The Flower Challenge #109 - USE CHRISTMAS FLORALS

Hello friends. Just a friendly reminder that there's still time to play with us at The Flower Challenge this month, and it's an easy one as we're all making Christmas cards right now...RIGHT??  And what's easier than Christmas florals?

I have a pretty simple card to share with you today using one of my favorite Poinsettia stamps from Gina K called Precious Poinsettia.  Take a look...

I heat embossed the main image in white on Pale Peony cs (PTI) and then used the coordinating stamps to fill in the color with Flirty Flamingo & Old Olive (SU!). 

I die cut my image out and used foam tape to add it to my background which was embossed with the Timeworn Type ef (SU!) and then stamped my simple joy sentiment.  

We have lots of inspiration for you to get you motivated to make those last few Christmas cards, and you can find it all right HERE.  We would love to see YOU in our gallery filled with lovely Christmas Florals!  This challenge is open till Thursday, Dec. 25th @ 5:00PM. 

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

The Flower Challenge #109 - Use Christmas Florals

Hello friends.  Are the Christmas cards done and in the mail yet?  Mine are made but not addressed yet...need to get busy!!  If you're still in need of a few cards, we have the perfect challenge for you this month at The Flower Challenge...just use your Christmas florals!

Before I get to the details of my cards, I have a bit of news to share.  Regretfully The Flower Challenge will be closing after this months challenge.  I had already made the decision to step down because of time constraints (my 93 year old mom is requiring more of my help and time and we also babysit 2 days a week for our 2 youngest grandbabies, so time in my craft room has become more and more limited.) when Karren announced that she was also struggling to find the time to run the challenge and had decided she needed to close it at the end of this year.  This challenge has had a good run and we have seen some absolutely BEAUTIFUL floral cards during its time, so do not be sad it is leaving but be glad it was and offered so much inspiration for so long!  A very BIG thank you to Karren and all the DT members past & present for all the work they have put into this challenge over the years, and a BIG thank you to all of you who have played along with our challenges too.  I'll still be around and you'll still be seeing flower cards from me as they're at the top of my favorites list to make.  We hope you'll all play along this month so we can go out with a bang...so get out those stamps, dies & stencils and let's flood the gallery with beautiful Christmas florals!!  And now back to my regular post...   

I love Poinsettias and have quite a few stamps, stencils, dies & embossing folders with Poinsettias, so the hardest part of this challenge for me was picking out what to use!  I wanted to try out a technique that Therese Calvird did a while back (you can watch HERE) that uses embossing folders and rubbing your ink pad over the raised areas.  She started using DSP from Crafters Consortium, so I pulled out the only pad of Crafters Consortium DSP I had (Ink Drops - Dusk) and gave it a try using 2 different embossing folders.

I used Altenew's Perfect Poinsettias 3D embossing folder with a lighter piece of the DSP and then lightly ran my Delicata Gold ink pad over the raised areas.  

I matted the embossed layer with a thin piece of gold matte cs and then used the same gold to cut out my sentiment from MB's Merry Christmas Posh Script.  Both layers were attached to a kraft card base and I called it good...no bling!

I have a 2nd card using a darker piece of the DSP and SSS's Poinsettia Spray embossing folder.  I also used the embossing folder to emboss a strip of gold mirror card stock and added it to the left edge of my card.

I wish my photography skills were a bit better so you could see all the detail in this card...it is really pretty IRL!  The die cut sentiment is another favorite MB die called Special Merry Christmas.  Another kraft card base and no bling on this one either.  The Delicata Gold ink has so much shimmer to it that you really don't need to add anything else!

The DT has some absolutely BEAUTIFUL Christmas florals to inspire you to play along and you can find them all right HERE.  This challenge is open till Thursday, Dec. 25th @ 5:00PM.

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

The Flower Challenge Reminder #108

Hello friends.  I'm back with a friendly reminder that there's still time to play along with us at The Flower Challenge, where this month we're looking for Thank You cards...with flowers of course!!

I have a bit of thanking to do with a fellow DT member who kindly let me cut a basket using a die from HB (Rattan Basket) that she brought this past Summer when we had a play date and also enabled me to buy another HB set called Lovely Layers: Autumn Bouquet.  Thanks Bobby!!  Here's what I came up with using the basket and flower dies...

Now some people might call these weeds, but I think they're beautiful, so they're definitely FLOWERS in my book!  I had die cut the basket in kraft and then inked around the edges to give a bit of definition.  I used sandable cardstock to die cut my flowers and leaves and then arranged them in the basket.

 I attached the basket of flowers to a background that I embossed using SSS's Fall Foliage 3D embossing folder. I also ink blended on the edges of the embossed background to differentiate it from the card base (PTI's Rustic Cream cs).  I finished with a Tiny Tag (PTI) for my sentiment and used twine to attach it to the handle of the basket.  A pretty simple card really, but I love the way it turned out!

The DT has some beautiful examples of floral thank you cards that you can find right HERE, so check them out and play along with us!  Remember that Christmas is coming and we all could use a few extra thank you cards for gifts we receive.  This challenge is open till Tuesday, Nov. 25th @ 5:00PM.  

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

The Flower Challenge #108 - THANKS

Hello friends.  It's November already and where has the year gone?!  Way too fast for me!!  But anyway, welcome back to another challenge here at The Flower Challenge where we are looking for Thank You cards with flowers.

My card may not look like an Autumn thank you card, but I like working ahead and made this card back in July, so that's why the colors are bright and colorful!  

I used a stamp and stencil combo from PFS called Garden Medley to create my floral background and then adhered it to a black mat and white card base.  I just love the combination of all the different flowers and being able to use so many different colors to create this background!

I added a Skinny Ric Rac die cut frame (PTI) to add just a subtle something extra and then finished with a die cut Thank You from MB and a small gold butterfly from SU!.  Definitely a pretty Summer-y card for November, but hey, it's Summer somewhere, right?! Haha!!

Make sure you check out what the rest of the DT came up with for Thankful cards for inspiration to get you started and then play along with us...we'd love to see YOU in the gallery!!  Check out the inspiration and info all right HERE.  This challenge is open till Tuesday, Nov. 25th @ 5:00PM.

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

The Flower Challenge #107 - Reminder

Hello friends.  Just a friendly reminder that there's still time to play along with us here at The Flower Challenge where we're looking for you to add some PURPLE to your flower cards.

I have a sweet little card using PTI's Into the Blooms: Above Ground Dies...

I fell in love with the barrel container and had to buy the die set!  I cut if from kraft cs and then ink blended it a bit before adding the die cut leaves and flowers.

For my background I used a PB die (classy frames) and die cut it from white cs and a light purple, and then also stamped the purple with a retired SU! background stamp called Script. I also used SU!'s Subtle embossing folder on the main background piece to add some texture.  The barrel was added with foam tape for some dimension and then I finished with a few Disco Ball sequins (Gina K) and a press plate sentiment from Spellbinders.  

The DT has lots of beautiful inspiration to get you motivated right HERE, so check it out and then play along with us.  This challenge is open till Saturday, Oct. 25th @ 5:00PM.

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

The Flower Challenge #107 - Add PURPLE

Hello friends.  It's time for another new challenge here at The Flower Challenge and for this month we'd like to see you add PURPLE to your florals.

I used another stencil (surprise, surprise!!) for my card and came up with this...

The stencil is from PTI and called In The Meadow, and I used shades of purple and green (Gina K inks) to stencil my background and also blended the purple around the edges of the panel too.  I adhered the panel to a white card base.

I added a tag (PTI - Tag Sale #8) using vellum so as not to cover up too much of the stenciled background, and then embossed my sentiment using PTI's Year Of Psalms - March on it.  I added some purple seam binding ribbon and purple gems to finish my card.

The DT has some beautiful inspiration using purple and florals to inspire you and we can't wait to see what YOU come up with!  You can find all the inspiration and details right HERE.  This challenge is open till Saturday, Oct. 25th @ 5:00PM. 

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

The Flower Challenge #106 Reminder - Use Our Sketch

Hello friends.  Just a friendly reminder that there's still plenty of time to play along with us here at The Flower Challenge, where we'd like you to use our sketch with your florals.

Using PFS's Floral Focus stencils, I colored my panel and then used my Crimped Circle Die (The Greetery) to cut out a portion to fit the bottom, left hand corner of my card.  Take a look...

I used the coordinating stamp (Floral Focus) to create my background panel with black ink, and then adhered the stenciled circle to it.  I added a black panel to mat it and attached both layers to a white card base.

I know the sketch shows the sentiment a little higher, but I felt mine (MB's Just A Note Posh Script) looked better on the lower corner.  I added a few black enamel dots (Gina K) to finish.

 You can check out what my teammates came up with using this sketch right HERE and then play along.  We'd love to see all your floral cards using this sketch in our gallery!!  This challenge is open till Thursday, Sept. 25th @ 5:00PM.

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

The Flower Challenge #106 - Use Our Sketch

Hello friends.  It's time for a new challenge here at The Flower Challenge and this month we'd like you to follow our SKETCH along with the usual flowers of course!!

It's a pretty simple sketch to follow...just put your florals in the bottom, lower left corner.  Here's what I came up with using this sketch...

I started with a die cut circle (The Greetery's Crimped Circle Die) and then ran it through with SU!'s Sunflower 3D Embossing Folder.  This is a large ef and fits an 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" half sheet of cs.  I love 3D embossing folders and the depth you get when you emboss with them, and this sunflower comes out so realistic looking!  I used my smaller blending brushes with yellows, oranges and brown and lightly ink blended over the raised areas of the flower petals and centers.

I trimmed off the excess at the bottom and left hand side of the crimped circle and added to a white panel and then a Soft Suede panel and white card base.  My sentiment was die cut using gold mirror cs and a MB Hello Friend Posh Script die.  I finished with a few gold sequins and added some WOS to the flower centers.  This was one of those cards that should have only taken a half hour or less to make, but I kept trying different backgrounds because I thought all the white looked too stark!  They all made the card look too busy so in the end I just left the background plain...CAS!!

The DT has some beautiful examples using this sketch, so check them out right HERE and then play along with us!  This challenge is open till Thursday, Sept. 25th @ 5:00PM.

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

The Flower Challenge #105 Reminder - ADD EMBELLISHMENTS

Hello friends.  Just a friendly reminder that there's still time to play along with us at The Flower Challenge where we're looking for you to add EMBELLISHMENTS to your FLORAL cards.

I used a very similar layout and color scheme for this reminder card as my first card that you can find HERE.  Let's take a look...

 

I started with a cream colored card base again, and then added a pink layer die cut with The Greetery's Deco Frames die, and then added the Sweetest Frame stamped on cream cs and die cut with the coordinating dies.

I used The Greetery's BotaniCuts: Hollyhocks dies to create my florals with scraps of pink and green cs. The flowers are multi layered and I did do a bit of ink blending to the pieces to get the layered look to show up better.  I also added glitter along the edges of the petals and PFS's Gems: Clear with Gold Dust to the flower centers. 

Here's another closer up where I was hoping you could see the embellishments a bit better, but the light was not being my friend the day I photographed this card.  Trust me that IRL that this card sparkles and shines with the added glitter and gems. 

The DT has some lovely examples of adding embellishments that you can find right HERE, so check it out and play along with us.  This challenge is open till Monday, Aug. 25th @ 9:00AM.

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

The Flower Challenge #105 - Add Embellishments

Hello friends.  A new month and time for a new challenge here at The Flower Challenge, where this month we're looking for you to add EMBELLISHMENTS to your FLORAL cards.

Since I add embellishments to just about every card I make, this was an easy challenge for me!  Using products from The Greetery, here's what I came up with...

The Greetery just celebrated their 6th birthday and sent a freebie with each order, and this little cup/vase was the starting point for my birthday card.  I cut it from Honey Nut cs (PTI) and ink blended it a bit for some shading and dimension, and then filled it with flowers from the Best Bouquet Details dies using cream colored cs and ink blending with pinks for the blooms and greens for the leaves.  I framed out the cup/vase with The Greetery's A2 Stitched Scallops Die and the Sweetest Frame stamp & die.

I added everything to a cream colored card base and then finished with a birthday greeting on the cup/vase and a few PINK GEMS (PFS) for my embellishments.  

The DT has awesome cards to inspire you to use your embellishments on your cards, and we can't wait to see you all in the gallery!  You can check it out right HERE to play along.  This challenge is open till Monday, Aug. 25th @ 9:00AM. 
  

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

The Flower Challenge #104 - Be Inspired by our Colors

Hello friends.  Just a friendly reminder that there's still time to play along with us at The Flower Challenge where we're looking for you to be inspired by the colors in this photo...

And here's what I came up with using these colors...

My sweet friend Michele challenged me to use WF's Flower Focal Die for this reminder post, since she had used it the last time she was here using the colors in this challenge.  Make sure you check out what she did with these same flower dies!!  For my card I die cut the flowers and their centers 3 times and then ink blended the coral & turquoise colors onto them.  I die cut a circle into my top layer and then used SSS's Feather Spiral EF and lightly inked up the raised parts with residual ink from my turquoise blending brush.

I arranged my trio of blooms and leaves around the left side of the circle and then finished with a few iridescent gems (SU!) and a sentiment from SB's A Little Message Sentiments Pressplate.  I also added WOS to the flower centers.  A pretty busy card for me, but I still like the way it turned out!

The DT has lots of wonderful inspiration for you that you can find right HERE, so check it all out and then play along with us...we can't wait to see what YOU come up with using these colors!  This challenge is open till Friday, July 25th @ 5:00PM.

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!

The Flower Challenge #104 - Be Inspired by the Colors

Hello friends and welcome to a new challenge here at The Flower Challenge.  We have a fun challenge this month using an inspiration photo that we'd like you to use the colors from on your flower cards.

I see lots of oranges, corals & peaches, and then all kinds of shades of turquoise in this photo and here's what I came up with using these colors...

 I used a new stencil and die from PFS called Petal Perfection and ink blended with mostly Gina K inks in the corals and turquoise family.  I love the die for these stenciled florals as it doesn't leave a white border around the flowers and leaves like most dies do...it cuts them right to the edge on your inking.  

I die cut an oval (Gina K's ML #9) from my top layer and then lightly stenciled the background using Gina K's Brick Wall stencil with residual ink left on my orange/coral blending brush.  I attached this layer to a top folding white card base and then arranged my stenciled blooms in the oval cut out.  My sentiment strip was embossed in white on black using Gina K's All At Once Greetings stamps and dies.  Pretty simple, but I love the way it turned out!

The DT has some gorgeous cards to share with you and inspire you to use these challenge colors, and you can find them all right HERE.  This challenge is open till Friday, July 25th @ 5:00PM.  We can't wait to see YOU in the gallery!!

Thanks for stopping by today ... I love it when you do!