Clear Storage

It has been a long time coming.....I am very excited about finding the right storage system for my unmounted and clear stamps.

I first tried CD boxes to store them in, it was unsatisfactory from the very beginning, I was always afraid that one would fall out (there is always an "open" spot ). The Cd's are on the flimsy side, and have to be replaced after a time, and they just weren't big enough.

It was getting very frustrating finding something will hold up for the long haul and allow me to store all my stamps where they are readily available.

These ridged,clear, hinged boxes measure 4x6 and are 1/2 inch thick, they open flat which allows me to use the stamp and place the "dirty" one on the left side, if I don't clean them immediately like you are suppose to (a bad habit of mine).

These boxes will hold two 4x6 clear stamp set or one 8x6 set. I am getting ready to unmount my SU sets. A white label at one end will make it easier and much faster to find the set I want to use.

The boxes can be found at Flourishes and come in a pack of six, which will hold twelve 4x6 sets.

Jan Marie.............

Hope your Birthday is as special as you are..........

Damask reverse

Many Sentiments

Spellbinders oval Nestabilities

hodgepodge hardware

Michael's ribbon

I will post a Birthday card after midnight.

Jan Marie Birthday Bash!

Jan Marie is having a Birthday Bash Celebration!
Check below for all the details and help her celebrate!



Jan Marie’s Birthday Celebration
February 24, 2008 by thecarusomanner2
That’s right it’s Jan Marie Birthday on Monday
and she’s throwing a party and giving away presents!

You may want to share the news on your blogs. She will be giving away:
1 Xyron 9001 Nestabilities-Standard Classic Circles1 Nestabilities-Classic Scallop Circles-LGA pair of Fiskar scissors engraved with Flourishes,LLCVarious Flourishes stamp sets and lot of smaller gifts throughout the 24 hour period.
To win, upload any card or projects made using Flourishes,llc stamp sets to SCS gallery using the keywords: fllcjanmariesbirthday
If you don’t have one (why not? Then get one) or you can post to your blog and post the link here
Uploading can start an midnight Feb 24.
We’ll do a random drawing throughout the day and announce winners….big prize winners on Tuesday. Help her to celebrate another great year of life! Come on join the fun and have a chance

Tulip Tree

I miss calculated by a week, the tulip trees are in bloom before the end of the month, and what a beautiful sight they are. We only have one tree in our yard and I look forward to it blooming every year it's the first sign of spring for me, no I take that back, seeing the robins come through is the first sign.
We only see robins when they are heading north the first part of February, never in the fall when they go south.

Our tree is not in full bloom yet, that will take a few more days. Sometime it is a race to see which happens first, the tree in full bloom or the rain knocking the petals off.
I am headed outside to take pictures of a card I just refined (replaced part of the card with a different stamped element).

Take the cake!

I finally got a cake card done using Flourishes cake decorating 101. I have had the set for several months, making and eating cakes is not my most favorite thing to do. I eat sweets mind you, just not much cake. I have not even taken a cake decorating class. This from a person who has taken just about every class there is to take, you should see the silk flowers I have made, well maybe not, that was in the 70's.

I degress, I always try to look at a stamp set to see what other way I can use componets, if you will notice the back ground paper was stamped with two of the "cake plate" stamps. I masked then stamped over with another color. I ended up covering most of the background, I am not sure I like the color of the background (brown), this would work well on a brighter colored birthday card.

I used 3D paint, on the ribbon and the centers for the flowers, the cake stand and cake has 3D paint and(I can't remember the name, will look it up when I get home from work).

I used basic gray dp, black and white

SU markers

prima flowers

Only a few days left!! Blog Candy

You need to visit Stamp Happy blog, she is giving away awesome blog candy for her 40th birthday the 1st of March. Check it out, she is adding a new item each day for 40 days. Run don't walk to wish her a Happy Birthday!

Sweet William

The scent of sweet william is in the air, one of the first signes of Spring in the South, the tulip trees will be in bloom by the end of the month. Today it is warm enough to sit outside on our covered patio. I will be taking advantage of that for as long as possible, as summer will find me indoors with the AC.
For this card I used the Open to Love and Fantasy Florals set on watercolor paper. With two scoops designer paper on a rose red card.
The heart "flowers" are done with red paint by scribbles. The lantern is covered with clear liquid embossing, it does not show very well but in real life it looks like glass.
I added black scalloped ribbon with red sheer over the top. I love to color which is why I "make" so many pictures incorporating elements from different stamp sets.
Flourishes is having a sale this month on there cake decorating 101, after a trip to the park with two of my granddaughers I will be back to make a card using that set. Thanks for stopping by.

Love all year

Valentines Day has past, but love is abound all year.....




Scallop Heart Nestabilities are in!

Happy Valentine's Day!! Flourishes has received its shipment of the Scallop Heart Nestabilities!! These coordinate with the regular Heart Nestabilities (which are currently out of stock - we are waiting for our shipment and will post here when they arrive), as well as with our beautiful Lace Heart Stamp set.
Take a look at this lovely card by Jan Marie Caruso. She uses the Lace Heart Stamp Set, and both the regular and scallop Heart Nestabilities to create this beautiful wedding card. Both the nestabilities and the Lace Heart stamp set can be used for many occasions - not just for Valentine's Day. Wedding, anniversaries, special birthdays, or just to say "I love you". Not all cards are not made by me, I have downloaded them from Flourishes Newsletter, credit has been given the designer in the write up.

Home from CHA

Jan Marie and I are home from sunny, warm, wonderful, California, to wet, cold, cloudy, Florida. What, I don't hear any sympathy coming my way, just because we don't get snow or cold for very long?
We had a wonderful time, met with people we know by pictures, name, and their work on SCS, we got to meet face to face with some of the dirty dozen gals. They are all more wonderful than you can amagine from seeing their work, "chatting" through SCS, reading their blogs. It was like meeting an old friend.

Jan and I walked and walked and walked, looked at all the new things coming out. We did a "hands" on with new products. Met and visited with current vendors and are adding more. We got to talk with Debbie Olsen at copic and learned more about the copic markers. Thanks Debbie! I am ready to try out some of her ideas.
I am excited with the direction Flourishes will be heading this year, hope you will be too. For now I am ready to head back to my studio (after work of course) and start working with Florishes new stamp sets. Stay Tuned!!!!

Minding the Store

Jan and I are having a fab time in sunny California, we can look at the snow on the mountains without any of the chill, that is fabulous in itself. NancyK is back home in Florida keeping everything running while we run our feet off looking for new products to add to Flourishes.
We are taking inventory tonight getting ready for the last rush, for us, tomorrow. Remember that we are having a cake contest for the whole month of February, Check us out at SCS
forum for details.
Here I am republishing a post by NancyK from Flourshes newsletter.


Sunday, February 10, 2008

New Releases!
It sounds like Jan Marie and Sharon are having a fabulous time at CHA! They're checking out all sorts of products and I am sure they will have some wonderful things for us to carry in the store. But until they return I want to announce tomorrows new releases.
We have two background stamps Damask and Damask-REVERSE, which is just a "negative" view of the Damask. These stamps measure 5.5 x 4.25. In addition to these is a set called "Many Sentiments" which contains some of the most often used sentiments for card makers - all in beautiful fonts. This set also has two decorative elements to coordinate with the phrases. This trio contains elements of all these sets.
First, the card uses the Damask - REVERSE in rose red for the background. The ovals were cut using Nestabilities and "Many Thanks", in rose red, is from the Many Sentiments set. The white satin ribbon is also available at Flourishes and is just perfect for this card.
Next is this cute little tin I purchased at Wal-Mart in their wedding section. It's filled with m & m's in the valentine colors (the hardest part was not eating the m&m's before I finished this project!) The circles are cut using the Petite Circle Nestabilities, and "Best Wishes" is from the Many Sentiments set. Both the rose scalloped circle and the band around the tin are stamped with the Damask background.
Finally, this little vellum box is filled with more m&m's!! I made the box with a template downloaded from Mirkwood designs. I took a strip of rose red and white and stamped the Damask on both and wrapped it around the box. Then I tied a rose colored sheer ribbon (JoAnn's) around that. I topped it with a tag made from Petite Circle Nestabilities and stamped "So Very Thoughtful" in rose. This sentiment is also from the Many Sentiments set.
Here is what the tags and little band look like before I adhered them.
Please stop by the store tomorrow and take a closer look at these sets.
Also - don't forget that the Flourishes Cake Decorating contest continues all this month - submit your card using the Cake Decorating Stamp set and have a chance to win prizes!!

Card Received

As I was sitting here working with nothing to show yet (and feeling a little sorry for my self) , I realized I have kept this card I received from Marie Greene laying out so I could look at it every now and then, I would think " wow she took the time to make and return a thank you for the blog candy I had sent her". With a very nice note inside. Why don't I share with you what Marie sent me.

I liked the simple design, it just feels fresh. We all are ready for Spring, it shows in colors I have seen on scs.

Have a good night, I am ready to turn in, Mondays are always the most tiring for me.

SU color combo

Just had to take the time to let everyone know, "If you have not tired the color combo at Scraptitude check it out". Well shoot, I thought I had copied the link, I will go find it.
Anyway, I have been using that site to help with paper selection (colors) and like my cards a lot better. My color knowledge is----I have none. Check it out if you get stumped for colors!!

Still working on cards

Just can't show them yet, that is the frustration of working in advance and it is driving me bonkers. I, like most people like to"show off", my stuff. As soon as I post this I am getting back to my work table.
I love the ATC I made for the swap that Tracy Durcan set up. I am ready to finish the "dads" card for Fathers Day or birthday or any other male occassion that requires a card. Flourishes is coming out with some really cool stamps in the near future. Keep a watch and I will get back to work. Thanks for stopping by.