Technique Tuesday: Circle Flowers and a freebie

Howdy,
Have you guys seen the latest issue of Scrapbooks Etc magazine?  The April 2010 issue contains some amazing flower making techniques.  I can't wait to try them all out.  I so wanted to share one of the techniques with you.  However, I don't want to infringe on any copyrights.  So I can't do any step by step photos or anything but I will tell you the basics and show you my examples.  Here is a circle flower I made using the digital cutter file I have provided you with as a freebie further down in this post.

 

Isn't it great!  As you can see it's completely made of circles!  Okay so get yourself some paper mixing various solids and patterns is fine.  This is a great time to use up your scraps...you'd be amazed what you can mix together and still get a great looking flower!  Cut out all your circles..now for the fun part!   Take out your stress on these little circles.  Crinkle them up, abuse them..they can take it!   If desired ink the edges of each circle or distress the edges with scissors or sanding block.  Layer them together on top of one another with the largest being at the bottom.  Perfectly center each circle or misalign...either is perfectly fine!  Now attach your embellishment of choice to the center.  That's it you are done!  Here are some of the examples I made..these are smaller because I used my circle punches for these.

 

These are just a few of the possibilities.   You could use crocheted flowers, glitter glue dots, letters, butterflies, charms, etc.    You could even use scallop circles to make these as well.  It's also fun to spray the whole completed flower with glimmer mist or apply glitter to the edges of each circle. You could also add some flocking to the flowers for a totally different look.

Below is a card I made for my daughter's Valentine.   The base is done digitally using Aussie Caz's layered PSD file she graciously donated for signing up for my sketch challenge on the PT forum.   The little girl is a digital stamp by Pixie Dust Studios.  Isn't it the cutest!  I did use some glitter glue on her...click on the photo to make it larger.   I also sprayed some gold glitter completely on my flower.  I used green netting for the leaves.  

 

My printer turned the middle purple square pink...UGH..hate when what I see on the screen doesn't match my printout.  I used my Copic markers to color the image.  Getting better but still don't know how to do hair!  My daughter did like it...so that is all that matters right!

Oh and I wanted to share with you all a baby card Ginger did using my Clothes Line Baby Boy Card .  I love how she used a real string for the line and carried through to the inside so she could decorate the inside with the onesie too.  Check it out below.  If you'd like to purchase this file click here.  

  

 Okay now that you made it this far..you deserve a freebie!  Here is the circle flower file.  I gave you leaves and a small flower to put in the center of your flower in case you don't have any other embellishment.  The zip contains the AI, GSD, KNK, SVG, and WPC files.  This link will expire in 24 hours.  I ask that you do not share this file with anyone.  Please send them here to download the file themselves.  Click on preview to download freebie.  Thanks!

Sorry link expired!

Gotta go....little one needs lunch!  Thanks for stopping by and if you try this technique...please show me your results at shellysart@verizon.net.

Shelly

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Technique Tuesdays: Rainbow flowers and a Valentine Freebie.

Yes I know it is Wednesday.  Well what can I say...hmmm...I know I'll blame it on my 2 year old.  Sounds good to me!  Let's leave it at that and get on with the tut.

Actually you get two tuts today!  Yeah!  Games from the Paperthreads forum posted an image of a Pop up box she did using Whimsie Doodles Tut.  Click here to see it.  Also click here to see a you tube video with Dawn demonstrating the same technique.  I just new when I saw this I had to try it.  It's a great way to showcase those stamped/colored images.  I love how it fold flat for mailing too!

While I was embellishing my card....it occurred to me that I didn't have any flowers to decorate it with that matched.  I hate to admit this...I am a totally  a matchy type of girl.  I don't how how to do contrast without it looking totally bizarre.  So a lightbulb went on..if I could color ribbon with markers surely I could color flowers too.  So if you are a matchy type of person like me read on....

 

As you will see later I used brown, pink and orange in my Pop-up card.  So I wanted flowes with those colors in them.  These are ultra cheap fabric flowers..they are frayed around the edges and what not.  But with some Copics or any alcohol based markers these plain ol' flowers turn into a shabby chic MATCHY treasure! 

 

Not a very good photo because these aren't as splotchy in real life but you get the idea.  I put bands of colors on the white flowers using my copics.  I tried not to get to symmetrical with my rings because in nature flowers are far from perfect.  If you don't like my "rainbows"...you can easily just color them a solid color.  Okay so now you can see what I used these flowers on...

 

Now I'm kinda thinking these rainbow flowers look like turkey feathers.  Maybe I should have just stuck with solid pink!  Oh well it's done and I'm going to leave it be!  I do have a recipient in mind for this little cutie but her birthday isn't until the 20th.  Imagine that I'm early!  I had ulterior motives for making this card now though.  See the sentiment it is a freebie digital stamp by Paper Trey Ink designer Dawn McVey.  They are hosting a birthday bash on PTI and if I make something with this great stamp I get entered to win some free stamps so wish me luck!  I hate that you can't tell in the photo very well but each of the dots in the sentiment is covered in stickles and so are the hearts. If you click on the photo to enlarge you may be able to see it.  The cutie on the cupcake image is a wonderful freebie digital stamp by Digital Doodling. Isn't she adorable!

I showed my son the pop up card and he loved it.  He has a mind like an engineer so this was right up his alley.  So I had to make him one too.  

 

The adorable image on the card is from Dustin Pike.  It's a freebie too!   I loved coloring this little guy and I couldn't resist coloring the toe nails.  The sentiment is a stamp I designed myself...more about that later.   I figured my son would get a kick out of these glittery lips.  They are available in my digital cutter file entitled wedding charms.
Click preview below to purchase.

I was going to use the hearts but at 6 he's still giggly and I can imagine him busting out laughing at those lips!  I am really enjoying coloring with my Copics.  I still have much to learn but it's FUN!  I hope to have some digital stamps available in the store soon.  Any request please e-mail me at shellysart@verizon.net.

I have put a few file previously only available through membership.  So go check them out here.  Please hit the next button to see the Valentine set.

Okay now the perks of getting to the bottom of the post.  To thank you for visiting my blog  and sharing the technique with you I am giving you the digital stamp sentiment I featured on the elephant Valentine.  You get one with a heart but also a blank one to fill in with whatever embellishment you'd like.  I ask that you please do not share this file but rather send them here to download it instead.   This will be available for 24 hours so get it NOW if you want it. Click here or on the preview to download. 

Okay it's supper time and I need to get some grub for the kiddos!  I hope you'll join me back her on Friday for a Frugal Friday $1.00 file special!
Shelly

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Technique Tuesday: Colored core cardstock and a freebie

Hello everyone,
Once again I must apologize...it is not Tuesday but of course it's Wednesday. I won't go on and on..just know that I am sorry! Now on to the technique!

I love the effects of the paper with the colored core that when you sand or tear it the color magically appears. However, I don't have it available in my neck of the woods. I know I could order it but...I have a ton of cardstock so I figured why not try making my own. Keep reading to find out how you can too! It's sooo easy!



Now for some examples. I'll post a completed card using my new colored core cardstock later on in this post.



Hints:

It is very important you don't use white core cardstock. Look at the edge of your cardstock if you see white then you can not use it for this technique. See if you sand white core cardstock the color will be sanded away and you'll be left with the white ebmossing instead of colored. However, if you want white embossing and you don't have any white paper then by all means go ahead and use the white core cardstock.

It is also very important to let you paint or ink dry completely before embossing. If not and you go to sand you will not get crisp colored embossing instead you will just streak your paint or ink.

In my #3 turquoise snowflake example I noticed the paper becomes somewhat thin in certain areas so I had to be careful not to sand too much or holes will appear

You can sand as little or as much as you like to make the color come through. If you get a few stubborn spots that won't sand away just use an emery board to concentrate on specific spots.

When inking or painting try to put on a lot of color..your cardstock color should not be visible. When inking press your ink pad or blending tool into the paper making sure the ink gets into those fibers. For painting dab on the paint again pushing it into the fibers.

I think this technique is a great way to make the most of your embossing folders. Plus with all the ink colors and paint colors available now a days the combos are endless. Pink/red for Valentines, green/gold for St. Patricks day, dark pink/light pink for baby shower. You could even choose your friends and families favorite colors or match a patterned paper. I know I'm excited to find a use for all the acrylic paint I stashed. I used to be a decorative painter before my kids started occupying my time!

Okay now to show you my card.



I once again tried my hand at coloring with my Copic markers. I was actually looking forward to coloring a smaller area as the ink started drying out when coloring the flower last week but.....this paper was giving me fits! I used Georgia Pacific and it has a tendency to bleed like crazy. I was always the good girl that colored inside the lines so when that ink kept creeping out of the black lines it was driving me nuts. It took quite a few tries and a couple coats of a workable fixative spray but I think I finally have a decent image on my card. I had to be careful not to color too close to the black lines especially with the darker colors. I will definitely be ordering different paper soon and seeing if that helps. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. This being my only second try...they say three times the charm right! Hopefully, I'll have better luck coloring next time.

Oh I forgot to say I used At You Spica Glitter makers for the drawn bells. I also used an Elmer's white painter's pen for details. I have one more tip for you. See photo below.



I wanted a silver mat around my image but didn't have any silver paper...so I just ran ink around the edge of a white scrap and let it dry. You can also use your copics and the broad tip to draw a border on any old scrap paper to make a mat too! Sooo frugal..gotta love it!

If you like the jingle bell die cut I used in my card you can get the digital cutter file in my membership club. Click preview below to purchase. On the bell for my card I used some paint meant for drawing silver dots on fabric..probably not the best choice! I should have used multiple layers of silver embossing powder to make it look more like metal bell. Oh well live and learn!



I know I promised you a freebie. Thanks for allowing me to show you my newly discovered technique! As a parting gift I am going to give you the digi stamp I used on my card for free. I will be selling digi stamps in the store at some point in time. I am a little confused as far as what format you all would prefer: jpg., transparent png, tif etc. Also would you like to see a whole sheet of images so you can instantly print them without having to copy and paste? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Click on the preview to download. I have included a transparent PNG and a JPG. You do not need photo editing software just bring the jpg into MS Word and print. I am not sure what type of digi images you would like to see me put in the store. So please e-mail me at shellysart@verizon.net with any ideas. Oh and please do not share this digi stamp with others send them here to download the file themselves. Please abide by the enclosed TOU. This freebie will expire in 24 hours. Sorry freebie expired!



I hope you all have a wonderful day/night depending on when you are reading this! Thanks for stopping by. Join me here Friday for a Frugal Friday special...$1.00 file!

Shelly

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