Violets of Remembrance

It's another week of Flourishes Friday Focus for you. Today's focus comes from our very own Julie Koerber, {{{hugs Julie!}}}. She wants to show you how versatile watercoloring can be. So be sure you check out her tutorial on the Flourishes Newsletter.

For my sample today I thought I'd show you a little bit of watercolor wash and watercoloring with water based markers.

I began by watercoloring the gorgeous Violets on Flourishes new European watercolor paper with my Stampin' Write Markers. I really love coloring with reinkers because of the levels of color you can build and the wash you can achieve. But for really precise deep colors and great blending water-based markers really give you an awesome effect. Just color in the depth areas have your damp (not wet) water-brush handy to blend the ink into your lighter areas.

I added a light hue of Amethyst around the violets to ground them, then masked the violets and added the background stamp from the Thank You set in Bashful Blue and Almost Amethyst ink, and then washed it out with my Aqua painter. When you use a water based ink and blend right after stamping you'll get a pretty soft wash of color but still with the definition of the stamp.

Don't you love the new Nestabilities? This is the Deckled Rectangle. I added some smaller shapes with the Deckled Rectangles for the DSP and the sentiment, which I also gave that wash technique too, layering two rectangles together and tucking them under the main image. Then add more layers of color as desired.

I also used a little Lily Kate DSP, and a small rectangle of a Bashful Blue DSP too. Silk ribbon and some pretty Kaiser pearls.

This will be a sympathy card for friends of ours. I grew up with the husband, we were good friends in youth group and his sister was just a few years older than us. She was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in February and yesterday she went home to be with the Lord. Wow, such a short time. Life is so precious, she knew that ....and lived it out with joy. She is a beautiful woman to remember.

Here's the girls playing this week be sure to check their creations out! Faith Hofrichter , Julie Koerber , Laura Fredrickson , Leslie Miller , Stacy Morgan

Recipe: Stamps: Flourishes - Thank You, Violets; Ink: Black Stazon, Bashful Blue, Almost Amethyst; Paper: Basic Gray, Bashful Blue, Flourishes Watercolor paper, Basic Grey - Lily Kate DSP, SU Bashful Blue DSP; Accessories: Big Shot, Nestabilities - Deckled Rectangle, Stampin' Write Markers, Aqua Painter, Kaiser Pearls, Silk Ribbon, Dimensionals.

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Violets of Remembrance

A Little Touch of Spring Club Cards

Tuesday night was my meeting with my 10 for 10 Club girls. It's always good to have them over and stamp together.

They were able to make 3 cards....all with a spring/summer theme to them. Using some fun techniques and a number of things from the Occasions Mini.

A Walk in the Park with Butterflies

Now that's a mouthful! On this card we used the pretty set Great Friend from the Occasions mini and the Walk in the Park DSP, and the Bigz butterfly die and Baja Corduroy brads.

Rosey Wishes
This card showcases the beautiful textured papers, the Oval All set, the yummy Manhattan Embossing folder (with Craft Ink touched to all the raised edges). And I showed the girls how to fold the ribbon rose. Can you see the Bella Toile on the background layer? I think this would make a really pretty Summer Wedding card don't you think?

Beach Bums


And one just for fun. I did a similar card here with Just Beachy so I thought I'd combine the scalloped medallion with these funny fish and some torn beach and cute flip flops. I colored the brads with a white gel pen.

Recipe:
Walk in the Park: Stamps: Great Friend; Ink: Cameo Coral, Basic Gray, Baja Breeze; Paper: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Walk in the Park DSP; Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Die, Butterflies Die, Corduroy Brads, Silver Brads, Dimensionals, Organza Ribbon.

Rosey Wishes: Stamps: Oval All, Bella Toile; Ink: Basic Brown, VersaMark, White Craft; Paper: Kraft, Baja Breeze, Parisan Breeze Specialty Paper, Chocolate Chip; Accessories: Big Shot, Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder, White Satin Ribbon, Large Oval Punch, Scalloped Oval Punch, Pretties Kit half pearls. Dimensionals.

Beach Bums: Stamps: Just Beachy, Lazy Days Wheel; Ink: Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango, Close to Cocoa;
Paper: Pacific Point, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White, Kraft; Accessories: Scalloped Edge Punch, Dimensionals, Library Clips, Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Gold Brads, White Gel Pen.

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A Little Touch of Spring Club Cards

A Wedding Rose

Today's Color Challenge colors over at SCS are beautiful bold ones ....Real Red, Old Olive, Black and White or Vanilla.

Well, of course, how could you go wrong with a Red Rose??? Especially since we have a wedding this weekend and this will be perfect.

I used the Fifth Avenue Floral Rose watercoloring it. Let me just say that if you're new to watercoloring...red is not the color to start with, at least with SU Reinkers. Red has deep pigment and stain and you have to move it or blend it a lot so that it won't stain the paper and will blend well. It had me going today!

I paired the pretty rose with the Sizzlit leaves, and the Manhattan Flower embossing folder, using the reverse or de-bossed side. I added the Scalloped Bigz shape and the scalloped sentiment. The ribbon is lovely, and I wish you could see it better, it's the textured velvet ribbon from the Valet Ribbon Originals.

I really love the bold contrasts and texture. Thanks for popping by...we're off to swimming lessons in a bit!

Recipe: Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Oval All; Ink: Black Stazon; Paper: Basic Black, Real Red, Old Olive, Old Olive Prints, Whisper White, Watercolor; Accessories: Reinkers, SW Markers, White Gel Pen, Big Shot, Sizzlits, Manhattan Flower Embossing Folder, Scalloped Circles Bigz Die, Valet Ribbon Originals, Dimensionals, Brads, Piercer

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A Wedding Rose

Adeline's Party!

Yesterday was a day full of blessing. My mom, my daughter and I hosted a Baby Shower at our home for my niece Adeline and my Sister-in-Law. It meant so much to us to invite friends and family to bless them both. We worked like crazy to pull this together the past few weeks. So I'll show you a little of the party and some things we created for it.

Here's the pretty girl of the hour at the party. She was cuddled like crazy that day. Everyone wanted to hold her and fuss over her. She is a precious little girl, big blue eyes, button nose, teeny ears...beautifully baby chubby. We adore her.

Here are some of the pretty things we worked on for the party:

This is the diaper cake I made for the party (check out Susan Liles amazing Tutorial for it HERE), my friend Dawn gave me the cake bottom (thanks girl!) and I added more classy accents (like the corduroy brads in the centers) than specifically baby accents to the cake with the Big Shot Daisies Die. I love how it turned out.

My brother and sister in law have 2 cats that have been like their children till Adeline came, (SERIOUSLY), so we put a cute little stuffed animal cat on top as the topper for Adi to have her own kitty.

And this was my favourite decoration (sorry I took the pictures at night before the party so they aren't as bright as I'd like). I asked my mom to sneak me all the fabric scraps from the crib set (quilt, sheet, bumper pads, drapery) she had made for Adeline, so I made a Big Shot Banner for her to have in her room that matches her crib set perfectly.

I used the Pennant and Scalloped Circle Bigz dies, and my upline Susan borrowed me the Bigz letters for her name. I sewed it all together with a zig zag stich and then added the accents of ribbon, brads and buttons.

A funny story about the banner. Some of you know my mom was a professional seamstress. She's very gifted in this area! I can sew, but I don't love it. I really wanted to do this banner - but it totally stressed me out. As I was just starting the sewing on Wednesday (I have my mom's old machine)....the stitching wasn't quite working right and within minutes pieces literally started falling off the sewing machine! I humbly called my mom and said "HELP! Can you PLEASE bring your machine over???"....so all was not lost! And I finished it! I love the coordinating accents from SU on it, I felt very good when it was all done.

And above all, my sister-in-law loved it. :)

Here's a shot from the party.

This table was mostly my mom's handiwork...can you see all the amazing food??? And one dish still wasn't on the table in this picture. All I made was a chocolate Skor bar dip for fruit and snacks and my daughter made Oatmeal Scotchie coookies and we made Chex Mix...but all that OTHER amazing food was my mom. Stuffed mushrooms, brushetta, chocolate meringue torte, fruit pizza, sweet and sour meatballs, ham spread....and on and on! It was a PARTY! YUM!

And here's the sweet guest of honor at the end of the day...she was so tuckered out....so I held her till she fell asleep and then my husband cuddled her. Such a blessing!

Thanks for dropping by today!

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Adeline's Party!

Flourishes Friday Focus - Soft and Springy

A little bit of summer sounds really great right about now! It's way chilly here tonight when I'm getting ready to post this....my newly bloomed tulips are just crying right now with limp little heads :(

But I can create a little summer in a card! Today's Friday Focus at Flourishes is on how to use Flower Soft a newer product out on the market to give pretty soft fluffy dimension to your projects. Today at the Flourishes Newsletter Cindy Lawrence is up to give you a great step by step that you'll have to check out!

I just recently received two Flower Soft containers from Flourishes, Sweet Pea and Spring, both "mixes" of color.


I stamped this pretty Topiary tree from the Siberian Iris set 3x and colored with my copics, then I added tiny drops of glue and sprinkled the Flower Soft, gently pressed and then let it dry. Here's another view.


I used my BRAND new Nestabilities too LOVE them :) (this is Labels Four), and the new Jenni Bowlin papers, Victorian, the gorgeous silk ribbon from Flourishes, and a pretty hat pin and some half pearls.

Classy don't you think? It's for my sister-in-law for her Birthday. Thanks for those of you who wished me well this week on the baby shower preparations. I'm in the home stretch....today (Friday) is the day of cleaning and cooking! Saturday is the party!

So, jump on over to some some of the other girls who are creating with Flower Soft today!

Leslie Miller, Cindy Lawrence, Latisha Yoast , Julie Koerber and Laura Fredrickson!

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Flourishes Friday Focus - Soft and Springy

My Favourites

Anyone else slightly over-committed this week? I'm feeling it for sure. I am throwing a baby shower for my sister-in-law and my niece this weekend and still have to finish the banner with her name, the diaper cake, plus clean my house, help make the food (though my mom is doing a lot of that) and still be a mom, wife...human being! There are many moments where I have to choose to sit back and be still - even if something doesn't get done.

Alright...on to the cards....

Today, I wanted to show you some of things that are my favourites...favourite techniques...styles....stamps...any guesses?

Basically Friends

Today's color challenge (my favourite challenge :) )...was Pink Pirouette, Rose Red and Basic Gray...a really nice contrast between soft and deep colors.

My favourite parts here...cutting and popping up images, sponging, overstamping on designer paper, beautiful embellishements, a little coloring and off center alignment on the card :) (what does that say about me?! lol).

The bird and some of the flowers are popped up. My Rose Red ink pad was really juicy today and I must have gotten some of ink on my fingers (don't you hate that!) and it smudged on the oval panel, so I had to add some creative embellishing with the flowers to cover it up....you can just see it in this closeup. Haven't you heard that saying "mistakes are opportunities for embellishment!"

Mom's Flower Garden

Well this card was supposed to be done yesterday for our 20th of the Month Dirty Girl/Dirty Girl Alumni challenge, but there was just no way I could have accomplished it. Our challenge was to put together our new and old favourites to create for our mom or dad or someone significant to us who lives out a special role like that. The other challenge was that the creation not fulfill any design team committment - it was just for fun!

Well, these are Flourishes stamps, but they are my favourite for this technique...and it was just for fun. I've been thinking for a long time about combining a number of Flourishes Florals in one card like a flower garden. My mom loves flowers, and she has a piece of art in her sewing room with these colors that I've long admired and knew at some point I'd incorporate into a creation.

My favourites here? Well, you're not surprised - it's watercoloring :) my bestest medium, my most favouritist (I'm talking like my 5 year old here). But really, there's nothing that gives me more joy artistically. I also love masking, I love my NEW Sizzix Texturz plates (can you believe I didn't add texture to anything until I got my Big Shot?), I also love sponging to give the paper depth, and I love cutting images to give it the out of the box look. All favourites of mine. Oh yeah...and piercing...a happy card is a pierced card!

Thanks for dropping by today...let me know some of your favourites too!

Recipes:

Basically Friends: Stamps: SU - Friends 24-7, Friendly Wheel; Ink: Basic Grey, Pink Pirouette, Rose Red; Paper: Rose REd, Pink Pirouette, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Bella Birds DSP, Walk in the Park DSP; Accessories: Coluzzle, Organza Ribbon, Dimensionals, Sponge, SW Markers, Piercer, Scalloped Oval Punch, Cordoroy Brads

Mom's Flower Garden: Flourishes - Violets, Poppy Patch and Siberian Iris; Ink: Black Stazon, MEllow Moss, Sahara Sand; Paper: Watercolor, Mellow Moss, Sahara Sand, old Bravo Burgundy SU DSP; Accessories: Big Shot, Texturz Plate, Mellow Moss Ribbon, SW Markers, Aqua Painter, Word Window Punch, Sponge, Piercer, Black Brads

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My Favourites

Tailored Tulip Thanks

I've been busy....not stamping though! Painting my livingroom, hall and kitchen (hopefully finishing today), throw in a parent-teacher meeting, a Volunteer Banquet, a mom (as in mine - age 72) playing ball hockey downstairs with the boys falling and hitting her head and back - oy my mom. Who at 72 plays ball hockey? She's ok - but very sore. She is a go-getter. And a blessing to me. I'm so grateful that she should be alright.

Ok...I did finally get to stamp tonight for our Flourishes Friday Focus. This week Stacy our newest official for-keeps Design Team member :) is showing some great ways to use/tie ribbons. So all of us DT girls are also giving you some other varieties to spark your creativity.

My sample uses a tailored bow. Take a peek....

Here the tulip is watercolored with reinkers on Flourishes Watercolor paper, and cut out. I just ADORE this designer paper called Bella Bleu (SU). So I matched everything to go with it...a blue tulip, some Kraft paper and Not Quite Navy.

A funny story about one of these ribbons. My youngest son loves to craft, and they have a craft station in his Kindergarten class. One day he came home with some really pretty satin ribbon on his craft (Not Quite Navy in shade)....and said to me "Mom! I brought you home some ribbon for your cards!" So here it is! Unknown source LOL! The beautiful crochet ribbon is Flourishes as well.

For the bow there is NO tying involved :) First I wrapped a piece of the Satin around the Top Note section. The next layer is a straight piece trimmed in a V on each side attached in the center to the wrapped layer of ribbon. The bow is just a loop of ribbon adhered on the back. The bow center is another tiny piece of ribbon wrapped around the bow and adhered. The brad is optional but really gives it holding power. The ribbon is even on the card...it just looks a bit off from this angle.

The other Design Team members have a lot of creative things to show you and be sure to check out Stacy's tutorial on Ribbon tying on the Flourishes Newsletter.

Cindy Lawrence

Faith Hofrichter

Julie Koerber

Latisha Yoast

Laura Fredrickson

Leslie Miller

Stacy Morgan

Sharon Doolittle

Recipe: Stamps: Flourishes - Thank You; Ink: Black Stazon, Not Quite Navy, Sahara Sand; Paper: Not Quite Navy, Kraft, Bella Bleu DSP, Flourishes Watercolor Paper; Accessories: Reinkers, Aqua Painter, Dimensionals, Corner Rounder, Big Shot Top Note Die, Satin Ribbon, Flourishes Crochet Ribbon, Hodgepodge Hardware (Vanilla)

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Tailored Tulip Thanks

A Spring Color Challenge

Well I'm a big fan of the Color Challenge at SCS....If you know me you know that about me :)

So when Emily needed a little help with the hosting today, I said I'd step in because I had a card ready for a swap due tonight. I took the colors straight from the Bella Birds DSP....

Here's my first card: Spring Boots
I watercolored the little trio of boots (just like my kids, an oldest daughter...and middle son and a little son!). Then I tried my first scalloped medallion, and also overstamped the Designer Paper with the vase from this pretty set. Sweet I think. We'll need these tomorrow when the at least 3 inches of snow that has fallen today melts tomorrow! Spring has taken a brief recess here!


Then later I had an idea in my head that I thought I'd experiment on. I just got my Manhattan Flower Textured Impressions folder (OH MY GOODNESS!) Seriously this folder is gorgeous. I don't know why I waited to get it! It embosses so nicely...especially on the watercolor paper I used in this next sample.


Embossed Roses:


Ok, remember it was an experiment - so it's not perfect....but I thought...how about watercoloring this embossed image? There's a lot about it I love, the hardest part is that because it's watercolor, no matter how careful you are it does bleed into the raised embossing, so the lines aren't as crisp as I'd like...but its something I'll keep experimenting with, it's kind of cool don't you think? It's actually a little softer in person...my photo editing software intensified the colors a little! So it also made me watercoloring lines look rougher than they are.



Here's a picture where you can see more of the dimension of the embossing and the pretty ribbon rose in the gorgeous organza ribbon and pretty pearl accents.

We just did some work in the yard yesterday before it started raining...and that turned to snow...it's so nice to see the world come to life again! This moisture WILL be good I keep telling myself!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Recipes: Spring Boots: Stamps: Scene in a Garden, Oval All; Ink: Black Stazon, Bordering Blue, Basic Brown; Paper: Bordering Blue, So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Pink Pirouette, Bella Birds DSP, Watercolor; Accessories: Reinkers, Aqua Painter, Circle Punch, Scalloped Oval Punch, Small Oval Punch, Brads, Pink Pirouette Ribbon, Scalloped Edge Punch

Embossed Roses: Stamps: Oval All; Ink: Basic Brown; Paper: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Watercolor, Bella Birds DSP, Bordering Blue; Accessories: Reinkers, Aqua Painter, Pretties Kit, Scalloped Oval Punch, Oval Punch, SW Markers, Scalloped Eyelet Punch, Organza Ribbon, Dimensionals, Big Shot, Textured Impressions Manhattan Flower Folder

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A Spring Color Challenge

A Last Swing for Today

Well, I thought I'd leave you with some pretty extras that I made for the New Flourishes Release that you haven't seen yet...all these pretty sets are now available in the store, and there are two New Release Bundles to choose from on sale this week!

Swing By Sweetheart

I really had fun playing with my Prismacolor pencils on this one. There's just something about the soft blend that you can achieve with these pencils that works so beautifully with a scene like this.

So I've given it a really great summer feel in the tree and softly added a blue sky glow around. the little flowers and the sweet little girl are all colored and popped up.

I just LOVE the new silk ribbons at Flourishes so I've added that as almost a curtain on the left side. Papers are Basic Grey Two Scoops

Teal Thoughts and Prayers

I really love how Denise (Peanutbee) works with teal shades, and since I have some pretty Prism papers in Frosted Teal and Intense Teal I thought I'd try it with this elegant background stamp. I stamped the background stamp twice in both teal and black and then used my 3/4 inch circle to cut out the teal baskets from inside the background stamp and add them to the black. Then I cut that in three panels for a neat layout.

The main section has the smaller flower basket from Thinking of You stamped on Whisper White in teal, then covered overtop with Cardtstock Vellum, the beautiful and elegant sentiment and some pretty flower flourishes from the set over top.

Recipes:

Swing By Sweetheart: Stamps: Flourishes - Swing By; Ink: Palette Noir; Paper: Gable Green, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White, Basic Grey Two Scoops; Accessories: Big Shot, Top Note Die, Circle Punches, K & Co Gems, Flourishes Silk Ribbon, Prismacolor Pencils, Odorless Mineral Spirits, Blending Stumps, Dimensionals, Brads.

Teal Thoughts and Prayers: Stamps: Flourishes - Thinking of You and Vintage Wallpaper; Ink; Basic Black, Taken with Teal; Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Prism Frosted Teal, Prism Intense Teal, Cardstock Vellum; Accessories: Eyelet Punch, Nestabilities, Big Shot, 3/4 Circle Punch, Black Organdy Ribbon (Flourishes), Sponge

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A Last Swing for Today

Cool Comtemporary to Very Vintage

Well, it's Day Three of the New Release Sneak Peeks at Flourishes, and today's has a beautiful elegance to it.

It's a beautiful background set called Vintage Wallpaper, perfect to compliment one of Flourishes current sets Thinking of You. I think you can make it either very vintage feeling or more contemporary, it just depends on how you work with it.

Here's a peek at two of my creations with the set:

Contemporary - Dutch Tulips


Here I paired the background set with Thinking of You in a more bold and dramatic way. My starting off point was this new Jenni Bowlin paper Trendy and I paired the colors with my Prism papers. I love the contrast of the almost orange/red with the deep navy and white. I've embossed the background on the orange/red layers in clear embossing powder to give it a classy look and also embossed the sentiment and the smaller tulip in white. I've added brads that I made white with my Signo Gel Pen, and I heat set the organdy ribbon a little to give it that wrinkled effect.

Vintage - Crocheted Victorian

Here I've given the set a very vintage feel. I inked up the background with my markers in the coral and celery colors and then inked the flower arrangement in coral and celery and added Flower Soft accents.

Texture is really key in vintage cards so I've run one of the vanilla layers through the Big Shot with my Texturz plate for a subtle sense of texture. I think the delicate crochet ribbon from Flourishes really makes the card. I've highlighted that with some buttons, a vanilla hodgepodge hardware ribbon slide and yarn to keep that vintage feel.

Well, there are some other great creations from the Design Team to check out:

Cindy Lawrence

Laura Fredrickson

Julie Koerber

Faith Hofrichter

Latisha Yoast

Leslie Miller

Stacy Morgan

Jan Marie Caruso

Sharon Doolittle and Nancy Kirk

And don't forget that to win this set today all you need to do is pop on over to the Flourishes Newsletter and enter.

To win all three sets enter in the Swing into Spring contest by uploading a paper pieced creation to SCS keyword FLLCAPR... deadline is today at 5 pm.

And join the team for the release party tonight! 6 - 8 PM Central time at the SplitCoastStampers Forum...games, prizes, winners of the prizes announced...a great time.

Blessings on all of you today...it is one of the most precious days of the year for me...this morning I will be at church remembering what Jesus did for me. I am redeemed, I am loved, I am free and I am grateful!

Recipes: Dutch Tulips: Stamps: Flourishes - Thinking of You, Vintage Wallpaper; Ink: White Craft, VersaMark; Paper: Prism Paper - Blush Red Medium, Mystic Dar, Whisper White, Jenni Bowlin Trendy DSP; Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder, White Embossing Powder, Silver Brads, Signo Gel Pen, Scallop Edge Punch, Navy Sheer Ribbon (Flourishes), White Taffeta Ribbon, Dimensionals.

Crocheted Victorian: Stamps: Flourishes - Thinking of You, Vintage Wallpaper; Ink: Certainly Celery, Cameo Coral, Paper, Very Vanilla, Cameo Coral; Accessories: Big Shot, Texturz Plate, Top Note Bigz Die, Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware, Flower Soft, Crochet Ribbon (Flourishes), Neutral Buttons, Yarn, Dimensionals, Sponge

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Cool Comtemporary to Very Vintage

Swing into Spring Day Two!

Today's Sneak Peak Flourishes set was so much fun to play with! It's so full of whimsy!


I thought I'd try some different seasonal cards with it so here are two pretty samples:



Spring Swing Sunset

I used a couple of fun things on this card...Prismacolor Pencils and Odorless Mineral Spirits for the coloring, paper piecing on the dress and Flower Soft on the blossoming Spring tree! I thought she looked like she was having a great time swinging in the Spring sunset so I created that feel with the coloring. Then I tried to replicate that sunset feel in the background layers with different circular shapes of designer paper. The quote reads "The world is a playground and life is pushing my swing".

Doesn't the Flower Soft look cool? I stamped the tree branches/leaves several times to give the space to really use the Flower Soft well and make the tree look like it was really full of blossoms.

A Gentle Push

With this card I thought a very Autumn feel would be fun so I watercolored the tree with some pretty warm colors, then I used a technique called Pointillism on the tree with different colors of Stampin' Write Markers dotted to give the feeling of leaves on the tree. I love how it turned out...

Then I went for really strong contrasts in color based on my designer paper, and some whimsical buttons.

The pretty sentiment reads: A gentle push-small exertions, focused directions-fluttered excitement, and you can soar....to new heights. Isn't that lovely?

Come and see all the great samples by the Design Team here:

Cindy Lawrence
Laura Fredrickson
Julie Koerber
Faith Hofrichter
Latisha Yoast
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Jan Marie Caruso
Sharon Doolittle and Nancy Kirk

and to win this set, pop on by the Flourishes Blog today!

Recipes:

Spring Swing Sunset: Stamps: Flourishes Swing Set; Ink: Black Stazon; Paper: Cameo Coral, Very Vanilla, Raspberry Tart DSP, Kiwi Kiss; Accessories: Corner Rounder Punch, Prismacolor Pencils, Odorless Mineral Spirits, Blending Stump, Flower Soft (Flourishes), Dimensionals, 1/2 inch circle punch, Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware, Piercer.

A Gentle Push: Stamps: Flourishes Swing Set; Ink: Brown Stazon, Chocolate Chip; Paper: Really Rust, Soft Sky, Fall Flowers DSP, Watercolor paper (Flourishes); Accessories: Aqua Painter, SW Markers, Reinkers, Big Shot, Scalloped Circle Bigz Die, Sponge, EE Buttons, Soft Sky DS Ribbon, Scallop Edge Punch, Dimensionals, Mono Multi Glue.

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Swing into Spring Day Two!

More Sweet Violets

A second post for me today! (so scroll down for the first too :) That doesn't happen very often! But I just didn't want to leave it at one with this Violet set. So, I used today's Sketch Challenge at SCS and created another sample. for this new set from Flourishes...available Friday after the release party at SCS!

Last night I went out in search of other violet colors, these pretty flowers also come in yellows, light pinks and fushia shades...so I went for a deep pomegranate color to watercolor this pretty arrangement. Because the whole image wouldn't fit completely in my nestability shape I stamped one leaf again and added it on top popped up. I didn't want the 2nd smaller square of the sketch to overpower the design and I wanted the images to show underneath so I used cardstock vellum.

The main vanilla panel has really pretty texture from my Texturz plate too I wanted to balance the punch of color against vanilla with texture for interest. The gorgeous vintage crochet ribbon is from Flourishes. Remember if you want to win this set today....pop over to the Flourishes Blog!

Recipe: Stamps: Flourishes Violets; Ink: Black Stazon, Purely Pomegranate; Paper: Purely Pomegranate, Very Vanilla, Flourishes Watercolor paper, Cardstock Vellum, Bella Rose DSP; Accessories: Vanilla Crochet Ribbon (Flourishes), Pomegranate Satin Ribbon, Big Shot, Nestabilities, Texurz Plate, Vanilla HodgePodge Hardware, Aqua Painter, Reinkers, Eyelet Border Punch.

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More Sweet Violets

Flourishes New Releases - Swing into Spring

It's an exciting rest of the week because it's New Release time at Flourishes!

I happen to LOVE these release sets and think you're going to love them too!

Today's set is JUST GORGEOUS! (Did I say that too loud? :) ) It has fabulous sentiments, and so many wonderful combinations of violets.



My sons just told me yesterday as they were playing hockey on the driveway that my little mini violets were already popping up, I think they're actually called violas.

I love the varied shades violets can come in...from purples to deep blues...so I created an oval frame to showcase these pretty delicate blooms in very deep blues.

I started by drawing out the oval and then stamping the sentiment and frame inside and then stamping and masking the violets and leaves. Then I surrounded it with another cut out oval that had been run through the tiny dots Texturz Plate, and added popped up violets and leaves...I've had this design idea in my head for weeks so it was nice to see it finally come together.

Some pretty satin ribbon and brads as accent. Isn't it a great way to swing into spring!

You won't want to miss what the other Design Team Members have in store for you with this set...and would you like to win this one? Head on over to the Flourishes Blog to enter! Would you like to win all THREE new releases this month? Come join us for the Swing into Spring Challenge! All you have to do is create a paper pieced creation with the Keyword FLLCAPR. This challenge closes Friday at 5 PM Eastern. Here's the links for you to visit the other girls....

Cindy Lawrence
Laura Fredrickson
Julie Koerber
Faith Hofrichter
Latisha Yoast
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan Jan Marie Caruso Sharon Doolittle and Nancy Kirk

Recipe: Stamps: Flourishes - Violets; Ink: Black Stazon; Paper: Brilliant Blue, Flourishes Watercolor Paper; Accessories: SW Markers, Reinkers, White Satin Ribbon, Brilliant Blue Brads, Piercer, Big Shot, Texturz Plate, Dimensionals, Coluzzle

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Flourishes New Releases - Swing into Spring

A Honey of a Day

Oh...spring is coming to my place! Yesterday was a balmy 14 degrees Celcius ...probably about 58 degrees Farenheit...the snow is melting...it sure puts you in a happy mood doesn't it? The promise of spring is so beautiful each year.


Today's color challenge at SCS is a great early spring one...Bashful Blue, So Saffron and Close to Cocoa...I dug out some really old designer paper and went to town with my little honey stamps....





Don't little bees speak spring to you?


I watercolored the flowers on WC paper, sponged the edges really well and then also watercolored the honey pot and bees, cut them out and popped them up.

I was working on another card...but I think it just isn't happenin' today! The creative juices stopped flowing! Sometimes it's better to stop while you're ahead! Have a wonderful day today friends!


Recipe: Stamps: Just Buzzin' By; Ink: Black Stazon, Close to Cocoa, So Saffron, Bashful Blue; Paper: Bashful Blue, Close to Cocoa, Watercolor, So Saffron, Spring Showers DSP; Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Aqua painters, SW Markers, Sponge, SS Brads, Piercer, Dimensionals, Saffron Wide Grosgrain

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A Honey of a Day

Create Frame

One of my goals has always been to make more *art* for our home. At one point my husband said he wanted my art to be the only art on our walls. I used to paint watercolor and do pointillism and have a number of pieces up, but since cardmaking started I don't do it as much. But, I'm working on changing that.

On Saturday night my upline Susan invited us to make a beautiful frame similar to one featured on a Stampin' Up! publication. She did one for herself and some for gifts. It was fun to get together and do this with some of her downline.

Isn't it pretty? Really it's just a step by step process. Each little 2 by 2 square has it's own creativity in it...and can be done in your way - and in your own color palette....the hardest part is getting the layout to work so that certain colors/patterns don't touch.

Isn't it a great showcase of tools and embellishments? I'm really happy with how it turned out.

And if you are in my area...I'm thinking about doing this as a class maybe a mother's day project? Let me know if you're interested! Cost is about $15-$20 for supplies, including the frame.

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Create Frame

The Baby Shower

I had the great joy of babysitting my niece on Friday for a few hours. Oh she was a sweetheart, just one month old on Friday :) And oh I love cuddling her! And she's just starting to smile a teeny bit too!

In a couple of weeks I'll be throwing a baby shower for her - and my sister-in-law, so these invitations are ready to go out tomorrow. If you've been around SCS today you'll see that Julie - JustWriteDesigns is the featured stamper today and she actually did a design like this last week. When I saw it I LOVED it and told her I was going to use it for the baby shower invites, so this wasn't really a Featured Stamper case, it just worked out that way! She got the template from PaperCrafts magazine.

I thought it was a wonderful take-off on the baby-onesie invites - still sweet but so feminine!

These are the colors of her crib, and they were the colors I made all her baby thank you's out of as well.

I used the template to cut out the cardstock for the dress along the fold, then another piece out of designer paper. I added the overlay in vellum, and then added vanilla sections run through the Texturz plate on the Big Shot for the bodice piece and collar. I used the scallop edge punch for the bodice piece, and then the scalloped circle punch for the collar cut in half and then trimmed down placed on the shoulder sections and then trimmed the excess.

For accent I've used a little taffeta ribbon and either felt flowers at the collar or punched flowers.

The only stamping is actually on the vellum overlay, but there are also stamped envelopes to match....I'm looking forward to the party!

Recipe: Stamps: Hugs and Wishes, Puns from the Past; Ink: Basic Grey, Kiwi Kiss; Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Very Vanilla, Kiwi Kiss Patterns DSP, Cardstock Vellum; Accessories: Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Silver Brad, Felt Flowers, Flower Punch, Big Shot, Texturz Plate

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The Baby Shower

Happy Easter to My Peeps!

Today's Friday Focus at Flourishes is on Paper Piecing. A great technique to give an open-lined image a totally fun look. And with so many Flourishes stamps being open lined images, they work perfectly! Faith has a great tutorial over at the Flourishes Blog today so be sure to check it out!



I wanted to do something very sweet, springy...and yellow today. So I pulled out two sets, Signs of Spring and Thank You to make a pile of sweet "peeps" from the little chicks paper pieced in a pile and also 3 pretty tulips paper pieced, all in monochromatic Saffron designer papers.


Aren't they cute!

We are just days away from our April release! Do you want to use a little of your creativity to get your hands on all three newly released sets? All you have to do is make a card with a little paper piecing on it! Upload to SCS with the keyword FLLCAPR or leave a comment HERE on the Flourishes Newsletter under the challenge post. We'll accept entries until Friday, April 10th at 5PM CST. A winner will be drawn from all the entries during our RELEASE PARTY which is set for April 10th from 8 to 10 PM CST!! We can't wait to see what you piece together!

Check out the rest of the Design Teams' creations today:

Cindy Lawrence
Faith Hofrichter
Latisha Yoast
Laura Fredrickson
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan and Julie Koerber

Recipe: Stamps: Flourishes - Signs of Spring, Thank You; Ink: Palette Noir; Paper: So Saffron, So Saffron Prints DSP, Whisper White; Accessories: Big Shot, Scalloped Circle Bigz Die, White Satin Ribbon, Saffron Brads, Dimensionals, Scissor

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Happy Easter to My Peeps!