Free For All!

   

The infamous day is here - 12-21-12 -- the day when we can all "Party Like There's no To-Maya!" I know I shouldn't joke about the end of the world, but if you're reading this, it's all in good fun, right? Well today the Flourishes gals have a little dose of fun for you as well. It's a Free for All! It's a time when we pick up and create with some of the newest Flourishes sets and have some free-for-all fun!

On to my creation....

I picked up Flourishes new Garden Dreams set for my card. I just love Marcella Hawley's new set - it has such whimsical images that make you dream of spring! I started by using the Silhouette cut file to cut my shape out of Flourishes Classic White card stock. I stamped my image using Memento Rich Cocoa ink. I picked up my Copic Markers (see below for the colors I used). Add some Color Made Easy pink ribbon, a button and almost done! I used paper from the 123 Create Kit For The Record. I added some stitching and the sentiment in Rich Cocoa and... ta da! Done! 

I should also should point out that today is the last day to take advantage of the December New Release Bundle. It's a savings of 10% when you purchase all three of Flourishes' new sets in a bundle. If you want to check it out in the Flourishes store, just click HERE!  Also, while you're shopping, have you checked out the Gambler's Sale? Prices dropped another 5%, which means your discount is now....

   

That's right! 50% OFF retail prices! That's a fabulous deal and the perfect way to stock up on some fun goodies to use in your crafting spaces! So, click HERE to check out the Sale Page! 

Are you ready to hop? Let's  get on with the show and see what our ever-so-fabulous designers whipped up using our newest release!

• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence
• Danielle Kennedy
• Heather Jensen
• Julie Koerber 
• Sharon Doolittle
• Silke Ledlow
• Stacy Morgan
• Tammy Hershberger

I have to say, I probably won't be back in the blogosphere until after Christmas so, I wish you and yours a very blessed holiday! I hope you rest, relax and reflect on what this beautiful season means! Sending you all wishes of blessings & joy! 

~Julie

SUPPLIES USED:

Let's Hop!

Hi all and welcome to the kick off of Flourishes' December release! Today the entire Flourishes Design Team is ushering in a challenge and YOU could walk away winning all of Flourishes' new sets for December! Here's how to get in on the fun. We're going to HOP and at each designer's blog, there is another clue for our progressive challenge! 

If I am your first stop on the hop, you'll need to travel back to the Flourishes blog HERE to get your first clue and follow the hop through each of the designers' blogs. By the end of the hop, you'll have 8 "ingredients" that you'll need to use when creating your cards for this Let's Hop Challenge. Follow the "recipe" and you'll be in the running! 

So, let's get on to clue number 2.....

STEP 2: For this step of the progressive challenge, you'll need to use a floral. It's just that simple! Use a floral image, a floral accent, a floral decorative paper, etc. Just make sure somewhere on your card you have something with a floral flair. 

On to my creation...

I decided to go a wee bit overboard on the floral with this one - I have a floral decorative paper (Meadowlark Prima paper) and then, my image is a floral as well! I started by cutting out the shape of the bell flower using the With Gratitude Silhouette Cameo Cut File. After that, I stamped the flower on the shape using Tuxedo Black Memento Ink. I colored up my flower with Copic makers (see supply list below for colors). The rest is matting it up! I used the brand new Flourishes Custom Die called Perfectly Pierced Victorian Ovals and used not only the largest die in the set but the small tag die as well. 

Here's a peek at that lovely piercing that is a part of the die. No piercing template or piercing tool needed for this one! 

And, here's a peek at the cute little tag! The sentiment "Hello" is from Flourishes stamp set called Cherry Blossoms. I tied it on using some Silver Cording and wrapped it around a bow that I made using  the Elderberry ribbon from the Crocus Color Made Easy Collection. 

And that, my friends, is it! If you want to try your hand at winning Flourishes' December Release, you have until Friday, December 14th at 5PM EST to get your entry or entries in! To enter, simply link your creation up to THIS POST over on the Flourishes Blog using the Inlinkz Widget. You can also check out that post for more on the official rules! 

Again, if I was your first stop, be sure to go back to the Flourishes Blog for the first clue and the start of the hop! If you've already made it through - hop on over to your next clue, which will be

CINDY LAWRENCE!

Before you go.... if you've been watching Flourishes' Gambler Sale at all, you should know that prices on Flourishes Sale Page HERE have now dropped to...... 

So get these goodies at rock bottom prices before they are gone! 

SUPPLIES USED:

Celebrating the Holidays!

Hi all! I have a festive post for you today and it's one with a challenge tied to it as well! The Impression Obsession gals are challenging YOU to create something that reminds you of the holidays! The challenge starts now and runs through Wednesday, December 12. You can click HERE to find out all the details! 

On to my creation! I have to say, when I think of the holidays, I think gift giving -- usually things that I make either in the kitchen, in the stamp room or something taken off my knitting needles. I am always making little boxes to pack up some treats in. So, I put on my thinking cap and came up with this......

This was an easy breezy creation that was really fun to put together! I started with the die set called Mitten Die Set. It has not only the mitten, but the snowflake and a little string tie as well (that one I didn't use here). After I cut out my mittens out of decorative paper (making sure to cut one right side up and the other face down (so I have the mittens going the same way), and my snowflakes out of basic white card stock, I inked up the Cover-A-Card stamp called Nordic Stripes. I wanted my mitten to look, well, mitten-like! I matted my flake on a red circle that was embossed and then sanded to reveal the white core of the paper and then, the whole thing was matted again on a scalloped circle. After I had done all of that twice - once for the front and once for the back, I worked on making my little box that would serve as the inside of my container. 

I took a piece of card stock that measured 7-1/2" square and then scored on the 2-1/2" and 5" lines. I flipped the paper 90 degrees and scored at the same measurements. Cut and fold in the flaps and you have a box bottom. I used some heavy duty glue to make sure the mittens stayed put. 

Here's a peek!  

And here's a look so you can see how tall it is.....

I added a bow around the outside for a little something extra and then... added some white crystal bling to make those snowflakes sparkle! 

So, you might ask, what would I do with this box? Well, actually, I plan to make a mini card to fit inside and will put 4 of my homemade truffles inside. If the person is really special, they might get a gift card too! After all, who doesn't love spending money AND chocolate? I would guess very few! :-)

Want to see how the other IO gals created to celebrate the holidays? You'll need to hop on over and see...

DANIELA DOBSON
DINA KOWAL
JEANNE STREIFF
JENNY GROPP
JULIE KOERBER --- You are here!
KITTIE CARACCIOLO
LAURA FULCHER
VICKI GARRETT

Thanks for stopping by! I'll be back tomorrow with another fun-filled post, so be sure to check back! Until then, make today great! 

~Julie