The Grande Finale

Well, today marks my last day as Limelight designer for Flourishes. Today I am going to show you how I color with Copics. When I started to write it out I realized just how many steps I do to get my results. It looks like a lot, but it happens really fast-so don't be intimidated! I have chosen another beautiful botanical, Roses, from stamp set A Year in Flowers 2. Okay, here we go!

Here is my color palette. The unmarked green marker is YG03 and the unmarked white cap is a custom color I created using YG03 and colorless blender to get a green to use for a base color.

After stamping my image on Flourishes Classic White Card Stock in Memento Tuxedo Black ink, I colored all of the flowers with my base color R0000. Just small circular motions coloring the entire flower with an even layer. Get that paper wet! If you are using a good card stock you can get the paper good and wet with the markers, so it shows through the back, and not worry about ruining it. Of course if you really soak it you run the risk of the stamped lines bleeding. Practice on some scraps so you know you have the right consistency.

The first shading color I add is R81. I color almost the entire petal leaving just the edge with the R0000 showing. You can see the subtle shading here. Don't forget to chose your light direction. I chose to have my light source coming from the front, therefore highlights will hit the centers and top edges of the petals.

Moving on to the next darker shade, I use R83 coloring each petal from the bottom to just below where I ended with the last color. Here I colored only the top full rose and rose bud so you could see the difference where the new color was added.

Following the same strategy as in with the first two colors add the next darker shade R85. I again add this from the bottom of each petal moving up to just below the previous color layer. If you look close you can see four color layers: R0000 base, R81, R83, R85. Can you see it?!!

Now....take that R0000, your base color, and in small circular motions blend the entire flower. This will soften all of the lines and make them blend together nicely. This is where you realize that if you haven't used a good quality card stock, such as I have used here, that your paper may start to pill or your lines will bleed. It will look like the image below.

I like to really deepen the shadows, which brings out the light even more in the flowers. Here I used R89 in all of the shadows. It's a very strong color and you have to be very careful adding it or you run the risk of putting down too much and you can't take it away...

I use just the very tip of the marker and with a very light touch just dab the darker color where I want it. With these gorgeous images placing the shading is made easier as it's indicated on the image where all of the dark lines are. Where the most lines are is where you will place the darkest colors, like in between the two large flowers. Adding that dark color really adds to the drama and make the image pop!

Okay, lets blend one more time. This time I use R83 which was my mid range pink and go over the petals in circular motions to blend the darkest color in, but not going all the way to the end as I don't want to lose my highlights. I am just blending the R83, R85, and R89 together.

And for the very last time I use R0000 to go over the entire flower blending in small circular motions to bring everything together and smooth out any rough edges.

I do the leaves exactly the same way as I did the flowers. I use 3 greens. The first layer is a custom blend I made using YG03 + Colorless blender in a 3 to 1 ratio. I use this to base the leaves. I then add YG03 around the outer edges leaving the centers with just the base color. Next I used YG17 to add deeper shading around the outside, but not covering up all of the YG03 I laid down in the previous step. Lastly I use the base color to go over the entire leaf blending all three shades together.

And here is my finished card. I've used this gorgeous silk ribbon from Flourishes, Basic Grey paper from the Sugared collection, and Prism card stock for matting and a card base.

I hope you've enjoyed this tutorial and my time here in the Limelight. I have had a wonderful time and great experience and I appreciate every wonderful comment that I have received! Thank you so much for visiting me here! Have a wonderful weekend!

Copic Extras!

You have all those delicious Copic Collections in the container, now how about learning some new ways to use them?

Hi it's Christine here with you today.  I thought it would be fun to give you some new ideas for how to use your Copics today.  Some you may have seen, and some that might be new to you.  I'll be showing you 4 different techniques with Copics today so hang on....it's a long post :)

The Colorless Blender Pen

This is one fantastic little essential in EVERY Copic owners Collection.  When I look at it - it's really not a blending tool, per say...but more-so a color remover.  And when you think of it that way, it has SO many applications.  You probably all know that it can remove ink you've "spread too far over the edges", but it can also add details into your design where you want them.

Below is a cute little purse image from the Think Pink - Fight Like a Girl set.  It's a good example for this technique because it has some open space.  I colored it with the Tea Rose Copic Collection from the store on our Flourishes Classic White paper - specifically designed for use with Copics. 

Then all you need to do use use your blender pen (in this case with the smaller tip, we have two styles in the store) and go over the spaces in your colored image that you want to lighten or make white.  So you can see I added polka-dots to my purse.  I ended up making the dots by dotting down my pen several times on each dot to get the lightness/whiteness I desired.  You could make stripes, plaid, dots, or squiggles - anything your heart desires just with your blender pen!

And here's the final creation, I also used the Scalloped Squares Nestabilities, Octagonal Nestabilities and the Fancy Scalloped Pierceabilities for the edging on the Basic Grey Lemonade designer paper.

Copic Pointillism

When I was in High School we learned a technique with a fine point black marker called Pointillism.  You create depth, light and shadow in your design by making fine even dots with your black pen.  That same technique can be applied to copic markers with a light hand as well, and the way Flourishes sells the Collections in the store is just perfect for this technique.  I started with the Spring Greens Collection and the very fun tree and swing in the Swing Set .  Initially you add dots randomly to the design in areas that you want the lightest colors to show.  I work from lightest to darkest.   Remember light advances, dark receeds.

Then I add the next color in the collection in the areas I want to see more depth or shadow.  You have to imagine a tree and how the leaves look from a distance, almost like large round or ovals balls on the tree. 

Here below I've added the darkest color dots in the deepest areas.

And here it is after I've gone back and added some more YG00 for  a softer look. 

And below the final card, on it I used Silk Ribbon from the Flourishes store, as well as Pinking Edge Nestabilities.

Dirty Rag

No I didn't name this technique myself :)  But it is a technique where you will need an old rag that has some texture that you don't mind getting dirty.

First I colored this t-shirt from Think Pink - Fight Like a Girl with the Hollyhock Collection.  I knew I would be cutting it out for my design so I added lots of color and let it bleed out of the lines. 

Then I used these supplies below: blending solution (essentially what you would use to refill your blender pen - I got it at my Copic Certification course, but I know retailers sell it) and my rag.  I chose an old washcloth because of the texture, so whatever type of rag you use will give you a different effect. 

What you want to do then is dampen a corner of the rag with blending solution and then dab lightly over your colored image.  The blending solution will "remove" color from your image in the texture pattern on the rag.  I did this several times to get the effect I wanted.  It is very subtle but adds the feeling of texture, or in this case almost the feeling of a tie-dyed shirt.

And here's the card I also used Basic Grey 1/2 Pearls from the Flourishes store

And lastly:

Adding Pattern with Stamps

In this technique you use a similar idea to what I just showed you in the Dirty Rag technique, but you implement it with rubber stamps.  I'll be creating a crushed patterned velvet look.  Here's how it works. I've colored this gorgeous chair from the set Chairs to You with the Azure Collection.  ONLY color in those areas that you want pattern first.  Leave the rest uncolored. 

Next you will need Blender Solution, a sponge (this one was just stained - not dirty - you need it to be clean), and a RUBBER stamp background, here is an old SU - Paisley Background

Make sure that your background is very clean when you do this technique, I didn't recheck my background and you'll see what happened below.  Add some blending solution lightly to the sponge to make it damp - not wet, and then dab the solution on the background stamp in an area large enough to cover your colored area, it need to be damp - not drippy on the background stamp.  Place the background stamp over top of your image and press - just as if you were stamping.  Lift and voila.....you have the look of crushed velvet.  You can see in the background that because I didn't clean my background stamp well enough it also stamped on the white.  So I had to do some creative cutting to make it work.  So - learn from my mistakes - clean your stamp well :)  But you know that mistakes are opportunities for embellishment right?  :)

Now - I know all of you are going to ask me a question, can I get this effect with acrylic stamps?  The answer - I'm not sure.  Because Blender Solution is alcohol based I'd be concerned with what it would do to my polymer stamps....and I'm not willing to sacrifice one to try!  So, if you're brave enough let me know! 

And here's the card.

So...four new techniques with Copics to try!  I hope you have fun experimenting with these techniques. 

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.

Strawberries with Copics

Hi again! It's me, Asela, I'm so excited to be back to share with you another card I created this time using Flourishes gorgeous set "Strawberries". Oh my! The illustrations in this set are to die for. I love to color. And one of my favorite mediums to use are Copic markers.

They are so versatile. I can get beautiful looks from them or just use the colors without blending for really cool modern looks.

I used Copic Markers RV10, RV14, RV29, YG03, YG63, BG96 and a white gel pen. I love Flourishes Classic White card stock. It really works great with the copic markers and blending technique.

I began to color the image using RV10 for the strawberries and YG03

the leaves and smaller strawberries. I have to tell you that we were stationed in Southern California for 4 years and when ever I would drive to the base I would have to go right through fields and fields of strawberries. The aroma was wonderful. And the strawberries there were the best I have ever had!

Next I begin to add the darker colors in the leaves and the fruit. If you've ever seen strawberries in the fields you would notice that the smaller fruits were really green and even the larger ones aren't fully red. It's not until later on that they turn that beautiful deep red that we associate

with them. I used YG63 on the leaves and RV14 for the fruit.

I start to blend my colors together using the lighter markers RV10 and YG03 over top of the darker colors. Notice that I've added a bit of YG03 to the center of the fruit. When you are blending RV10 over top of RV14 it can really wash out the color. So, you will want to take the tip of your RV10 and touch it to the tip of RV14 and then apply the RV10 to the areas where the darker colors meet the light colors. This will help the two areas blend without having the lighter marker completely remove the darker areas color.

When you are finished blending the reds add white gel pen to the seeds. (I added just a touch of RV10 to the center of the white flowers.)

For greater contrast I also added RV29 around the outer edges of the strawberries and BG96 on the inner parts of the leaves. Using my medium tone markers to blend.

Stamp the single image of the strawberry and color it in using RV10 and YG03. Follow along with the strawberry images so you can get a better look at how the colors blend so nicely together to achieve an almost watercolored look. Remember, if you work while the area is still saturate with ink the colors will bleed into each other easier and you will have that really soft look that you get when you watercolor with a brush. If you apply your markers and then later try to blend

the areas later on, it will work, but it doesn't blend as easily.

Add RV14, YG63 and blend using YG03 and RV10. You keep blending over the same areas until you get the desired look. Copics don't make the paper pill, that is, it doesn't damage the fibers like water based products do. So don't worry. Blend away! (Caution: Stay away from the edges of the image if you are applying lots of ink because the fibers of the paper can

soak the ink past the stamped black lines.)

Add white gel pen to the seeds. And cut out the strawberry.

I cut the piece of paper that the strawberries were stamped and colored on to fit the front of my card front. Take a ruler and measure the center of the panel, on the back of the paper draw a line vertically dividing the paper in half. Divide the paper in thirds horizontally and draw 2 lines. (If the paper size doesn't divide evenly make sure that the top third and bottom third are the same size - center can be the odd man out!) Use an exacto knife to cut apart the squares. Sponge the edges of the squares using a light brown ink pad. Add to the front of

your card using dimensional tape. Adhere the single strawberry to the front of the squares using dimensional tape.

I've included a PDF page for you to print out as reference.

Download Strawberries Tutorial Flourishes

Limelight Week 2 with Makiko -- Making Own DP with DP

Hello everyone~ It's Makiko again Welcome to my second week of being in the Limelight!

For today's card, I stamped on some designer paper to make my own designer paper. To give it more texture, I also made it corrugated - after I dusted off my paper crimper, lol. I think one of the great things about stamping is that you can design own backgrounds. I do this a lot, even when I even use designer papers to make a card more my style. ;) Stamping on designer paper is so fun because the patterns peek through from behind the stamped image and gives it a unique design.


This is how I made the corrugated background.
I usually choose the subtle color dp when I stamp on it so that the images can be seen or blend in well. For this blue & white polka dots paper, I stamped the images from Seaside Life with black ink.


Next, I colored the images with Copics - the Warm Naturals collection & the Fresh Tone collection.


Last, I inserted the finished paper through the paper crimper and trimmed the mat to the finished size. Then I edged and DTPed the piece of paper with brown chalk ink & white pigment ink for a distressed finish.



The main seashell images were stamped on Flourishes Classic White cardstock and colored with Copics with the same collections that were used for the background. I also edged around the layers and used vintage embellishments to match to the distressed look.

The last image is the inside of the card. The left over mat was used for the border here :)

Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you will have a wonderful week and a fun stamping time!