Timeless Tuesday!

It's time for another Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday challenge...and this week we're using real or faux stitching on our projects.  I used straight and zig-zag machine stitching on mine.

This fuchsia image from Old Fashioned Florals makes me smile!  My mom had a beautiful hanging basket of these gorgeous blossoms when I was a teen.  The flowers are small, but their colors are so vibrant!

I wanted this card to be bright, frilly, and girlie since it will be going to my mother-in-law who recently fell and fractured her shoulder.  My heart goes out to her...since I injured my leg about six weeks ago, I know very well how difficult it is to keep up with normal everyday life when your body is broken.  This month has gone by in a blur of doctor, chiropractor, and physical therapy visits.  I am struggling to "get all of my plates spinning" again, and am still trying to get used to a "new normal" when it comes to  food and two more months of this elimination diet!  Thankfully it is getting easier every day!

Notes:
Flourishes card stock
Old Fashioned Florals
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Copic markers
Cuttlebug embossing folder
Spellbinders classic scallop edgeabilities
May Arts ribbon and tulle trim
American Crafts button
hemp twine
rhinestones

Visit the Flourishes blog and the design team to see their Timeless Tuesday creations!  And before you go...I'd like to thank you for all of your visits and comments during my guest design time!  It has been a blessing and a pleasure!  I am sad that the time passed so quickly!

• Allison Cope
• Broni Holcombe
• Cindy Haffner
• Deborah Anton
• Denise Marzec

Rejoice!

It's Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday!  This week's challenge is "Spring!" I am happy that Spring will officially start in just a few days!  There are things that I love about each and every season...in Spring, it's the brilliant array of colors, the bright greens of new growth, the sweet fragrances of emerging blossoms, and the sights and sounds of new life, especially at Easter with its theme of renewal and resurrection.  Flourishes' set, Easter Wishes, captures the very essence of Spring and Easter.

Find more inspiration on the Flourishes blog, and be sure to visit the Flourishes design team:

• Allison Cope
• Broni Holcombe
• Cindy Haffner
• Deborah Anton
• Denise Marzec

Notes:
Easter Wishes
Classic Ivory card stock
My Mind's Eye designer paper
Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Copic markers
Spellbinders Fancy Labels 3 die (cut in half)
ruffle trim 
bling

Subtle, Yet Glorious Green!

It's time for another Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday challenge, and this week we're using green.

Usually I begin a card by choosing card stock and coordinating patterned papers, but the starting point for this one was that lovely deep, dark olive green sheer ribbon.  It harmonizes so beautifully with a trio of prints from My Mind's Eye Unforgettable, whose colors were perfectly suited for this particular image from Windows to the World.  The layout is one from Flourishes' "layouts we love" Pinterest page.

Visit the Flourishes blog for all the challenge details and for more inspiration!

Notes:
Windows to the World
Memento Espresso Truffle ink
Frayed Burlap distress ink
Copic markers
My Mind's Eye Unforgettable designer paper
sheer satin, scalloped edge ribbon
pearls

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday!

Hello friends!  I'm so excited to share the news that I am guest designing for Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday Challenges for the month of March!  This week's challenge is Embossed Corrugate - Use Real or Faux Corrugate on your project.

It's been "really cold" in Florida this week, which doesn't happen all that often (and yes, I know, "really cold" is relative!)...when the cold weather comes (even though the flowers are blooming and it's nearly Easter), it puts me in the mood to make wintry cards.  This one is a nearly monochromatic Christmas card, with the exception of some soft, coral-red holly berries.  The image was stamped with Memento ink, colored with Copic markers, and framed with a soft sponging of distress ink.

The corrugated paper was more kraft-colored than my designer paper, so I inked its ridges with Memento ink, then finger-painted it with ivory acrylic paint and spritzed it with some pewter shimmer spray to help it harmonize with the other colors.  That gave it the Winter White look I was hoping for.

Visit the Flourishes blog for more inspiration and details regarding the challenge.

Notes:
Flourishes Doves and Holly stamp
Flourishes Classic Ivory card stock
My Mind's Eye Unforgettable designer paper
corrugated paper
ivory acrylic paint
pewter shimmer spray
Memento ink
Copic markers
Tim Holtz Frayed Burlap distress ink
Spellbinders' classic ovals dies
sheer ribbon
velvet ribbon
Prima flower
sewing machine

Flourishes

October has been such an incredible month! While in some ways I'm relieved that it is coming to an end, in other ways, I am hugely disappointed.

Our church has sponsored a pumpkin patch for most of the month, so I am happy that today marks the end of pumpkin patch duty! My son and I worked as a team and have put in about 15 hours altogether. In the beginning I thought I'd pack some markers and images to take so that I could color while we were there, but early on I learned that it was just too windy and/or there were too many interruptions (a good thing since it was a fundraiser!) to get much stamping accomplished. Besides, it has been really fun to see the children's delight as they come to pick out their pumpkins, sometimes in their costumes...I have really enjoyed it. I must admit that there are lots of things I could do with 15 hours of time! ;)

Florida has seen little to no rain for this month, and the air is FULL of pollen...but THAT and our battle with allergies is a whole 'nother story!

I have been so blessed to have been invited to spend the Sundays of October posting to the Flourishes blog as the Flourishes Limelight designer, and I am very sad to see that time come to an end. I loved the stamps, papers and ribbons they shared with me, and have fallen in love with cotton linen ribbon!  It has been so much fun to work with their intricate, elegant images...they are so very beautiful, and they definitely stretch my stamping skills.  Because some are realistic images of animals or flowers, I've had to research how they should be colored, adapting techniques and paying close attention to light and shadow. Julie also asked me to share some of my techniques, which really challenged me to scrutinize the way I stamp and try to identify little things I've discovered that make things work better or look more realistic. Some of the things one might take for granted are the very things that another stamper would love to find out about!

I hope you'll visit the Flourishes blog to read my final post there and learn about the two projects I've posted here as "teasers." You'll find tips and techniques, as well as links to the products I have used. I am hoping that something has inspired you or that you've learned something new to try! I'd love to hear what you think!

As busy as October has been, I'm sure, based on past experience, that November and December will prove to be just as hectic, each in their own way! Nevertheless, this is my favorite time of year to stamp, and I'm searching for a balance between real life and life in the stamping studio! 

Hoping to see you again soon! Happy Halloween, and blessings for the coming holidays!

More Flourishes and 7 Gypsies

I have really been enjoying my Flourishes stamps, both new and old!  I had intended to use a new floral for today's cards, but I couldn't get my mind off of this 7 gypsies paper!

I'm kinda hooked on these rolled flowers lately too!  They are so easy to make and add so much to a design...they look especially at home on this old-fashioned parlor style card.

My second card is more characteristic of my typical symmetrical style, something Julie mentioned when I first made my debut on the Flourishes blog.  I have dabbled in lots of crafts, and here I was inspired by the over-under of basketweaving to make a narrow frame for this beautiful floral image.

I hope you like both of my cards.  I have always loved the beautiful prints, textures, and florals of the Victorian era, and enjoy working with this style.  My post on the Flourishes blog goes into more detail about why I chose these products and the how-to's for what I did with them.  I'd love it if you'd visit them and let them know that I sent you!  I can hardly believe that my month in the Flourishes' Limelight is almost over!

Gorgeous Leaves!

No, the leaves in Florida are not changing yet, but I'm still enjoying some leaves of gorgeous colors!  I am thrilled today to share two more cards with Flourishes' fabulous images!  Both were colored with Copic markers, following the same sketch using different prints from the same pack of 7 Gypsies paper.  LOVE these rich colors and the intricately detailed artwork.

Isn't it interesting how the colors really change the mood of the card?!  These papers were very fun to work with and challenged me to get out of my straight-lined, symmetrical habits and try something different!  Figs and Pomegranates and Falling Leaves are very beautiful stamp sets that are really wonderful for someone who loves to color.  :)

I would love to hear what you think, but I do hope you'll visit the Flourishes blog to view my post there and maybe even leave a little love there too!  I've included a little bit about why I chose these images, along with a few tips for coloring and designing.  While you're there, make sure to scroll down to take a peek at the new stamps for their holiday release...they're GORGEOUS!  My wish list keeps growing!  ;)

Blessed Sunday!

Flourishes "In the Limelight"

I am so very excited to make my first post as Flourishes' October "In the Limelight" designer!  This card is one of two that I made to share on the Flourishes blog for today, both using the recently released set, Windows to the World.  I hope you'll visit so you can take a peek at my other card and maybe do a little shopping in the store while you're there!  Be sure to tell 'em Deb sent you!  ;)

Have a blessed Sunday!

Flourishes and Flower Soft

Since October has arrived and it's Breast Cancer Awareness month, this week's Flower Soft Sprinkle Challenge is to use pink. I decided to combine the challenge with Flourishes' Timeless Tuesday sketch.  The image I chose is a beautiful watering can floral from the set, Summer on the Patio, stamped on Flourishes Classic Ivory card stock, embellished with Flower Soft and a rich deep rose silk bow.  I had to change the circle in the sketch to an oval to accommodate the height of the image, but hopefully the sketch is still recognizable.

Notes:
Memento ink, Tim Holtz distress ink, Copic markers
Nestabilities oval, scalloped oval, labels 4 and 10
scraps of DCWV and BG designer paper
Sweet Pea Flower Soft
MS border punch, ticket corner punch
Kaiser pearls
vintage brads

Yesterday was our 26th wedding anniversary, and that's why I chose the "Celebrate" sentiment!  Now I can officially say that I've been married for half of my life!  ;)  I would definitely say that THAT is something WORTH celebrating!

In the Limelight!

I can't tell you how excited I am to finally share the news that I'm "In the Limelight" at Flourishes!  From my earliest stamping days when I had just discovered Splitcoaststampers, I fell in love with these gorgeous, elegant images, and was in awe of the talented girls on the Flourishes' Design Team.  It was as a brand new Dirty Girl that I first got a few of my own Flourishes stamps to play with, and since I'm a sentimental girl, I thought I'd share a few of those projects with you.

The theme of that first Dirty Dozen Gallery was "In the Beginning" and this sweet rock-a-bye door hanger was (and still is) one of my favorite projects.  I love this adorable image, and was tickled pink that this was the "teaser" on the SCS home page for the gallery my first month.

I had the pleasure of meeting Jan Marie and many of the Flourishes Designers when I went for my Copic certification.  It was Mardi Gras season, and Jan Marie opened her home one evening to share some amazing Cajun delicacies with a group of stampers who had attended the Flourishes weekend event and those attending the Copic training next morning.  Being from Louisiana, that was certainly right up my alley!  YUM!

I have to smile as I remember that weekend, because I was sneezing every other breath and probably should not even have been there, but I did not want to miss becoming certified...I tried to stay kinda "quarantined" and I'm sure everyone wanted to avoid me like the plague, but they were all very gracious and wonderful and it ended up being a fabulous weekend and the start of many amazing friendships.

From the name of my blog you can tell that I love music, and so I just HAD to have the Flourishes Christmas music stamp.  This card, for the "In Touch With Textures" theme, my last month with the Dirty Dozen, features that stamp along with a texture paste/brass template Christmas horn.  I love how glittery and elegant this card turned out to be with the gold against the rich hunter green faux suede paper.  The music makes the perfect elegant backdrop...it is that elegance and beauty that draws me to Flourishes' images.

I am so thrilled and honored to be invited to spend the month of October in the limelight...Sundays are always special but this will  make them even moreso!

Strut Your Sparkly Stuff!

I made this for this Flourishes' challenge...it's so hard to photo Pearl Ex's shimmer! More later because we're off to man the Pumpkin Patch!

edited to add: I stamped the peacock from Strut Your Stuff with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, colored him with Prismas and Gamsol to lay in some base colors, then added some shimmer with Pearl Ex (blue, turqoise, green and gold) using a Versamarker. This Basic Grey Boxer designer paper seemed like a great background when paired with some bright turqoise card stock matted with black to make the colors pop. I kept the embellishments ultra simple so that this fellow could strut his stuff without competition!

I was hoping to get a better photo, but the sun is refusing to shine in Florida this afternoon! There came up an enormous black cloud while we were at the Pumpkin Patch so we packed everything up and went inside. Within five minutes the rain started, and the wind blew the canopy we had been under (a frame that was staked into the ground) into a mass of twisted metal! Needless to say, we didn't sell any pumpkins today!

Flourishes!

Back when I went to the Copic Certification in Pensacola, I bought a few Flourishes sets, and I have been patiently waiting to ink them up...I had the BEST time that weekend, celebrating my Louisiana heritage and learning some fabulous new stamping techniques. This week's Flourishes paper piecing challenge was the perfect opportunity to finally ink up one of those new sets, so this is the card I came up with. I actually have an Ethan Allen chair that looks very similar in style to this one in a beautiful floral print. Mine has a fringed, striped pillow and matching ottoman, and I just love it!

I used Memento ink to stamp the upholstery for this elegant chair onto Basic Grey's designer paper...I stamped it again onto a piece of ivory cardstock, then colored the wooden parts with prismas and baby oil, first with browns and then with gold. I cut out all the upholstery pieces, then inked all the edges with Tim Holtz distress ink, and glued them in place, then shaded around the edges of the entire image with a Copic marker and blender pen. I constructed the card using a very simple layout of designer paper matted with a burgundy cardstock atop a River Rock cardstock base. I added a horizontal band of Basic Grey paper punched with a Martha Stewart doily edge punch...all the edges were inked with distress ink. Embellishments included a bow of sheer gold ribbon and a Tim Holtz keyhole accent.