CHA, Here we come!

After one loooong day of travel...

Today the Craft and Hobby Association opened their trade show! Here I am in lovely, sunny Anaheim, CA -- right down the street from Disney! I feel like I'm in heaven with vendors stuffing samples in my bags, giving me bags of goodies, stopping me to make a quick paper treat--oooo! It's just too good to be true! Check back tomorrow for some pics of the goodies I'm finding and dear friends I'm seeing.

What should I keep my eye out for? Is there something else you wish Flourishes carried?

We interupt this regularly scheduled program.....

...... because of computer issues! Be sure to check back tomorrow for a peek into Judy Rozema's stamping place. She is experiencing technical difficulties with a down Internet connection. So, be sure to check back! As she mentioned last week, this is not one you'll want to miss!

Happy Sunday & we'll see you back here soon!

Did you see the new fun and fabulous papers?????

If you haven't been surfing the store lately, we have fun stuff to share! For all you paper addicts out there, we have a handful of new papers that you might just be itching to get your hands on soon!

Check it out..... New 7 Gypsies~ Gypsy Market! This rustic paper has 48 double sided sheets!

Memory Box Gossamer It's the perfect paper for spring with 30 sheets in 10 different patterns! BasicGrey Sugar Rush -- color coordinated sweetness - need we say more?

BasicGrey Orgins - shades of brown, black, green and cream - neutrals at their best!

Thanks for stopping by! Happy Saturday and happy stampin'!

Focus on Vintage

Hello stamping friends!

It's Cindy here with a Flourishes Friday Focus for you. This week we're putting the spotlight on vintage style.

Vintage and Flourishes go together like peanut butter and jelly, don't you think?! There are so many fabulous products in the Flourishes store that work well with this style. I used quite a number of them on my sample:


I used two of Flourishes newly released stamp sets, Tag Lines and Angelic Love. The heart is actually the locket from Angelic Love. I simply cut it out after I colored it with Copic markers.

One of the easiest ways to add vintage style to your project is with pretty ribbons. I happen to think Flourishes has some of the most amazing ribbon on the planet! I used the Green Wired Netting, Olive Silk, and Ivory Crocheted Lace.

Other products that can give your project that vintage look are pearls, Finishing Touches, and Spellbinders Nestability dies. I have been rather obsessed with these items lately. :)

I added some homespun warmth to my sample with a little machine stitching and sponging. After I stitched my layers, I sponged a very pale tan colored ink on right over the stitches to give them an antique feel. I also added some sponging to the fancy oval tag and border. Nothing could be easier!

I hope I've inspired you to add a little vintage appeal to your projects. You'll be surprised at how easy it can be!

Have a fabulous Friday, friends!

Hugs~
Cindy

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC50)!

It is time for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC50)! Thanks so much to you all for playing along with the sketch challenge last week! Keep reading to find out who won! Also, keep reading to find out about some exciting FTTC News!

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. Each week Flourishes gives away a store gift certificate for $10 to the lucky random draw participant. In addition to this, Flourishes also gives away a monthly gift certificate for $10 to one lucky monthly challenge winner. So, if you did not complete any challenge during the month, you still have a chance to win. Just link your card with Mr. Linky!

This week Betty Wright is our host. I am challenging you all to create a scene with stamps. Flourishes has a lot of scene stamps to choose from, such as beach scenes, garden scenes, patio, to party scenes. There are also several indoor scenes stamps from comfy cozy to formal. You can also choose if it is daylight or nighttime in the scene you create. Many possibilities. So, this week we are all creating a scene! We would love to see what you create!

Let's take a look a what I created for you with the Scene It challenge this week. I decided to create a vintage feel scene. I am using A Year of Flowers Calendar Set 2 and Seasonal Wreaths. I used a scallop to create a sky background and stamped the rose clusters randomly onto Flourishes Classic Ivory cardstock. I colored with Flourishes Copic Color Collection in Dahlia and Evergreen . I love how my scene looks like someone just tossed roses into the air. So carefree, yet very vintage in tone and feel. I finished with a layered scalloped punch boarder and a few gold pearls beside the sentiment. I would like to add that while I sponge the sky on this card, Flourishes new release this month is a cloud background. I can hardly wait to get mine! It is fabulous. Also, you can still get this cloud background with the NEW Release bundle pricing still available through Thursday.

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.

Betty Wright

Silke Ledlow

Maki Jones

Cindy Haffner

Dee Jackson

It is Celebration Time for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenges! The week of February 2-8, 2010 marks Flourishes Timeless Tuesday's ONE Year Anniversary! We have some wonderful challenges planned for the week as well as lots of prizes! Please mark your calendars to play along with us to celebrate one year of Timeless Challenges!

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Winner(FTTC49)!!!

Chosen by
Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers: 18
Timestamp: 2010-01-19 03:09:35 UTC

Karen Wallace (Karen's Kreations )! 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 FTTC50 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!

Create a Little Monday Magic!

This week's SCS's Weekly Inkling featured a fabulous 'Tutorial You May Have Missed' segment. Why, you ask? Because it featured a fantastic technique and Beate Johns gorgeous take on Flourishes Waterlilies set! You'll want to click and watch!




Enjoy & Happy Monday!

Inspired by Color

It's Sunday and that means I get to share another project with you from one of Flourishes' beautiful stamp sets called Sweet Violets.

Last week I shared a couple of the places from which I get my inspiration, and I want to continue with that theme for this week as well. As stampers, we love color, and some colors we tend to use and gravitate to all the time. They are comfortable for us. Sometimes, I choose a color that is uncomfortable as a starting point, and then work my card from there.

The main color in this card is an bright orchid color - not one I choose often! I started with the cardstock base first, and then used a similar color to watercolor my violets. I think the contrasting greens add a nice pop of life to these beautiful spring flowers!


Thank you for stopping by today! Next week I will be using two sets to show you a fun tutorial on my favorite technique. Don't miss it!

p.s. If you have a tough time with color, there is actually a great resource online called Color Blender. You can find it HERE. At the bottom of the site, there is a link that says "load a random blend," click on it for a color coordinated mix. Or, move the R,G,and B sliders yourself to "audition" colors together. Once you find color combos you can't live without, you can print and save for ideas in your card making down the road!