Susan's Garden Violet Tutorial

 I could sit all day and create pretty flowers with the new Susan's Gardens new flower dies by Sizzix.  Today I created a card with the pretty little "Violets" dies.  You also get the dies for creating a pansy in this set.  Below I have a tutorial to show you how easy it is to create these little flowers, but first I will tell you about this card.

I used the Marianne Design DS0916 embossing folder for the background.  It was lined with purple card stock then placed on a piece of white card stock embossed with the Crafter's Companion "Dots" embossing folder.  The base card is purple.  The Violets were created with the Susan's Gardens "Pansy/Violet" dies.  The violets were arranged over the Memory Box "Amira Flourish" die.  The sentiment is from the new JustRite "Grand Sentiments" stamp set.  A purple silk bow was created with the "Bow Easy".

Tutorial for creating Violets with the Susan Tierney-Cockburn dies and tool kit.

I found you can use two sheets of card stock (60#) at one time to die cut the pieces for these flowers.  

To give the petals a realistic look, I drew some lines up from the bottom end of each petal with a fine point marker then sponged on "Seedless Preserves" Distress Ink over the lines.  All the flower petals were shaped with the largest "loop" tool in the new  Sizzix Flower  Tool Kit.  I placed it on one end, not holding the petal with my fingers, and just pulled it along the length of the petal which caused it to curl, on the shaping mat which is included in the kit. You only need to to this once on the smallest petals, but I did do it twice on the largest petal to get a good shape.

Once all the petals are shaped, glue them to the (5-point) base.  As I have stated before, all the pieces you need to complete the flowers are included the each package of dies.  My favorite glue is the "Crafter's Pick" white glue because it dries quickly.  When I press the end of the petal onto the base, I like to take the end of a small stylus and press it down into the the base point and hold it a couple of seconds.  It stays secure that way.  I also want to mention that the piece of Teflon Craft sheet is included with the Tool Kit.

One of the things we haven't had with the old Tool Kit is great tools for working on the leaves.  The new Tool Kit has a special pad and the tool you can see in this picture, for drawing lines on your petals.  You draw the line down the center (length) of the leaf, then turn it over and draw the little veins out from the center.  You can shape the leaf on the embossing mat before drawing your lines.   Use the tweezers to slightly curl the edges of the leaves to give it them a realistic shape.  

Products used:

Susan's Gardens "Pansy/Violet" dies (658419)

Sizzix Flower Tool Kit by Susan Tierney

Marianne Design Embossing Folder (DS0916)

Crafter's Companion "Dots" Embossing Folder"

JustRite "Grand Sentiments" stamp set (CR-03885)

Memory Box "Amira Flourish" 98183

Silk Ribbon

Bow Easy

Crafter's Pick white glue

Viva Green Paper Pen #703

Seedless Preserves Distress Ink

Dusty Concord Distress Marker

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Joan's Gardens Workshop Projects

Today Joan and I are showing you the projects that were created in her workshops this past weekend. For those of you who don't know, Joan offers about four workshops a year and there is no charge for attending.  She always wants to have projects that everyone will be proud to create and enjoy learning many new techniques while creating them.  I love working with her coming up with ideas for very creative projects.  This year we had most of our projects pretty well planned before going to CHA but did get ideas from the Graphic 45 booth.  We used the design paper from the Graphic 45 "A Ladies Diary" 12" x 12" paper pad on two of the projects.  

The project above is an easel card.  We used mat board for the backing and layered it with different pages from the design paper pad.  The flower was created with the new Cheery Lynn Build A Flower #2. 

We used the Tim Holtz  Sizzix "Small Easel" for the back.  When die cutting this easel, you should use the "Premium Crease Pad" so the score cuts don't go all the way through the board.  

The next project was a card using the new Marianne Design (LR0236) doily.  As soon as we saw this gorgeous die, Joan and I knew we wanted to use it for a workshop project.  Again, my card is different from the one taught in the workshop but will give you another idea.  When at CHA, we saw the 6x6 Template, by the Crafters Workshop, that we used for the background on this card.  There are other templates but this one has "writing" on it.  We used a paste called "Liquitex Light Modeling Paste".  You press the modeling paste over the stencil and have to let it dry.  So fun because it give some dimension to the background.  I used Distress Ink to add color.  I will do a tutorial later on how to do this.  

I am adding this closeup so you can see this beautiful (LR0236) doily by Marianne Design.  There are four pieces in this die:  The pretty die cut doily, a backing die cut so you can add a different color behind it, the small shape you see behind the lady, and also a flourish.  I'm sure you will want to add this gorgeous die set to your collection.

This is the tea box they created in the workshop.  I worked on the template and created the box while at Joan's house, but did not have the paper to recreate it after I came home. I was gone on vacation so this is the box Joan designed using that template. Stamps from Heartfelt Creations were used for the front of the box and the flower on top was created with "Clearly for Art" Modeling Film.

I did visit the workshops via Skype and I think they all had lots of fun creating these projects. 

Joan's Gardens Workshop Project

This is another project completed at the workshop at Joan's Gardens this weekend. Many people asked for the tutorial, so Joan asked me to post it on my blog.  This is a picture of  the  box I designed; it is a little different than Joan's because I used a different Spellbinders die for the top and bottom.  Joan and I want to let you know that the inspiration for this box came from a beautiful box designed by Darsie Bruno. 

Products used:  Spellbinders "Lacy Squares" (S4-295); JustRite “Your Special Day Medallion Labels” and “Cast All Your Cares” stamp sets;  JustRite’s Spellbinders Nested Medallion Labels (JB10020); Punch Bunch “Super Giant Begonia Petals” punch; Flower Tool Kit; Black Shaping Mat; Twinklets “Diamond Dust”; Memory Box “Quinn Flourish” (98267); Marianne Leaves (LR0156); ScorTape; Pop Dots.  In the workshop Joan used two Spellbinders " Lace Doily Motifs" for the top and bottom of the box.  You can see her box here.

Cut two strips of pink card stock to create sides of box and lid.  For the box cut a strip  9 ¾” x 1 ¾”.  Score this strip down length at ¼”.  Turn and score down width at ¼”, 2 5/8” 5”, and 7 3/8”.  Fold on score lines.  Cut "v" shaped notches on ¼” length at score lines to create tabs.   White emboss the JustRite “Cast All Your Cares” border along the very bottom, next to score line, of the strip to be used for the box. 

 

This diagram was copied from Darsie Bruno's blog post.

For the lid cut a strip 10 ¼” x ¾”.  Score this strip down length at ¼”.  Turn and score down width at ¼”, 2 ¾”, 5 ¼” and 7 ¾”.  Cut notches same as for the box. 

Place Score Tape on each of the tabs and the side seam for both the box and lid.  First pull off the tape cover on just the side seam  and form a square with the strip making sure edge of tab is right up to the vertical score line.  You have two Lacy Doily Motifs.  These will become the top and bottom of the box.  Pull cover off ScorTape and center over the doily for each strip.  You now have a box and a lid.

Stamp the JustRite “Your Special Day Medallion Label” and white emboss.  Die cut using the JustRite “Nested Medallion Label”.  Attach this with dimensional dots in center of lid.  Place die cut Memory Box “Quinn Flourish” in center of die cut Medallion. 

Create Rose using Punch Bunch Begonia Punch. You can find the rose tutorial on my blog here.  Add glue to some of the petals of the finished rose and sprinkle on Twinklets “Diamond Dust”.  Tuck in die cut Marianne Design Leaves (LR0156).

You can see pictures taken at the weekend workshops at Joan's Gardens here. 

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Snowman Popup

This is a Christmas card with a popup center.  It is similar to the one Joan (Joan's Gardens) did for her workshop.  You can see her card here as well as the other projects completed in her workshop this past weekend.  The products I used for this card include:  Sizzix Scallop Circle 3-D popup die; Snowman & Stocking die;  Layered Christmas Tree die; and Holiday Lamppost.  The Christmas Tree was embossed using the Sizzix "Beaded Ribbons" embossing folder.   Cherry Lynn  Victorian Picket Fence (B123); Christmas Light Swag (B131) and Pine Branches (B146) dies were also used.  The sentiment is from JustRite "Deck the Halls".  The embossing folder used for the background is the Sizzix Triad Leaves.  VersaMark Ink was rubbed on the inside of the embossing folder, on the raised side, then run through embossing machine.  Clear embossing powder was sprinkled over the background then heat set.  Distressed stains were used to color it.  Below the edge of the scallop popup, the Memory Box "Frosty Border" was added.

The Penny Black "Village Christmas" stamp was used for the front of the card.  The Marianne Designs "Ice cycles" (LR0135) border was used at the top.

Tomorrow is the weekly challenge at Joan's Gardens.  We have a fun little project for you and I hope you will come back and join us in the challenge.

All the products used on this card can be purchased from Joan's Gardens.

Covered Box for Joan's Gardens Workshop

This is the box everyone created at Joan's Gardens Workshop.

Punches used for flowers on this box.  The first punch is the "Sakuras"; and the smaller flower is a "Blossom".  The stamens were created with the "Sky Flake" and "frilly snowflake". 

Doesn't this look like a fun project to complete at a workshop!   Joan wanted to use this  Cosmo Cricket Box and cover it with Graphic 45 design paper.    She asked me to help her design the embellishments.  We decided to use flower punches and show some of the techniques to create very realistic flowers.

 The flowers I decided to use on this box were "made up" but I think they are really pretty.    There are two different sizes, each with different stamens. The flowers were punched out of ivory card stock.  They were taught how to cut toward the center of each flower in order for it to shape better.  They then used tools from the Flower Tool Kit to soften the fibers in the card stock so they could shape them to look very realistic.  Rather than coloring with markers, we taught them how to use sponge daubers and apply different colors for a softer effect.  The colors sponged on the flowers were: Tim Holtz Tea Dye Distress ink; dark brown dye based ink,  and ColorBox Rose Coral Chalk ink.  The colors were blended well until each flower matched the design paper.   After shaping the flower and stamens, they were glued together then attached over the Sizzix die cut leaves.  There is a piece of acetate over the opening in the front of the box. 

Joan has all the products in stock if you would like to create one of these boxes. 

Tomorrow I will be posting a gift tag to match this box for the Tag Challenge at Joan's Gardens.  Hope you will come back to see it.

Tea Cup Explosion Box Tutorial

This weekend Joan had a workshop at her home and I had the privilege of designing the products she would be teaching.  She wanted to use the Sizzix Big Die "3-D Tea Cup" for one of the projects.  Isn't it a great tea cup.  To give a surprise element to the project I asked if I could design an explosion box and have the tea cup in the center.  She loved the idea. 

To create the explosion box I started with a 12x12 inch piece of pink card stock.  Not all 12x12 card stock is exactly 12 inches so I cut it down to 11 3/4 inches.  I needed the box as large as possible in order for the cup and saucer to fit perfectly in the center.  This piece was scored at 3 3/4" on all four sides.  For the lid, use a 6 1/2" square piece of card stock and score it at 1 inch on all four sides. 

To create the box, cut away the four corners, cutting right on the score lines,  and your piece will look like this.  Use a bone folder to crease all the score lines.  The sides of the box will be held up with the lid and will fall down to show what is inside.

For the lid, cut a 1 inch slit up to the score line.  Do this on both ends of that side.  Turn the lid completely around and do the same thing on the opposite side.  Cut off the corners at an angle starting from score line cutting out to the edge. By cutting the corners off, the pieces will fit better when taped down.  Decorate the top of the lid first, then put ScorTape on each corner and tuck them in to create the lid.   

The products used to decorate this box are: as mentioned above the Sizzix Big Die "3-D Tea Cup;  JustRite "You Inspire Me" and "Mother Nature's Gifts" stamp sets; Martha Stewart "Monarch butterfly trim" punch; Martha Stewart "Monarch Butterfly" punch; Sizzix Corner Flourish #2; Sizzix Branch with Leaves; Nestabilities Lotus Pendant; Pink and Purple vellum for the flowers.  The saucer that comes with the die was too large so I used two Nestability ovals:  the smallest Petite Oval Lg and the second smallest Classic Oval Scallop.  The cup was embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder.  I did not emboss the handle to make it look more realistic.  The trim on the lid was something in my "stash".  It was attached with ScorTape. All products used for this project can be purchased from Joan's Gardens.

Two other projects were completed at the workshop and I will show them tomorrow.  I think every one had a great time working on this project.  Joan's next workshop will be in June.  These workshops usually fill up even before she announces them, so if you would like to attend, be sure and email Joan for date information and to make your reservation.  There is no charge for her workshops.  You can see the other projects and read about the workshops she had this weekend at Joan's Gardens.

A few weeks ago, I showed you a lid from another explosion box I made.  That one is a different size and I will post that box again showing the inside, and will give you the dimensions.  Watch for that one later this week.