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Friday 25 March 2011

Growing Green birthday card - and my new flower tutorial!

I am so excited today because I get to show you my exciting new flower! I've been in the middle of making today's card for a few weeks but it just needed a little something to finish it... and today I came up with that something! Come and see:


The stamped background is made with the utterly stunning Growing Green stamp set. I've been in heaven stamping the beautiful designs onto watercolour paper, and happily colouring them with my aqua painter, but I did wonder what would happen if I used everyday Whisper White card stock. So I tried it and this happened! Perfectly acceptable! But have you seen the flower?



Lots of the Stampin' Up punches make gorgeous 3D flowers so what's so special about this one?  Well, have you noticed that the stamped flowers have four petals? I needed my focal flower to echo that of course! So I used my Petal Card punch to make one. This extra large punch is one that cuts and embosses at the same time and is usually used to make cute little envelopes to embellish cards or open-out messages, but I thought it would be also perfect to make my four petalled flower. Here's how to make it:


Normally I'd recommend turning the punch upside down so that you can see what you're cutting but because this extra large punch embosses as it cuts, it needs a stable surface to punch on. Pop your card stock in the punch (I've used Pink Pirouette) and use the heel of your hand as shown.


Here's the shape it cuts - and can you see the embossed lines? We don't need those today so let's put the shape in the crimper a few times to break down the fibres in the card stock. And screw it up for good measure! (Great thing to do if you're feeling a bit miffed about something?!)


The flower-to-be should now look like this (this is my favourite photo of the day!)


Now you can start smoothing out the card stock with your thumb nail. This carries on the job of breaking down the fibres in the card stock and makes it quite soft and malleable.


 Use paper snips to separate each petal. Can you see the shape emerging?


Take a sponge dauber and sponge the edges of the petals with Regal Rose ink.


 Gently peel apart the card stock so you end up with layered petals and sponge those edges too.


 Punch a hole in the centre of your flower and decorate it with a rhinestone brad - this large green one from the Circle Ice collection is a real favourite of mine. Now the flower is ready to embellish your card.


And there we have it! The four-petalled flower. If you decide to have a go at this, do let me know - I always love seeing your projects! Just click here to email me.

Supplies for today's card:
Stamps: Growing Green, Sincere Salutations (sentiment)
Ink: Rose Red, Bravo Burgundy (sentiment), Regal Rose (to sponge flower)
Card stock: Rose Red, Whisper White, Pink Pirouette
Other: Certainly Celery 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Certainly Celery marker, Circle Ice rhinestone brad

Thanks for dropping in today. I hope you have a fabulous weekend.



22 comments:

  1. You are so clever ;0) My class ladies always look at me like I am mad when I get them to screw up their beautiful punched flowers (I still have a few hardcores that wont do it). I think it is such a lovely effect. And perfect for this card. I recently bought my Mum Growing Green but it has spent most of its time with me as I keep borrowing it back! Oops! Have a lovely weekend ;0) xxx

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  2. Wow, this is awesome Vicky! Great visual tutorial, and thanks for sharing. Your card, as always, is spectacular!
    Luv Lynney
    xxx

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  3. Just finished perusing your blog and have found so many great ideas! Since most of my stamps are SU sets, I look forward to seeing how you use them. Thanks for stopping in at my blog.

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  4. Loving this card soooo much and what a great idea for the flower!!!

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  5. Such a pretty card - love the flower. Great tutorial too!

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  6. Such a pretty card Vicky, which would be lovely for Mothers Day. Thanks for the tutorial and for sharing. Linda x

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  7. So pretty Vicky. I love you created the flower. Very inventive!

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  8. Very pretty. TFS the flower tutorial, it's wonderful !!

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  9. Great flower tutorial, I was trying to guess what you had used but you beat me again, you're so inventive with your cardmaking. It's a beautiful card x

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  10. Will definitely have to have a go at that Vicky, flower and card both gorgeous
    Margaret x

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  11. What beautiful stamping and watercoloring! And that flower is gorgeous! Thanks for the tutorial.

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  12. Beautiful card Vicky. Love this 3D flower, thanks for sharing!
    Have a great weekend!
    Hugs, Vicky ~x~

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  13. Thanks for this great tutorial! Whe I saw the card I thought it was some Prima floer, never thought you created it! It is beautiful and love the colours you chose for the card! Janna

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  14. gorgeous stamping, colouring and handmade bloom.. So lovely :D

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  15. Gorgeous flowers, loving the effect and a great card.

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  16. That is fantastic! I don't have that punch, but I'll be adding it to my next order!

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  17. Wow what a beautiful card, I love your stamping and colouring. I am struggling with my aquamarkers atm, will persevere though.Thanks for the tutorial, I have that very punch, can't wait to have a play now :O) Viv xx

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  18. The flowers on the card are gorgeous and your paper flower on top finishes it perfectly.

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  19. Wow, Vicky, the card is stunning in itself, no need to add that gorgeous flower to it! I looks so REAL!! Love your tutorial. Too bad I don't have that punch... yet. Thanks so much for the info on aqua painting on Whisper White. I know Copics don't work on it. As for an email subscription to my blog, I've tried but I can't figure out how to do it. It seems simple enough but I'm stumped! I'll keep working on it though. :)

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  20. You are so clever, Vicky! Thanks for sharing your flower method. The card is gorgeous!

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  21. This is such a beautiful flower on a gorgeous card. TFS.

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  22. Thank you so much for sharing the unique way that you used the petal punch! I was looking at google images for this set to determine if I wanted to buy it to fill my demonstrator order, and your card sold me. I've been using the floating reinker watercolor technique that Sage Kimble uses, and this set fit the bill. My stamp club loved that technique - they will be thrilled to combine it with your deconstructed petal punch! TFS your creativity and lovely card. :)

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I'd love to know what you think. Do leave me a comment - it always makes my day! Vicky x


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