Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC44)!

It is time for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC44)! Thanks so much to you all for playing along in last week's theme challenge! A big thank you to Carol Lee for hosting with us!!! Thanks again so much, Carol! Keep reading to find out who won!

The Friends of Flourishes blog design team are bringing you exciting and different challenges each week. Flourishes gives away a store gift certificate each week. Random.org decides who wins!! Everyone can PLAY and anyone can WIN! Make sure you continue reading to find out how.

This week Maki Jones is our challenge host. Maki is challenging us to CAS or clean and simple styled cards. To find out more about this card style, click here. This is the perfect challenge for you to finish up some last minute Christmas cards or card gift sets for the holidays! We look forward to seeing what you create in the CAS style!!!

Let's see what Makiko Jones created for you this week in the CAS style. Makiko is using the newly release Christmas Tea along with the Coffee with Friends stamp sets. Maki is using Flourishes classic white cardstock. This cardstock is wonderful for coloring with copics! Maki created a tiled design using chipboard. She stamp her image using Momento tuxedo ink and colored with Flourishes Copic Color Collection in Evergreen and Peony. She used some Basicgray Eskimo Kiss dp. Maki finished her clean and simple card with some ribbon, pearls, and pierce detailing!!! Gorgeous card, Maki! Beautifully done!!!

To see what the rest of the blog design team created for you this week with the sketch, please click the blog links below to check them out.

Cindy Haffner

Betty Wright

Maki Jones

Silke Ledlow

Kimberly Crawford

Dee Jackson

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Winner(FTTC43)!!!

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers: 6
Timestamp: 2009-12-01 22:27:20 UTC

Jeanne Forsyth(A Cup Full of Blessings) You won!!! Congratulations!
Please private message gbedwright at SCS for your coupon code!!!!

Our November Monthly Pick Winner is

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers: 81
Timestamp: 2009-12-01 23:16:23 UTC

Mary Anne K. (Warm Wishes) Congrats! You won!!! Please private message gbedwright at SCS for your coupon code!!!!>

Now, it is your turn to play! Here is what you need to know!

• Anyone can play whether you have Flourishes stamps or not. Of course, if you have Flourishes stamps, by all means, use them.
• Use keyword code FTTC44 when linking to SCS or public gallery.
• Be sure to use the Mr. Linky to be eligible for the gift certificate drawing!
• If you use either your blog link or online gallery, please give an active Flourishes Blog link.
• By all means combine this challenge with other blog challenges.
• The challenge runs from Tuesday, 12:01 am until Monday at 8 pm EST Enjoy yourself!!!

We also have the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday blog button working properly again. If you need the code, check here.


As always, thanks so much for stopping by and playing Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge with us! Your comments are alway greatly appreciated, too!!!

Your Flourishes Friends!

It's almost time to FLIP!

It's almost December 1st... and that means your FLIP shopping day is almost here!!! If you are a card carrying member of FLIP (Flourishes Loyalty Incentive Program), on the first day of the month you are entitled to a 15% discount on your purchase!!! But you have to act because this sale is just a 24 hour special. If you are a member, you should have recieved an email sharing the promotional code that will work in order to get your 15% off. Simply shop on December 1st and place the code in the promotional code box at check out. If for some reason, you didn't recieve this email, feel free to email us and let us know at flourishesllc@cox.net. Remember, in order to qualify, you just needed a single purchase (not combined order) of $100 or more. You can see this POST for details on member benefits!

FYI, the code is ONLY available to our FLIP members and only on December 1, 2009 - so shop to your hearts content on that day! You will receive a different code for January 1.

HAPPY SHOPPING AND HAPPY STAMPING!

Get those shopping bags ready........

Because we are having a...............

That's right... everything in the store is now 15% off! EVERYTHING! To shop, simply use the code JINGLE at the time of check out in the promotional code box. This sale even includes our new Gift Certificates!


Flourishes now offers a boutique experience for those who want to add a Flourishes Shopping Spree to their Christmas lists! Our Gift Certificates come in denominations of $25, $50, $75 and $100. Those who buy them will receive a card to present to the recipient with their own special coupon code to use in the store! Click HERE and you'll go straight to our Gift Giving page where our gift certificates are listed.

So, get shopping! This BLACK FRIDAY sale ends when Friday comes to a close -- 24 hours only!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Julie

A time to give thanks!

Give Thanks
…for the moments in life that worth celebrating with a handmade card.
…for the fun we have crafting together.
…for loved ones that inspire us to make beautiful paper crafts.
…for life.


This week, as I prepare for Thanksgiving, I realize how very much I have to be thankful for. Many of you don’t know this, but I recently underwent surgery to fix an issue with my stomach. Scar tissue from a previous surgery impacted my insides and doctors said had I waited a few more days, I probably wouldn’t be with you.

What many don’t know is – 3 years ago when Flourishes began, it was because of other health problems. This company had always been a dream of mine and I didn’t want to fade from this world without giving it a try. I joined forces with two fabulous ladies ~ Sharon Doolittle & Nancy Kirk, who helped me get this company off the ground. Because of them and because of my fabulous design team, this company has exceeded my wildest dreams. I have incredible artists who continue to amaze me with their stamp concepts. I have customers who send cards with Flourishes stamps that just knock my socks off. Each one of these people stands like rays of light in my life. There are so many people who contribute to Flourishes’ success and in the process, inspire me beyond words.

Today, I thank all of you! I thank my artists. I thank my friends and I thank my fabulous design team (it’s the best in the business hands down!). I offer a very special thanks to our Friends of Flourishes blog team who offer challenges each week that continually inspire creativity. All of these ladies have let Flourishes shine in new ways and helped us reach out to more people with our beautiful images.

So stop by our team members and give them a little love this Thanksgiving. I know I will! Flourishes is a better company because of all of them!

Julie Koerber
Latisha Yoast
Christine Okken
Laura Fredrickson
Stacy Morgan
Leslie Miller
Cindy Lawrence
Cindy Haffner
Betty Wright
Maki Jones
Silke Ledlow
Dee Jackson
Becca Feeken
Kimberly Crawford


So as you sit down to Thanksgiving and count your blessings, what will you be thankful for? All the best to you and your family on this special day!

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC43)!

It is time for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC43)! Thanks so much to you all for playing along in last week's sketch challenge! Keep reading to find out who won!

The Friends of Flourishes blog design team are bringing you exciting and different challenges each week. Flourishes gives away a store gift certificate each week. Random.org decides who wins!! Everyone can PLAY and anyone can WIN! Make sure you continue reading to find out how.

It is the last Tuesday of the month and we have a guess challenge host for you. This month our challenge host is Carol Lee. Please give her a warm welcome! We are so thrilled to have Carol host with us. Carol is challenging us to themed cards. Since this week we celebrate Thanksgiving as well as kick off the Christmas Season, Carol is challenging us to Thank You and/or Christmas themed cards. You can choose one theme or create one of each. Or like many, you may need to finish up a few Christmas cards in time for mailing next week. Whichever you choose, we look forward to seeing what you create! Have a Blessed Thanksgiving!

Let's see what Carol Lee has created using the themed challenge! Carol chose to create a Christmas themed card. She is using Flourishes Forrest of Trees and the Basketweave background sets. Carol is using some Basicgray Indian Summer dp. Carol stamped the basketweave with razzleberry ink to make it pop on the dark pink solid paper from the dp pack. She stamped the tree and embossed with a woodland white ep. She add some tinsel glitter to give the tree some extra sparkle. Carol finished her Christmas card with some satin burgandy ribbon! Gorgeous Christmas card, Carol! Beautifully done!

To see what the rest of the blog design team created for you this week with the sketch, please click the blog links below to check them out.

Carol Lee

Cindy Haffner

Betty Wright

Maki Jones

Silke Ledlow

Dee Jackson

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Winner(FTTC42)!!!

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:30
Timestamp: 2009-11-24 03:49:56 UTC

Beth Greco You won!!! Congratulations!
Please private message gbedwright at SCS for your coupon code!!!!

Now, it is your turn to play! Here is what you need to know!

• Anyone can play whether you have Flourishes stamps or not. Of course, if you have Flourishes stamps, by all means, use them.
• Use keyword code FTTC43 when linking to SCS or public gallery.
• Be sure to use the Mr. Linky to be eligible for the gift certificate drawing!
• If you use either your blog link or online gallery, please give an active Flourishes Blog link.
• By all means combine this challenge with other blog challenges.
• The challenge runs from Tuesday, 12:01 am until Monday at 8 pm EST Enjoy yourself!!!

We also have the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday blog button working properly again. If you need the code, check here.


Also, I wanted to remind you that we draw for a monthly winner each month as well. So, you can still play these challenges and link with Mr. Linky to be eligible for the monthly drawing FTTC40, FTTC41, FTTC42 along with today's FTTC43!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and playing Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge with us! Your comments are alway greatly appreciated, too!!!

Your Flourishes Friends!

How about some Monday inspiration?

If you need a little creativity to get you through your week, we thought we'd serve up some here! Recently Beate Johns did a fun tutorial over on Splitcoast called faux stained glass using the Bird and Vine set! Thanks Beate for sharing!

Nesties, Needle and Thread

I love my Nesties! Who doesn't, right? Today I am sharing a few simple ways to enhance Nestie Die Cuts. Yes, I said needle and thread in the title, which is usually a turn off to me -- but all of these tips are simple and easy. I am showing three different ways to "dress up" your Nesties.

I started my card out by creating a simple background, stamping the Flourishy Outline image from Oranamental Elements set. I colored the flourish in using a R29 Copic and then used a fine tip red pen to fill in the really small lines as needed.

I gold embossed the sentiment from the Holiday Greetings set.
I used Versamark ink and Gold Detail Embossing Powder.

I die cut all my elements to build my card using various Nestie shapes.

When I die cut the Gold Square Scallop, I left it in the Nestie Die.... using the die's edge as a guide to place holes in each scallop. I used my Japanese Screw Punch, but you could easily use a hole punch for this as well.

Using some red fuzzy fiber and a large craft needle, I just threaded the fiber around the square Nestie, going up through the back of each hole. I used a little piece of tape to hold the start and finish of the fiber string to the back of the Square.

On the Oval for the Sentiment. I used the Petite Scallops - there are four die cuts here and they are already adhered together as seen in this picture. I used some gold sparkly embroidery floss for this one - separating two strands to use from the group of floss.

Again, secure the end of your floss on the back of the oval using a piece of tape and just start winding the floss around the oval, using the notch in between each scallop for your floss to "nest" in. Continue until the floss nests between each scallop of the oval.

This picture shows a red scallop square glued to an ivory base. I then used my Japanese Screw Punch, with the 1/16" hole tip, to add little hole punches around the edge.

Using one strand of the gold floss doubled up, I then used my craft needle to stitch around the edges of the Ivory Square. I use a large paper crafting needle to to all of the threading. It is large, with a dull point, easy to handle and most importantly has a large eye to easily thread your fiber or floss through. It is not as tedious as sometimes a small sewing needle can be.

I am starting to pull all my elements together, building the card from the base upwards. I added some pearls to cover up the holes on the Ivory Square to give it a "different" threaded look. I use the tip of my craft knife to pick up and place my adhesive pearls on to the card.

Not having any Ivory pearls in my stash, I used a Copic to color some white pearls..... adding these now "ivory" pearls to the outermost Red Square's edge.

Here is an up close pic of how it all came together. Finishing it off with a tiny silk bow. Final card size is 4.75" Square. Click on any pictures above to enlarge for a better view.

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Thanks for letting me share my tips on Nesties and Needles! I hope you picked up something useful from the pictures or my instructions!

--Jenny Gropp--
visit my little corner in Blogville: One Krafty Kat

Tag.... you're it!

Hi all! Julie here! And.... welcome to another Friday Flourishes Focus! This time, instead of sharing a technique or highlighting a fun product, I thought I'd just throw a whole bunch of ideas your way to get you ready for holiday gift giving.

I absolutely love using bags to "wrap" my gifts. Why? Because you don't have to wrap! ;-) I am an awful gift wrapper. What's funny is -I was trained to be a professional gift wrapper at a department store while I was in high school. I never made it.

So, what I do now instead is, I buy bags! When I see a cute one, I pick it up knowing I can deck it out with a fun tag or some fabulous ribbon!

I gathered up some of my favorite Flourishes holiday stamps and went to town!


And, see what you can create? I picked up this plain brown bag for 50 cents. Add some fun holiday ribbon by running it through your Xyron and attach it to the front of your bag for a dash of holiday color!

Both of the tags above were created literally in minutes thanks to a little prep work! I decided that I would stamp off some images on some marbled ivory/tan paper that I got for free from my brother-in-law (works to have family in the printing business -- you get free paper sometimes!)

Using Vivid Red, Green and Taupe inks I stamped the poinsettia from Poinsettia and Boxwood, the Christmas Music background, the Santa from Santa, I Believe, and the Holly Background. Some of these I didn't use, mind you, but I have them now on standby!

Using these fun shipping tags I picked up for .50 cents, I started my journey!

I covered the front of my tag with a portion of the stamped off poinsettias and then used a scrap of that same paper to stamp not only some fun brackets from the Fancy Labels set but a great sentiment from the Holiday Greetings set! Add some rhinestones, mat it up using the Labels 4 Nestabilities die, punch a hole and add some ribbon and... done!

The santa tag was done by coloring with chalks, and then just matting it up with part of my Holly background and then some fun decorative paper. Again, punch a hole and add some ribbon and... voila!

Another thing I love to do is color! I will stamp off some images just to have on hand so that when the moment hits and I need a coloring break, I have something that I can color up easily. I always give my images some space because I have no idea when I stamp them what I will use them for.

So, I took the stacked cups from Christmas Tea and colored it up! The image was accented by a little bit of chalk. To color my image, I used Copics - R24, R27, and R29; Y03 and y63; B000 and B00; and E33. These are markers in the Poppy, Spring Greens, Pastel, Flesh Tones 2 and Sky Copic Collections.

I love the little tag with the fun sentiment... also from the Christmas Tea set!

Isn't it fun when you can find a bag that matches your stamp set? Look at this fun bag I picked up at the dollar store! It just is a perfect match to the Christmas Borders set! I colored up the candy using the Poppy, Spring Greens, Daffodil, Meadow and Holly collections. I did use the lightest shade too from the Dahlia collection. Use some Distress inks in Tea Dye and Antique Linen to antique it. Add fun Christmas ribbon and some stitching and you're almost done....

I added some faux sugar (it's a chunk glitter that is actually called faux snow -- but looks more like sugar!) to my gum drops! The "dots" of antique ink were created by a really old stamp that is just that... dots! Sometimes I turn to it to just create some extra "texture" on my image.

This next one was super fun! I wanted my drummer from the Drummer Boy set to have a monochromatic look. So, I stamped him in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored him up with Copics! I edged my drummer with chalk, masked him and then stamped over top of him with the Christmas Music background stamp. I added some silver stitching, a tab, a fun glittered button and silver cording to attach my tag and... done!

This last tag is really pretty in real life but didn't photograph all that well. I took some of the 7 Gypsies paper and stamped the angel from the Rejoice set over top with Versamark and silver detail embossing powder. Add some rhinestones and some fun sheer ribbon and silver cording and that's it! I did line the edge of my decorative paper with some silver leaf pen. I also added a punched snowflake and a larger rhinestone for a little something extra.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing how I like to deck out my holiday packages! For those packages that "have" to be wrapped, I love getting a simple silver or gold wrapping and letting my ribbon and tags do the talking! I am glad I have some tags ready in my holiday gift wrapping arsenal -- ready to go for Black Friday! :-)


Be sure to stop by to see what some of the other members of our fine and fabulous DT have created to help get you in the spirit!!


Latisha
Christine
Laura
Stacy
Leslie

See you back here soon!

~Julie

Bringing Santa To Life...

I had to literally pick my jaw up off the floor recently when I laid my eyes on one of Linda Duke's recent creations. I couldn't believe that with the help of her Prismacolor pencils, she literally brought Santa from the Santa, I Believe set to life!

I love how she added Polar White Flower Soft and Liquid Applique to give this Santa texture!
Can you believe the depth in her coloring? I can't! If you'd like to check out all the details on this card, all you need to do is head on over to Linda's place HERE!

Thanks for stopping by! We'll be back tomorrow with another Flourishes Focus and this one will have you getting ready for all that holiday wrapping! :-)

~Julie

Are you ready for a Color Throwdown????

This week the challenge over at the Color Throwdown is sponsored by the one and only Flourishes! YEAH! If you've never tried a color throwdown challenge, look at these gorgeous colors above? What are you waiting for! The Color Throwdown Design Team created some GORGEOUS samples using Flourishes images. So, head on over to the Color Throwdown blog and check out all the official details HERE! The prize is a Flourishes stamp set!! Like I said, what are you waiting for? ;-)

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC42)!

It is time for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC42)! Thanks so much to you all for playing along in last week's boxes and bags challenge! Keep reading to find out who won!

The Friends of Flourishes blog design team are bringing you exciting and different challenges each week. Flourishes gives away a store gift certificate each week. Random.org decides who wins!! Everyone can PLAY and anyone can WIN! Make sure you continue reading to find out how.

This week Silke Ledlow is our challenge host. Silke is challenging us to a sketch she has designed. As far as sketches go, there is not much of an explanation necessary. You can turn it and modify the shapes to fit your size card, but in the end, it should still look like the sketch. Thanks for a great sketch, Silke!!! Have fun with it!

Let's see what Silke Ledlow has created using this fun sketch! Silke is using the Flourishes Dove and Holly set. She used Flourishes Copic Color Collections in Warm Neutrals, Holly, Fuschia, and Cool Naturals. She added an embossed layer for visual interests and bedazzled the holly leaves with touches of glitter. She finished with a red gingham bow with a button and silver pearl accent. Beautifully done, Silke!!!

To see what the rest of the blog design team created for you this week with the sketch, please click the blog links below to check them out.

Kimberly Crawford

Cindy Haffner

Betty Wright

Maki Jones

Silke Ledlow

Dee Jackson

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Winner(FTTC41)!!!

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:8
Timestamp: 2009-11-17 02:55:27 UTC
Peggy Elms(marilynprestonn) You won!!! Congratulations!

Please private message gbedwright at SCS for your coupon code!!!!

Now, it is your turn to play! Here is what you need to know!

• Anyone can play whether you have Flourishes stamps or not. Of course, if you have Flourishes stamps, by all means, use them.
• Use keyword code FTTC42 when linking to SCS or public gallery.
• Be sure to use the Mr. Linky to be eligible for the gift certificate drawing!
• If you use either your blog link or online gallery, please give an active Flourishes Blog link.
• By all means combine this challenge with other blog challenges.
• The challenge runs from Tuesday, 12:01 am until Monday at 8 pm EST Enjoy yourself!!!

We also have the Flourishes Timeless Tuesday blog button working properly again. If you need the code, check here.

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and playing Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge with us! Your comments are alway greatly appreciated, too!!!

Your Flourishes Friends!

Need some creative inspiration???

Recently Beate Johns used her incredibly creative eye and whipped up a gorgeous Joy Fold card with the Dove and Holly set over on Splitcoast. I thought we should share it here just in case you missed it!!! Thanks Beate!

Frame it with Ribbon!

Today I have some ribbon tips to share with you. I do love ribbon, any and all kinds! I am using the new Christmas Tea set on this card and working with some yummy Red Velvet Ribbon.

I first stamped my teapot image, I knew I was going to paper piece the teapot so why mask it if you don't need to??? Shortcut is my middle name! So you can see I just added in the holly branch images under the tea pot.

I colored the holly with Copics. I was going for a centerpiece type look with this image. So I wanted to ground it by adding a line to use as the base. I just added a simple Black line using a Fine Tip pen and a ruler. I used a Rectangle Nestie to cut out my image, drawing an inner frame before removing from my die.

Hmmm... a little explaining for this pic, at the end I decided that I did not like the paper I used for the Tea Pot.... it was too grey, so in the end I switched it out. Sometimes things just don't look right and you have to change it up! You can see I added color to my Holly Berries and also airbrushed a bottom layer in my picture using Copic W5.

Using my drawn frame line around the edge as a guide to keep me straight... I used double sided adhesive tape to line the edges of the stamped panel.

Removing the adhesive backing one side at a time as I worked around the frame, I added my velvet ribbon. I let the ends overlap on each other in each corner. Gently lifting them up a tiny bit, enough only to get my scissor tip in there.... I cut the two ribbons at the same time, insuring the cut ends would match up just right. This leaves a perfectly clean looking mitered corner.

My little scalloped table cloth was made using the same Velvet Ribbon and cutting it with a Scalloped Oval nestie. Then I attached it to my stamped image, lining the straight edge of the ribbon up with the straight line I drew in the middle of the panel.

I blinged it up with some mini crystals over the berries. And you can see the new tea pot, from my DP switch-a-roo! Finished by adding the sentiment with velvet touches to that as well!

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Thanks for letting me share my Ribbon Tips!
I hope you picked up something useful from the pictures or my instructions!
Jenny Gropp

visit my little corner in Blogville: One Krafty Kat

My Favorite Things Challenge WINNER!!!

It’s that time when we put all the names in the hat and pick one to be the lucky winner of our Favorite Things Challenge!!!!! We had so many over the top entries! It was so fun clicking on from site to site to see all the fun ways people got inspiration from the “These are a few of my favorite things…” song! So, now to the winner…..

DRUM ROLL PLEASE……………….

The winner of all five of our new release sets for November is…..

Karla Kroese!

You can click HERE to see her fabulous creations inspired by brown paper packages tied up with string!

Thanks everyone for playing! We'll see you for another release challenge... in just a few weeks! :-)

~Julie

The peaks are over..... the sets are in the store!

We had a blast this week showcasing all the fun projects that you can create with the new stamps in our November Release! We hope you've enjoyed them and that they inspire you as you whip up your holiday creations!

Good news! All of the peeks we've been sharing this week are HERE! They are now available in the Flourishes Store for your shopping pleasure!

Christmas Bouquet
Fancy Labels

Christmas Borders

Christmas Tea

Lamp Post Greetings

And, don't forget about our NEW RELEASE BUNDLE! Purchase the bundle, and get 10% off all five of our new release sets!

Before we go.... we want to fill you in on who won the drawing for the Christmas Tea set! Random.org drew the number 63 which means the winner is.....

Shirley said...
I have so many friends who love tea, and your set is perfect for Christmas gifts. Love, love, love it! Can't wait to see the whole set. Thanks also for all the great ideas from your designers. Please use the email address below my name. Thanks.
Shirley L. shirlee@surewest.net Friday, November 13, 2009 10:20:00 AM

Shirley, simply email us at flourishesllc@cox.net with your address and we will go ahead and get your stamp set sent right to you!

To the rest of you... it was a fun week!

Happy Shopping!