May 21 2009
Flourishes Friday Focus: Piercing
Flourishes is focusing on piercing today. So where is the piercing, you wonder? No, your eyes do not deceive you…there is no piercing on my card. I got involved in the design of this card and left no room for piercing. I didn’t want to add it “just because”, so here it is…sans piercing.
You’ll find piercing galore, however, on the Flourishes Newsletter as Christine shares her ideas for incorporating piercing into a card’s design. She’ll show you everything I certainly didn’t know about using Spellbinders Piercabilities. Treat your eyes to some “pretty” and visit her there, and then hop on over to the other designers who are sharing their pierced creations as well: Cindy, Faith, Julie, Laura, and Stacy.
I’ve made a birthday card today, and as you may have guessed, it’s for someone who likes purple, glitter, flowers, and fancy. I jumped at the chance to use my pretty Sweet Violets again, which covered the purple, flowers and fancy. All I had to do was add the glitter… and some scallops, ribbon, pearls, fancy corners and luscious designer paper. The border punch is by Martha Stewart, and the corner punch is something really old by Family Treasures, probably no longer sold except, perhaps on eBay. The Sweet Violets, Euphoria designer paper, watercolor paper, pearls and Quickie Glue Pen for applying the glitter are all from Flourishes.
The violets are colored with Prismacolor markers. I just love how they blend on this paper with no bleeding outside the lines. Copics would work the same, I imagine. After I finished the marker coloring, I watercolored some soft amethyst shading around the image. The watercoloring works great in conjunction with the alcohol-based markers because water will not cause the alcohol inks to bleed.
Why, then, did I not simply watercolor the whole image? I guess the answer is…just because it was fun – reason enough, since I so love to color. But, also, there’s a subtle difference in the outcome of the coloring. It looks watercolored, but the blending is very smooth and some may find it easier to control. There must be a reason why so many folks prefer Copics or Prismacolor markers over watercolors. The only thing about my use of Prismacolor markers that dismays me is my inability to achieve that soft shading (glow, aura, halo) around the image. For the time being, this method is working for me, but I’ll continue to figure on a way to do a soft glow with the markers. I have an idea I’d like to try, and if it pans out I’ll be sure and let you know.
Leaf colors: Green Tea, Dark Olive Flower colors: Violet Mist, Violet
I also made liberal use of the colorless blender to create highlights and soften edges.
I don’t know at what point one becomes an expert with alcohol markers. I keep learning and trying new things, and maybe some of it will be useful to the folks who are learning right along with me. Take care, and have a happy Memorial Day weekend!
Stamps: Sweet Violets Paper: Pink Pirouette, Almost Amethyst, watercolor, BasicGrey Euphoria designer paper Ink: Palette Umber, Almost Amethyst, Prismacolor markers (colors listed above) Accessories: SU! ribbon, Kaiser flat-backed pearls, Martha Stewart border punch, old Family Treasures corner punch, Quickie Glue Pen, fine glitter, Scotch brand foam mounting tape
Breathtaking. My gracious - this is a wonderful work of art!
Woweeeee!!! This is drop-dead GORGEOUS, Leslie! Your coloring is phenomenal as ALWAYS!
Thank you for sharing… this card is gorgeous and yes, I always learn from your blogposts!! I just made a card of my own with this stamp, but you have given me renewed ideas on what else to do with the image. I love how you tucked the ribbon behind the different layers and the glitter on the embossing line adds just the right amount of sparkle! And always of course, I devour your coloring techniques so that I can try it out myself. Thanks for all of the lessons!
Love that violet stamp and your coloring is so pretty. Like the punch work and the pretty dp.
This card is gorgeous! I love your coloring techniques and your card recipes, you have everything put together so beautifully. I hope you have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend.
This is so pretty! Your coloring stuns! I love those violets…hope mine come soon! Have a great weekend!
Leslie this absolutely jumped out at me . . . GORGEOUS!
I just love this stamp - and I love how your card came out. I’ll have to try putting glitter on the edging. I’m working on my KSS pansy stamp. I love how the colors come together. Have a great holiday weekend!
Well, piercing or not…this is just stunning Leslie. Such rich coloring on your leaves! And I love the glitter on the decorative border.
Leslie … WOW… I love the colors and your violets look fabulous in all there glory. The fancy scallop edge with the glitter is the perfect touch. For no *piercing* as you said this is awesome all around! ;0)
Wow, this is certainly beautiful! I LOVE the cut leaves at the bottom and the glitter-glam on the scallops! Gorgeous card! I hope you have a marvelous weekend and get to spend lots of time in your beautiful garden!!
Oh Leslie, you make me giggle! To think how much I stressed trying to incorporate piercing into my card, and the answer was so simple…go without if that works! Love your card, your watercolouring is amazing, your colours perfect, and I love the look of the sans piercing…fabulous!!!
You certainly have a way with your coloring Leslie…and it shows that you LOVE what you are doing!!! I love the papers you used and the sparkly on the scallops…Just like you Gorgeous !!!
I just LOVE it. It’s SO colorful and pretty!
My oh my– I just drool over your fabulous flowers! You are a gardener in so many capacities!!!
This is just gorgeous, Leslie!! I admire your coloring so much, and you’ve added just the right amount of sparkle!! I love the pretty papers and wonderful edging as well!!
Your card is stunning!! Pretty colors and so feminine
Your coloring is impeccable as always Leslie!! GORGEOUS!!
Leslie, your violets are so beautiful. They are exquisitely painted and I love the gentle aura around the image. These sweet little violets and the lace piercing are breathtaking.
This is so gorgeous Leslie! I would not have thought to watercolor around an image after coloring with alcohol markers, thanks so much for sharing that! And hey - I happen to LOVE purple, glitter, flowers & fancy!! But darn, my birthday is still months away… guess it’s not for me!
Lovely!
The whole card is absolutely gorgeous Leslie.
Just gorgeous Miss Leslie! I am so glad you were a rebel and said no to piercing! LOL! Love the glitter, the colors, and the design — just jaw dropping beautiful!
Leslie, this is gorgeous! When I first saw it I thought the violets and leaves looked so real that I could imagine touching them and feeling that fuzzy leaf. You did a marvelous job coloring them. I like the idea of watercoloring the “filler” area. I’ll have to try that sometime. Your whole card is beautiful. I’ve had your blog page open for the last several hours as I was just about to leave a comment but we started the “Benjamin Button” movie. It was interesting but left us very melancholy and I think I need to wash it down with something comedic. Since it’s late I’ll look at a few more cards to lift my spirits and call it a night. Have a wonderful week-end.
Very beautiful card! I love the scalloped edges and asparkles on them, love the corner punch too! And love your coloring so much! Very talented!
so pretty, I love your shading around your image, it is so pretty, love the border punches with the glitter!
Thank you for sharing this beautiful work of art!
You did a wonderful job coloring the violets.
Your color choices are supurb!
Love all the attention to detail!
Smiles & Cheers,
Dorothy
Beautiful card, this would brighten anyones day.
Leslie!! Your coloring is always spectacular… jaw-dropping!! LOVE that double scalloped border, too. This is such a gorgeous card!!
Simply gorgeous, Leslie! Love the coloring and the sparkle! Perfect card!!!
“eyes amazed”
Wow…..so sparkly and stunning! Must be for Trudy H….right?!? I just can’t imagine how gorgeous it is IRL. TFS