Thursday, May 31, 2012

Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge


It is time for a new challenge at Joan's Gardens.  The week the theme is birds. 

The pretty window was created with the new Cheery Lynn "Window A".  This window measures 4 1/8" x 2 5/8" and die cuts the window into the card stock  rather than cutting out a window.  Isn't it a beautiful window!   I lined the back of it with a piece of design paper from the Webster's Pages "Ladies and Gents and Trendsetter" paper pad.  I really love the new Cheery Lynn leaves that are from the "Flourish Leaf Strip".  There are five different sets of leaves and each set is different which helps to create a very pretty vine when added as I did on this card, or you can use each separately with your flowers.  I'm sure you will love having these leaves in your collection of dies.

The roses were created using the Cheery Lynn "Miniature Rose" dies. The tree branch on the right side was die cut using the Cheery Lynn "Princess Tree".  The birds were die cut using three different Marianne Design sets. I wanted to use a variety of birds because the sentiment reads "Life is Better with Friends".   They were die cut using white card stock.  The wings were sponged with Distress Ink and a black marker used to create the eyes before taking the die cut out of the die.  Then the head and tail of each bird was sponged after I removed it from the die.  

The bird cage was die cut using the Tim Holtz "Mini Bird and Cage Set".  This die is one of the "Movers and Shapers" dies.  I wanted  smaller birds than the one in this set - that is why I used the Marianne Design birds.  The bird cage was tucked in the leaves then the bird was added using dimensional tape.  The other two birds were also attached with dimensional tape.  The sentiment is from the JustRite "Vintage Rose Medallions" stamp set. 

I hope you will join us in our challenge this week.  Joan created a card for this challenge using a pretty LaBlanche stamp. 

Cheery Lynn "Window A" (FRM 141)
Cheery Lynn "Flourish Leaf Strip" (B178) 
Cheery Lynn "Princess Tree" (B180)
Cheery Lynn "Miniature Rose" (B152)
Marianne (LR0204) (LR0205) and (LR0206)
Sizzix, Tim Holtz, "Mini Bird & Cage Set" (657207)
JustRite "Vintage Rose Medallions"  (CR-03670)
Webster's Pages "Ladies and Gents and Trendsetter" paper pad

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Heartfelt Creations Blog Hop


The month of May is almost over and it is time for the Heartfelt Creations Alumni Blog Hop.  If you started from Olga's blog you started at the beginning.  If you would like to be in a drawing for a $25 Gift Certificate from Heartfelt Creations, be sure to leave a comment on each blog in the hop.  

The Alumni are asked to design a card/project with some of our favorite Heartfelt Creations stamp sets.   Of course I love all the Heartfelt Creations flower stamp sets, but I also love the beautiful sentiment sets.  I used the "Heartfelt Expressions PreCut Set" for this card.  Don't you love the large, beautiful font.  This set comes with five large sentiments.  The frame I used for the sentiment is the Marianne Design (LR0116) frame.  The flower was created with the Heartfelt Creations "Botanical Floral PreCut Set".  There are four large and one small flower layered to create this dimensional flower.  It was white embossed on blue card stock and cut out with the matching dies.  The background paper is from the Kaiser Craft "These Days"  paper pad.  The leaf flourish is from Cheery Lynn.  A few Kaiser Craft Pearls were added to complete this card.  Your next stop will be Tesa's Blog.

Here is a list of the designers in this blog hop:

Selma  (You are here)

Be sure to visit each blog and leave a comment to be in the drawing for the $25 Heartfelt Creations Gift Certificate.

Products used:
Heartfelt Creations "Heartfelt Expressions PreCut Set" (HCPC 3474)
Heartfelt Creations "Botanical Floral PreCut Set" (HCPC 3906) and matching dies
Marianne Design Frame (LR0116)
Kaiser Craft "These Days" 6.5" Paper Pad
Cheery Lynn "Flourish Leaf Strip" (B178)

All the products I use can be purchased from Joan's Gardens.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Floral Card


Hope you are having a great weekend.  Tomorrow we are having a cookout at our house with family and friends. I still have some flowers and herbs on my deck I need to get planted today, but I am waiting for it to warm up then will be spending my afternoon outdoors.  

For this card I started by using the Marianne (DS0912) embossing folder to emboss a 5.5" x 6" piece of white card stock.  I centered the embossing folder in the middle then used a Swiss  Dots embossing folder to add additional dots to the two sides so it would be completely covered with embossing.  A piece of purple card stock was attached to the back to show through the cut out portions of the embossed design.

A rose was created using the PunchBunch "Begonia" Petals punch (tutorial here). I used a daisy punch and small blossoms punch to create the additional flowers.  Behind the rose I added a couple of the Cheery Lynn "Tropical Flourishes", the new "Princess Tree" for additional leaves, and some of the new Marianne "Anja" leaves.  Small white Kaiser Craft pearls were added to the center of the purple flowers and stamens from the new Cheery Lynn "Build A Flower" were layered, shaped, and added to the center of each daisy.  A few Martha Stewart "Branches" were also added. Up in the right hand corner I added one of the Cheery Lynn Lace Corners.

  


Marianne Design (DS0912) embossing folder
Cheery Lynn "Lace Corner Deco B" (B162)
Cheery Lynn "Build A Flower #1" (B181)
Cheery Lynn "Tropial Flourishes" (B127)
Cheery Lynn "Princess Tree" (B180)
Marianne Design "Anja Leaves" (LR0227 and LR0228)
Kaiser Craft White Pearls  

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Poppy Thanks


Today my DH and I took our grandson over to the Couer d' Alene, Idaho Resort for the day.  This is a beautiful resort on a huge lake. If you have never been there, it is such a beautiful area.  We had a picnic out by the lake and about froze because the wind came up and made it very cold, but we had a lot of fun.  We walked around the resort and checked out the boat rides and flight tours around the lake.  We arrived on the dock right after they took off and didn't want to wait a couple of hours, so will have to go back another time.   This was our Memorial Day weekend get away.

I received some new JustRite stamps and created this card using a few of those stamps.  The white background, which is a little hard to see in the picture, is the "Heart Scroll Background".  It was white embossed and is so pretty. The design paper used behind this embossed background is from the My Minds Eye "Stella Rose" paper pad.  The medallion and flower are from the JustRite "Botanicals Medallions & Banners" set. The flower was stamped on watercolor paper using Ranger's Archival Black Ink, then colored using the Tim Holtz Distress Markers.  I love using the Distress Markers with the Ranger Water Brushes because you only need to add a small amount of ink around the edges and you draw the color in to get the "watercolor" effect.  These makers really save a lot of ink when you use them with the water brushes.   On top of the medallion I layered one of the MFT Oval Decorative Doilies.  The JustRite medallion was die cut using the JustRite matching dies.

You know how much I love to create flowers to match stamped images.  I created the poppy using the PunchBunch "Begonia" petals.  The stamen was created using the new Cheery Lynn "Build A Flower #1" dies.  The leaves below the poppy are the Cheery Lynn "Stacker Flower #1" and the flourish is one half of the Cheery Lynn "Victorian Romance Flourish".  The sentiment was die cut using the new Marianne Design (LR0224) die.  This set comes with the sentiments "Just for You" and "Thanks".  I love using a die cut sentiment on the front of my cards.  There is also another die set (LR0203) that has "Happy Birthday" and "Congrats" 


Products used:
JustRite "Botanicals Medallions & Banners" (CR-03705)
JustRite "Nested Oval Medallion Labels" dies
JustRite "Heart Scroll Background" (CL03700)
Cheery Lynn "Victorian Romance Flourish" (DL 151)
Cheery Lynn "Stacker Flower #1" (SF-1)
Cheery Lynn "Build A Flower #1" (B181)
Marianne sentiment (LR0 224)
MFT "Oval Decorative Doily Duo"
My Minds Eye "Stella Rose" paper pad
Ranger's Distress Markers
Rangers Archival Black Ink
Ranger Water Brushes

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge and a Winner


First I want to CONGRATULATE the winner of the $100 Cheery Lynn Prize package -- Donna P.  Her name was chosen from  Joan Morrison's blog.  Thanks to all of you who left comments during our Blog Hop.  CONGRATULATIONS DONNA. You can read her comment over at Joan's Gardens.  Joan and I also want to thank all our Guest Designers for helping out with our Blog Hop and Cheery Lynn for donating the fabulous prize package.

It's time for another challenge at Joan's Gardens..  This week we want you to create a Wedding Card.   I created my card using the new Cheery Lynn "Wedding Vows" die.  Isn't it beautiful.  It actually cuts out a Frame but I used this frame to create the front of the Shadow Box.

In this picture you can actually tell it is a Shadow Box.  Shadow Boxes are very easy to create.  The size of this shadow box is 5" x 6" when open and will measure 6" x 6" when you press it down along the side score lines.  Start with 2 pieces of card stock each 6" x 7". Score at 1" down the  7"  edge on both ends.  For a smaller shadow box, you can also use two 6"x6" pieces of card stock and score down 1/2" from the side edge, if you want a narrower depth from front to back.  


To cut the frame, I centered the frame, on the front, between the score lines, taped it down to hold it in place, and ran it through the die cutting machine.  

The frame will actually cut out all the way.  Since I want the frame attached to the front of my shadow box, I cut some narrow strips that will go along the cut edge.  You need to place the front of the shadow box down on your work area and fit the frame back in the opening.  Attach the narrow strips all the way around the cut seam of the frame to hold it in.  Since this is on the inside, it doesn't show.  A piece of black card stock was attached to the middle section, between the score lines, on the inside of the back piece.  

The top of the frame was embellished with roses, created with the Cheery Lynn  Medium and Large Rose dies.  I created two large roses and three medium roses.  Behind the roses is the Cheery Lynn "Mini Fanciful Flourish".  Between the Bride and Groom, I used a piece of "Ivy" from Marianne Designs.  On each side of the shadow box I add the pretty Cheery Lynn "Mini Flourish Band".

Products used:
Cheery Lynn "Wedding Vows" (FRM 138)
Cheery Lynn "Medium Rose" (B154)
Cheery Lynn "Large Rose" (B155)
Cheery Lynn "Mini Fanciful Flourish" (B117S)
Cheery Lynn "Mini Flourish Band" (B176)
Marianne Design "Ivy" (LR0206)

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

More New Products from Joan's Gardens

I have so many new things from Joan's Gardens to share with you.  I have combined a lot of them in this one card.  This is a 5.5" x 6" card.  I used a piece of design paper from the older Kaiser Craft "Lilac Avenue Collection" paper pad and embossed it with Swiss Dots.  The pretty corners are from the Cheery Lynn "Lace Deco Deco H" corner collection.  The pretty doily in the background is the new Cheery Lynn "Spring Flower Burst Doily w/Angel Wing".  I die cut the lace doily using white card stock and the Angel Wing is light lavender.  Both the doily and angel wing come in the same package.  

The medallion, in the center of the doily, is from the JustRite "Spring Rose Medallions" stamp set.  The sentiment is from the JustRite "Vintage Rose Medallions" and the ribbon banner above the medallion is from the JustRite "Botanical Medallion and Banners" clear stamp set.    I love working with all these new JustRite stamps sets because they all have so many different stamps and sentiments in them.  The medallions always make a pretty frame for your sentiments.

The flowers are from the new Heartfelt Creations "Tattered Blossoms" stamp set.  I love the shape of the petals on these flowers.  I tried something new today and would like to share it with you. 

I stamped the Tattered Blossoms (3rd largest out of 5) flower using black ink on dark purple card stock then cut them out with the matching Heartfelt Creations "Tattered Blossoms Die".  Since the flowers were so dark, I decided I needed to do something to help make them more realistic because the black ink did not show up very well.  I have seen some beautiful purple flowers with white edges so decided to find a way to do that.  I experimented by using different pens and different ink pads, but was not getting a very pretty look.  I remembered Joan had sent me a bottle of "Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabber" in Snow Cap.  These acrylic paints have a sponge dabber on the end and it gave a "brushed" look to the edge of each petal.  This paint gave me the right amount of coverage by just lightly brushing it around the edge of each petal.   Exactly what I was looking for.  Don' you think that white edge is pretty!  Two "Tattered" flowers were shaped and stacked to create the flower then a mixture of stamens were used.  I used one punched "snowflake" stamen and a mixture of the new stamens from the Cheery Lynn "Build A Flower #1" set for each flower.

Since I love to work with flowers, I always love having lots of fillers to use around them.  Marianne Design has just come out with four new sets of "Anji Leaves".  I have used just about all of them on this card.  If you like to create flowers, I am sure you will love all four sets of these beautiful leaves.  They are posted at Joan's Gardens under "Marianne Design" in her side bar. 

I will be going to Indiana to visit Joan in July then we will be going to CHA.  Joan has set up a day to have a get together with any of you that come for a visit on Friday, July 13.  If you are interested, please go to Joan's Gardens to get more information.  I look forward to seeing all of you that can make it.

All the products used on my card can be purchased from Joan's Gardens.

Heartfelt Creations "Tattered Blossoms Precut Set" (HCPC 3468)
Heartfelt Creations "Tattered Blossoms" Dies
Marianne Design "Anji" Leaves (LR0226), (LR0227), (LR0228), (LR0229
Adirondack "Acrylic Paint Dabber" (Snow Cap)
Cherry Lynn "Build A Flower #1" dies (B181)
PunchBunch "Medium Sky Flake" for stamen
Cheery Lynn "Spring Flower Burst Doily w/Angel Wing" (DL 221)
Cheery Lynn "Lace Corner Deco H" (B173)
JustRite "Spring Rose Medallions" stamp set (CL-03685)
JustRite "Vintage Rose Medallions" stamp set (CR-03670)
JustRite "Botanicals Medallions and Banners" Clear Stamp set (CR-03705)

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Masculine Card


The new Cheery Lynn "Bass Fishin" frame came out at the right time for me.  My son's birthday is next week and I know he loves to fish so I think he will really like this card.  I die cut the frame using black card stock and wanted to create a card with "texture".  I know. . .   I always think I need texture but it always adds so much "interest" to cards.   Any way, I used the Sizzix "Woodgrain" embossing folder to create a pool of water behind the fish.  Who would have thought a woodgrain design would make "water" but it worked out great!   There is a part of this embossing folder that looks like a Knot Hole in the wood, and that is the part I have just in front of the fish to resemble to area he jumped up out of the water.  I glued the aqua embossed piece, on the back,  along the outside edge of the die cut .  

I added additional texture by using the the Poppy Stamps "Grassland" and Cheery Lynn "Grass Border" dies.  The Cheery Lynn grass was die cut using a darker shade of green card stock and the Poppy Stamps grass was die cut using a lighter shade of green to give some contrast between the two.  I wanted to create "cattails" in the grass so I used an old punch I have that was intended to create holes for a ribbon border.  The punched out pieces were perfect to use for cattails. These pieces were glued to the tips of the Poppy Stamps (taller) grass.

Since the Bass is jumping out of the lake, I figured he must be after something good to eat.  I added a pretty Memory Box "Willow Dragonfly".  It was die cut using a light lime card stock.  The wings were glued to the bottom of the body.  This die will cut two sets of wings and a body.  I have also placed the wings on top of the body in different posts, but kind of like it with the body on top of the wings.  To make it very "appealing", I add three colors of "Stickles" to the wings and another color to the body.  I first added "Firefly" over the wings, then a little "Lime Green", to the tips of the wings, then mixed in little "Aqua".   "Golden Red" Stickles was added to the body.  It turned out really pretty.  Too pretty for that fish to eat!!!!!   On the cattails, I added a little "Distress Vintage Photo" Stickles to help make them standout.   On the swirls, in the water, "Diamond" Stickles was added.  That doesn't show up very well in the photo, but it makes the rippled water look more realistic.  The sentiment is from Heartfelt Creations.


I hope you like my card.  This is a great die to create masculine cards.  It is beautiful even if you just want a quick and easy card without all the "extras" I added.  


Cheery Lynn "Bass Fishin" (FRM 136)
Sizzix "Woodgrain" Embossing Folder
Cheery Lynn "Grass Border" (B126)
Poppy Stamps "Grassland Border" (825)
Memory Box "Willow Dragonfly" (98319)
Stickles used:  Firefly, Lime Green, Aqua, Golden Red, Distress Vintage Photo, Diamond
Sentiment from Heartfelt Creations

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Window Die by Cheery Lynn


Looks like you are loving the new Build A Flower dies.  I'm sure you will love all the flowers you will be able to create with Set #2 coming out in August -- Sorry, I can't give you any hints!  You will be able to use some of the dies from Set #1 along with the new dies in the second release. 

This card was created with one of the new Cheery Lynn Window dies.  I had a hard decision on which new window die I wanted use because I love them all.  What is so fun with these window dies, is that they die cut right into the front of your card.  You are probably surprised, but I actually created a 4.25" x 5.5" card today.  For the background I used the Sizzix "Bricked" embossing folder.  I die cut the window in the center of the front panel of the card, then embossed the front.  A piece of designer paper was attached inside the card (behind the window).  

I created the flower with the "Build A Flower Set #1" dies.  The petals were die cut using white card stock then I used chalk to add yellow to the bottom of each petal.  I used a variety of the smaller stamens in this flower set die cutting both yellow and black stamens.  The yellow stamens were colored on the tips with brown ink.  I did a tutorial on an earlier post on how to shape the leaves from the Build A Flower dies.  The small leaves are the new Cheery Lynn "Iris Leaves"



Products used:
Cheery Lynn "Build A Flower Set #1" (B 181)
Cheery Lynn "Iris Leaves" (B179)
Cheery Lynn "Window C" (FRM 143)
Sizzix "Bricked" Embossing Folder

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Build A Flower Blog Hop, A Fabulous Prize, Plus Tutorial


Today Joan's Gardens is hosting a blog hop to introduce to you to a  new series of  dies from Cheery Lynn. Joan and I have been working with a lot of different punches to create realistic flowers, and today we are excited to show you the first in a series of new dies from Cheery Lynn called "Build A Flower".   The first set is called "Build A Flower #1" (B181) 

 This is a picture of the three different dies you receive in the Build A Flower #1 set.  One plate has 8 flower petals that can be die cut all at once and are textured and  have a small hole in one end if you like to create your flowers by using a brad.  The second plate has a flower leaf plus two different size "bases" which can be used to build your flower.  The third is a set of 8 "stamens".   I am so excited to be able to die cut so many flower pieces at one time to create a flower.  Below I have a tutorial to show you how to create a clematis using these dies.

Now about our Blog Hop.  We have six very talented ladies who are participating in our blog hop; they have all created beautiful cards using the "Build A Flower #1" dies.    There are eight blogs including Joan's and my blog.   Joan and I are very excited to have Cheery Lynn Designs as our sponsor for this blog hop; they have donated a fantastic prize package with a value of $100.   They also donated a set of the "Build A Flower #1" dies to each of our guest designers  Thank you Cheery Lynn.

Would you like to win that $100 gift package donated by Cheery Lynn?   All you have to do is visit each blog, including Joan's and my blogs, and leave a comment on each one.  The winner will be selected from comments left on one of the blogs - it will be a random selection. The winner of the prize package will be announced next Thursday, May 24.


Designers in this Blog Hop:

Selma (you are here)
Nancy Hill
Joan Morrison

Your next stop from here is to Nancy Hill's Blog.

Here is the information about my card today.  This  card is 5.5" x 6".  I used a piece of very light blue design paper for the background.  The pretty oval was diecut using the Cheery Lynn "Manon's Wedding Garland" (DL218).  The corners are from the "Lace Corner Deco 1" (B174) die set.  The flowers were created with the "Build A Flower #1" (B181) set.  The petals were die cut using blue vellum.  The stamens were die cut using the second and third largest stamens with the straight "legs".  I used three of each one.  The pretty flourish is the new "Mini Fanciful Flourish" (B177S).  The beautiful sentiment is from the new Heartfelt Creations "Heartfelt Expressions PreCut Set" (HCPC3474).  White Opal Liquid Pearls were placed around the edge of the "Wedding Garland".

TUTORIAL ON HOW TO CREATE A CLEMATIS USING "BUILD A FLOWER #1" DIES.  This is the flower used on my blog post yesterday.




I am very excited about the die cut stamens in this series.  When I have been working with punches to create stamens, I always cut down the center of each point with scissors to create a thinner "leg" so the stamen would have a more realistic "frilly" look.  These new dies have very narrow "legs" so cutting is not necessary to achieve that look.  In the picture above you can see the difference between the die cut stamens on the top row and the punched stamens on the bottom row.  You no longer have to individually punch the pieces you need for the petals or stamens.  Leave all the stamens attached on this die so you don't lose the tiny pieces.  If you don't need to use all of them on your flowers, just save them for future use OR you can place a small piece of card stock over just the stamens you want to use.

In this picture I have placed down three different colors of card stock and placed the dies on top and will be able to die cut purple petals, light yellow stamens, green leaves and bases all at one time.  You may need to place shims on top of each die.

This picture shows the dies ready to go through the VegaBond machine; a whole flower die cut at once and ready to assemble!  All machines are different and you may not be able to include all three dies on the cutting plate at one time.

The flower I am creating today is the Clematis; the same techniques work for any style of flower you wish to create.  With this set of Cheery Lynn dies, there are 8 petals on the plate and two different sizes of bases.  There are two types of clematis - an eight petal and a six petal flower.  I will be using all eight petals on this die, and the larger base for my flower today.  Many times a clematis has a dark strip down the center of each petal.  I used a watercolor pencil to lightly add a darker purple to my petals then used a water brush to spread out the color.  You could use chalks, reinkers or even markers if you like.

Next, I use the large white tool from the Flower Tool Kit to soften and shape the petals. I use the techniques learned in Susan Tierney-Cockburn's book "Paper Bouquet". 

To give the petal some dimension, I used the self-closing tweezers from the Flower Tool Kit to pinch the end of the petal for more dimension.  You just pinch in the sides, up next to the tweezers, and the top kind of bends backwards and gives it more dimension.

To assemble the flower, I first use the large white flower tool to "cup" the base.  I am using the larger base from the die cut set because it has 8 points which will hold my 8 petals.  Add glue to every other point and attach four of the petals. Press the end down with a stylus to help it adhere well.

Next add glue to the other four points of the base and attach the remaining four petals.

When you add four petals on every other point of the base, then add the second four, it will look very layered.  This picture really shows how well the center of the petal shapes when using the tweezers.   This will be your finished flower, on the base, for the clematis.  If you want to make additional layers for a fuller type flower, I suggest that you add petals to another base and then glue the two together.  I think it helps separate the layers and gives more fullness.
 I told you that the plate with the leaf also has two different size pieces you could use for the base to build your flower.  These pieces can also be used as a base for your stamen.  Since my flower is purple, I die cut a puple small "base" to be used under my stamen.  You could also use the larger base if you want a darker color coming up from under the stamen.  There is no right or wrong when creating your flowers.  You will have so much fun playing with different pieces to create your own flowers.

When I looked at a picture of a clematis, the stamen had many rows of frilly "legs" that had a dark tip.   I die cut a lot of the stamen pieces and used Distress Ink to color the tips.  Just add a small drop of ink to the Teflon Craft mat to do this.  I love that you can die cut so many stamens with just one run through the die cutting machine, and if you want a lot of them, or more than one color, you can run it through once again for a great variety.  I always die cut all the stamens on the die, even if I just need one or two more, and save the ones I don't use in a box so I can use them on another project later.

I held the stamen with tweezers and dipped each point into the ink.  You could also color the tips with a marker, but be sure and turn them over and do both sides.  When you use the drop of ink, it colors both sides at once.

After you have all your stamens ready, press down in the center with a stylus to cup them then start stacking and be sure to alternate the points.  You can add as many layers as you want, depending on the fullness you are trying to create.  You can use all one size or use layers of different sizes like I did.  There is even a very tiny stamen you can add in the very center.

I used a variety and number of stamens, using each type on the die.  Once they were all glued together, I pressed them down on the black shaping mat to cup them even more.

Here is my completed flower.  With this Build A Flower Collection you have everything you need to complete a variety of flowers.  You can be creative and combine some of these flower pieces with other dies or even your PunchBunch punches.

Don't forget to visit all eight blogs on our blog hop to get a lot of inspiration, and leave a comment on each blog for a chance to win the $100 Prize Package. If you have not signed up as a "Subscriber/Follower" on my blog, you can go to my sidebar to sign up to receive all future posts.


529310

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Build A Flower Clematis





The new Cheery Lynn "Build A Flower #1" dies have been a big hit.  Today I want to show you a card I designed, creating a "Clematis", using these dies.  Tomorrow we will have a lot more ideas for you as Joan's Garden will be hosting a "Build A Flower" blog hop, and on my post I will have a tutorial on how I used these dies to "build" this clematis.

I used the Cheery Lynn "Arabian Night Rectangle Frame"  over a piece of green gingham design paper for my background.  The stamped image is from the  Heartfelt Creations "Clematis/Cottage PreCut Set"  stamp set.  It was stamped with black VersaFine Ink and Clear Embossed, then colored with the Tim Holtz Distress Markers. I used the Spellbinders Labels 25 to die cut the image and used yellow chalk on the background before removing it from the die.  The flower was created with the Cheery Lynn "Build A Flower #1" dies and attached over the Cheery Lynn "Fanciful Flourish".  The butterfly is one of the Cheery Lynn "Mini Butterflies". The large leaves under the flower are also from the Build A Flower die set.

Be sure to join us tomorrow, for our blog hop,  and find out how you can have a chance to win a fabulous prize donated by Cheery Lynn.



Cheery Lynn "Arabian Night Rectangle Frame" (FRM125)
Cheery Lynn "Build A Flower #1" (B181)
Cheery Lynn "Mini Butterflies" (DL112)
Heartfelt Creations "Clematis/Cottage PreCut Set" (HCPC 572)
Spellbinders "Labels 25"
Tim Holtz Distress Markers

529010

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Build A Flower Mini Tutorial

Yesterday Joan's Gardens introduced the new Cheery Lynn "Build A Flower #1" dies along with the other dies in the May Release.  Today I want to give you a few ideas on ways to help create very realistic flowers. Thursday Joan's Gardens is hosting a Blog Hop featuring the Build A Flower dies.  Be sure to join us for a lot of inspiration from our Guest Designers.  I will be posting a complete tutorial on how to create an entire flower.


I have included a picture of these dies again today so you can see the pieces I used for this tutorial.  First I would like to tell you how I created the stamen.  On the right side is a set of  stamens used for most flowers, but to show you the versatility in these dies, I wanted to show you a stamen that I created by die cutting 8 of the smaller "base", which is under the leaf in the center die. I used dark brown and black cardstock.  Push each "base" down in the black shaping mat to "cup" them.  The colors were alternated for assembly.  Three of them were tightly shaped by adding glue over the entire topside of each, stacked, and pressed in until they stuck together in a cone shape.  The other pieces were just glued in the center and stacked, alternating the points, then the "cone" was glued in the center.   Because this "base" has little ridges along the sides of each point, it resembles the center of a sunflower.

 Next I would like to show you how I gave the die cut "leaf" some character.  First you should use the large white tool from the Flower Tool Kit to condition and shape each leaf. Then  I used the self-closing tweezers, also from the Flower Tool Kit, and created creases along each side.  You just place the tip of the tweezers up to the center line of the leaf and fold the leaf around the tweezers. 


Place the tweezers at an angle rather than straight across so it resembles the veins in a real leaf.  Put our fingers under the leaf and fold up around the tweezers.  Do this on both sides of the leaf.

In this picture you can see the big difference between the leaf on the left side and the leaves that I conditioned and creased with the tweezers. You can learn more about shaping flowers and leaves in Susan Tierney-Cockburn's book called Paper Bouquet available from Joan's Gardens.

I hope this tutorial helps gives you some new ideas and is helpful when you create your flowers.  I love to read your comments to hear your feedback.


528060

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails