An Easy Peasy IO Creation

Hi all and Happy Thursday! This week has FLOWN by for me. How's about you? It's starting to get a little nice in my neck of the woods, so I have to say, I haven't been in my stamp room all that much lately. I do have a "quickie" card to show you though - super duper easy because of three stamps!

Wanna see?

So.... to make this quick card, I stamped one of Impression Obsessions Cover-A-Cards  (Damask) using red ink. Over top, I stamped THIS super larger rose called Large Romantic Rose and colored it up with Copic markers in shades of light red - R24, R14, and R27 and in the greens I used the Copic numbers YG00 and YG03. Mat it up, edge it with a gold leaf pen and the rest is just adding some pizazz! I have one of IO's lovely sentiments called Beauty of a Garden that I stamped on gold leaf edged ivory cardstock and I added some gold self stick pearls. After that, I added some 1/2" black seam binding ribbon (tied with the help of a Bow-E-Z) and matted it all up on a black card that I had also edged with some gold leaf pen. This is one of those cards that could go out the door for any occassion. I like to keep some of these on hand for thank yous, thinking of yous or even "I owe you lunch" creations to drop  in the mail!

And that, my friends, is it! A quick post for a quick card! Hope life is nothing but joyful in your neck of the woods. I'll see you back here tomorrow for a fun holiday inspired challenge -- yes, you heard me right -- a holiday inspired challenge - stay tuned!

Another fun-filled kit!

Hi all and Happy Monday! I had some creative fun over the weekend and mostly colored and, well, one of my creations you are going to see today! I also am using something really fun that is being unveiled over on the Flourishes store today! It's another 1,2,3, Create Kit.

Wanna See?

Now, I  have to tell you and I'm pretty sure I've mentioned it before -- I LOVE these kits. Everything I used on my card today came from the 1,2,3, Kit that you can find HERE. It's called Hello Luscious and has the bling, the BasicGrey paper pack, 9 ribbon slides, 1 yard of the crochet lace, 2 yards of the hot pink cotton ribbon and 1 yard each of the green and yellow silk ribbon. That's pretty luscious if you ask me!

This card was easy peasy. I used Flourishes Paperwhites stamp on Flourishes Classic White Paper and colored them up instead as daffodils. I wanted a bright pop of yellow to match the yellow in the paper and ribbon. Add some stitching and layer up some of the paper and your almost done! I added a ribbon slide, some bling in the upper right corner too. The image was colored using the Spring Greens, and Daffodill Copic Collections grouped by Flourishes along with a little B0000 to highlight and blend around my image.

I also added some Diamond Glitter glue to the centers of my flowers as well. You can kind of see the sparkle here...

And that, my friends is it! I have to say, if you love the bright colors in this kit and think this would be a fun one to own, you might want to act -- these are in limited supply and last week's kit sold out in 24 hours! Check it out HERE!

Some of the other Flourishes gals are also showing off creations that they made with this kit! So, hop on over and see....


Barbara Anders
Cindy Lawrence
Jan Marie Caruso
Sharon Doolittle

Thanks for stopping by! I'll see you back here soon!

A quick one... and a WINNER!

Hi all and Happy Saturday! As promimsed, I have a winner from my earlier in the week drawing for the new Cardmaps Issue -- featuring 50 sketches backed up with more than 80 beautiful creations! So... here's a peek at the winner!
So, I went to my trusty number generator -- random.org -- and here's a peek....

 The number was 42 which means the winner was..........

Cin, all you need to do is email me at juliekoerber@bresnan.net with your snail mail addy and I'll get your magazine right in the mail to you!

Now... for the quickie! This is a 10-minute creation that I think was fun! All you need is some fun decorative paper, some stitching, some pretty paper butterflies, some bright cotton ribbon, a color coordinating button and... some fun dies!

I used one of sentiments from the Butterflies and Blossoms set. While my Spellbinders Classic Circle die was still on, I did sponge on some Sugared Pink Distress Ink. I matted it on a Spellbinders Blossom die that I had embossed and sanded to reveal the paper's white core. I cut both with my new Grand Calibur machine! I will say all of these items were available in Flourishes Brioche kit  -- but -- sadly that kit sold out in 48 hours! I hear a new kit is coming Monday... so stay tuned! ;-)  Flourishes does have THESE and THESE cute butterflies!!! So, you can see how with some great paper, great ribbon and some fun butterflies, you can have an easy peasy, lemon squeezy creation!

Hope you are all enjoying the weekend! I'll be back Monday with some fun I whipped up over the weekend! ;-)

Free for All Friday!

Just a quick note to let you all know there is plenty of eye candy out in blogland today! It's what the Flourishes gals call Free-for-All Friday... when we take our favorite set from Release Week and show off another creation using it!

So, moving on to my creation!I have to say, when I picked up the Spring is Sprung set, I gasped at how darling those little bunnies were! I stamped them on Flourishes Classic White Card Stock using Tuxedo Black Memento ink and colored them up using Copic markers -- I used the Spring Greens, Sweet Pea, BG0000, Cool Neutrals and Violet collections grouped by Flourishes.

After I colored it up, I did mat it using some of the items in Flourishes' most recent 1,2,3 Create Kit (I hear there will be a new kit next Monday... WOO HOO! The last one sold out in 24 hours!)The paper is part of the Prima Sparkling Spring collection. I added a little bloomer (also from the sold out kit), and matted it all up using a Spellbinders Classic Oval SM  and a portion of a Labels Ten Nestabilities die that I cut out using my Grand Calibur die cut machine. Emboss and sand the edges to reveal the paper's white core, add a few pearls, some stitching and you're almost done! I also added a Happy Spring sentiment from the set by stamping it on two pennants cut and embossed thanks to Spellbinders' Nested Lacey Pennants dies.

Here's a close up to show that I did add some Stickles Diamond Glitter Glue for some extra razzle dazzle!

The gals on the Flourishes DT decided to take their favorite set from last week's release and.... they've been at it again in their stamp spaces! So, be sure to hop on over and pay them a visit to see their latest batch of creativity!!

Julie Koerber
Barbara Anders
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Dawn Burnworth
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Jan Marie Caruso

And.... more goodies to report. Have you checked out the....

Everything on Flourishes Sale Page is now at least 45% off! Click HERE to check it out! This is also the last day to take advantage of the March New Release Bundle -- that's where you can buy all four of the new sets for 10% off! Click HERE to check that out!

Well folks, hope you have a fabulous weekend! I have nothing planned and, well, that's a GOOD thing! :-) Oh, before I forget... I have some blog candy! I'm giving away the brand new Cardmaps issue that's chocked full of fun -- 50 sketch ideas with 80 beautiful samples to back them up! All you need to do is leave a comment on THIS post and I'll draw and announce a name Saturday! ;-)

Fun little Easter Project!

Hi all and Happy Thursday! I have a fun little project to share today! It was one that was featured over on the Impression Obsession blog that I decided I would re-post here.

It's a cute little treat box just in time for Easter using some of Alesa Baker’s newest stamps and a few sheets of decorative paper. Let's get started! Here's a peek at what the finished box looks like.....

I used this darling chocolate bunny atop a cupcake called Happy Wishes, and colored it up with Copic Markers. Here’s how I created the box: the lid was created by taking a 6-1/2” square and scoring it 1” all the way around; the base was created by taking a 8-1/4” paper and scoring it 2” all the way around. Create the box flaps with the help of some scissors, and tape them down to create your box and lid. From there, Deck out your box with some crochet lace. Inside, you’ll find chocolate eggs and a fun, flag style sentiment perfect for Easter (stamp is called Multiplied Blessings). And, here's a peek at what the inside looks like!

I added some Easter Basket grass so that the fun foiled chocolate eggs could just sit there like they are in a nest....

Here's a closer look at the top. The scalloped circle was created using Spellbinders Eyelet Nestabilities and a Spellbinders Classic circle (with the help of my Grand Calibur machine!) that I had embossed with an embossing folder. After I layered it up, I added a fun little 1/8" stitched ribbon and attached my bunny thanks to some foam tape.

I have to say, these are super easy to whip up and dozens could be created in just an afternoon (especially if you have an extra set of hands to help assemble!)

Thanks for stopping by! I'll see you all back here soon. :-)

Need a sketch or two... or 50?

Recently, I was asked to be a part of a fun project put together by the ever-so-talented Becky Fleck! You might know her from PageMaps, but she's also the editor of Scrapbook & Cards Today. The magazine just published Cardmaps -- with more than 50 sketches inside to inspire your next card and 80 samples with step-by-step instructions! I was proud to have 6 cards inside! When the publisher sent me a copy, they sent me an extra.

Would you like a chance to win it?

Simply leave a comment on this post and I'll draw and announce a name

next Saturday, right here on my blog!

Here's a peek at one of the cards I have inside!

For those that might want to take a peek and order this wonderful sketch inspiration magazine, click HERE to check it out! They just started shipping the magazine yesterday! I have to say, the sketches inside are FABULOUS, and the creations really spark even more creativity. I just I know I'll be using this magazine as a fun starting point to create for years to come! :-)

1,2,3 Create Monday!

What can I say other than "WOW!" Flourishes kicked off something new last week called 1,2,3 Create kits -- it's a kit that has everything you need in one package! It has ribbon, embellishments and paper -- all in one! Well, folks loved the first kit so much, it sold out in just a few days! With some new goodies just arriving to the store, the gals decided to unveil a second kit. Wanna see?

Isn't that to die for? It makes me swoon! This kit contains 1 yard of 1-1/2" silk white ribbon, 2 yards of 1/4" rose silk ribbon, 1 yard of cotton ruffle ribbon and 2 yards of avacado cotton linen ribbon. For embellishments, we have 5mm white opalescent mosaic stickers, 12 prima roses (measuring roughly 1" wide) in shades of baby pink and a 48 page pack of Prima Sparkling Spring paper (24 designs with 2 of each one). All for just $18!!!

While I was putting together a card with this kit, I had an "ah-ha" moment! The cotton linen ribbon in this kit can be frayed kind of easily. That gave me an idea. Why not pull a few of the middle strings....



Pull the middle strings gently and keep tugging and this is what you get... a ruffled ribbon!



After I was finished, I took some of the papers from the kit, an image I had colored up from the From the Desk Of set on Classic White card stock with Copics (Sweet Pea, Spring Greens and some of the lighter colors from the Sunflower collections grouped by Flourishes). Add some stitching, paper piercing and then some of the cotton ruffle ribbon from the kit and you're almost done! The finishing touch is one of the little Prima Fairy Tale Roses. I just love these! These little flowers are all the rage right now!



I have to tell you, just like the last kit that sold out quickly, there are only a limited number of these kits on hand! So, if you like what you see, you might want to grab one while you can! I can't tell you how much I have loved creating with something that I know is 100% color coordinated. It really takes the guess work out of card making!

If you liked the kit I showed last Monday, Leslie and Dawn have some more creations that they have on display today over on their blogs so be sure to click on their names and check out their lovely work! See you back here soon!

Wrapping up Flourishes' Release!

When Flourishes first laid eyes on two of the brand new die sets fresh off the line at Spellbinders Paper Arts, they knew that stampers needed a stamp set to coordinate with it! Are you ready to take a peek?

Introducing.....

This fun set just screams celebration and offers 6 different pennants and flags all designed to coordinate perfectly with Spellbinders Nested Pennants (S5-028) and Spellbinders Lacey Nested Pennants (S5-029). There are also 9 sentiments and 8 accents in the set you can use to deck out your pennant shapes in fun and different ways! Want a little more to coordinate with your cards? How about our new Strips and Stripes background set? This set offers three strips to use together as one background or separate as three different strips that coordinate with our Birthday Pennants set! Since the set was just released last night, we can show you it in it's entirety now!

Birthday Pennants

Strips & Stripes

On to my creation!

I can't tell you how "happy" this set feels to me! For starters -- I love the fact that all the little pennants in this set can coordinate with the Spellbinder's Pennants dies - makes it so easy and fun! This card couldn't be any easier. I stamped my little pennant a handful of times using different Memento Inks - Rosebud, Bahama Blue, Tangelo, and Pear Tart. I cut them out using the coordinating die, punched a hole and added some string, some bling and the rest is matting it up! I did use one of my embossing folders for the top portion of my card to add some pizazz. For the bottom of my card, I stamped one of the strips in the Strips and Stripes set to add some fun, added a sentiment, and some accent stars from the set and MORE bling! Add a scalloped edge and some fun Lime Rickey BasicGrey paper and... voila! Easy Peasy card in no time at all!

Here's a close up view....

Because we just knew this set was a match made in heaven with the Spellbinder's Pennant Dies, Flourishes asked some of their ever-so-talented designers to join the Flourishes team for a little show and tell! Make sure to hop on over and see....

Barbara Anders
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Danielle Kennedy
Dawn Burnworth
Julie Koerber
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Jan Marie Caruso
Heidi Blankenship
Beth Pingry
Margie Higuchi
Holly Simoni
Mona Pendleton
AJ Otto
Latisha Yoast
Deborah Young
Kazan Clark
Terre Fry

Would you like to win this set? Just leave a comment here on this post! Flourishes will draw one lucky name for both sets and announce it tomorrow on the Flourishes blog! Thanks for stopping by!! I had a blast this week and hope you did too!

Time to go SHOPPING!

Wow... did this week go fast and did we have fun! As we wrapped up YET ANOTHER fun and fabulous Release Party, it's time to report that all of our sets being released for March are now in the store and are ready for YOU! Want to see them in their full glory? Introducing....

Lenten Rose

 Spring Is Sprung

 Birthday Pennants

 Strips & Stripes

You'll have to stay tuned for samples of our Birthday Pennants and Strips & Stripes sets -- look for our Design Team to show off their creations tomorrow along with some very special guests! Since our Birthday Pennants set is designed to coordinate with Spellbinders Nested Pennants and Nested Lacey Pennants, we've asked some of Spellbinders' finest designers to join us for a good old fashioned blog hop. So, stay tuned! See you back here tomorrow!

DID YOU CHECK OUT FLOURISHES FIRST EVER SPEED CHALLENGE? Click HERE to find out how you could QUICKLY win this entire release!


Can't wait to get your hands on these stamps? Just click HERE to go shopping! :-)

Ready, Set, Spring!

As Flourishes kicks off day two of its sneak peeks for March, I've got a set to show you that is bound to deliver cheer wherever its stamped and sent!

Introducing...

A nest of robin's eggs set in leafy branches, a song bird tweeting in delight from the stem of a blue bell and a bevy or bunnies nibbling on fresh green grass. Marcella Hawley's new Spring Is Sprung set celebrates the arrival of spring. Use this unique 4 by 6" set to usher in cheery spring well wishes with three focal images, one accent flower and six beautifully scripted sentiments! Would you like to win this set? Simply leave a comment on this post and you'll be in the running!

On to my creation!

Because I knew I wanted to use some of the elements from the new 1,2,3 Create Kit that Flourishes just unveiled, I decided to take liberties with my blue bird when I colored him up and add a splash of orange-toned red. I knew that there were varieties that had a little bit of red on the belly and so.... I opted for a Western Blue Bird. See?

 So, I colored him up with Copic Markers using the Delphinium collection of markers grouped by Flourishes as well as R14, R24 and blended with R00. The Blue Bells were also colored with the Delphinium Collection and blending with a little BG000. The leaves were colored using the Spring Greens Collection. Sponge on a little Sky Blue Memento Ink and... almost done! 

I cut out my images with my Spellbinder's Grand Callibur, using the Classic Circles and Blossom dies. As you can see below, I sponged my ink on while the die was still in place to create that white edge. The Blossom die cut shape was embossed and then, using a sanding block, I went around the edges to reveal the paper's white core.  I also added a little bit of stitching too on one of my layers!

Here's a close up!

Add some crochet lace, some glazed brads, and a sentiment from the set on a punched oval and... Voila! Done! I just love this set and can see using it year round!

Now be sure to hop on over and see all the beautiful creations our design team and design guests whipped up using this set that's ripe for spring!!

Barbara Anders
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Danielle Kennedy
Dawn Burnworth
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Jan Marie Caruso

Oh, before we forget -- THERE'S A PARTY TONIGHT AND....

Join our DT with some chatter, fun, games and prizes! Our Power Hour Release Party starts tonight, March 17th at 9 PM Central Time! You’ll find the party at the Flourishes’ Member Company Forum on SCS! And… after the party, you can check out the new sets live in the Flourishes store! How much fun is that?

OTHER FLOURISHES FUN THIS WEEK!

• Flourishes’ A Cut Above the Rest Challenge is in full swing! You could win Flourishes’ ENTIRE March release! Check it out HERE.
• Save a BUNDLE with Flourishes new release bundle! Purchase the entire release for 10% off! You can check it out HERE!
• Would you like to get your hands on our new sets NOW? Pre-order them HERE!
• Did you check out our SALE page? It's a Gambler's sale and each week prices drop another 5% until everything is gone! It's now at 40%!!!! Click HERE to see what's on sale!!

Thanks for stopping by! We'll be back tomorrow with not one, but TWO more sets for March and to unveil them -- we'll be joined by some very special guests! So.... stay tuned!

Ready for a little sneak?

If you are like me and are desperate for a dose of spring, stay tuned! It's time for Flourishes' March Sneak Peeks and this first set features a beautiful flower that just screams for spring!

Introducing....

This gorgeous flower comes in all shades of the rainbow - from brilliant white to vibrant purple -- making it a coloring dream! These blooms penned by Marcella Hawley not only feature a cluster of blossoms but fresh cut stems in a vase. Don't forget a handful of beautifully scripted sentiments that are perfect for a variety of occassions! Would you like to win this set? Simply leave us a comment here on this post and Flourishes will announce the winner Saturday.

On to my creation!

I honestly had no idea where I was going with this card. I started to color it in varying degrees of pinks after seeing this photo below when I searched online looking for Lenten Rose inspiration!

These blossoms above look more purple but golly, you know me and my love of pink ---  so I took a little creative license. From what I've been told - they come in rose/pink shades too! :-) After stamping my image on Flourishes Classic White Card Stock, I colored up my image with Copic Markers (Copic Shades: RV32, RV34, RV02, RV00, YG00, YG03, YG03), and then I did add a little bit of Flower Soft to the centers using Soft Lemon. After I was done coloring, I ended up cutting out half my image to form a corner. Mat it up using foam tape on a panel of white that had been embossed with a Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder and sponged with Spun Sugar Distress Ink to reveal the dots on the embossed panel. Add a Spellbinders Ribbon Trio tag with one of the sentiments, and mat that all up onto some BasicGrey Olivia paper with some coordinating buttons and .... VOILA!

Here's a closeup!

I have to say, just when you think you've seen the most beautiful flower come out of Marcella Hawley's creative closet, you have to do yet another double take at her newest release. I think this floral is a BEAUTY!

OTHER FLOURISHES FUN THIS WEEK!

• Flourishes’ A Cut Above the Rest Challenge is in full swing! You could win Flourishes’ ENTIRE March release! Check it out HERE.
• Join our DT with some chatter, fun, games and prizes! Our Power Hour Release Party starts tomorrow night, March 17th at 9 PM Central time! You’ll find the party at the Flourishes’ Member Company Forum on SCS! And… after the party, you can check out the new sets live in the Flourishes store!
• Save a BUNDLE with Flourishes new release bundle! Purchase the entire release for 10% off! You can check it out HERE!
• Would you like to get your hands on our new sets NOW? Pre-order them HERE!

Now be sure to hop on over and see all the beautiful creations our design team and design guests whipped up using our breathtaking new set Lenten Rose...

Barbara Anders
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Danielle Kennedy
Dawn Burnworth
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Jan Marie Caruso

Tomorrow’s set also pays tribute to the kick off of Spring! If it is still snowing or chilly where you live, this set is bound to warm your heart and give you a dose of Spring Fever! See you back here tomorrow!

1,2,3, Create!

Hi all and happy Monday! I have a fun thing to share today! Flourishes is just unveiling something new designed to help make your creativity flow! Do you ever struggle to find just the right ingredients for card making? You love that ribbon but don’t know what paper will match? Or, you have the paper but don’t have embellishments? Well, Flourishes is taking out the guesswork with its brand new 1,2,3 Create Kits!

And, here's a peek at what's inside! This kit features 30 sheets of Brioche Memory Box paper (3 each of 10 designs), 12 Prima paper butterflies in 3 different sizes, 60 self stick rhinestones in shades of blue, 60 buttons in coordinating colors, 2 yards of cotton linen ribbon in turquoise, 1 yard of cotton crochet lace, and 1 yard of red sheer ruffle ribbon. All for just $18! These kits are in limited supply, so get them before they are gone!

For my creation, I started with a plan to paper piece and use up some of the different and fun patterns in this kit. I knew I didn't want to or need to mask my poppies from the Poppy Patch stamp set. So, get ready for something that looks kind of ugly to start! :-) I stamped all the poppy elements just overtop eachother right on one of the decorative papers! See?

I colored the stems with some Copic Markers (YG63 and G40) and paper pieced the leaves with the blue paper that had green accents.

The next step was paper piecing my red flowers. I took two of the patterns to give my flowers some variety..

And... here's a peek at the finished product! All items are in the kit (except for ink and stamps). I added a distressed embossed edge to my card base, did some sewing, added some buttons, a tag (Spellbinders Ribbon Trio Tag Die) and a sentiment from the Life Lines set.

You can check out the new kit HERE. And, don't forget to check out two of my fellow gals on the Flourishes DT -- Dawn and Leslie! They have kit creations today as well, so click on over and see what they've whipped up! See you back here soon! Flourishes' Sneak Peeks start Wednesday, so look for more fun!