Saturday, November 1, 2008

Basics: Beading a Blossom (A Year of Flowers Sunflower)



Happy first day of November! (November already!?! That's crazy, hey?)

I've received a couple of emails from the kindest people letting me know that my blog was the first place they started to learn about stamping and cardmaking. (They made me feel so very honoured and fortunate.) What a great privilege to be able to share that beginning!

In that spirit, I thought I'd include some of the basic things I love to do that I've never done tutorials for. This one is for one of my favourite things: making homemade primas from stamped flowers. They make really affordable embellishments on cards. Specifically, I lurve to add beads to them. There are so many variations of colour & sparkliness, shapes & sizes of beads and they are so affordable & easily found.

I thought the sweet sunflower from Melanie's A Year of Flowers set would be supah cute with seed beads in the center like little sunflower seeds. Here's how-to...



Step 1) Stamp, Colour & Cut a flower.

This A Year of Flowers sunflower is stamped in Stazon, coloured with Copics: Cadmium Yellow Y15, Cadmium Orange YR07, Lipstick Red R29 (The Copics smudge the Stazon a little, but that's the ink I have, so...)



Step 2) Put a circle of Crystal Lacquer in the center of the sunflower

To make your the lacquer easier to work with just let it set up a little for a few seconds (about 15-20 seconds works for me.) It makes it thicken and it will slide around less. If it sets too much, you can add more fresh lacquer.



Step 3) Dump some beads on top of the lacquer.

If you have beads that are sparkly from the side & you want that to show, you can drop them on one at a time and position them on their side with the tip of a paper piercer or scissors.




Step 4) Press the beads down.

You can use your finger (or you can use an implement like a cork. Crystal Lacquer is really sticky.)



Step 5) Perfect the placement of the beads using a tool to move them around

I often use my paper piercer or scissors to move the beads around where I want 'em. If you have gaps in your beads you can add more adhesive, if needed, & add more beads where you like.

Let your beads dry, and then you have a flower with some interest in the center:



You can check out the magic Melanie worked with her A Year of Flowers set & this Ambrosia paper by Basic Grey here and some sunflowers that are simply stunning here & here

Hope your day is a most fabulous one!

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful work and great idea! Someone just gifted me with a sunflower stamp, so I know what I'm going to try today. Thanks, Mel!

Kate's Life said...

Looks great Mel! Thanks for sharing!

Melanie said...

Perfection! I have to go get some beads that are the right color, I've really been wanitng to do this!

great step by step and tips!

PS Memento Tuxedo Black is THE best with the Copics, you will love it!!

Anonymous said...

Great tutorial, Mel. Thanks!

Mari said...

Heh! I saw the title in my inbox & thought you were crazy! :) I couldn't imagine how you were going to actually BEAD on paper (I do NOT have the patience for beading) without losing your mind! Excellent shortcut, I've done the same thing with those 'no hole' beads. Your way would mean that I'd never have to even *try* beading again! lol

Annapurna said...

Honest to God, I didn't see your post before I tried this yesterday. But I used multicolored seed beads or whatever they are called. The sunflower looks too real with those black beads. Awesome job girlfriend.

Maria said...

Well. . .I think if your blog is the first place they went as a new stamper, I don't they have to go any where else! Your place is a one stop place for all stamping!

I love that pretty sunflower with the beads. The beads really make the flower look more realistic. Very pretty, Mel.

I use Versafine and Georgia Pacific cardstock with my Copics. I used to use Stazon and it does smear. SU Whisper White cardstock also don't work well with Copics. The cheaper Georgia Pacific is a great economical cardstock.

Hope you are having a fabulous weekend!

Maria

Libby Dyson said...

Oh I love this idea Mel. It looks wonderful. Thanks so much for sharing. I love your blog, it's very inspiring

Julia said...

and another great idea! Does it ever end with you?

This is beautiful!

Elena said...

Your idea with beads is fantastic! Love how you colored the flower! Very pretty!

Jami said...

That flower is absolutely stunning!!! The colors are soooo vibrant. I love how you poured the beads on over the lid so all the extras didn't roll away. It's little tips like that that I treasure!!
hugs, Jami

Anonymous said...

This is absolutely beautiful. Sunflowers are my favorite and I LOVE how those beads make it pop, beautiful job!

Anonymous said...

Awesome. I love sunflowers, but then again I think you know that. You're one smart cookie.