Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
Hello everyone and welcome to this weeks challenge!!! Holly is taking the week off and she asked me to fill in...Whoohoo!!! I am really excited to be here and can't wait to tell you about the challenge...it's calledPounded Flowers. You can find a tutorial on the Spellbinders blog and on my blog.
The supply list includes:
1. Cuttlebug or Big Shot type machine or a rolling pin
2. Real flowers...you can find them in your yard or borrow them from the neighbors!! You can also use leaves or colored foliage.
3. Watercolor paper
4. Computer paper or paper towels
5. Waxed paper if you use a rolling pin
6. Some kind of brush...either a paint brush or a stenciling brush...something that will gently brush the smashed flowers off the watercolor paper.
Instructions
1. Lay flowers face down on watercolor paper and place on the B plate with one sheet of cardstock as a filler for the cuttlebug. If your flowers are really flat you may need 2 pieces...you want it to be firm but not too tight when it goes through the pressing (check out the pictures on my blog post).
2. Cover the flowers with a piece of computer paper or paper towel and cover with the C plate.
3. Run through the cuttlebug and then let it sit for a few minutes so the color from the flowers soaks into the watercolor paper.
4. Remove the computer paper and brush the flower pieces off the watercolor paper with the brush.
5. Use Reinkers or ink pad colors to cover the white areas with a wash of color. You can highlight some of the flowers with stronger color if you like.
6. You can use this as a background or as the main image. On one of my sample cards I cut the flowers out and layered them on a background made from the same pounded flower technique.
7. Have fun and I can't wait to see what you make!!
Joan, can't wait to play! It's dark outside and don't want to surprise any night animals by stepping into the garden at this hour! LOL I can't wait to try this technique. I've never done this before. Thanks for a great challenge.
__________________ My Blog- Trusting in the Lord for Everything Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight. My Stampin' Up WebsiteMy Gallery, BRAK New Member Mentor. New Grandmother to Mia Lou. 1st Grandchild.
You'll laugh at this. I was heading outside to pick a few petals and the dog started barking, my husband looked out and there was a bear in the back garden. Guess my gathering will have to wait until morning safety. Fabulous technique can hardly wait for the experiments to start. Your cards are amazing by the way. Elizabeth
Oh my Elizabeth, I can't imagine a bear in my backyard........and I was worried about a silly little skunk! Glad you are safe!
__________________ My Blog- Trusting in the Lord for Everything Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight. My Stampin' Up WebsiteMy Gallery, BRAK New Member Mentor. New Grandmother to Mia Lou. 1st Grandchild.
Okay Joan, here's my card after braving the darkness of my backyard!
__________________ My Blog- Trusting in the Lord for Everything Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight. My Stampin' Up WebsiteMy Gallery, BRAK New Member Mentor. New Grandmother to Mia Lou. 1st Grandchild.
FUN, FUN challenge, Joan! I was too lazy to get out of my PJ's to go outside to get some flowers. I used wilting hydrangeas that were in a vase on our kitchen table! What happened was pure serendipity!! No bright colors, but all these fabulous neutral shades. I was tickled...the rest just seemed to flow. Thanks for this wonderful, new technique....and for filling in for Holly.
Joan, what an interesting challenge. I'll have to see what flowers I can find.
Elizabeth, I can't imagine coming face to face with a bear. How scary. I'm glad you are safe.
Awesome challenge, Joan!! I'm now afraid to go flower hunting as bears are known to roam these parts, too...lol.
Girls, Joan is being modest. She has actually agreed to be my co-host! You'll be seeing more of Joan's awesome challenges in the future. She is going to be a great help to me while I sort things out here at home. We won't over-work her, though .
I had never heard of this technique, and when I read it, I was doubtful how it would work. But your cards are so pretty - the technique makes a beautiful, soft background. My daylilies have just finished blooming. Maybe I can find one or two that haven't dried up yet. The only critter I might have to contend with will be a bee. Great job on coming up with a new technique, Joan, and Welcome!
Val
You'll laugh at this. I was heading outside to pick a few petals and the dog started barking, my husband looked out and there was a bear in the back garden. Guess my gathering will have to wait until morning safety. Fabulous technique can hardly wait for the experiments to start. Your cards are amazing by the way. Elizabeth
Jeeeeeeeepers, Creeeeepers!
Me thinks that I might have to wait until there are no "bears" in the neighborhood!!
__________________ My Blog---My Gallery---My PinterestI'm a Punchkateer! (Prez) FOREVERDirty Dozen Alumni2014 CAS Spring DT--- Inspiration Challenge Co- Hostess 12/02/17-12/28/19 Watercolor Wednesday Design Team Hebrews 13:2Brenda
This was an interesting technique, but I won't be choosing Bee Balm again.....I don't want to cut down on the number of hummingbird's that some to the garden!!!
__________________ Anne HarmonFS154, QFTD58, PROUD FAN CLUB MEMBER
Joan, here's my second one which was a lot of fun to do. Still trying to figure out how I got purple when my flowers were pink. LOL
__________________ My Blog- Trusting in the Lord for Everything Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight. My Stampin' Up WebsiteMy Gallery, BRAK New Member Mentor. New Grandmother to Mia Lou. 1st Grandchild.
Thanks Joann
I have never entered a challenge before but I think I just might have to try and get this one in if it turns out all right. Oh Eliabeth how I would dream of seeing a bear in my back yard you would not beleive I have to good friends that I camp with and when we here a bear has been sighted we go on a bear hut but never have found it yet just the prints. Someday
This was a little intimidating at first, and even after my flower background turned out nice, I had a hard time deciding how to use it. I'll use this technique again ... when I can get more flowers. You all have made many beautiful cards this morning.
I must be blonde today! I've tried this with just a few leafs today from my lemon tree and all I got was a lightly embossed image - no color.
Are you supposed to wet the paper or the flowers/leaves first?
Pounded Nasturtiums
This was something I haven't tried before. Not sure I like the result, but it's always good to try something new .
As for the leaves I *borrowed* from next door, I can't see them wanting them back, LOL.
OK - I just tried it again with some petals from my rose bush, as well as one of the leaves from the same bush.
The color from the rose petals transfered onto the watercolor paper - although I don't know how my red roses ended up being purple on the paper.
The color from the leaves did not transfer - I'm wondering if the pigment in the leaves or the thickness of them just does not transfer well in this technique?
I have not checked out the gallery yet to see if anyone had luck with leaves.
OK - I just tried it again with some petals from my rose bush, as well as one of the leaves from the same bush.
The color from the rose petals transfered onto the watercolor paper - although I don't know how my red roses ended up being purple on the paper.
The color from the leaves did not transfer - I'm wondering if the pigment in the leaves or the thickness of them just does not transfer well in this technique?
I have not checked out the gallery yet to see if anyone had luck with leaves.
Hi Nancy.... I think with the leaves it might be better to dampan the paper first. It's a little harder to extract the color. I used some soft think leaves and they seemed to work a little better. Thanks for giving it a try today...it's always fun to try something new!! Joan
Didn't find any bears in my backyard today, but I did stay long enough to notice that my DH whacked off all the wildflowers on the hill. When did that happen? He might be in the doghouse for this one - I love(d) that hill!
__________________ christine m.aka summer and weekend stalker DOT INK (My yadda yadda) Don't magnify your problem . . .Magnify your God
PROUD MEMBER OF THE REDDIVAS!
This wasn't as easy as I thought it would be as my experience is with a hammer, but I think I will do it again. It's much less work once you figure it out. Here's mine. Thanks Joan.
If I took any longer with this you would all have thought the bear got me! It took me a few attempts to get the tension right, plus my first attempts the green stems went brown mush. I tested the flowers after this to make sure they were OK for this technique. I'm happy with the result and will definitely try this again. Back to the bears, Vancouver has a no kill policy on bears after 2 years ago when they euthanized 30. We coexist but are wary of each other. We always have a mom and various number of cubs every summer. No I don't live in the boonies but on the north shore of Vancouver. Elizabeth A BRUSH WITH NATURE