Friends Like You...

Happy Friday blogger friends!
I know I have been quiet for a few days, but I have a good excuse! Really!  :)  I have been enjoying my time with my husband who has finally arrived home from his year long deployment to Afghanistan.  (Pretty darn good excuse, isn't it?) It has been nice doing things as a family again and just being together.  But now that we have gotten the groove back as a family, I am getting my groove back with my card making.  However....

Today is my last day serving on the Hambo Stamps team.  I really had the BEST time as a Bacon Bit for these last several terms.  The ladies on this team are something special. The laughs, cries, and woes we all shared together (via computer or phone) will never be forgotten.  So, I wanted to make a card to say thanks to them all and to thank Monica and Judy for one, asking me to be on the team, and two, for keeping me on for as long as I had been.  You two are really the best! (especially for putting up with me!)

For this, I used Silly Birds to color in with my ever neglected PrismaMarkers.  I wanted to try them again.  Since using Copics, it's hard to use other markers, but I tried! :)  Once this was colored I fussy cut them to be popped over the patterned paper.  The sentiment is from the Fractured Funnies section called Neighborhood Watch.  It is a two piece sentiment that ends with, "Thank goodness for neighborhood watch!"  I just love this saying.... Perfect for my friends.  The card was finished with some pearls and flowers.  

Hambo Stamps is having their 6th annual Super Bowl sale.  This is an awesome sale and one that you have a chance to win your order up to $100!! You can't beat that!  Details here.

Thanks for stopping by and hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

You Lift Me Up - Timeless Tuesday 256

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hello fellow Flourishes fans! It's Tuesday and we're here with another fantastic Timeless Tuesday Challenge for you! Have you checked out the latest and greatest Gambler's Sale this week? You don't want to miss this... it's 20% off everything in the store. Things go fast, so shop now to ensure you get all those stamps on your "must have" list! Click here for more details and your shopping code. This week Allison is our hostess and she is challenging you to create using the newest Pantone Color of the year... Radiant Orchid... but any shade of purple will do!

 

 

 

 

According to the Pantone View, "Since 2000, the Pantone Color Institute™ has been designating a Color of the Year to express in color what is taking place in the global zeitgeist. A color that will resonate around the world, the PANTONE Color of the Year is a reflection of what people are looking for, what they feel they need that color can help to answer. Not necessarily the hot fashion color of the moment, but a color crossing all areas of design which is an expression of a mood, an attitude, on the part of the consumers."

 

 

 



 

For my card, I used Decembers release of Lots of Thoughts for the main image which I stamped onto some Flourishes classic ivory cardstock and colored it with Copics.  I then fussy cut it out before popping it up over the Flourishes Perfectly Pierced Hourglass die that I sponged in the clouds for the background. The patterned paper is from Basic Greys What's Up collection which has been paired with some unknown purple cardstock.  (I think it is SU!)  The sentiment is stamped out using Memento black and Grape Jelly and is popped up as well.  To finish it off, I placed some rhinestones on the sides of sentiment and on the ribbon.  In order for the ribbon to match, I used some white seam binding that I colored in with my Copics and ruffled it onto place.  I realized that I just don't own or use much purple! But it worked out well and this color is really growing on me!

 

 Have fun using purple in your creations this week! This week, we have asked the Design Team to join us in celebrating the colour purple. Take a moment and leave some lavender love on each one of our designers this week!

• Allison Cope
• Cheryl Lea
• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence
• Deborah Anton
• Jenny Gropp
• Julie Koerber
• Katie Sims
• Silke Ledlow
• Stacy Morgan
• Tosha Leyendekker

Be My Valentine - CAS Color Challenge

Happy Monday!

Just a quick card I made playing along in today's SCS CAS Color Challenge.  Great Valentine color palette and I thought it would be fun using Hambo Stamp's Floating Pig image for it.

 I stamped  the image with Memento Espresso Truffle ink and colored him in with Copics. I fussy cut him out and the balloon it originally had. I popped him up over a half doily and punched out a small heart using my Spellbinders heart die and popped that up where the balloon should have been. I finished off the card with an SRM sentiment sticker and some rhinestones.  The cardstock is SU! River Rock for the back panel.  Super fun and easy!!

Thanks for stopping today! Have a great Monday!

Cuddles - Your Next Stamp's Friday Fun Project

TGIF Everyone! 

Boy... this cold just won't let up! I feel like just when it warms up enough to tease, Mother Nature laughs at her joke and throws on the chill once again! :)

To warm you up a bit, I would like to share with you my Friday Fun Project for Your Next Stamp.  It is using this months new digi release of Cuddles.  How cute is he?!  And since this is a digi, you can add a fun sentiment to the heart!

I used this months inspiration picture for this creation, using Copics to color him and the patterned paper is Basic Grey's  Kissing Booth.  The image was cut out using my nesties and the look was completed with some sheer ribbon, twine, and some hearts.  The hearts are washi tape that I place on some cardstock and punch out with my Paper Studio punch before popping them up. 

You still have a week to play along and link up at the YNS Challenge blog for your chance to win!  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!

My Coolest Friend

Happy cold/freezing hump day!  Yes... I am freezing here, but not quite as bad as some of you on the East coast.  I hope if you are in this weather, you are staying dry, warm, and have all the necessities needed to sustain the weather.


Just a quick card to share with you all today.  I wanted to play along and enter in this weeks Simon Says Stamp challenge of funny or humorous cards.  They are focusing on Paper Smooches, but you don't have to use them.  I, however, did and this card just fits the day with all the cold weather. I used the set Swanky Snowdudes.

I started with some heavy weighted cardstock for the base and used my CB folder to emboss just the top of the white cardstock layer.  I layered that on some unknown blue/green cardstock I had in my misc. cardstock stash.  The image was stamped with Memento Black ink and colored in with Copics.  I fussy cut him out before popping him up over the twine.  The sentiment stamped on the bottom.

Well, that is about it for me today!! I hope you all have a great Wednesday!

A True Love Story Never Ends - Timeless Tuesday 255

In with the new and out with old! That is the common New Years saying in trying to make a better year ahead for yourself.  Well, this week's Timeless Tuesday challenge is brought to you by Cheryl and she is challenging you to create a card or project that celebrates something new! Such as a new baby, car, hope, love, etc.!

For me, my celebration is the homecoming of my husband from Afghanistan in less than a week.  He's been gone a year and we are ready to be a family again.  I celebrate love in my creation, because it takes a lot of love, dedication, strength, and loyalty when you are married to a military man.  We see many young soldiers and their spouses not being able to handle such separation and virtually end up in divorce.  My husband and I have been together since pre-9/11, so I knew what it was going to take to stand by him and his career. 

I used the new release of Flourishes Wild Roses and the sketch from CAS(E) this sketch! I started with using the coordinating Silhouette file to cut out the shape of the image before stamping it with Memento Black and coloring it in with Copics. 

I used the following Copic collections:

I highlighted the center of the roses with my Copic Opaque White and some Y04, Y08, and Y21.  The panel straight down was cut after stamping multiple times the Corinthians passage and then cutting it to size.  The base cardstock is Flourishes Classic Cardstock in white and some red  Coordination's cardstock to layer with and the image is popped up on some dimensions. I then used the spotted stamp from the set So Distressed in Memento Red Rhubarb to layer under the sentiment, but not before stamping off some of the color.  I wanted a muted look.  The card was then finished with some rhinestones and seam binding ribbon around the flowers.

We'd love to see what you are celebrating, so join in on the fun and link up your project on our blog! Don't forget to check out what the other fabulous Timeless Tuesday team have created! Also, don't forget that there is an awesome Gamblers Sale going right now at Flourishes. If there is something you have been eyeing, now's the time to snatch it up at a sale price.  Because once the items are gone, they are gone forever!  Thanks for stopping by!

Allison Cope

Cheryl Lea

Deborah Anton

Jenny Gropp

Katie Sims

Love In The City

Happy Thursday!

The week sure flew by, didn't it? I love it when that happens.  Well, who doesn't? :)

I am hosting over at the Hambo Hoedown blog and I am sharing a card that is fun, simple, and modern.  This was made in tune with the new challenge that just went up yesterday and it is all about LOVE. Perfect to get you started on your Valentines.

For this card, I used the ever so versatile rubber image of  skyline as the main image.  I stamped it up with VersaFine Onyx and added some clear embossing powder over it before heating it with my heat gun.  The one building was colored in with some Copics, while I added the heart above it and the lines on the radio tower.  The sentiment is the 'I Love You' portion of Even Mower stamped with Memento Black.  It was completed by added a few rhinestones to the sentiment and radio tower and some Sakura glitter pen to the heart.

Well, that about sums it up for today.  Thanks for stopping by and be sure to play along in the Love challenge! Have a great Thursday!

Smitten - Hambo Hoedown

Happy Wednesday everyone!

Today begins another fun challenge over at the Hambo Hoedown and this challenge is perfect to get you started on some Valentines - It's all about LOVE!  All you have to do is create a card or project  about love. 

For my card, I used the super cute digi of Nerd and one of the coordinating sentiments.  He is printed and colored in with Copics on Neenah cardstock, matched with some patterned paper from MME.  Nerd's glasses have a touch of Sakura Glaze in clear to give a glasses appearance.  The card was completed with some fun linen ribbon tucked at the corner and some fishtailed pieces at the top attached with a staple. A perfect touch for a nerd trying to get his word across to say he is smitten!

Come play along and show us the love! We want to see your wonderful creations and how you show your love.  Thanks for stopping by!

Button Up! It's Cold Outside... Timeless Tuesday 253

Welcome to another fun and fabulous Timeless Tuesday Challenge!  Lately, most of us were affected by that artic front that seemed to have kept us cozy inside.  This weeks challenge is hosted by Jenny and we are going back outside! The challenge is to make a winter card or project and use at least one button as an embellishment.

I had to put myself in rewind, as I am looking forward to the sun and warmth.  But, I pulled out the fun and beautiful set of Snow Scenes to create a tag.

I cut out a rectangular piece from Flourishes classic white cardstock and used my CB bubbles folder to emboss a scrap piece of white to use as my snowdrifts.  I used my Copics to color in the sky and used pop ups to create a bit of a 3-D tag.  The images were cut on my Silhouette using the available Silhouette files before stamping them with Memento inks.  I used my Copic White Opaque ink to dot in some snow on the trees and added some Stickles to the edges.  I then used some glue to add some glass flakes to look icy.  The snow drifts also had some flakes after using some Smooches along the edge. Here is a closer look:

The tag was finished with a wooden button, jute twine, ribbon, and the sentiment stamped and made into a pop up banner. This should make a for a fun tag to attach to a gift of thanks for someone!

Thanks so much for stopping by and be sure to check out the other cool and wonderful creations of the Timeless Tuesday Team.

Allison Cope

Cheryl Lea

Deborah Anton

Jenny Gropp

Katie Sims

'Wood' You Be Mine?

Happy Monday!

 I hope you all had a great weekend! Today I am blogging over at the Hambo Hoedown blog and I have a fun Valentine image to share that you can use for the special Valentine in your life.  It's unique and yet, it will surely bring a giggle and a smile to his/her face.
 

 

 Using the digi image Beaver, I decided to use some kraft cardstock for a simple and fun design to make this card.  I printed the image directly onto the kraft cardstock in a larger image than the original and cut it to layer over my black cardstock panel.  The heart was traced and cut on a piece of red cardstock to be the color of the heart.  The card was finished with the sentiment panel at the top, layered over the punched out panel, and some twine and wooden button. 

This makes for a simple way to use your digi's without having to color the image, but making a statement in the simplicity. 

Thanks for stopping in and have a great week ahead!

I am entering this in the Simon Say's Stamp Monday Challenge of Anything goes

Just Dreamin'... Your Next Stamp Friday Fun Project

Happy Friday!! Hard to believe it's Friday because with this weather, my kids just went back to school yesterday for the first day back from Winter break. And now it's the weekend! :) That's ok... I wasn't quite in the school mode yet.

What mode I am in is Your Next Stamps Friday Fun Project!

This adorable new release digi image is called Belinda and Cardinal.  She is just the cutest.  I printed her out on Neenah cardstock before coloring her in with Copics.  I used this month's sketch for the layout while using some fun paper from MME What's Up collection.  I completed the look with some ribbon and single rhinestone on the heart.

Here is January's inspiration and sketch challenge for you to play along, and we would love for you to play along!

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to check out more inspiration on the challenge blog! Have a great Friday!

Stinking of you - Hambo Hoedown

Happy Wednesday all!
Just wanted to pop in to share with you a card for the current challenge over at the Hambo Hoedown. Have you checked it out? It's all about Pigs! And you know there is no shortage of that image with Hambo Stamps.

I used this weeks Mojo Monday sketch for the layout adding a little stitching to the outside. This image is Outhouse Pig and I colored him in with Copics.   The back panel is some kraft paper which I ran through with my wood embossing folder and lightly sponged some Distress Ink in Tea Dye over that. The image is popped up along with the hearts.

We hope you join us and play along this week.  While looking over the challenge, be sure to check out what the other Bacon Bits have created and leave them a little love! Thanks for stopping by!

Get In Shape - Timeless Tuesday 253 and Flourishes Sneak Peek

Hello all and welcome to a very special kick off to Flourishes' January Release! Not only are we ushering the new release in with a fun-filled Timeless Tuesday Challenge but we are showcasing a set designed to honor Flourishes' owner and founder.

INTRODUCING....

 

 

Wisteria, Peonies and Bearded Iris -- all three of these flowers are favorites of Flourishes' founder and owner Jan Marie Caruso. Sentimentally illustrated by Marcella Hawley, these beautiful blooms honor the lady at the helm at Flourishes. Three breathtaking flowers paired with three beautifully scripted words and five accent words. This 4" by 6" set is sure to be one you reach for just to send creations to friends far and wide for any and all occasions! Would you like to win this set along with the other two sets being released this month? All you need to do is play along with us!!! We have a special treat for you today -- two actually! First, in honor of Jan Marie and this very special set, Flourishes' Senior Design Team is joining along in this challenge to give you double the inspiration! As you hop around getting inspired on ways to "Get In Shape", don’t forget to try to figure out….

 

Hidden among the Design Team’s blogs today is our Mystery Blogger of the day. Comment on her blog and you could be chosen to win today’s set! The more you comment, the better your chances of winning.

Before you head off to comment on some of the fabulous creations both teams have done, I will share with you mine! :) The challenge is GET INTO SHAPE.  Create a shaped card. I really thought outside the box on this one.  Well, more like my comfort zone.  I used the Peony image from this beautiful set and created my shape using my Silhouette Cameo and the Flowers for Jan cutting files.

I enlarged my peony cutting file to make for a decent size for a card.  (Sorry, I didn't write down the size!) This was cut on some scrap cardstock so that I could trace it on the folded card.  I did this because I wasn't sure where I wanted my fold. Once the cut was traced, I cut it out and cut some patterned paper at the same size to layer at the top. For some additional support, I cut out some Flourishes classic black cardstock with my Flourishes Perfectly Pierced Classic Window die to be adhered to the back panel of the card.  I then cut out another Peony on the Silhouette at the normal size to stamp the image on.  This was done using Flourishes Classic Ivory cardstock.  The image was colored using Copics. I then cut out with my nesties a circle to place the Peony on before popping it up over my Ivory seam binding.  I completed the look with some Prima mini flourish pearls and rhinestones.  The inside has the sentiment along with a few pearls and rhinestones.

Thanks for taking a peek and be sure to stop along the beautiful team blogs for your chance to win and see who the mystery blogger may be!

• Allison Cope
• Cheryl Lea
• Christine Okken
• Cindy Lawrence
• Deborah Anton
• Heather Jensen
• Jenny Gropp
• Julie Koerber
• Katie Sims
• Silke Ledlow
• Stacy Morgan
• Tosha Leyendekker

Swine and Roses

Hello from the frozen Tundra! Yes... like much of the US, we are in a deep freeze here and for this CA native, frozen, freeze, extreme cold is just not in my vocabulary! :) I hope you all stay warm and only have to venture into this weather if you really have to.

 Today, I have a quick card to share using the Sweet Sunday Sketch and a darling rubber image from Hambo Stamps perfect for Valentines Day called Sweetheart Pig and Swine & Roses.



I really liked Karin's CAS card she created with this sketch that I just wanted to CASE using some washi tape for the back strip.  I stamped the image on some Neenah paper before coloring him in with Copics and cutting him out with my circle nesties.  The grey strip is a scrap from my stash that is SU! GG with the added fishtail sentiment on the bottom.  I finished the card with some red rhinestones for an added element. 

Thanks for stopping in today and wish you a warm day!!