Living In Color --- Sneak Day 2!

Get ready to put on some sunglasses for Day 2 of my Living In Color sneak peeks for Flourishes! When I saw this brand new -- I thought happy! I thought BIG celebration! I thought fun! So, I pulled out some of my brightest decorative paper to create a cute little gift card holder!

First things first, these images are part of a brand new set that will be released Friday at Flourishes called All Wrapped Up! It's a perfect little set for just about any occassion that you want to give a gift for!
I stamped the present a few times on different decorative papers and embossed with silver detail embossing powder. I then cut out the different pieces to paper piece my image. This image would be gorgeous colored up with Copics or watercolored but I just wanted to show how fun you can make it without even coloring it at all!

After I layered up my image, I added it to my giftcard holder, added the tag sentiment (that's also part of the set!) and then, I "blinged" it up with some silver pearls.

Here's a close up of the package.....
FYI: To make the card holder you start with a 5-1/2" wide by 8-1/2" long piece of cardstock and you score widthwise at the 2-1/2", and 6-1/2" marks. Fold it up , secure it and you're ready to add your card! I did add some scallops and a strip where I stamped my "Celebrate" sentiment (from the Summer on the Patio set).

Here's what the inside looks like....

Want to unwrap some of the other goodies the Senior Design Team created for today's peek? Just hop on over and see!

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Faith Hofrichter

Latisha Yoast

Laura Fredrickson

Leslie Miller

Stacy Morgan

Jan Marie Caruso

Want to win an All Wrapped Up set of your very own? Just head on over to the Flourishes Newsletter, leave a comment on the day 2 post and--- you might just walk away with some blog candy! You'll also find details on how you can win all three of the new releases PLUS learn about our Friday Night Release Party! It's sure to be a blast!

I'll be back tomorrow with a breath of fresh spring air for day 3 of the peeks! Yep, that's your hint! ;-)

Until then!

Living In Color - Sneak Peek!!

Hi all! I know I must sound like a broken record but when Flourishes comes out with new stamps - that release is ALWAYS my favorite! And this one -- is my favorite! ;-) I see a trend here.....

The release is called Living In Color for a reason -- every stamp set that you'll see these next few days is full of colorful potential. So, without further ado-- we kick off today's peek with... Strut Your Stuff!
What's more colorful than a peacock? I love the bright and bold colors you can add and the sentiments in this set are so fun! I didn't use one for my card but -- click around on the link list below and you're sure to see a few! They would create fun, all occassion cards perfect for a little pick me up for a friend or even an "atta boy" card!

I stamped my peacock in Versamark and then embossed with a detail powder I've had forever (the label is long gone) but it was a Verdigris mix of turquoise and copper. I then colored the image with watercolor pencils and blended with a blender pen. The outline on the right hand side of the image was done with a light grey marker. See that filligree done in copper embossing powder along the right side of my image? Well, that my friends is also a part of this set! Too cool! I added some bling just for kicks! The paper, I thought was perfect for this creation - it's called Hamby Screen Prints and I picked it up at my LSS. It was literally calling my name!

Want to see a close up of the feathers and how they were colored? Here you go!

Want to try to win your own "Strut Your Stuff" set? Head on over to the Flourishes Newsletter and leave a comment on their Sneak Peek Day 1 post! Winners for each of the three new sets will be drawn daily!

Now it's time to strut your stuff over to the rest of the DT blogs to see what they colored up for their sneak peeks!

Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Faith Hofrichter
Latisha Yoast
Laura Fredrickson
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan

Thanks for stopping by! I'll have a surprise tomorrow that you'll want to unwrap -- so be sure to come on back! :-) (Yep, that was a hint!)

p.s. Mark your calendar for the Flourishes Release Party -- it's set for Friday from 7 to 9 PM Eastern in the Flourishes Forum and is sure to bring in not only fun, games and giveaways BUT more sneak peeks leading up to the minute when these stamps go live in the Flourishes store!!

A little sweetness anyone???

Hi all! Hope you're having a good week! My family knows that when I talk about sweetness - I'm talking about one thing - a little dessert! I think it's ironic that desserts is stressed backwards. Hhhhmmmm. Is that why I get a sweet tooth when I am having a tough work week? Makes sense! I think I am going to go with that!

Anyway, this little creation contains zero calories but is just as sweet! I just love the little cuppy cake in the Birthday Celebrations set that was released recently from Flourishes. I say recently because -- tomorrow -- the DT will start to sneak peek three new sets and they are FAB!

I stamped my cupcakes and my sentiment (from the Sweet Treats set) using Palette Noir ink. The cupcakes were colored with watercolor pencils and blended with a blender pen. I added Diamond Stickles and 2mm rhinestones. Do a little paper piercing, mat it up with some fun punched dp and ..... you're almost done! Add a fun green apple satin ribbon and.... bam! Sweet enough to almost eat!

Here's a close up of the cupcake -- yummy!

Be sure to come back tomorrrow for day one of the sneak peeks! I'll even have some info on how you can win the set of the day! Fun stuff!

Featured Stamper --She's KEWL!!

I love Sundays when you can go to Splitcoast and be inspired by someone elses gallery with the Featured Stamper! This week's it's all about Karen Dunbrook (FS105)! I went through her amazing gallery and picked THIS one! I loved the simplicity of it - and set off to try to find a stamp set that I could use to make this card "my own!" So, I pulled out some of my Cornish Heritage Farms stamps that had been neglected for awhile -- :-(



I used my Silhouette Blooms I set and two shades of ink (Aqua and Black Vivid) and that was it! This card is pretty self explanatory - stamp, mat it up, add a sentiment and some bling and -- bada boom, bada bing! Done!

So, go check out Karen's gallery and watch out -- your likely to be inspired too!

Happy Monday!

In Living COLOR!

This month on the Flourishes Newsletter the focus is all about COLOR!

The Senior Design team is kicking off the month by showing you ways you can be inspired by objects all around you! We picked what we thought is one of the most beautiful things in nature for an inspiration challenge today - and, here it is...

....a peacock feather! Don't you just love the shades of bronze, lime green, turquoise and that vivid royal blue? I know I do! So, how did I take this image and spark some creativity in my craft room??
When I found this paper at --- of all places-- the dollar store, I knew it had a perfect home. Doesn't it look like it was created for the tulip from the Stamp Simply Thank You set? I stamped my image in Burnt Umber Palette ink, and then.... I used some bleach to take the color off my Kraft colored cardstock. I wanted to make sure my colors were vibrant! Then, I used Twinkling H20s to give my flower an extra bit of sparkle!

Here's a close up! This baby really does shimmer in real life!

Add some brown satin ribbon, a ribbon slide, some bling and a fun sentiment and.... you're done! Here's one last peek!
Do you want to be inspired? Simply use the colors in the feather to make your own creation! This is actually a Flourishes challenge with prizes on the line! The winner of the random drawing will win all three of Flourishes new releases set to be unveiled a week from today! For all the details, just click HERE! Can't wait to see where this inspiration challenge takes you!

Happy Creating....

Stamp Simply is Getting Negative!

Now that I have your attention! Stamp Simply is all about the negative -- with negative images that is! You can do this challenge by using negative images of punches or die cuts OR by using a negative image, or reversed out stamp.

I was in luck because I just got a reverse image from the new release from Impression Obsession. It's a darling little bird and I thought about doing it up with a Fifth Avenue feel - mod, trendy, and charming (pun intended).

The stamp is actually in a circle and the center is open to create a solid white bird. After looking at it, I thought it needed a little something extra so I stamped a flourishy image over top to give the bird a little pizazz. Of course, I also needed to add some bling!

Punch out the circle with a 1-1/4" circle punch, mat it on a decorative pink mat punched from a 1-1/2" circle punch and then mat this onto a black piece punched with an SU scalloped circle punch. Use a ticket corner punch on the four corners of your decorative pink paper mat, add some bling, a satin ribbon and a fun little Thank You charm, and you are done!

Here's a close up of my birdie reverse silhouette....

You can check out all the official details HERE over at Sharon's place! Want to see what the rest of the Stamp Simply Team did by going negative? Just stop by their home on the blogosphere! Dee, Tammy, Janine, AJ, and Jennifer. A special welcome to Heather - who is our new guest designer for February! Trust me -- you'll love her work!

Calling Cards.....

I have some fun news to share! Back in December, I got a pretty cool email from Dawn Gehring with Crafts 'n Things asking me if I was up for a Designer Challenge. The challenge would be to use business cards in a crafty way. Myself and three other designers were given the sheets of Avery Dennison business cards that you can run through your printer. Did you know they are a beautiful surface to stamp on? They just take the ink beautifully!


Well, the wheels started spinning and now - the April issue is about to hit the stands with these fun projects!


As you can see below, I chose to actually make the business cards into crafty calling cards! I even altered a tin as a decorative case that comes complete with a little bling! Recognize the stamps? None other than the Stamp Simply Thank You set by Flourishes! This is, by far, one of my all time favorite Flourishes set.


Here's a peek at the whole set...


And, this is how it fits inside my tin...

And, last but not least - this is what it looks like when you put the lid in place!

Want to find out how I did it all? You'll have to check out the April Issue of Crafts 'n Things. I even have a bonus project that shows a really fun way to create a great little gift that's a perfect stuffer for your purse! I'm honored to say there are a few other projects of mine inside. It was so fun opening the mail today and seeing the issue! Can you tell I'm jazzed?

Stick around, I'll be back with Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply challenge -- let's just say -- this challenge will have you moving in reverse! (yep, that was your hint!) See you back here soon!

Thinking about summer....

Hi all! Because most of us have the winter dull-drums and need a dose of spring or even summer, the Impression Obsession Design Team decided to pull out all the stops and deliver some handcrafted flowers--just for you! We challenged eachother to use flowers in our cards today!

Well, right behind our house sits a very large field and in the summer, we get the most beautiful wild sunflowers. When I saw this new floral set from Impression Obession, I loved the "mod" look and I knew right away how I would color them up! (stamps will be on the IO website soon!)

I stamped my image with Palette Noir ink,and colored with markers that I picked up off a palette with a blender pen. I did add some light blue marker to outline part of the vase. Add some sparkles to the center of the flowers and .... almost done! I used the Curved Rectangle Nesties for my shapes. For the smaller rectangle, I left the die on my white watercolor paper and then sponged ink around the edges. I love the white edge it leaves that was masked by the die. I added some yellow polka dot ribbon and an punched oval tag that I added "for you" (also a part of this clear set) and.... voila! A little dose of summer flowers right here in February!

Here's a close up of the flowers!

Want to see what the rest of the IO team did with their flower power challenge? Click on these fab designers' sites!

Dina
Daniela
Deborah
Kelli
Laura

Michelle

Tina

See you all back here soon!

It's a timeless kind of Tuesday!

Hi all! The Friends of Flourishes blog team is taking over the Flourishes Newsletter today to usher in a bit of a challenge. In fact, it's going to be a weekly event with different things for you to tackle! It's called - Timeless Tuesday!

Today, Cindy Haffner headed up the challenge and told us to simply make a card with a swirl or flourish! So.... I did!

I used the new Home Tweet Home set for my tree limb and bird and then stamped the bird again in order to pop it up on my card! The Flourish is actually in the background with the Damask background in blue on my blue decorative paper piece. I used a corner punch, added some bling and some ivory satin ribbon and... done! I used Tombow markers with a blender pen to pick up the color to color the bird. For my branch and leaves I used Rich Brown and Bambo Memento inks. The sentiment on the bottom was also stamped with Rich Brown. I also sponged the edges of my main image with some Antique Linen Distress inks.

Here's a closeup of the birdie!

Want to find out more about the challenge? Click HERE for the official rules and to see what the other blog team members cooked up!

Happy Tuesday!

a friend like you....

Hi all! Hope you have had a fabulous weekend! It's been lazy here again! Gosh, I see a trend - don't you?

Thought I'd share some of the fun I cooked up for Impression Obsession's booth at CHA. I love this new set from Sarah Phelps. It will be on sale soon I'm told! This card was super duper easy! I just really played off the dp for my punch (Basic Grey Eva).

I stamped the saying in black and added my swirl with Angel Pink Memento ink. The butterflies were stamped twice (once for the antenae and the second time so that I could pop it up.)

Mat it up, add some shimmery cording and some bling and you are pretty much done!

I wanted to show you a close up of the wing-- I added some Pixie Dust Shimmerz to give the wing just a little bit of pizazz! It's really sparkly in real life! That's it my friends! A simple card that is a perfect little pick me up for a friend! I'll see you all back here soon!


p.s. Anyone watching the Superbowl??? We have a fierce fight in our family. DH is cheering for the Cardinals. DS is talking smack about the Steelers. Should be entertaining in the Koerber house to say the very least!!! Good thing I am on the fence! :-)

Stamp Simply-- Gotta share the LOVE!

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, this week's Stamp Simply challenge courtesy of the fabulous Sharon Johnson is all about love!


Make any love themed card you'd like - it could be for Valentine's Day or for a wedding or anniversary, or even a LOVING birthday or thinking of you card - just show the LOVE!

For my card, I tried to challenge myself not to use hearts but find other ways to spread a bit of affection....

I stamped one of my newly released Impression Obsession stamps in Palette Noir ink and then colored with watercolor pencils and blended with a blender pen. Chalk around the outside of the image and then mat it up on an oval and scalloped oval Nestie! Add some paper piercing a strip of dp with a button and you're almost done! This stamp is part of a clear set designed by Sarah Phelps and the saying is also a part of that set. All of the papers are Crate Paper.

I did add a little razzle dazzle on the flowers with the help of some Stickles Diamond glitter glue.... And that, my friends is it! Be sure to check out what the rest of the gals on the Stamp Simply team did to feel the love! Click over to see Deb, Becky, Dee, Tammy, Janine, AJ, and Jennifer

Hope you make time for play time! Have a great weekend!

Can you tell I need spring?

I have to be honest- I've joked with my friends who live in Florida that I might just pack a bag and head their way! January in Montana means a bit of this -- bitter cold and a bit of that -- not as cold. I think I am a snow bird at heart!

So, when the Impression Obsession gals said - let's do a "spring" challenge - I was all over it! In fact, I didn't just want a springy look, I thought little umbrella drinks in exotic places! LOL! These are some of the brand new Leigh Hannan images from Impression Obsession that were just released this week at CHA! I colored these babies with my Copic markers in a light pink, two shades of yellow, and two shades of green for the leaves and then I went back over the umbrella and drink with some Pixie Dust Shimmerz to give it a little pop of glitz! Add some bling to the "berries" and the top of the umbrella and... you're almost done! I did cut out and pop up one of the lemon hearts just for fun. Add some scalloped ribbon and grab a fun decorative paper from your scrap stash and you're fini! The tag was just done using the SU scalloped circle and 1-1/2" circle punches.

Here's a close up.... Want to see some other signs of spring here in blog land? Just check out what the other fab IO gals have cooked up!

Dina
Daniela
Kelli
Laura
Michelle

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

Spring Blooms....

Well friends, for the second time in my life -- I made an ATC! There's a swap going on over in the Flourishes Forum on SCS (HERE). I saw the thread and while I am not an expert on ATCs- I said, "Oh, what the heck! I'll give 'er the old college try!"


So.... here goes!

I used the Spring Ephemerals set and colored it with a mix of ink pads and markers. I basically inked up the green stems and then went back over the flowers with a blue marker. You see that sparkle at the center? That's just a pop of shimmer with the help of a Gelly Roll Stardust pen. Add a vellum tag thanks to a Spellbinders tag die and... you're almost done! Grab some Memory Box and Basic Grey papers, a fancy corner punch, some ribbon and bling and -- now you're done! I thought this was fun -- who knows maybe more ATCs are in store!

Before I go, I have to share a funny story thanks to my little girl Ellie. I was working a bit today, tapping away on the computer and I hear this clickety clackety coming down the hall. I look up and start to giggle at the sight of my 5 year old in my high heel boots. OH MY!! I said, 'Ellie girl - what are you doing?' She looks at me very seriously and says, "My teacher told us we needed to learn how to walk in someone elses' shoes." Now, I am trying to keep a straight face. "Really? Was this part of a lesson today?" And she says, "Yep. She was trying to teach us about epiphany." Now I giggle. "You mean empathy?" "No mom.. epiphany." I gave up --we'll review that lesson again later! I have to admit-- it was cute!!

Have a great day everyone!

A Hint Of Spring!

As we speak, these stamps are being released at CHA along with some of my cards done with these fun stamps. I laugh because my cards get to travel more than I do! LOL!

Leigh Hannan has been an illustrator for Impression Obsession for a few years now and her release this spring is just as amazing as stamps gone by!

When I got the new release in my hands, I just had to color this beautiful dragonfly! I grabbed my Copic markers and went to down! I picked shades of green, mauve and blue....

And then, once it was all colored and blended, I took my Gelly Roll Stardust gel pen and colored just sections of the wing to give it some pizazz!

Mat it up on some pearlized lavendar paper, then mat it on mauve cardstock and a dp base with a fun sheer ribbon and blingy ribbon slide! That's it! It really is mostly coloring - which is nice. You can create an elegant card in a breeze with this fun stamp!

Well, my friends -- that's it for now! Hope you are enjoying your week! I'll be back with more soon!

Thinking of you!

Hi all! Just a quick card this Sunday! It's been a kind of lazy weekend at the Koerber house and we've been doing a bunch of family stuff, so -- just a quick trip to the stamp room!


I made this card with the Chairs To You! set by Flourishes to show you just how easy it is to use the elements in this set to create a really neat, simple card! If you click on the link, you'll see this vase of ivy, a book, a cute 'lil dog-- fun stuff to make easy cards with!

I stamped my potted ivy in black using the Palette Noir ink. Have you tried this ink? It creates a very fine line image and works BEAUTIFULLY with Copic markers. No smudging, no smearing - just a beautiful image to color! I had been struggling to find that ink pad that worked really well with Copic markers. I have found it!

After stamping my image, I used cool grey 3 for the base, warm grey 3 for the urn style vase and willow green and yellowish green for the leaves. I also outlined and then blended a light blue around the right edge of my vase to give it some definition.

Mat it up, add some sheer ribbon, gold self stick pearls, pick some coordinating dp and add a saying and... you're done! This is truly a 10 minute card! Great to have on hand -- just in case!

Hope you are all enjoying your weekend! Until next time-- take care!

Stamp Simply - A Modern Edge!

Hi all! It's Friday! Where did this week go by the way?? I'm glad it's the weekend because that means it's time for another Stamp Simply challenge!! This one, has a modern edge to it! The mission -- is to create a "modern" card! What is modern? A clean, crisp look; a simple layout; minimal embellishments; relaxing; refreshing color scheme with a bit of POP!!!


So, with that in mind, I let the creative juices flow! And, I used some of the new Leigh Hannan images from Impression Obsession that will be released in just a few days at CHA!! So, what did I think was modern about this card? Well, first of all the crisp images! I chose cool colors and I purposely made this card off center so that it had a different layout. How did I color it? With Copic markers and then I added a little bling to the center of the flowers! Just that simple!

Here's a close up.... So, as you contemplate contemporary - I searched through my blog to try to find some other cards that I thought was "modern." I also think THIS card has a splash of modern in it. What will you come up with? Check out Sharon's blog for the official details HERE and then visit these gals to see what they cooked up!! Janine, Jennifer, Tammy, Dee, Becky, AJ, and Deb!

So, make time for play time and have a great weekend!