I've got a quick post for you today. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Ours was practically perfect in every way! :)
Today's sample is a fun and easy basket made from one sheet of 12x12 cardstock and some pretty patterned papers. The photo above shows the basket with the ribbons tied a bit looser, and the photo below shows it with the ribbon tied tight.
You can find fantastic instructions for creating your own basket right HERE on Splitcoaststampers.
Have a fantastic day, friends! Thanks for visiting!
Well, here we are just three days away from Christmas. I hope you are finding time to enjoy the little things in these last few days leading up to the big day. It's so easy to become frantic and frazzled with our "to-do" lists, isn't it? I am often the worst offender in the "over-achiever" club...also known as the "doesn't-know-her-limits" club. I do have to keep reminding myself of what is truly important. I am so very thankful for all that I have been blessed with. God is GOOD!
I've been getting quite a kick out of the many frazzled men out there shopping this week...very entertaining indeed! ("Oh, she's about your size...") Then there are the amazing questions like, "I need to buy something for a 7 year old boy. What color do they like?" ...and the line I hear over and over..."Do you work here?" as I'm taking down a sign. The other day I couldn't help myself, and I said, "No, I just like messing with the signs." HAH! Here's my favorite encounter this week, as I over-heard an elderly couple talking about how they couldn't find what they were looking for and were just going to have to go somewhere else. So I walked over, and said, "Hi there! Is there something I can help you find?" Their response?... "No, thank you...just browsing." Hahahaha...some days it's hard to keep a straight face out there! People are FUNNY, I tell ya! :)
Today, I have a sweet little snowman sample to share with you. I used JustRite's Whimsical Christmas Borders & Centers to make the snowflake background. The snowman is made from punches...don't you just love the ear-muffs?! (Not my original idea...lifted from Splitcoaststampers!) I used some pretty sparkly papers and a Sakura Glaze Pen to get lots of shimmer and shine. My Nestability dies, some sponging, and pearls finish things off nicely.
Here's a close-up:
The card size is 6" x 3-1/4", and I rounded the top two corners for interest.
Have yourselves a fabulous Wednesday, friends! My daughter is home with the stomach bug, which my son, Nick, had over the weekend. Good times! At least they are getting it out of the way before Christmas, right? Gotta look at the bright side. :)
Welcome to another Flourishes Friday! This week the design team challenge is Free For All! (everyone's favorite challenge...right?!)
I just had to get in another Christmas card, while I still can. So, I used the oh-so-fabulous stamp set, Christmas Classics. I knew from the very first moment I saw this set that I was going to fall head over heels in love! It is perfection in a stamp set, in my view. :)
I chose the stockings image, and colored them with dye inks on European Watercolor Paper. I added some White Liquid Applique to the stocking tops and Glossy Accents to anything I thought should be shiny. I backed the image with two die-cuts made with the Labels Fourteen Nestabilities Die. The creme de la creme is the gorgeous Jovial papers from Basic Grey. I cannot get enough of these papers, and will be sad to have to put them away.
Here's a close-up of the colored image:
I cut the image out using scissors and an exacto knife when I got to the tricky parts, not the easiest cutting job; but worth it in the end I think.
Now it's time for you to stop by the rest of the design team blogs to see their gorgeous creations:
Remember, today is the last day for Flourishes New Release Bundle! You can get Mix-n-Mugs and Butterflies and Blossoms bundled at 10% off. You can click HERE for more details!
That's all from me today, friends! Have yourselves a FANTASTIC Friday!
Hugs, ~Cindy
--------------------------------------------------------------- Stamps: Christmas Classics Papers: Real Red Textured, Black, Kiwi Kiss, European Watercolor Paper, Jovial Patterned Papers (Basic Grey) Inks: Staz-On Black, Real Red, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Always Artichoke, Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip Accessories: Water Brush, White Liquid Applique, Glossy Accents, Labels Fourteen Nestabilities, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Fern Leaf Punch, Paper Flowers, Red Pearls, Black Braided Trim, Dimensionals
How are you on this fine day? I am TERRIFIC! I have the day off tomorrow...and I get to be home alone for the first time in a loooooooong time. Whatever shall I do? Stay in my jammies all day...reading, watching tv, eating bon bons and sipping wine??? Hmmm....I guess I should probably finish up the gift wrapping, write in/address/mail the Christmas cards, get the ham into the oven for dinner, begin the candy making marathon, find and load photos onto my mother-in-laws digital photo frame, do laundry, housework, and maybe even squeeze in a bit of stamping. Yup, that sounds more like my day; but boy oh boy, am I thankful for it!!! :)
Today's card is another Christmas card, made with Just Rite's Groovy Snowmen stamp set. I chose warm tones and pretty Mistletoe patterned papers from Memory Box. The corduroy buttons are some old SU buttons that I dyed with my R24 Copic marker, and strung with Peppermint Twine. I finished the card off with a pretty border made with Martha Stewart's Modern Garland punch.
Guess what?! There are just eleven days until Christmas! I know....right?! How did we get here already? I surprised myself this year by having all of my shopping and most of my gift-wrapping done early. Now to get those Christmas cards signed, sealed, and delivered... Why is it so easy for stampers to MAKE the cards; but so difficult to get them into the mail??? Is it just me, or is that a universal dilemma?
Today I have a couple of fun Christmas gift tags to share with you. I made them with Flourishes awesome Sweets of the Season set, and some fun Spellbinders dies. I colored the images with Copic markers, and added some pretty Peppermint Twine for hanging.
Here's a close-up of the green tag:
For this first tag, I used the Fair Isle Pendant and Lacey Square dies.
Here's a close-up of the other tag:
For this tag, I used Spellbinders Petite Ovals, Beaded Ovals, and Labels Nine dies.
I added a bit of Sakura's Gelly Roll Glitter Pen to both the whipped cream on the first tag and the candy cane on the second.
So much satisfaction in such a small project...love making tags!
I hope you are enjoying all that this season brings, my sweet friends! I see so many unhappy faces out there this time of year. When the pressures of the season start to take a toll on you, take a DEEP breath and remember the Reason for the season...the blessed birth of our great Savior, Jesus Christ. What an incredible gift we have in Him!
Here's a little something to inspire and uplift you today:
It's Flourishes release day! This month, Flourishes has something fun and FREE for you! It's their brand-new 2011 Calendar Template, ready for you to download today! Check out Julie's download instructions right HERE.
For my project, I chose to make a calendar for my hubby's desk at work. I have had these wonderful wooden holders for a couple of years. I believe I originally bought them at Oriental Trading Company.
To make the calendar pages, I printed the FLLC 2011 Calendar onto Classic White cardstock, and cut the pages down to 5-3/4" x 4". I then layered those pages onto colored cardstock, sized at 5-7/8" x 4-3/4". I used a Crop-a-Dile to punch the holes at the top of the pages, and slid them onto the metal arms.
I stamped images from a dozen different sets throughout the calendar...no coloring, just simple stamping. I then added some rich patterned papers, a bow, and metal nail heads to finish the pages off. I love how it turned out, and hope my hubby will too!
Here's a close-up of January:
This is one of those projects that restores my faith in my ability to product CAS projects. This came together SO quickly! I may just whip up a more feminine version for my mom, since she loved the one I made her last year so much. :)
Check out the rest of the design team's calendar creations:
Did you check out our Winter White Challenge? You still have a shot at winning both of our new release stamp sets! Just click HERE to check it out! You have until today at 5PM to get your entries in!
And, last but not least…. just like in past releases, we’ve bundled up a great deal! If you purchase both of our stamp sets in our New Release Bundle – you save 10%. But you have to hurry, this offer expires December 17th!
After being tempted and teased all week with the Design Team's delish samples, we are happy to report that the sets are now live and ready for the picking in the Flourishes Store! Just click Butterflies & Blossoms
Mix-n-Mugs
Keep in mind, if you buy both of the sets just released in the New Release Bundle, you get all three sets for 10% off! This offer is only good through December 17th!
We hope you had fun this week! Be sure to stop by tomorrow to see what our ever-so-talented design team whipped up with one of our new... FREE... offerings! See you then!
It's day two of Flourishes sneak peeks! Today we're showcasing the versatile Mix n Mugs stamp set.
For my card, I chose to go with a masculine theme, in part because I needed a card to thank my sweet hubby for all spending a good portion of this past weekend setting up our new wall-mount tv, blue-ray player, and home theater system. It's amazing how much wiring is involved in all that stuff...good thing he's an electrician! ;)
I used my current favorite designer paper, Jovial by Basic Grey. It's technically a holiday paper pack; but I love how well it works for masculine cards as well! I used Copic markers to color in the image, and sponged some Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress ink around the edges of the oval.
I paper-pieced the mug with some more of the Jovial paper, and adhered it over the already-stamped and colored set of tools.
The embossed background is done with SU's Square Lattice Embossing Folder. The card layout is my own design, and one that I will definitely go to again...love how this one turned out! The card size is 6" x 3-1/4".
Here's a close-up of the focal image:
I finished the card off with some Grey Metal Nail Heads in the corner, and on the plyers.
Join us for fun, games and giveaways as we take the lid off our December Release. You’re invited to our Power Hour Release Party set for Thursday, December 9th at 10 PM EST. Yup, that's TONIGHT! All of our fabulous designers will be there chatting it up, plus we’ll have never before seen samples of all of our new sets. The party ends at 11 PM EST when all three of our new sets will be on Flourishes’ store shelves! Join us here at our Flourishes Member Company Forum on Splitcoast.
Did you check out our Winter White Challenge? You have a shot at winning all three of our new release stamp sets! Just click HERE to check it out! You have until this Friday at 5 PM EST!
Just like in past releases, we’ve bundled up a great deal! If you purchase both stamp sets in ourNew Release Bundle – you save 10% But you have to hurry, this offer expires December 17th!
Stop by to see the rest of the design team creations with this fabulous set:
It's time for another Flourishes release, and the sets this month are nothing short of FABULOUS!
Today's sneak peek set is called Butterflies and Blossoms. It showcases the elegant clematis flowering vine.
I colored my image using Copic markers, adding white lines down the center of the petals with a Copic Blending Pen. The pretty papers are from Prima's Fairy Flora pack. The card size is 5-1/2" square.
The sketch for my card is this week's Sketch For You To Try. Well, let me clarify that... This week's sketch is actually any sketch you wanted to play with from the Sketch For You To Try archives. I chose THIS one from last March....love, love, LOVE it!
Here's a close-up of the image:
For a change, my Copic marker list is rather small:
Not too bad, eh? ;)
Just for kicks, I thought I'd share the inside of my card as well.
Isn't that a wonderful sentiment?! Love, love, love it!
Be sure to stop by the rest of the design team blogs to see their fabulous Butterflies and Blossoms creations:
As always, there will be daily give-aways during the sneak peeks. All you need to do is leave a comment on Flourishes blog. There's also still time to participate in the Winter White Challenge, for your shot at winning this month's entire release!
Thanks for stopping by, friends! Have a fantastic day!
How are you on this fine Tuesday? I am terrific! We decorated our house and tree this weekend, and I even have my Christmas shopping done (well, except for stockings). So, for a moment I am feeling pretty on top of things. I'm sure that won't last; so I'll just enjoy it while it does! I even lost 2 lbs over Thanksgiving week, which is really crazy because I had several pieces of pie over the course of that week! Maybe pie is the key to weight loss? You think???
Anyway.... Today's sample is made with the Christmas Nested Frames set from JustRite Stampers. I just can't get enough of the easy elegance of these framed sets. I chose to go with a monochromatic color scheme for this card. I stamped the images on Kraft cardstock from Prism, and colored the leaves with my YG03 & YG17 Copic markers. The white berries are done with a Galaxy marker.
The beautiful embossed poinsettia background was done with an embossing folder from SU. I sponged the flowers with green ink to make them pop. The pretty ivory crochet trim is from May Arts, and the green satin ribbon is from PTI.
To make the sentiment really pop, I embossed it with vanilla embossing powder. The finishing touch on my card is a row of pretty green pearls...which I actually did NOT color! They really came that color. LOL
Finally....Did you notice that I used Spellbinders dies on the frames??? Well, JustRite Stampers now has their own custom dies to match their frames and sentiments! How cool is that?! I used both the Nested Frame and Nested Sentiment dies on my card. I am just soooo excited about these dies...such an awesome addition to my Spellbinders collection! You can get your own set at Stampers Dream.
I hope your day is wonderful! I am looking forward to watching my daughter play in her very first basketball game tonight...should be fun! :)
