Flourishes Noon-Time Challenge

It's release week at Flourishes and it's time for another noon-time challenge. This one is called "Wild and Wonderful"....make a card a little on the rugged side. Use faux leather, "lasso" in some fun trim or give your creation a distressed look...you choose.  When uploading to online galleries, use keyword FLLCSEPTRW2.

For my card, I'm featuring the new Cowboy Christmas stamp set, which is releasing this week.  I made sure to distress all my edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink and I added some die-cut Spellbinders stars.  The patterned papers and red ribbon are from the September 1-2-3 Kit.

For more inspiration for today's challenge, be sure to stop by the following blogs...

Cindy   ***   Tammy   ***   Julie

Sharon   ***   Danielle   ***   Heather

See ya!

CTD209 Adore You

It's Color Throwdown time and Lynn is our hostess this week. Check out these pretty fall colors she picked for us...

Here's what I came up with...

I finally bought MFT's "Being Cute Is What I Do" after seeing my friend Dawn make so many adorable cards with it and used it for this week's challenge.  Loved coloring this cutie!! The card measures 5" square and the dots around the image were done with orange Stickles.  The matted circle is up on foam tape.

Here are links to the rest of the CTD team so you can check out more color inspiration...

Bar   ***   Broni   ***   Joan

Kerri   ***   Lori   ***   Lynn

Tammy (off this week)   ***   Wanda

and our September Guest Designer, Sherry Cheever!

Have an awesome Wednesday!

FTTC186 "A Pinterest Christmas"

Hi everyone.  Amanda has a really fun challenge for us this week on the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday blog.....find a Christmas photo on Pinterest as inspiration for your card/project.

I found this photo here on Pinterest...

...and here's what I came up with (focusing on the poinsettia theme and the square design with green edging around the square)...

I used a brand new set from Flourishes; it's called Poinsettia and Pine, and it's releasing this week! The poinsettia image was stamped onto Classic Ivory in Memento Tuxedo Black ink, colored with Copic markers, cut out with scissors, and popped up on foam tape.  The papers, green trim, green rhinestones, and kraft flag pin are all part of September's 1-2-3 Kit, which is also releasing this week at Flourishes.

Check out what the rest of the Timeless Tuesday girls have created for you this week...

Allison   ***   Amanda   ***   Broni

Cindy   ***   Heather   ***   Maki

and our September Guest Designer, Linda Lucas!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Sweet Sunday Sketch 167

Hey all!  I had some stamping time this morning so I thought I'd play along in the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge....wow, the actual day OF the challenge, too. Whooo-hoooo!  That never happens for me anymore.

I know a few people with birthdays coming up at the end of the month so I decided to pull out some of my old Penny Black stamps and start making some birthday cards.  The large circle is up on foam tape and the papers are Quilting Bee by My Mind's Eye.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great Sunday!

CTD208 I Heart U

Hi everyone! I'm hosting this week's Color Throwdown challenge and here are the colors I picked. I hope you like them!....

For my card, I used Verve's I Heart U die that my awesome friend Dawn sent to me....thanks, girlie! I love it!!

I cut out a couple extra hearts; one is at the bottom and the other is popped up on foam tape on top of another heart.  I also added little dots of Stickles around the I Heart U die-cuts. Here's a close-up so you can see...

Here are links to the rest of the CTD team so you can check out more color inspiration...

Bar   ***   Broni   ***   Joan

Kerri   ***   Lori   ***   Lynn

Tammy   ***   Wanda

and our September Guest Designer, Sherry Cheever!

Have an awesome Wednesday!

FTTC185 Mini Cards

Hi all, it's Timeless Tuesday time!  Broni is our hostess this week and she challenging us to make "mini cards" no larger than 3" x 4"....sweet! I love making mini cards!  I went with a CAS design using my With Gratitude set from Flourishes.

My card measures 4" high x 3" wide, the flowers were stamped directly onto the Kraft card base, and then I stamped the sentiment on vellum, attached it with small glue dots on the back, and then covered up those glue dots with Kaiser Pearls.

Here are links to the rest of the Timeless Tuesday team so you can hop around for more mini card inspiration...

Allison   ***   Amanda   ***   Broni

Cindy   ***   Heather   ***   Maki

and our September Guest Designer, Linda Lucas!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

CTD207 Grandmother's Heart

Hello and happy Wednesday morning!  It's time for this week's Color Throwdown challenge and Lori is our hostess this week. Here are the colors she chose...

...and here's the card I made...

I used MFT's Clearly Sentimental About Grandparents for the sentiment, die-cut some flowers and leaves with my newest Die-namics, and added some ribbon.  Tip on the rolled flower dies....after cutting and embossing them through the Cuttlebug (or whatever machine you use), crumple them up in your hand, unroll the crumpled CS, and then roll it smallest side to largest. Also, when rolling, keep it a little loose vs. rolling it super tight.

Here are links to my CTD team so you can check out some more color inspiration...

Barbara Anders  **  Broni Holcombe  **  Joan Ervin
Kerri Michaud  **  Lori Tecler  **  Lynn Put

Tammy Hershberger **  Wanda Cullen

and our August guest designer, Vickie Zimmer!

Have an awesome day!  :)

FTTC184 Purple & Blue

Hi all. It's my turn to host the Timeless Tuesday Challenge and I'm picking a color combo this week....purple and blue!  I really love these colors together and I hope you do as well.  Here's my card...

The stamp set is Garden Picks, the main image is stamped on Classic Ivory CS, and colored with Copics (Leaf Green and Lilac Collections as well as B00 and B0000 from the Ice Blue Collection).  The main image was cut out with a Spellbinders circle die and popped up on foam tape.

Be sure to stop by and see what the rest of the Timeless Tuesday girls have created for you today and I hope you'll play along in the challenge.  :)

Allison     ***     Amanda     ***     Broni
Cindy     ***     Heather (off this week)    ***     Maki

and our August Guest Designer, Sasha Holmes

Have a great Tuesday!  :)

CTD206 Rad Birthday

Hi everyone! Kerri is our hostess for this week's Color Throwdown challenge and she picked these lovely colors...

I just bought some new goodies from MFT including this a la modes 80's Girl...I think she's adorable.  :)  

I have a girlfriend who will be celebrating a birthday later this week....and she's a total 80's girl so I think she'll get a kick out of this image.  Papers are My Mind's Eye and the image was colored with Copic markers.  The layout is Deconstructed Sketch #64 and the card measures 5" square.

Here are links to my CTD team so you can check out some more color inspiration...

Barbara Anders  **  Broni Holcombe  **  Joan Ervin
Kerri Michaud  **  Lori Tecler  **  Lynn Put
Tammy Hershberger **  Wanda Cullen

and our August guest designer, Vickie Zimmer!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today.  :)

FTTC183 "Butterflies, Bees, Spiders, Oh my!"

This week's Timeless Tuesday Challenge from Maki is a fun one...."Butterflies, Bees, Spiders, Oh My!"...use an insect image and/or elements for your card or project.

For my card, I used stamps from "Bee My Honey," paired it up with some MME Sweetest Thing-Tangerine papers (see the honeycomb pattern??), and the layout is the August SFYTT.  The crochet lace ribbon is from May Arts, flower dies are by Spellbinders, and the main image was stamped on Classic White.  The main image and small bees are all up on foam tape.  Copics used: (0, Y00, Y02, Y08, YR65, R20, R22, G21, G24, G28, G40, W3)

Be sure to stop by and see what the rest of the Timeless Tuesday girls have created for you today and I hope you'll play along in the challenge.  :)

Allison     ***     Amanda     ***     Broni
Cindy     ***     Heather     ***     Maki

and our August Guest Designer, Sasha Holmes

Have a great day!

First Day of School

Hi all! Things have been really crazy busy, but crazy in a GOOD way.  You may have noticed that I've only been posting on Tuesdays and Wednesdays lately for my challenge groups....well, that's because I just started a new job working OUTSIDE the home.  For the last ten years, I've been a transcriptionist working from home as well as raising my youngest daughter.  Times are changing though and the company I transcribe for is going to "electronic charting," which means that they don't need my services as much as they used to and my hours have been cut WAYYYYY back. I've been feeling bored at home for a while now anyway, so I made the decision to start looking for a job in addition to transcribing reports. I was lucky enough to find one right away working in a family medical office as a receptionist/registrar...you know, the girl at the desk who takes your insurance card and your co-pay or the girl who sets up your next follow-up appointment and gives you a receipt before you leave?....yep, that's my new job.  I just started this past Monday and so far I REALLY like it.  The people are nice, I like the medical office setting, I get to interact with patients....and....I get to wear scrubs!!....yes, that part makes me especially happy!  :)  :)  So anyway, if my posts seem sporadic again, that is why. I'm sure I'll pick up on posting more....I just need to give myself a few weeks to get used to going TO a job again.  :)

So anyway.....you didn't come here to listen to a bunch of rambling. You came to see a card, right?  Okay, here's one I made for Kara's new teacher using an a la modes girl that I bought from MFT (my very first a la modes girl)....this one is called An Apple for Teacher.

Papers are by My Mind's Eye (Sweetest Thing--Honey) and the layout is this week's Wednesday Stamp Club Sketch.  the tab, scalloped border, flower, and leaves are all MFT Die-namics.  Oh, and I also added some Stickles to the image (the apple leaf, her belt, shirt cuff, earrings, and hair band.

Copics used: 0, R20, R22, R24, R27, C1, C3, RV21, RV23, E00, E11, E13, Y21, Y32, YR24, E33, YG11, YG13, YG17

Thanks for stopping by and I'll be back on Tuesday with the new Friends of Flourishes challenge.

Flourishes Birthday Celebration!

Hi all! Since Flourishes is lighting the candles on its fifth birthday cake, we decided to throw a little party to celebrate and the party is TODAY! We are having a day that we are calling.....    

2-4-6-8....Help Flourishes Celebrate!

At 2PM, 4PM, 6PM and 8PM (Central Standard Time), Flourishes is going to be ushering in some fun-filled challenges and YOU could win some fun prizes! Are you ready for the 2PM Challenge?

HOW TO PLAY: This challenge is sweet as can be -- just use a focal image or sentiment that is SWEET! Just that simple! Use Flourishes stamps if you have them -- your entries will count twice. If you don't have Flourishes stamps, play along anyway, you could win some! If you upload to SCS, please use the keyword FLLCIS5A. You have until August 31st to enter and can enter as many times as you like! Some of our designers have helped us celebrate with a little sweetness!

Here's my card....

I chose to use my Strawberries set and used the "you're so sweet" sentiment from the set.  The layout was Fall-to Layout #202 from the Clean and Simple Blog. The strawberries were stamped on Classic Ivory CS and then colored with Copics (Poppy Collection, Leaf Green Collection, Buttercup Collection, and C1).

If you need some more inspiration, be sure to hop on over and see...

Julie Koerber  **  Stacy Morgan  **  Tammy Hershberger 

The OFFICIAL Rules…..

• Simply create a card using a sweet sentiment or image!
• Entries need to be in by Friday, August 31 by 5 PM EST
• Those that use Flourishes stamps will be counted twice for their entry
• You must link your creation on this post using our inlinkz widget in order to qualify
• You must have a link to our challenge in your blog or gallery post
• Please DO NOT combine challenges.
• If you upload to SCS, please use the keyword FLLCIS5A
• We’ll announce the winners Tuesday, September 4th at noon CST!

  HOW CAN YOU WIN? Play in this challenge and that counts as one entry for a stamping prize pack (including stamps and other goodies!) Play in all five and you will be entered toward our grand prize! Winners will be drawn randomly but if your card is one of our designers' faves, your work will be added to our Customer Cards Gallery on Pinterest for all to see! So get those fingers inky and join us for our birthday bash! Hi all!  Flourishes is celebrating a birthday this month and today there are going to be FOUR different challenges throughout the day.  The first challenge is live right now on the Flourishes Blog and the theme is "Sweet Celebration."  All you have to do is add something "sweet" to your card or project.

CTD205 Sweetest Things

Hi everyone! Here's my card for today's Color Throwdown challenge. Joan is our hostess this week and she picked white, pool party, lucky limeade, wisteria wonder and pumpkin pie (or you can use something close to those colors).  Click HERE to see the inspiration photo on the Color Throwdown blog.

For my card I used certainly celery, cool caribbean, almost amethyst, and pumpkin pie.  The rolled flowers were made with an MFT Die-namics, the leaves were cut with a PTI die and embossed with my Swiss Dots embossing folder, the butterfly is a Martha Stewart punch, and the cool caribbean frame was cut with a romantic rectangles die from Spellbinders. The sentiment is from MFT's Polka Dot Greetings set.

Here are links to my CTD team so you can check out some more color inspiration...

Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe
Joan Ervin
Kerri Michaud
Lori Tecler
Lynn Put
Tammy Hershberger
Wanda Cullen
and our August guest designer, Vicki Zimmer!

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today.  :)

FTTC182 "Use Kraft"

Hi all!  This week's Timeless Tuesday challenge is from Miss Cindy. She's challenging us to use Kraft CS on our cards/projects.....yay for that!!...I LOVE using Kraft!  :)

For my card, I used the brand new Country Road set from Flourishes.  The main image is up on foam tape to give it some dimension.

Be sure to stop by and see what the rest of the Timeless Tuesday girls have created for you today and I hope you'll play along in the challenge.  :)

Allison  **  Amanda  **  Broni
Cindy  **  Heather  **  Maki

and our August Guest Designer, Sasha Holmes

...and...MARK YOUR CALENDRS!!  If you like hanging out with Flourishes and taking on a few challenges -- JOIN US on AUGUSUT 15TH! We'll have a 2-4-6-8 Challenge day. What does that mean? It means that at 2 p.m., 4 p.m., 6 p.m., and 8 p.m., we'll have some challenges to celebrate Flourishes' 5th birthday.  The challenges will run through the end of the month and the prizes will be fun!  Soooo, be sure to join us back here tomorrow.  I'll be  posting something for the 2:00 challenge and I hope to see you then.  :)