Wednesday, September 15, 2010

The Flourishes Sneak Peeks are HERE!

Are you ready for a whole new batch of Flourishes stamps, just in time for the fall stamping season? Today kicks off the three days of sneak peeks and this stamp set today, is going to be one of my all time faves... I just know it!

I don't know about you but when I think of Autumn, I cherish the changing of leaves and the spiced smells of hot cider cooking on the stove. Add Marcella Hawley into that equation and you "meet" Flourishes' first lovely set that is ripe for fall!

Introducing...

Apple of My Eye Graphic copy

This set not only features a gorgeous cluster of apple blossoms but there are lots of additional images that are perfect for fall creations... a hot mug of cider, a carmeled apple, and... more! Of course, a set wouldn't be complete without a beautiful array of sentiments to mix and match! Would you like to win this set? Simply leave a comment HERE sharing with us your favorite thing about fall! Winners will be picked this coming Saturday!

On to my creation! There are times when I look at an image and it just begs to be colored with colored pencils. When I first set my sights on this set, I just knew, I had to pull out the colored pencils for this one!


When I color with colored pencils, I love to layer the color -- I start with the darkest shades and then draw the color in and blend as I go. For the apple, I used Prismacolor Pencils in Indigo Blue (for only the darkest shading), Tuscan Red, Raspberry, Scarlet Lake, Poppy Red, Crimson Red, and Carmine Red. I also used a colorless blender in the areas I wanted to leave white. For the leaves I used: Dark Green, True Green, Apple Green, and then blended with cream. For the flower petals, I used Deco Pink and then blended with White for a softer look.

Here's a close up! For my card-- I kept it simple with some Basic Grey decorative paper (Basic Kraft and Jovial paper lines), add some twine, stitching and a button and call it good! I also scored around the edges of my image with the Scor-Buddy. LOVE that tool!

DO YOU WANT AN EXTRA CHANCE TO WIN THIS SET??? Just leave me a comment here on this pot for a chance at winning your own Apple of my Eye set! I'll draw and announce one lucky winner this coming Saturday!

FYI: I'm not the only one giving away some extra goodies! When you visit some of the other DT member's blogs, you will not only get some eye candy, but some have BLOG CANDY too! So, be sure to stop by and say "hi" to....

  • Christine Okken
  • Cindy Lawrence... has blog candy!
  • Danielle Kennedy
  • Dawn Burnworth
  • Laura Fredrickson
  • Leslie Miller....has blog candy!
  • Stacy Morgan
  • There are lots of fun things going on over at Flourishes this week! If you haven't stopped by the blog to check it out -- you need to! There are three grand prize giveaways each with TEN free sets being given away to help Flourishes celebrate turning THREE! So click HERE to check out all the ways you can win! You'll also find out about the POWER HOUR Release Party, which is coming up Thursday night! You won't want to miss it!


    Be sure to check back - our sneak tomorrow is sure to scare up some fun! I've been told by some of my fellow DT members that this set is one of the best they've seen when it comes to the Night of Fright! :-) oooooOOOOoooo!!! Betcha can't wait! See you then!

    88 comments:

    Karinn said...

    Oh boy, what a beautiful card. Those stamps are just gorgeous. Your coloring is amazing; the blossoms look sooooo real! I love it!

    Joan B said...

    wow. I'm speechless.

    Emilia said...

    What a beautiful elegant card. This is going to be another Marcella's set that is coming to my craft room.

    petra,s cards said...

    prachtig wat een geweldige kaart wat een kleurwerk ik vind het geweldig wou dat ik het kon!!!!!! bedankt om te kunnen mee doen en te winnen!!!!!
    xx petra

    Betty Benton said...

    Love the shine on those apples! Beautifully done!

    Madeleine Barnett said...

    Beautiful image and card Julie I can't wait for the rest of this months new stamps

    Glenda said...

    Julie, beautiful job! Your coloring is to die for! The images are wonderful; I think I see this set in my future!

    Anonymous said...

    Wow! Miss Julie, those apples look like you could just reach out and pick one right of the branch and take a bite. Soo real! Just gorgeous! 8-)

    Anonymous said...

    I love this new set. Your coloring is fantastic. Thanks.

    Martha Hepburn

    Peachy Wessels said...

    I would love this set as Fall is my favorite season! I love apples and leaves and just the beautiful colors. I can't wait to see the full set.

    Ujjwal said...

    Beautiful is the word!! Amazing coloring!!

    sucor said...

    You did a beautiful job! Your coloring awesome! I love this set.

    Iwona Palamountain (Chupa) said...

    This must be one of the most AMAZING Flourishes sets ever!! I LOVe it, and your colouring is just PERFECT!!

    Cammie said...

    Anoter beautiful Flourishes set-well worth the little delay. Julie, your card and coloring are perfect! With such a stunning image, few embellishments are needed.

    Denise Marzec said...

    Beautiful set and such AWESOME coloring!

    Janine said...

    WOW!! Gorgeous coloring Julie!! Love this set!

    Crystal said...

    Now those are two gorgeous , yummy apples ! Love your card, Julie !

    Makalah said...

    Wowee! Those apples were colored with colored pencil?! They look so juicy and shiny, like you added a gloss. That's amazing coloring!

    Anonymous said...

    what a beautiful card, so real looking. Makes me want to bite right in. Can't believe they are done with pencils.
    Thanks,
    MaryAnn

    Janet said...

    Beautiful work! You did a great job with the apples.

    Stephanie said...

    WOW, WOW, WOW, did I say WOW?!

    slbt17 said...

    you captured the flowers so nicely - great card!
    Sandra

    Susan said...

    Simply BEAUTIFUL!!! I love your coloring and blending!!

    Colleen Dietrich said...

    Julie, I love your coloring too! The way you've captured the light on the fruit is wonderful. My fave thing about fall is the crisp weather and seeing the leaves change color.

    Alica said...

    oh wow! This is the most realistic-ly colored fruit I have ever seen! I'm speechless! You should make a tutorial on how to color them like this!

    Holly said...

    *thud* This is a GORGEOUS card. Your coloring is superb!

    Trina Kuriger said...

    Wow, this is stunning! Your coloring with pencils looks so realistic, and I love the score lines you added! Thanks for inspiring us!
    -mnfroggie (Trina)

    Lenoria said...

    This is such a wonderful card - and colored with items I already have. The apples look good enough to eat!

    Rosemary said...

    absolutely stunning!! your coloring is just amazing!

    Kris Turner said...

    Julie, amazing coloring and choice of papers on this. The kraft gives the feeling of a basket of apples, and the shading of the leaves really sets off the beautiful coloring in the apples! TFS! Kris, Wadsworth, OH

    SassySamsMom said...

    What a beautiful card! I love the way you colored it!!! Thank you for the chance to win! Flourishes are great sets to color!

    Stacy Morgan said...

    Gorgeous Julie! Your coloring is wonderful and I like the button and twine accent.

    sharon d said...

    Beautiful card. Your coloring is amazing! Another great set from Flourishes. Thanks for sharing...

    chaun said...

    Those apples look good enough to eat!

    Yogi said...

    beautiful card. the background really matches your apple. WOW

    Debbie said...

    Absolutely STUNNING coloring and blending!!!! I'm so impressed as this is a challenge for me. Your's is perfect :)

    Janet L. said...

    What a beautiful card! I love the colors, the coloring, the twine and all! I just got a scor bug and love the way you used it. Thanks for sharing your talent!

    Laura (scrapnextras) said...

    Your colouring is amazing! I still have never tried pencils. Love the stitching and twine...it all adds to the earthy feel of your card!

    Jami said...

    Oh my! Your coloring is amazing and this image is beautiful! My favorite thing about Fall...the wonderful weather! :)

    Lynda said...

    Gorgeous card and amazing coloring! TFS

    Anonymous said...

    Love your card Julie! I love the twine and your coloring is fabulous! -Mary R.

    Charlette said...

    Wow the coloring on this card is just fantastic! What a beautiful card. Thanks for the chance to win some goodies!

    Traci M said...

    This is gorgeous, you achieved so much depth of color with your pencils!! I have only tried prisma pencils a little, and don't know much about blending...thanks for the brief tutorial...never would have thought of indigo!!

    Lillian Child said...

    Such beautiful coloring on those apples! This is my favorite time of year ... our local applejack festival is this weekend and it's one of my favorite things to do every year. TONS of apples - fresh, baked, fried, dried, juiced ... you name it! And the fresh kettlecorn - oh my! So to win this fabulous stamp would be the caramel on my apple!

    Cherie said...

    Gorgeous doesn't even begin to describe your card! The colors are stunning. TFS!

    Alyssa S said...

    Amazing! This could be framed it's so beautiful!

    Emily Keaton said...

    Your card is fabulous, Julie!! Thanks for the tips on your Prismacoloring. I love using my colored pencils and it's such a help to read about how others use theirs :)

    Pati said...

    Wow, your coloring is so rich!! Beautiful card, love how you showcased the image, keeping the background/card simple yet still accessorized with twine, button and the stitching. Very pretty & country.

    Amanda said...

    Oh Julie, Julie, Julie, Julie!! I have to buy this stamp set! I love, your card!! Your apples are wonderful! I love how smooth they appear!! A beautiful card :)

    Tanya said...

    OMG! This is AMAZING! I love that your colored with Prismas, they are all that I have, you did a fantastic job! I would love to be able to use mine like you do, *sigh*. Thank you so much for the inspiration!

    Linda Carson said...

    WOW Julie! This is one gorgeous piece of art! Your coloring is amazing & makes those apples look real! Thanks for sharing your tips & techniques.

    Leslie Miller said...

    Oh, my gosh! You did this with pencils? I'm STUNNED! Incredible coloring, Julie! I imagine I could run my hands over those apples and feel every bump, ridge, and curve of its lovely form. Wow!

    Anonymous said...

    Lovely card, just can't see how you do that with pencils. Sure could use a lesson on that. Mary L Schreiber

    StampinDi said...

    What an amazing coloring job with pencils. Such a lovely card.

    Unknown said...

    Gorgeous card! I love how the button & fiber set off the lovely colored image.

    dinosaur said...

    Great coloring. I love to use Prisma pencils. Beautiful card.

    Lisa H. said...

    beautiful card. your coloring is wonderful.

    ChristineCreations said...

    Such beautiful prismacoloring Julie....the depths are so rich looking!Pretty touches of sewing and thread on the button too!

    Alaine said...

    Gorgeous card.. Tuscan Red is my FAVORITE of the pencil colors. I never thought of using the blue in that way though! Thanks!

    Lin said...

    This would be a great set to own! Love anything apple! Your card is wonderful!

    adetia said...

    Gorgeous card! I was so thrilled to see you were from Montana! :) I'm just across the border in Alberta.

    Angel said...

    Looks like an awesome set for coloring! Amazing card!!!

    Anonymous said...

    I love these fruit sets that Flourishes puts out. they are absolutely beautiful.
    TFS
    ang@todybran.com

    Unknown said...

    I love the apples with the flowers still attached and your coloring is supurb. Lovely Card

    denise g. said...

    Oh, Julie! Does this take me back to when I first saw your coloring and drooled all over my keyboard. You are far and away the bestest apple colorer ever! They look so scrumptiously edible and I can almost smell those blossoms. Fantabulous job, girl!

    Brenda said...

    Beautiful card and your coloring is fabulous!!!!

    Ravengirl said...

    Those apples look fabulous in colored pencil! What an exquisite coloring job! My favorite thing about Fall is the crispness in the air.

    A Consuming Passion said...

    Every card I've seen with this set is just so beautiful! I love the blossom with the apples - It reminds me of apple picking at home. TFS

    Pattie said...

    so pretty! thanks for a chance to win!

    Grace said...

    Wow your coloring is awesome on this image, which is also great!!! Thanks for the chance to win!!! Happy Birthday to Flourishes too!

    dpkennedy said...

    Your shading on those apples is amazing! Gorgeous card Julie!

    Lynne Phelps said...

    What a wonderful set! I need to remember to pull out the Prismacolors, they have been ignored since I got my Copics! Your card is gorgeous!

    Carrie Zrodlowski said...

    You did a wonderful job with your coloring. Great stamp.

    Carrie

    Emily said...

    Awesome coloring. I think I need more practice with my prismas!

    Becky said...

    Fabulous image and fabulous coloring..These apples look real enough to eat. :)

    stampqueen said...

    Beautiful card - love your coloring. I usually start light and go to dark so I haven't tried the other way around - going to have to try it now!!!

    cgargus said...

    Love your coloring! I need to practice more, for sure! Thanks for giving the colors and help with how to layer to colors! Beautiful card!

    Diane said...

    Beautiful...those apples look good enough to eat!!!

    Peggy K said...

    Julie, this truly inspires me to pull out the colored pencils and leave the gamsol to the side!! This card is beautiful! Good enough to eat!

    Anonymous said...

    Wow, Wow, Wow!! These apples are just so amazing!! I've never coloured with pencils but I have some. What gorgeous inspiration!! Thanks.
    Beth Greco

    Beate said...

    Julie, your coloring looks amazing! What a beautiful card you created.
    Hugs and smiles

    lisa808 said...

    Beautiful card!

    Donna said...

    What a great set. I love your card and the explanation of how you color. Looking forward to seeing the entire set.

    Tracy said...

    A great fall set. Would love to win one- thanks for the chance. Great sneak peak as always.

    Sylvia/LittleTreasures said...

    Your card is so alive with color. Just a beautiful, almost looks like it should be picked and dipped in carmel. Thanks for the chance to win.

    Anonymous said...

    Love how you did this card. Those apples look real!

    Monique said...

    Beautiful !! I can't believe how real they look...Fantastic job on your coloring!!

    Yvonne Russell said...

    Gorgeous card. Those apples are good enough to eat.