Timeless Tuesday ~ Shake it Baby!

Howdy Flourishes fans!  We certainly hope you've had a great holiday so far.  I'm looking forward to spending New Year's Eve tomorrow with my hubby here at home.  I hope you have a great time ringing in the new year!

Our last Timeless Tuesday Challenge for 2013, is a fun challenge!  This week, we have our final December Guest Designer, Jessi Fogan with us and she's challenging everyone to...

Here is a quick link to a Splitcoaststampers tutorial on how to make a basic shaker card, click here!

For the shaker part of my card I began by die cutting a frame using some teal cardstock and then I cut a piece of clear coverstock and a piece of Classic White Cardstock to match the frame.  I stamped the pretty little bouquet from our new "Lots of Thought" stamp set and coloured it using Copic Markers.  I also stamped my sentiment below the image using Memento "Rhubarb Stalk " ink.

I applied a thin ring of Scor-Pal tape all around the back of my frame and then adhered my clear coverstock to it.  Then I used some thin foam tape and adhered that to the frame, adding some glitter and sequins to the inside of my frame.  I then adhered the flower image to the frame.

Here's my final card...

Here's a close up of my final shaker part of my card...

For the inside of my card, I stamped the birthday greeting and the numbers form the "Numbers in Blossom" stamp set and coloured them to match the bouquet on the front of my card.

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope our challenge inspires you to create this week!


Before you get too far, be sure to visit the rest of the DT's blogs, as well as our Guest Designer and leave them a little blog love. In return, they will amaze you with their beautiful work...

• Allison Cope
• Cheryl Lea
• Deborah Anton
• Jenny Gropp
• Katie Sims
• Jessi Fogan, this week's guest designer

Thanks for stopping by!  Happy New Year everyone!

~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Flourishes LLC

Supplies:
stamps: Flourishes (Numbers in Blossom, Lots of Thought)
cardstock:  Flourishes
patterned papers: Fancy Pants Designs
die cut shapes: Spellbinders
ink:  Memento, Copic, Ranger

sequins: dollar store
glitter:  Martha Stewart
gems:  Kaisercraft
other: thread.

Flourishes' After Christmas SALE!

We hope you had a blessed holiday – however you celebrate! It was wonderful time to rest, relax and reflect on the beauty of the season surrounded by friends and family! We know some of you probably have some Christmas money that you’d love to spend and guess what? Flourishes needs to reduce what is on their shelves before our year-end inventory count. So, a sale is in order!

It’s Time For Their…..

 

Simply use the code MERRY13 in the coupon code box and you'll get 25% off your entire order -- even the Sale Page -- which already offers a discount on items listed there! All codes are case sensitive, so please use all caps, just like shown above. You have to act fast, this sale runs through December 30th.

Another note to shoppers, Flourishes will be closing down the store for a few hours on the 31st in order to do inventory. For about a 4 hour period, folks will not be able to take or process orders. They promise they will try to be as quick as possible!

Happy shopping everyone!

~ Ally ~

Sending Sunshine Birthday Guy!

  

It’s another Friday and we're bringing you another round of inspiration created with our brand new December Release Stamp sets by the Senior Design Team. It’s always fun for us to show off the versatility of these beautiful sets one more time while you can still purchase the December New Release Bundle at a discount! Today is the last day this discount is available and we don’t want you to miss out!

If you haven't already checked out the three latest stamp sets for Flourishes... take a peek at these beauties...

Today I chose to feature two of the three new stamp sets, "Lots of Thought" and "Numbers in Blossom". 

I decided to create a Flying Easel card. This is the closest thing to a tutorial I could find for this style of card, HERE.  I used my Spellbinder "Labels 31" dies to create the same effect.

For my card base I used some Classic Kraft cardstock and then some Classic White for my frame and center panel.  For my central image, I stamped the sun& cloud image from the "April Showers" stamp set and then the little airplane and "Sending Sunshine" sentiment from the new "Lots of Thought" collection using black Memento ink.

When you open this style of easel card, the airplane remains hanging in the frame. I attached another cloud image to the back of the plane to match up with my central cloud.  I attached it to my frame with a piece of our Iridescent White String.  I thought fishing line would be perfect for this but I couldn't find any in the garage.

To complete the inside and the remainder of the card's greeting, I stamped the "Happy Birthday" from the new "Numbers in Blossom" stamp set at the bottom of the inside of my card.

To complete the package, I stamped and coloured an accompanying envelope to match my card...

I used the following Copic Collections & my Copic airbrush to colour all of the images within my card and envelope:

Thanks for stopping by today.  Hop on over to see what our very talented Design Team has in store for you today with these three beautiful new stamp sets:

• Allison Cope  -- you are here!
• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence
• Julie Koerber
• Silke Ledlow
• Stacy Morgan
• Tosha Leyendekker

Enjoy and have a wonderful weekend!

~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Flourishes LLC

Supplies:
stamps: Flourishes (Numbers in Blossom, Lots of Thought, April Showers)
cardstock:  Flourishes Classic Kraft & White, Bazzill
patterned papers: BasicGrey
die cut shapes: Spellbinders
ink: Memento, Copic, Ranger Distress 
tool:  Copic Airbrush
string: Flourishes

Sketchy Holiday Cards

Hey everyone!  Are you ready for the holidays?  I am certainly not this year.  I'm still making holiday cards.  So I thought I'd share my latest Splitcoast Sketch Challenge creation using a sketch design little ol' me...

Here's my creation this morning...

I first stamped my little topiary using some Versamark ink onto a piece of vellum, added some detail white embossing powder and heat set it.  Once it was cool, I coloured the back of my image using Copic markers.  I then adhered my vellum by hiding the adhesive behind the coloured parts of my image onto Flourishes Classic White Cardstock.

Then I created the rest of my card using papers from the Echo Park "Keepin' Cozy" line ... I just love the navy blues, greens, red and turquoise colour scheme of these papers!

A super simple holiday card to warm someone's day!  Now... just to sit down an address all my cards... sigh!  There is never enough time in the day is there?  LOL!

~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Flourishes LLC

Supplies:

Holiday Topiaries

Flourishes Classic White Card Stock

Classic Kraft Card Stock

Echo Park "Keepin' Cozy" 6x6 Paper Pad

InLinkz.com

12 Weeks of Holiday Cards ~ Final Hoorah!

Welcome to the final week of my 12 Weeks of Holiday Cards!  

Today, I will be sharing with you one last simple holiday card fit for a quick assembly.  I have shared lots of tips, tricks and techniques along the way.  So join me for my final session...

Use Embossing Folders

For this final week, I challenge you to create a card using texture as a focal point!  Grab those embossing folders you all know you have stashed away and create something with texture.

For my cards this week, I chose some embossing folders that are winter related... one is a snowflake pattern and the other is supposed to look like candy stripes.  Super cute!

For my pink panels, I stamped my snowflakes from the Flourishes "Handmade Snowflakes" stamp set using black ink ("stamping off" some of the ink to get some more subtle images too!) and then I inked up the back ground using 3 different shades of pink.

If you are interested in any of my previous tips for holiday card making, check out my previous posts:

Week 11 - Create a Gift Card Holder

Week 10 - Wrap it Up!
Week 9 - Use Simple Die Cut Shapes

Week 8 - Make 2 for 1

Week 7 - Use Non-traditional Holiday Colours

Week 6 - Use Holiday Patterned Papers

Week 5 - Create a Scene

Week 4  - Stamp on Patterned Paper

Week 3 - Use a Sketch

Week 2 - Use a Tag

Week 1 - K.I.S.S. = Keep It Simple Silly!   

Thank you all for joining me the last 12 weeks.  Feel free to click any of the links above for some quick an easy card making tips.

~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Flourishes LLC

Supplies:

Handmade Snowflakes

Trimmed With Love

Festive Fushia Seam Binding Ribbon

Flourishes Classic White Card Stock

InLinkz.com

Timeless Tuesday ~ Vellum

Hello Flourishes Fans!  I am still making holidays cards this week as most of the ones I had created this fall and early winter got sold.  So if you are on my holiday card list this year, you may not be getting that card until the new year! Oh boy!  

It's time for another guest hosted challenge this week for "Timeless Tuesday".  Our lovely guest host, Greta Hess, is challenging us to...

My card today was very hard to photograph, so I apologize!  I used a lot of white on white. For my card base, I used a piece of Classic White Cardstock and then adhered a stamped and heat embossed piece of vellum using the beautiful (just retired this week... boo!) "Christmas Music" back ground stamp.

I also stamped my holly bough from the "Naturally Merry" stamp set onto vellum using Versamark and white embossing powder.  I flipped over my embossed image and then I use a stylus to mark or make the holly whiter by rubbing the back of it.  I framed it out with some die cuts using Classic White & Classic Black cardstock.

For my greeting, I used the "Happy Holidays" stamp from the "Christmas Classics" set and embossed it with black embossing powder and tied my tiny tag through and around my die cuts using some pretty Silver Metallic String.

Here's a closer picture of all the embossing and vellum layers...

So take a moment and check out what my fellow DT members and our guest designer have created this week... 

• Allison Cope - you are here!
• Cheryl Lea
• Deborah Anton
• Jenny Gropp
• Katie Sims
• Greta Hess, this week's guest designer

We'll be back with another Timeless Tuesday Challenge in TWO WEEKS.  Have a great time creating with vellum this holiday.

~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Flourishes LLC

Supplies:

Christmas Music Stamp	Naturally Merry	Christmas Classics	Silver Cording	Flourishes Classic White Card Stock
Classic Black

InLinkz.com

12 Weeks of Holiday Cards

Welcome to Week 11 of my 12 Weeks of Holiday Cards!  Only 1 more week left!

Each Wednesday week until Christmas, I will be sharing with you a fun and simple holiday card fit for a quick assembly.  I will share tips, tricks and techniques along the way.  So join me...

Create a Gift Card Holder

For this week, I challenge you to create a gift card holder!

For my card this week , I found a cute little mitten cut file from Silhouette and down sized it to fit a standard sized gift card.  I cut my mitten shape using white cardstock and then stamped my snowflakes and sweater pattern all over them.  I added a simple line of stitching around the edge and added a colourful bow and cut evergreen bough too!

These two teacher cards came together quite quickly and where very easy to create!

If you are interested in my previous tips for holiday card making, check out my previous posts:

Week 10 - Wrap it Up!
Week 9 - Use Simple Die Cut Shapes

Week 8 - Make 2 for 1

Week 7 - Use Non-traditional Holiday Colours

Week 6 - Use Holiday Patterned Papers

Week 5 - Create a Scene

Week 4  - Stamp on Patterned Paper

Week 3 - Use a Sketch

Week 2 - Use a Tag

Week 1 - K.I.S.S. = Keep It Simple Silly!   

Now, on to the giveaway WINNER...  the lucky comment number is... #2...

Congrats Donna Phelan!  Please email me with your mail address and I'll send out your prize ASAP!  Congrats!

I created today's cards for the Merry Monday's Challenge:  #87 - Create a card with mittens on it!

Thanks for stopping by today!  Happy card creating...
~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Flourishes LLC

Supplies:

Snow Day	Flourishes Classic White Card Stock	Handmade Snowflakes	Silhouette Cameo	Festive Fushia Seam Binding Ribbon
Classic Kraft Card Stock

InLinkz.com

Introducing... Lots of Thought!

Well, we’ve arrived at our last day of December New Releases at Flourishes! Haven’t they been true blossoming beauties? Today, we’re pleased to bring you one more! It’s an all occasion set that celebrates some of the most delightful events with wonderful playfulness!

 

This stamp set is called Lots of Thoughts for a reason! With six whimsical images illustrated by Marcella Hawley, you have just the right mix of sentiments for birthday, congratulations, thank you and cards of encouragement. It's the perfect set for any and all occasions! This set measures 4" by 6”.

Today is a very special day in my family!  Today is my Mom's birthday... HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!... and yes, she was born on Friday the 13th!  This week is FULL of birthdays for me; my sister Christie, my "sister-in-law" Kelly and my Grandma (she would have turned 100 this year) all celebrate on the 11th, my Mom's is the 13th and my cousin Sarah's is on the 14th!  That's 5 birthdays in 4 days!  So in honour of all the birthday women in my life, I thought I'd share a birthday card today...

You can never go wrong with chocolate icing right?  For my focal image, I die cut an oval from Flourishes Classic White Cardstock, stamped my cupcake in Memento "Black Tuxedo" ink and masked it off.  Then I used my Copic air brush and coloured my back ground using two shades of yellow.  I finished colouring my image using the following Copic Collections:

For the final finishing touches, I added some tiny stars from the "Country Time Christmas" stamp set using Memento "Angel Pink" ink around the edges of the oval.

I popped my oval up on a die cut scalloped oval using some "Berrylicious" cardstock from the Poppy Paper Collection.  I used the same cardstock to mat all of the layers of my card.  For all of my patterned papers, I used the "Up, Up and Away" 6x6 paper pad from My Mind's Eye.  It was full of gorgeous feminine papers... perfect for a birthday card!

For my card design, I used this week's Splitcoaststampers weekly sketch, SC466:

Ideas are blooming plentifully in our design team creations with this sweet set. Remember, while you’re hopping and looking at their creations, don’t forget to try to figure out….

Hidden among the Design Team’s blogs today is our last day of Mystery Blogger. Comment on her blog and you could be chosen to win today’s set! The more you comment, the better your chances of winning.

• Allison Cope -- you are here!
• Christine Okken  
• Cindy Lawrence  
• Heather Jensen 
• Julie Koerber 
• Silke Ledlow  
• Stacy Morgan 
• Tosha Leyendekker

Do you want to win Flourishes’ December Release?

• If you would like a chance at winning all newly released December sets…you can play in our Flip It Challenge – we will have multiple winners there! Deadline for entries is TODAY December 13th at 5 PM EST. Check out the link for the official rules!
• All three of our December sets are available now HERE! Take advantage our New Release Bundle and get 10% off when you purchase all three sets together in a bundle. This discount will only be available through December 20th, so you have to act fast!
• We’re also excited to offer companion Silhouette cut files for these new sets. Check them out here!
• And, don’t forget to come back to the Flourishes Blog tomorrow, Saturday, December 14th for the Winner’s Circle where we’ll announce all of our winners of this weeks’ challenges!

Good luck everyone!  And enjoy the hop.
~ Ally ~

Sponsored by:  Flourishes LLC

Supplies:
stamps:  Flourishes (Lots of Thought, Country Time Christmas)
cardstock:  Flourishes Classic White, Poppy Color Made Easy Collection
patterned papers:  My Mind's Eye
die cut shapes:  Spellbinders
ink:  Memento, Copic
ribbon:  Flourishes
star pin:  Maya Road
gems:  Kaisercraft
other: thread.