Handmade Flowers – My Crafts are Like a Box of Chocolates

White Flower Cards

May 13, 2016 beccreates1

So, apparently, the flower for this month is Lily of the Valley. So our Crazy 4 Challenges theme this week is white flowers! Right up my alley! I love adding flowers of all kinds to my cards.

This week I went all out for my first card making the flowers myself. It takes a long time to cut, shade, shape and glue them all then add the tiny centers! To start this card, I looked through my flower dies and settled on white lilacs with subtle pink and purple centers. I used Sizzix dies that are retired for the lilac and a cool lace die by Creative Expressions. (Elizabeth Craft now sells similar flower dies.)

The flowers were cut from white cardstock and shaded with Pan Pastels. The flower centers are made with a yellow Paper Pen from Viva Decor. I added some dots to the back panel with a Sizzix embossing folder and used some old SU! ribbon for the bow. All cardstock is by PTI except the green which is from SU!

Next up is a cool interactive card using stamps and dies by PTI. Sadly, I think this set is now in the vault meaning it costs double to buy it! I got it just in time. It resembles the very first instant camera and where the photo would come out, there is a pull tab where you can write or stamp your message. The paper is by MME. The cardstock and leaf die are by PTI as well.

I hope you will also enjoy this challenge. It’s so nice and easy and any style you chose is perfect! I was thinking about using some vellum for a flower so maybe that’s an idea for someone. We, the design team, are always so encouraged to see you play along!

Enjoy, Rebecca

Entered In: Simon Says Stamp Monday to use embossing, Simon Says Stamp Wednesday to add flowers

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Last but not Least, TSTR DT Application 4!

June 29, 2015 beccreates1

I went all out on this one. Shabby but bold!

I started with a rather painstaking process of learning how to use foil. My first three attempts failed miserably despite following directions from several different prominent crafter’s blogs! Grrr… But I finally got results I could use even if I didn’t love it. I applied Versamark through a stencil and clear embossed it. Then I added foil and ran my paper through my laminator. It melts the embossing powder so the foil can stick. Unfortunately, it also flattened the melted embossing powder causing it to spread out. So my pattern is a bit more messy than I had hoped for but hopefully that just enhances the shabby chic-ness.

I made the small white flowers, I realized that I hadn’t use the baby’s breath as inspiration at all so I made the closest flowers I could! I think they softened an otherwise quite bold card. I used the yarrow die set from Susan’s Garden. Sizzix used to manufacture them but now I believe you can get them from Elizabeth Crafts. I used the Paper Players sketch 225. and of course The Shabby Tear Room DT call.

Enjoy, Rebecca

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Navy and Pink PTI Blog Hop

April 25, 2015 beccreates1

Welcome to another PTI Blog Hop! My card was made when I was very tired this morning, I got up early because I couldn’t sleep, so please forgive a lack of inspiration. Overall though, I think it’s a pretty card worth posting.

I really wish PTI made a cardstock that was about halfway between blush and hibiscus and not peachy/coral like Melon Berry and Berry sorbet. Then I would have used that for the sentiment panel and the flowers would stand out more. IRL the sponging on the edges of the flowers shows more and they stand out from the background a bit better.

Such a gorgeous inspiration photo right? The flowers were made with a die from Memory Box and I took the time to shape them nicely before adding them to the card. I should have sponged them before shaping them though so I will make a note to myself for next time. Not only did they not sponge very smoothly but the tiny tab used to keep the flower 3-D

I love making lots of types of cards but I find myself using get well and thanks most so I love having lots of choices of sentiment in these two categories. This set, Healing Touch Sentiments, has lots of options. I am dying to get a Get Well die though. Anyone know of one? The only one I can find, from Hero Arts, isn’t in a font I like too well.

I used Cardabilities sketch 121 for this card. Isn’t it awesome? They have the best sketches for all cards but especially shabby chic ones.

Enjoy the rest of the hop! Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: fancy flourishes, Healing Touch sent-PTI
Ink: Paris dusk-Memento, hibiscus burst
Paper: DP-MME, cardstock all PTI
Accessories: Cherry Blossom die-Memory Box, Labels 8-Spellbinders, leaves die-SSS, gem-stash, border die-PTI
Tools: MISTI, Embossing stylus

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CASE Study Floral Edged Tag

April 30, 2014 beccreates1

My third and final (out of time, I had more ideas) entry into the CASE Study DT challenge. My personal muse is definitely Melissa Phillips so here’s another CASE of a tag she made.

Here’s a link to Melissa’s tag. I kept the tag, scalloped bottom though mine is made of paper strips not strips of washi tape, felt flowers, polka dots and single large embossed work across the top. I changed up the colours and added longer lace and ribbons at the top styled differently with a button tie. I also added a reinforcer circle made from DP, a cardstock lace edge, and quite a few super tiny rhinestones.

I really like this one. It’s so happy and springy and works for any situation. I mean, seriously, who CAN’T use a hug when you give them a gift??

Please choose me for the DT. I work hard, am punctual and love working from inspiration challenges.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: hugs-Say it Loud-WMS, dot-SSS
Ink: Versamark
Paper: pastel DP pack, kraft, blush CS-PTI
Accessories: felt-Etsy, rhinestones-TE, scalloped, lace border dies, twine, button-PTI, various tiny flower, oval dies-Memory Box, PTI and Spellbinders, ribbon-May Arts, lace-stash, 1/2” hole punch, gold EP-SU!, Crop-a-dile-WRMK

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CASE Study DT Mannequin and Roses Tag

April 30, 2014 beccreates1

This is my second entry for the CASE Study DT. I sooo want to be chosen. I save so many cards on Pinterest and CASE them so this DT would be perfect for me!

I CASEd the April tag by Tim Holtz. Of course I plan to link this up to that challenge too. I used almost the same technique for the background with the exception of using distress stain instead of distress paint. I added some more embellishments, made my flowers differently and added some stitch stamping. I also added some lovely shimmer with bronze distress stain.

I hope you like it. I know I would be an excellent team member. I am currently on the Unscripted Sketches DT and I haven’t missed a week since November. I hope I am chosen. Pretty please!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Button Boutique-PTI
Ink: Vintage photo Distress, Archival potting soil, black-Ranger
Paper: linen CS-PTI, DP-Melissa Frances, grunge paper
Accessories: mini tattered Rose die, dress form die, hex cover plate die-PTI, shimmer mist-Tattered Angels, various distress stains, Copic refill G21, Hug Snug seam binding ribbon, button-Ebay, pearls-Kaisercraft, red, pink, ivory acrylic paints, 1/2” circle punch-SU!, Crop-a dile-WRMK, cherish charm-TH, pin-stash

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Shabby Lace Wedding Card for Unscripted Sketches #251

April 5, 2014 beccreates1

This week’s sketch is so simple and versatile! It’s a Unscripted Sketches favourite for sure! I decided to get my shabby on for this one and wow, am I ever proud of how it turned out! Especially my handmade flower! I am entering this in this week’s Shabby Tea Room challenge ‘Pretty in Pink’.

The flower is made from layers of organza, light see-through bridal fabric, and some crinoline which is heavy and stiff but once wet, it curls up and then dries with lots of texture. The organza flower petals were melted with my heat gun. I use tweezers to hold each petal while I just kiss the edge with the heat gun. It’s easy to end up with lots of melting and no petal so be careful and same for the crinoline; it singes very easily. So go easy if you speed up drying it with your heat gun but that can be a cool look if you want it really shabby. I allowed it to singe in a few places just enough to get a light brown colour to help out the Distress ink I added to make the crinoline ivory.

The leaves are made in the same way as the petals but this time I used satin fabric. The crinoline will also make nice leaves if you dye it green with reinkers, spray mist or colour it with markers. The green ribbons are hand cut using more organza cut on the bias. If you cut fabric into ribbons this thin in the usual straight way, it will fray too badly to be used. To cut it on the bias, cut your strips, mine were 1/2”, on the 45 degree grain of the fabric. A quilting ruler, rotary cutter and a grid mat with 45 marked on it are a tremendous help.

The lace is gorgeous don’t you think? I picked it up in the bridal department of my local fabric store. It was pricey but I bought it on sale and since it had two decorated edges, and I only needed a bit, it was worth the cost. I had a hard time deciding if I wanted it to overlay the whole card or just the bottom but it was too pretty to not use it on the whole card! I just had to arrange my sentiment carefully so you could read it! I just love how the stripes peek out from underneath the lace!

I made the little pearl accent on the wire, it’s pretty easy, just cut a piece of wire, add a pearl to the center, twist the wire. Then add another pearl a little ways from the bottom of the twist, fold the wire and twist just using that one wire until it is tight. Then twist the two wires together and repeat. Just try to alternate which wire you add the pearls to or one will be really short and the other very long and use lots more wire than you think you’ll need. Twisting wire uses a lot more than you’d think.

If you’ve always wanted to play but never got the chance, this is the week since this is a pretty easy sketch! And be sure to visit my blog and Unscripted Sketches next week too because we are having our BLOG-AVERSARY! YEAH!! There will be prizes and giveaways on some of our blogs and other fun events so you don’t want to miss it!

Enjoy, Rebecca

Stamps: Say it Loud-WMS
Ink: antique linen Distress, Watering Can Archival-Ranger, London Fog-Memento
Paper: MME Market Pad, cream CS-PTI
Accessories: fabrics, lace as listed above-Fabricland, brad-CTMH, flower, leaf dies-rose creations Spellbinders, ribbon-stash, half-back pearls-can’t remember sorry they are really nice ones, gold wire-beading store, top-drilled pearls-AH Beads, cream silk ribbon-May Arts

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Good Health for Unscripted Sketches

March 15, 2014 beccreates1

I had to think really hard about this sketch because, as you know, I like to go outside the box. I was thinking about going with pinked-edge squares and doing a quilt theme but it didn’t suit me this time.

But I am really into using my homemade texture paste! And I love colouring it! This time I used Copic ink either G21 or 24, I don’t remember which. It takes more than you’d think to get a decent amount of colour since the colours are soft. I tried making the butterfly yellow but didn’t like it so coloured over it with a gold paint marker. Perfect! I just picked a random sentiment but turns out a friend is sick so it was a great choice.

I hope you will play along with us this week at Unscripted Sketches! If you have lots of scraps, this is definitely the week to play. You can definitely add two squares or more together to show off more of a favourite paper or maybe add something else in a block like ribbon or a piece of fabric. Leaving a block empty near the edge makes for a cool look too! Can’t wait to see you there!

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Healing Touch Sentiments-PTI
Ink: Copic ink, Scarlet Jewel-PTI, Olive-SU!, Antique Linen Distress
Paper: kraft, white, moss, scarlet jewel CS-PTI
Accessories: butterfly, stencil-Studio Calico, foam dots-Sticky Stuff Store, flower, leaves die-Sizzix, flourish die-(don’t remember), hex die (used to cut banner tip)-Lifestyle Crafts, mother of pearl button-ebay, silk ribbon (button center)-May Arts

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Spring Flowers for PTI Blog Hop

February 25, 2014 beccreates1

Spring is in the air! Even here where we had sooo many winter storms, it’s finally getting a wee bit warmer. Yeah!

Yes, I made these flowers! I used Susan’s Garden Sizzix dies to cut all the petals and painstakingly shaped and coloured each one as well as 13 leaves.

I used Fancy Flourishes in the background as filler. But I didn’t like how the card showed through the yarrow so I added more leaves and some ribbon poufs. It isn’t a full bow under there, just some loops which is why I call them poufs!

Just some flower closeups. This one is an open hardy geranium. I used to grow these, they are so lovely! If you make these, add the pollen BEFORE rolling up the center. It’s so much harder later!

A semi-closed geranium. Made with the same petals, I just cupped it more in the center so the petals stood up. These flowers have airbrushed colour in the centers and lines drawn on with Copics. Susan recommends Pan Pastels for the centers and I can’t wait to get them but airbrushing looks just as good. It doesn’t work for adding lighter colours though so I use Pastel Pencils or my old SU! chalks for those.

Yarrow. This one takes a while to make with all those tiny flowers. Each one has a center of pollen which I glue in with a Viva Paper Pen. I could use glue but since this has a very fine tip and is dimensional, it makes the centers look more realistic. You could use a dimensional glue but since most aren’t matte, it isn’t the best choice; if any shows through, it will look weird. I miss Matte Accents (sister to Glossy Accents) by Ranger. BRING IT BACK!!

See the yellow in the center and on the leaves? Definitely won’t work with Copics. This one is the violet. It comes in the same set as the Pansy and though I didn’t use it, I used some of the pansy leaves as filler. It’s the ruffled one in the top left corner.

I hope you enjoy the hop! Like my card? Please leave a comment or sign up for email or RSS updates! They are on the sidebar.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
Stamps: Fancy Flourishes-PTI
Ink: spring moss-PTI
Paper: Spring moss, cream CS, DP-PTI, olive, artichoke, banana, brocade CS-SU!
Accessories: sequins-Ellen Hutson, flourish dies-PTI, yarrow, geranium, pansy/violet dies, flower and leaf shaping mats-Sizzix, ribbon-Masterstroke, foam dots-Sticky Stuff Store, Copics and airbrushing system, Pastel Pencils-Conte, chalks-SU!, fine, medium and large embossing tools-unknown, pollen-Woodland Scenics, paper perfect pen-Viva Decor, lace-vintage

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World Card Making Day!!

October 5, 2013 beccreates1

Welcome to my WCMD post! I’ve saved several cards I’ve made lately just for this special occasion! So sit back and enjoy! (Check out the end of the post for what’s coming up on my blog soon.)

First off a little card inspired by Jennifer McGuire or maybe Kristina Werner. But if Jenn made it the sentiment would be black and if Kristina made it there would be dash lines somewhere or rounded corners so I suppose that makes it all mine!

I cut apart a SSS heart die to get just one heart to cut it from each of two banners. The background was sponged with broken china ink over the SSS Moroccan stencil.

Next up is a Copic coloured card I spent a TON of time on. Not only did the colouring take a long time but the card design did too.

It’s a surprise pop up card but I call it a tag slider card. I changed hte measurements of the tutorial quite a bit though as my card is larger. Cuz when you pull on the tag, the front panel slides up to reveal a message underneath and a place on the tag for a message!

Cool right?

The Copic colouring looks smoother IRL. Strange, soft colours usually fades completely on a computer screen. In this case, it actually shows up more strongly! Weird!

I made this card for a challenge on Swap-Bot to go green and use coffee sleeves. I love the tiny corrugations and that one side of the cardboard is already removed. I die cut the heart and painted the ridges white. Then I used Versamark to add gold embossing to the edges.

And last but not least, two ATCs. They are still cards right? First, a mixed media piece inspired by a canvas I did for my bathroom. I’ll be posting that soon so if you are new to my blog and want to make sure you see it, be sure to subscribe or bookmark me!

I used a kraft cardstock base and added some sticky back canvas. Then I added two colours of turquoise, ivory and yellow-green Golden fluid acrylic paint. Then I dry brushed on some gold. I stamped the shell in Archival ink and added the ribbon and button when dry.

This one was sponged with a rainbow of distress ink colours on vintage sheet music paper. Then I added ink direct to paper on white cardstock so the colours would match the sponging when I punched the butterflies. And I added Copic markers to the centers. They are glued on their middles only so the wings can be lifted up.

Have a great WCMD. I hope you enjoy clicking on all the links and I apologize that this post wasn’t up right away. Coming up soon on my blog: how to make multiples of a project-3 parts, preparing, die cutting, stamping; 2 mixed media canvases and how to make a super easy super-hero cape! I also have a few jewellery projects to show you! Make sure you come back now, ya hear?

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE
(Heart Happy)
Stamps: SSS
Ink: Memento London Fog, Distress Broken China, Scattered Straw
Paper: white CS-PTI, DP-MME
Accessories: foam dots-Jody Morrow, Rock Candy Distress Stickles, SSS banner, heart dies, stencil, lifestyle crafts label dies

(Thanks-Tag Slider)
Stamps: PTI Thanks all Ways, Flourishes Hollyhocks
Ink: Memento black, night of navy-SU!, HA-Field Greens, Frayed burlap, antique linen distress
Paper: Kraft, vanilla, moss CS-PTI, white CS-XPress it, DP-MME, vintage music paper
Accessories: Cropadile, 1/2”, 1 3/8” circle punch-SU!, Ornate ovals, Rose Creations dies-Spellbinders, mini scalloped punch-EK success, foam dots, Copic markers

(Vintage Hearts)
Ink: vintage photo, antique linen distress ink, Versamark
Paper: Trousseau 7 Gypsies, kraft, vanilla CS-PTI, coffee sleeves
Accessories: SSS banner, heart dies, PTI heart die, white paint, gold EP-SU!, MOP button-ebay, lace-vintage, flower-Jesse James buttons, foam dots

(Sea Mixed Media ATC)
Stamps: SU!
Ink: cobalt Archival ink
Paper: Kraft CS-PTI
Accessories: Golden Fluid Acrylic Paints, sticky back canvas-Ranger, MOP button-ebay, ribbon-stash, MS butterfly punch
In case you are wondering, the shell with the slit in it is a name holder from a wedding store.

(Rainbows, Butterflies and Music ATC)

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SAF Tea Staining–Vintage Daisy Card

August 25, 2013 beccreates1

I just got a new Sizzix die I used to make this sweet little daisy and I thought it would work perfectly with the deep tea staining I got on this seam binding ribbon.

Instead of bright yellow, I used a deep, almost brown-yellow Copic to tint the middle of the petals giving it a vintage look to match the card. I have no idea who made the papers as someone gave them to me to use to make ATCs. They were sitting on my desk and looked so pretty and vintage they found a new purpose.

Enjoy, Rebecca

RECIPE: kraft, ivory, ocean tides cardstock-PTI, avocado cardstock-SU!, Hug Snug seam binding ribbon, Sizzix min daisy die, Viva decor paper pen, Kaisercraft pearls, Copic marker. Spellbinders embossing folder