the creative closet by cindy lawrence

Flourishes Release Day!

I could not BE any more excited about today's Flourishes stamp set!  It's Marcella Hawley's latest creation, called On the Porch.  This one's all about home, and is my favorite set of this release!  I just love the beautifully illustrated, cozy images & sentiments...so very much!

My card is a 5-1/4" square creation with some gorgeous patterned papers from My Mind's Eye's Miss Caroline Dilly Dally 6x6 pad.  I added some sparkly square blue rhinestones and a bit of Red Braided Trim to dress it up a bit.  The image was stamped on Classic White cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and then cut out with a Spellbinders Classic Circle Die.  I then layered that onto a Spellbinders Picot Edge Circles Die.\

I used the following Copic Marker Collections to color the image:

Want to win this set? All you need to do is leave some love in the form of a comment on the blogs below! Why? You need to try to figure out…..

One of the ladies on the link list below will be picking a name from the comments on her blog post today. We don’t know which one it is… so the more blogs you leave comments on, the more chances you have to win!  Happy hopping!

• Barbara Anders
• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence <---You are here!
• Danielle Kennedy
• Dawn Burnworth
• Heather Jensen
• Julie Koerber
• Sharon Doolittle
• Stacy Morgan
• Tammy Hershberger

Before you go, you will want to stop by the Flourishes store to get in on some serious Spring Cleaning action....

That's right!  Every single embellishment, Spellbinders die, embossing folder, paper pad...you name it!  If it isn't a stamp set, it's ON SALE!  Just use the keyword: SPRINGCLEAN when you check out, and you'll get 15% off all of your non-stamp purchases now through Sunday at midnight!  Now THAT'S an awesome sale! Happy shopping!

DID YOU KNOW YOU COULD WIN THE ENTIRE MAY RELEASE?  Have you checked out the Home Sweet Home  Challenge? Just click HERE to find out how to play! You can also play in the Noon Time Challenges from the past couple of days.  Both are fast-paced and fun challenges that will give you yet one more chance to win the full May release!   All challenges will close Friday at 5 PM EST (YES, THAT'S TODAY!!!) and winners will be announced Saturday in our Winner’s Circle blog post. So get those fingers inky and good luck!

And, don’t forget our New Release Bundle! If you buy all three sets in a bundle, you save 10% off the price. This offer only lasts through next Friday, May 18.  So… you have to act fast! Just click HERE to see.

Thanks a million for spending a little time with me today, friends!

Have a fabulous weekend!

~Cindy

Flourishes Sneak Peeks Day Two!

You are gonna LOVE today's Flourishes sneak peek set!  It's called Father's Day, and is a sweet silhouette set with a focus on dad.  I just adore these precious images and heart-warming sentiments.

For my card, I used a great Sweet Sunday Sketch from the April 8th challenge.  I stamped the image on Classic White cardstock, with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  I was able to make it super-vibrant and shiny by going over the image with a Sakura Black Glaze Pen.  I cut out the image and layered it on a Spellbinders Classic Oval die, which was then layered onto a Spellbinders Fancy Tags Three die-cut.  Black rhinestones and a bit of striped yellow ribbon finish things off.

Want to win this set? All you need to do is leave some love in the form of a comment on the blogs below! Why? You need to try to figure out…..

One of the ladies on the link list below will be picking a name from the comments on her blog post today. We don’t know which one it is… so the more blogs you leave comments on, the more chances you have to win!  Happy hopping!

• Barbara Anders
• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence <---You are here!
• Danielle Kennedy
• Dawn Burnworth
• Jan Marie Caruso
• Julie Koerber
• Sharon Doolittle
• Stacy Morgan
• Tammy Hershberger

Before you go, you will want to stop by the Flourishes store to get in on some serious Spring Cleaning action....

That's right!  Every single embellishment, Spellbinders die, embossing folder, paper pad...you name it!  If it isn't a stamp set, it's ON SALE!  Just use the keyword: SPRINGCLEAN when you check out, and you'll get 15% off all of your non-stamp purchases now through Sunday at midnight!  Now THAT'S an awesome sale! Happy shopping!

DID YOU KNOW YOU COULD WIN THE ENTIRE MAY RELEASE?  Have you checked out the Home Sweet Home  Challenge? Just click HERE to find out how to play! You can also play in the Noon Time Challenges, which started yesterday at noon and end with a fun challenge today at noon.  Both are fast-paced and fun challenges that will give you yet one more chance to win the full May release!   All challenges will close this Friday at 5 PM EST and winners will be announced Saturday in our Winner’s Circle blog post. So get those fingers inky and good luck!

And, don’t forget our New Release Bundle! If you buy all three sets in a bundle, you save 10% off the price. This offer only lasts through next Friday, May 18.  So… you have to act fast! Just click HERE to see.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, friends!

See you right back here tomorrow!

~Cindy

 

 

Flourishes Sneak Peeks Day One!

Today's Flourishes sneak peek features one of my very favorite flowers, the hydrangea.  Marcella has once again worked her magic in illustrating a drop-dead gorgeous stamp set.  The Hydrangea set features several lovely floral images, as well as a nice selection of heartfelt sentiments.

For my creation, I stamped the blooms off to the side, making the sentiment more of the focal point.  I just LOVE that sentiment!  My card size is 6" tall and 5" wide.  I used Spellbinders Classic Petal Edgeabilities Die along the bottom edge of the card, both front and back.  The main image was stamped on a Spellbinders Classic Oval die-cut using Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  I then layered the main image onto a Spellbinders Ornate Artisan Tags & Accents Die.  The cardstock is Flourishes Classic White.  The pretty papers are from Bo Bunny's Country Garden 6x6 paper pack.  I added a bit of Laural Venise White Lace along the bottom, and some Lt Blue Wrinkled Ribbon down the center, with a big bow at the top.  The final touch are lots of pretty pearls to give the card a dressy feel.  

I colored the image in with the following Copic Marker Collections:

 

Want to win this set? All you need to do is leave some love in the form of a comment on the blogs below! Why? You need to try to figure out…..

One of the ladies on the link list below will be picking a name from the comments on her blog post today. We don’t know which one it is… so the more blogs you leave comments on, the more chances you have to win!  Happy hopping!

• Barbara Anders
• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence <---You are here!
• Danielle Kennedy
• Dawn Burnworth
• Jan Marie Caruso
• Julie Koerber
• Sharon Doolittle
• Stacy Morgan
• Tammy Hershberger

Before you go, you will want to stop by the Flourishes store to get in on some serious Spring Cleaning action....

That's right!  Every single embellishment, Spellbinders die, embossing folder, paper pad...you name it!  If it isn't a stamp set, it's ON SALE!  Just use the keyword: SPRINGCLEAN when you check out, and you'll get 15% off all of your non-stamp purchases now through Sunday at midnight!  Now THAT'S an awesome sale! Happy shopping!

DID YOU KNOW YOU COULD WIN THE ENTIRE MAY RELEASE?  Have you checked out the Home Sweet Home  Challenge? Just click HERE to find out how to play! You can also play in the Noon Time Challenges, which start today at noon with another one ushered in tomorrow at noon.  Both are fast-paced and fun challenges that will give you yet one more chance to win the full May release!   All challenges will close this Friday at 5 PM EST and winners will be announced Saturday in our Winner’s Circle blog post. So get those fingers inky and good luck!

And, don’t forget our New Release Bundle! If you buy all three sets in a bundle, you save 10% off the price. This offer only lasts through next Friday, May 18.  So… you have to act fast! Just click HERE to see.

Thanks so much for stopping by today, friends!

See you right back here tomorrow!

~Cindy 

Home Sweet Home Challenge

Are you ready for a fun Flourishes challenge?  Let your creativity shine by being inspired by something in your home.  It could be the color scheme of a room, a painting, vase or floral arrangement - the sky is the limit on this Home Sweet Home Challenge! Please use the keyword FLLCMAY12 when uploading your creation.  Entries must be in by May 11th at 5PM EST in order to be in the running to win the entire May Release!  Good luck, and have FUN!

For my card, I used Flourishes gorgeous Lenten Rose set.  I stamped it on watercolor paper using Staz-On Black ink, and colored it in with the following Aquamarkers: Celery, Spring Green (leaves), Flamingo Pink, Rose Carmine, Cranberry (flowers).  (If you haven't seen it yet, check out my video tutorial on how to use the Aquamarkers.)  The pretty embossed background was made with Spellbinders Regal M Bossabilities Folder.  Love, love, LOVE that gorgeous folder!  The main image was cut out with a Spellbinders Classic Oval Die and backed with one of their new Floral Ovals Dies.  The pretty patterned paper is from the My Mind's Eye Miss Caroline Dolled Up paper pack.  The ribbons are Baby Pink Satin Finish Cotton and Pink Satin Pleats Trim.  I added a few pearls to dress it up a bit, and made the centers of the flowers pop with a bit of Flower Soft.  The card itself is made with Flourishes Classic Ivory card stock, and the size is 5-1/4" square.

The inspiration was our downstairs bathroom, which is definitely NOT pink; but I was inspired by the texture of the wood, pattern on the curtains, and oval curves of the sinks.  The truth is...I set out with the image of my bathroom in my head, and wound up with something entirely different in my creation.  I think you can still at least see where I was coming from when I started.  Here's a corner shot of the bathroom:

If nothing else, perhaps my "out of the box" thinking will help you to feel free to lot be too literal with the concept of "inspiration".  :-)

Check out what the rest of the design team created for today's challenge:

• Barbara Anders
• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence <---You are here!
• Danielle Kennedy
• Dawn Burnworth
• Jan Marie Caruso
• Julie Koerber
• Sharon Doolittle
• Stacy Morgan
• Tammy Hershberger

That's all, friends!  Have yourselves a fabulous weekend!  I am spending mine in Toronto, Ontario, playing with my Copics...what could be better?!

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Remember, the deadline for getting in on yesterday's BLOG CANDY is Monday at 12 noon! Don't miss out!

~Cindy 

Thanks a Melon!

Happy last day of April, friends!  Today I have a little taste of summertime to share with you.  Now that spring is here in all it's glorious beauty, everyone is thinking about summer.  LOL  We are always ahead of ourselves, aren't we?! :-)

My card uses the yummy Wild for Watermelon stamp set from Flourishes, and the following Aquamarkers:

Aquamarine (just a smidge in the sky)

Golden Brown (ground)

Celery, Fern Green, (watermelon rind)

Raspberry (watermelon flesh)

Celery, Spring Green, Straw Yellow, Sunburst Yellow, Golden Brown (leaves)

Did you happen to catch my video tutorial on water coloring with Aquamarkers last week?  It's over on the Flourishes Blog.  You can check it out HERE.

The pretty patterned papers are from the Lost & Found Rosy 6x6 pad from My Mind's Eye.  I added a couple of Candi's in the top left corner.  I dressed it up with a bit of Natural Linen Ribbon and Red Braided Trim.  The Spellbinders dies used are the Classic Ovals for the main image, and Flourishes own Tailor-Made Classic Keyhole Die Set for the sentiment.  I added a small red button from Basic Grey's Jovial pack, tied up with a bit of twine.  The card size is 5-1/4" square.

That's all she wrote, folks!  I'll be back on Wednesday morning with another card creation....and perhaps a bit of blog candy too.  Don't you think it's about time I gave away some candy again???  Yup, I do believe it is.  See ya on Wednesday! ;-)

Thanks for visiting!
~Cindy

Plant Kindness Grow Love

Today the Flourishes design team is focusing on the fantastic From the Garden stamp set.  The patterned papers are from the Happy Travels collection from Glitz.  The pretty pearl embellishment was colored using my R20 Copic marker.  I used Spellbinders Classic Circle Dies for the main image layers, and cut the sentiment piece out using the Tailor-Made Classic Keyhole Die Set.  The sentiment was stamped using Memento Lady Bug ink.  The ribbons are Natural Linen and Solid Two-Tone Bittersweet Satin.  I sponged the edges of the circle with Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Ink, and stamped the image itself twice, popping up the flowers to give them some dimention.  Finally, I added a couple of staples to the tag.

I used the April Sketch For You To Try for my layout. I colored the image with the following Copic Marker Collections:

Check out the beautiful samples made by the rest of the design team:

• Barbara Anders
• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence <---You are here!
• Dawn Burnworth
• Jan Marie Caruso
• Julie Koerber
• Sharon Doolittle
• Tammy Hershberger

Thanks so much for stopping by today, friends!  Have a fantastic weekend!

~Cindy 

Create With Me Monday

It's time for another Create With Me Monday at Flourishes!  It's my turn to host over on the Flourishes Blog; so you'll want to hop on over there for the complete tutorial.

Today's tutorial is all about the brand-new Aquamarkers that Flourishes is now carrying.  They are soooo much fun to play with!  The image on my card is from Flourishes Pears set.  I stamped the pears on watercolor paper using Staz-On black ink.  Staz-on is the best ink to use with the Aquamarkers.  I used the following Aquamarkers on the image:

Aquamarine (sky)

Celery, Spring Green, Straw Yellow, Sunburst Yellow, Raspberry (pears)

Celery, Spring Green, Straw Yellow, Sunburst Yellow, Golden Brown (leaves)

Eggshell, Golden Brown, Mahogany (stems)

Cherry Blossom (blossoms)

That pretty embossed design at the top of the card was made with Spellbinders Regal M Bossabilities Folder.  I added a bit of color before I embossed it using a Tim Holtz Shabby Shutters Distress Ink Pad.  The green patterned paper is from Authetique's Delightful 6x6 pad.  The fancy border along the bottom was made with Spellbinders Antique Frame & Accents Dies.  I used Spellbinders Classic Circles and Eyelet Circles Dies for the main image.  I layered a bit of green Faux Suede Ruffled Edge Ribbon with Green Velvet & Lace Trim.  I also added a big, yummy Ivory Silk Ribbon bow to give it a little more "wow" factor.  The final touch is just a few tiny pearls in the upper left corner and next to the sentiment.

That's all, friends!  Do stop by the Flourshes Blog to check out the full tutorial, complete with video. :-)

Have a fantastic Monday!

~Cindy 

Free For All Friday!

I love Free For All Friday!  It's another chance to play with this month's awesome Flourishes release!  I chose to play with the Botanical Bookplates Vol 2 set...so pretty!

The card base is kraft, topped by a black layer, and some pretty patterned papers from the Lost & Found Rosy 6x6 pad from My Mind's Eye.  I loved being able to use the pretty bird on the patterned paper as part of the layout.  The "thinking of you" sentiment fit perfectly in the tag image!  Funny story...  When my hubby first saw this card, he said, "Wow, honey, beautiful card!  You did an awesome job on that bird!"  Gee, thanks, hon...that's part of the paper!  LOL  That totally cracked me up!

The pretty pansy image was stamped onto Classic White cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  I layered the image using Spellbinders Classic Circles Nestabilities Dies, and added a pretty frame from the Spellbinders Twisted Metal Tags & Accents Die Set.  I added lots of Black Rhinestones, some pretty Black Laural Venise Lace, and a strip of Black Braided Trim to dress it up.  I did a bit of faux stitching around the top, and added a Jet Heirloom Button to finish it off.  The card size is 5-1/4" square.

I colored the image using the following Copic Marker Collections:

 

Remember that today is your last chance to get the New Release Bundle at a 10% savings!  Check it out HERE!

Now, you'll want to stop by the rest of the design team blogs to see what gorgeousness they've cooked up for you today!

• Barbara Anders
• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence <---You are here!
• Danielle Kennedy
• Dawn Burnworth
• Jan Marie Caruso
• Julie Koerber
• Sharon Doolittle
• Stacy Morgan
• Tammy Hershberger

Thanks for stopping by, friends!  Have a fabulous weekend!

~Cindy 

Sweet Baby

Today I thought I'd share another card I made using Flourishes brand-new Hello Baby stamp set.  This time I used the sweet onesie image three times, and embellished them with images from assorted other stamp sets.  The card size is 6-1/2" long by 4-1/4" tall.  I added a pretty Martha Stewart border punch along the bottom, a bit of pretty lace, a strip of patterned paper from Graphic 45's Little Darlings Collection, and three Candi embellishments, which I colored to match with Copic markers.  The background was embossed with a Cuttlebug Polka Dots embossing folder.  I colored the onesies with the following Copic marker collections:

Remember, you can still get Flourishes New Release Bundle at a 10% savings!  You need to act fast, though...this deal only lasts through next Friday, April 30.

That's all, friends!  Thanks so much for visiting with me today!

~Cindy

Flourishes Release Day Three

I must admit to being crazy in love with today's Flourishes stamp set, Hello Baby!  It is just the cutest set EVAH!

My card is a big one today...6" x 6".  I really wanted to use the Spellbinders Ornate Artisan Tags and Accents Die, and that thing is 6" tall!  I know I could have cut off the bottom portion; but I really wanted to use it all.  Besides, it left me a nice spot to put a big yummy bow made with wrinkled peach ribbon.  I also used Spellbinders Classic Circles and Petite Ovals.  The pretty papers are from Graphic 45's Little Darlings paper pack.  I added a Martha Stewart lace border punch down the side, a few tiny pearls on the sentiment, a pretty glass bauble on the bow, and a few Iced Gem Candi's (colored with an R11 Copic Marker) wrapped with white thread.  One final embellishement is the sweet peach flower at the top of the card.  The image was stamped on Classic White card stock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and colored in with the following Copic Marker Collections:

Here's a close-up for you:

Would you like to win our new Hello Baby set? All you need to do is leave some love in the form of a comment on the blogs below! Why? You need to try to figure out…..

One of the ladies on our link list below will be picking a name from the comments on her blog post today. We don’t know which one it is… so the more blogs you leave comments on, the more chances you have to win!

Check out what the rest of the design team has created with today's adorable set!

SENIOR DESIGN TEAM

• Barbara Anders
• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence <---You are here!
• Danielle Kennedy
• Dawn Burnworth
• Jan Marie Caruso
• Julie Koerber 
• Sharon Doolittle
• Stacy Morgan
• Tammy Hershberger

FRIENDS OF FLOURISHES TEAM

• Beate Johns
• Heather Jensen
• Amanda Havon
• Mona Pendleton

DID YOU KNOW YOU COULD WIN OUR ENTIRE APRIL RELEASE?   Have you checked out our  Motherly Love Challenge?  Just click HERE to find out how to play! You can also play in our Noon Time Challenges, both are fast-paced and fun challenges that will give you yet one more chance to win our full April release!   All challenges will close today... Friday at 5 PM EST  and winners will be announced Saturday in our Winner’s Circle blog post! So get those fingers inky and good luck!

And, don’t forget our  New Release Bundle!  If you buy all three sets in a bundle, you save 10% off the price. But, this offer only lasts through next Friday, April 20. So… you have to act fast! Just click HERE to see how beautiful they all are!

Thanks so much for visiting with me today!

~Cindy