FUN FLOWERS NAME TAG FLOWER!

I have been getting lots of emails about how to make the flower on this great name tag from my Creative Escape Weekend in Lansing. I did not make this flower, so I do not know the specific details on how it was made. However, I have made them in the past and below I will tell you how I made mine.

Here is how I make a 3D Distressed Flower. In the example above, for the flower put some Rich Razzleberry Card Stock through the Big Shot with the Fun Flowers Bigz L Die. Once you have all three flowers cuts, you wad/scrunch them up. I like to spritz mine with a little bit of water first (don't soak them, just a nice little mist). This helps to break the card stock fibers and make it easier to scrunch. After I get them all scrunched up, I sponge the edges (I sponge them with the same color ink as the cardstock) to give it a little bit more of a distressed look. Then just adhere the flowers together. For the flower on this sample they attached a Summer Smooches Fabric Designer Brad in the middle; but you can use whatever accessory you would like there (button, brad, jewel, etc.). Once I have the flower together and accessorized, I mix a little bit of Smooch Spritz (to give my flower a little "shimmer") with some hairspray. If you don't want a stiff flower, mix the Smooch Spritz with water. I mix this in a little spray bottle with three parts hairspray (or water) to one part Smooch Spritz. Then I mist this over my flower. I like the "stiff" feel to my flowers when I am using them for 3D projects; and the softer feel for when I am putting them on my cards.

This is one of those techniques where you just need to play around with it and see what works best for you. Some ladies like to use their bone folder to help breakdown the card stock fibers before they scrunch; some like to spritz it with water before they scrunch; some love to scrunch the dry card stock.... there is no wrong way to get a good scrunch~~so go with whatever is comfortable and works for you.