Wednesday, August 31, 2011

More Flourishes Birthday Wishes

Birthday wishes for Flourishes continue today with a fall-inspired card for the birthday bash challenge.                                       

I used a Wreath of All Seasons stamp set, another favorite Flourishes set. The sentiment is from Fanciful Flourishes.
I have relatives with fall birthdays, so it's good ( and surprising) to have a card made in advance.
Have a great day,

Monday, August 29, 2011

Happy Birthday, Flourishes!

Flourishes is celebrating four years of offering beautiful stamps. With this celebration comes fun blog hops full of gorgeous cards and fun challenges with  chances to win a very generous prize package of several stamp sets. One challenge is to use your favorite Flourishes stamp set. If you've visited here frequently, you know without a doubt  Sweet Violets is absolutely my favorite Flourishes stamp set and one of my first stamp purchases.


The paper is from Picket Fence Tiny Tablet (lily bee design);fortunately, I had some Copics that complemented the paper while the ribbon and sentiment are a darker purple. Speaking of the ribbon; it's a good match for PTI's Plum Pudding. I found it along with several other good matches for PTI colors at The Dollar Tree,so if you have this dollar store in your area, you might want to check out the ribbons--5 yards for $1--what a deal!

Violet time will soon be here with cooler temperatures, and I will be happy to plant those sweet violets to enjoy for three seasons until the heat and humidity return next summer.

Friday, August 19, 2011

April Showers Bring May Flowers in August

April showers bring May flowers in August? Those May flowers will bloom in August if one is long overdue in meeting the May Papertrey Peeps challenge.  This is my second "make-up" post in my unmet Peeps challenges.

I used Life and Iconic Images (PTI) for the focal point. The background was stamped with Stella and Rose-Gertie "Girly" (My Mind's Eye). Of course, I had to add a strip of gingham with PTI's background stamp. I mean I hadn't used a gingham stamp for several weeks.Speaking of backgrounds, did you order the new houndstooth background stamps from PTI?  I'm feeling a a little regretful for nor ordering them,but I decided to wait and hear the feedback from others. I'll be interested if they truly are easier to line up.
Today, I'm shopping at a new vendors market in town which is only opened three days a week. It just opened last weekend, but we were out of town. One of the booths is owned by Cerrie of  The Little Pink Studio. I was introduced to her online store via Melissa Phillips's blog. I was surprised to learn she lives in Knoxville and was thrilled to learn she has opened this booth.  You can check out her charming booth here.
Do you have something fun planned for today?

Thursday, August 18, 2011

It's Early and I Can't Think of a Clever Title

Hello dear friends! It's good to be back to blogland after another lengthy break.  I decided  that as I headed back to crafting and blogging, I'd  take care of several of the Papertrey Peeps challenges I missed and  use some stamps that have been waiting to get inky . So with my head hanging shamefullly because of the delay, let's take a look at  the Peeps April  challenge to use black.  I made a small favor/placecard.



I made a triangle box using Tag, Bags, Boxes, and More Cricut Cartridge  Then I stamped  PTI's Tranquility Trilogy on  three die cuts in gold ink and embossed with sparkling embossing powder.The stamped die cuts are added to the three visible sides of the box. The guest's name is added to double ended banner which is edged with  gold ink. The banner just slides into to the box. 

 I'm not sure  I would make these for many guests because I was pretty slow in creating one--die cut, stamp (sometimes multiples before I had one I was satisfied with), run to the kitchen, emboss while carefully holding with tweezers, return to study, stamp, go to kitchen, emboss.....  I think my limit would be four before frustration level reached its peak. But I can  see the table set with sparkling china and crystal, gleaming silver, crisp white linens, and  the votive candles glittering in our wrought iron and crystal chandelier, so I guess I'll crank out a few more and plan a dinner. Or maybe I'll make just one more, and Ed and I will have a special dinner.