

I made 4 cards with 2 different sentiments, a gift tag and an A2 box to hold them in (see Beate's Tutorial at SCS). Super easy!

Bella Blossom is stamped in Baja Breeze two times and once in Not Quite Navy (flower center). The pieces are cut out and then sponged with a sponge dauber in Not Quite Navy, then pieced together adn the front petals up on a dimensional.

I am Big Shot/Top Note obsessed :) It gives such a classy look to the shape of your card!

On the background I stamped the smaller flower in NQN and sponged the edges to really give it deep color. A little patterned paper....and ribbon...PRETTY!

The tag is just single layer stamped, but here I inked the blossom in Baja and Kiwi (leaves and stem), then directly to the stamp with a sponge dauber added Not Quite Navy, then huffed on it and stamped it down.

I really like the set!

Recipe: Stamps: Bella Blossoms, All Holidays Ink: Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Gray, Not Quite Navy Paper: Not Quite Navy, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Basic Gray, Urban Garden DSP Accessories: Wide Baja Double stitched ribbon, Silver Brads, Big Shot, Top Note die, oval punch, dimensionals, piercer, White grosgrain ribbon, daubers, sponges, scallop edge punch.

Vintage Set

My sweet sister-in-law in the US loves when I send her cards, so for Christmas I often indulge her :) (it's just so hard for me LOL!) ..and give her a bunch of cards. This year I also wanted to send her a matching set of cards in her favourite colors, and I had my new Vintage Puns from the Past set out, and my Big Shot...and thought hmm I wonder what I can come up with?

So here's the quick set. 8 cards, 2 of each design. Really it didn't take me a long time to create.

I seem stuck on this color combination with Vintage type cards, but with her loving red...I just had to put it together again!

Very simple and straight forward, each set has common elements, simple stamping, The Big Shot Top Note die and Birds and Flowers Sizzlits die in different forms, simple shapes with punches, Vintage Brads, simple ribbons, and pretty papers.

Here's a closeup for each one...

Sew Glad - I like how this card looks a little like an old fashioned spool of thread with the Top Note and the ribbon.

Perk Up - Just simple ribbon and brad treatment here

Grateful - I made a sort of patchwork pieced section of the Top Note on this one and added some little flowers from the Sizzlits die.

Buggy Bumpers - 3/4 of the Top Note here and simple piercing!

There you have it, a simple but useful set!

Recipe: Puns from the Past Paper: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Kraft, Kraft Patterns DSP, Bella Rose DSP Ink: Brown Stazon, Riding Hood Red Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Die, Birds and Blooms Sizzlit, Oval Punches, Circle Punch, Piercer, Vintage Brads, Felt Ribbon, Riding Hood Red Striped Ribbon, Chocolate Grossgrain (wide and narrow), Dimensionals

Stamp A Stack Simply Christmas II

Here are the other two samples I promised you earlier in the week of my Christmas Stamp a Stack I taught recently.

Christmas Dove

Of the four I think this one is my favourite....I like the simplicity and yet elegance to the card.

I stamped the dove in White Craft on Whisper White, embossed with White Embossing Powder and then sponged with Baja Breeze. I really like the contrast on softness it creates.

I added a little red accent in the gingham ribbon tied into the taffeta ribbon and also in the circle rim around the sentiment. With the addition of the Ski Slope paper, it's pretty!

Glitzy Snowman

Who knew this sweet set would be retiring! I think it's just adorable, you can get a cute funky look with it. The snow man and trees are stamped with Basic Black on the Whisper White, then I added Paper Pieced trees on top, sponged around them, accented the snowman with color from my Stampin' Write markers and gave it a pretty knotted ribbon. When the card was entirely assembled I added Mono Multi under the snowman and trees and added Chunky Glitter that has that irridescent look to it. So CUTE!

The base of the card does have Pink Pirouette snowflakes stamped on it.

Anyone else ready for something else besides Christmas cards ??? I'm getting pretty close! Thanks for stopping by!

Recipes: Christmas Dove: Stamps - To You and Yours Ink: Baja Breeze, White Craft Paper: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Real Red, Ski Slope DSP Accessories: Circle Punches, Ticket Corner Punch, Silver Brads, Dimensionals, White Embossing Powder, Sponge, White Taffeta Ribbon, Red Gingham

Glitzy Snowman: Stamps: Merry and Bright Ink: Basic Black, Pink Pirouette Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss Patterns DSP Accessories: Oval Punches, Chunky Glitter, Mono Multi, Pink Grosgrain Ribbon, Sponge, Stampin' Write Markers

Flourishes Friday - Winter White

There's something so pure and magical about crisp winter snow. That pure white...well, there's just really nothing like it! So for today's Flourishes Friday, the blog team has brought together some fabulous winter white creations....with a twist...you're invited to join in.

Here's what our wonderful Julie had to say: "This Festive Flourishes Friday is all about the crisp and clean winter white - dress it down with a monochromatic theme or dress it up with a sparkly flair. It's up to you! The only requirement is dressing your favorite Flourishes set in winter white! If you want to play along, simply leave a comment on the Flourishes Newsletter or upload your card to Splitcoast using the keyword FFFC2. Keep in mind, we’ll be doing this fun Friday challenge all month long and there will be a special drawing for those that play all four weeks! Details on what is up for grabs -- to come!! If you are just joinging us - track back to the first Flourishes Friday challenge on the first Friday of this month. You can make up past challenges to qualify for the giveaway!"

So here are my FFFC2 cards...

Dreaming of a White Christmas

I wanted to create the feeling and sparkle of snow. So I embossed these branches from the All That Glitters Set in White Embossing Powder and also layered in embossing with Irridescent Ice on Shimmer White paper. This gives is a really pretty shimmery amethyst glow....and an overall sparkle, I then cut out the branches and sponged the edges.

I also stamped the ornament on an acetate (clear transparency) sheet with White Stazon and then colored the back of it with a silver Zig Painty. Then backed this clear piece with a piece of Almost Amethyst paper.

I've added white taffeta ribbon and pretty purple gems. Here you can see a better view of the glitter.

White Roses

When I saw Wednesday's sketch challenge, the first thing that actually came to my mind was to use these Rosebuds from the new I Love Roses set ...I didn't have time to pull it together on Wednesday...but here we are on Flourishes Friday...and white roses seem to be just right!

I embossed the roses on watercolor paper with gold EP, then watercolored the stem lightly with Sage Shadow. I also added Lumiere to the blossoms to give them a beautiful shimmer. I've had a number of questions as to what Lumiere is....it is a metallic acrylic medium, in this case it is pearl white, that you can use to paint or add sparkle to just about anything. Stampin' Up used to sell it. The maker is Jacquard...but I'm sure any type of metallic acrylic paint would give you the same effect. Because it's waterbased you can water it down and paint it. Which I did on the roses.

I actually chose my color palette based on this old piece of Wintergreen DSP from last winter. It has a diagonal dotted pattern in it...so I decided to dress up the white sections of the card with diagonal scoring with my Scor It. I think it really gives great texture to the white.

I'll be the first to admit...all white cards are not my forte, everything about them scares me...but in the end, it's all about the challenge right?! So jump in and join us! Be sure to check out the Flourishes Newsletter, and Betty, Cindy H, Becca, Dee and Kimberly's creations too! And the new releases today by Cindy L, Laura, Latisha, Julie , Jan Marie and Faith...whew that's a lot of great stuff to look for!

Recipe: Dreaming of a White Christmas: Flourishes All That Glitters, Just Rite Curlz Font (sentiment), Ink: Craft White, Almost Amethyst, White Stazon Paper: Shimmer White, Silver Metallic Paper, Acetate Accessories: Winter White EP, Irridescent Ice EP, Stylized Silver HPH, K & Co Gems, Sponge, White Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals, Key Tab Punch, Just Rite Rectangle Stamper

Recipe: White Roses: Flourishes I Love Roses Ink: VersaMark, Sage Shadow Paper: Sage Shadow, Whisper White, Wintergreen DSP, Watercolor Accessories: Circle Punch, Oval Punch, Gold Brads, Scor It, Dimensionals, Sponge, White Taffeta Ribbon, Gold Cording, Gold EP, Lumiere.

Simply Christmas

Well, I wanted to show you a couple of samples from my Stamp-A-Stack a few weeks ago.

We did 4 each of 4 card designs. I'll show you two today and two later this week.

Winter Tent Topper

I just really love these colors with this set. So I had the girls create a sort of post card collage adding the tent topper style as something different. It still fits in a regular A2 envelope, but it's not a traditional card size/shape. The skaters are stamped in Brown Stazon and colored with a Red Stampin' Write Marker. We added the ribbon in a neat cut and placement.

Recipe: Stamps: Winter Post Ink: Brown Stazon, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red Paper: Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Kraft Accessories: Ticket Corner Punch, Vintage Brads, SW Marker, Dimensionals, Striped Ribbon.

Unto Us

Nothing says the truth about Christmas to me better than Holy Triptych. There is just something so simple and elegant about this set, especially paired here with Baroque Motifs.

Mary, Joseph and Jesus are stamped in VersaMark on watercolor paper, and embossed with gold EP. Simple watercoloring, with the addition of glitter on the halos and star. I love this layout and often use some variation of it too. I love the contrast here too of the Elegant Eggplant against the Old Olive. Very Royal... "for unto you is born this day, in the City of David, a Saviour who is Christ the Lord" Luke 2.

Recipe: Holy Triptych, Baroque Motifs, Holidays and Wishes Ink: VersaMark, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive Paper: Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant, Very Vanilla, Watercolor Accessories: Gold EP, SW Markers, 2 Way Glue, Dazzling Diamonds, Gold Brads, Vanilla, Grosgrain, Dimensionals.

Thanks for stopping by...back on Friday for Flourishes Friday!

We're Having a Baby!

Yippee! Wait....you didn't think it was me did you?

Tee Hee!

Nope! But, my brother and sister-in-law are expecting their first baby in late March or early April! This will be my first niece or nephew on this side of the family, so we're pretty excited. The kids are so looking foward to having a cousin close by. I would like it to be a girl to sort of even out the balance of power in the kids, my brother would like a boy. So we'll see what we get!

I've wanted to give them a Congratulations card for some time now, and tonight my Puns from the Past set came (I've really liked the vintage look of this one)...and today's sketch challenge was perfect for it's smaller images, so I sat down tonight to create a quick card.

I stamped the buggies on Vanilla, punched out the circles and sponged them. Lots of other sponging on the layers, old Hodge Podge Hardware as accent, retired Noteworthy set sentiment and the ribbon from the Holiday Mini.

Love the vintage feel!

Back tomorrow with some more for you!

Recipe: Stamps: Puns from the Past, Noteworthy Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Very Vanilla, Bella DSP, Chocolate Chip Accessories: Antique Brass HPH, Alpine Ribbon, Dimensionals, Circle Punch

New Release Roses!

Oh...I'm in LOVE! Yes, with my husband...but also with the newly released Rose set from Flourishes. It is the perfect Rose set, I don't think I've seen anything to match it anywhere. Full roses, rose buds, leaves, single stems, different sizes, gorgeous sentiments...all illustrated in Marcella Hawley's artistic perfection, she is a watercolorists dream!

When we were in the mountains last week on our staff retreat, all the *boys* went skiing one day and all the *girls* stayed in the house in town and had a very relaxing day. I watercolored all day! It was bliss! And as this piece was coming together the girls asked me if I would put it on a card, and as I looked at it and realized the amount of work I was putting into it and the beauty of the roses, I said, "you know what? I'm going to frame it!"

The roses are masked to give a real sense of a bouquet or rose bush. I used varying tones of pinks and corals to watercolor the roses and tones of green and coral to give life to the leaves. I added a very light outline around the arrangement with Pretty in Pink and then gave it a light wash in the background with pinks and greens.

The Regal Rose base layer is also stamped with the smaller single stem rose from the set and sponged to give the feel of patterned paper. I've used limited layers, embellishments and ribbon to dress it up - but to keep the focus on the watercolored roses. I takes me back to my old days of watercoloring larger pieces for framing.....I so love this creation!

Frame is from IKEA, I've taken out the glass layer and won't put it back in because of the dimension of the piece...but I will have to be careful to protect it from any *ahem* small children (as in mine) or other messy creatures :)

Thanks for stopping by....to see the other Flourishes newly released creations stop by these Flourish girls today: Laura, Cindy L, Cindy H, Betty, Latisha, Jan Marie, Faith and Julie.

Recipe: Flourishes - Rose Ink: Black Stazon, Regal Rose, Rose Red Paper: Regal Rose, Basic Black, Watercolor Paper Accessories: Reinkers, SW Markers, Aquapainter, Oval Punch, Rose Grossgrain, White Taffeta Ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch, Rhinestones, 1/2 Pearls, Dimensionals.

Toonie Tuesday - The Cutie and the Beauty

Well, we're back with another round of creations this Tuesday....with a very unusual color palette. It's very vivid...and contrasting...yet it works! Taken with Teal, Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red and White.

Here's the Cutie - Snow Party

It's a snowy winter night in the Baja Teal forest...This little guy is feeling pretty festive all decked out in his hat and scarf (stocking cap if your in the US, touque if you're in Canada). It snowed all day where we are in Alberta...it's so pretty...but chilly...our first real taste of winter.

The trees are stamped on Baja Breeze Patterns DSP and the retired Loves Me DSP and paper pieced onto the whisper white piece. The little snow man is colored with Stampin' Write markers and reinkers, and popped up. Doesn't he look like he's having a party? So cute. After I took the picture I added a snowflake under the right hand brad...but was too tired to take a new picture, and I'm not sure if it will stay on there or I'll take it back off!

Here's the Beauty - Bella Toile Beauty

I just got an order tonight and Bella Toile background was part of my order. I have looked at this stamp for a while and was so excited to finally use it. I don't know if I'll always use it this way, it takes time and patience, but it really gives you a wow look. The stamp is inked in Black Stazon and stamped onto watercolor paper. Then painstakingly colored with reinkers, or SW Markers. I added a slight bit of green for the leaves but then colored over them with Baja Breeze to give it a unified feel.

AND the BIG WONDERFUL news! Tonight I also received my new Big Shot! Woo Hooo!!! So, I took out my little Birds and Blooms Sizzlets and created a layered flower to match the flowers in the Toile...isn't it the perfect accent? I added scoring lines into my flower petals to get them to stand and curled them. Pearl is from the Pretties Kit, and the ribbon is from the retired Flirty ribbon....oh I'm almost out of this gorgeous velvet!

Recipe: Sample One - Snow Party - Stamps: Merry and Bright Ink: Black Stazon, Taken with Teal, Baja Breeze Paper: Taken with Teal, Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, Baja Breeze Patterns DSP, Loves Me DSP Accessories: Word Window Punch, Silver Brads, Piercer, Dimensionals, Riding Hood Red Striped Ribbon, Sponge, SW Markers, Reinkers

Sample Two: Bella Toile Beauty Stamps: Bella Toile Background, Noteworthy Ink: Black Stazon, Baja Breeze Paper: Baja Breeze, Taken with Teal, Watercolor, Riding Hood Red Accessories: Piercer, Pretties Kit, Big Shot, Birds and Blooms Sizzlets, Dimesionals, Brad, Scorer, Corner Rounder Punch, Velvet Ribbon (Flirty). Reinkers, SW Markers.

Winter Frost

It's looking a little like winter here...we've had snow and rain for the past couple of days, and they say it will continue. We were in the mountains a few days this past week for a Staff Retreat...it was beautiful....there's nothing like fresh snow in the mountains.

Today we decorated the tree with our kids, and I finished my SU Trinkets On Board Ornaments kit...they turned out really nice - kind of homey feeling, I'll try and take a picture later this week and show you.

Tonight Beth gave us another wonderful Featured Stamper annascreations....she has a wonderful gallery, she's amazing with silhouettes and brayering. The funny part is I just cased her a few weeks ago. Her gallery is well worth visiting.

I chose this card: Harvest because of the silhouette image, and the layout.

Here is mine:

I was going through my stamps the other day and saw Inspired by Nature and realized it had been a while since I had used it. I wanted to create the feeling of frost on the grasses at night. So I stamped the grasses in Brown Stazon, masked off a moon (from a 1 1/4 circle punch), and then brayered over with Soft Sky, Blue Bayou and Chocolate Chip. Then I added white gel pen to the grasses and tips to give you the feel of frost or snow.

I changed the layout slightly and added extra brads and piercing and where the sentiment was.

Think it might pass for a Christmas card???

Recipe: Inspired by Nature, To You and Yours Paper: Blue Bayou, Chocolate Chip Chocolate Chip Patterns DSP, Blue Bayou Prints DSP, Whisper White Ink: Brown Stazon, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White Craft Accessories: Blue Bayou DS Ribbon, Dimensionals, Piercer, Vintage Brads, Oval Punch, Brayer, Sponge, White Gel Pen, Circle Punch, Sticky Notes