Trendy Tuesday – Flourishes

Trendy Tuesday – Flourishes
By Colleen Harshaw

Hello my fellow paper crafters!  Today I have a fun topic to share with you…..flourishes!  So many times I have admired the work of other crafters who could doodle on their scrapbook pages, all the while making them look cute, trendy, balanced and pleasing to the eye.  I have always envied those people!  It always seemed that when I tried to doodle, it would end up looking squashed, lopsided and messy.  Well, I think of the flourish as an embellishment for the ‘non-doodling’ segment of the crafting population….like me!

Flourishes can be found as ready made embellishments, dies for die cutting machines, designs on paper (that you can fussy cut if you choose!), and in the form of stamps.  Flourishes are abundantly found on the market right now.

As usual, I have found some beautiful samples to share with you to inspire your creative side!  There is so much to be found out there on the web, I can’t imagine what crafters did before its invention!

This first sample is a card with a very large flourish that was created using a die cut from MFT stamps.  I think due to the size of this die cut, it would also be great on a 12×12 scrapbook layout!

Card by Karen Giron for MFT Stamps
Photo courtesy of mftstamps.com

This next sample uses something I have in my very own scraproom….a blingy flourish!  I have never used mine because I was a bit intimidated by it.  Have you ever had one of those products…you love it when you see it used on other’s work, but you just don’t quite know how to go about using it yourself?  I feel that way about large bling elements.  Barbara has done a great job of using her blingy flourish here on this sample.  Maybe I can use her sample as inspiration…..

Card by Barbara Anders for MFT Stamps
Photo courtesy of mftstamps.com

This next sample uses a nice little flourish….much less intimidating for me!  I could handle this cute little flourish, even if it was blingy!

Card by Bridget Finlay
Photo courtesy of splitcoaststampers.com

Moving away from the card samples, I have a beautiful three dimensional project to share with you.  This Christmas wreath incorporates die cut flourishes in the most beautiful way!  This is the reason I love writing these articles for the Paper Crafter’s Library….I learn something new every time I research a topic.  I never would have thought of this creative use of flourishes!

Wreath by Julie Dinn
Photo courtesy of splitcoaststampers.com

Julie also created this decorative Christmas flower pot to go along with her wreath, above.

Project by Julie Dinn
Photo courtesy of splitcoaststampers.com

Next I have a scrapbook page to share with you.  This is where I am in my element!  I am a scrapbooker first, and I came to stamping and card making later.  I love browsing the layouts of others in order to get inspired!

Scrapbook page by Cindy Lawrence
Photo courtesy of splitcoaststampers.com

Here is another way to use flourishes.  So many of us celebrate the holidays with the exchange of gifts, that tags always come in handy!

Project by Jessie Knightrone
Photo courtesy of splitcoaststampers.com

This layout contains a flourish above the main image, while the subtle pattern on the background paper has a flourish-like appeal to it too.  It is a simple but beautiful layout!

Scrapbook page by Diane Malcor
Photo courtesy of splitcoaststampers.com

I really love this last layout!  The colours really appeal to me, as well as the balance of embellishments.  The grouping of flowers in the bottom left balances the large title, and the flourish is perfectly placed!

Layout by Danielle Lo
Photo courtesy of pinterest.com

Now, where can you buy some of these lovely tools for making your very own embellishment flourishes, you ask?  MFT Stamps has a selection of dies for those of you with die cutting machines.  They have Fancy Flourish Dies in three different sizes, seen in the photo below.

Fancy Flourish Die Trio from MFT Stamps
Photo courtesy of mftstamps.com

They also offer Framing Flourish Dies in two sizes.  These are ideal for framing your photos on scrapbook layouts.

 

Framing Flourishes Die Set from MFT Stamps
Photo courtesy of mftstamps.com

Lastly, they offer three different sized Leafy Flourish Dies. 

Leafy Flourishes Die Set from MFT Stamps
Photo courtesy of mftstamps.com

Next I would like to show you a Sissix Bigz Die by Tim Holtz.  I like that this set offers a longer flourish die along with a more rounded flourish option.  This set also strikes me as a bit more masculine because it has fewer ‘curly cues’.

Tim Holtz Alterations by Sissix – Elegant Flourishes Bigz Die
Photo by rangerink.com

Although I don’t have a picture to share with you for this next product, there is a SingleKutz Die available for the Quickutz Revolution in a flourish as well.

Next I have a stamp set to share with you.  I love how this set of journaling block stamps from Basic Grey incorporates flourishes as part of the borders.

Basic Grey Acrylic Stamp Set – Journal Flourish
Photo courtesy of scrapbookingaddiction.com.au

Now, on to the paper!  Paper is my little addiction.  I tend to hoard it.  It just seems too pretty to cut into sometimes.  I know there are a lot of you out there who can sympathize with my plight!

This is a paper stack from Paper Studio that contains several papers with flourish patterns.  The colours look amazing too.  This is my favourite palette!

Flourish Fusion 12×12 Scrapbooking Paper Pad  by Paper Studio
Photo courtesy of butterflyscrapbooking.com

I wanted to give you a digital paper sample to ponder too.  This one is from a site called VanDenBerge Design.  It contains beautiful neutral colours and floral and flourish design elements.

Natural Flourish Digital Paper Collection – 10 papers
Photo courtesy of vandenbergedesign.wordpress.com

That brings us to our conclusion.  I hope these project samples and product suggestions have given you some inspiration.  That is really the purpose of these articles…to inspire you to have fun being creative! 

Until next time…..