I stamped the stained glass roses and just cut along the line, added some beautiful silk ribbon, some pearls (added a little color to the pearls with my Copic markers), matted it with foam tape onto a Labels 8 die cut shape and then matted this all onto a piece of decorative paper adorned with a small zig zag stitch. Just that simple! I did stamp two of the stained glass roses and popped up part of the image in places just for a little extra pop. To color my image -- I grabbed my Copics and went to town with RV32, RV34, YG00, YG03 and YG63. The image was accented with the help of a B000 marker. Easy peasy lemon squeezy for this 'Flourishes Friday!'
Speaking of Flourishes Friday, Leslie Miller has a great tutorial over on the Flourishes blog today showcasing the wonderful world of background stamps! So, be sure to click HERE to check it out and... don't forget to stop by the other Flourishes gals spots on the web to see what they cooked up this week!
Danielle Kennedy
Cindy Lawrence
Christine Okken
Dawn Burnworth
Laura Fredrickson
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Friday, August 27, 2010
Simple Roses...
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Timeless Tuesday... On Saturday!
Here's a peek at the sketch....
Isn't that fun???? And, here's a peek at my card!
The paper is a mix of C'oredinations, Basic Grey, and My Mind's Eye. Color the image up (Strawberries) on Flourishes Classic White paper (I stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento first) with Copic Markers (a mix of Grass Green, and Dahlia Collections plus Y13 and Y17 and B0000) and then accented with some Cotton Linen Ribbon, a bow, a button and a little 1" circle sentiment (also from the Strawberry set!) From there, add some stitching and a little distressing around the square by scoring and sanding... and voila!!!
I can't tell you how much I LOVEEEEEE sketch challenges. It just takes so much out of the work out of card design. I know. I know. It's all supposed to be fun but there are just some days when I blow far too many brain cells trying to figure out what might look nice! LOL!
Hope you can take some time to play Timeless Tuesday too!! Remember... it's Timeless! ;-) See you back here soon!
Friday, August 13, 2010
The Peeks are Over!
Introducing....

This set drawn and stippled by Marcella Hawley features different herbs that create just a beautiful "stamp and go" card. No coloring needed on this one, the flowers and herbs sing all on their own! Do you want to win this set? If so, please leave a comment here on this post.
On to my creation! It's super duper easy peasy! I love these stamp and go styles -- no coloring -- so you get an elegant and quick creation in record time!
Every now and then when I look at a creation -- I am stumped on layout. I decided I wanted this card to be a quick and easy one... so... I picked my decorative paper first and then, turned to a layout that you might have seen before HERE! I have to say when I created that sketch, it wasn't my typical sketch and that's why I had fun "recycling" it! It wasn't exact... but it was fun just the same. I inked up my scented geranium with two ink pads -- Rose Bud and Bamboo Leaves -- and stamped it on Classic White paper cut it with a circle die cut, add some chalk, and the rest is just matting it up! The decorative paper is from my scraps bin so... I couldn't figure out the maker... sorry! I did add some bling and some white cotton linen ribbon. And... done!
Here's a close up so you can see that beautiful flower!! After adding the chalk, you can see I added some paper piercing. I left my die cut shape on the image and used it as a guide to paper pierce!
And last... but not least! Some News!
If you would like a shot at winning all three of newly released sets, play along in our Kids Play Challenge! Just click HERE for all the details! You only have until 5 PM CST tonight! Winners for not only the daily drawings but this challenge will be announced TOMORROW on the Flourishes Blog at noon CST!
Thanks for stopping by! I hope you all had as much fun as we did!!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Sneak Peaks Continue....
Introducing.....

I have to say this set all started when I, on a whim, emailed Marcella and said -- what do you think of these flowers??? (hint, hint!) This is a photo I took in the field behind our house...

Moving on to my project. I wanted to use this set to not only create a fun card but a cute matching notepad. I love these style of notepads that Michaels sells that has a pen included.They are perfect for purses when you just need something to jot a note down on!

Here's a peek at the card....
Now it's time to see the fresh picked creations from Flourishes' talented Design Team!
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Danielle Kennedy
Dawn Burnworth
Laura Fredrickson
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
I'll see you back here tomorrow as we wrap up our peeks! Tomorrow's set about those sweet smelling bits of nature that are not only for beauty but can bring relief to the senses and give flavor to our favorite foods! Be sure to tun in tomorrow to see what I'm talking about! ;-)
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Let's HOP!

Are you ready for some fun? The Impression Obsession and Flower Soft Design Teams are playing together in a fun-filled HOP! Aside from seeing a little bit of cardmaking eye candy, there are also fabulous prizes on the line!
HOW TO WIN: As you make your way through the hop, make sure you comment on each and every post. Four random winners will be picked from those blog comments! Two $25 gift certificates from Flower Soft and two $25 gift certificates from Impression Obsession will be given away!! Winners will be announced on the Flower Soft and IO blogs on Wednesday August 18th! Now, if you didn't start at the beginning of the hop, be sure to start hopping from the Flower Soft Blog!
Moving on to my creation! I just used a little big of Flower Soft on a brand spanking new IO image just released at CHA called Winter View.

Here's a close up! It's fine and fluffy and just adds that little extra something! What's fun is -- a little goes a LONG way!

For the next hop on the IO-Flower Soft tour, click on over and see Linda Beeson!
Thanks for stopping by!
Friday, August 6, 2010
It's Almost Release Time for Flourishes!
So, grab some creativity and take…

With the dog days of summer winding down, kids far and wide are trying to squeeze in as much of the great outdoors as they can before fall rolls in. Remember those fun neighborhood games that your parents couldn't drag you away from as a child? Our challenge this month is to be isnpired by a kids game! For example, use a red and green combo that's inspired by a game of Red Light/Green Light. How about a tag on your card to tell some one "Tag... you're it!" Four square anyone? What about a little flag on your card to represent a game of capture the flag? Enter, and you could walk away with all three stamps in Flourishes’ August release! You have until Friday, August 13th at 5 PM EST to enter for your chance to win. Use Flourishes stamps if you have them but if you don’t, please play along anyway. If you upload to SCS, please use the keyword FLLCAUG10. Keep in mind, in order to be eligible, you need to link your creation HERE in this post using the inlinkz linky. We can't wait to see all the kids at heart!
For my creation, I decided to be inspired by a little "Hide & Seek!" A map is good for that... right??
This card isn't really what I'd call my normal style -- I wanted it to be a little rough around the edges and I wanted the Antique Map to really take center stage. Not much to share here in the way of details -- stamp the map on kraft card stock, crumple the page up, add some Antique Linen Distress ink to accent the creases, a sentiment from the A Guiding Light set, some twine, some antique brads and last but not least, I took the NEWS symbol from the map background, colored it up with markers and then set it on it's own as a kind of focal point for my card. That's it! Done!
Be sure to stop by the Flourishes Design Team’s homes on the web to see what childish fun they created! I know you won’t be disappointed!
Christine Okken
Dawn Burnworth
Laura Fredrickson
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Thanks for stopping by!
Thursday, August 5, 2010
IO Challenge -- Feeling Like Home
Moving on... (no pun intended), when I set out to create for this challenge, I knew I wanted to use a stamp that needed a little love. It's simply called Door. I think the art is just charming and would work well not only for all occassion cards but for "We've moved" or "Welcome to the Neighborhood" cards.
After stamping it up, I reached for my Copic markers (Y21,Y23, V04,V06,V01, YG00,YG03,YG63, Y35,Y38, E25, E27, C01,C05,C07) and colored this up. I shaded with the darker colors just a tad and then blended with the lighter markers in that color family. I kind of wanted a more watercolor look.
Here's a close up.... Because I wanted to let my image speak on this card, I tried to keep the layout low key. I used a Swiss Dots embossing folder and actually "debossed" instead of embossed. Add a pinked heart border, some fun purple dp and a couple buttons and... voila! Done!
You'll have to check out and see what some of the other IO gals created with this Your Home Sweet Home challenge!
Daniela
Dina
Deborah
Jeanne
Kathy
Laura
Remember, challenges are the first and third Thursdays of each month. Just use at least one Impression Obsession stamp and you'll be in the running for a $25 gift certificate to the IO store. You can click HERE for all the official details!
Thanks for stopping by! See you back here soon!
Monday, August 2, 2010
Bring Back Beautiful!
Hi all and welcome to the very first Flourishes Bring Back Beautiful Challenge! This team was started by Flourishes to truly showcase beauty in card making – whether it just be in a beautifully colored image, a fabulous way to incorporate an embellishment or a new twist on a card layout. Today kicks off the challenge team's first challenge with a look at one of the things that can evoke a lot of beauty in card making – COLOR!
FIRST Here’s your challenge: pick your favorite medium – watercolor, colored pencils, markers, Copics, alcohol inks… the sky is the limit! Show off your color and join us! Link up your Bring Back Beautiful Challenge creation here on the BBB post using the Inlinkz linky to enter. If you upload to SCS, please use the keyword BBB01. You have until August 31st to enter!
Now.. to my creation... I picked up my Copics for this one along with a brand new special edition stamp set just released yesterday by Flourishes called Fuschias in Bloom. This set is available now ONLY to FLIP members but will be released in mid-september during our September release.I stamped using Tuxedo Black Memento ink and then picked up the Hollyhock, Peony and Petunia, and Evergreen Collections grouped by Flourishes. I just love these beautiful colors -- hot pink is one of my favorites in life!
After I colored it up, I added a sentiment from the Around the Arbor set, a punched border, some fun lace trim, cotton linen ribbon and, of course, bling! The paper is from the Green at Heart Collection from Basic Grey.
Here's a close up....

Beate Johns
Becca Feeken
Cindy Coutts
Kathy Jones
Michelle Woerner
Yvonne Hagane
So grab your favorite coloring medium and get those creative juices flowing! We'd love to see how you Bring Back Beautiful in your own creations!
Friday, July 30, 2010
Cup of Comfort....
Anywhoo, moving on to some crafty fun! This week Impression Obsession unveiled all its new fall and winter stamps at CHA and this card below -- features a few of IO's new stamps!
My fellow DT member, Daniela Dobson, also has a sneak peek to share, so hop on over and pay her a visit!
See you back here soon!
Monday, July 26, 2010
How's about a BOO!
Speaking of new goodies, I have another sneak peek from Impression Obsession -- these new stamps are being unveiled this week at CHA.
This card uses a new stamp from Leigh Hannan called Witches Vanity Table and a new sentiment called Boo Eyes. I colored it up with a mix of Copics and Copic Spica Pens: C05, C07, Y35, Y38, YR04, YR09, YG00, YG03, Y21, Y23, B0000, E33, and E31. I used the glitter pens just to add some sparkle to a few of the fun things on the table. Mat it up with some fun decorative paper, a velvet edged trim, some satin ribbon and... almost done! I stamped the Boo Eyes onto a piece of scrap paper and then punched it with an oval punch after I colored up the "eyes!" And that, is all there is to it!
My fellow DT member, Daniela Dobson also has a sneak peek today so be sure to hop on over and see what kind of eye candy she's got for you!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Let the IO Sneak Peeks Begin!
So, bear with me -- it may be 90 degrees and sunny in your neck of the woods but my blog will be all about fall, Halloween and Christmas! :-)
Dina Kowal, one of my fellow DT members also has a fun sneak peek today too -- so head on over to her place and see what she's cooked up!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Berry Sweet!
I've got a card to share that I made with one of the recent releases from Flourishes called Berry Sweet. I just love these lush blueberries -- which come to find out -- look a lot like huckleberries which are all over the place in Montana! (huckleberries are just a little more purple than blue).
So... moving on to my card!

Here's a close up!
Just a reminder too! Today marks the last day that you can take advantage of Flourishes' New Release Bundle. That gives you all three new sets for 10% off. Just click HERE for the details!
I know some of the other gals on the Flourishes DT have some fun things to show off today, so be sure to hop on over and see......
Danielle Kennedy
Dawn Burnworth
Laura Fredrickson
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Thanks for stopping by! See you back here soon!
Friday, July 16, 2010
Flourishes Release Day is HERE!
Remember the days when the highlight of the fair was a final spin on the carousel? When you had the wind in your hair as you reached for the golden pole with one hand and waved to your mom or dad with the other? This is the feeling that's wrapped around this new set called Enjoy the Ride by Lauren Pope. This beautiful 4 by 3" set features not only this vintage inspired carousel but six sentiments perfect for all occassions.
Now a peek at what I whipped up.... After stamping the carousel on some Flourishes Classic White, I colored with Copics and used the Water, Sweet Pea, Dahlia, Flesh Tones 2 and the Cool Neutrals Collections grouped by Flourishes. I then cut it out and mounted it on a circle that was accented with pearlized blue chalk and then matted it again on a pinked circle die cut shape (This one is on sale!). Add a punched border, some bling and a sentiment from the set stamped on a small oval punch and you're almost done! I also added some stitching too. The paper, just in case you wondered, is the new Memory Box Jubilee paper!
Want to win this set? Simply leave a comment on today's post over on the Flourishes Blog and you'll be in the running! Now it’s time to see what Flourishes’ talented Design Team whipped up? Hop on over and see….
Don't forget, you still have a shot at winning all three of the newly released sets! All you need to do is play along in Flourishes' What’s Cookin’ challenge! Just click HERE for all the details! You have until today at 5 PM Eastern! Winners will be announced on the Flourishes blog at noon central standard time on Saturday!
Also, did you know that you can save a bundle on all of the new releases? They are being offered at 10% off if you buy all three! Just click HERE for the details! And, one last note, Flourishes is having a Christmas in July sale! It runs through the 18th of July! It’s a time when you can get 25% off all of Flourishes fine Christmas stamp sets!Thanks again for joining me this week... it's been a blast!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Flourishes July Sets are ripe for the picking!
If you want a quick peek before you head over, here's a look at....
Berry Sweet
Seeds of Friendship Enjoy the Ride
Thanks so much for joining me this week! Be sure to check back... I'll have a wrap up tomorrow and will showcase Flourishes new Enjoy the Ride set! Don't forget about their New Release Bundle -- if you order all three sets before July 23rd, you can snatch them up for 10% off! Click HERE for the details! Flourishes also is having a Christmas in July sale that runs through July 18th! All Christmas stamps are 25% off!
Thanks again for stopping by! Hope you like our July release!
Seeds of Friendship Sneak Peek!
Introducing...

The Seeds of Friendship set features not only a customizable seed packet design but 10 sentiments and 9 accent pieces. Can you imagine all the wonderful things you can do with this set and all the fun stamps -- the fun florals or fruits that you could stick inside the frame? When I heard the concept for this one I immediately thought -- how original!
Now, to my creation!
For my card, I immediately picked up the Gerber Daisy set -- this is one of my faves and I thought it's a perfect pick to be used with this new set! I stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento onto Flourishes Classic White and then picked up the Dahlia, Sunflower, Fields and Cool Neutrals Copic Collections grouped by Flourishes. I also paper pieced a bit to get the darker color on the top of my packet and then edged pieces of it with gold leaf pen for a real vintage flair! Add a little stitching, a little wood button with some twine and a flag style sentiment and... voila!
Would you like to win this set? Simply leave a comment over on today's blog post at Flourishes! The winner will be announced in the winner's circle on Saturday at noon central time!
You're going to have to hop on over and see what the rest of the Flourishes’ Design Team whipped up! I got a preview of some of the cards and.. gasped!
There's lots of fun stuff happening this week, including our Release Party set for Thursday night at 9 PM Central over on the Flourishes Member Company Forum on Splitcoast! So, click HERE and read up on all the fun!
Tomorrow's set might also have you taking a trip -- no make that a ride -- back in time! Flourishes has not really done a set yet for the kids in our life and this one, well, it's just perfect! So, be sure to check back!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Let the Flourishes Sneak Peeks Begin!
Do you want to win this set? If so, please leave a comment here on today's post! A winner will be randomly drawn and will be announced in a post on Saturday called Flourishes' Winner Circle!
Now it's time to see the fresh picked creations from Flourishes' talented Design Team!
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Danielle Kennedy
Dawn Burnworth
Julie Koerber
Laura Fredrickson
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Here are some other fun Flourishes facts for the week!
I'll see you back here tomorrow for more sneak peeks! Tomorrow's set is sure to tug on the heartstrings of not only gardeners, but those who love a vintage look in their cards! You'll have to check back! :-)