Monday, August 6, 2012

It's a Beautiful World

Hello Everyone and welcome to the first Flourishes Beautiful World Tour!!!  Those of you who have been following Flourishes for a while will know that the first Monday of the month used to be the Bring Back Beautiful Challenge.  As we celebrate Flourishes' 5th Birthday, there have been some changes and one of those is our team!  No longer are we a challenge team, instead we have FOUR new members to the team - Sasha, Dina, Anne-Elise and Meredith - (WELCOME girls, we are excited to have you join us!!) and each month, travel the world with us and be inspired by talented girls from all parts of the globe!!!  We are now represented by Australia, United States, Canada, Finland, England and Germany and each month one of the girls will be hosting the hop on the Flourishes blog, sharing a little about their creation and maybe even a little about their corner of the world!

So.....what does this mean for YOU??  Instead of being challenged to create and play along, all we ask is you do a little globetrotting and stamp our passports (leave us a comment) and you could WIN A FREE FLOURISHES STAMP SET!!!!  Yes, you heard right, leave a comment and have the chance to win!!  The catch is, you don't know which country is going to be this week's vacation spot (chosen blog) so leave a comment on each one by AUGUST 31st for your chance to win!!

If you've jetted in from South East Asia from Dina's blog then you have arrived at the right destination. If you haven't, perhaps you'd like to start your journey back in Florida at the Flourishes Blog so you don't miss any of the inspiration along the way!!

This month the hostess is........ME!!!  Welcome to Australia!!!  :)  Our theme this month is to be inspired by a SONG!  I thought that I would choose a song, originally written by the native people on the far northern island of Elcho Island (off the Northern Territory) called My Island Home.  After gaining nation wide recognition being sung by Christine Anu, it has become something of an unofficial anthem of Australia.  As far as size goes Australia is a large country,  in fact very similar in size to the United States, however we are entirely surrounded by ocean and it's often called the Island Continent!

With My Island Home playing in my head, I've created my card using Windows to the World and used a wavy card base as a sort of tribute to the sea that surrounds our beautiful country!  I started with a base of Old Olive cut with Wavy Rectangle Nestabilities to create the shaped card.  Next I used the same die, placed it on a piece of white and drew a line on the inside of the die and cut it out with a pair of scissors to create a mat.  I then took the next smallest die to cut a piece of MME Good Day Sunshine (I keep calling it the G'day Sunshine paper) DP for the next layer and attached a piece of green satin ribbon around it.  I've stamped the island window image and sentiment from Windows to the World in Memento Tuxedo Black onto Blending Card and coloured it with Copics (Walnut Collection, Creamy Collection, Candy Pink Collection, Leaf Green Collection, Ice Blue Collection, Iced Aqua Collection).

I've cut this out with Labels 25 Nestabilities and used a paper piercer and Mat Pack to pierce around the edge of the die cut.  I've then matted it with more Old Olive, this time cut with Labels 10 Nestabilities and popped it up on foam tape.  To finish I've added a green satin bow and Kaisercraft Snow Pearls to each of the corners.

Stamps - Windows to the World (Flourishes)
Paper - Blending Card, Old Olive, White, MME Good Day Sunshine DP
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories - Copics, Wavy Rectangle, Labels 25 and Labels 10 Nestabilities, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, Green Satin Ribbon, Bow Easy, Kasiercraft Snow Pearls, Foam Tape.

I hope you've enjoyed visiting Australia - the next stop on your Beautiful World Tour is......BEAUTIFUL CANADA to visit MEREDITH
Thanks for visiting and happy traveling!!  :)

50 comments:

Iwona Palamountain (Chupa) said...

It's sooo gorgeous, Kathy!! Just perfect :)

Meredith MacRitchie said...

Beautiful, Kathy! I love the tropical window - makes me long for a beach holiday! I love how you tied the theme into your country, too!

Anne-Elise said...

Gorgeous card, Kathy! Love this window with the pink flowers, the bow and the pearls in the corners! Beautiful view!

Betty Wright said...

Beautiful, Kathy! Love the colors, coloring, and song inspiration! Great shape card, too! Beautifully done!

Yogi said...

I posted on the Flourishes blog for this card... Beautiful. Love the Windows stamp set and the dies you used - perfect. Have a great day

Francie (Montreal) said...

What a beautiful card! Love it.

sylviane said...

Votre carte est superbe, un grand bravo!

Marlou McAlees said...

beautiful card :) thanks for a chance to globe trott :) :) and win fab stamps, happy 5th birthday to Flourishes :) x

gracescraps@gmail.com said...

Kathy, such a gorgeous card - love the beautifully colored image you selected. I'm a new follower. Thanks for the inspirational tour!! ~ Blessings, Tracey

http://gracescraps.blogspot.com/

Dina Kowal Creative said...

I keep thinking that I need this set - you are going to push me over the edge! This scene reminds me of my home here, especially the view from one of the places we like to go to snorkel. I am loving your layered diecuts, too. Hugs - so happy to be working with you!!

lisa808 said...

I have so enjoyed my visit to Australia. Your card is gorgeous. Love the image and all your elements.

Sasha said...

Such a gorgeous card, Kathy. So beautifully stamped and coloured. I love the view from your window, and all your lovely layers.
Thank you for all your help, and I hope you're feeling much better x

Grace said...

Oh how beautiful and inviting is this scene! Love the shaped card and your layering Kathy! Beautiful words to read about your homeland as well! Thanks for the inspiration!

kathi17 said...

I'm new to flourishes, but not new to many of the design team, it's fun seeing so many of the girls I visit regularly on here! I commented on your gorgeous card on the flourishes page, not realizing I would get a chance to look out your window at that beautiful scene again!

Cheryl said...

This is so pretty! I love the green and white together--it feels so fresh.

Heather Rogers said...

Beautiful Kathy! Love the shaped card. :)

hugs~

Marisa said...

I want to go there!! Looks fabulous :) Gorgeous card and great work as always :)

flourishes said...

I would love to be back there and looking out your window, and seeing you part of the world again. I love this new Team Flourishes--I have to think is there was a medal for stamping we would be contendter for a gold medal. Thanks for sharing your beautiful card.
Jan Marie
Flourishes

Nanda said...

Beautiful card, gives me the feeling af vacation.

Anonymous said...

I love how you tied the theme into your country Kathy! Just a beautiful card. I have so enjoyed the Hop!

stampqueen said...

Beautiful view out your window - we get to see the beach alot here in Florida too but someday I hope to see Australia (ever since I saw 'Man from Snowy River' as a horse crazy teenager :))

Peanut said...

Love that image! Can almost feel the warm sun and cool sea breeze. Flawless colouring on a gorgeous card - what a combo eh? Thanks for sharing the story behind the card.

Stacey Schafer said...

so fabulous!

Marthamh2 said...

I love the window card; it is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

Gab said...

Really beautiful

Theresa's Studio said...

Your window card is just beautiful. Love everything about it. You really make us feel the warmth and breeze of Australia.

Connie MacFarlane said...

Gorgeous card Kathy! Love the crispness of the green and white of your background and your image truly gives off a tropical feel.

Sarah Stainback said...

What a beautiful rendition! Good to see art from
around the world.

TJ said...

Wonderful card and great story. It actually reminds me of a wonderful vacation my husband and I took to the tropics. The colors you used work so well together.

Mary-Anne V said...

What a lovely card...it is so pretty.

Colleen said...

Kathy,
What a great idea! Your card is beautiful.

Marie said...

Beautiful card, Kathy. Love the window view. Congrats on this lovely new journey.

Melanie Ann MacKenzie said...

What a lovely card Kathy.

Diane said...

Beautiful card...a lovely scene...and have Australia on my "bucket list"...gorgeous!!

Pauline said...

This is just gorgeous Kathy! Love the shaped card base, and your wonderful colouring.

Ravengirl said...

Fabulous Kathy! After I saw your card, I was inspired to get out this set and create with it myself!!

Rozy said...

Beautiful card....love the scene. You did an amazing coloring job!

Christy Bennington said...

Wow. I love the shape of the card itself - really personalizes the look. Thank you!!

Linda Carson said...

Beautiful artwork! Would love to visit Australia! Do you have a funny accent??? lol

Geri said...

Such lovely layers leading to your pretty little window scene!! Sweet card!

Edna Morrisedie said...

I like the looking through the window scene, that's cool!

Sheila in Cyprus said...

I am on an amazing journey around the world and enjoying looking at some amazing masterpieces. This one is another little masterpiece.I can only reiterate what others have said, that I feel like I am sat in your sitting room enjoying an amazing view from your window. A super card and a perfect view!
Love Sheila x

Patti P. said...

The curvy rectangles are one of my fave dies and love the way you have layered them and the way you used the other dies. Such a beautiful scene and so fabulously colored. Just stumbled on this hop and so glad that I did, such wonderful projects and inspiration....plus love world travel,lol.

Anonymous said...

Beautiful card. Love the shape and scene.

Margie F.

Denimo said...

Absolutely gorgeous! I just LOVE your card! Great job!
Hugs, Denise

scrappingnana said...

Gorgeous card. Love your colored scene and the shape of your card.

Kris B said...

Wow! Amazing card. Love the layers and piercing accents. Thanks for sharing!

Debi said...

Beautiful! I love the pierced look.

zehra said...

this is beautiful and peaceful, lvoe it

Moosisk said...

So tropical! Love it! Thanks for the inspiration. :D

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