No Time To Stamp?

I don’t often stamp on Sundays as there usually just isn’t time, but this evening I made some time. And the fun thing about stamping on Sundays is the Featured Stamper Challenge at SCS. Going through someone’s gallery to choose a card to CASE is like being a kid in a candy store — especially when the gallery is as beautiful as Chelemom’s. I saw this lovely vintage card of Michele’s and knew instantly that was MY card for tonight!!! I followed it pretty closely as you can see, but I did change the colors and some of the embellishments, plus I added machine stitching and a monogram instead of a heart. Here it is:

Since I don’t even own Kraft cardstock (but I did put it on my list — LOL!), I decided to go with some pretty pastels for this card. I chose the new Euphoria pad by Basic Grey for my designer paper and SU Soft Sky Textured for my card base. The accent colors are SU Rose Red and SU Basic Gray. I really like this color combo! I also really like this layout because all of the interest is concentrated in one area. To me that makes it easier –a smaller area on which to focus and work — a small little collage — very workable!!!

Let’s start with the base layer of designer paper. Since I was going to use real lace, I decided to sew it on with my machine. I use my standard sewing machine, but I’m so happy to see so many of you getting the small machines and delving into sewing on your cards — especially those of you who have never sewn before — fun!!! I’ll show you how I sewed this lace and DP onto the Rose Red base:

I first put a bit of tape on the back of my DP to hold it in place on the panel. I then wrapped my lace piece around the back on both sides (I’m real finicky about NOT cutting the edges of ribbon or lace — I never want frayed edges poppoing out — so I always wrap around to the back, or totally around the card, depending on my layering). I just really like the finished look that ribbon or lace wrapped around gives you, as opposed to cut. I then sewed the lace on over the DP with a simple straight stitch. And, as you can see, I then used a cross stitch for a decorative accent on top. I also used a straight stitch around the perimeter of my pink square panel.

These are the backs of the same pieces. I am also very finicky about NOT wanting stray threads hanging out. I use my little stitch ripper tool and pull all the threads to the back side and then I tack them down with tape. Now when I go to permanently adhere these panels to my card, I don’t have to worry about any strings or loose ends as everything is pulled to the back and tucked neatly inside.

And here’s a close up of all the detail on this card. After adhering the sewn panel to the card front it is then time to start having fun!!! The first thing I did is wrapped my Pink Sheer Ribbon around the card front and tied it on the side. Next I adhered my pink stitched square panel. On top of that I adhered my monogram on mounting tape, and we’ll get to the monogram in just a bit. The star was just a piece of white cardstock stamped with the retired SU French Script, punched with the large SU star punch, with the edges sponged and aEuphoria Basic Grey Bradattached in the center. I then punched a small Rose Red heart with my Heart Nestabilities, pierced a hole in it to run the Silver Stretch Cording from SU and tied it onto the center knot of the Pink Sheer bow. I put a little Dimensional under the heart to keep it in place. I then used a pin with beads from SU’s Pretties Kit — love those pins!!! And that pretty well finished it off!!! But I’d like to tell you more about how I created the monogram.

I used the small wooden stamper, called the Classic Stamper, made by JustRite. I often use their larger C-45, but today I was just doing this one card, so the small wooden stamper fit the bill just perfectly. This JustRite DIY Monogram Stamper Kit has the Damask Borders and Times New Roman font. I LOVE this one!!! And with any of these JustRite Kits — all the rings and letters fit the C-45 — love how all the accessories are totally interchangeable between the Wooden Classic Stampers and the larger C-45. I like to use the C-45 if I am producing multiples, and these wooden kits when I’m just doing one or two monograms.

Anyway, as you can see from the photo, I used my SU markers to color the rubber — Rose Red for the initial and Going Gray for the decorative border. I love doing these in 2 colors — I think it adds a lot!!! And it’s so easy to do!!! Once stamped, I cut and embossed the edges of the monogram with my Petite Circle Nestabilities by Spellbinders. I cut and embossed a mat in Basic Gray and then a scalloped edge in Rose Red. Love all the options using the Nestabilities gives you — and they work so perfectly with these monograms!!! I added some stickyback Pearls where appropriate on my Damask border and adhered the monogram to the card front with mounting tape — and DONE!!! Vintage, personalized, and pretty!!! I love it!!! Hope you do to!!!

• Stamps: JustRite DIY Monogram Stamper Kit with Damask Borders, retired French Script by SU
• Paper: SU: Textured Soft Sky, Rose Red, Basic Gray. White. Euphoria DP by Basic Grey.
• Ink: Palette Hybrid Charcoal. SU Markers in Rose Red and Going Gray.
• Accessories: Pink Sheer Ribbon, Petite Circle Nestabilities, Classic Heart Nestabilities, SU Large Star Punch, SU Pretties Kit, SU Silver Stretch Cording, Pearls, Basic Grey Euphoria Brads, Mounting Tape, Dimensionals, Sponge, Sewing Machine, Thread.

Thanks so much for stopping in again! I truly do appreciate all your visits and comments. If you find these more detailed instructions helpful, please let me know. I aim to please! Hope your week is off to a great start!!! Tomorrow brings my regular 10 Minute Tuesday project!!! So if that interests you, see you then!!!

An artist, a hottie, and a peony what could they possibly have in common? Well, far more than meets the eye!!!

Youve heard all of us at Flourishes mention Marcella Hawley from time to time. Id like to introduce you to her today. Marcy is the artistic talent behind so many of the beautiful images in Flourishes stamp line, the latest being our series of beautiful botanical images. Marcella Hawley was founding art director of Mary Engelbreit’s Home Companion, a pioneering art-centered decorating magazine. Previously, as assistant to the art director at Martha Stewart Living, she was part of the creative team that launched Martha Stewart’s premiere television show and Weddings magazine. Now home in St. Louis, Missouri, Marcella is a devoted gardener, illustrator, decorator, and maker of things. Husband Patrick Hawley is her partner in life and business, as web developer and IT maestro for MHCreative. They have two children, Tallulah and Finn. For more information on her work, please visit www.marcellahawley.com.

OK, so thats who Marcy is on a professional level. Some pretty impressive names listed on her resume, but on a personal level, shes just like the rest of us a devoted wife and mother who loves her husband and her children and shes also someone who likes to have a little fun! And in that vein she nominated her husband, unbeknownst to him, as the Hottest Husband of 2008 through Redbook Magazine. And Patrick OBVIOUSLY is hot, as he was one of the finalists in the contest!!!! Huge Congrats!!! to both Patrick and Marcy!!! How fun!!! You can see the Redbook article along with an adorable photo of Patrick and their children by clicking here.

We at Flourishes are so honored and privileged to be able to work with both Marcy and Patrick. Patrick was instrumental in helping Flourishes get their original site up and running and he still lends a technical hand from time to time!!! Not only is this couple hot, hot, hot!!! in many respects, but they are a part of what makes Flourishes what it is today, and were so pleased to share this fun news with you!!! Thank you, Marcy and Patrick, for your part in Flourishes success!!!!

OK, so weve covered the artist (Marcy), the hottie (Patrick), now what about the peony? Well, that would be our Peony stamp set, drawn by Marcy, of course!!! I just wanted to share a card with you today and I thought this newly released Peony would be just perfect for the occasion!!!

The card base is 5.5 square. The main image panel is 5 3/8 x 4 1/8and is set askew on the card intentionally just for fun!!! I use 6″ square envelopes so it still fits in the envelope just fine. The pink strip is Cuttlebug embossed, the Peony sentiment is run through the Cuttlebug with the Tags Trio dies by Spellbinders, and the bee, also from the Peony set, is cut with a Petite Circle Nestability die and then matted with a punched 1 circle using a SU punch. The main image panel with the Peony was created in the following steps:

• Ink peony stamp, direct to stamp, using ColorBox Chalk Inks, and stamp onto white cardstock.
• Using SU markers I filled in areas on the leaves and stem.
• Using the Inkksentials Opaque White Pen, I colored in all white areas on the peony and accented the leaves a bit.
• Using a C1 Cool Gray Copic marker I outlined the entire image.
• I made a mask of the peony using Eclipse Masking Tape, adhered it over the peony and then stamped my scripted background in Palette Hybrid Charcoal.
• I then heavily sponged the edges of the panel with the Charcoal ink.
• I then matted the panel in gray and then pink before adhering to the card.
• I then attached my Peony tag and bee with dimensional products.

Here’s my supply list:

• Stamps: Peony by Flourishes and retired SUScript
• Paper: Black, White, SU Pixie Pink, SU Basic Gray Textured
• Ink: Palette Hybrid Charcoal and Noir Black, ColorBox Chalk Inks in Orchid Pastel, Dark Brown, Olive Pastel, SU markers in greens, browns and yellow, C1 Cool Gray Copic marker, Inkksentials Opaque White Pen, Stardust Clear Glitter Pen (on wings).
• Accessories: Black Sheer Ribbon, Black Dotted Sheer Ribbon, Tags Trio and Circle Nestabilities by Spellbinders, SU 1 punch, Cuttlebug, Textile Embossing Folder, Mounting Tape, Dimensionals, Zots, Glue Dots, Sponge.

Thanks so much for stopping in today. Hope you enjoyed this fun story about Marcy and her Hottie!!! Have a wonderful weekend, everyone!!!

Keyword ssnotime41 -There is no time limit. You can play this challenge and upload yourproject at Splitcoastand/or your Blog, anytime at all! You (and that means anyone and everyone, blogger or not!)can play as many times as you like!!! The point is to keep it simple, quick and have fun!!! Please link back here.

The challenge this week is to make a 10 Minute Tuesday card. Forthose who may not know what 10 Minute Tuesday is,each Tuesday I do aBlog post showcasing a card that canbe reproduced in about 10 minutes. I realize the designing and making of most cards doestake more than 10 minutes, but try to come up withsomething, that if you were going to reproduce it, you coulddo soin about 10 minutes — OK? So, in other words, keep it really simple! Most importantly have fun!!!

Here are some samples:

Check out Julie Koerberssample here.

Check out Dee Jacksons sample here.

Check out Tammy Hershbergers samplehere.

Check out Jennifer Bucks sample here.

Check out Janine Orchards sample here.

What a fabulous Stamp Simply Team!!! Thank you girls!!! Much appreciated!!!

And heres my sample:

This time I made my Coffee, from Coffee with Friends,of the iced variety!!! A great summer drink!!! My cup was paper pieced, my straw was just cut by hand, and my foam or whipped cream is Liquid Applique by Marvy. All the pink and patterned paper is from the Sultry pad, while my brown matting is from Sugared. My Basic Grey pads are pretty well used up and I’ve been combining a lot of the pads to get the colors I need, and it works!!! I LOVE the combination of these 2 prints from the Sultry pad!!! The bottom pink is stamped with one of the steam stamps from Coffee with Friends and it makes a quick and fun background. And here’s a closeup of the tag detailing:

The tag is die cut on my Cuttlebug using the Tag Trio by Spellbinders. I just ran a length of the sheer dotted ribbon through the hole and then inserted my pink brad. The tag is mounted on dimenstional tape and the little dotted tails are neatly held in place with a Zot.

And you know what made this a 10 minute card?

• Remember when we talked about making up card bases ahead of time? Click here.
• Remember when we talked about making up tags ahead of time? Click here.
• Remember how quick and easy it is to paper piece this large mug? Click here.

So, with a few things done ahead of time — this card truly did come together in short order!!!

• Stamps: Coffee with Friends, Siberian Iris (sentiment), both by Flourishes
• Paper: White, Sultry and Sugared Designer Pads by Basic Grey
• Ink: Palette Noir Black, SU Pretty in Pink
• Accessories: 1″ Chocolate Satin Ribbon, Chocolate Dotted Sheer Ribbon, Tag Trio dies by Spellbinders, SU Brad, Liquid Applique by Marvy, Mounting Tape, Zots

Editing to add another card — did this for the LSC at SCS today — the challenge was to limit your embellishments to brads ONLY, and they had to be a part of your main image, not just tacked in a corner. I thought this LSC would go perfetly with this 10 Minute Tuesday type ofchallenge here today, so I did another this morning:

Clean, sleek, modern, simplistic! Love it!! This is 9.25″ x 4 1/8″ and fits a business sized envelope. Fits the LSC to use brads as your only embellishment, and it was a 10 minute card for me because this main image panel with 3 paper peiced mugs was in my rejecto pile from another project gone awry!!! But it works here!!! And that’s a good thing!!!!

• Stamps: Coffee with Friends by Flourishes
• Paper: Black, White, Two Scoops by Basic Grey
• Ink: Palette Noir Black
• Accessories: Black Brads by SU and Mounting Tape

Remember when you upload to use the keyword above, followed by a comma.Please come back here to post (as a comment) that youve played, and provide a linksowe can check out your card right away. You can find all cards uploaded for this challenge by clicking Gallery Submissions Here.

Some wanting to play said they have never uploaded before. If thats you and you need help uploading, just go to my Challenge No. 1 here.

Thanks so much for stopping in everyone I truly appreciate it!! Hope you can find some time to play!!! Thanks much!!!

And I have a fun human interest story to post on the weekend. I’ll try to get it up on Friday night, so please check back!!!! It’ll make you smile!

…some simple and effective storage solutions. We all know the problems that are inherent with this hobby — so much *stuff* — such a big *mess* — well, that’s how itis for me, anyway! And I am making headway in my never-ending quest for organization, one baby step at a time. I’ll share just a bit here today, and I’ll start with stamp storage.

When clear stamps are purchased, they typically come on acetate type sheets in a plastic sleeve. We really do need a better way to store them on a permanent basis. The buyers at Flourishes have found a wonderful solution — Clear Boxes that easily housetwo small (4 x 6) sets, or one large (8 x 6) set. The boxes measure 4 x 6 and are a full 1/2″ thick. The hinge opens in the middle, theylay flat when opened, giving you two sides for storage. Here’s what they look like:

As you can see, the two standing have stamp sets in them. You do have to trim the acetate that the stamp sets come on just a bit to fit in the box, but not much and that just takes a minute. I like to just lay my acetate sheet with stamps on it in the box, the acetate (pictured) side out (stamps facing in), so I can easily see on the outside all that is contained in the set. I cut a sheet of white cardstock to 4 x 6 and keep it between the sets so when the box is closed, I have a white background and can easily see each set, rather than seeing through one set to the other. Makes for a cleaner display of my sets. Here’s a pic of the box opened, with two sets in it:

This makes it very easy to take off the stamp you want and return it when you are finished. I have found I spend a LOT less time *looking* for those tiny clear stamps since I have put all my stamps into these clear boxes. Since there is a place to put them, I do put them back, rather than setting them on the table, loosing them, and then spending precious time frantically looking for them (have you been there? — LOL!!!). These boxes come in sets of 6 (enough for 12 small sets or 6 large sets) and are very reasonably priced. They can be seen here.

Also, I did some shopping and just got some new Spellbinder dies in the mail today, so thought I’d show them to you. These are the Tag Trios on the left and the Double Ended Tags on the right:

I love adding tags to cards — a great way to get a sentiment on your project while adding interest and fun — and I love dangling tags from a string — the Tag Trios on the left are PERFECT for that!!! Can’t wait to use them. And the Double Ended Tags on the right will look great attached with brads for a more permanent look and feel!!!

And I’ll be pefectly honest with you — I was planning to have a card or two here today to show you using these fun tags, but life just did not cooperate with me — I’m sure you know what I mean — interruptions galore coupled with a busy schedule just didn’t allow me to get cards made last night — and once I could see the writing on the wall, I figured that rather than fight to do a card, I would just settle for something less, something do-able under the circumstances. So what I did is make up a few of the tags, ready to go for the next time I can sit and make some cards. Having a few things pre-made and ready to go helps out a lot if you need to make a card quickly. I often make things ahead and I’m always so glad to just be able to grab them when needed. Here’s a few tags in the works:

See my roll of Scotch Removable Tape? That has a permanent place right next to my Cuttlebug. I use a ton of this tape. I use it to tape my Spellbinder dies onto my paper, as shown above. If you’ve used these before, you know how they would move around if not taped. One little piece of removable tape does the trick. I also use the Scotch Removable Tape to temporarily hold my card pieces together as I am planning layouts. When I make my cards, I figure things out asI go. I may think a certain color matting will work, but in the end use another color. I have learned to NEVER permanently adhere anything together until I have the entire card made up, laid out in front of me, and I’m happy with it. And I use the Scotch Removable Tape a lot as I play around with my pieces, matting, framing, layouts, etc. And you can use one piece of tape over and over again.

Anyway, back to my tags. Here they are all run through the Cuttlebug, cut and ready to be embossed:

It is a bit of a time saver when you make multiple tags rather than just one. As you can see, I can now run these all through my Cuttlebug at one time to emboss them, rather than individually. Anything to save time!!! And here they are, done:

Sorry for all the flecks of dirt on this photo — I didn’t even see that IRL!!! Oh well — Also, the embossing isn’t showing up the best either, but it is there, and it is the embossing on these tags that sets them apart from tags punched with a regular punch. The embossing adds so much richness, I think! The Coffee sentiments are from Coffee with Friends, Just Because is from Siberian Iris, Peony is from Peony, Happy Birthday is from Many Sentiments.

And now it’s time to put our tag dies away — here’s a GREAT solution. My idea — NOT!!! Wish it was — LOL!!! I’ve seen this on many Blogs, the first being on Debbie Olson’s Blog, and I sure was quick to make use of this great idea!!! All of my Nestabilities are stored in CD cases, and here’s the case for my tag dies:

You can purchase these sticky back magnet strips in the children’s craft section of Wal-Mart — they are so easy to use. I just cut them to fit the CD case. They are cut a bit differently for these tags than for the larger Nestabilities, but all the same idea. There are four sets of tag dies in this one CD case — now how convenient is that!!! The 2 sets I showed you today are on the left, and the Ribbon Slides and Label Trios are on the right. But I would like to add, all of my Nesties would also work in the Clear Boxes shown above. I just didn’t have my Clear Boxes when I started my storage for my Nesties. Using the Clear Boxes would actually avoid the issue of the hump in the middle of the CD case!

(Editing: OK, I’ve learned from several readers that you can pull that plastic center from the CD case — DUH!!!! Thank you so much — LOL!!! Glad I learned that — LOL!!!)

(Editing again: Oh gosh, you people are so waaaayyyy ahead of me — LOL!!! I ‘m getting so many emails — you are all using these Clear Boxes for your Nesties and telling me how much better they work than the CD cases — you are all shaming me into changing them all over to Clear Boxes — LOL!!! — THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!!!)

And once you’re here to look, just wanted to share about this Stamp Cleaner specially formulated for clear stamps:

It does a wonderful job cleaning your clear stamps, makes them feel silky smooth, which is so nice, but this cleaner’s claim to fame in my book is its smell — it has the MOST declicious scent of citrus!!! It makes me WANT to clean my stamps!!!! Gotta love it!!! The pad and cleaner can be seen here.

Thanks so much for stopping in today. My next post will contain a card, I promise!!! Hope you are all having a wonderful week!!! OH, and if you like simple, you will LOVE this week’s Stamp Simply Challenge on Friday — be sure to come back and check it out — whether you plan to play or just check out everyone’s entries!!!

This is my favorite post to write each week — I LOVE quick cards and this is a real quick one today. Since my post is about 8 hours behind my normal posting time today, I was able to catch the colors for the Color Challenge over at SCS, so I thought I’d try them out — White, Taken with Teal and Wild Wasabi. Not what I probably would have chosen to use on my own, but it works!!! Here it is:

This card is 3 3/8″ x 6 1/2″ and is made to fit the small open end envelopes by SU. I really enjoy this size from time to time! It’s small and easy to work up quickly, but yet with it’s height it allows you more room than a small square does. I like it!

Anyway, this card is simply done by paper piecing the large mug from Coffee with Friends. And on the photo below, can you see how I used the print in theTwo Scoops pad by Basic Grey to work to my advantage? I wanted that row of dots on my saucer, and using clear stamps it is so easy to stamp the saucer over the dots, exactly as I had in mind.

I just wanted to show you, too, that I use my little Xyron X to adhere all my mugs in Coffee with Friends. They all fit nicely in this small Xyron sticker maker — takes all the fuss out of adhering them — quick and easy. These can be purchased at just about any store that sells craft items — Wal-Mart, Michaels, etc. — they are very inexpensive and work wonderfully for adhering small pieces. The feed opening is 1.5″ wide, so anything under that works great!

To do the ribbon on this card - I merely ran 2 lengths of SU gingham along the side of my card and then took a length of Black Sheer Ribbon, ran it under the gingham and tied my fluffy little bow. I just adore these fluffy bows the Sheer Ribbon allows you to make. To get this puffy, fluffy look — just tie your bow tightly,make it rather small, and cut your tail ends rather short, no longer than the bow is big. Fun little bow!!!

• Stamps: Coffee with Friends by Flourishes
• Paper: White, Taken with Teal, Two Scoops by Basic Grey (my sheet of DP has a bit of Wasabi in it)
• Ink: Palette Noir Black and Charcoal
• Accessories: Black Sheer Ribbon, SU Gingham Ribbon and SU Brads, Xyron X

Thanks so much for coming to look — I truly do appreciate it, as I always appreciate all your comments and feedback as well!! Thank you so much!!! Wishing you all a wonderful week!!! See you tomorrow for my Wednesday feature — May I Suggest …

Today’s post is short and sweet — a quick card! I have always loved the crisp and fresh look of white on white. Here it is –

• Stamps: Siberian Iris sentiment
• Paper: White
• Ink: Palette Noir Black
• Accessories: White Sheer Ribbon, Spellbinders Label Trio, Cuttlebug and Embossing Folder, Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch, Zots

Take a minute and check out the Flourishes Featured Stampers for this week!!! Lovely creations!!!

Do you like to play games? There are currently 3 separate challenges running in the Flourishes Forum at SCS (and some even have prizes!!!). Check them out:

Coffee Challenge, Christmas Card Challenge, Featured Stamper Weekly Challenge

Thanks so much for stopping in!!! Wishing you all a wonderful week!!!

Keyword ssnotime40 -There is no time limit. You can play this challenge and upload yourproject at Splitcoastand/or your Blog, anytime at all! You (and that means anyone and everyone, blogger or not!)can play as many times as you like!!! The point is to keep it simple, quick and have fun!!! Please link back here.

The challenge this week isSOME LIKE IT HOT .. or cold!!!Hotor cold, as in liquid. There has to be some liquid aspect to your card, even though we may not always see the liquid. For example –Hot = coffee (of course!) or other drinks, tub bath, etc. Cold = rain water, water in vase, lake, etc. Let your creative juices flow!!! Most importantly have fun!!!

Here are some samples:

Check out Julie Koerberssample here.

Check out Dee Jacksons sample here.

Check out Tammy Hershbergers samplehere.

Check out Jennifer Bucks sample here.

Check out Janine Orchards sample here.

Check out Becky Oehlers Sample.

What a fabulous Stamp Simply Team!!! Thank you girls!!! Much appreciated!!!

And heres my sample:

I made this card to go with the kitchen towels and hot pads, using Coffee with Friends, the first set in the Stamp Simply line by Flourishes. This will be a gift for another challenge (see below). I’m also real excited to tell you about the little saucer under my cup — it was so easy to do! Let me tell you how I created this entirecolorful little panel.

• Stamp the cup on white cardstock
• Draw on saucer as described below***
• Using a 1/2″ strip of cardstock as your guide,place it over the cup and draw your line dividing wallfrom countertop, then just keep moving upwith your guide strip to draw other horizontal lines
• Using the same strip, place it vertically over the center of thecup and draw the lines onboth sides of the strip, then move out in each direction drawing your lines.
• Color as desired. I used Copics and drew my colors from the towels and hot pads. After it is all colored, stamp on steam with White Kraft Ink.
• I then used a Rectangle Nestability to cut out and embossmy main image (my colored panel was larger than the Nestability I chose to use). Then cut and emboss a frame with the Scalloped Rectangle Nestability. Accent scallops with white dots.
• Mount the colored image to the scalloped frame with mounting tape or squares, being careful of their placement so you can run theChocolate Sheer Ribbon between the colored image and the scalloped frame, which is then mounted to the black panel with mounting tape as well.
• The flourishy steam stamp is used to create the background on the black panel, using White Kraft ink.

***This cup in the Coffee with Friends set does not have a saucer with it, so to make one I punched an oval with my SU small oval punch, placed that punched oval where I wanted it over my cup, then traced the oval shape with my SU Black Journaler, using the fine tip. It looked perfect — one would never know it wasn’t a part of the stamp!!

This was a really fun card to make, and having the towels and hot pads to use as a guide took the wonder out of the project — I knew what I was doing, just had to figure out how!!!!

• Stamps: Coffee with Friends by Flourishes
• Paper: Black, White. Dark brown and yellow by Prism.
• Ink: Palette Noir Black, SU Kraft White, SU Black Journaler, Copics, Inkksentials Opaque White Pen.
• Accessories: Chocolate Sheer Ribbon, SU Small Oval Punch, Rectangle Nestabilities by Spellbinders.

Would you like a chance to win these towels, hot pads and card? We haveaCoffee Challenge in the Flourishes Forum at SCS. All you have to do is create a card or project using Coffee with Friends, upload it at SCS by July 10 and then link back to the challenge threadsowe can find your project. A winner will be selected from all entrieson July 10 by a random number generator. And it could be you!!! And if you don’t have Coffee with Friends, there is still plenty of time to order it and play!!! You can find it here.

Remember when you upload to use the keyword above, followed by a comma.Please come back here to post (as a comment) that youve played, and provide a linksowe can check out your card right away. You can find all cards uploaded for this challenge by clicking Gallery Submissions Here.

Some wanting to play said they have never uploaded before. If thats you and you need help uploading, just go to my Challenge No. 1 here.

Thanks so much for stopping in everyone I truly appreciate it!! Hope you can find some time to play!!! Thanks much!!!

Hi everyone!!! Today’s May I Suggest… is going to be a little different than it has been the past few weeks, but change is good — right? What I am going to suggest today is a technique — masking. Probably one of the first techniques you learned as a beginning stamper, and if you don’t know howtomask, well, we’ve got a video tutorial for you to watch, so you’ll be ready to go in no time at all. Here’s the card I made:

• Stamps: Coffee with Friends by Flourishes
• Paper: White, Black, Boxer and Scarlet’s Letter by Basic Grey***
• Ink: Palette Noir Black
• Accessories: Black Sheer Ribbon, SU Brads, Petite Oval Nestabilities, Eclipse Masking Tape, Dimensionals
• Size: 5.5″ square

***Please note: A few lines of our Basic Grey paper are either sold out or dangerously low. If the pad you are looking for does not appear in the store, please just check back in a day or two. The shipment is due to arrive any day!

This uses Coffee with Friends, one of Flourishes latest releases, and the first set in the Stamp Simply line. We all knew from day one that this set was a dream to paper piece. Well, it is also a super simple set to mask. It took hardly no time at all to create this main image with the 2 mugs on it. And they are not only masked, but paper pieced as well. How fun!!! And such impact for very little effort –

I first stamped my mug in the forefront on the white cardstock, then stamped again on a piece of Eclipse Masking Tapeto make my mask.Icut out my mask, layed it onto the mug, then I stamped the mug again where I wanted it. The mask totally protected the first mug. I then stamped my mug again twice on designer paper for the piecing, then I stamped on a flourish from the set (right over the printed paper), cut out andadhered onto the card. Fun!!!

And if you have never tried the Eclipse Masking Tape, you really MUST. This is a low tack tape made for masking. No more trying to find the sticky spot on the sticky note — the entire mask is a low tack self-stick tape when made with the Eclipse Tape. How wonderful!!! OK, now check out this little glimpse at a card:

As mysample was really quick and simple, I’d like to direct you over to the Blog of my good friend, Susan Roberts, who created such a gorgeous card using the beautiful, newly released Peony. She took her masking a few steps further than I did and, WOW!!! Wait until you see the result with that stunning Peony. You can see it here. Susan also includes some great instructions for you.

And speaking of instructions, here’s a few places you can check out to see tutorials on masking.

• Nancy Kirk has prepared a nice video on both masking and reverse masking and she is using Flourishes first stamp set, Cake Decorating 101. When you watch this video, you not only get a good overview on how to mask, but you can actually see the cake and pedestal come together — fun!!! See Nancy’s tutorial here.
• Beate Johns over at SCS has a basic masking tutorial in the Resources section there. You can check out Beate’s tutorial here.

I apologize for this abbreviated version of May I Suggest… , but time constraints prohibited me from doing much more this week. And I am sothankful to Susan for her beautifully done Peony masked card and instructions, and also to Nancy and Beatefor their great tutorials on masking. Hope you check them all out.But to recap, what I am suggesting today is:

• Masking — it’s so easy and fun and brings so much depth to your images– check out the tutorials linked above to get you going
• Coffee with Friends and Peony — Flourishes latest releases — 2 completely different sets, but both adapt so well to the masking technique
• Eclipse Masking Tape — a fabulous replacement for the sticky note — LOL!!! Truly, it is!!! Makes masking a breeze!!!

While enjoying my morning coffee, I made the rounds to see what all of our DT was up to last night and MY OH MY!!!! I MUST share these with you — take a look — you will NOT be disappointed:

Leslie Miller — Coffee Gift Card Holder with tutorial — and check out what she did with the saucer — brilliant!!!

Julie Koerber — Coffee Gift Card Holder with altered Take Out Cup and tutorial — what a wonderful, wonderfulgift!!!

Faith Hofrichter — Fabulous card featuring Fantasy Floral Garden, a la Markie’s Mom style!!! You must check this out — with a little birdie, too!!!

Linda Duke — A delicate and beautiful Siberian Iris card done in Linda’s signature Paper Tole style. She offers instruction and a close up view. Be sure to click on the smaller floral image to get a nice, large closeup showing all the Paper Tole detail.

Thank you all so much for stopping in — I truly do appreciate it!!! Hope you are all having a great week!!!

It’s time for 10 Minute Tuesday again — 0h, where do the weeks go!!! I did a Christmas card again today as it is getting near (kind of - LOL!)the 25th, which is the day that reminds me of the Christmas Card Challenge in the Flourishes Forum at SCS. It is a continuously running challenge to make Christmas cards with Flourishes images, and we use the time around the 25th merely as a reminder. Please feel free to check it out and play along.

This card is 5.25″ square. The base is black, as is the Black Velvet Ribbon.

The Very Vanilla panel is 3.75 x 4.75 and is Cuttlebug embossed with the birds and swirls folder.

The tree from Flourished Christmas is gold embossed on a Very Vanilla panel that is 3 1/8 x 3.5. The corners are ticket corner punched, mounted on a Cranberry Crisp panel, brads added.It is mounted with mounting tape.

A very quick and easy card, and I love the interest the Cuttlebug embossed panel adds!!!

Thanks so much for looking!!! Hope you are all having a great week!!!

It was very late tonight by the time I got to start this card I needed for a Bridal Shower tomorrow. So, what better to do than see who the Featured Stamper is over at SCS and check out her gallery. Well, what a treat — the Featured Stamper for this Sunday is Denidill, and OH! what a gallery. This is the card of Denise’s that I cased, and here is my interpretation of that card for a Bridal Shower.

The color the bride is using for her fall wedding is brown, so that’s what I went with. I followed Denise’s exact layout, but rather than designer paper I used a sheet of white run through the Cuttlebug, and rather than a rectangular sentiment panel, I went with the oval. And, of course, I changed the ribbons and embellishments, using Chocolate Sheer Ribbon and self-adhesive pearls to fit a wedding theme. I also used the same rounded corner treatment that Denise did. The only stamp set I used was Many Sentiments for my sentiment. What a great sentiment set — just love it with its great mix of fontsand very usable sentiments. I used the Petite Oval Nestabilities to cut and emboss my sentiment.

I did something just a little different with my ribbon tails this time — check them out:

See how I wrapped them behind the panel? I just put some double sided tape on the back of the panel and loosely pulled my tails behind andthey stuckto the tape. Then I adhered the panel to mycard. A 100% In Control Bow — LOL!!!

• Stamps: Many Sentiments by Flourishes
• Paper: White, Chocolate Chip
• Ink: SU Basic Brown
• Accessories: Chocolate Sheer Ribbon, Petite Oval Nestabilities, 1/2 Pearls, Pop Dots, Cuttlebug and Embossing Folder, Corner Rounder.

That’s it for tonight. Remember that tomorrow is the 15th, which means the opening of a new Dirty Dozen Gallery at SCS. If you are not a Fan Club Member, click here for more details. Fan Club Membership has its privileges!!! Well worth it!!

Good night everyone!!! Have a great Sunday!!!