Watercolor Pencils are not just for water anymore!

Watch the Tutorial Here

Hi! Welcome to my studio!

Today I am using a beautiful stamp set just released this month at Sparkle N Sprinkle:

Violets for You

I really love the vintage "feel" of this image. Violets are an old fashioned flower.

To create this card, I used two sets of Nuvo Watercolor Pencils:

Brilliantly Vibrant 

and

Hair and Skin Tones

Instead of water, I blended with 91% rubbing alcohol, using an aquaflow brush filled with it. I wrapped a piece of washi tape around the brush, to differentiate it from my waterfilled brushes. 

First, I heat embossed the image on kraft cardstock, using white embossing powder.

I colored the images with colors from the hair and skin tone set, as they are more muted, and give that vintage look. I used Pinot Noir, Strawberry Milkshake, and Ivory Rose for the Violets. The only color I used from the Brilliantly Vibrant set was green, in two hues: Lemon Grass and Imperial Jade. I also added some Caramel Popcorn to the leaves to tone them down, and the brilliant colors were a bit too bold.

 

I stamped the sentiment using Versafine Claire Ink in Pinecone. It stamps so clear and clean. I just love it!

The bottom of the "note" is torn and brushed with Nuvo Mousse in Indian Gold.

I also used it at the top.

I layered the  note on the background, and added a twine bow. The finishing touch is Nuvo Vintage Drops in Chocolate Chip and Pioneer Green.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Craft-Dee BowZ

Dragonfly Dreams

The Corrosive Challenge

A Bit More Time to Craft

Classic Design Team

Please check out our online store, and create your own lovely palette of colors, using Vintage Drops and Nuvo Watercolor Pencils, along with your choice of our lovely stamp line.

Happy Holidays,

Flourishes Design Team Friday Challenge Hop

Hello and welcome to my studio.

For today's blog hop, Tricia Traxler has challenged the team to use:

Patterned Paper

I have the great pleasure of using my favorite stamp set so far...

Bushel of Thanks

Illustrating stamp sets is such a joy for me!

All those years of drawing homework have really paid off, along with my love of Mary Engelbreit.

Although the, "bit of whimsy" I add is not even close to her artistic flair,

I do enjoy using markers and colored pencil like she does.

Here is another card I made recently with this set:

You can find the details for this card here.

Today's card images are indeed colored with Prismacolor Premier pencils and some

Distress Ink by Ranger around the edges and on the bunny.

I also used some Glossy Accents by Ranger to highlight the cabbages.

The patterned paper is by Authentique, and the beautiful blue is Color Made Easy,

both of which can be purchased in the Flourishes store,

along with this stamp set.

I used one of Flourishes' Exclusive Dies to make my sentiment tag.

Here is the blog hop list for you to enjoy more creativity using Patterned Paper:

Flourishes Blog
Barbara Thompson

Beverly Cole (me)

Linda Lucas

Naomi Gong

Rebecca Ednie

Tricia Traxler

Enjoy the Journey,

My First Stamp Set is Released for Sale!

This is a Fuji Mum.  I love its long, graceful petals.

It is one of the images from my stamp set called, Fuji Mum!

Fuji Mum Set

I designed this set exclusively for Flourishes.

I am so thankful to be able to draw stamp sets. I work in my studio at home,

which is so great! My work is my vocation, but feels like an avocation...because I love it so.

Here are a couple of cards I made with the set.

This card was created using designer paper by Authentique,

as well as Color Made Easy card stock, both available in the Flourishes store.
I used watercolor markers.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Fashionable Stamping Challenges - #115 Autumnal Colors
Penny Black and More  - Add a Sentiment
Pile It On - #117 Autumn

I created this watercolor card using watercolor paper and one of

Flourishes exclusive dies. I enjoyed drawing this

wind-blown Fuji Mum, with all the loose petals!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
Fashionable Stamping Challenges - #115 Autumnal Colors

Penny Black and More  - Add a Sentiment
Pile It On - #117 Autumn

Please take a peek at the Flourishes Blog and the other Design Team members' creations,
beginning with our newest Senior Design Team member, Rebecca!

Rebecca Ednie

Beverly Cole (you are here)

Linda Lucas

Naomi Gong

Thanks so much for stopping by. I truly appreciate it.
Enjoy the journey,

Pinterest

My First Stamp Set is Released for Sale!

This is a Fuji Mum.  I love its long, graceful petals.

It is one of the images from my stamp set called, Fuji Mum!

Fuji Mum Set

I designed this set exclusively for Flourishes.

I am so thankful to be able to draw stamp sets. I work in my studio at home,

which is so great! My work is my vocation, but feels like an avocation...because I love it so.

Here are a couple of cards I made with the set.

This card was created using designer paper by Authentique,

as well as Color Made Easy card stock, both available in the Flourishes store.
I used watercolor markers.

I created this watercolor card using watercolor paper and one of

Flourishes exclusive dies. I enjoyed drawing this

wind-blown Fuji Mum, with all the loose petals!

Please take a peek at the Flourishes Blog and the other Design Team members' creations:

Beverly Cole (you are here)

Linda Lucas

Naomi Gong

Rebecca Ednie

Thanks so much for stopping by. I truly appreciate it.
Enjoy the journey,

The Warmth of Friendship

Welcome to Flourishes' Friday Design Team Challenge!

You can find links to all the Design Team Cards at the bottom of this post.

Be sure to stay tuned...my newly designed Beverly Cole stamp sets, created exclusively for Flourishes, will be here in a few weeks!

a tiny hint...

Oh, how I enjoyed making this card!

As I have said before, with all the art I have been doing over the past few years,

my card making skills are rusty, to say the least.

So...today I decided to just relax and go back to my proverbial, "roots"

of card design.

I used so many fun tools and products from my stash, along with some classic techniques.

First, I took out a stamp set created by Sam Pickard for Flourishes entitled,
"Happy Thoughts"

How fitting for this warm toned card.  I made a mask for the flower stamp in the set,
after cutting the stem off the stamp...I know, I know but it's all good! I can simply reconnect the cut
pieces on an acrylic block when I want to stamp the flower with a stem.

Then, using the "cut" flower stamp and the mask, I created a border.
I colored using my Caran D'Ache Museum Aquarelle pencils, and blended them with
a clear Wink of Stella pen, instead of my water brush. They are subtly sparkly,
which is difficult to see here.

After fussy cutting the image, I flipped it over and used some deep orange ink on a sponge and rubbed the edges of the image, so they were no longer stark white.

Then I started on my background.

I used Flourishes New Leaves and  Tiger Lily card stock from the

Color Made Easy Collection.

I also used some of the adorable patterned papers in the,

"Nestled" 6x6 collection by Authentique. The are available in the Flourishes store.

I used the Perfectly Pierced Classic Hourglass Template Die set by Flourishes

to create an inlaid design. I then "quilted" the two pieces together

with an embossing folder by Anna Griffin.

It's a bit difficult to see in this picture, but if you look carefully, you can see it.

Then, I got out my Singer and zig zag stitched the edges around

the inlay and the edge of the card.

I then added a sentiment from the same stamp set

on Flourishes Classic Ivory Cardstock,

and cut it with another die from the same set.

I added some gems and gold Stickles to the card and the flower centers.

The border is on dimensionals to make it pop.

I truly loved making this. I was in my element...my happy place...my comfort zone.

It felt good.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:
C.R.A.F.T. challenge 379 embossing
DL.Art September Linky Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Die Cuttin Divas Challenge #281 Must use a die cut

Visit my friends on the Flourishes Design Team and check out the Flourishes Blog

for Vicki Dutcher's challenge to the Design Team.

Beverly Cole (me!)

Vicki Dutcher

Amanda Havon

Naomi Gong

Linda Lucas

Nancy Nickel

Enjoy!

Fuji Mum

Markers and pencils are my best friends.

I just love coloring...always have.

Using my mix of Prismacolor markers and Spectrum Noirs, along with my

Prismacolor Premier Pencils, I really enjoyed coloring this Fuji Mum.

This will be a part of the new set coming out at Flourishes.

I am the Resident Artist there.

I hope you will stay tuned for my stamp sets coming soon!

Happy Birthday Lily!

It's my granddaughter's birthday soon, so I made a card with her in mind. She's only going to be 6, but she is such a little lady these days...grown up so much in the last year.

I used a Christmas set from Flourishes, to show that these sets are versatile...not just for Christmas.

This set is called, Harp.http://flourisheslc.com/product/harp/

I used the small corner flower. I actually cut the stamp in half, which I do quite often. It's easier than dealing with the rest of the stamp, and you can always put them back together on a block.

 I still had to do a bit of masking with a post-it note as I went along, stamping them in
Close To My Heart's Champagne ink,

and turning them this way and that to make a chain of sorts.

I colored them with Prismacolor markers and then with Prismacolor Premier pencils. I blended a bit with a blending marker.

Fussy cutting is never a big deal to me, as I love to cut...it's like therapy. I also love to ink the edges of EVERYTHING so you will notice that on nearly every element of this card.

 I used the die set from Flourishes called, "Perfectly Pierced Classic Frames", and offset the sentiment frame. The sentiment is from an older Flourishes set.

I added some glittery ribbon and pearls.

I really hope this card hangs around for awhile...maybe on the 'fridge.

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Craft-Dee BowZ August - Handmade Bow
Dream Valley #138 - Pretty in Pink
Heart to Heart - For the Girls (used CTMH ink)
Love to Scrap Challenge Blog #84 -Anything Goes
Atlantic Hearts Challenge #174

Well, keep watching for my new stamp line from Flourishes...

Colorful Crocus

Just a little flower I created, and decided I would have some fun with my pencils and markers.

I just love playing with color.

Look for this image in an upcoming stamp set for Flourishes!

Flourishes Friendship &Flowers

Flourishes big sale has been great! 

It's over now, but you can still pick up some beautiful stamp sets that are worth every penny!

Plus

We have some new sets coming...for Christmas!

I made this card with a set called, Friendship and Flowers...so cute!

Friendship & Flowers by Sam Pickard 2013

I used masks, vellum, Distress Ink, Prismacolor Pencils, Twine, and Stickles.

If you are a fan of Flourishes, then you LOVE to color! I stamped the image in light ink so you cannot see the lines. Then, I colored them with pencil. I colored a masked area on the vellum with white pencil to highlight it.

Check out Flourishes' blog for more inspiration

Be sure to get over to Flourishes TODAY and pick up some stuff...beauties all!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

The Crafter's Café challenge #154: Flowers

Scribbles Design Challenge #43 Midway: How Does Your Garden Grow?

A Vintage Journey July: Monochromatic

House of Cards - Use twine and/or colors 

A Peach of a Sale!

 Hello Everyone!

Welcome to Bev's Bliss

I have the honor of being the newest illustrator for Flourishes!

But before I share my new designs, I want you to know that

Flourishes has a PEACH of a SALE going on!

To celebrate this event, I decided to use one of my absolute favorite sets to make a card for you

...

Peaches and Cherries

First, I stamped the image in a light pink, so as not to see any lines.

Then, I colored the image with alcohol markers.

Next, I used colored pencils to do the details,

finally blending all the pencil with an alcohol blending marker.

The result is pretty cool, huh? Almost looks like it's not even done with a stamp!

The sentiment and "peach" label are also included in the set. I uses some of Flourishes' beautiful cardstock to match the colors of the leaves and fruit.

 I am entering this card in the following challenges

RRCB43 Retro rubber challenge: Summertime
Cards in Envy: It's a Heatwave
House of Cards July Challenge  Fruit/Drink and/or colors
One Stitch At a Time #266 anything goes with elements of nature

Be sure to get over to the Flourishes LC sale RIGHT AWAY before this set disappears forever!

Happy Shopping,