Flourishes Focus; Finishing Touches

Can I share a secret? Ever since Flourishes introduced their Finishing Touches embellishment line, I have been having a love affair with them. I sometimes have to hold myself back to two of them. They are a fabulous elite line of "hardware"; so beautiful, elegant, and versatile. I have two cards to share with you, but since I can hardly share all the potential of these little gems, you'll gain more inspiration when you visit the design teams' blogs, as they will definitely be finishing touches on your blog surfing today!

On my first card I used one of the Beautiful Brads and I set my sentiment in a Mini Message. I can't believe it hadn't occured to me to pair Basic Grey's "Lemonade" series paper with Live Love Lemons before...what a perfect match! I stamped the image on Classic White in Memento Tuxedo Black. The lemons were coloured with Copic Markers, specifically the Buttercup and Evergreen Collections. I added a pink shadow using the Hollyhock Collection and the Pastels kit. The belly border was punched with a Martha Stewart punch and it's wrapped with the gorgeous May Art's "Maize" sheer polka dot ribbon. Through the ribbon I tied some gold cord and suspended the sentiment in the Mini Message frame. I used gold, but they are also available in Silver and Antique Copper. To balance and finish the card, I added a flourished Beautiful Brad in the corner and that was that!

I cut into my new Savannah paper pack by 7 Gypsies for this card! Beautiful paper...it was touch to actually "cut" it! The inner portion is all from one piece cut to 4" x 5 1/4". Then I cut it lengthwise and widthwise, and turned over two of the pieces to reveal a complimentary solid paper! Perfect! Falling Leaves came to my rescue along with an old Kaleidacolour pad, appropriately named "Autumn Leaves". I stamped the leaves randomly on the solid side then pieced the card together. The luxurious May Arts reversable satin ribbon in Brown/gold is wrapped around the seam, and the flowers are layered using a Finishing Floral brad in Antique Copper for the flower centre. The sentiment was stamped on vellum to give it full attention without losing the beautiful designer paper images. Here's a close up of the flower:

Are you ready for more? The design team is all geared up and ready to WOW you with more ideas and inspiration. I'm sure you'll agree they've truly added the perfect Finishing Touches to their creations!

Julie Koerber

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Faith Hofrichter

Leslie Miller

Latisha Yoast

Stacy Morgan

Well, that's it for me! Have a fabulous Flourishes Friday and a wonderful weekend too!

Flip Code Fixed

I apologize for the confusion today on the code. I simply forgot to active the code when I sent out the message. It is fixed so all of the "Flippers" can shop till they drop!

Polymer Hugs,

It's time to FLIP!

It's Thursday, October 1st... and that means it's your FLIP shopping day!!! 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 October 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 October 1, 2009 - so shop to your hearts content on that day! You will receive a different code for November 1.

HAPPY SHOPPING AND HAPPY STAMPING!

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC35)!

It is time for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC35)!!! Thanks so much to all of you who played along with us with the stamp misting. 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 so we have a Guest Challenge Host for you. Please welcome Francie Gumprecht(Francie G) as our guest challenge host! Welcome Francie and thanks so much for hosting with us! Francie is challenging us to extend our creations outside the frame. Whether your want to make a dimensional piece or use subtle cut lines, the look is to go beyond the frame you choose for your card. We cannot wait to see what you create!!!

Let's go see what the blog design team created for you going outside the frame this week.

Up first is our challenge host, Francie Gumprecht. Francie is using Cottage Home stamp set. Francie used a spellbinders classic frame. Next, she stamped the cottage home scenic image

using momento tuxedo black ink onto Flourishes Classic White Cardstock twice. She colored using Flourishes Copic Color Collection in Hydrangea and Spring Greens. She cut out sections of the scene and adhered on top of the frame die cut to extend it beyond the frame. She added some flower soft detailing and kaiser pearls to finish her card. Beautifully done, Francie. Lovely card!!!

Next up is Silke Ledlow. Silke is using the Strawberries stamp set. Silke is using Flourishes Classic White cardstock and colored the strawberries and flowers using Flourishes Copic Color Collection in Buttercup, Poppy, and Fields. Silke stamped the strawberries twice using momento tuxedo black ink and cut out portions and adhered it to extend over the top of her receased die cut frame. She finished with three rows of red gingham and some silver pearls. Gorgeous colors and dimension, Silke!!! Beautifully done!!!








Up next is is Betty Wright. I am using the All that Glitters and Sleigh Ride sets. I stamped the ornaments and greenery using Momento tuxedo black ink onto Flourishes classic ivory cardstock. I colored using Flourishes Copic Color Collections in Dusty Rose, Poppy, and Water. I used versamark and clear embossed the ornaments before I cut out to adhere on top and off of the edge of the oval frame to give them some depth and shine. I am using spellbinders flourish impressabilities for background textures, label eight, and label six die cuts. I finished my card with some sheer ribbon and red kaiser pearls.








Cindy Haffner is next. Cindy is using the newly released Falling Leaves set. Cindy has combined sever spellbinder die cuts and pendants to create a layered frame with the sentiment and leaf coming out of the frames. Cindy is using Flourishes Classic White Cardstock and colored her image using Flourishes Copic Color Collection in Spring Greens and Fields. Wonderful shape card and I love the touch of sparkle detailing on the leaf. Beautifully done, Cindy!!!








Last up this week is Dee Jackson. Dee is using the Cherries and Peaches, Life, Love, and Lemons, and the Basketweave stamp sets. Dee is using Spellbinders label one die cut. Dee stamped the peaches using Momento black tuxedo ink onto Flourishes Classic White Cardstock She colored using Flourishes Copic Color Collection in Tiger Lily and Evergreen. She cut out the entire image and adhered to the top of the inset framed panel so the peaches extend beyond the frame. Gorgeous colors and fabulous card, Dee!!! Wonderfully done.

Please check out our individual blogs for more card details!!

Francie Gumprecht

Silke Ledlow

Betty Wright

Cindy Haffner

Dee Jackson

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

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Winner(FTTC34)!!!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers: 2
Timestamp: 2009-09-29 02:36:35 UTC

Carol L (Our Little Inspirations) Congratulations!!! You Won!!! Please email:
flourishesllccustomerservice@cox.net 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 FTTC35 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.

• 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!!!
  
  
  

  As always, thanks so much for stopping by and playing Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge with us! Don't forget to use Mr. Linky!!!!

  Your Flourishes Friends!
  

Limelight Week 4 with Michelle - Basic Paper Piecing

I think paper piecing and distressing are my 2 favorite techniques. I love the look of paper piecing, but also enjoy the process of stamping the images, cutting and piecing it all together.

For this card I used paper from the Basic Grey Archaic line and some distressing to create a rustic and country looking peach card.

I first stamp the image on the paper that will be the "canvas" for the piecing. I also stamped the enough times that I have a choice of prints to use. The pieces are then all cut out.

Once I cut the pieces out I start glueing the pieces down. I like to leave the edges without glue so they can be pried up a bit for added dimension.

The leaves were stamped on a plaid paper. I really like to use patterns for most of my paper piecing for added interest.

Once the pieces were glued down I ran the layer through a Spellbinder scalloped oval for the shape. I also added extra leaves to the top of the image and distressed the edges.

This should have been my next step but I just couldn't get the layout to work right.... I kept playing around and still wasn't happy until I had that "aaaaha!" moment and flipped it upside down.

Once I flipped the layers it all came together. I stamped the sentiment and layered it on multiple payers and added a gold organdy ribbon.

I've had soooo much fun being the flourishes Limelight designer. I hope you had fun reading my posts each week and maybe learned a little something. I can't wait to see who's up next!

One Set, Two Looks

Hello! It's me, Leslie, here today to share a little something for our Friday Focus. I thought it would be fun to choose a stamp set and take a look at it from two different creative points of view. I know that more than once I've looked at those black and white images and thought, "It's gorgeous, but it's just not me". Or perhaps whenever I use a particular stamp set I assign it the character it first imprints on my mind. Maybe my style or preference changes somewhere along the line and I think of purging a set from my collection. Over the years I've gotten a little better about visualizing how I might use a new stamp set, as well as tweaking the old sets to suit the new me. That I'm the world's worst at relinquishing old sets bears witness...


Today, however, I'm using a relatively new set, Gerbera Daisies, which I saw at first in one light -- a bright, summery, cheerful, fresh, I love it to pieces kind of light -- but just that one light. So, testing out its possibilities, I made two very different cards.

On the one hand, I have a cracked Victorian cameo, dressed in lace and pearls and pretty papers, tied with taffeta and expressing a heartfelt sentiment. This is not how I first imagined using this set but, gosh, it works! I started out with the image stamped on Classic White cardstock and colored with Copics from the Hollyhock collection. It was bright and pretty and good to go in any direction. Once I added a little caramel sponging around the edges and created the cracked glass finish with ultra-thick embossing powder, it began to move toward the romantic, vintage style of the finished card.




On the other hand I have pure clean and simple, with nothing but a splash of color in the center of all that white. This is how I orginally saw the set and, in fact, this style is working its way toward becoming my preference in stamping. The white may change with the season, as will the images, but so will my mood from time to time, and then I'll be right back around to layer upon layer of designer papers, trims, and color mixes. More than likely these same stamps will be there with me traveling the circuit of my mind's eye and my heart's desire.



These days if I gasp and sputter when I see a stamp set (as I do with most of Flourishes' stamps) I can rest assured I'll find a use for it and it will endure. A daisy is a daisy, a rose is a rose, a beautiful image is just that -- a beautiful image, however I'm inclined to portray it at the moment.

So... why not try a new look with an old set, or an old look with a new set? Clear your mind, experiment and, most of all, enjoy! I know you'll enjoy the samples the team has to offer today:

Christine
Cindy
Faith
Julie
Latisha
Laura
Stacy

Happy stamping!
-- Leslie

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC34)!

It is time for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC34)!!! Thanks so much to all of you who played along with us with the mix it up challenge last week. 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 and 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 technique. We are to try Stamp Misting. You ink the stamp, mist with water, then stamp. You can decide if you want your stamp mist image to be the background, focal image, accent element, or all three. We would love to see what you create!!! Here are two tutorial links from SCS to help you. One and Two.

Let's go see what the blog design team did with the Stamp Misting technique challenge!!!




First up is our challenge host Silke Ledlow. Silke is using the Spring Ephemerals set. For the challenge, Silke is using shades of melon and olive to emphasize this beautiful silhouette flower. I love the variation in colors the misting technique gives. It looks watercolored. I guess, in a sense, it is!. Silke combined pattern, scoring, piercing, ribbon, and some silver pearls to complete her card. Beautifully done, Silke!!!

Up next is is Betty Wright. I am using the Rejoice set. For the stamp misting challenge, I focused on the background. I also used an outlined image. I used alittle too much water, but I really love the effect and kept it. Once it was dry, I sponged the edges. I used the same image for the focal image and used Flourishes classic ivory cardstock and Flourishes copic color collections in Dusty Rose and Evergreen. I finished with a few tiny touches of bling!!!

Cindy Haffner is next on our technique challenge showcase. Cindy is using the Summer Blossoms set. For the technique challenge, Cindy stamped the leafy image in olive. Love the subtle variation of color with a more detailed fine image. For added visual effect and to give some definition, Cindy misted additional colors. Cindy combined embossing texture, piercing, and corner accent with ribbon detailing to finish her card. Gorgeous, Cindy!

Last up this week is Kimberly Crawford. Kimberly is using the Autumn Flourishes set. For the stamp mist technique challenge, Kim chose to create die cut leaf accents which actually become the focal image in the arrangement. The technique is done the same...ink, mist, stamp, but afterwards, Kim cut out the shapes, added some sponge coloring and color misting, then darkened the edges for an added effect. Love the colors, the design elements, and details!!! Wonderfully done, Kim!

Please check out our individual blogs for more card details!!

Silke Ledlow

Betty Wright

Cindy Haffner

Dee Jackson

Kimberly Crawford

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

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Winner(FTTC33)!!!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers: 10
Timestamp: 2009-09-22 02:02:16 UTC

Lori (Lori's Purple Giraffes) Congratulations!!! You Won!!! Please email:
flourishesllccustomerservice@cox.net 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 FTTC34 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.

• 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!!!
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  As always, thanks so much for stopping by and playing Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge with us! Don't forget to use Mr. Linky!!!!

  Your Flourishes Friends!