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!

Ready for Spring

Wow, the snow has been crazy here on Long Island and now that it's starting to melt it's all a huge mess! I am so ready for the spring-which is was inspired this set that I created for this weeks Limelight design.


I started by altering a plain lined notebook with a piece of paper from Imaginisce. I used some luscious purple silk ribbon which matched wonderfully with the purple Prism cardstock I used to mat all of my images. The images are all from the set Sweet Violets. I used the larger image for both the center of the journal and the bookmark and the smaller image for the plant marker. All are stamped on Flourishes white card stock and colored with Copic markers. On both larger images I used a touch of purple and green Stickels for a tiny bit of sparkle and depth and shaded around the images with Prismacolor pencils and odorless mineral spirits. They were all cut out using Nestabilities dies and inked around the edges with Distress Ink in Antique Linen.


Here is a close up of the front cover. The dp has a faded script design running across it giving it an aged feel. I stamped and cutout an additional leaf and used it and buttons to adorn a computer generate label I made for the journal. You can also see some of the sparkle at this angle.


This is the plant marker I created. I used a craft stick that I stamped violets onto. I knew that bag of craft sticks would come in handy some day! I'd better start making more markers...


And finally I created a bookmark to keep my place in my journal just in case my dirty fingerprints don't show me the way ;) Again I used that luxurious silk ribbon! Ooh, I love this stuff! It makes the most stunning bows too!

Grouped together this makes a wonderful gift set...and I have a wonderful neighbor this would be perfect for, unless of course I keep it for myself, lol! Have a great weekend!

I'm in distress

That's distress mode...one of my favorite styles! Today I am going to show you a messy and fun technique that I haven't done in a long time, but it was so much fun that I can't wait to do it again! I have used Sweet Peas and chosen the smaller image from the set. This way it was easier to color up 3 samples quickly and I wouldn't feel so bad if I ruined one...and I did *blush*

So here we have Distress Ink in Tea Dye, a re-inker and a pad, and a Mini Mister filled with water. I also use a disposable rectangle aluminum pan.


First I stamped my image with Memento Tuxedo Black dye ink (waterproof!) on Flourishes Classic White Card Stock and colored with Copic markers.


Next I crumpled it up! Yes, I said I crumpled it up. Go ahead...you can do it! Done? Not so bad, right? Scary yes, but it felt kinda good...I know it did.



Now pull out that pan I mentioned and place the image in the center and give it a good misting with water. And I mean good. I don't want your paper to be completely limp and fall apart, but you want the water to start soaking in so that the next step will flow easily. You can kind of see that there are tiny puddles in the folds of my paper.



Okay, put the image aside just for a minute while you add a couple of drops of ink to the pan. Now mist those drops really well and swirl the pan around until you see blobs of diluted color like in the picture below.

This is a small image I am using. I have been known to add lots more ink and water, mixing colors, and really soaking my image. Even dropping the ink directly onto the paper and letting it run. That's really messy-but the results are gorgeous!


Okay, now if you thought crumpling was scary just see what you have to do now! Take the image and smoosh it face down into the ink puddles. Yes, smoosh and swirl, and keep picking it up and turning it over to make sure you have sufficient ink coverage. You might like the whole thing covered or just some of the image. I like to cover the whole thing! Add more ink if necessary until you like the results.



Now you just need to let the image dry. Or if you are like me and impatient, then you can hit it with the heat gun. I usually do that and then re-ink if I want to deepen the color. This is what it looks like dry.



Okay, just one more scary step, I promise! I slightly crumple the image again, it will fold in all the same creases originally created, and then I lightly swipe the ink pad over the top just highlighting the folds.



Now you are ready to use your image on a card or project. This is what mine looks like all finished.



This is really fun and the result are never the same twice! Give it a try!

Simple Sunday

I am very honored to be this month's Limelight Designer. What a flattering request to receive from Julie! I tend to create a simple card without too many embellishments. I like clean uncluttered images that really stand out. A simple ribbon and bow or a button and some twine and I am satisfied. I love how some people can combine elements and create wonderful texture and dimension with embellishments, but even when I emulate that and like the results, I always tend to go back to my more simple creations.

This week I am sharing a very simple technique. I created this card using these lovely daffodils from A Year in Flowers Calendar Set 1.

Here I've used a paper tole or paper piecing technique as you might call this...although I believe the difference would be that in paper tole you are raising the pieced parts of your image creating a 3-D effect, where with paper piecing you might just be adhering one layer over another with out any depth. I stamped one main image and colored it with Copic Markers. I then stamped two additional images on the same white paper and colored the middle and center layer on one and on the other just the very center of the flower. I cut out the second middle flower image and layered it over the main image with one layer of foam adhesive raising it up above the main. Then I cut out just the center of the third stamped flower and layered that on top of the middle with an additional layer of foam adhesive. Now it stands up once above the middle layer and two times the height of the main image.



This is a very simple technique, sometimes with a bit of fussy cutting depending on your images, but the results can very dramatic! Look at how much depth and character have been created on this simple image just by raising small parts the flower and adding a hint of sparkle. I've done only one layer of image raising (two of the front flowers) on the card below, but I also trimmed the main image panel leaving parts of the flowers extending outside of the frame. This is another simple thing to do and creates a great impact!


This can be done with almost any image and will really make your images stand out so go ahead and give it a try if you've never done it or maybe revisit a technique you've long neglected!

I hope you enjoy your Sunday!

~Danielle

In the Limelight for February!

With a new month comes a brand new face here on the Flourishes Newsletter that we are putting in the 'Limelight!' During the month of February, we are very lucky to welcome a talented designer who has an amazing hand when it comes to adding color to her creations. She is a whiz with Copics and she promises that during the month, she'll be giving us some tips and tricks.

So, without further ado, let's give a warm welcome to.....

If you click on over to Danielle's blog, Wild Dragonfly Designs, you'll see the beautiful color combos, the fabulous layouts and the overall classy design! I had to share some of her Flourishes creations. I think they are absolutely gorgeous!

I love how the gerber daisies above spill out over the mat -- just lovely!

In order to "introduce" Danielle, I asked her to share a few words about herself so you could get to know the designer you'll be spending Sundays with this February!

I am a native Long Islander (New York) and along with my husband raising our two crazy boys, a sweet kitty, and a rambunctious puppy! I am a passionate photographer and nature enthusiast. My family and I love to hike and explore. I have always loved all kinds of arts and crafts and have been stamping seriously about 6 years. I absolutely love to color! Copic markers being my most used medium these days, but not neglecting my colored pencils or watercolors! It’s been an incredible experience to find blogging and be able to share my work with others and to be able to experience the wonderful art, knowledge, and friendship that I have gained over the years. It’s an endless supply of inspiration and joy!

I'm sure we can all agree about the inspiration and joy card making brings! We are so looking forward to seeing Danielle share a bit of her work and style and we hope you'll join her right back here tomorrow!

Where Do You Get Your Inspiration?

I am thrilled to be the first Flourishes Limelight Designer for the start of 2010!
I am especially excited to also get back in the stamping "saddle" again. As many of you know I have been on somewhat of a haitus since November. When Julie asked me about the Limelight, I knew that it would be the perfect opportunity to jump back into something I love!

Today I want to share with you briefly about where I get my inspiration for my projects. I tend to use nature and the color found there, as I am sure many of you also do, for the starting point for my cards. Take for example, the card I have made using Seaside Life:


It is rich with deep blues and greens of the ocean, and after a week of sub-zero temperatures, I am dreaming of the time when I can bask in the sunshine and warmth of the Atlantic Ocean again! The somewhat darker colors reflect the current winter season, but with the hope that someday my thermometer will rise above 10 degrees!

One other inspired project to show you today comes from a painting in my living room - also a nature theme, with beautiful color and design. Here is the painting:


and here is the inspired card using the Poppy Patch set:

Both of the cards are watercolored using reinkers and an aqua brush.

I am also inspired by other stampers and their work. You have a wonderful opportunity to browse through the Flourishes Blog and take a look at all of the beautiful creations by so many fabulous designers! Where do you get your inspiration?

I hope to see you back here next Sunday, when I will be sharing with you again. Thank you for stopping by and for all of your wonderful comments on my introduction last week!

In the Limelight!

With a new month and a new year, comes the promise of a whole new array of talented designers to grace the pages of the Flourishes Newsletter in the 'Limelight.' December we were very lucky to have the ever-so-talented Yvonne Hagane here with us. She wowed us with her use of Spellbinders and taught us all a thing or two about color. Thanks Yvonne!

This month, we have a bright and sparkly person that I've been watching create ever since I started this little thing I call blogging! She is as sweet as can be and is equally as talented! Let's give a warm welcome to............

Judy is one of those people that you feel like you've known forever just because of her warm personality. You might know her as 'Joy in a JAR' or have seen her work on Splitcoast. What I love about Judy's work is her wonderful balance in all of her card layouts. She's not predictable and because of it, her cards always have that unique look to them with a beautiful mix of embellishments, texture and flair!

See what I mean? Here are a few of my favorite Flourishes creations! This card made with the Nasturtiums set just screams class and style!

I love the colors Judy used for this Patriotism on Parade card. Not your typical red, white and blue and because of it, this card bursts with creativity....

And, my last favorite is this beauty that Judy created with the Poppy Patch set. The color is to die for and again, isn't this layout fabulous?
Judy will take center stage starting next Sunday, January 9th! To get ready for the big day, I asked her to share a little bit about herself!

My name is Judith Rozema and I live in Central Nebraska with my husband of 27 years, my high school junior daughter, 2 dogs, and a water turtle. I also have a son, who is a college senior and attends school as a Jazz Trumpet major in North Carolina. I teach elementary music part-time, and spend the rest of my time stamping and directing musicals at the community theater.

Currently I design for Hambo Stamps and Rubber Stamp Tapestry I am one of five rotating hostesses for the Splitcoaststampers Friday Limited Supplies Challenge.

I was simply thrilled when Julie contacted me about being the Limelight Designer for January. I love this company and the creative team behind it! Thank you so much for this opportunity!

Well Judy, I am thinking the honor and pleasure is all ours! Check back next Sunday for Judy's debut!

~Julie

A Christmas gift

Happy Sunday, and happy holidays! Have you finished all your Christmas shopping yet? How about a homemade gift?

I've made a small set of cards for todays post, and It's wrapped up too:) We still have a few days until christmas, so why not create something special for someone you care about?

I used one of my all time favorite Flourishes sets, the Poinsetta and Boxwood for my gift.

I made a simple gift box from cardstock, and created an acetate window, to give the recipient a "sneak peek" at the contents...


I decorated the box with elegant Satin Ribbon and Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Pendants die cuts.


A close-up of the window. The poinsetta was colored with Le Plume Markers and cut out.


Inside the box.... You`ll find several of the dies used in the Flourishes store.


The set of cards...








...so now I just want to wish all of you a MERRY CHRISTMAS!! And thank you so much to the Flourishes Ladies for having me here in the Limelight, I so enjoyed it! ...And thank you to everyone who has visited me here and at my blog!! I'm wishing you all a happy, creative new year too!

Easter Blessings!

Hi! It`s me, Yvonne. I hope you`re all having a wonderful Sunday!
Christmas is not here just yet, but I`m already preparing for Easter...

This week I`m sharing a card using the beautiful Easter Blessings set.



I also thought I`d share a little tutorial on how I use the Distress Inks to color my images. I know that most of you use Copics these days, but I still hold on to my Inks:)


These are my supplies. I use an aqua brush to pick up the color from the palette. You can use both reinkers and pads.


Starting to color the cross with Antique Linen.


Using Vintage Photo to color up the darker parts of the cross. These are the two steps I usually do - a lighter color first, and a darker color for the shaded areas.


Shabby Shutters for the leaves. I've used a stamp pad here. Pick up the color from an acrylic block or directly from the pad.


I like my leaves a little more vibrant, so I'm adding color from a marker. Picking up the color just like I did with the stamp pad.


Then I add some Peeled Paint for the shading on the leaves.


For the flowers I`m using Fired Brick. Starting where I want the darkest color...


...pulling the color towards the middle.


Repeat on all the flowers. One of the things I love about watercoloring is that you can add more color at any time - even after drying.


To create a luminous effect, I added some yellow color from a marker around the cross. I also added some yellow to the flowers for a warmer color.


For this card I stamped, colored and cut out two of the flowers a second time, and added them using dimensionals. I also used a white gel pen for highlights and added pearls.

I hope this inspired you to pull out whatever coloring medium you like to use, and have some fun!

See you back here next Sunday!