Hello Stampers! :)

The holidays are sneaking up on us, and it's time to think about gift-giving and pretty packages. The Flourishes design team has just what you need...a week of gift-giving inspiration to get those gears in motion! :)  Flourishes November release is full of fabulous images that are perfect for all of your holiday gift-giving needs. 

Today, we're showcasing a gorgeous set designed by Marcella Hawley called called Christmas Bouquet.  The images in this set are completely frame-worthy...don't you think?  I chose an old frame that has been in my rather large and neglected stash of unfinished wood items for quite some time now.  I love the iron scroll design at the top and the wire mesh, which serves as a unique, rustic mat for my focal image.  The wood frame itself actually saw a few paint colors before I decided on a distressed black finish.  The center piece is thin balsa wood that I painted a pretty apple green color.

I then layered black card stock and European Watercolor Paper for my main image.  I colored the image using ink pads and a water brush.  I added some white gel pen accents to the berries and flower stamens.  Next, I sponged some Soft Sky ink around the bouquet, and the whole thing was coated with Mod Podge to seal it.  

The final touch is a pretty black and ivory gingham bow topped by a black button tied on with string.

Here's a close-up of the focal image:

Stamps:  Christmas Bouquet

Papers:  Basic Black, European Watercolor

Inks:  Black Staz-On, Kiwi Kiss, Old Olive, Always Artichoke, Riding Hood Red, Bravo Burgundy, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Elegant Eggplant, Soft Sky

Accessories:  Frame, Mod Podge, Acrylic Paints, Paint Brushes, Water Brush, White Gel Pen, Square Nestabilities, Black and Ivory Gingham Ribbon, Black Button (Basic Grey), Ivory String, Sanding Block (to distress frame edges)

Check out the amazing projects from the rest of the design team:

• Christine Okken
• Julie Koerber
  
• Latisha Yoast
• Laura Fredrickson
• Leslie Miller
• Stacy Morgan
• Flourishes Newsletter

All of that stitching you see around every layer is "faux"...done with a Chocolate Chip marker and piercing tool.   The brads in the lower right corner are also "faux"...done with a 1/4" circle punch, some Chocolate Chip cardstock, and Crystal Effects.  I love making my own brads when I don't have the color I want on hand. 

Here's the full card recipe:

Have a fantastic weekend!  I am taking the kiddos out to breakfast this morning and then to see A Christmas Carol in 3D in the afternoon.  We've been working hard on cleaning their bedrooms until they're squeaky clean; so they have definitely earned this treat (me too!). :)

Thanks for stopping by to see me today!

Hugs~
Cindy

It's Friday...yahoo!  That means only 8 more days until I see my hubby again!

I made today's sample for this week's Flourishes Friday Focus, which is Favorite Things.  We were to be inspired by words from the My Favorite Things song from The Sound of Music.  I chose the line "Silver white winters that melt into spring", although my card took a bit of a left turn along the way.  However, my favorite-favorite thing in the whole wide world is HOME (which also equals my FAMILY)! :)  So, I chose the Cottage Home stamp set for my card. 

All of the sparkle on my card really makes it look some kind of funky in the photo I think.  I also think I went waaaay overboard on the snow; but, hey, I live in New England, and we get a LOT of snow here!

Anyway...here's the card recipe:

Stamps:  Cottage Home

Papers:  Classic White, Baroque Burgundy, Eskimo Kisses Designer Papers (can't get enough of those!)

Inks:  VersaMark, Copic Markers (Check out the new collections from Flourishes!)

Accessories:  Liquid Applique, Spica Glitter Pens, Silver Detail Embossing Powder (with glitter in it), Martha Stewart Border Punch, Burgundy Satin Ribbon, Burgundy Button, Silver Cording, Basic Grey Burgundy Brads

If you'd like to play along with us this week, all you have to do is to be inspired, in some way, by the words of this decades old Christmas favorite from the Sound of Music! Be sure to tell us which line of the music inspired your card!

Here are the lyrics:

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels
Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles
Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes
Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes
Silver white winters that melt into springs
These are a few of my favorite things

The challenge begins today and ends on Monday, the 16th at 4PM CST.  Please use the keyword FFLCNOV when posting your sample on Splitcoaststampers.

Check out what the rest of the design team has created for this challenge:

• Christine Okken
• Julie Koerber
• Latisha Yoast
• Laura Fredrickson
• Leslie Miller
• Stacy Morgan
• Flourishes Newsletter

Have a very happy Friday, friends!

Thanks a million for stopping by today! :)

Hugs~
Cindy

Happy Monday, friends!

Here we are on the 2nd day of November already.  Can you believe it?!  I hope your weekend was lots of fun!  We enjoyed ours immensely. :)

Today's sample was made for the October '08 Fan Club Gallery on SCS.  The theme that month was "For a Song", and my card was inspired by the beautifully haunting song Angel by Sarah Mclachlan.

Here's the recipe:

I hope your Monday is especially wonderful.  Sometimes when I just don't want to get out of bed & go to work, I will make up my mind right then and there that I am going to have a great day...and so I do!  As Charles Swindoll once wisely said, "I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it."  ...and I couldn't agree more! :)

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hugs~
Cindy

Happy weekend, stampers! :)

Today I have a sample made with a sweet new stamp set from Gina K Designs.  It's called First Christmas.  I love this adorable bear image!

The sketch I used is one I created for this month's Gina K release party challenges.  If you'd like to play along for your choice of Gina K stamp set valued at $24.95 or less, simply create a card using this sketch, post it on Splitcoaststampers, and reply to the challenge thread.  Remember to use the keyword GKDOCTCL and post your sample no later than Monday, Nov 2nd at 7pm CST.  If you use Gina K stamps on your project, you'll be entered into the drawing twice!  The winner will be posted in the challenge thread on Tuesday.

Here's the sketch:

Easy, right?  Now let's see your take on it! :)

Here's my card recipe:

Stamps:  First Christmas

Papers:  Pure Luxury White, Pink Pirouette, Eskimo Kisses Designer Papers (Basic Grey)

Inks:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers

Accessories:  Sewing Machine, Circle Nestabilities, Pure Luxury White Organdy Ribbon, Aqua Mist Buttons (PTI), Dimensionals

That's all, folks!  Have a fabulous day...and happy trick-or-treating to all the munchkins! :)

Hugs~
Cindy

Happy Friday, friends!

This week's Flourishes Friday Focus is on coloring with Copics!  Latisha has a fabulous tutorial on the Flourishes Newsletter.  My sample has limited coloring on it; but all you have to do is look at just about every single other sample on my blog, and you'll see coloring! :)  I used several of the Copic marker Collections from Flourishes on the main image.

Here is the full card recipe:

Stamps:  Drummer Boy

Papers:  Old Olive, Classic Ivory, Spiceberry Designer Paper from Memory Box

Inks:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers, Old Olive

Accessories:  Floral Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Olive Green Silk Ribbon, Large Oval Punch, Scalloped Oval Punch, Sponge Dauber, Sewing Machine, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Dimensionals

Check out the gorgeous samples made by the rest of the design team:

• Julie Koerber
  
• Latisha Yoast
• Laura Fredrickson
• Leslie Miller
• Stacy Morgan
• Flourishes Newsletter

Have a fantastic Friday, folks! 

Hugs~
Cindy

Hello Stampers~

It's day three of this month's Gina K sneak peeks, and do you know what that means???  Why, that means the release party is NEXT!  I'll bet you can't wait to get your hands on these awesome new sets!

The first one I'm showcasing is called Winter Friends, and was illustrated by Rupa Shevde.  It is definitely one of my favorite sets from this release!  I created a little snow scene on my card, colored the images with Copic markers, and added some sparkle to the snow.  The sentiment comes from the other set we're sneak peeking today, called Signed With Love.

Here's the full card recipe:

Stamps:  Winter Friends, Signed With Love

Papers:  Pure Luxury White, Cranberry Tart, Fresh Asparagus, Eskimo Kisses Designer Papers

Inks:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers

Accessories:  Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Quickie Glue Pen, Sewing Machine, Cranberry Satin Ribbon (Stamp TV Kit), Label Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Small Oval Punch, White Gel Pen, Dimensionals, Nail Heads

My second project is a quick and easy bucket of yummy caramel popcorn.  I simply wrapped some of Emily's gorgeous Vintage Holly Digital Paper around the middle, and added a decorate punched border and satin ribbon.  The tag was stamped with a sentiment from the new Signed With Love set.  I added some cardstock circles to the lid, along with some fabric flowers, foam glitter snowflakes and sparkly rhinestones.  I stamped one of the circle images from the Signed With Love set to add to the flower center on the lid.

Check it out up close here...

Not the best photo; but you get the idea.  The colored metal on the paint can was done with a Copic marker.  I LOVE the way you can make anything match with your Copics...so awesome! :)

Here's the recipe for my bucket of goodies:

Stamps:  Signed With Love

Papers:  Vintage Holly Digi Papers, Soft Sky, Pure Luxury White, Not Quite Navy

Inks:  Not Quite Navy

Accessories:  Foam Glitter Snowflakes, Turquoise Rhinestones, Fabric Flowers, Circle Nestabilities, Washer, White Grosgrain Ribbon, White Satin Ribbon, Clear Paint Can, Copic Marker, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Small & Large Tag Punches, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Dimensionals

Hello Stampers~

Today the Gina K design team is sneak peeking two fabulous sets for you! The first set is called First Christmas, and was designed by Asela Hopkins. 

For my card, I wanted to show the versatility of this set; so I stayed away from the "first Christmas" theme implied by the set name.  In fact, this card doesn't even have to be a Christmas card.  I could use it for just about anything! :)

I snapped a shot of the inside if this one as well:

I stamped the cardinal in VersaMark on the inside, and added the sentiment in black.  Here's the full card recipe:

Stamps:  First Christmas

Papers:  Soft Sand, Pure Luxury White, Rocket Red, Deck the Halls Digi Paper

Inks:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers, VersaMark

Accessories:  Sewing Machine, Circle & Lattice Pendant Nestabilities, Striped Red Grosgrain & Red Button (Stamp TV Kit), Linen Thread, Dimensionals

Here's my second card:

I know...can you believe I used a bright purple?!  That would so not be my first choice of color; but since it is one of the newer colors from Gina K, I thought I'd give it a try.  ...and you know what?  I LIKE it...oh yes I do! :)  I thought it worked very well with the "regal-ness" of this card.  The stamp set I'm sneak peeking on this card is called Vintage Borders, a very elegant stamp set designed by Nina Bracket.  The possibilities are endless with this set!

I embossed my images in gold and colored them in using ink pads & blender pens.

Here's the recipe:

Stamps:  Vintage Borders

Papers:  Pure Luxury White, Good As Gold, Vibrant Violet

Inks:  VersaMark, Regal Rose, So Saffron, Rich Razzleberry, Purely Pomegranate, Lovely Lilac

Accessories:  Gold Rhinestones, Gold Embossing Powder, Gold-Edged White Satin Ribbon, Label Nestabilities, Dimensionals

Hey everyone~

It's time for another fabulous release from Gina K Designs!  Today, the design team is previewing Melanie's newest set, Festive Frame, which will be available for purchase on Thursday evening right after the release party.  Melanie really knocked it out of the park with this gorgeous poinsettia frame and beautiful sentiments!  I embossed mine in gold on watercolor paper, and colored with re-inkers and a water brush.

Here's the recipe:

Stamps:  Festive Frame

Papers:  Rocket Red, Pure Luxury White, Good As Gold, Watercolor

Inks:  Vivid Vintage Green, Brick Red, Real Red (SU), Straw, VersaMark

Accessories:  Gold Embossing Powder, Gold Bling, Gold Cording, Red Organdy Ribbon, Niji Waterbrush, Gold Paint Pen, Dimensionals, Retractable Knife

Have a fabulous Tuesday, my friends!

See you tomorrow for preview day two! :)

Hugs~
Cindy

Hello Stampers!

I hope you've enjoyed your weekend.  Today was a truly gorgeous day here in NH, practically perfect in every way! :)

My sample today was made with Tweet Winter Wishes from Our Craft Lounge.  I colored my image with Copic markers and added some Cosmo Crystals Crafty Sparkles to the snow.  That is such pretty glitter, with a lovely pink undertone.  The designer papers are from the Colorful Christmas pack from My Mind's Eye.

Here's the full recipe:

Stamps:  Tweet Winter Wishes

Papers:  Pure Luxury White, Purely Pomegranate, Soft Sky, Colorful Christmas Designer Papers

Inks:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers

Accessories:  Sewing Machine, Petite Oval & Labels Nestabilities, Pomegranate Polka Dot Ribbon (retired SU), Buttons (Basic Grey), Cosmo Crystals Crafty Sparkles Glitter, Small Scalloped Border Punch (EK Success), Dimensionals

Have a fabulous Monday, my friends!

Thanks for stopping by today and always! :)

Happy weekend, friends!

Today's post is short and sweet. :)  I made this card for last week's Sketch Challenge on SCS.  I have finally discovered the gorgeous textured papers from Prism, and I am hooked!  I also used a brand-new stamp from Stampavie called Bear and Robin...sweet, sweet, SAWEET!

Here's the recipe for my card:

I am feeling 100% better today, and am off to MA to teach a stamping class to some of my favorite peeps!

Hope your weekend is ROCKIN'!

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs~
Cindy

Happy Friday, friends!

It's time for another Flourishes Friday Focus, and we're putting the spotlight on "fancy folds".  Christine has a wonderful tutorial and gorgeous samples to share over on the Flourishes Newsletter today.

I chose to make an easel card, which was a recent Technique Lovers Challenge over on SCS.  They're super-easy to make, and a lot of fun!  For complete instructions, check out the challenge thread HERE.  The view above shows how the card stands...like an easel. :)

Here's another view of the card, which shows the front a bit better:

I embossed the gorgeous Christmas Wreath image in silver embossing powder, and used pale colors to watercolor it on European Watercolor Paper.

Here's the full supply list:

Stamps:  Christmas Wreath

Papers:  Classic White, Baja Breeze, European Watercolor, Dewfrost Designer Paper from Memory Box

Inks:  VersaMark, Soft Sky, Baja Breeze, Apricot Appeal, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Close to Cocoa

Accessories:  Ticket Corner Punch, Silver Brads, Silver Finishing Touches, Blue Silk Ribbon, Silver Cording, Silver Embossing Powder, Water Brush, Dimensionals, Clear Rhinestone (colored with B72 Copic Marker)

Now, check out the fun folds that the rest of the design team created:

• Christine Okken
• Julie Koerber
• Latisha Yoast
• Laura Fredrickson
• Leslie Miller
• Stacy Morgan
• Flourishes Newsletter

Have a fabulous Friday, everyone! 

Thanks for stopping by today! :)

Hugs~
Cindy