In the Limelight!

Where does time go? It seem like just yesterday I was introducing the fun and fabulous Jenny Gropp as our Limelight Designer. We watched her creative projects sprout up here on the Flourishes Newsletter and then... bam! Her time was up! We want to give a big and warm thanks to Jenny for sharing her time and wonderful talents with us!

And with December comes a new talented designer to grace the Limelight stage! This designer is one that hails from Norway and she's one that I have been watching create for about a year now. I am honestly in awe of her talent!

Introducing.....
To give you a little taste of Yvonne's style, I thought I'd share some of my favorite creations that she whipped up using Flourishes stamps!

I absolutely love her unique flair and we are sure you will too when you stop by each Sunday in December to see what she's has created! We asked Yvonne to share a little bit about herself to get ready for her big debut!

I think I`ll just start with some facts... I`m 32 years old, have a wonderful, supportive husband and three awesome kids. I work as a nurse in a hospital and love the challenges I meet there every day. But when I`m not working you`ll find me hanging out with my family or playing around in my tiny craft room!

I discovered the world of paper crafting about two years ago, when I decided to make a family album. Oh my, I was overwhelmed by all the products and ideas! So I started out as a scrapbooker, but shortly after I discovered card making - and I was completely bitten by the bug! I loved being creative as a child, and finding that side of me as an adult has been such a joy.

When Julie asked me to be the Flourishes Limelight designer for December, I wrote back to her saying, "How could I ever say no to that!?" After all, Flourishes was the very first stamp company I completely fell in love with. I just love the classic, timeless images! So I hope you`ll pop back in tomorrow and have a peek!

We hope you do pop back! In the meantime, if you want to see more of Yvonne's creations, all you need to do is visit her home on the web ~ Yvonne's place.

Until tomorrow!

~Julie

The sneaks... are almost HERE!

It's almost that time! We are less than a week away from our sneak peeks for our December release! We in the Flourishes Design team are literally giddy! We can't WAIT until you see what we have to unveil for December - beauty doesn't even begin to cover it!

To get you in the spirt of this next release we thought we'd offer up a bit of a challenge!

Join us for our release challenge as we play up some Floral Finesse!

THE CHALLENGE: This challenge is all about the colors we love in our gardens. The thermometer might say winter, but this challenge is all about those feel good floral feelings. Use your favorite flower as the inspiration for your card or project's color scheme. Maybe you choose dusty pink and sage because it reminds you of the tea roses in your garden. Or, maybe you choose golden shades with hints of brown to remind you of the sunflowers you love in the field nearby! You choose! Just let us know what flower inspired your creation!

THE WINNINGS: Entries will be taken up until 5 PM Eastern on December 11th. To enter, all you need to do is link up your creation using the Mr. Linky box below! Random.org will pick a number and the winner will recieve all THREE of our stamp sets being released this month! The winner will be announced both at our RELEASE PARTY set for December 11th starting at 9PM Central Standard Time and also here on the Flourishes Newsletter!!

THE DETAILS: Link up using Mr. Linky. If you upload to Splitcoast, be sure to use the keyword FLLCDEC.

We gave you a taste of some of the creations above that the DT created to spark some floral inspiration, but you know you have to see these cards in full glory! So, stop by and pay a visit to:
Julie Koerber
Christine Okken
Latisha Yoast
Stacy Morgan
Cindy Lawrence
Laura Fredrickson
Leslie Miller

Thanks for stopping by! We can't wait to see what you create!

Grab a cup of cocoa, and let's chat.

Today I got my first ever Christmas e-card. I must say, it's not the same. Even if I printed it out, and hung it with the rest of our Christmas cards, it's just not the same. One reason I love Christmas is that so many people return to handwritten correspondence for this one special holiday. As I'm going through my stack of mail, sorting through the junk and bills, my heart is warmed each time I am gifted with a festive card that wishes me health and happiness this holiday season.

Handmade cards especially bring glad tidings. I cherish those cards because I'm not simply receiving the card, but what it represents: my friend's time and talent and bit of her own heart and holiday joy. I've been so inspired by the many cards you've shared with us. If you haven't started, it's not too late! Get going!

Over the next day or two, begin making a mental list of all the people who have impacted your life for the good. There are many people that I don't necessarily speak with often, but I can't imagine my life without them. My eleventh grade English teacher who inspired me to love reading, my dear neighbors when we were stationed in Germany. Perhaps you've whittled down your list over the last few years. I challenge you to add those dear people back to your list. Once you've made your list, carve out some time from your busy schedule to touch these lives with a bit of your talent!

Each time I take time to count my blessings, I am overwhelmed. The Christmas season is all about love and joy coming into the world. I hope this season you make a conscious effort to love the people in your life.

"We can give without loving, but we cannot love without giving."
~Amy Carmichael

p.s. If you liked the cards featured in today's post, they were created by Julie Koerber using the Santa, I Believe set and by Christine Okken using the Drummer Boy set. Both are perfect offerings for this magical and joyous time year!

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!