Thursday, February 10, 2011

Theme Thursday + A Tutorial (are you getting sick of these yet?)

Yesterday, I posted a Valentine's Day hanging (that sounds weird) and a tutorial for Faux French Enamel letters. I embellished it with a flower that was made from coffee filters, and credited two of my favorite artists - Angie Hall Haviland and Penny Bennington - with inspiring me to make one. Jann commented that she enjoyed the blogs, but no one really mentioned the steps to making the flowers. I Googled it and couldn't find any process that was quite what I used, so I went ahead and did a quick tutorial. Thanks again to Angie and Penny for the inspiration!

For my flowers, I'm using store brand cone filters. No reason other than that's what kind our coffee maker takes!

Begin by cutting off the bound edges on the side and bottom. I did mine in a stack of three just because I wanted a good supply.

Open the filters and smooth flat.

Spray filter using shimmer mists or other color mists. I made my own using Cranberry Adirondack color wash, Perfect Pearls, and a few drops of Worn Lipstick reinker. After misting with color washes, mist again with water, to spread the ink and saturate the whole filter with color.

Crumple filter into small ball (you're adding wrinkles) and then smooth out.

Dry with heat gun.

When dry, cut filter into flower shapes using a die (I used Tim Holtz's Tattered Florals die) or paper punch. You could even freehand them if you'd like!

Separate your flowers and crumple them up.

Open them up and begin stacking, using a dot of Glossy Accents or other glue to hold them together. 

You can use a popsicle stick or other pointy tool to hold the center while it dries.

Here's my finished flower. I added a pearl bead and silver jewelry finding for my center. So easy! There are endless variations too. Try mixing in some flowers cut out of French (or other) text, metal or fabric - go crazy!

After stepping out the tutorial, I figured I might as well make something with my flower. I decided to have a work table clean-up and use what was lying around. The first thing I spotted was a piece of French text that was about tag-sized, so I thought I do a tag. I found a frame I'd tried to do this technique with, but hated the outcome. I held it up to the tag and it looked great (never throw anything away!). It was stamped using a stamp from the new Songbirds collection from Artistic Outpost. Love these stamps - they're so perfect for Spring. The theme for today's Theme Thursday challenge is 'Words' and since I have a few on there I'm submitting it for that challenge!

I hope you're inspired to try these...they're quite addicting (right, Angie?!) and very fun to do!

34 comments:

  1. beautiful tag! thanks for the great tutorial! you are the best!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wonderful tag, Shelly, and thanks for another great tute! I think the cone filters would be the best, because the others have ridges (like mine, lol)and the cones come flat already. I'm just guessing though. Love the color you got with the wash, pearl and reinker.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Shelly your flower is beautiful. I love how filter flowers feel so delicate but yet are very sturdy.
    I never tire of tutorials so if you have more keep them coming.
    Have a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Gorgeous flower! I've been enjoying reading your blog. You have great tutorials.
    Susan

    ReplyDelete
  5. wonderful tag. love the flower. thanks for the tut. must try this.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Shelly please do not stop with the tutorials. You explain the techniques simply and in lay terms so I for one am grateful.
    Your Tag looks great, the flower is definitely star.
    Smiles:)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Nope. Still not tired of your tutorials, no matter how ya hang em! Tina

    ReplyDelete
  8. Love the tag you made with your 'scraps'!! Thanks for showing how to make these lovely flowers!!!
    Pam

    ReplyDelete
  9. Such a beautiful flower, and tag, thank you for sharing the details!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh, Shelly, this is gorgeous and a tutorial too! Awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  11. those flowers do NOT look homemade. they are absolutely gorgeous, the texture is gorgeous. I must get some coffee filters (I don't really drink coffee, so it's not something I have in my house)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thank you so much!!!! I am amazed and grateful that you went to all the trouble of making a tutorial for those gorgeous flowers! I can't wait to try this--and your tag is just beautiful! Thank you again, Shelly...

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love your handmade flowers...I have not been happy with mine, and will definitely try these. Now to pick up some coffee filters. Thank goodness I found my camera so I can show you my results..
    Thanks for the tut...it's always nice to see how things come about. Love all your work!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Great tag and tutorial

    ReplyDelete
  15. Love your tag, and thanks for the tutorial- I will give it a try :)
    xo,Dorthe

    ReplyDelete
  16. That's a great idea to try.. .thanks so much. I think Valentine's Day massacre was on your mind!!! Glad the results look superb.!!
    JoZarty x

    ReplyDelete
  17. Such a beautiful tag and I love the flower. Thank you for the tutorial. I must have a try.xx

    ReplyDelete
  18. That's a wonderful tag, thanks for the tutorial, I'll give it a try.

    ReplyDelete
  19. no..........we Never tire of your tutorials...keep them coming!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Shelly, your tag is gorgeous on so many levels -- beginning with that fab flower!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Shelly, this looks so doable that I am really encouraged to get out the coffee filters and make flowers. Your flower is just perfectly beautiful. It really looks great on your gorgeous card.

    ReplyDelete
  22. What fun! I can't wait to try this (and I love tutorials, btw).

    ReplyDelete
  23. Oh this is gorgeous and I love your flowers! I love your tutorials!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Those flowers are so beautiful, must try it myself. Thanks for the tutorial. Love the finished result.

    ReplyDelete
  25. So lovely. Just love your tuts. Very informative and u make everything look easy.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Thank you so much, Shelly! I feel I want to rush off and try this straight away!

    Lucy x

    ReplyDelete
  27. What a beautiful tag and such gorgeous colours. Thanks for the tutorial too! x

    ReplyDelete
  28. Gorgeous tag and flower. Wonderful tutorial.
    Hugs and smiles

    ReplyDelete
  29. All those layers give your flowers such wonderful depth! You made me smile by mentioning me as one of your favorite artists - I like to dream that I'm an artist, but the reality of being a veterinarian sometimes gets in the way. Thanks so much for your compliment :-)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Very pretty, and the flower is perfect x

    ReplyDelete
  31. Just came accross your Blog! Beautiful things to be seen!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Sensational - I am such a fan of handmade flowers and these are awesome! Gorgeous tag with lovely details. Another wonderful Shelly tutorial - thanks so much for your generous sharing!

    Hugs,
    Linda

    ReplyDelete
  33. Your tag looks amazing and I love your flower.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts. I appreciate your comments so much!