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Thursday, August 20, 2009

Homemade Flowers

The homemade flower trend is sweeping the paper crafting world. There are so many variations on the types of flowers you can make, from paper to fabric to ribbon. Anything you can imagine, you can make. So this week I'm focusing on some really easy homemade flowers that you can make with supplies that are found at the Die Cuts R Us store.
My first card was really fun because I got to go antique shopping to make it. I visited a local antique mall and bought a vintage reader (couldn't find a date, but it is ancient) for one dollar.

I decided to use my Cricut & the Walk In My Garden cartridge (found at DCRU) to cut out my flowers. If you cut vintage paper with your Cricut, here are a few tips. Use a cutting mat that isn't very sticky. So when you remove the paper, it doesn't tear. Also set your pressure setting (knobs to left) to 1. You don't want a lot of force on the paper or that will also make it tear.

I then took my flower petals and lightly sprayed them with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist to give them an even "more" vintage look:

I glued my flower together and stuck a button to the top and used my fingers to curl the leaves slightly inward. Here's my card with the finished embellishments:

My next flower was made using paper towels. I took my Cuttlebug & Spellbinder Nestabilities and cut out a few layers of paper towel scalloped circles. I then ran the paper towel flowers thru my Cuttlebug & Swiss Dots folder. Once the flowers were embossed, I inked them with light pink ink in the center and darker pink ink at the edges. I then sewed the layers together and added a button. When my flower was complete I carefully tore the layers of paper towels apart (mine were 3 ply, so I had 3 layers on each petal). It gives the flower a much fuller look:

Here's a beautiful card Carole made using a homemade flower:

Carole ripped some pages from one of her altered book projects, and cut 5 sizes of round scalloped Nesties with the pages. Then cut slits to make some petals on each and distressed the edges lightly...curled some petals up, some petals down, and stacked them with a fabric covered brad. The papers are all scrapbin grabs!
The next amazing card I have to show you was made by Diane:

Her flower was made with Cricut Walk in my Garden, available at Die Cuts R Us and vellum from Paper and More. Spellbinders Petite Ovals Nestabilities and Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Pendant Shapeabilities available at Die Cuts R Us. Beautiful background card stock from DCWV THE SWEET STACK available at Die Cuts R Us, rhinestone and ribbon.
And here is a lovely LO by Sammye Jo! Look how adorable her homemade flower & paper are:

She used products from the Bo Bunny Calypso line.
I love the DT's different takes on a homemade flower, whatever you can imagie...you can make. Such easy embellishments that will save you all kinds of money! But if you buy a few trusted tools, such as Nesties and Cricut Cartridges...you can make your own for nothing.
Enjoy!

20 comments:

1CardCreator said...

Great post Amber, I love how you made the paper towel flower, it is beautiful and soft looking and so trendy with the button center. Your vintage flowers are gorgeous too a great idea for recycling those old books! Carole and Sammye Jo's flowers are beautiful too, such a talented group of designers! Thanks so much for sharing Amber!
~Diane (DCRU DT) <(*<*)>

Sandi said...

Amber great mini tutorial and everyones flowers are each beautiful. Sandi

Gwen's Busy Little Hands said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Gwen's Busy Little Hands said...

Very neat post Amber. I am a huge book lover so I nearly went into cardiac arrest with your antique book flowers, but I'll get over it...LOL. Your pp towel flower looks great! The DT cards are wonderful too.

Smiles!
Gwen DT@DCRU

Sammye Jo said...

LOVE the paper towel one! How cool! Great post Amber!

Claudia said...

These flowers are all amazing! All so very unique!

Claudia (DCRU)

Bumbles and Fairy-Tales said...

Awesome post, Amber!!!
I really love the paper towel flower! and thanks for the mini-tutorial, I'm going to try that with my Slice ;)

Carole Beath said...

Great post, Amber. I loved seeing the variations of handmade flowers. I have worked on Altered Books for about 6 years and have taught, and I see so many that just cannot take a book and do all the things needed. So Gwen, I understand...!!!

Yvette said...

What great flower ideas! Now to get my thinking cap on! :) TFS!

DonnaMundinger said...

OOOh great flowers with lots of possibilities. What a creative DT. xxD

Sammye Jo said...

Look at the article in my inbox today! Perfect timing! http://www.scrapbooksetc.com/ideas/seasonal/do-it-yourself-flower-accents_ss1.html?sssdmh=dm17.395410&esrc=nwscrap08_10&email=2104546177

Amanda Profumo said...

All of the samples shown as great! Very inspiring! TFS!

Unknown said...

Wow... Amber...the flowers turned out great. I love the ones made with paper towels but like Gwen...my heart hurt knowing you were going to tear a page out of that old book. It really looked old. I would have spent more time online finding everything I could about it . Loved all the DT projects. Great minds!!!!!

Amber said...

It did kinda bother me to destroy the book! I'm just happy it was
$1. Many vintage books I looked at were expensive and I knew there was no way I was paying that much to destroy it! I felt like a mean kid when I was tearing the pages out of it:)

Tammie said...

Being a book lover myself...and treasuring in my heart each and every story I have ever read....I totally understand the sacrifice of a page or two for your art!lol Afterall, what is an old book without a page or two missing? Especially since you purchased it just for that purpose. You've inspired me...can't wait for some scrap time tomorrow!

LORi said...

Great Stuff Girls!!!

Cara said...

What gorgeous flowers on the cards and layouts! Wow, who knew paper towels and vintage books could look so good!!
Cara

Lyn B said...

The flower tutorials are wonderful...really creative!

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