Flowers

I always seem to be telling you that I've been ill whenever I write a post, and today is no exception. However, I'm not going to ramble on, I am feeling a bit better, so let's hope that it stays that way. I've just got back from a short break with my OH to London and the trip probably did me some good too. We had a lovely time going to the Science Museum, we saw the West End show Jersey Boys, did a bit of shopping, and I got to visit Blade Rubber Stamps and trawl around Liberty looking at the gorgeous haberdashery department. I had some gorgeous cupcakes in Selfridges, my favourite one was called Red Velvet, which had a cream cheese topping on it, need I say more!

Anyway, onto the subject of this post, Flowers. I have made lots of flowers recently, in various shapes and sizes, using several different methods and materials, so I thought that I'd have a chat about one or two of them. I love using my Nesties with scrapbook paper, newspaper, or even computer paper to cut several layers, scrunch them up, distress the edges, and then use Distress Inks, or Glimmer Mists, before layering them together with a brad, or putting a button on the top. I often make lollipop flowers along a similar vein, just using circles instead of Nestie shapes.

Recently, I made a metal flower with my Nesties, painted the layers with precious metal paint, and then moulded the layers with an embossing tool, before fixing the layers together with a brad. I used the flower on a project on my other blog http://craftstampingquartet.blogspot.com/ which I run with three very good friends. There is a step by step tutorial for the metal flower over there, but I'll show you a picture of the flower here, in case you haven't had a look, (if not, why not?)! 

The other day, while blog hopping, I came across a stunning card made by Linda Ledbetter on Linda's blog I don't have the exact spot sorry, but just scroll back a few days, you'll see it. Anyway, she found a great tutorial here  I have a few step by step pictures myself, so here goes with an explanation. These are fabric flowers made from old chiffon scarves, dig them out of your wardrobe if you have them. I have loads from the days when I did a proper job, and had to wear a suit.

Cut several circles of different sizes from your scarf.

Burn the edges with a lit candle, carefully, with a bowl of water standing by. I used tweezers to hold the fabric.

Layer up and sew through a few times, finish off by adding beads or buttons in the centre.

                                                     

I've made a card with the two red flowers, as I thought that they looked a bit like poppies, which are my favourite flower. I started off with a piece of Kraft card, which I stamped with a Grungey Flower from Elusive Images in Versamark and embossed with clear embossing powder. I  then coloured the card with dried marigold, spiced marmalade, worn lipstick and fired brick DIs. I then ironed away the clear embossing powder under greaseproof  paper to get a flat surface, and stamped a flourishy flower from the same stamp set in fired brick onto my background. I finished off by edging the background with black soot. I stamped a sentiment onto watercolour paper and edged this with DIs, then mounted it onto pearlescent card. I punched four flourishes and set two behind each flower in opposite corners of my card. Hope you like, Judith x