Paper Rose Tutorial

Hi! Welcome to my tutorial on how to make the paper rose that is on my Just Add Ink #39 Challenge Card. Please forgive the differences in colour and brightness.

You will need:
- Fancy Flower Large Punch
- Skewer or Paper Piercer
- Scissors
- Glue, Sticky Strip, or Crystal Effects (your personal choice)
- Sponges/Sponge Daubers
- Ink

Please note...I did not invent this rose. I have merely just taken my own step-by-step photos for those who haven't yet seen how to make this amazing flower.

"WARNING: Following are LOTS of photos!
Photos tell a thousand words!"

1. Punch out 3 Large Fancy Flowers. (here I used Melon Mambo).

2. With all 3 flowers, bend the edges of each petal using your bone folder. (As if you are curling ribbon). Don't worry if your paper gets creases or starts to split.

3. On the 1st flower, cut a slit into the middle between two petals (this photo does not show this step - sorry!)
On the 2nd flower, cut into the middle and cut out one petal.
One the 3rd flower, cut into the middle and cut out two petals (but keeping them whole).

You should now have 5 pieces.

3. I like to add some shading to the edges of my petals by rubbing an inked sponge dauber over the petal edges. Here I used Riding Hood Red.

4. Instead of using glue, I like to use small strips of Sticky Strip. I get them ready by hanging onto my Stamp-a-ma-jig. You can use glue, or Crystal Effects, but I find its less messier if I use Sticky Strip.

5. With your one single petal, roll it up (I use a skewer to help me, but you could use your paper piercer). The pointy end of the petal is going to get cut off very soon.

6. Probably the most trickiest is the 2-petal piece. Bend/roll together. Try to make it like a cylinder.

7. Take your 3-petal flower and with the petals facing downward, bend so one petal overlaps the other one. This is a bit tricky at first but perservere. I find it easier to "roll" it to each other rather than folding.

8. Take the 4-petal flower and join together, remembing to keep the petals facing downward.

9. Take your whole flower (the one with just a slit into it), with the petals pointing downwards, bend one petal slightly on top of the one next to it so it sits on top - adhere with Sticky Strip.

Don't worry if it's not looking perfect. Flowers are never perfect and it will all come together once the flower is assembled!You should have all your pieces looking like above.

The next step is to cut off the points so it can sit more flat and deeper into the centre of each layer.

10. Here I used Crystal Effects to glue each layer together.

And the finished product!!!!

Every flower I make is totally different to the last one I made! I like that about them. They are handmade and each one is individual.

VARIATIONS:
1. Sponge CONTRASTING colours onto the edge of the petals eg. purple on pink, orange on yellow etc.
2. I like to spray my flowers (before or after assembling) with a Shimmer or Glimmer Mist/Spray.
3. Curl petals more or less for a different look.
4. Crumple up you card stock or run through Crimper serveral times to get a softer flower.
5. Stamp onto your punched out flowers BEFORE assembling, I have used Baroque Motifs flourish on mine and I love that look.

I hope it all makes sense to you and I would love to see any roses you make in the future! Thanks for hanging in there - it is a rather long photo-tutorial!

Bow Tying 101

I haven't posted anything for a few days but I thought I'd share this really great youtube vid on how to tie a bow - she explains it very clearly and works slowly.

Friday 6th August Stamp Night at Rochelles

Last night Rochelle Wright, Bronwyn Eastley and myself held a Stamp Night at Rochelle's amazing home. Thanks Rochelle!!! And a big thank you to Rochelle's husband for entertaining my daughter along with his girls! Charlotte had a fabulous time and is so happy with her "place mat & bookmark" she stamped and had laminated!!!

First up, I shared my Twilight card and how to make the rose. Everyone made really beautiful cards even though some weren't sure of the "screwing cardstock up in a ball" bit!!!
Here's Samantha Denman and Amanda Aitken - love the tip of your finger Amanda!

Next, Rochelle shared her cute little note-pad covers! What a fanatastic idea! Rochelle used Vintage Vogue on the front but as I had made an extra rose I plonked a rose on mine.

Thank you Rochelle - these are such a fantastic gift idea and thanks for sharing the measurements:
Cut 3 1/4" and 7 3/8" of cardstock.
Score at 3 1/8", 3 1/2" and 3 7/8".

Fold in half at the middle score line and cut two slits to score lines.
Stick tape between the 3 1/2" and the 3 7/8" score lines, then fold back panel over the tape.



And last but not least, Bronwyn showed us how to make this adorable "mans-shirt" card! Isn't it cute!!! I love the ribbon tie and the little hankerchief!

*sorry its such a blurry pic! I'm still trying to master mums camera!

And one last pic, I just had to share! Here's me holding my friend Sarah's baby, Frankie. But check out Charlotte in the background!!!!! Now, she wasn't "not" happy that I was holding the baby - the camera just seemed to capture that "jealous" expression, but I think its hilarious!!
Frankie is such a cutie-pie!!!!!

Hope you enjoyed seeing my pics!!!

Just Add Ink #27 Layout + Faux Metal Tutorial

The following sketch is this weeks Just Add Ink challenge.
I knew, straight away, when I saw this layout what I wanted to do! It was just a matter of doing it - which is so cool cos that normally NEVER happens!

I have used Basic Grey for the actual card and the Faux Metal technique for the squares.

Here's a quick run-down on how I made them:
1. Stamp a piece of card a bit bigger than what you want to end up with, with Versamark.
2. Sprinkle Silver Embossing Powder and heat. (I used tweezers on the outer edge so not to burn fingers - edge will be cut down later on).
3. Wait til cooled and stamp over the top with Versamark again.
4. Sprinkle Silver Embossing Powder and heat.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 two more times, so you have 4 layers all up.
6. While the last layer of Embossing Powder is still warm, press into it with your selected stamp.
7. Walah!!! Cut your piece down to the size you want to get a crisp edge.

8. I got the cracked look by putting the piece into the freezer for just a few minutes, and when cooled, I bent the cardstock in several spots and enjoyed the sound of it CRACKING!!

The ribbon is actually Whisper White Taffeta ribbon but as I wanted black ribbon, I used Basic Black ink pad and a Sponge Dauber and rubbed colour into it. I used sewing machine to sew a running stitch along the top edge of the ribbon and pulled and gathered it - not my favourite thing to do - must practise.

stamps: always, picture this
cardstock: basic grey, basic black
ink: basic black, versamark
whisper white taffeta ribbon, silver embossing powder & heat tool, dimensionals

Rolled Rose Tutorial

How To Make A Gorgeous Rose
by Tania Gould

STEP 1: Start with a square. Here, I used 3"x3".

STEP 2: I like to cut the corners off my square rather than work with a perfect round circle - but both produce beautiful flowers so have a go at both!

STEP 3: Crumple it into a ball. Unfold and crumple again. This softens the fibres and makes it soft and "loved"! I really give mine a good going-over, screw it up and roll it in my palms. The rougher the better! But make sure you dont tear it, of course!





STEP 4: Next, cut a spiral shape starting at the edge and working your way into the centre. I like to cut a bit wonky on purpose, because it then gives shape and definition to the petals. Leave a bigger (wider) area in the middle as this will be the base of your flower where you can adhere to.

STEP 5: Start rolling it up from the outside (where you first cut into). The tighter the first part is, the more tighter the "bud" of the flower will look. Keep rolling until the end.

STEP 6: Once rolled up, gently let it go and it will "unravel" itself a bit so it looks more natural. You can fiddle with it to get it how you like. I even trim with scissors some of the petals if they are a bit wide in places.
I like to adhere the rose at the base by using Stampin' Up Crystal Effects. Squirt a generous blob on top of the base and under the rose and hold for a few seconds and then leave until it is thoroughly set. You will then have your beautiful rose!

I have used this rose on my Twilight-inspired card here. Let me know what you think of my very 1st Tutorial and I would LOVE to see any future roses you make!

My 1st Proper Tutorial!

I'm so suscited (oh excited - been around two 4yr olds all day)...I've just managed to produce my first "proper" photo tutorial!!!! AGGGHHH!!!! I even managed to figure out how to turn it into a PDF and then still be able to find it!!!

It's taken me most of the day, but Charlotte is having an all-day playdate with another little Charlotte here at our house - so this tutorial has been my sanity while I listen to them play mums and dads and scream at their kids all day!!!

I'm planning on sharing it later in the week, so please make sure you pop back here then to tell me what you think of it!!!!

JAI Blog Hop - Edges of Photos with Photoshop

Hi!

Welcome! If you started at the beginning of the super-cool Just Add Ink Blog Hop, then you've finally made it to my little corner! You may have come from Nicole's amazing tutorial on Emboss Resist, or you may have come straight from JAI....either way - HI!

I have had questions asking how I have blurred the edges of my photos, so I'm just going to show a little step-by-step on how to do that, using Photoshop.

How To Blur and Whiten the Edges of your Photos.
I used Photoshop Elements 5.0

1.On the Tool Bar on the right hand side, click on "Rectangular Marquee Tool" (the dotted square). You will notice at the Top Bar there is a few options of different shapes. I chose the square.

2. You will need to enter a Feather Radius Number in the "Feather" box. The higher the number, the larger the area will be feathered. I generally choose 150px (the pic is currently set at 250px).

3. Next, draw a box inside the edges of your photo. (The higher the Feather Radius Number, the more curved the box corners will be.) You will need to click on the Green Tick (bottom right hand corner of your new box) to set it.

4. Go to SELECT tab at top of screen, and click "Inverse". This reverses what is selected by the box to include the outer edges of photo not included in the initial box.

5. While your box is still highlighted, go to EDIT and choose "Fill Layer".

6. Choose "White". You will then need to go back to SELECT and click "Deselect".

Sometimes I find that the edges isn't white enough like the photo above. I think this depends on the colours in the photo so I repeat the process. I draw another box, inverse it, fill selection white and deselect it again.


I hope this helps you with your photo editing! I personally think some cards really benefit from an effect like this on the edges and some others look better left alone - best to go with the flow and fiddle and see what YOU like best!

Click on "Just Add Ink Blog Hop" to take you back to Just Add Ink and don't forget to check out the rest of the Teams fantastic tutorials again if you haven't already seen them!!!! Leave them a comment if you want - feedback is a friend! They are all so wonderful! I'm so proud to be part of such an amazingly talented team. By the way, how to make the flowers? Follow this perfect tutorial.
Tania