Wednesday, October 22, 2008

A Year of Flowers gift idea: Stamper's Sketchbook




Ever since I saw Melanie 's beeeautiful orange scalloped daisy, I knew I needed to make a double orange daisy with that stamp. The leaves & stems in A Year of Flowers are perfect with the flowers...and they can be used all by themselves and look incredible (just check out Theresa's astoundingly pretty branch & you'll see what I mean)...but it's also nifty how these flowers can mix and match with any stem stamps you already have.




I wanted to make this sketch book as a gift for a stamper & use this silvery paisley paper that I got in the handmade section of a local shop (by The Ppaper Company Black Paisley on Silver P89204) and the stem is made to match using this technique & grey ink.



It has tabs and ties shut with a ribbon, but my favourite detail is that orange flower. I love orange SO much, and can never seem to get it right in designs. Right now, I feel like this stamp was made for orange, but I can't wait to make a million more flowers in a zillion colours and 3 layers with beaded centers...and glitter and... and make fridge magnets with 'em...and card set and... heehee.

Makin' the layered Flower:



Step 1) Stamp the Daisy

(2 for each one you want to make) I love that the high quality rubber of these stamps can take Stazon ink (embossing Stazon with clear e.p. makes for easier watercolouring & no smudging.)

And it's perfect that the EZmount on these stamps lets you see where you're stamping (less paper waste), which is good 'cause I used good watercolour paper here so I could use a technique I learned from Maria: faux watercolour painting with Stampin' Up! markers. She has an awesome video for it here (and here too.)




Step 2) Paint & cut out the 2 flowers.

(Colourin': I painted outside of the lines & painted the back of one so that no white would show when they were cut & layered. Cuttin': The bottom flower is just cut around the circumference or the edges; the top flower is cut so that the petals are individual (but not too too low since I wanted to stitch the center.)


(painting the back so no white
shows when it's layered)

Some quick tricks to maybe try when colouring these:
  • Leave some white & use various shades for a watercolour look. (I tried 3 SU oranges & Yoyo Yellow)
  • Colour quickly for a painterly look (I need to practice that one. It's a great tip of Melanie's from this post: you don't wanna miss her stunning version of this flower here.)
  • Colour outside of the lines (it's just plain fun to rebel but also it makes it so there's no white on the outside edges when you cut em.



Step 3) Shape petals & stick 'em together


Sewin' knots in the flower:



Step 1) Pierce holes in the center of the flower where knots will go



Step 2) Sew the center:
  1. Thread embroidery floss into a needle (no duh, hey?)
  2. Start on the back of the flower & come through to the front (I like to anchor the thread with double-sided tape instead of knotting.)
  3. Then just keep adding knots on the front and going back in the same hole you came up (gee sounds like a mole, heehee)
  4. Finish on the back by anchoring with another piece of double-sided tape.
Alternatively, You could also knot in the front but instead of going back down the hole, cut off the tail to leave a fluffy end of the embroidery floss. (this would mean you have to stick the thread on the back again for each knot but methinks it'd look neato.)





The Knotted Gesso Scor-Pal grid
background paper:




Gesso Scor-Pal Grid:

This is paper from Basic Grey's Ambrosia. You'd think it was made with the Scor-Pal in mind because the grid in it's pattern fit perfectly in the grid of the Scor-Pal. To emboss the pattern, just line it up on the Scor-Pal score along the paper's lines turn it and score the other way.

To distress it, I've brayered over the embossing with gesso and sanded it a little. Then it's pierced where the grid lines meet (to sew in knots).




For a tutorial on this knot technique please see this post. (Only difference is that there are only single knots on this project, and they're orange, lol.) :O)

Thanks for checkin' this out.
May your day be bright & cheerful!

43 comments:

Paula's ponderings said...

wow yet another stunning creation by the queen of everything crafty - no make that empress - no even better goddess! I love the book and the orange flower against that background is just super fabulous!

Jami said...

Love the flower, love the paper, and love that grid with the knots!!! Soooo cool!
hugs, Jami

Theresa Momber said...

So gorgeous, Mel! You are such a rockin stampin, blogger! I love all the tutorials.

Etha said...

OhmyGOSH I love this!! Don't know where to begin! Of course I love all the knots! To score the patterned paper for the background AND knot it, ugh, I'm so going to case this idea, fabulous! And the flower is just wonderful in its orange goodness on the silver grey, soo cool!

Alhambra Club said...

This is beautiful, love that flower and how you created the background.

Anonymous said...

Holey BUCKETS!!!!!! This is jaw dropping gorgeous! I so love it! The french knots on the flower is just a perfect touch! I love this!

Anonymous said...

Omagosh, this is beautiful!! The flower is a work of art, as is the whole shebang! Love it!

Donna Baker said...

GET OUT! j/k - this is SUPERCALIFRAGILISTICEXPIALIDOCIOUS!did I spell that right?! WOWZA! I want it!! I'll email you my address...HA!

Germaine Ferrao -Lenn said...

Love it! love it! love it! simply and breathlessly beautiful... thanks for sharing!

Anonymous said...

soo pretty!

Lindastamps

Annapurna said...

WOW! WOW!! WOW!!! Need I say more.

Melanie scored big time by sell(nd?)ing you these stamps;-)

Off to go find paper company paisley silver paper :-)

Melanie said...

eek!! I didn't know you were posting flowers toda!! This is amazing I loved it beore i even realized wyou embroidered all that, oh me word!!!!!!!!!!

PS Did you know that orange is the color of creativity? Not surprising you like it! :)

mudmaven said...

Another wonderful tutorial and what a gorgeous, gorgeous flower! Thanks for sharing all your amazing talent with the rest of us! ~chris

Anonymous said...

Absolutely gorgeous.

Jessica Diedrich said...

VERY cute book! Love that 3D flower!!!

Toni K said...

OMG! This is BEYOND GORGEOUS! The detail is amazing! I am in total awe.

Renée said...

hmmm, what more can I say than, "WOW". Mel, again, another phenomenal project!

Maria said...

Wow, love the 3D effect of the flower and I love the colors that you used. It's a nice mix. . .

The sewn center is a great idea. . .I need to use my needle and thread more often. I have a sweing machine, lots of threads. . .every color you can imagine but I rarely use them. Arggh! I buy just to buy I think.

As always,I love your projects because they always turn out so elegantly!!

Maria

Anonymous said...

Fabulous!!! What a beautiful gift!! I'm not usually an orange (color) fan, but after seeing your creation, I plead insanity, lol! The flower is stunning and your needlework, amazing! TFS

Cathrine StClair said...

Holy Cow Mel! This is gorgeous. How you ever find the time to do all this amazes me!

Hey - got a BUNCH of bling for the store yesterday (still need to load it). Couldn't help thinking some of it would be right up your alley! HeeHee

Bumbles and Fairy-Tales said...

OMG! I love this gift!!! The flower is gorgeous - I love the whole sketchbook idea :)
TFS! I have been stalking your blog for a few months - I always look forward seeing what you made!
I have to ask... what do you do with all of your finished projects? lol, just wondering!
Thx again!, margie

Anonymous said...

Mel once again you have out done yourself. You are truly amazing and generous with all your info. This note is so gorgeous and I think any one would be thrilled to receive it. TFS.

Debbie/Phx AZ

Chris Scrappin and Stampin in Texas said...

WOW, love all the details. Especially the center knots..Great project

Kim Etherington said...

How beautiful is this. Lucky lady who gets this beautiful gift! Gorgeous gorgeous gorgeous!!! I need to go and watch the faux watercolouring video.

annes paperfun said...

Love your blog! Very nice cards and thank you for inspiration!
Hugs Anne

Anonymous said...

A beautifully done sketch book! Who wouldn't love to be able to use it.

Swedie

Evelina Wikberg said...

Gorgeous as usual and great inspiration aswell. Thinking of things to make for christmas pressies and have already got lots of inspiration from you. Thanks again. Have a good weekend. Hugs *Eva

Joy said...

WOW! that is a lot of work...but the card is beautiful! what great technique...it's inspiration to try make something like this =) TFS!

Sue from Oregon said...

Oh you have so much patience! This is beautiful.

Annapurna said...

Forgot to say, you used orange. Yay! my favorite color too.

Oh forgot to say, I love that book too. Sure will come in handy.

Oh forgot to say, take care now. I will stop bugging you.

Janine said...

Mel your project is absolutely stunning!! I love it!! YOu amaze me every time I stop in!
Hope you are well nad that you have a wonderful evening!

Shirley said...

I have decided, Mel, that you should write a book. Your tutorials are wonderful, just like your finished art piece!

Anonymous said...

2Mel,
What a beautiful book and I'm like you I love Orange. I hope you don't mind if I make one for my stamping friend. You are very talented. The flower is gorgeous in Orange.

Elaine said...

That is a really pretty work of art! Just lovely!!

Julie S. said...

Holy, Schmoly, Mel!
This is GORGEOUS!!! I have a very young daughter (2 1/2 years old) who ADORES Calendula flowers -- this so reminds me of her. Talk about great orange flowers...

So glad I saw this. Now, if I can only get these stamps ;^)*

Teri said...

This sketch book is so pretty! Love the flower, but have no patience to do those knots! TFS!!

Holly Young said...

This is just gorgeous. You paid attention to all the little details, and that makes all the difference!

Elena said...

Mel! This card is gorgeous! Love the flower, love the paper, french knots! Thank you for giving us tricks and tips! The idea with a flower (coloring on a back side) is fabulous!

Joani McDonald said...

Oh Mel, this is stunning! You never cease to amaze me! How beautiful is that!!
Thanks for all your inspiration!
Hugs,
Joani

Savitri said...

WOW! The flower is oh so gorgeous! Love the scoring technique too!

Sharon (notimetostamp) said...

Another stunning creation and fabulous tutorial -- thank you!!!

Karen Lindsay said...

Wow!! What a gorgeous creation!! I do hope the receiver of this card appreciates all that you have put into it. I would frame it if I was the receiver. :) Beautiful!

Lyn S said...

This is just stunning Mel! Love the colours you chose! Thanks for another great tutorial!