Sunday, February 22, 2015

Paper Flowers - A What Not to Do Guide

Frilly and Funkie Challenge blog tasked us with creating paper flowers this week. Due to my lazy nature, it's been a long, long time since I handmade my own flowers. Usually I let Prima or Recollections do the work for me. 

But, because I have fallen in love with this new challenge blog (thanks Pamellia) and have become a veritable pauper by browsing through the Frilly and Funkie Boutique store, I decided to give it my best attempt. 

You, my lovely readers, are about to profit from my mistakes - or at least laugh at them.



I am one of those rare breed of people who looks at an object and sees something else entirely. Like what it could be used for on a card. Consequently, I really hate it when people send me package fillers because it means I am practically obligated to stick it in some drawer to be used at a later date. 

The flowers I decided to make were a product of some thin packaging paper. Which brings me to step one of What not to Do when creating paper flowers. 


Do not attempt to cut uber thin, wrinkled packaging paper on your Cricut. Yes, your Cricut can cut vellum, which is also thin. No, it will not cut this. Just don't. You will spend the next half-hour inventing new curse words as you try to peel bits of paper packaging from the adhesive sheet. 

So, that brought me back to good old fussy cutting. I started by making a 5 pointed flower piece, followed by a slightly smaller 4 pointed flower piece, and then an even smaller 5 pointed piece. 



After cutting out the petals, I rubbed each piece with Old Paper Distress Inks, to add dimension. For the very centers, I cut a circle and then cut tiny strips into it, then painted it with Perfect Pearls - perfect gold and added a teensy pearl. Lastly, I curled the ends of the petals.

Which brings me to my second What not To Do when making paper flowers. Do not spend a half hour cutting out paper petals from the most delicate paper and then decide to try out your brand new spray stains. Things will not end well. Delicate paper will not sop up liquid. But it will disintegrate when you attempt to move it. 

And then you will entertain the thought of giving up and not playing in that challenge you really wanted to play in, before inventing new curse words, and then sighing in futility and starting all over again. 



But when you finally do finish those flowers, you'll probably remember why you went through all the trouble - because the end result will be gorgeous. 

I used some gold fibers from an old cord to add texture behind the flowers, and I die cut a black doily and painted the edges with Perfect Pearls, letting some areas get more saturated than others for a more distressed effect. 



For even more texture, I took some red feathers and added some glitter to ends of one of them, giving it a good juxtaposition between hard and soft.

After I had all these pieces, I piled them all together and....



...grinned happily. If somebody translated me onto a card, this is what I would look like. I think I'm going to make myself this card for my birthday.


Papers are from Carta Bella and the sentiment is from Penny Black's Lost Without You set.





I'm sending this card on over to the following challenges:
Frilly and Funkie - Winter Blooms
Penny Black and More - Anything Goes
Paper Players - Thank you for the awesome sketch!













**EDITED** - I was very inspired by the Paper Players sketch and truly wanted to link up over there. I apparently didn't read the rules very well, because I can only link up to 3 challenges while playing along. So I've removed the other challenges, and my entry links to them.
 
I haven't had much opportunity to make my rounds this weekend because I was babysitting two lovely little girls and helping them make a birthday card for their mommy (my cousin and best friend). 






Sorry for the terrible lighting, but I was not about to let those adorable little stinkers into a room full of paper products, so the basement craft table it was! :D They were pretty enamored with my stencils and spray stains. 


Well, I'm off to play some catch up! Thanks for stopping by. Please leave me a comment so I know you were here! 


53 comments:

  1. I am the queen of flower laziness, so I will most certainly not laugh at your flower disasters. I will, however admit that I had to put my hot tea down, because I was laughing so hard at your story of the evolution of your flower! What a fn and funny post, and know that I've used some of those curse words! Beautiful card! You definitely deserve this card for your birthday! Thanks for sharing :-)

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  2. Sorry....I meant to type fun, not fn!

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  3. Oh yes, small people and spray stains, such a combination. :D Your flowers really are gorgeous, and thanks for sharing your what not to do list... I usually just leave that off the blog. The final card is fab!

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  4. It's nice to know I'm not the only one to get wild ideas only to have them go awry midway through and that my craft walls are not the only ones soaked full of obscenities! LOL You were right to persevere --- end result=GORGEOUS! Loved the corny comment you left on my orange duck card. It was there for the taking, someone had to say it! LOL Love the cupcake cards your little charges did too. Very sweet!

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  5. your card is wonderful, Becca - love the flower.

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  6. Every time I come over here, the first thing I saw is WOW! Well.......WOW once again! Stunning card! Love your handmade flowers and glad you kept with the process since they're super. LOVE your card!
    Lynn

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  7. ohhh love your flowers on the card!!!! super cute!! and how fun to make cards with the lil ones!!

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  8. Well - seeing as how I have never tried to make my own flowers I greatly appreciate your tips and will honor them when I do ever try to become a floral specialist!! I think every thing you do just has such verve, style and sass to it!! I love your work and this card is definitely no exception - WOW is what I kept thinking when I saw the finished card - you SHOULD definitely give it to yourself for your birthday!!!! =]

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  9. WOW - these are gorgeous, Becca. Thanks for the tips. I usually shy away from making my own flowers... I mess them up too easily! :)
    hugs, Asha

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  10. I am so glad you persevered with your handmade flowers Becca, the end result is stunning, and they look gorgeous on your beautiful card.
    It looks like the little girls had lots of fun making cards for their mommy, I am sure she will treasure them.
    Sue xx

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  11. Look at your cuties! And gorgeous cards they have made!!! As for ur flowers. All power to you, oh Mighty One!!! Hand crafted flowers??? And after all those DRAMAS??? Well worth the effort!!! I can just SEE you wearing this card!!!!!! Now you gotta fess up to when ur birthday is;)!!!

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    1. Oh, no panicking, Lizzy! It's not until July17.

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  12. LOL Becca, for all your troubles your card turned out beautifully! Thanks for the giggle, I think we can all relate in one way or another (especially the new curse words you invent!).

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  13. What a fun post Becca, well done for persevering with those flowers.
    Great to see you passing on your enthusiasm to those two sweet girls. :)

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  14. Oh my gosh Becca, your story about your flower making experience had me in complete stitches!! I hear you about the freebies, I do the same thing and have a entire drawer filled with bits and bobs that are, for the most part, useless! Well your flowers turned out spectacular, I just love them!!! Your card is wonderful, what an amazing fashionable feel it has to it, with the harlequin background and the red glittery feather!! Just fabulous!!

    Thank you for the shout out! I can't tell you how happy and honoured I am that you have joined us at Frilly and Funkie for our 'Winter Blooms' challenge! Big hugs, Pamellia DT :)

    PS. I am always looking for new curse words, so feel free to send me a few of the ones you came up with! haha

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  15. Your blooms are wonderful...I'm with you on having someone else take care of them but WOW....awesome work and card!

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  16. love reading your posts, becca! the flowers turned out beautifully!!

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  17. LOL!! It might have taken a bit of an effort to get there, but the end product is gorgeous!! Your flowers look amazing!! Absolutely beautiful card!! And what sweet pictures!! I love the cards the girls made for their Mom!! Have a great day :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  18. Becca, your flowers are great! I agree, your whole card is pretty fantastic!! Looks like the girls had a blast with you sharing your craftiness!!

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  19. These flowers are so pretty!
    Such gorgeous texture and I love the colors you picked!
    Thanks for sharing all the pictures ;)

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  20. Your card is fabulous Becca, as are your flowers...love the black, red and gold! Hugs Carole ZX

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  21. Well with all the trouble you went through, the end result is fabulous! Your flowers look amazing and so does the card!

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  22. Had to laugh, My stash is full of that packing paper just waiting to be used...I'm a hopeless pack-rat!! Your flowerts turned out very well despite all your troubles:) Thanks for the what NOT to do tips!
    Looks like the littles had a super time:))

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  23. I'm another who is happy to let A N Other make blooms for them...life's too short! A case of all's well that ends well as your card is fabulous but I did enjoy your tribulations on the road there!
    The little did fabulously too...bet Mommy loves there little works of art. Carol x

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  24. Fab tutorial Becca, sharing the what not to do's is wonderful...am sure we all can relate to those moments, Your card is gorgeous, the deep reds, black and white, gold...glitter it all comes together in a wonderfully lush backdrop for your fab flowers. Thanks so much for sharing your process.

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  25. Hell, you can make me that card for my birthday...or whatever other occasion rears it's head...Gorgeousness! Those two little people did a fantastic job on their Mom's card. They must get their talent from you.

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  26. Fabulous flowers and card ! Looks the children had fun crafting x

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  27. Oh this is so beautiful, love the fabulous flowers you created.

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  28. Great flowers Becca, and such a gorgeous card too!! I can totally see this being your style, but I'm sooo glad you got there in the end, the results are definitely worth it xx

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  29. Shazam what a great card Becca!! I love the texture and your pretty flowers!! CUTE little girls and their cards are adorable!!

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  30. Oh wow I just love your pretty flowers here Becca!! Your design looks stunning and how fun to pass along the fun to the kids! ;)

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  31. super gorgeous flowers....I luv them! luv your "what not to do" story....we would have a hoot in a room sharing these types of stories. awesome you shared with the little ones, they luv gettin all inky...*grin*

    add a little glimmer to your life......, sparkle & shine! *~*

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  32. Thanks for all the tips and "what not to do" tales. Super helpful and I think your flowers came out quite sweet. TFS Hugs, Kristina

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  33. I love that your card turned out to have a happy ending! It's fun to know what you would look like as a card, you're beautiful!

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  34. Oh wow!! Your card and flowers are STUNNING!!! I love the bright red embellishments with the gold. So elegant!! Thank you for the "what not to do" advice. I should be doing a post like this since I have so many as of late. I like making my own flowers but know from past experience if I want to use my die cut machine and thing paper, I need to anchor it to something first. Ask me how I found out that one!!! I am glad you didn't give up. Your little friends made adorable cards as well. I am surprised (NOT) that you didn't want them in your craft room, though!!

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  35. I definitely think you should make this stunning card for your birthday; guaranteed you'll love it *grin*! You are a scream, Becca..brilliant, crafty and just super cool! Love your flower-making tips - and the advice I'm taking is "don't". I already know what the final result would be: mega new curse words and very happy, rubbing-his-tummy-with-glee recycle bin! I do, however, have a couple flower dies that haven't experience cuttle-bug attention of late...hmmmm. Maybe time to bring 'em out! Anyway, fabulous card, engaging post and the photos of the little ones enjoying your 'selective' crafting goodies: ultra cute! I do the same thing with my niece and nephew...some things are just out-of-bounds (for the time being, anyway...perhaps once they're older....)
    Hugs~c

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  36. Wow Becca...you did an awesome job with this card and your handmade flowers are amazing! There is nothing better than making one's own flowers and then sitting back and admiring them! I love the colour scheme and design of your card! It's a cracker! ;-)

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  37. Your flowers are stunning, so pretty

    Thank you for joining us at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.

    Jo x

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  38. Regardless of the trials and tribulations along the way , your card is fabulous as are your handmade flowers. Love the gold thread from the tassle and the little ones must love being babysat by you, looks like they are having fun and very pleased with their crafting
    Mary

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  39. This is a fabulous card and harlequin is a word I would also used to describe what it evokes. Love the colours you used to create the card and your flowers turned out beautifully but I can sympathize with you about trying to peel bits off the mat. I too would have been using some choice words and have done so from time to time with my Cameo mat. Now I keep a roll of painter's tape handy to get bits off the mat. Thanks for joining us at Frilly and Funkie.
    Hugs!
    Cec

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  40. Enjoyed your post! I admit I did laugh, but only because I have had a few fumbles myself. I think that is the only way to try new things. Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't. Your flowers and cards came out beautifully!
    My personal Blog - Taylormadecards4u

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  41. Swear words come in so handy when things like this happen. You can say from frustration came exhilaration. This card is beautiful and love the harlequin background

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  42. Becca I totally love your post and it made me laugh out loud because I do the exact same thing. Throw away nothing because I just might repurpose it for something. Which is even funier because I am about as CAS as they come and yet I save things for when I attempt my next layered mixed media project--ha ha ha ha now you are laughing at me. Your end result flowers are so gorgeous and i am so glad you stuck with it, so worth it!

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  43. the paper flowers, card, and tutorial are all AWESOME... but you realize none of the above are going to get anywhere near their fair share of ooohs and ahhhhhhs when you put them into a post with tiny uber-cuuuuuute cardmakers!!!!!! :) :) :)

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  44. Love the stunning b/w background. Your flowers are lovely nd thanks fo sharing the don'ts as well as the do's. Thanks for the link to the coffee lovers hop. Glad it's tea and hot chocolate as well LOL. Hugz

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  45. AMAZING
    baby sitting and can making great card
    I CANT Becca
    I wait till my two little boy (who also naughty and disturbing mom when I made cards) sleep and I have my ME TIME
    Also I love your idea to use that old cordle(CORD) to be gold twine CLEVER point number one
    Point number two CLEVER to colored the doily with gold
    and clever point number 3 good idea to fussy cut and made your flower self...
    ADORABLE and sooo creative card you made Becca
    and I miss your visit...hope you dont forget me LOL
    hugs, MONIKA

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  46. Oh the good old curse words, where would my crafty life be without them? Especially the whole "trying something new" on top of having done something painstakingly time-consuming....what can I say. Sometimes it works, and they have proved that intermittent reinforcement is the most powerful psychological motivator! We're just slaves to operant conditioning! I cannot love this card more - the feathers made me OHHH out loud :)

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  47. Ha ha..Becca ! Its was fun reading your post and your card is gorgeous..! handmade "hand cut :D" packing paper flowers,gold ,black white n the sensational red ! Whats not to love in it !

    P.S: Thanks lot for the lovely comment ,you made my day !

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  48. Kudos to you for making your own beautiful blooms! LOVE the way these work on this wonderful card which to me has a real touch of Venetian masquerade splendour to it. Thank you for joining us at Frilly and Funkie. Jenny x

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  49. Fabulous card! I love all the texture, those flowers are awesome! Thanks for playing along at The Paper Players!

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  50. This is fabulous! I love all the beautiful details you've added to this card and the striking background! Thanks so much for joining us at The Paper Players.

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  51. Such a bold and striking card. The harlequin pattern is the perfect backdrop for your gorgeous flowers. Great take on the sketch. So glad you joined us at the Paper Players this week
    Jaydee

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  52. Wowzer--what a masterpiece, Becca! Your flowers are incredible! How fun helping those cuties make cards for their momma!

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