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Christmas Bouquet; Flourishes Preview Day 1

  
I know what you're thinking...it's Monday...how can it be a Flourishes Preview?  Well, you're in for a real treat, as we will be previewing five fabulous sets this week, one a day until release day on Friday, November 13!  This time we're focusing on gift ideas and packaging, so you'll be inspired to get going on all those handmade gifts you promised yourself you would make this year. 

Today, we're previewing "Christmas Bouquet", and you probably guessed it's another amazing illustration by Flourishes Marcella Hawley.  I love working with her images, they are drawn so beautifully and have wonderful and crisp details.  They just call to me to bring them to life, and this time I decided to frame it!

The square nature of the image made it perfect for framing.  I stamped it in Memento Tuxedo Black on Classic White and coloured it with my Copic Markers.  I also used my Sakura Glaze pens to add some depth to the white and red berries.  They really pop.

The sentiment is the quote from the old song "The Holly and the Ivy", which is part of Doves in Holly set released last month.  I think this might be a great gift for my daughter's Choral teacher.  DD loves her and I think she would appreciate the reference to the song.

The rest of the design team has some amazing gift and packaging creations to inspire  you this season.  Have a peek!

Julie Koerber

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Leslie Miller

Latisha Yoast
Stacy Morgan

 

I hope you will be playing in our pre release challenge, creating something inspired by the lyrics to the song "My Favorite Things".  You'll find all the details here.

 

Of course you know your opportunity to win this set is as simple as leaving a comment on Flourishes blog post here.  And don't forget to mark your calendar for Friday evening to be a part of Flourishes Release party, starting at 8:00pm Central.  It's always so much fun, and you are the first to see all the sets revealed!

 

Tomorrow the Friends of Flourishes will be treating you to a preview of one of the new sets this month.  So be sure to drop into Flourishes blog to check it all out!  I'll be back on Wednesday with more previews!  I hope you will be too!

 

Recipe:  Stamps: Christmas Bouquet (Flourishes)  Paper: Classic White  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black  Accessories: Copic Markers, Sakura Glaze pens, ticket corner punch (SU), gold brads, frame (Dollarama)

 

Flourishes Friday; Focus on Favorites!

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

Well, I've been singing it for about three days straight...so now it's your turn.  Well your turn at least to play in Flourishes Pre-Release Challenge!  This week we are to be inspired by the song "A Few of My Favorite Things", and I'll have it in full at the end of my post just to make sure you are singing when you leave!!  Be inspired by the words and phrases in the song and link your creation to Flourishes blog post, and if you upload to Splitcoast, use the key word FLLCNOV.  Next Friday at the release party, one lucky winner will win the entire release which starts on Wednesday!

For my take on the song, I always loved the line "Brown paper packages tied up with string", So I transferred that to Kraft paper.  I mean that is the colour of the brown paper wrapping right?  Oh, and "Bright copper kettles..." well, I had to use one of the Copper Mini Messages...the sentiment from Gerbera Daisies was made for it!!   Then I went with a few of my own personal favorites!  I love the Gerbera Daisies set, and I haven't dug it out now since it was released.  I stamped it on Kraft in Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured it with Copic markers.  I was thrilled with the effect of the Copics on Kraft!  Flourished Elements is such an elegant set, one that was screaming for ink too, so I pulled it into action for this challenge too.  I just got the fabulous black and ivory gingham ribbon from Flourishes, so I knew it would be perfect.  And how perfect is that 7 Gypsies designer paper with Kraft?

Stop by Flourishes' blog as there are some new goodies in store!!  Think ribbons and pearls and the Copic II Collection.  You're gonna love it!

The rest of the design team is set to inspire you with their take on the song, so enjoy a quick visit to their blogs to see some of their favorite things. 

Julie Koerber

Christine Okken

Cindy Lawrence

Leslie Miller

Latisha Yoast
Stacy Morgan

Oh yes,  I promised the song in full.  So for your singing pleasure...here it is!

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

Thanks so much for dropping by for a visit.  I am always grateful that you do. Have a fabulous day and a wonderful weekend.  I'll be back next week with previews on Flourishes upcoming release!

Recipe:  Stamps:  Gerbera Daisies, Flourished Elements (Flourishes)  Paper:  Kraft, 7 Gypsies DP  Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black  Accessories:  Copper Mini Messages, Black and Ivory gingham ribbon, Copic Markers, Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders),  gems (Michaels), pop dots

Celebrate Life and Release Day at Taylored Expressions

  
It's release day at Taylored Expressions and all the sets we have previewed this week including today's set, Celebrate Life,  are in the store now!  You'll also find the Spa Key Ingredients kit, and some bundles that will make your decision making so easy.  Let me share a little about my card, then I'll tell you all about the bundles!

Today's set is beautiful, fresh and fabulous, and it's called Celebrate Life.  It's a combination of images and sentiments perfect for the fall, and throughout the year. 

I was particularly drawn to this large spray blossom, so that's where I started.  The papers and ribbons are from the September 20, Key Ingredients kit.  I just love the warm colours in this kit!  I added some piercing detail to the top corners of the focal image and some sticles to add sparkle to the spray.  The sentiment is cut from the Tag Trio Nestability and thread through the ribbon.  Really simple actually!

Yesterday we introduced the Spa Bundle, featuring Luxurious Labels.  Today, you can SuperSize it!  Celebrate Life along with Luxurious Labels and Sweet Indulgence are available in a SuperSized bundle to make your decision so much easier.  Now you don't have to choose one over the other.  The bundle includes all three stamp sets, the Spa Key Ingredients, three Spa bottles, sticker paper and a Chenille Gel neck wrap to pamper you.  You can have it all with just one click and save a bundle too!

Once you've made your decision, hop around to the Baker's Dozen's blogs as they all have some sweet treats for you today! 

Jodi Collins
Dawn Easton
Karen Giron
Karen Motz
Sankari Wegman
Donna Baker
Sharon Harnist
Charmaine Ikach
Denise Marzec
Laurie Schmidlin
Jackie Pedro
and of course Taylor herself!

Have a fabulous day!  I'm back tomorrow with some of my Favorite Things from Flourishes!

Recipe: Stamps:  Celebrate Life (Taylored Expressions)  Paper:  all from the Sept 20 Key Ingredients kit  Ink:  Dusty Durango (SU)  Accessories:  Ribbon from Sept 20 Key Ingredients Kit, Tags Trio Nestability (Spellbinders),Fruit Punch and Cinnamon Stickles (Ranger), paper piercer & template, pop dots, sponges

Sweet Indulgence; Taylored Expressions Preview Day 2!

  
It's day two of Taylored Expressions previews, and the feature set today is "Sweet Indulgence".  This is an adorable set that will be perfect for all those girly issues that you will need a card for, and it would be so fun for scrapbook pages too! 

 

The designer paper is from the Spa Key Ingredients kit, and these colours just say relax to me; that and a chaise lounge!  I love chaise lounges.  I always wanted one...they just say extravagence and indulgence don't you think?  So I just had to ink this image up first!  The image was stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured with Copic markers; with the exception of Cuppie's attire, I paper pieced that from another sheet of the designer paper from the kit.  The ribbon tied around the seam is from the kit as well as the shimmer flowers.  I added some sparkly brads from my stash to finish it off!

Tomorrow these sets and one other will be released for sale at 8:00 AM Pacific time, along with the Sweet Spa Bundle.  And this month in addition to the stamp set, the Key Ingredients kit and the totally fun Spa bottles, the bundle features a Chenille Gel Neck Wrap to really capture that spa feeling!  It's up to you to decide whether to keep or gift the Gel Neck Wrap!

How fun is that?  To help you get ready for those decisions tomorrow, the Baker's Dozen has been busy mixing up some fabulous creations.  Are you ready to see how fun this set is?

Jodi Collins
Dawn Easton
Karen Giron
Karen Motz
Sankari Wegman
Donna Baker
Sharon Harnist
Charmaine Ikach
Denise Marzec
Laurie Schmidlin
Jackie Pedro
and of course Taylor herself!

Ok, that's it for me today, but I'll be back with something totally different tomorrow!  I hope you'll meet me here, same time, same place!  Have a fabulous day!

Recipe:  Stamps:  Sweet Indulgence (Taylored Expressions)  Paper:  All from the Spa Key Ingredients kit  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black  Accessories:  Ribbon and shimmer flowers from the Spa Key Ingredients kit, Copic markers, rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), brads (Making Memories), pop dots

  

A Gift of Luxury; Taylored Expressions preview Day 1

 
It's that time again, and Taylored Expressions is gearing up for another fabulous release on Thursday, November 5!  There are three sets this month and today we are previewing "Luxurious Labels", which will help you get all your hand made gifts done with flair and pannache!  I love the possibilities of this set, so after you've seen my preview, make sure you take a quick hop over to see what the rest of the Baker's Dozen has cooked up with it!

Here's the full set.  It includes a bottle of home made bath salts, body lotion, a pink exfoliating glove and emery board and toe separator for those fabulous feet!

 
Let's start with the Spa bottles.  I stamped the label on sticker paper in Melon Mambo and cut them out with the Large Oval Nestability.  The little tub and sentiment were stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black, and coloured with Copic markers.  I used pink gel pens to colour the bubbles so they have a wonderful shimmer in real life.  Each bottle has the name of it's contents stamped on the label...those stamps are part of the set!  How cool is that?  I finished by tying a slip of swirly organdy ribbon, which is part of the Spa Key Ingredients kit, around the neck of the bottle.

The box was very simple.  I scored a piece of 12x12 cardstock at 4 1/4" on all four sides, cut out the corners leaving a tab on each to adhere the sides together.  I adhered panels of the designer paper from the Spa Key Ingredients kit, and a scalloped border along the top.  The image was stamped on Choice Buttercream same as the Spa Bottle labels and accented with layered shimmer flowers, also from the Spa Key Ingredients kit.  I tied a length of green trim (yup, that's from the Spa Key Ingredients kit too) in a big bow...fitting for a gift.  Inside are 2 sections 4 1/8 x 3 3/4", slit down their centres to 2", and slid together to form a divider for the contents!

My card started out with the intention of using TESC89, however, I struggle with offset panels, so it ended up being nice and balanced (unlike it's maker LOL!).  I used the same scalloped label stamp and bath tub image, and the same designer paper from the Spa Key Ingredients kit.  I pierced all around the perimeter of the card and added some shimmer flowers to the top of the oval. 

What a sweet stamp set and a fun little gift!  I am going to be so prepared for Christmas this year!! 

OK, have a look at the amazing creations designed by the Baker's Dozen.  The versatility of this set is endless as you will soon see!

Jodi Collins
Dawn Easton
Karen Giron
Karen Motz
Sankari Wegman
Donna Baker
Sharon Harnist
Charmaine Ikach
Denise Marzec
Laurie Schmidlin
Jackie Pedro
and of course Taylor herself!

I will be back tomorrow with a preview of the next set in this release!  I hope you'll be back to join me!  Until then, thanks so much for stopping by and have a fabulous day!

Recipe:  Stamps:  Luxurious Labels (Taylored Expressions)  Paper:  All from the Spa Key Ingredients kit except the 12x12 cardstock and sticker paper  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Melon Mambo  Accessories:  Ribbon and shimmer flowers both from the Spa Key Ingredients kit, Oval Nestability (Spellbinders), Copic Markers, Spa Bottles (Taylored Expressions), glitter gel pens (?), paper piercer & template, pop dots

Rock My World Sweet Sunday Sketch

  

As I was cleaning and reorganizing this week I cam across so many things that I thought I really have to use them.  I loved them then and I still love them.  So for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch, I was able to put a few of them into action.  That's the problem when you accumulate so much stuff, you "stuff" it away and forget about it. 

 Karen's sketch was an easy one to work with and I decided to combine it with this week's colour challenge on SCS; Kraft, Black and Melon Mambo. 

I had discovered tons of those little metal rimmed tags in my stash.  I have coloured ones, oval shapes and ones with clear acetate in the centre, and I used a few here.  The idea came from that same magazine I used the sketch for Friday's card.  I also got to use 3 of the 10 million little letters I have.  My I had an addiction to alphabet stickers LOL!

I know the rest of the Sweet Sunday Stampers are sharing their take on the sketch and we hope you will play along too!  Link your creation to Karen's post here so we can all see your fabulous artwork!

Jennifer Tapler

Karen Motz

Lynn Put

Nancy Riley

Sarah-Jane Kale'

Vicki Burdick

and of course Karen!

 

I am going to rest now.  It's been a crazy weekend, working Friday night and Saturday all day, then I ended up taking my youngest out Trick or Treating in the drizzling rain last night.  I was feeling quite ill last night and went to bed without posting my card for today's challenge, expecting to wake up feeling much better.  Well, I'm still not feeling up to speed, and all the hype about the flu this year has made me quite paranoid.  I'm going back to bed to rest up for the rest of the day.  I hope this finds you much better!  Take care and I'll see you soon.