Altered mulberry flowers

I'm going to share a quick tutorial (if you can call it that lol) of how I get this glassy effect on the mulberry poinsettias. You can also do this on acetate with die cut snowflakes, and also on punched designer paper as the "glass" dries clear so you can see the patterns and colours through it. Below is the card I have made for this weeks Whiff of Joy Challenge using this technique.

So to do this technique you will need Twinklets Diamond Dust, which I adhere to the flowers with Glossy Accents. I have tried PVA flue and was not at all happy with the results so stick to Glossy Accents now. I pull the flowers apart by cutting off the stamens then carefully peeling the layers away from each other. Sometimes the layers will fray but this is hidden by the Twinklets.

I coat the petals with Glossy Accents then place face down on to the Twinklets then gently pat to ensure the Twinklets coat the petals well. I don't worry about coating the calyx.

Then I reassemble the flowers again using a large spacer (which I flatten with a hammer on a block of wood) and a large brad. This was a clear brad that I coloured with a Copic marker.

And that's all there is to it.
Thanks for stopping by today,
hugs

Strawberry Box

Hello, it's me, Monika. I want to show you today, how to make little Strawberry boxes for many decoration possibilities. I had several requests for these boxes on my blog , that I thought I'd share the instructions with you (even the pattern is not my personal creation).

All you need therefore is:

• Pattern - please take the first picture and save it on your computer and then print it out OR copy paste the first picture to a word doc where you can adapt the size according to your wishes
• Paper
• Pencil
• Scissors

Optional:

• Punches
• Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder

     

Cut out pattern and trace onto background paper

Cut out

If you like, you can use for example Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder for texture

Score on dashed lines and fold

 

Cut out pattern of the green and trace onto background paper or just use a similar punch as I did. Punch holes with ca. 1/8 inch hole punch (or a needle) and glue tab on box to inside

Weave ribbon though holes in box and pull closed, tie a knot. Pull both ends of ribbon through strawberry top and tie a bow

 

You can use the strawberries as a summer decoration or you can use them as gift packagings (with a praline inside for example...) or even for men who want to surprise their sweetheart with a ring or other piece of jewellery...

Strawberries forever...; have fun!

Bye, bye,
Monika

Whiff of Joy Tutorial: Using Multiple Images

Hello everyone! Ann here with another tutorial for you on how to use the most out of your Whiff of Joy stamps!  If you're like me, you have more than a few un-inked stamps that you just haven't had time to use because there's too little time in the day.  All Whiff of Joy stamps need a little love and I'm here today to show you how to use up all those yet-to-be-inked stamps!

The first trick is to merge images by masking.  Here's my technique on merging images, especially if I want to merge them a specific way.  In this case, I've used the two new Henry stamps from the latest summer release: Beach Henry with Cocktail and Lazy Summer Henry.

I wanted it to look like they were toasting their glasses and this is how you can go about doing that:

1.  Stamp the image that is supposed to be in the foreground on normal paper, not on stamping paper.  You don't want to waste your good paper for masking :)  This is the image that will look like it's closer to you, therefore, it should look like it's "on top of" the other image. Cut out the image.  You don't necessarily have to cut out the entire image if only part of the image is going to look like it's on top of the other image.

 2.  Stamp the same image, the one that's going to be in the foreground, on my stamping paper.  In this case, it's my watercolor paper because I'm going to use distress inks to color these images.

3.  Cover the image that you stamped on your stamping paper (from Step 2) with the image that you first cut out and stamped from Step 1.  If necessary, place some tape underneath the cut out image to hold it in place.  So that you can see exactly where you are stamping, stamp the image that you want to go in the background on normal paper.  Cut out part of the image so that you can line up your stamped image on top of your acrylic block.  I wanted to perfectly line up the two drinking classes so it looks like they were toasting. If you do this, you can clearly see where stamped image is going to go.

 4. This what what it looks like after you have stamped your second image on your stamping paper.

5.  Carefully remove the cut image from the stamping paper and there you go, merged images!

6.  Color as necessary.  I've used Diamond Glaze on their cocktail glasses and eyeglasses.  Here's my finished colored image and card:

The second trick to using multiple images is to not use the entire image.  Here's one tip on using multiple images separately in one card.  I've used two images from the Life's a Beach July Store Kit and one image from the Fun in the Sun June Store Kit. Willow looks gorgeous in all of these!

I love using "partial" images and using them in "frames."  I've also used this trick on my Happy Thoughts for Henry card here as well as in the card I'm about to show you!

1.  I start off with using some Nestabilities to create die cut shapes that I will stamp my images on.  They should be good sized frames that will fit a good portion of your images and also fit on a card.

2.  Then, I ink up my stamps and stamp them on the frames.  To save on ink, you don't need to ink up your entire image - just ink up what you need for the frame.

3.  Color your images, preferably to match your papers :)

4.  And that's really it! Arrange your images to fit on your card.  Though it seems like three separate images would take up a lot of space, if you arrange them correctly they will fit and also create a great effect on the card.  Here's my finished card:

Thank you for joining me today! I hope that you got some tips on how to use those un-inked Whiff of Joy stamps!

Gardener's Gift by Jane Johnson

Hi! As promised I am back to show you how I made the Gardener's Gift I showed you yesterday with my Aida flowers on it. It is a little gift folder to put seed packets in to give to someone who loves gardening. Of course you could also use it to give a little gift of flavoured teas or cocoas - well all sorts of things really!

You will need:

3 pieces of cardstock 4" x 9"
4 pieces of cardstock 4"x4"
papers, image and embellishments of your choice
magnetic fastener

Step 1.


Take two of the 4"x9" pieces of cardstock and score them at 6"/7" and 8" on the long side as shown below.



Step 2.


Fold them both on the score lines as in the above picture.

Step 3.


I have cut the top of each piece (the opposite end to the folds) with a tab die cut but this is optional.


Step 4.

Glue the very end folded section of the first piece to the bottom of the largest portion of the second piece as indicated in the above picture.


It will then look like this from the side.


Step 5.


Score the remaining piece of 4"x9" cardstock at 6" and 6 1/2" as shown above.


Step 6.


This will create the back and closing flap of the folder. Glue the bottom of the longest portion to the last folded tab as shown in the above picture.


Step 7.


Take the four 4" square pieces of cardstock and score at 1"/2" and 3" as shown above. Fold them in the valley/mountain style as before.


Step 8.

Glue two to the edges of each long panel of the folder sitting them above the base tabs that you already glued down as in the picture above. This will create the folder's sides as shown in the picture below.




Step 9.


Stick the magnetic fasteners to the flap and body of the folder as shown. I find that these self adhering magnets do not have very strong glue so it is best to make sure that at least one of the magnets is underneath a layer of paper so that they don't come off! You are now ready to decorate the gift folder.


Step 10.

Decorate as you choose!


I have chosen to punch a part circle at the corners of the flap for added interest or you could use a corner rounder or your favourite border punch across the edge of the flap. I have added some of my flowers to the flap and some to the main body of the folder so that when closed it forms a complete arrangement. The image is from the Blooming Spring store kit.

Here is the folder open ready for the gift. As you can see one of the magnets is now covered with the checked paper which allows it to close firmly without pulling the magnets away when opening.

I hope you have enjoyed my flower and gift folder tutorials and I've inspired you to create them yourself!

Jane x

http://janeslovelycards.blogspot.com/

Aida flowers by Jane Johnson

Today I want to show you how to make flowers from Aida fabric (cross stitch fabric). They make a lovely change from paper flowers and also give a country feel to your project!

You will need:

Aida (cross stitch) fabric
Flower dies of your choice (I've used a Peony die from Magnolia)
Cutting machine (Big Shot, Cuttlebug etc)
Distress inks
Brads
String, wool or cotton (either will work OK)


Step 1.

Cut roughly around your flower dies using scissors and then run through whichever die cutting machine you are using.

I have used two different sizes for my flower as you can see above.

Step 2.

Crumple the flowers in your hands so that the fabric softens slightly and to fray the edges of the petals.

Step 3.

Ink the centre of both of the flowers with your chosen colour - I have used crushed olive distress ink on my flowers.

Your flowers should look like this after inking.


Step 4.

Take a second colour and ink around the edges of each petal. Here I have used victorian velvet distress ink.

Your flowers will then look like the picture above.

Step 5.

Cut a square from the Aida fabric roughly 4cm and place a large brad upside down in the centre.


Step 6.

Pinch the ends of the fabric around the ends of the brad and tie with string. I have used jute string to do this as it is strong and will not break as you will need to pull quite tightly. TIP: tie a loop in the string first and pass the covered brad through it and then you can simply tighten the knot. The corners of the square will be visible when the brad is the right way up. These are going to become the centre petals of you flower. You can pull them around so that they are equal around the brad. Ink the covered brad with crushed olive distress ink and the edges of the corner pieces with victorian velvet to match the other flowers.


Step 7.

Fold each flower petal in half and make a firm crease with finger and thumb from the base to the tip. You are now ready to layer up the flower with the covered brad.


Step 8.

Here is my finished flower. You can fray the edges of the petals more if desired to give a more distressed finish.

There are many possibilities for colouring the flowers. The flower on the right has had the petals entirely inked with victorian velvet distres ink and this time I covered a flat brad for the centre and instead of using the corners for centre petals I trimmed them close to the brad.

Step 9.

Here are both flowers on this country style gift. Pop back tomorrow when I will show you how I made this gift which is ideal for someone who loves gardening!

Jane x

http://janeslovelycards.blogspot.com/