Where Do You Get Your Inspiration?

I am thrilled to be the first Flourishes Limelight Designer for the start of 2010!
I am especially excited to also get back in the stamping "saddle" again. As many of you know I have been on somewhat of a haitus since November. When Julie asked me about the Limelight, I knew that it would be the perfect opportunity to jump back into something I love!

Today I want to share with you briefly about where I get my inspiration for my projects. I tend to use nature and the color found there, as I am sure many of you also do, for the starting point for my cards. Take for example, the card I have made using Seaside Life:


It is rich with deep blues and greens of the ocean, and after a week of sub-zero temperatures, I am dreaming of the time when I can bask in the sunshine and warmth of the Atlantic Ocean again! The somewhat darker colors reflect the current winter season, but with the hope that someday my thermometer will rise above 10 degrees!

One other inspired project to show you today comes from a painting in my living room - also a nature theme, with beautiful color and design. Here is the painting:


and here is the inspired card using the Poppy Patch set:

Both of the cards are watercolored using reinkers and an aqua brush.

I am also inspired by other stampers and their work. You have a wonderful opportunity to browse through the Flourishes Blog and take a look at all of the beautiful creations by so many fabulous designers! Where do you get your inspiration?

I hope to see you back here next Sunday, when I will be sharing with you again. Thank you for stopping by and for all of your wonderful comments on my introduction last week!

Flourishes Focus: Masking

Hey everyone~

Cindy here! :) Today I'm going to share a tutorial on masking using Eclipse Masking Tape. Have you seen it? It's in the Flourishes store, and it truly is the best product I've used for masking images.


Today I'm taking you "back to basics" with a simple form of masking.

I started my project by stamping an image from the Poppy Patch set three times on Classic White cardstock. I used Palette Hybrid Noir Black ink.


Now, I wanted my flowers to look more natural, like they would in a garden. So I decided to stamp a couple more flowers in between. In order to do this without overlapping the lines of my images, I needed to mask the images I had already stamped.

So, I stamped a couple more poppies onto my Eclipse Masking Tape, and cut them out.


Next, I stuck the stamped Eclipse Tape directly over my stamped images and proceeded to stamp the remaining poppies. Here you can see me peeling off the last "mask".


I used to use Post-it notes for masking; but this stuff is sooo much better! I definitely did not know what I was missing until I tried it! For one, the Eclipse Tape is sticky all over; so there's no chance of it slipping or moving and ruining your project. It is completely re-usable as well, since it doesn't lose it's stickiness. I store my masks with my Flourishes stamp sets, stuck right to the side! :)

Here's my finished card. I just love the dimension and depth you get from something so simple as masking off a couple of flowers! How easy is that!?

Here's the full card recipe:

Stamps: Poppy Patch

Papers: Classic White, Basic Black, Sweetbay Designer Paper

Inks: Palette Hybrid Noir Black, Copic Markers: Poppy Collection, Evergreen Collection, C7 from the Cool Neutrals Collection, BG11 from the Water Collection

Accessories: White Pearls (dyed black with Copic Marker), Angel Wings Shimmerz Paint, Black Satin Ribbon, Black Crocheted Lace Ribbon

I really wanted to show you a second sample using masking in a different way; but I just ran out of time. I did start the card; so I'll show you quickly another masking technique without a finished sample at the end.


I know...what a tease, huh?! I tore the edge of my roll of Eclipse Tape and adhered it to the bottom edge of a folded card base. Then I used the Palette Hybrid Landscape pad and a sponge dauber to sponge ink all along the exposed edge. This is a terrific technique to use when you want to add the "illusion" of layers of cardstock, without actually adding the layers. Stay tuned this coming week on my blog for the full reveal of this card. ;)

So, you wanna see some more masking fabulousness??? Well, hop on over to the rest of the design team blogs to see what they've come up with for you:

• Christine Okken
• Faith Hofrichter
• Julie Koerber
• Latisha Yoast
• Leslie Miller

Until next time, happy stamping!

Hugs~
Cindy