How do you get your paper to 'bend'?

[Jinkies]

I've seen some beautiful cards lately, with layers of paper (say a flower) and each layer is bent - giving it more of a 3d effect.

Thanks for your help!!

[jpmayo]

If it is flower petals that you are talking about then I do that by running my nail under the bottom of the paper curling it whichever way I want it to curl. I have heard of people using a pencil or pen also to curl it around.

Hope this helps.

[Jinkies]

So do I need to 'coat' the paper with anything to stiffen it? or will it retain it's shape pretty well once it's adhered?

[Boss]

I have several different sizes of wooden skewers, kabob sticks, short lengths of dowels, that I use to help shape punched out shapes and edges of panels. My favorite is an antique wooden crochet hook that has a beautifully tapered end - great for shaping petals!

The cs doesn't need anything to make it stiffer, though sometimes I will spritz it with water to soften it and make it easier to twist around the shaping tool (for example, you can make really cool twisty curls of super skinny strips of cs by spritzing with water and wrapping around a kabob skewer and letting it dry - when it comes off it looks like a curled ribbon. I've used these as grass, birthday confetti, etc.)

It's really easy to add a 3-d effect to cs, so don't be afraid to try!

[SophieLaFontaine]

You could paint it with water too. The water will make it curl. I noticed this on accident while making one of my cards with a cut-out watercoloured flower, and cut-out watercoloured leaves.

[jpmayo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jinkies

So do I need to 'coat' the paper with anything to stiffen it? or will it retain it's shape pretty well once it's adhered?

No need to coat it with anything, it should stay

[Koyote Ki]

I use my bone folder on the petals similiar to the way you curl ribbon with scissors. Just be gently or you'll pull the petal off.

[mwbs]

great ideas here thanks for sharing

[enerimt]

On a few occassions I brushed Crystal Effects on my image. The scissors just glide when you cut the image and you have bright bold colors. It's so much easier to cut and when you "curl" the leaves they stay curled. I have sample cards from 2 years ago and the leaves are still curled.

Irene

[vanislandwoman]

A technique borrowed from my 'other hobby', making dollhouse miniatures: to give a cupped effect, use a stylus and either holding a petal in the palm of your hand (although it can make your hand sore if you're doing lots!) or else working on a pad such as a mouse pad or the pad from the stampin' up tool kit, just work away at it, pushing down and smoothing out towards the edges. Sort of like embossing, but without the plate, and on the item itself, not on the card.
Is this clear as mud? I'll try to find a pic or else do a sample.

[Valli]

I've done cupped pieces by nestling the cs in my palm and massaging it with a spoon (or the back of my thumb, if I'm too lazy to hunt for the spoon).