It's a Celebration!

It's hard to believe.... but two years ago, this one-of-a-kind stamp boutique opened its doors to a whole new kind of creative expression! In honor of our SECOND BIRTHDAY, we would love to have you help us celebrate! In fact, we've set aside the entire month of August for fun and games, challenges, and ways to honor all of you that have truly made Flourishes a success!

Today, the entire design team along with some of our Friends of Flourishes cooked up creations to honor this special day! We wanted to give you a little bit of eye candy before we send you on your way to check out more of our fabulous designers' work! We truly believe we have the best designers in stamp land!

Check out Leslie's gorgeous his and hers money holders!


Cindy chose a sleek and sophisticated creation!

And, Stacy thought out of the box.... way out of the box!
For all the details on the individual cards, you can hop on over to the designers' blogs! While you are hopping...

Christine Okken... she has some birthday blog candy!
Cindy Lawrence
Faith Hofrichter
Julie Koerber
Latisha Yoast
Laura Fredrickson
Leslie Miller
Stacy Morgan
Jan Marie Caruso
Dee Jackson
Silke Ledlow

And... guess what? We want YOU to join us in the fun! Simply make a birthday creation of your own by next Thursday, August 6th at 5:00 PM CST - link your card to this post or upload to SCS using the keyword FLLCBDAY. Use Flourishes stamps if you have them, but if you don't we'd still love it if you played! We'll pick one lucky winner and will make the big announcment next Friday! The prize will be a stamp set of your choice! So, make time for play time and you might just be a winner! Don't forget to click onto the Flourishes Newsletter tomorrow -- there is a BIG announcement that you won't want to miss! It's one you are going to FLIP over! ;-)

Coming soon....

Coming soon...

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC26)!

It is time for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC26)!!!! Thanks so much to all of you who participated in last week's shimmerz challenge! Keep reading to find out who won!

The Friends of Flourishes blog design team are bringing you exciting and different challenges each week. Everyone can PLAY and anyone can WIN! Make sure you continue reading to find out how.

It is the last Tuesday of the month so it is time for another Guest Challenge Designer!!! Please give a warm welcome to Deena Perreault(moonrise)!! Deena is challenging us to go monochromatic with our cards. Her challenge stipulations are ONE color or shades of that color along with either white or cream cardstock. All supplies and tools are allowed!!! So, let's see what you can create!!! We look forward to see what you do!!!

Let's go she what the blog design team did with the monochromatic challenge!!!

Up first is our challenge host, Deena Perreault. Deena is using Birds and Vines set. Deena uses soft blues to create a very serene card. The sponged dry embossing creates a dimension and the diamond dust gives a magical look to these birds and vines. Deena is using spellbinders label 4 and pearl accents to finish her card. Beautifully done, Deena!!!

Next is, Silke Ledlow . Silke is using Life, Love and Lemons set. Silke designed a long and low card. I love the trio of beautifully colored and dimension lemon slices. Silke colord the lemon slices using the Flourishes Copic Color Collections in Daffodil. They truly look mouth watering. Silke finished with some beautiful ribbon and some touches of rhinestones. Beautifully done, Silke!!!

Up next is Betty Wright. I am using Damask, Forest of Trees, and Sleigh Ride sets. I decided to make a monochromatic Christmas card with neutrals. I used the damask for the top portion of the background, I stamped my tree in a cream pigment ink and clear embossed, and I used the sentiment from Sleigh Ride. I finished my card with some satin ribbon and pearl accents.

Next up is Cindy Haffner. Cindy is using the All Wrapped Up stamp set. Cindy created a beautiful gift card using shades of blues with a spellbinders scalloped square base. Cindy colored the presents using Flourishes Copic Color Collections in Water. Love the cut work detailing and dimension. Cindy finished the card with a few touches rhinestones! Wonderful card, Cindy!








Last this week is Dee Jackson. Dee is using the Spring Ephemerals and Sweet Violets set. She created a warm monochromatic card using inks combined with dry embossing textures and distressing. Love how Dee shadowed the bleeding heart image from the Spring Ephemerals set. The thank you sentiment comes from the Sweet Violets set. Beautifully done, Dee!!!

Be sure to check out each designers blog links to get more
detail card pictures and information!

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Winner(FTTC25)!!!
Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:30
Timestamp: 2009-07-28 02:33:49 UTC

Fonda (southernscraps) Congratulations!!! You Won!!! You need to email: flourishesllccustomerservice@cox.net for your coupon code!!!!

By the way, if you still do not have theTimeless Tuesday blog button

for your blog, check here for the codes.

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 FTTC25 when linking to SCS or public gallery. Leave a comment on this post with a link to your creation. Please give a direct link to your blog post so we can see the Flourishes challenge post and not just the generic page. To get the full link, click to read the comments. Another page will open that will have just the one card and your comments. Copy and paste that link here in the comments section.
• If you use either your blog link or online gallery, please give an active Flourishes Newsletter link.
• You can combine this challenge with as many others as you want.
• The challenge runs from Tuesday, 12:01 am until Monday at 8 pm EST Enjoy yourself!!!
  

We cannot wait to see what you create!

As always, thanks so much for stopping by and playing Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge with us!

Your Flourishes Friends!

Product Focus

When Flourishes decided to add a line of embellishments to the store, we wanted to think beyond brads and found these great mini tags we call Mini Messages, which are perfect for cards, scrapbooks, altered items and smallest shape can even be used for a charm on a bracelet!

Each pack contains 12 tags - two of each shape shown below, along with mini jump rings. They come in three different finishes: Antique Copper shown here, as well as gold and silver.

While testing these mini tags we found that some of the nestability dies will cut shapes that fit with the tags! Here are the tags with paper cut with the corresponding nestability die.

For the ovals, the mini message tags were just a tad different in shape, so I used the closest nestability oval die and then used a bone folder around the inside edge to fit the shape - it now looks like it was embossed to fit! For the smallest circle tag (not shown below), I could not find a punch or die cut that small - but I'm sure there is one somewhere!! That small tag is just under 1/2 inch - about 7/16th's. If you don't have nestabilities, then cutting a square or rectangle is simple enought with a paper cutter. For circles and ovals you can try putting a small piece of paper on the tag and cutting it out with a craft knife.

Many Flourishes stamp sets include small images that work well with these shapes - you''ll be amazed at what you can find to fit these once you start looking!

In the photo below I stamped a flower from the Sweet Violets set and a sentiment from the Strawberries set then I place the stamped shape on the tag - note that you want to stamp before you adhere the paper to the tag. I used a paper glaze product to add a glossy finish to the tag - ArtQuest Perfect Paper Adhesive was used here but there are many others that are on the market and you probably have something similar in your craftroom!

Using the paperglaze opens up so many possibilities - make glazed charms for a charm bracelet, or just use it over pretty paper - you may not even need to stamp! Mini Messages are great for card fronts, ATC's, scrapbook or altered items.

Here is a look at my finished card - I paired the antique copper mini message tag with one of the brads from the Beautiful Brads collection. I love how the leaf brad looks not only with this tag, but with the card as well! Designer Paper - Basic Grey Perhaps was paired with suede and melon papers for this quick card.

I hope you'll take a look at the entire Flourishes Finishing Touches collection - they're the perfect accessory to dress up your cards!

Thanks for stopping by!

Limelight Week 4 With Theresa Momber - Lilac Gift Set

Good morning! It's Theresa again. This is my fourth and final week as the Flourishes Limelight Designer and I have so enjoyed spending each Sunday with you for the past month. This week I worked with the Lilac stamp set and created a gift ensemble that includes a jar of bath salts with matching card and gift bag.

I'll start with the details about the card and follow with just a bit about the bag and bath salts.


I started by stamping my the image on Flourishes Classic White paper. Then I used BV11 to go over the entire flower portion of the image.

Rather than trying to color each tiny flower individually, I took BV13 and just made squiggly lines all around, somewhat following some the lines of the image.

Next I took a darker marker, BV17, and followed along the squiggly line, but using a lighter touch.

I went back over the whole image again, with BV11, to soften the blending. Finally, I used my blender pen on some of the individual flowers to push some of the color back, creating some highlights.

To color the leaves, I started by going over them completely with YG03.

Then I added YG95 along the veins and bottom edges.

Used YG93 and blended out just a bit from the previous color.

Softened my blend lines with YG03 again, then used my blender pen to push in some highlights.

I created a background panel by sponging some lavender ink along the edges of more Classic White paper.

For the very back panel, I again sponged a piece of Classic White paper, then I cut it in half. To create the patterned paper look on the top half, I used a stamp from Live, Love and Lemons and stamped in in a random pattern, using lavender ink. For the bottom portion, I used my Swiss Dots Cuttlebug folder to dry emboss.

To create the little sentiment panel, I used a stamp from Sweet Violets and used a word window punch it out. I know a lot of you have those punches, but if you don't, you can get the same look by cutting a strip of cardstock and then using a circle punch to round the ends. You just need to feed one end of the strip through the opening on the bottom of the punch. After you punch one side, turn your strip of paper around and punch the other end the same way.

That is how I created purple layer under my sentiment. When layering, you punch one end and then use your top layer as a measuring guide for punching the other end.

I used some black and lavender papers for additional layers and a piece of Classic White cardstock for my cardbase.

The gift bag was made essentially the same way as the card, only without the sentiment.

Here is the bath salts recipe...

1 cup coarse sea salt

1/2 cup Epsom salts

1/2 tsp. glycerin

2-3 drops fragrance oil

(optional - few drops food coloring)

Just mix it all up and you're done.

I found a cute little jar to put the bath salts in. I added ribbon and a tag, using the smaller lilac stamp for the tag.

Thank you all so very much for the wonderful welcome and all your encouragement. I've had so much fun sharing my projects with you!

Take care and have a fabulous day!

Strike up the band!

Last week Jan Marie struck up the band for our Patriotism on Parade showcase! Today, we offer the grand finale! We have honestly been blown away by the cards and the generosity! Keep in mind.... we are accepting cards for the troops until August 1st! For every card you submit, you will have one entry to win a $50 gift certificate to be used in the Flourishes store! We'll have two runners up too for a $25 gift certificate! Click HERE for the official rules of entry!

As we promised - every Saturday in July we'd be presenting our own parade showcasing the fabulous cards created with the Patriotism on Parade set! We love the concept behind this set and LOVE that a portion of the proceeds will go to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. It is a very, very worthwhile cause benefiting those wounded soldiers who come back home to American soil. If you'd like to read up on this fabulous non-profit, click HERE.

Let's get to the parade! Give a round of applause to.....

Amy Smith

"Winnb"

Makiko Jones
Ginny Harrell
Julie Masse
Mary
Barbara Anders

Carla Mayfield

Thank you ladies for sharing your beautiful creations! They inspire beyond words! Remember you have until August 1st to be entered into our drawing! Make a card or two, drop it in the mail, help out a good cause, and get a chance to win a gift certificate for YOU!

Have a fabulous weekend and we'll see you back here tomorrow with the final day with Theresa Momber! We will be so sad to see her go! She is such an artist and we've had to pick our jaws up off the floor more than a few times this month! Be sure to stop back by and see what she cooked up!

See you soon!

More Shimmery Goodness

Hey everyone~

Welcome to another day of shimmery goodness! Have you been enjoying the samples this week? I sure have!

Today, Laura & I (Cindy) are sharing a couple of samples using Shimmerz fabulous paints.

First up is Laura's gorgeous sample:

When Julie suggested we do a Shimmerz week, I was thrilled, 'cus you know I love all things that sparkle and shine, and Shimmerz is just that! When I opened the package with my glorious colours, I knew I had to paint my Sweet Peas..it was just too perfect. I kept the card really simple, adding a gold ribbon slide and a gold embossed sentiment from Sweet Violets. The Martha Stewart lace doily punch and some gold half back pearls finish it perfectly. Here's a close up of the Shimmerz!

Stamps: Sweet Peas, Sweet Violets (Flourishes), Paper: Classic White, Rich Razzleberry Ink: Versafine Onyx Black Accessories: Gold Ribbon Slide, Rich Razzleberry ribbon, gold half back pearls, Martha Stewart Lace Doily punch, Magenta, Sugarplum, Pink and Green Olive Shimmerz paints


For my sample, I chose the I Love Roses stamp set. I love the vintage appeal of the roses in this set, and I thought it would work perfectly with the Shimmerz paints.

I combined the Orange Sherbet & Burgundy Shimmerz on my rose, a combo I would not normally put together. I was oh-so-pleasantly surprised at how pretty they look together. For the leaves, I used the Green Olive and accented with Burgundy.

Here's a close up view, so you can better see the shimmer & sparkle...so pretty in person! :)


Stamps: I Love Roses Paper: Classic White, Chocolate Chip, Fernbrae Designer Papers from Memory Box Ink: VersaMark, Palette Burnt Umber, Linen Distress Ink Accessories: Copper Ribbon Slide & Brads, Reversable Satin Ribbon, Circle Nestabilities, Sewing Machine, Gold Embossing Powder, Sponge Dauber, Dimensionals, Burgundy, Orange Sherbet, and Green Olive Shimmerz Paints

That's the end of Shimmerz week here at Flourishes; but I know that I will be using lots more of that yummalicious paint on my projects!

Have a sparklin' day!

~Cindy

More Shimmerz by Stacy and Latisha

Hello bloggers!

Stacy and Latisha here.  Today we are going to show you a few cards we made using the oh so fabulous Shimmerz product.  First up is Stacy, she has not one but two cards to show today, she is the energizer bunny when it comes to card making...boy oh boy does she produce amazing stuff!  Ok getting down to business, on this first card Stacy used the Sweet Violets stamp set and colored it in using the Green Olive and Periwinkle Shimmerz colors and thats it!  Do you see all that sparkly yummyness!  I don't know what is in Shimmerz, but its super glittery and I think it has some type of paint in it.  So make sure to shake it up and stir it before you use it, to have the best results.

materials used found at the Flourishes store:

Spellbinder labels die

Flourishes Classic white card stock

Kaiser pearls

May Arts ribbon

Sweet Violets stamp set

Palette ink

Here is another card Stacy made, using the Thinking of You stamp set.  For this gorgeous card she used the Angel Wings Shimmerz.  I have yet how to photograph Shimmerz right, but in person, holy moly batman does this stuff sparkle!  Stacy used the Curvy Rectangles Spellbinders die and luscious May Arts satin ribbon.
For my project I made a flap fold card, and stamped images from the Strawberry set.  Once the Palette ink dried, I went in using the Royal Red and Olive Green Shimmerz.  What you see is what you get, I didn't color my strawberries using anything else but the Shimmerz...isn't that cool!!  One other tip I would like to share, is that after I stamped and colored in my image, I sponged below and above my image to create a background, I didn't have to worry about my ink from sponging staying on my strawberries, I just took a paper towel and wiped off the blue and green ink, so the Shimmerz acted as a resist.  How cool is that!!  I decorated my envelope to match my card...we all like to be matchy matchy...right?!?  How many of you have the Flourishes Card Stock?  Are you in love or what, this paper takes color like no other!

materials used available in the Flourishes store:

Strawberry stamp set

Spellbinder dies

Palette ink

Flourishes classic white card stock

square envelopes

Be sure to come back tomorrow for more projects using Shimmerz!

Bring on the Shimmerz!

Gosh have the samples from our Flourishes designers been sparkling this week! It's all because of a powerful little paint called Shimmerz! This week the designers swapped spots with the Shimmerz DT in order to show off some of these sparkly paints and show you how to make your projects shine using Shimmerz..... and Flourishes!

Today Faith and I are showing off some fun creations!

Here's a peek at Faith's card done up in a vibrant red with those beautiful poppies from the Poppy Patch stamp set.

Faith stamped the poppies using VersaMark ink and then she embossed her image with black embossing powder.. The blooms were colored in with Shimmerz colors: Royal Red, Burgandy. The leaves were colored in with Shimmerz colors: Celery and Evergreen.Next, the images were cut out and adhered to the oval Nesties. She makes it sound so simple! What a gorgeous card she's created.

I decided to go for a little Christmas in July look and grabbed my All That Glitters set!
I stamped my ornament onto a piece of solid red from the Wassail collection from Basic Grey using Versamark ink and then embossed it in gold detail embossing powder. I cut it out and then, covered the entire bulb with Candlelight Shimmerz. I wanted to give it some understated elegance with a bit of glimmer! This color paint is a kind of neutral and does not change the color you have underneath one bit!

Here is a close up! See the soft shimmer?

The mechanics of the card are rather simple! I used the Labels Three Nestabilities die for my main mat. After I embossed, I used a light grit sandpaper to take off some of the color on the edges of my shape. I used the Nestabilities circles for the main image and circular mat. Add some Kaiser Pearls, some ribbon and a decorative edge punch and voila! A Christmas card raring to go in July!

We'll be back tomorrow with some more glistening samples using Shimmerz so, stay tuned! Want to see what the Shimmerz DT cooked up with the Shimmerz/Flourishes combination? Click HERE to check it out!

~Julie