Merry Wednesday?

I found this challenge that my friend LeAnne is doing and I had to join in…Merry Monday a Christmas challenge blog.   I have to keep up with those weekly Christmas cards you know!
This weeks challenge is #93 Ornaments.  I pulled out this lovely set from Flourishes called All That Glitters.  It’s no longer available unfortunately. 

I stamped the pine boughs first, stamping without re-inking so they got lighter. Then I stamped the ornament with Versamark and embossed with gold ep.  I cut it out and popped it up on the panel with the string and bow that was also embossed.   I used Lightning Black from Brilliance to stamp the sentiment.  I sponged around the panel with Distress Ink in Antique Linen and added a bow at the top with some sheer ribbon.  I used a glittery gold piece of cardstock to mat the main panel and it’s all mounted on patterned paper from Memory Box…an old winter line whose name I cannot remember.
I like making simple, easily mailed cards…especially for Christmas when there are so many to send.  It’s easy to get carried away with embellishments, like bows, flowers, and bells! I love bells :) but I’m trying to stick to simple for now.  Lets see how long that lasts!
I hope I can keep this up!  Why not join me? 
Thanks for stopping by and have a great evening!

Fa la la la la!

I’ve always said, to myself, that I should start my Christmas cards early…once a month at least, so that I have a bunch done before it becomes a mad rush to get finished.  So, when I saw a post from Holly Brown for The Holiday Inspiration Club from Rogue Redhead Designs I decided it was time to get started.  I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to ink up all those Christmas and winter images I’ve collected over the years and have not yet used.
The first challenge is to create a one layer project.    I pulled out this cutie from Purple Onion Designs.  The bird is Silver from the Stacey Yacula Studio line.

First I stamped the winter bough in Bamboo ink from Memento, then I added Silver on top.  I also stamped the ornament from winter adornments and colored all with Copic markers.  I added lots of sparkle using a Quickie Glue Pen and ultra fine glitter.  Lastly I stamped the sentiment from the Winter Wishes Sentiment Set.
Now all I have to do is keep it up!  Wish me luck! 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I want to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas today!  I am leaving you with a few creations I did not have a chance to blog before today. 

I hope this holiday season brings joy and peace to all who are celebrating! 

A few last minute cards

I still had a few Christmas cards to make for Christmas day so I turned to Whipper Snapper Designs.  I used the adorable set from Anna Wight called Cozy Critters.  These sweet little critters were just perfect to whip up some quick cards.

All of the patterned paper is from the Jillibean Soup paper pad Christmas Eve Chowder.   Above I used a holly border punch from Martha Stewart, a flag die from Lil’ Inker Designs (0n all cards) and a Picot Edge Circle die and Classic Circles Large die from Spellbinders which I also used on the penguin card.

On both the dog and cat cards I used Labels Twenty Two from Spellbinders as well as the Classic Oval die. 

On all of the hats, some of which were stamped on another piece of paper and cut out after coloring and popped up on the image, I used Marvy Liquid Applique and glitter.   If you look close at the penguin card you can see that I used the Martha Stewart icicle border punch on Doodlebug glitter cardstock to add a border under the green strip.  It almost disappears since the color is so close to the background of the patterned paper…but click for a close up, it’s there!

The pine border bunch on the kitty card is also from Martha Stewart. 
All images are stamped on Flourishes Classic White card stock and colored with Copic markers.  I shaded with Prismacolor pencils and oms.   I think I am done, whew!    See you tomorrow!

Birrrrd House

Today I wanted to share one of the gifts I’ve created this holiday.  I bought this bird house stake in Target for $1.00 last year knowing I wanted to alter it.  I finally got around to it when I saw the altered birdhouses my friend, the unnamed stamper,made!  They were so frosty and so cute I just had to get going on mine.

I apologize for the lousy pictures…this is on a tall stake and I couldn’t get it in the light box so I was propping it up all around my studio to get a decent shot.  Anyway, it started out lime green.  I painted it with white acrylic paint then went over that with a concoction of white acrylic, Sno-Tex, and glitter.  I mixed it all up in a small container and covered the entire house.  I sprinkled it with more glitter while it was wet so it’s really sparkly!  Then I set out with punches and adhesive gems and tiny rusty bells to decorate it all for Christmas. 

Both sides have a kraft snowflake with some pine branches and a bell.

I created the wreath with the pine branch punch from Martha Stewart.  I used Marvy Liquid Applique on all of the greenery, sprinkling it also with glitter while wet, then puffing up with a heat gun.   I thought I would buy a pretty house plant, maybe a poinsettia or amaryllis for my SIL and add this decoration when we go there on Christmas day.    Maybe in the plant I can get a better picture…if I do I will post it! 
I have another one of these in orange…I think I need one for me too!  I’d better get working :)

Wednesday means Color Throwdown!

It’s our last Color Throwdown of 2011 and our hostess with the mostess is Kerri!   Isn’t that a  bright fun array of colors!   At first I was a bit perplexed with them, then sitting on my desk right in front of me was Anna Wights Cozy Critters stamp set from Whipper Snapper Designs.  It was just perfect for this challenge!

Now you say, Danielle, isn’t there a penguin in this set?  And I say, why yes, yes there is.  Okay, I planned on using the penguin image as my adorable Jillibean paper from the Christmas Eve Chowder line has all of these penguins on it, but some wires crossed, I stamped and colored the owl, then realized he was NOT a penguin.  Still a bird.  Yes, he flies, penguins don’t.  But they both could eat fish…if an owl could  just dive into the water and…oh never mind.  He’s cute anyway!
In the picture below you can see the tinsel glitter from Recollections that I added to his scarf and then Stickles in Icicle and Stardust that I added the sentiment.  I used a Martha Stewart icicle border punch for that.

Make sure you visit all the ladies below to see their great creations.  And you must join in for the last CTD of the year!  Visit the blog for all the details!
Broni ~ Barbara ~ Tammy ~ Lori ~ Wanda ~ Joan ~ Kristin ~ Lynn~Kerri and our November Guest Designer Lydia Fielder

Show your feminine side

Lace, pearls and flouncy ribbons - these are the things that make up a creation with a truly feminine flair. That's what is at the heart of this month's Flourishes challenge.  To enter, let's see how you add a dose of femininity to your cards or creations! Link your project up here and if you upload to SCS, please use the key word FLLCDEC11. Use Flourishes stamps if you have them, but if you don't please play anyway! The winner will receive our entire December release. You have until December 16 at 5 PM Eastern time to submit.
I realize that my card is not the most feminine…but I did use lovely trims from the Lace and Trim set…and lots of glitter of course!  Back by popular demand, this lovely stamp set will add a touch of elegance to any creation and you can get it now for an incredible price! Check it out here!

I also used the Evergreen from Forest of Trees.  I stamped several times in Cottage Ivy (Dew Drop) from Memento, stamping off to get lighter images in the background.  The sentiment is from the Sentimental Christmas set.  I stamped the pom pom fringe from the Lace and Trim set on the dark green cardstock that I used to mat the main image panel on in white pigment ink and then embossed with Detail White embossing powder.  Then I added white flock to the pom poms.  I just love this sweet trim!  It adds a nice detail without any bulk.   I also stamped the large lace image in Cottage Ivy on the inside of the card.    The patterned paper is from Cosmo Crickets Mini Deck called Dear Mr. Santa. 
Please visit all of our design team members below for wonderful samples using this Lace and Trim set.  Then head over to the Flourishes blog to join us in the December challenge! 
Barbara Anders
Julie Koerber
Danielle Kennedy
Dawn Burnworth
Stacy Morgan
Tammy Hershberger
Sharon Doolittle
Have a wonderful weekend!

Is it Wednesday already?

I’ve been so busy I can’t believe it’s a new Color Throwdown challenge already! Check out this sweet combo from Wanda!

Very warm, earthy, and vintagy. I thought these colors were perfect for my sweet Magenta deer. I bought this image and sentiment at a stamp show um, 3 years ago and finally inked it up. Crazy, right?!

I stamped both image and sentiment on Flourishes classic white card stock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and based it with Copic markers. I then went over both with Prismacolor pencils…and then painted the deer with a Twinkling H20 for some sparkle.

In the picture below you can see all the glitter I added to his antlers and around…I also added it to the stars on the sentiment.

I used a Martha Stewart punch for the holly leaves and attached a small rusty bell. The background paper is from the Jillibean Soup paper pad called Christmas Eve Chowder.

Visit all of the design team blogs below for your viewing pleasure!

Broni ~ Barbara ~ Tammy ~ Keva ~ Lori ~ Wanda ~ Joan ~ Kristin ~ Lynn~Kerri and our November Guest Designer Lydia Fielder

Then visit the Color Throwdown blog for the details to play along with this weeks challenge! Have a great day!

I can’t believe it’s December already!

Wow, the days are flying by!  My Christmas shopping is almost done (thank God for Etsy!) but I still have lots of crafting to do.   Flourishes has a new calendar for 2012 and it’s in a 4 x 6 format.  It’s a nice size to frame.   You can find it here for only $2!
I decided to use Christmas Candles for a December calendar page.

After printing the calendar I stamped the candle image and colored it with Copic markers.  I shaded around the image with Prismacolor pencils and oms.  Then I glittered up those candles!  I wanted them to look like frosted pillars so I covered them with Crystal Effects and poured on the glitter.  It’s a clear chunky glitter with lots of texture.   I freehanded some black lines to frame the page with a black Copic Multiliner.   Just for a whimsical touch I colored a piece of vellum with a YG13 Copic marker then punch out a tiny Christmas tree and adhered it over the 25.   It’s a very plain page, but I left it that way until I decide if it’s going to be a card or part of a full calendar.  Then I can embellish appropriately.  Less is more is me anyway ;)
The design team has wonderful ideas and samples of calendar pages too, so check them out! 
Barbara Anders
Julie Koerber
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Danielle Kennedy
Dawn Burnworth
Stacy Morgan
Tammy Hershberger
Sharon Doolittle
And have a great weekend!

Wednesday’s Color Throwdown

This week our lovely hostess is Lynn and she picked this bright fun color combination for us. I decided to use the Night of Navy for nighttime and thought this cute Lili of the Valley image would work great.
I stamped Moonlight Wishes on kraft paper with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I colored the image with Prismacolor pencils and oms.

I used Periwinkle pencil around the moon. I read on Paula’s blog that she loves this color for night skies, and she’s right, it’s perfect! I used a darker blue at the very edges for separation. I used Spica glitter pens in various colors on the holly leaves and berries and stars. Now, I wanted to add some additional shimmer so I used a Glimmer Mist in Vanilla Breeze but it’s really hard to see…and photograph. Hopefully you can see it in the photo below.

The image is matted on Night of Navy cut with a Spellbinders die Fleur De Lis Rectangles and the patterned paper is from Graphic 45. I used a Lil’ Inker Designs holly die from the Holly Jolly Die and Stamp Set and some MFT felt. I added them with some rustic twine and a rusty bell and a few red adhesive pearls.
Now check out all the gorgeous samples our awesome design team has to show you!
Broni ~ Barbara ~ Tammy ~ Keva ~ Lori ~ Wanda ~ Joan ~ Kristin ~ Lynn~Kerri and our November Guest Designer Lydia Fielder
And then head over to the Color Throwdown and join in this weeks color challenge. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and is recovering from shopping! I am so glad I am just about done! I hope this means I can get in all my crafting for the holidays!

Flourishes Free For all Friday!

Today it’s a free for all at Flourishes and I hadn’t yet inked up this beautiful Amaryllis image from the Petals and Peace set.

I colored this image with Copic markers and die cut it with the largest die from the new Tailor-Made Keyhole Classics die set. I inked inside the die with Wheat ink from Versa Magic. The patterned paper is from the Authentique Wonder. The music note paper is a great compliment to the image. I found these little bells in Michaels and grouped a bunch and tied them around the bow. I’m on a bit of a bell kick, and you’ll be seeing lots of these little jinglies!

Don’t forget that today is the last day to get the entire November release bundle at 10% off. Find it here!

Checkout all the great designs the team came up with and have a great weekend!

Barbara Anders
Julie Koerber
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Danielle Kennedy
Dawn Burnworth
Stacy Morgan
Tammy Hershberger
Sharon Doolittle

Wednesday’s Color Throwdown

Todays fun color combo is brought to us by Keva!   I found several of these colors in my MME Darling Deer paper pad.  I picked up this adorable image from The Artful Stamper at a stamp show a couple of weekends ago so I thought we’d try out these colors. 

I stamped the image on PTI ivory card stock and colored it with Copics.  I stamped the stockings again on a separate pieced of paper and colored them and pieced them on the image panel, but before I did that I shaded around them with Prismacolor Pencils and oms.  I used two ribbons, one is Faux Suede Ruffle from May Arts and I used a scrap of crinkly red ribbon to make the bow and added a bell.   The Dear Santa sentiment is from Sentimental Christmas by Flourishes.
I love these fun stockings and can’t wait to do them in some bright colors too.  Now check out the DT’s awesome samples with this weeks color challenge…and make sure you head over to the Color Throwdown to join in on the challenge with us! 
Have a great day!
Broni ~ Barbara ~ Tammy ~ Laura ~ Keva ~ Lori ~ Wanda ~ Joan ~ Kristin ~ Lynn~Kerri and our November Guest Designer Lydia Fielder

Lets get sentimental

Hey everyone!  Lets kick off another Flourishes release with a great new sentiment set called Sentimental Christmas.

I’ve used today’s Timeless Tuesday challenge which is to double emboss…you can find a great tutorial here.   It’s a great technique that produces wonderful results.  There are so many combinations of embossing folders and dies to use.   I hope you will give a try!  Head on over to the Flourishes blog for the full details. 
These ladies also have creations to share using this technique with the new set so check them out!
Christine Okken
Tammy Hershberger
Jan Marie Caruso
Mona Pendleton
Beate Johns
Heather Jensen
Cindy Haffner
Makiko Jones
Silke Ledlow

Merry Kissmas!

Yeah! It’s Friday!  I have another Christmas card to share using the Meet Me Under the Mistletoe set from Flourishes!  This is such an elegant set with great sentiments.

I went very feminine on this and used pinks instead of reds.   I colored the image with Copics and added glitter and berries with a Viva Décor dimensional paint pen.  I used my Spellbinders Classic Ovals and Scalloped Ovals dies for the image and mat.  The sentiment I stamped and hand cut a banner shape.  The papers are all scraps, but I know the pink background panel is an embossed piece by Bazzill.   It’s so pretty but probably not appropriate to give to my husband…too much pink, lol!   I hope you can click on it and see all the sparkle!
Check out all the great projects our design team came up with today!
Barbara Anders
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Dawn Burnworth
Julie Koerber
Stacy Morgan
Tammy Hershberger
Sharon Doolittle
And don’t forget that today is the last day to get the entire October release bundle at 10% off. Find it here!
Have a fantastic weekend!

Candles candles everywhere

The last gorgeous new set from Flourishes in the October line up is Christmas Candles.  Beautiful images and sentiments for elegant creations!

I began by stamping the image on Flourishes Classic White card stock and colored it with Copics.  I added some sparkle with a Stardust gelly roll pen to each flame then coated the glass candle holders with Crystal Effects.  I used a Ranger Inkssentials white pen to add highlights here and there and cut out the image with a Spellbinders Classic Rectangle die.  I used Labels Twenty Two to for the sentiment and Fanciful Holiday for the swirly die cut border at the top.   The paper is Wassail from Basic Grey. 
I hope you enjoyed all of this months stamp sets.  It’s time for everyone to be getting started on their Christmas cards so don’t hesitate, you NEED these sets, lol!  Okay, I never start mine early.  What fun is it if you’re not in a last minute frenzy to get everything done before Christmas day?!!
Check out all the great cards from the design team below!
Barbara Anders
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Dawn Burnworth
Julie Koerber
Stacy Morgan
Tammy Hershberger
Sharon Doolittle
Want a chance to win the ENTIRE FLOURISHES RELEASE FOR OCTOBER?
Play the Heavy Metal Challenge! Visit the Flourishes blog for all the details! The deadline to enter is today October 14th at 5PM EST.
FYI: All of this week’s sets are live in the Flourishes store right now! We also have the New Release Bundle, which gives you all four of our stamp sets for 10% off!

Time for some fun!

This next set from Flourishes are fun silhouettes called a Season of Celebrations. I chose to use the sledding image from this set today.

I paired up this image with some fun paper from 3 Bugs in a Rug called Oh What Fun! I used my Spellbinders Labels Seventeen to cut out the image. I trimmed one of the snowman images from the paper and popped it up over the image. The snowflakes were made with a Martha Stewart punch and some dew drops. The design team came up with some great cards with this set today-you don’t want to miss these!
Want a chance to win the ENTIRE FLOURISHES RELEASE FOR OCTOBER? There are two ways…
First, check back today on the Flourishes Blog at Noon CST for one of the daily challenges.
And don’t forget about the Heavy Metal Challenge! You have another chance to win the entire October release. Visit the Flourishes blog for all the details! The deadline to enter is Friday October 14th at 5PM EST.
FYI: All of this week’s sets are live in the Flourishes store first thing Friday morning! If you like what you see on the designers’ blogs and want the sets before they are fully released, you can pre-order! Just click HERE! We also have the New Release Bundle, which gives you all four of our stamp sets for 10% off!
And don’t forget to leave a comment on every DT members post today because someone is the…

Check out all the great cards from the design team below!
Barbara Anders
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Dawn Burnworth
Julie Koerber
Stacy Morgan
Tammy Hershberger
Sharon Doolittle

Pucker Up!

The next set up for the Flourishes October release sneak peek is Meet Me Under the Mistletoe. I love the classic images and great sentiments in this set!

I used paper from my new MME paper pad Darling Deer. I love the colors in this…not your classic Christmas colors, but very sophisticated! My image is stamped on Flourishes Classic White card stock and colored with Copics. I used my Spellbinders dies Labels Twenty Two for the image and Classic Oval for the sentiment. I used a Martha Stewart punch for the branches under the sentiment. I used red braided trim and Natural Cotton Fringe and also some seam binding for the bow on top.
Want a chance to win the ENTIRE FLOURISHES RELEASE FOR OCTOBER? There are two ways…
First, check back today on the Flourishes Blog at Noon CST for one of the daily challenges.
And don’t forget about the Heavy Metal Challenge! You have another chance to win the entire October release. Visit the Flourishes blog for all the details! The deadline to enter is Friday, October 14th at 5PM EST.
FYI: All of this week’s sets will be live in the Flourishes store first thing Friday morning! If you like what you see on the designers’ blogs and want the sets before they are fully released, you can pre-order! Just click HERE! We also have the New Release Bundle, which gives you all four of our stamp sets for 10% off!
And don’t forget to leave a comment on every DT members post today because someone is the…

Check out all the great cards from the design team below!
Barbara Anders
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Dawn Burnworth
Julie Koerber
Stacy Morgan
Tammy Hershberger
Sharon Doolittle

Flourishes October sneaks begin

Good morning everyone and welcome to the first October sneak peek from Flourishes!  Today I have a card to show you using the new Holiday Sparkle set.
As you are reading this I am already in Florida on vacation.  It’s a small family reunion of sorts with my husbands family and we are taking the kids to Disney World and Universal.  It’s supposed to rain all week, so keep your fingers crossed that it’s not so bad that we can’t enjoy the rides and halloween in the Magic Kingdom!
On to my card…

This set is full of vintage Christmas ornaments…just like I remember on my grandma’s tree when I was little.   I have several mercury glass ornaments myself and my Santa’s  are my favorites!  I stamped both the pine branch and Santa on Flourishes Classic White card stock and colored them with Copics.   Then they were cut out and popped up on the decorative paper from the Basic Grey Jovial pad.   I sprayed the sentiment panel as well as the pine branch and Santa with Glimmer Mist and it has a really pretty sheen to it.  I used Crystal Effects and Diamond Dust along the edges of the panel and it’s really sparkly!
Hopefully you can see some of the sparkle in the picture below. 

Want a chance to win the ENTIRE FLOURISHES RELEASE FOR OCTOBER? There are two ways…
First, check back today on the Flourishes Blog at Noon CST for one of the daily challenges.
And don’t forget about the Heavy Metal Challenge! You have another chance to win the entire October release. Visit the Flourishes blog for all the details! The deadline to enter is Friday, October 14th at 5PM EST.
FYI: All of this week’s sets will be live in the Flourishes store first thing Friday morning! If you like what you see on the designers’ blogs and want the sets before they are fully released, you can pre-order! Just click HERE! We also have the New Release Bundle, which gives you all four of our stamp sets for 10% off!
And don’t forget to leave a comment on every DT members post today because someone is the…

Check out all the great cards from the design team below!
Barbara Anders
Christine Okken
Cindy Lawrence
Dawn Burnworth
Julie Koerber
Stacy Morgan
Tammy Hershberger
Sharon Doolittle

Let it Snow!

Some days it’s so hot a nice snow shower would definitely be in order!  But today it’s all about the Flourishes Christmas challenge, FLLCNOEL16, and it’s to make a Christmas song inspired card.   
I chose the sweet snowman from Warm Winter Wishes.  He’s stamped on watercolor paper and painted with SU reinkers.

All of the patterned paper is from the Jovial paper pad by Basic Grey.  The snowflake mat was made by cutting out two Fleur de Lis from Spellbinders from glittered cardstock.  I think it might be Bazzill.   The same glitter paper was used for the Martha Stewart border I punched and added on the left side of the card.  I used a Spellbinders Standard Circles large die to cut out the main image.   I accented the snowman with Marvy Liquid Applique and sprinkled on some Winter Glitter from Judikins while it was still we.  Hopefully you can see that and the glittery paper in the close up below.

I used some velvet trim and a decorative button for accents and stamped the sentiment three times and cut them out by hand and added them randomly down the side. 
Join in this months Christmas challenge and head over to the Flourishes blog for all the details and to see more song inspired creations!  Thanks for stopping by!

Flourishes Christmas in July!

Flourishes is having a fun Christmas in July sale and from now until July 31st all Flourishes’ Christmas stamps are on sale for 20% off.  No code necessary.  Flourishes will automatically discount the stamps for you! 

For my Christmas card I used Vintage Postcard and created a shaker card.  I used the instructions from the SCS tutorial here.  I began by stamping my image twice, first in black ink then a second time with embossing ink and embossed with gold.  I cut the center out of the gold embossed image and used the frame to adhere my acetate to.  I colored the other image with Copics and used that as the background.  I filled the center with Martha Stewart iridescent glitter flakes and some silver microbead mix from Judikins before adhering it with dimensional adhesive tape to the frame.
 
The background mat was made using the Spellbinders die Fleur De Lis rectangles.   I cut it out of a piece a patterned paper with stylized snowflakes on it from MME.  The sentiment was stamped on a banner die cut from the Ribbon Banner set which I then ran a gold leaf pen around the edge to tie it into the frame.    The card base is cardstock that looks like parchment which I’ve had in my stash for ages. 
Below you can see the acetate and see how the front is popped up from the back and the glitter inside.

Did you see Cindy’s gorgeous creation here? You can go to the Flourishes blog and get the links to all of this weeks Christmas creations.
Christine also has a Christmas creation to share so make sure you head on over and check it out!
Happy Friday!