Thursday, December 20, 2012

Free For All!


   Free for All Friday with Border

The infamous day is here - 12-21-12 -- the day when we can all "Party Like There's no To-Maya!" I know I shouldn't joke about the end of the world, but if you're reading this, it's all in good fun, right? Well today the Flourishes gals have a little dose of fun for you as well. It's a Free for All! It's a time when we pick up and create with some of the newest Flourishes sets and have some free-for-all fun!

On to my creation....


I picked up Flourishes new Garden Dreams set for my card. I just love Marcella Hawley's new set - it has such whimsical images that make you dream of spring! I started by using the Silhouette cut file to cut my shape out of Flourishes Classic White card stock. I stamped my image using Memento Rich Cocoa ink. I picked up my Copic Markers (see below for the colors I used). Add some Color Made Easy pink ribbon, a button and almost done! I used paper from the 123 Create Kit For The Record. I added some stitching and the sentiment in Rich Cocoa and... ta da! Done! 

I should also should point out that today is the last day to take advantage of the December New Release Bundle. It's a savings of 10% when you purchase all three of Flourishes' new sets in a bundle. If you want to check it out in the Flourishes store, just click HERE!  Also, while you're shopping, have you checked out the Gambler's Sale? Prices dropped another 5%, which means your discount is now....

  Gambler50  

That's right! 50% OFF retail prices! That's a fabulous deal and the perfect way to stock up on some fun goodies to use in your crafting spaces! So, click HERE to check out the Sale Page! 

Are you ready to hop? Let's  get on with the show and see what our ever-so-fabulous designers whipped up using our newest release!

I have to say, I probably won't be back in the blogosphere until after Christmas so, I wish you and yours a very blessed holiday! I hope you rest, relax and reflect on what this beautiful season means! Sending you all wishes of blessings & joy! 

~Julie

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Thursday, December 6, 2012

Let's Hop!


Hi all and welcome to the kick off of Flourishes' December release! Today the entire Flourishes Design Team is ushering in a challenge and YOU could walk away winning all of Flourishes' new sets for December! Here's how to get in on the fun. We're going to HOP and at each designer's blog, there is another clue for our progressive challenge! 

If I am your first stop on the hop, you'll need to travel back to the Flourishes blog HERE to get your first clue and follow the hop through each of the designers' blogs. By the end of the hop, you'll have 8 "ingredients" that you'll need to use when creating your cards for this Let's Hop Challenge. Follow the "recipe" and you'll be in the running! 

So, let's get on to clue number 2.....


STEP 2: For this step of the progressive challenge, you'll need to use a floral. It's just that simple! Use a floral image, a floral accent, a floral decorative paper, etc. Just make sure somewhere on your card you have something with a floral flair. 

On to my creation...

I decided to go a wee bit overboard on the floral with this one - I have a floral decorative paper (Meadowlark Prima paper) and then, my image is a floral as well! I started by cutting out the shape of the bell flower using the With Gratitude Silhouette Cameo Cut File. After that, I stamped the flower on the shape using Tuxedo Black Memento Ink. I colored up my flower with Copic makers (see supply list below for colors). The rest is matting it up! I used the brand new Flourishes Custom Die called Perfectly Pierced Victorian Ovals and used not only the largest die in the set but the small tag die as well. 

Here's a peek at that lovely piercing that is a part of the die. No piercing template or piercing tool needed for this one! 



And, here's a peek at the cute little tag! The sentiment "Hello" is from Flourishes stamp set called Cherry Blossoms. I tied it on using some Silver Cording and wrapped it around a bow that I made using  the Elderberry ribbon from the Crocus Color Made Easy Collection. 


And that, my friends, is it! If you want to try your hand at winning Flourishes' December Release, you have until Friday, December 14th at 5PM EST to get your entry or entries in! To enter, simply link your creation up to THIS POST over on the Flourishes Blog using the Inlinkz Widget. You can also check out that post for more on the official rules! 

Again, if I was your first stop, be sure to go back to the Flourishes Blog for the first clue and the start of the hop! If you've already made it through - hop on over to your next clue, which will be


Before you go.... if you've been watching Flourishes' Gambler Sale at all, you should know that prices on Flourishes Sale Page HERE have now dropped to...... 


So get these goodies at rock bottom prices before they are gone! 


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Celebrating the Holidays!

Hi all! I have a festive post for you today and it's one with a challenge tied to it as well! The Impression Obsession gals are challenging YOU to create something that reminds you of the holidays! The challenge starts now and runs through Wednesday, December 12. You can click HERE to find out all the details! 

On to my creation! I have to say, when I think of the holidays, I think gift giving -- usually things that I make either in the kitchen, in the stamp room or something taken off my knitting needles. I am always making little boxes to pack up some treats in. So, I put on my thinking cap and came up with this......

This was an easy breezy creation that was really fun to put together! I started with the die set called Mitten Die Set. It has not only the mitten, but the snowflake and a little string tie as well (that one I didn't use here). After I cut out my mittens out of decorative paper (making sure to cut one right side up and the other face down (so I have the mittens going the same way), and my snowflakes out of basic white card stock, I inked up the Cover-A-Card stamp called Nordic Stripes. I wanted my mitten to look, well, mitten-like! I matted my flake on a red circle that was embossed and then sanded to reveal the white core of the paper and then, the whole thing was matted again on a scalloped circle. After I had done all of that twice - once for the front and once for the back, I worked on making my little box that would serve as the inside of my container. 

I took a piece of card stock that measured 7-1/2" square and then scored on the 2-1/2" and 5" lines. I flipped the paper 90 degrees and scored at the same measurements. Cut and fold in the flaps and you have a box bottom. I used some heavy duty glue to make sure the mittens stayed put. 

Here's a peek!  

And here's a look so you can see how tall it is.....


I added a bow around the outside for a little something extra and then... added some white crystal bling to make those snowflakes sparkle! 


So, you might ask, what would I do with this box? Well, actually, I plan to make a mini card to fit inside and will put 4 of my homemade truffles inside. If the person is really special, they might get a gift card too! After all, who doesn't love spending money AND chocolate? I would guess very few! :-)

Want to see how the other IO gals created to celebrate the holidays? You'll need to hop on over and see...

DANIELA DOBSON
DINA KOWAL
JEANNE STREIFF
JENNY GROPP
JULIE KOERBER --- You are here!
KITTIE CARACCIOLO
LAURA FULCHER
VICKI GARRETT

Thanks for stopping by! I'll be back tomorrow with another fun-filled post, so be sure to check back! Until then, make today great! 

~Julie
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Friday, November 30, 2012

A Sketch for Inspiration!

Hi all! The Flourishes gals have a special treat today! We teamed up with Page Maps to give you some fun inspiration in the form of.... nearly a dozen sketches! Each quarter Becky Fleck with PageMaps releases 10 new sketches to spark some creativity in your craft spaces and today, those sketches are being put onto paper with the help of Flourishes! 

Want to take a peek at my sketch?


And.. here's my take on this sketch!


I used the stamp set Joy Is In the Air and just used the Santa Image. I colored him up using Copic Markers. The sentiment is from the Sentimental Christmas Set. I used the snowflakes from the Warm Winter Wishes set and then punched out Santa and the flakes using a 1-1/4" and 1-3/4" circle punch. I sponged some Summer Sky Memento ink around all of the circles and the rest is just matting it all up! I picked up the Echo Park This and That Christmas Paper pack. Added a button with some red and white baker's twine and.... ta da! Finished! 

Here's a close up of Santa! You can see I did add some sparkle thanks to some glitter glue! 

You can click on over to PageMaps.com to see all the sketches in one place. If you want to hop instead, we have ten amazingly talented designers you can hop on over and see as well!
    

And.. before I go! Some fun sale news! If you've been watching the prices drop with Flourishes' Gambler's Sale, you should know that this week, they dropped another 5%, bringing the total discount to...

   

These deals are too good to pass up -- don't you think? You can buy up and stock up on what you need now at 35% or... take a gamble and see just how low these prices will go! Click HERE to check out the sale page for yourself!  Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have a wonderfully creative weekend ahead!


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It's a Flourishes Favorites Kind of Day!

 

Hey all and happy Friday! I have a bit of a Flourishes Free For All for you today! Each designer got to pick one of their favorite sets to create with and we have a hop to show off all the goodies! Hopefully, seeing some of their creativity will inspire some creations in your own craft spaces!

On to my creation! I have to tell you, I am way behind on my Christmas cards -- so much so that I am not entirely sure they will all go out this year! :-(  So, when I heard that we would be having a free for all, I was excited to make at least one more Christmas card!


I started by using my Silhouette and cutting out the shape that coordinates with the Naturally Merry stamp set. After I cut, I stamped using Rich Cocoa Memento Ink. From there, I colored my image up with Copics. (Check out my supply list below for the colors I used!) I used Spellbinders Classic Ovals and Labels Eighteen for my shapes, added some burlap twine, some tiny jingle bells and burlap ribbon. The paper is from Echo Park called This & That Christmas. And that, my friends, is it -- an earthy kind of way to usher in some Christmas joy!

As you are hopping, make sure you head on over and see.......


You'll have to join me back here tomorrow -- more excitement and more creative inspiration. I can't give you the details now but let's just say there is more fun in store! See you back here then!  

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Thursday, November 29, 2012

Happiness with Friends


Hi all! It was my turn to host Impression Obsession Design Team Thursday, which means I get to show off an IO creation. So... on we go! If you are ever looking for inspiration, you need to check out the IO blog, there's something new all the time to get the creative juices flowing! You can find it HERE!

Recently, Impression released a series of silhouettes and gosh, they are CUTE! I just love them for all occasion cards because honestly, they bring a smile to my face! 


I started by stamping the background called Textured Scalloped Background in a Summer Sky ink. Over top, I stamped the silhouette called Fun Friends using Versafine Black Onyx. I added some stitching and some bling on the little flowers and the rest was matting it up! I added the sentiment Happiness along the side. Add fun patterned paper, a rhinestone with shimmery ribbon and... that, my friends, is it! This card is almost a 10 minute card and is a great one to have around for those times when you just need to get a word of encouragement in the mail! 

Here's a close up of these kiddos -- aren't they cute?

Thanks for stopping by and sharing a little bit of time with me! I have to say that I used this oldie but goodie because right now Impression Obsession is gearing up for it's next big release and man, oh man, are there some GREAT images that will soon be released! I can't wait to show you! 

Hope your week is ending up on a good note! I'll see you back here soon!

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Thursday, November 22, 2012

A Fun Sale & More!

Hello all! We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with family or friends! The folks at Flourishes feel stuffed -- not only in their bellies but their warehouse as well! They are ready for the Christmas season and to get YOU ready, they are having one heck of a Black Friday Sale that kicks off NOW! Check out these deals! The earlier you shop, the better the deal! To take advantage of the deals, use the codes below, hit the "Apply" box and the shopping cart will automatically take your discount off. Make sure, however, that you use the right code for the time of day you are shopping because these codes will only be active during the correct time. All times will be based on the Central Standard Time Zone!


JUST A NOTE: This sale does not apply to Copic Markers due to their price mapping requirements for retailers like us. It also does not apply to wholesale orders or gift certificates. Anything else is fair game! Even sale prices can have extra discounts added! So, be sure to check out our Sale Page as well! The sale ends tonight at midnight -- so what are you waiting for???

Before you go, the Flourishes Design Team whipped up some virtual treats for you! Since today is the LAST DAY for the November New Release Bundle - they wanted to show you some beautiful ways that you could use the new November stamp sets! Remember, the New Release Bundle is 10% off the price of the November Release when you purchase it in a bundle! 

On to my creation!

For my card, I wanted to use some of the new goodies besides stamps! I used this month's 123 Create Kit for all my papers and embellishments! Check it out HERE!  I just love that ruler twill ribbon -- so perfect for sewing themed creations! To start, I cut out my shape using the Silhouette Cut File for the Stitched For You stamp set. After I cut my shape, I stamped this darling image from the set Stitched For You! I just love this image! I even paper pieced some of those cute fat quarters using the decorative paper from the kit!

See? You can also see that I used one of Flourishes new custom dies called Perfectly Pierced Classic Hourglass -- I love the pierced look -- don't you?

From there, I colored up my image using Copic Markers and I used these collections! Poppy, Tiger Lily, Sunflower, Pistachio, and Candy Pink!  And that, my friends, is it! Easy peasy! I do think this card is a bit bold, but gosh, if you know a fabulously funky quilter who loves modern prints and bold designs -- this is the card for her! :-) I know a few of those ladies, so I am all set! :-) 

Now.... be sure to check out these ladies' fabulous creations!
Thanks so much for stopping by! I sincerely hope you have a wonderful, restful and relaxing rest of your holiday weekend!


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Thursday, November 15, 2012

The Flourishes Grand Finale!

Hi all! I hope you've enjoyed all the sneak peeks this week! Today, we get to take the lid off the entire release AND share some fun things that are also in the Flourishes store as well! Are you ready? We are so excited we can hardly stand it! For starters -- all the stamp sets that we have shown off this week are now in the Flourishes store HERE! Remember, you can take advantage too of the New Release Bundle and save 10% when you purchase all four sets in a bundle!

Speaking of deals.. if you are looking for some great sale items... HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT FLOURISHES' GAMBLER'S SALE? All items on their sale page dropped another 5% -- they are now 25% off! Click HERE to see the savings!
Today, all the designers are showing off a set that was inspired by the Land Down Under! Yes, Flourishes Fans -- we are talking about Australia! Our own Kathy Jones, who hails from Australia,  helped develop this set concept, which has two beautiful botanicals as the  centerpiece of the set!
Take a trip to the land "Down Under" to see a pair of beautiful botanicals alive in this island continent. In this set called Bloomin' Aussie Florals, Artist Marcella Hawley brings the Golden Wattle and Sturt's Desert Rose to life with these illustrations and pairs them with true Aussie sentiments!

And.... to serve as the perfect partner to this set, Flourishes has a Silhouette Cameo Cut File to coordinate with this set! You'll find the new file HERE. And, if you click HERE, you will see the file in an .SVG format, to make it compatible with other digital cutting machines! They also have a cut file for the set we peeked yesterday called Stitched for You. You'll find the Silhouette file HERE and the SVG file HERE! Fun stuff!

On to my creation! 

I just think this floral is gorgeous! I used the Silhouette cut file and cut out the shape from Flourishes Classic White, I stamped my image using Rich Cocoa ink and then colored it up with Copic markers (see the supplies used below to see which collections I used!) Add some fun decorative paper - a mix of My Mind's Eye papers, add some Melon seam binding ribbon, some bling and paper piercing and... you're done! Just that easy peasy!

Here's a close up! You can see that I did add some glitter glue to the center of my flowers to add a little extra pizzazz! 


And here is the sentiment -- spelled the way the Aussies spell it! 


If you look closely, you'll notice a new die cut shape on my card -- yep -- I used one of Flourishes' new custom dies called Perfectly Pierced Classic Windows! These dies are so cool! Why? Because in addition to being nested template dies custom created by Spellbinders Paper Arts exclusively for Flourishes, these dies all offer pierced accents! Say goodbye to piercing templates - these dies do it for you in one step! They are all a part of the Perfectly Pierced Collection! And, here's a peek!

Perfectly Pierced Classic Windows

Perfectly Pierced Victorian Ovals

Perfectly Pierced Classic Hourglass

Perfectly Pierced Classic Frames


You'll see our designers using these dies in their posts today - what fun! I know we'll get asked if stamp sets are on the way to coordinate with these beauties and the answer is undoubtedly - YES! We just knew that you didn't need a coordinating stamp set to use these dies and so, we wanted YOU to enjoy them NOW! :-) So, do you want to win some goodies or what? We'll have not one, not two, not three, not four but FIVE ways to win today. All you need to do is figure out...


And guess what -- today there will be FIVE mystery bloggers! So, the more love you leave in the form of a comment on these blogs below, the better your chances of winning!! We'll be giving away today's set - Bloomin' Aussie Florals plus we'll be giving away one each of our four new die sets! So get hopping and amp up your chance to WIN!
If you want a chance to win the entire stamp set release for November, don't forget about the Be Progressive Challenge that closes today at 5PM EST!!  There is still time to enter! Thanks for stopping by this week and joining me for all the fun! Happy Stamping!

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Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Sneak Peek Day 3: Dreaming of Florence!

Hi all and welcome to the third day of Flourishes’ fabulous November Release Sneak Peeks! Today, we take you to a far away place with picturesque scenery, a glass of wine and some fresh picked figs for the tasting. Are you ready for a picnic in Florence? Well we are! Take a sneak peek at this lush new set!

   

From the rich Italian landscape host to Cypress trees and sunflowers to a table set with wine and figs, this set called Dreaming  of Florence is sure to add a dreamy feel to your cards or creations. This 4 by 6" set illustrated by Marcella Hawley even offers a handful of beautiful, all occasion sentiments.

On to my creation!

I knew I wanted to create something with a rustic feel for this fabulous set! I have never been to Italy, but I swear, googling images to serve as inspiration for my cards sure gave me a bit of a traveling bug! :-) So, for the card tidbits -- here goes! I stamped my image using Rich Cocoa ink onto Flourishes Classic White, after cutting out my image, I added some paper piercing and then let the fun begin with my Copic markers! I used quite a few different collections, so you will have to check the supplies used link list below for those details! I matted this up on Spellbinders Beaded Squares die. You might say - well this looks like a rectangle. Well, it is! I literally cut one section out of the die cut and then, you can see, I covered that section with my thick ribbon. It works! To mat it all up I used a mix of Echo Park and Teresa Collins papers. And then, I added my little sentiment thanks to a new die that will be unveiled this Friday! It's the smallest of three in the set and I thought it was perfect for my little sentie. I added it thanks to some gold cording and.... ta da! All done! 

Here's a close up.... 


And that, my friends, is it!  Would you like 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 who is the…
   

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! So what are you waiting for? Let's take a trip to see what these ladies crafted with this serene set -- you don't even need a passport!


DID YOU KNOW YOU COULD WIN OUR ENTIRE NOVEMBER RELEASE? Have you checked out our Be Progressive Challenge? Just click HERE  to find out how to play– there are four ways to win! Play along in this week’s Timeless Tuesday challenge  and that’s another way to win! Play along in the Be Progressive Challenges before this Friday at 5 PM EST and winners will be announced Saturday in our Winner’s Circle blog post! (You have until Monday at 6PM EST for the Timeless Tuesday challenge!)  So get those fingers inky and good luck!

If you like what you see on our designers’ blogs today, you can pre-order this set (along with the other three sets as well) and if you purchase all four sets, you can take advantage our New Release Bundle and get 10% off all our new sets when you purchase it in the bundle. What fun! All sets will be live first thing Friday morning along with another special surprise! So, be sure to stick with us this week as we unveil a whole new host of paper crafting goodies!

We’ll see you back here tomorrow for another new release sneak peek! This one will have you taking yet another trip to a far away place to witness some beautiful botanicals! Come back tomorrow and see what fun we've dreamed up! See you then!


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Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Sneak Peeks Day 2: Stitched For You!

Hi all and welcome to day 2 of Flourishes' fabulous November Release Sneak Peeks! Today, we have a cozy offering that is sure to warm the hearts of those who receive creations made from this set!  It's one full of images designed to tell that special someone that you've stitched up something for them with love! Want to take a peek?


Whether you knit, sew or quilt, this set called Stitched For You is perfect for those hand stitched gifts or home-spun cards and creations! Illustrated by Marcella Hawley, this set features 3 main images plus a handful of mix and match sentiments perfect for all occasion cards and gifts!

On to my creation!

I started by cutting out the knitting image out of Classic White Card Stock with the Stitched For You Silhouette Cut File (it will be in the store Friday!) and after I was done cutting, I stamped the scene on the cut image using Tuxedo Black Memento Ink. Then, I grabbed my Copic Markers to color this image up! (See Supplies Used below for colors!). After I was done coloring, I took papers from the new 123 Create Kit called For the Record. I just love the papers in this kit - so fun and vibrant! I cut out my mat thanks to the Spellbinders Beaded Oval die. After I was done embossing, I used a sanding block and sanded the embossed edge to reveal the paper's white core. The little strip of nordic knitting along the side is actually from the Snow Day set. JUST LOVE that little border that you can repeat! Add some stitching, some seam binding ribbon and a button and... ta da! Just that simple! Oh, I did add some razzle dazzle thanks not only to a glitter pen (on the knitting needles) but on the steam thanks to some glittler glue!

Here's a close up....



Would you like 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 who is the…

 

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! So what are you waiting for? Head on over to see all the fun ways the team stitched up some creativity!

As you make the rounds, you'll also see that some of the gals are using Flourishes' newest 123 Create Kit called For The Record! It's a colorful kit with so many creative possibilities!
This kit features a 6" by 6" Echo Park paper pad called For the Record, 4 quilting, sewing and knitting inspired charms, 2 yards of measuring tape twill ribbon, 3 yards of coordinating green seam binding style ribbon, 2 yards of red looped grosgrain ribbon, and 12 floral and button stick pins. All this for just $18!

DID YOU KNOW YOU COULD WIN OUR ENTIRE NOVEMBER RELEASE? Have you checked out the Be Progressive Challenge? Just click HERE  to find out how to play-- there are four ways to win! Play along in this week’s Timeless Tuesday challenge  and that's another way to win!  So get those fingers inky and good luck!

The good news? If you like what you see on our designers’ blogs today, you can pre-order this set (along with the other four sets as well) and if you purchase all five sets, you can take advantage our New Release Bundle and get 10% off all our new sets when you purchase it in the bundle. What fun! All sets will be live first thing Friday morning along with another special surprise! So, be sure to stick with us this week as we unveil a whole new host of paper crafting goodies!

I'll see you back here tomorrow for another new release sneak peek! This one will have you dreaming of far away places! Yes, that was your hint! See you then!

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