Monday, December 28, 2009

New Blog Candy Winner!

Well, I'm sad to say that my winner didn't contact me on time....so I had to pick a new winner


True Random Number Generator  3So our new winner is Marisa!!!  One of my very sweet readers and commenters! Marisa, drop me an email by 10 am December 29th with your address :)   

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Blog Candy Winner and Bookmarks

Blog Candy Winner at the end of this post :)

Hope you have had a wonderful Christmas so far with people you love.  I know we've really enjoyed our Christmas with family!

Just before Christmas break our daughter was doing a gift exchange with some friends at school.  They had seen a bookmark I had made her and asked if I'd make them one too.  So I found out their birthmonths and made them a super-quick bookmark with the Calendar Set from Flourishes



The flowers are watercolored on watercolor paper, then I created a oval mask with Eclipse Tape and used Spellbinders Flourish Impressionables as a template to sponge on some pretty color in the flourishy feel. 






Alrighty, here was our little family at my parents' on Christmas Eve: 



And now onto the Christmas Blog Candy winner! It was wonderful to hear the things you have hope for - or hope in! 

Random.org picked...... #2 which is JennyCurtis.  Woo Hoo Jenny!

Please contact me via my email link on my sidebar with your address in the next 24 hours (27th of December by midnight), or we'll draw for a new winner! 

Recipe:  Stamps:  Flourishes A Year of Flowers Calendar Set II, III;  Ink:   Black Stazon;  Paper:  Watercolor Paper, Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Pie DSP, Riding Hood Red Prints;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Top Note Die, Assorted Ribbons, Eclipse Tape, Sponge, Impressionables Flourish Template, Waterbased markers, Reinkers, Aqua Painter, Modern Label Punch, EK Success Scallop Punch, Felt Fusion Flowers, Sticky Tape

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Happy News - and the Reason for Christmas

Merry Christmas Everyone!     I have some happy news today too :) 

I have been asked to be a part of the Our Daily Bread Design Team as a Guest DT member for the months of January and February!  I think this is especially fitting to announce Christmas Eve, as Our Daily Bread offers beautiful stamps with a Christian focus, which for me is especially meaningful! 

And it's new release time for ODBD....with new stamps coming January 1st.  I have a Sneak Peek for you today. 


I watercolored this beautiful Cross with the greenery with waterbased markers.  I masked the Cross and dove and sponged the background, I wanted it to have the feel of growth in it with all the green.  Then I added a light wash on the dove and added Stardust pen to give the bird shimmer, as well as the sentiment tag, which I hope you can see better here...



There is a repeated dove in the designer paper too.  Couldn't you see yourself using this card for many occassions?  The Our Daily Bread Design Team girls will have lots of Sneak Peeks for you over the next few days, so be sure to check them out!  There are a number of fantastic new people joining the team! 


My Christmas Message for You: 

I'd like to leave you a with a story my precious Sister-in-law wrote as their Christmas letter a few years ago, she wrote so beautifully, and for me it is a powerful story of the truth of Christmas and why we need the Cross.

"No touching. NONE. NO."  This is what our children heard over and over as we prepared for a quick family outing to an expensive knick-knack store in search of that perfect Christmas gift.  Upon arriving at the store, we rehearsed the rule one more time.  Our 3 year old daughter's wide blue eyes looked up at me as she asked, "Will you touch, Mama?"  I looked back at her and casually stated that I could touch because I would be very careful. 

Upon entering the store, the kids' eyes glowed with excitement.  "Look, Look!"  They squealed in delight, leaning into items dangerously in hopes that maybe the item would reach out and touch them.  "Too Close!  Too Close!"  I scolded, initiating another rule.  My husband and I shot a knowing glance at each other, agreeing silently to find the gift promptly.  We split up to cover as much ground as possible in the least time.  After what seemed like hours I happened upon a beautiful, hand-crafted nativity scene.  I knelt down to show my two and three year old the delicate pieces.  "Look, these are the shepherds.  And look!"  I exclaimed, "the Magi!"  I was turning each piece over gently searching for the price.  It was under baby Jesus.  I put the baby down again with care, comtemplating the possible gift.  Our 3 year old in sheer delight, grabbed the donkey and lifted it up for me to see.  "And look Mama!  Here's the donkey!"  I snatched it quickly from her tiny hands and scolded her.  "NO Touching.  None.  NO!" 

I gently reached down to place it back on the shelf when the most unusual thing happened.  I DROPPED IT.  It fell to the ground, ending with the sound of a crack that echoed throughout the store.  Immediately I looked around.  The clerk was busy at the till, ringing up a sale.  "Now what?"  Our three year old asked.  "I must tell the clerk I broke it," I said soberly as I picked up the pieces and ushered the girls to my husband.  Sheepishly I showed him the damage and he shot me that unmistakable "YOU broke it?" look as he took the kids to a different part of the store, leaving me in line to 'fess up.  As the clerk was taking her time gift wrapping something.  I thoughtfully considered my options.  I wonder if I would have to pay for the entire nativity scene or just one piece?  Did the clerk really need to know?  I could simply put it back in place and we could leave never to return.  After all, it was an accident.  I had really tried to be careful, yet still managed to break it.  Scripture says "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God,"  I thought to myself.  God was reminding me why I needed Jesus so much. 

In comparison with God, there was nothing I could possibly do to earn my way to heaven.  I would end up dropping that piece, making mistakes- because I was not perfect - as He is perfect.  My next thoughts were guilty thoughts.  What would I have done if one of the children had broken it?  Now here I was - guilty of the very act I would have punished them for, hoping for one thing MERCY.  I knew what I deserved, yet my heart longed for mercy. 

My waiting was over.  I approached the clerk with my hands held outward, revealing the pieces.  I looked her in the face and sadly admitted that I had broken it.  The clerk took the pieces in her hands, trying to place the figure back together.  "How much do I owe you?"  I asked.  She looked up from the pieces, smiled and said "That's ok"  I looked at her, making sure I had heard correctly.  Did she just say it was okay to break a part of an expensive nativity scene?  She comforted me with another gracious smile and then it registered with me what had just happened.  A feeling of relief swept over me, and I smiled back.  Of course it wasn't okay, but I was forgiven!  She was showing me that wonderful mercy that I had longed for but didn't expect.  The clerk's demonstration of mercy and forgiveness reminded me of the reason I celebrate this time of year.  God send His one and only Son Jesus to forgive me of my sinful human self and He alone has the power to renew my thoughts and mind, pulling me out of the desperation of life into meaningful, joyful existence with Him.  There is mercy.  There is forgiveness.  There is a perfect gift readily available for all who believe:  Jesus. 

Praying you experience that hope this day friends, Merry Christmas.


Stamps:  Our Daily Bread - Confirmation;  Ink:  Stazon Black, Stazon Brown, Kiwi Kiss;  Paper:  Kiwi Kiss, Kiwi Kiss Patterns DSP, Watercolor paper, Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Chip Prints,  Cardstock Vellum;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Texturz Plate, Labels Two, Labels Five Nestabilities, Fancy Tags Shapeabilities, Waterbased Markers, Aqua Painter, Sponge, Eclipse Tape, Stardust Pen, Silver Brads, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon, Button, Dimensionals.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Christmas Blog Candy and 101 Pea Pods

How about some Christmas Blog Candy???   ...well you'll have to read to the end of the post :)

This is what I've been working on  - for it seems like forever!  Birth Announcements for our sweet new nephew.  My husband's brother and sister in law had their 5th baby!  And we're so happy it's a boy :)  Anyway....she requested 150 birth announcements...I asked her if 100 would be ok, especially since I couldn't color the peas until I knew if it was a girl or boy. 



I'll admit mass assembly is not my favourite thing to do, BUT, it was for a special little someone. 

Here's a picture of the pieces :)



They needed to be simple, so I could make this many of them, and still pretty flat so they were mailable. 







The pea pods are copic colored and the designer paper is American Crafts.  I almost think I like the white ones better, though I only added them because I ran out of Old Olive!  Stamps are SU Event Full and Teeny Tiny Wishes, plus the smallest circle from an old SU snow man set (an "O" is also our last name initial - theirs too :)  and the little tiny smiley face in the background is an old SU set Small Sayings - I thought the smiley face matched the peas so well). 

Well, still here and interested in the Christmas Blog Candy?  I want to say thank you for coming back here and being interested and supportive of what I create....so I have a complete set of Flourishes A Year of Flowers Calendar Set (I, II, and III) that I'd like to give away.  They are a STUNNING set of sets. 


Rules:  Leave a comment on this post, and tell me something that gives you hope in the year ahead.  One comment per person, please leave your email address in the post.  It makes it much easier for me :)

Draw:  I'll draw on the evening of the 26th probably after 10 pm MTN. 

Merry Christmas Friends!  I have a few more surprises this week so keep stopping by!

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Show Me Some White Space


Well the very sweet Stacy has challenged us Flourishes girls to something she's so good at, but is way out of my comfort zone....

WHITE SPACE!!!!!!

But being the adventurous girls we are, we took on her challenge and created.  For my card, I challenged myself even further, a one-layer card.  Now that doesn't happen very often!



There's really more to this card than this photo does justice.  The flower is framed by an embossed Nestie 6 Shape, and then I colored this pretty poinsettia from Poinsettia and Boxwood with the Sweet Pea Copic Collection.  Then I went over top of the petals with Spica glitter pens creating "veining" in the flower.  It's very sparkly in real life.

I just love this silk ribbon, and it's really a closer match than this photo show too.   I was hoping this photo below would show more of the glitter....it doesn't look like it is!  Just imagine really pretty sparkle :)

 

I colored the rhinestones with the R12 to give it a perfect match to the petals. 

Well these lovely ladies have some white space to show you so go visit their creative spaces:  Cindy LawrenceJulie Koerber, Latisha Yoast, Laura Fredrickson, Leslie Miller, Stacy Morgan...and see Stacy's Tutorial on how to use those white spaces to your creative advantage at the Flourishes Blog

Recipe:  Flourishes Poinsettia and Boxwood, Holiday Greetings;  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Blush Blossom;  Paper:  Flourishes Classic White;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Nestabilities Labels 6, Embossing Mat, Silk Ribbon, Gold Finishing Touches Ribbon  Slide, Rhinestones, Spica Glitter pens, Sponge, Bow Easy

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

For the Twins

Our daughter's two best friends are twin sisters.  It's really kind of fun to watch them all together.  They are great girls and they so enjoy spending time together doing, well WHATEVER.  They love all the same things, could talk forever on the phone and laugh at all the same stuff, you remember being 13 right?  Well, the twin's birthday is this week, and there's a big party, so I put together some cards for the girls. 


I've had this Tulip Girl Cornish Heritage Farms image for months.  I actually stamped it at my Copic Certification with Sherrie Siemens and just found it again the other day.  I just love how she looks with the tulips in her skirt.  So sweet!  I colored her with really rich copic colors.  I thought she paired really well with these Cosmo Cricket papers too.  I tied a triple bow with my Bow Easy too.



For the second twin I used today's Sketch from SCS and my cutie patootie MFT Pure Innocence Snow Day girl.  I paper pieced her outfit (oh isn't it cute - especially her printed tights), with Memory Box Spiceberry paper. 



Her skin and boots are copic colored, and the snowballs are liquid applique.  Isn't that ribbon yummy?  It's Chenille Dots from Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply Store



So hopefully the girls will like them.  :) 

Recipes:  Tulip Girl - Stamps:  Cornish Heritage Farms - Tulip Girl;  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Riding Hood Red, Blue Bayou;  Paper:  Blue Bayou, Baha Breeze, Riding Hood Red, Cosmo Cricket Early Bird DSP, Flourishes Classic White; Accessories:  Big Shot, Labels Five Nesties, Copic Markers (Azure, Spruce, Fushia, Flesh Tones I Collections from Flourishes), RHR Taffeta Ribbon, Bow Easy, Basic Grey 1/2 pearls, Circle Punch

Snow Day:  Stamps:  MFT Pure Innocence - Snow Day;  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black;  Paper:  Bravo Burgundy, Always Artichoke, Memory Box Spiceberry DSP, Flourishes Classic White;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Lattice Nestabilities, Chenille Dots Ribbon, Liquid Applique, Basic Grey 1/2 Pearls, Dimensionals, Copic Markers. 

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Christmas Trees and Baskets

Well we are almost done our Christmas shopping, picked up a few more things today.  I think I just have stocking stuffers to do...and my brother.  He's the hardest one to buy for and right now I haven't got a clue what to get!  ....oh but I found the CUTEST gifts for his daughter...our niece :)

I had some time before we left shopping this morning to actually participate in the Color Challenge...and I'll show you a card I finished the other day too...just some last minute Christmas cards.


It's an all SU card, I used today's color challenge colors of Mellow Moss, So Saffron and Melon Mambo.  I thought it had a pretty and fresh look....and then realized that these colors together would make great Northern Lights in the background.  We can see amazing displays of Northern Lights at times here. 

The trees are embossed, and I used the Paisley Texturz plate to created the embossing behind the trees, then colored it in swirls with chalks.  I added sparkly snow, but I'm not thrilled with how it turned out and I think I'll have be redoing that part. 

Then the other day I pulled out this very fun Vintage Picnic set from PTI and colored up a Basket of Christmas with my Copic markers. 


I also used the Giga Guide Lines to create the white "snowflakes" on the Kraft layer. I added a very wild bow :)  Felt ribbon, a button and twine. 



Now just to get all these cards in the mail!  Hope your Christmas preparations are going well!


Friday, December 11, 2009

Raffle Basket Set

Hope you've enjoyed the Sneak Peeks this week from Flourishes.  The store is now open - so you can purchase these wonderful sets.  To remind you too, if you purchase the bundle you are able to download the calendar template free as well.  It's fantastic, and I look forward to making something with it soon. 

But before I could make a calendar, my daughter needed something for her Band Christmas Concert Raffle at school, so I put together a really quick set of 4 cards to be included in one of the baskets. I was totally inspired by my friend Julie this week and her set of cards.



I used the first four months of the A Year of Flowers Calendar Set I and colored the months with copics.  Then I used a simple layout for all four cards and just swapped out papers and ribbons.  It really makes the process go so much quicker. 



Here is a picture of the box closed.  I used a packaging box from PaperTrey that a set of stamps came in and just repurposed it.  I added Memory Box Dewfrost Designer paper on Soft Sky with scallops cut out, and the gorgeous Satin Ribbon.  It really dresses up a simple clear box. 



Here are the cards inside: 


MB Dewfrost papers, Kaiser pearls, Square and Scalloped Square Nesties, and organza sheer ribbon from the Flourishes Store.


The Primrose uses MB Spiceberry paper from Flourishes. 



The Pansies use Basic Grey Euphoria DSP, Kaiser pearls and Satin ribbon from the Flourishes store


This paper for the Daffodils is K & Co I believe. 

A pretty and simple set.  It really didn't take me long to do.  Enjoy your shopping at Flourishes!

Stamps:  A Year of Flowers - Calendar Set I;  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black;  Paper:  Flourishes Classic White, Soft Sky, Memory Box Dewfrost, Baja Blue;  Bravo Burgundy, Always Artichoke, Memory Box Spiceberry, Orchid Opulance, Certainly Celery, Basic Grey Euphoria, Summer Sun, Always Artichoke, K & Co Berry Sweet;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Square and Scalloped Square Nestabilities, Modern Label Punch, Kaiser Pearls, Gold Brads, Organdy Ribbon, Suede Ribbon (Stamp Simply Store), Satin Ribbon, Copic Markers, Dimensionals, Clear Box, Pierceabilities template (for scallops on box), Bow Easy.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Sneak Peek - A Year of Flowers Day Three

We've reached the final day of this beautiful set of sets.  Can you see what I meant when I said these would be sets you would reach for time and time again?  They are perfect for any occasion! 

Today I reached for my birthday month flower October's Chrysanthemum.  This pretty fall flower is so easy to color too.  Because of it's rich warm shades and variation of color I used my prismacolor pencils again, and gave it a warm mustardy glow around the blooms.
 



I paired the flowers with the rich colors of Basic Grey's Indian Summer paper, gave it some pretty edging with my Fancy Scalloped Pierceabilities and then added the beautiful Lattice Pendant behind.  Rich satin ribbon from the Flourishes store as accent.  Honestly I think that Bow Easy is changing my ribbon tying life.  :)  It makes such perfect bows! No more fiddling with the ends!

Alright how about the whole project I've been Sneak Peeking for you all week? 


(if you click on this picture you can see it much larger.)

I wanted to make a special gift for Christmas using all 12 of the Year of Flowers.  And here it is!  I apologize for the shadows.  It's been snowing here and really cloudy for days, so this is even with my OTT light.

I stamped each month and colored the flowers with Copic Markers (I'll have a listing of each month's colors at the end of this post).  The frame is from Ikea, called Fanaholm (inside dimensions 11 3/4 x 15 3/4).  It's inexpensive.  It does have glass in the frame, but I couldn't put it back in or the dimension would be crushed.  It's all tied together in a background of 3 Prism paper colors (Spring Willow - Light, Medium and Dark) linked together with Olive Silk Ribbon.  I've added accents to the different months including embossing, Lattice Pendant accents, pearls, piercing and rhinestones.

Here is some detail of the piercing and rhinestones (I colored the rhinestones with my YG99 Copic).


And one last picture of the dimension of the flowers in the frame.  Each month's frame is popped up and so are each set of flowers. 


So there you have it, a great gift idea for that special someone, or something special for your home. 

So, do you love these 12 flowers?  Want to win the last Year of Flowers - Calendar Three set today?  See the Flourishes Newsletter

Join us for the Release Party tonight at 9 PM Central time!

And head over to the other DT Members Blogs for more fabulousness!  Cindy Lawrence, Julie Koerber, Latisha Yoast, Laura Fredrickson, Leslie Miller, Stacy Morgan. 

Frame Recipe:  Stamps - A Year of Flowers  Calendar Set, 1, 2 and 3;  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black;  Paper:  Prism Papers - Spring Willow  - Light Medium and Dark;  Flourishes Classic Ivory;  Accessories - Big Shot, Labels 4 Nesties, Lattice Pendant Die, Finial Press Embossing Folder, Copic Markers, Oval Punches, Dimensionals, Scor Tape, Rhinestones, Kaiser Pearls, Olive Silk Ribbon, Bow Easy, Fancy Scallop Pierceabilities, Ornare Piercer, Ikea Frame - Fanaholm 

Copic Colors (all are Flourishes Collections unless otherwise specified ).

January - Crocus :  Hydrangea Collection, Fields Collection;  February - Primrose:  Gerber Daisy Collection, Spring Greens Collection, Evergreen Collection;  March - Pansies:  V0000 (Pastel Collection), Hydrangea Collection, Fields Collection;  April - Daffodil:  Buttercup Collection, Sunflower Collection, Spring Greens Collection and I think I threw some orange in there, probably Tiger Lily;  May - Iris:  Crocus Collection, Hollyhock Collection, Tea Rose Collection, Fields Collection;  June - Rose: Tea Rose Collection, Tiger Lily Collection, R22, 32, 43, Green Grass Collection;  July - Tigerlily:  Tiger Lily Collection, Evergreen Collection;  August - Morning Glory:  Crocus Collection, Hydrangea Collection, Fields Collection;  September - Aster - Violet Collection, Gerber Daisy Collection, Spring Greens Collection;  October - Chrysanthemum - Sunflower Collection, Gerber Daisy Collection, Fuschia Collection, Evergreen Collection;  November - Cyclamen - Petunia Collection, Spring Greens Collection, G82 and G09;  December - Amaryllis - Fuschia Collection, Evergreen Collection. 

Wednesday, December 9, 2009

Sneak Peek - A Year of Flowers Day Two

So, would you like some more delisciousness from the Flourishes Sneak Peeks?  Today is the second set of A Year of Flowers

I have a great love for beautiful Iris'.  I think I've mentioned this before, but in our home in the US we had a huge flower garden, and one of my favourites in the garden was a burgundy Iris.  It was so rich.  I really miss that flower!  It would have been impossible to get it across the border, but I sure wish I could have!

So, here's a small recreation of it with the May flower from this A Year of Flowers - Calender Set Two.  I watercolored this trio with my SU markers and an aqua painter.   I cut it slightly "out of the box", and then added some sponging using my Lables One Nesties as a template. 



I've layered it with more Nestie shapes giving it some flourishy embossing with my Texturz plates too.  I thought the flourishy feel was a good pairing with this Eskimo Kisses paper. 



Finished off with romantic crochet ribbon, and Kaiser pearls, a staple with me these days!

Want another sneak peek of the Friday Sneak peek?   A small snippet of these beautiful July Tiger Lilies.  I'll show you the whole project tomorrow!



To enter to win this gorgeous set today see the Flourishes Newsletter.  Don't forget about our POWER Hour Release Party at the Splitcoaststampers Member Forum at 9 pm Central Standard Time. 

The Design Team will wow you again today with their great samples:  Cindy Lawrence, Julie Koerber, Latisha Yoast, Laura Fredrickson, Leslie Miller, Stacy Morgan


Recipe:  Stamps:  A Year of Flowers - Calendar Set Two;  Ink:  Black Stazon, Rich Razzleberry;  Paper:  Rich Razzleberry, Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses Designer Paper, Flourishes European Watercolor paper, Very Vanilla';  Accessories:  Big Shot, Labels 1 and Labels 4 Nestabilities, Waterbased markers, Aqua Painter, Sponge, Crochet Ribbon, Dimensionals, Sizzix Texturz Plate, Kaiser Pearls, Razzleberry Ribbon.

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

Sneak Peek - A Year of Flowers

Well, have we got something special for you this week. Flourishes is unveiling it's December releases, and I really think Marcella has outdone herself  illustrating this time, and we think you'll agree. The sets this week are so beautiful and will be such a staple for any stampers' collection. I think they will be ones you will pick up over and over again.   Today I have a card to show you, and then a sneak peek of something I can't completely show you till Friday. :)

There's just something so beautiful about Pansies. They are such a delicate flower, and yet pretty hardy actually. I like that in a flower! I've colored these beauties with Prismacolor Pencils to get that delicate transition from blue to purple.


Here is a detail shot of these pretty flowers.  I love how Marcy captured how delicate the blooms are.  The papers are Jenni Bowlin Varsity Mini Papers, you can just see the double bow in the narrow silk ribbon and the Fancy Labels die with the pearls for the sentiment.  I wanted to keep the embellishments delicate and romantic. 


And here is a sneak peek of a Sneak Peek!  :)  This is just a portion of a special project.  I'll show you a little today, a little tomorrow...and the whole project completely on Friday. 



Now how would you like to win this gorgeous set today?  Stop by the Flourishes Newsletter for your chance to enter.   And don't forget about the Floral Finesse Color Inspiration Challenge where you could win the whole release this month! 

Stop by my creative partners blogs to see their beautiful projects with this set today too:  Cindy LawrenceJulie KoerberLatisha Yoast, Laura Fredrickson, Leslie Miller, Stacy Morgan

Recipe:  Stamps:  Flourishes A Year of Flowers - Calendar Set 1;  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black;  Paper:  Flourishes Classic White, Lovely Lilac, Brilliant Blue, Jenni B DSP;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Ovals Nestabilities, Foliage Frame, Fancy Tags, Silk Ribbon, Bow Easy, Kaiser Pearls, Prismacolor Pencils, EK Success Scallop Border Punch

Monday, December 7, 2009

Quick Country Christmas

Last night we set up our Christmas tree and decorations.  It's always a highlight for our kids, they never get over that magical feeling of joy (which I hope stays!)...they love to open all the special ornaments we've bought over the years symbolizing different trips or events and remember together. 

Later as I was getting ready to write the Christmas letter, and getting my Christmas card list ready, I started counting the cards I've made.  I like to do my cards one by one, with each unique, and since I started in September I think, I thought I'd have plenty.  Nope, about 20 short.  Yikes!  Especially since I wanted to get them mailed this week. 

So today I tried to whip up a bunch.  Anyone in need of some quick cards too?   I thought the CAS Challenge at SCS would be a good jumping off point.  The challenge was for Brown, Red and a neutral cards.   Here are the eight cards I was able to do.


I used Soft Suede, Kraft and Real Red, combined with SU's Christmas Cocoa paper and set Serene Snowflakes. 


Really these are super simple cards.  I used the Movers and Shapers Bigz Die with the moveable pieces to create the Modern Label punch window.  The flocked paper is gorgeous because of it's texture, and I added the Sizzlit snowflake and button with the ribbon for accent.  Helps me get rid of my HORDE of buttons.  Plus they're not too bulky to mail.



Alrighty!  Hopefully I'll get a bunch more done tomorrow! 


Stamps:  SU - Serene Snowflakes;  Ink: Real Red, Soft Suede, Whisper White Craft; Paper:  Real Red, Kraft, Soft Suede, Whisper White, Christmas Cocoa DSP;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Movers and Shapers Dies, Sizzlits Snowflakes, Modern Label Punch, Dimensionals, Buttons, Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Flurries of Love

Whew!  Blizzard! 

We returned home on Friday from the mountains in a crazy snowstorm, we had been at a work retreat, and knowing the storm would be bad, we even left early.  It was a good thing we did, they closed parts of the highway after we left.  I was grateful my husband was driving.  He's a good driver and we arrived home slowly - but safely.  We've had about a foot of snow, and lots of blowing around, so the drifts are deep...and now it's ccccccold!

So...this card is SO suited to our weather.  I'm not often able to play in the Featured Stamper Challenge at SCS, but today I could.  Michele - mitchygitchygloomy is the FS today and her gallery is FULL of wonderfully colored things.   Here's the link to the card of her's that I cased. 


She had a very snowy theme too, so I kept a lot of the theme of her card and basic layout. 

When MFT released these adorable Pure Innocence girls I just melted.  I'm not usually a "people" stamp person so much, but their sweetness just captured my heart. I colored her with the Water Copic collection from Flourishes as well as the Pastel collection (BG0000 and YR0000) and YR01 for her skin, as well as C0 and C2 for cool shadows, oh and RV69 for her heart.  Her touque (translation stocking hat for you Americans :) ), scarf and boots are popped up.  Liquid applique on the boots and snow flurries. 



I made the ghosted snowflake on my own with clear cardstock, my SU Sizzlit Snowflakes, Crystal Effects and chunky glitter.  Love how it looks!  There is polka-dotted embossing on the white layer, I have to say that these Texturz plates give me so much frustration.  Even if I wet the paper and shim it with layers of other paper it really doesn't give me the depth of embossing I like.  Grrr! 

Keep warm today friends!

Recipe:  Stamps:  MFT - Flurry of Love;  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black;  Paper:  Bermuda Bay, Whisper White, Bermuda Bay Patterns DSP, Bravo Burgundy, Flourishes Classic White, Clear Cardstock;  Accessories:  Big Shot, Deckled Rectangles Nesties, Scalloped Rectangles Nesties, Dotted Bermuda Bay Ribbon, Sizzlits - Snowflakes, Crystal Effects, Chunky Glitter, Dimensionals, Copic Markers, Liquid Applique, Heat Tool, Scallop Edge Punch, Large Brads.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Floral Finesse

It seems hard to believe but it's almost another New Release with Flourishes.  This week Julie has issued us a great themed challenge that we'd like to invite you to join in on.  It's called Floral Finesse. 

This challenge is all about the colors we love our gardens. The thermometer might say winter, but this one is all about those feel good floral feelings.


The challenge: Use your favorite flower as the inspiration for your card/project's color scheme. Maybe you choose dusty pink and sage because it reminds you of the tea roses in your garden. Or, maybe you choose golden shades with hints of brown to remind you of the sunflowers you love in the field nearby! You choose! Just let us know what flower inspired your creation!

The Details: Keyword will be FLLCDEC on Splitcoast and contest runs up until December 11th at 5 PM Eastern in order to be in the running to win all three of our new releases for December!
 
So here is my flower inspiration.  One of the prettiest Daylilies from my garden.  You would not believe the color and size of these lilies when they open.  It's like a small plate!


And here is where I went with my inspiration: 



I thought it would be fun to be inspired by the flower - but create with fruit.  I really love this Cherries and Peaches set.  I gave it some life with Copic Markers, Sunflower and Tiger Lily, Fields and Evergreen Collections. 

Then I surrounded it with an Oval Nestie shape, the pretty Floral Accent , and this gorgeous silk ribbon.  I thought the Cosmo Cricket Early Bird paper provided a fun contrast.


   
Isn't that bow pretty??? I used my new Bow Easy! 

So, think about your favourite colors from your flower garden and join us on the challenge!

Stop by the design team's blogs to get some more fabulous inspiration too!  Cindy Lawrence, Julie Koerber, Latisha Yoast, Laura Fredrickson, Leslie Miller, Stacy Morgan