A New & Talented Designer on our Team!

A few months back, we lost a very talented designer -- Faith Hofrichter -- as she decided to break out on her own and open her own web store. The thought of adding a new face to the team was difficult. We have such a talented and great group of ladies, how do you ever really replace them? Well, it was tough and you can say I took my sweet time! But, after searching far and wide, my eyes landed on one lady's blog and I kept coming back for more! Eventually, we took a leap and asked this fine designer to join us! And guess what? She said YES!

So, without further ado, meet......

When you visit Dawn's blog, My Stamping Thyme, it's like one big dose of "happy!" She loves cheerful colors and often uses fun embellishments that literally make you smile. You should pay her a visit! She also has amazing coloring skills, and that's what drew me in time and time again!

In preparation for her big reveal, we asked her to grab one of her favorite Flourishes sets and make a card. She whipped up this cheery Strawberries creation using a mix of Prismacolor Pencils and Copic markers. Isn't it just darling?

We also asked Dawn to share a few thoughts and a little bit about herself too!

Hello everyone.. I am Dawn Burnworth and I am so excited to be joining this amazing design team. I have admired their work and creativity here at Flourishes.

I have always been a crafty girl.. I grew up in northern Illinois in a large family. I started out sewing one summer with my aunt.. She was such a huge influence in my life. I got so homesick and she was trying to keep my mind busy. I still find that when I am really stressed that a crafty type project eases my mind. She planted a seed in me that has been an important part of who I am.

I have a wonderfully supportive husband that puts up with my crafty "needs" and 5 great kids. I started stamping about 5 years ago. I remember uploading my first card to a challenge and how nervous I was. I have learned so much from all of the amazing talent out there.

I look forward to creating with the rest of the team and I am so happy to be stamping with Flourishes terrific stamps and thank you for this opportunity.

Thanks Dawn! We know it's going to be a fun ride and a blast getting to know you better!

Before we go, we wanted to share a darling card from one of our past DT members, Susan Roberts! She pulled out all the stops to make this footloose and fancy free card just in time for Mardi Gras!!!

Susan's fun-filled card uses Flourishes Mardi Gras set! If you want to know more about this creation, just pay Susan a visit HERE.

Thanks for stopping by everyone! Betty and the gals will be back soon for another Timeless Tuesday Challenge!!

~Julie

Friday Focus - Fancy Folds

Hello Flourishes Friends! It's Christine here today with another Friday Focus. Do you ever have those times when you'd like a really special, or really fun and different card for an Occasion? Today I'm going to show you a couple of Fancily Folded cards that would fit the bill wonderfully.

I call this first card the"Christine Tri-Fold Book". I was playing around with an idea one day and this is what I came up with, I first did this card HERE if you'd like to see another example. Essentially it is a graduated height Tri-Fold that you can do open like an accordian or closed and sealed like a book.

Here is what the finished card looks like...then I'll show you how to get there!

Closed (excuse my finger holding it together :)

And slightly open:

Alright to start with you'll need the following paper sizes cut:

5 1/2" x 12" panel for your base (here in Soft Sky)

a 4 1/4" x 2 3/4" panel to add to this (also in Soft Sky)

Then you'll need smaller panels for each section after you've assembled it as accent pieces to decorate.

I scored the 5 1/2 x 12 panel at 4 1/4, 7 3/4 and 11 1/4. Then I added the extra 4.25 x 2.75 inch panel to that little leftover fold. Adhere with something like Sticky Tape or Scor Tape to hold it firmly together. Below are the pieces adhered together.

Then you want to create your graduated heights. First begin by trimming of the tiny piece above the lowest level. I trim right in the crease right past the fold line, so it will lie flush with the seam and not show any of the scored edge.

Then you want to take that middle layer, the one next to the lowest panel and trim it down about 3/4 of an inch, this way you've created your graduated layers.

Next I did all my "pretty-ing", I created layers for each panel in 1/8" smaller sized pieces, rounded the corners with my corner rounder, and added all my stamped accents. On this card I used the new set Drummer Boy and colored all the instruments and Holly and bows with Copic Markers accenting with a white gel pen.

You have 2 options with this style of card, one you can leave it openable like an accordian as below:

Or you can seal the middle panel shut to be more like a book. Which I did here:

Here are some closeups of the panels:

See how the ribbon disguises the front panel attachement?

And the last panel:

And just for good measure, how about another style of Fancy Fold? This is a Z-Fold done vertically rather than how many of you may have done it in the past - horizontally. This idea is from the very talented Valerie Stangle . She did a tutorial for this style on World Card Making Day link is HERE. (see the first post).

These doves from the beautiful new Dove and Holly set are watercolored and sponged, I just followed all of Val's steps to create a real show-stopper style of card. (I'll have more pics of this one on my blog if you're interested).

Alright...the very talented Design Team girls have also jumped into this challenge of creating Fancy Folds today, so be sure to give them a visit!

Christine Okken (that's me :) !)

Cindy Lawrence has done an Easel Fold Card

Julie Koerber made a fun card in a box with some fancy folds

Latisha Yoast has made a Criss-Cross Fold Card

Leslie Miller has an Accordian Gate Fold
Stacy Morgan has a Wallet Tri-fold to show you.

Copics 101

Hello Flourishes Friends! It's Christine here with you today. It was just 6 months ago that I worked with Copic markers for the first time. Those first few months I wondered what I had gotten myself into! (are any of you there right now?) I found the learning curve so big, and it was so different from watercoloring, that I had to experiment a lot to figure out what worked for me.

So, I'm here today as no expert (by any means!), but as someone who is learning and wants to show you what I've learned so far about coloring with Copic Markers (instructions below each picture). Hopefully this will help you as you are playing with these great markers, and maybe this will help you see it's not so hard after-all!


Here I begin with a nice stamped image, the ruffled Tulip from the Thank You set, stamped with Tuxedo Black ink on our Flourishes Classic White paper. It is the best paper I've found for blending quality. Excellent heavy weight, a beautiful buff-soft surface, and lovely pure white. I've shown you above the two color collections I've used, Crocus and Evergreen. Flourishes really has eliminated one of the hardest steps in Copic coloring - they've made the color range choices for you. You already know what will work together!

I colored each marker shade on the paper to show you the range of color. Evergreen also has one deeper shade included in the Collection, but I didn't use it in this creation.


Here I've colored the entire tulip with the lightest Crocus shade (V01).



Above I've added a 2nd layer of V01 in some of the deeper areas of the flower. Do you see how just that subtle addition of a second layer of color gives you tone on tone shadowing?

Next I've added some depths with the next color in the Crocus Collection V05. I add my shadows or depths into areas of the image that would be appearing to recede. Deeper colors recede, light colors advance. This is also why Flourishes stamps work so well with Copics - our artists have given you great clues about where to add your deeper colors in the stamp. Don't worry about it not looking blended yet.... that's the next step!


Then I come back with the V01 shade and blend the V05 and V01 together. Do you see how the color separation is softer now?

Above I add the V06 shade to deepen smaller parts of those shadowed areas. Then after this picture I did another round of blending between the colors with the V01 (I've really found that your lightest shades are key for blending with Copics).

Above I've added the deepest color (V09) in the smallest but most deeply shadowed areas of the tulip.
And here is the finished tulip bloom after I've blended with the V01 Marker. By this point in the coloring you can also blend with some of the mid-shades too if you prefer. I really like the contrast between light and dark so I use more of the lightest shade.

On to the stem and leaves:

I use the same process with the leaves and stem. I color the entire surface of the leaves and stem with the lightest shade in the Evergreen Collection - YG91.

In the above photo I've added a layer of YG93 and blended it with my YG91. The area is very small but you can see or imagine where the shadows would be under the leaf where sunlight wouldn't get to, tops of leaves would be lighter.

And here it is above with the last touch of YG95 added in the deepest areas and blended with YG91. And above is the final creation!

Many of the Flourishes Design team are experts at Copics, others of us are with you in the learning process so be sure to see these creative girls today to see what they've done with their Copics! Hop on over to see Faith and Julie!

Coming up Wednesday, Cindy Lawrence will be back with Copics 102 featuring another one of our fabulous Copic Collections. You won't want to miss it!

~Christine

A Sweet Love Story!!!

You’ve heard all of us at Flourishes mention Marcella Hawley from time to time. I’d 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 http://www.marcellahawley.com/.

OK, so that’s who Marcy is on a professional level. Some pretty impressive names listed on her resume, but on a personal level, she’s just like the rest of us – a devoted wife and mother who loves her husband and her children – and she’s 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 we’re so pleased to share this fun news with you!!! Thank you, Marcy and Patrick, for your part in Flourishes success!!!!

New Design Team Announced!

What an exciting time this is – the announcement of our newest Design Team!!! And WHAT a team we have!!! We just couldn’t be more thrilled!!! Each of these designers has a unique style all her own, and we are so happy to have them working with us at Flourishes. We are so pleased to introduce them to you.

LESLIE MILLER

Returning as our Senior Design Team Member is Leslie Miller. Leslie has been with Flourishes since the beginning, being a member of the Charter Design Team. You all know and love Leslie’s work. Her ability to color floral images and bring them to life before your eyes is exceeded by none. You can see Leslie’s gorgeous work at her Blog, Running with Scissors. We are just thrilled to pieces that Leslie is returning as our Senior Design Team Member!!! Welcome back, Leslie!!!

“Hello! I'm very happy to have been with Flourishes' Design Team since its beginning and I'm excited about the new stamps, products and the new design team gals I'll be working with in the months to come.

I've got about ten years' stamping behind me and many more wonderful years with this craft ahead of me. I'm an alumni of the Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen Design Team with a gallery at Splitcoaststampers under the username, leslierich. In February 2007 I started my blog, Running With Scissors... which is where I love to share bits and pieces of my stamping passion and possibly offer ideas and encouragement to anyone who stops by. My work has been published in Stamper's Sampler Magazine and as a Stampin' Up! hobby demonstrator I've had the opportunity to introduce several of my friends to stamping, as well.

When I'm not stamping, I spend most of my time at work in a medical laboratory or tending my large ornamental garden -- my other true passion. Family, friends and quiet pursuits bring me the most joy. Just give me a good book, a movie or a walk in the woods and I'm happy. Life has been good to me, I think. Thank you!”

FAITH HOFRICHTER

We are so pleased to welcome Faith Hofrichter to our Design Team. Many of you are very familiar with Faith and her work from her involvement in the daily challenges at Splitcoaststampers, under the username of Markie’s Mom. Faith’s work is synonymous with excitement, life, vibrancy, a little bit of funk and a whole lot of dimension and dots!!! Welcome, Faith!!! You are such a lively addition to our team and we are so pleased to count you among us!!!

“I'm so excited and humbled to have been asked to serve on Flourishes' Design Team. The talent and dedication to the art of stamping here is overwhelming!

I've been stamping for over 20 years. I started as a stamper, graduated into scrapbooking/book making, and then took a turn to quilting/designing. I was wheelchair bound after an accident that kept me from quilting. While watching cable one afternoon, I saw a show called Scrapbooking. I decided that scrapbooking was a "doable" craft for me and ended up purchasing a BUNCH of supplies on the Home Shopping Network! Finally, I found something I could do, that didn't have me standing up to use an iron or crawling around on the floor to layout patterns! I was hooked! Six months later I was published, teaching classes and was a "Scrapbooking Star” for Creating Keepsakes' Scrapbook Conventions. I am no longer in a wheelchair, thanks to many $$$$ in debt, major surgeries, and a FANTASTIC family. Three years later, I became a SU! demo and joined Splitcoaststampers in 2006. I was the Featured Stamper in July 2007 on SCS, and on several different blogs over the past few years. I have a blog, Stampin’ with Markie’s Mom, and update every day.

I am married to my best friend. Mark and I have a his, mine and ours family. Our boys are 22, 22, and 8! Markie is the light of our lives! (Hence my moniker on Splitcoaststampers: Markie's Mom)”

JULIE KOERBER

Stumbling upon Julie Koerber’s Blog, Out to Impress, was a very impressive trip, indeed!!! Julie’s work can be described as clean and crisp, but yet with great attention to detail and a fabulous use of color and composition!!! Julie also throws in a whole lot of *pretty* and her meticulous creations evoke smiles of delight by all who view them. We are so very, very pleased to have you working with us, Julie – Welcome!!!

“Wow! What an honor to be able to design for the four fab Flourishes with all their fantastic stamps and products! It’s going to be a great ride!

You could say I started stamping 8-1/2 years ago by accident when my sister-in-law ended up dragging me to a stamping party. Let’s just say she left me there and I’ve had inky fingers ever since! By day I work from home as the editor of a regional women’s magazine. By night, you’ll find me stamping into the wee hours in my “mom cave!” I feel lucky to have found this awesome hobby and truly cherish all the fun and friendships I have made along the way. Design work has been truly a dream come true for me. I’ve been lucky to get to know a couple of the “Flourishes” a little bit better during this past year! I am on Sharon’s Stamp Simply Team and help design samples for her weekly Friday challenges. Now that Flourishes has the Stamp Simply line coming out – who knows what fun we will cook up together each week! I’ve also gotten to know Nancy a bit because we are both members of the Sisterhood of the Blogging Stampers! When I’m not busy sketching out cards and coming up with new creations, you can find me teaching classes at my local stamp store or posting on Splitcoaststampers (I’m outtoimpress). Of course, you can always look for me at my home in blog land at Out to Impress. I honestly can’t wait to see what Flourishes has in store in the months to come! Thanks ladies!”

SUSAN ROBERTS

Susan’s work is well-known at Splitcoaststampers, having been a recent member of their Dirty Dozen Design Team. Although Susan’s work can often be crisp and clean, she also has a distinct vintage flair with a bent towards stately, rich, elegant creations. We are so anxious to see Susan’s creations with the Flourishes images and we welcome her warmly to our Design Team – Welcome, Susan!!!

“A few weeks ago I received a wonderful surprise email from Sharon Johnson, the newest Flourish, asking me to be on the Flourishes' Design Team! I couldn't type my "Yes!" fast enough! (Sorry if I scared you with my quick and enthusiastic response, Sharon!) I am so excited and looking so forward to the next six months!

I began my addiction to stamping about three years ago when a friend invited me to a card making workshop at someone's home. I soon decided that it should have been called a "playshop" since I haven't stopped playing or shopping since! This same friend introduced me to Splitcoaststampers (SCS) where I began to participate in the daily challenges under the username of rainy. Oh how I love a challenge.

Then last year I was asked to be a part of the Dirty Dozen Design Team on SCS for the six months of July-December. Let's talk about a challenge! Soon after completing this adventure, I decided to join the blogging world, where I Blog under the name of Rainy Day Creations. Beate Johns, blogger extraordinaire, was starting a Tuesday "Be Inspired" challenge on her blog. She asked me to be on her team of weekly sample makers. She also asked me to become a Product Reviewer for a new feature in the Weekly Inkling on SCS. How fun is that!

I feel so honored to have been asked to design for Flourishes. Thank you, Flourishes! Let the playshops continue!”

LINDA DUKE

Pretty!!! That pretty well sums it up! Everything Linda does ends up being so, so pretty!!! With just a simple stamp, paper and scissors, Linda turns out THE most fabulous creations. Whether they be cards or some of her highly detailed 3-D creations, Linda has the ability to turn the plain and ordinary into extraordinary objects of art!!! We are so pleased to call Linda one of our newest Design Team Members!!! Welcome, Linda!!!

“As a child, I always had a pencil and paper in my hands and doodled whenever I could. My father was a very talented artist and was my first teacher. I would sit and watch him make beautiful creations of landscapes, objects around the house, or anything that caught his eye. I would then try to duplicate what he had done. In school, art was always my favorite subject and I decided at a young age I wanted to study the art of animation. While in college, I majored in art and was well on my way when my life took a different turn.

Because my husband was in the military, we transferred to Europe and stayed there for three years. While there, I was fortunate enough to find a local artist that saw I enjoyed art, and she taught me how to cast and paint ceramics. I learned a great deal about texture, color and how to appreciate and accept different types of art. When I returned to the United States, I then became a Certified Instructor for Duncan Enterprises and taught ceramic art for many years. I then branched out and joined the National Society of Decorative Painters and took Tole Painting from many top instructors around the country and enjoyed this area of art as well.

Fourteen years ago, a good friend of mine asked me to attend a Stampin’ Up Party with her. I laughed at how excited she was about this new “art” form, because at the time I was thinking this wasn’t art. It was just stamping ink on paper and coloring it in. It didn’t sound creative at all! Well, needless to say I was wrong and have been stamping ever since. In fact, it is the only art I am interested in doing and I have put all my other mediums aside.

I discovered Splitcoaststampers.com in 2004 and have never left. My work there is under the name of Linda D, and I also showcase my work on my Blog, Linda’s Works of Heart. I have loved being involved in such a great stamping community and my ability has improved tremendously through the talented artists that share their work so willingly. In April 2007, I was invited to become part of the Splitcoaststampers Design team, a.k.a the Dirty Dozen, for six months and truly loved being a part of this elite team and sharing the experience with a wonderful group of ladies.”