Large Hydrangea -- Tutorial

Today I created a card using the Garden Notes Hydrangea die set from Elizabeth Craft Designs.  I wanted a single large hydrangea so decided to experiment by using a larger base to create the flower.   Since this was a larger flower I needed a larger leaf so I used the leaves from the Garden Notes English Rose die set.   I was happy with the way it turned out.

Use the Garden Notes flower petal die and die cut it twelve times.  I was able to use two pieces of card stock together in order to only have to die cut this plate 6 times.  I used light purple card stock.

To give each petal some dimension, use a light gray or light purple pen to draw lines out from the center of each petal.  Use the smallest Life Changing brush to add a darker purple ink to the center of each flower.  Some of the flowers were shaded with a pinkish purple.  The inks I used are Altenew Lavender Fields and Purple Wine.  A few of the flowers were not inked at all.

Use the small ball stylus and press on  each of the petals, but do not press down in the center.  You want the petals shaped up but not the entire flower.

To create a larger flower, I used the Elizabeth Craft Designs Dotted Scallop die set.  Use the third largest die.  In the picture you can see the white circle that is in the die set, which is quite a bit smaller than the circle I used, to create one large flower.  Die cut three of the scalloped circles, using the light lavender card stock.

I like to shape my flowers on a craft mat, rather than right on the card.  Shape two of the scallop circles.  Use a large stylus and cup the circles so they are dome shaped.  Do not shape the third circle.  Glue the two shaped circles together, only adding glue to the outside edges.  Use the Stylus again to help create the dome shape.  Add glue to the outside edges of the shaped dome, and attach to the flat scalloped circle.  This gives you a sturdy shape for the hydrangea.  

Begin gluing the flower petals to the dome shape, beginning with the outside edge, working toward the center.  Using the Elizabeth Craft Design Fine Pointed Tweezers really help make placing the little flowers exactly where you want them.  Hold each flower by one petal and dip only the middle into the glue.  Place the flower on the dome and slide each flower close together.

Add all the flowers to the dome, adding them, off set, on top of bottom layer of flowers.  This gives you a full, nicely shaped domed hydrangea.

To add the centers to the hydrangea flowers, add a dot of glue in the center of each one.  Sprinkle yellow prills over the flower.  Only the Prills that hit the glue will stick.  Use a tray or something that will hold spilled prills. Let sit for a minute or two, then turn the hydrangea over and shake off all the extra Prills.  Pour the extra Prills back in the jar.

Use the Garden Notes English Rose die set and die cut 5 large leaves.  Draw in the veins, color, and shape the leaves.  

Use a 6-inch card base.  Cut a piece of the light lavender card stock slightly smaller and attach to the front of the card.  Cut a piece of white card stock 5 1/2 inches square.  Use a Score-Pal and score around the edges.  Attach to the front of the card.

Use the Elizabeth Craft Designs Romantic Corners die set and die cut one of the large corners, using white card stock.  Trim off the edges at the score lines.  Attach to the upper left corner of the card, as shown.

Use Joset's Dream Sentiments stamp set and stamp the sentiment, using VersaFine Black Ink, in the lower right corner.

Use dimensional glue dots and attach the hydrangea to the center of the card.  Add the stem and leaves under the flower.

Use the Leafy Branch die set and die cut 3 three branches.  Cut each branch in half and glue under the flower.  By using dimensional glue dots under the flower, the leaves can be easily tucked under it.  

This card can be mailed in one of the Clear Acrylic Boxes, from  Elizabeth Craft Designs.

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