A Rose is a Rose…or a Tulip?

Welcome to My Way. It is so wonderful that you dropped by. The coffee pot is on so I hope you can stay awhile.

For me, here in Michigan, it has been a snowy, icy and busy creative week. While preparing a few samples for next week’s Double Tulip Foam Flower class, a few special birthdays popped up. I decided to include two of the upcoming birthday cards as samples for the class. This is one.

The die used is one of my favorites. It is a retired Tulip die by Susan’s Garden. It was one of my first purchased dies a few years ago.  For this project I cut 4 layers of White Foamiran for each of the 3 petal shapes. Then I accented the outer tips with Barn Door Distress Ink and the inner tips with Scattered Straw Distress Ink.

For the Olive Green Foamiran leaves, I used Lady E’s Leaves 001. Then accented with Forest Moss and Vintage Photo Distress Inks.

Now the fun part – for the petals and leaves, use a very low heat setting iron to slightly warm each piece. Remove from the heat and immediately scrunch each petal and leaf. I try to do an accordion like fold then scrunch between my fingers.

After that, it is time to open and re-shape each piece. I prefer working on a very thick but soft sponge, like a thick grout sponge. I use my ball stylus to slightly smooth out the main body (ball) of the petals and try to leave the outer tips a little more wrinkled. Same with the leaves.

I did cut a sepal out of a firmer green cardstock. Using hot glue, start setting the 1^st and 2^nd petals across from each other. Now the 2^nd and 3^rd in-between. Offset the rest in the same manner. Once the flower has been completed, add a little hot glue to the center, then drop a pinch of Woodland Scenics' Pollen Yellow to cover the glue.

Did you notice the lovely background paper? It’s called House of Roses #3 by Lemon Craft. Thought the flowers worked well with this Double Tulip.

Well, that is all I have for today. 

We hope you will drop by again. 

Till next time,

May God Watch Over You and Yours.

Delicate Lily…

Thinking about the people for whom we make our cards really does help to determine what we want to do. The young lady this birthday card is for is always quiet, polite, more than helpful without being asked, and has the most beautiful long, naturally red hair. We don’t get to visit with her as much as we would like yet we hope this card will convey our caring thoughts.

The flower is die cut with Whimsy’s Lily Flower die using 0.6mm (0.02”) White Foamiran. (This die offers the petals for each layer as one piece.) Before shaping, I accented the outer tips with Candied Apple Distress Oxide and the centers with Squeezed Lemonade Distress Oxide. Each petal is then heated with a low heat setting iron. (Do not press – keep iron upright and quickly place foam on it. It will pop off in just a very few seconds.)  Immediately after heating, I scrunched each petal (rolling between my fingers) followed by using a ball stylus to open it. To achieve the ball of the petal, I use a larger ball stylus and work from side to side, stretching the foam. If you have two hands, you can gently pull the sides to open the petal but go easy so you do not rip it.

For the assembly start by placing each opened petal (or petal layers) on a thick, soft sponge and again using a ball stylus, press the center rather deeply into the sponge. This will give it an up-lift.  Next, setting the petal onto my working surface, I then lay a dot or two of hot glue to the center only. Set the next layer and repeat for the third layer. As you are gluing, remember to offset the layers as shown in the pictures.

For the center stamen, I again put a little hot glue in the center, then took a generous pinch of Brown Woodland Scenics Pollen to sprinkle over the glue. Let it set for a few minutes and shake the excess off.

Finish your card and add your flower.

**************************************

Over the last few years, I have been learning a great deal about creating both paper and Foamiran flowers. Of late, I have been gravitating more towards the softness of the foam. Since we do not have many foam artists in my area of Michigan, I have watched videos from other many counties and gained a great admiration for their creativity. I have also studied the photo tutorials presented by ladies like Liz Marsden of Australia, Patrician Manhire of New Zealand, and Rachael Manu of  India who creates breathtaking Foamiran and Silk Foam hair pieces. Other ladies whose workmanship is outstanding are the extremely talented ladies of 14 Craft Bar out of Europe.

I wish we had a network of Foam-Flower Makers in the United States. A network to discuss our techniques, the products we prefer, and maybe even meeting up with others in our own areas.  

Well, till next time …

May God Bless You All Always

Retired but Not Forgotten…

I’ve heard it said that when you retire, you “sometimes” lose all track of time. Guess that is my only excuse for not posting anything so far this year. I did get my shop cleaned and sort-of reorganized. It actually stayed that way for a few days.

Later this month, I will be introducing Foamiran flower-making to a great group of ladies in the Ypsilanti, Michigan area. After some thought, I decided to use a retired die from my Susan’s Garden collection. I have used her original Tulip die many times and have found it extremely versatile. For this project, I cut 4 layers of foam per each petal.

Well, time to work on a few more samples.

Wishing you a very Blessed Day.

Till next time…