Ruffled flowers

Hi there, this is Vicky blogging today. OK, so I have been researching techniques to manipulate paper to create ruffled flowers for a LONG while now. These take a bit of patience but turn out wonderfully so here it goes...

I am going to show you how I did the lilac one using heavy cardstock because heavier two-sided cardstock is the easiest to manipulate. The other two I used lightweight cardstock - I like them better but the paper tears easily when dampened. My flowers are 3 inches in diameter but you can make them any size!

Step 1: You need to gather 3 large punched/cut flowers, 1 medium and 5 small. It really doesn't matter what punch or die cut you use as long as there is a bit of separation between the petals. You also need a pen or pencil, tweezers, plain water mister and I forgot to put adhesive in the image - but that's a given right?

Step 2: VERY lightly mist the large and medium flowers, then using your tweezers gently twist and push the petals towards the center. Be careful not to overly wet them or they will rip. Right before you take the tweezers out give it a gently pinch to keep in place.

Step 3: Set aside to dry.

Step 4: Lightly mist the 5 small flowers. Then using your pen end, cup them around and roll then against the pen to get a good cup shape formed. On one of them pinch it to create your flower center.

Step 5: Glue the 4 flower cups into each other and press with pen end. Remember to off-set your petals. Then glue your center in. Set aside to dry. NOTE: This makes a pretty little rose on its own... just add leaves or a green star-like punched flower underneath to simulate a baby Prima rose.

Step 6: Lightly unravel your 3 large and the medium flower and glue them into each other, the medium one on top. Remember to off-set the petals again.

Step 7: Lightly push back the petals of the mini rose and glue it into the middle of the larger flowers. You can add leaves, or attach to a paper vine/flourish. You can also create "leaves" by putting a green pointed petal flower underneath. I just inked white cardstock.

Then you're done! I love the elegance of these flowers. You can also Glimmer Mist, add Stickles or simply ink the edges as I have done. I over inked the centre to show you the definition but I like them better more lightly inked in the center to look more natural.

I really enjoyed creating these. NOTE: I actually used the pointed flower base to create the pink one below. Like I said use whatever punch or die cut you have because once twisted they all look nice. Have fun and don't forget to show me your results! All I ask is that when possible you please give credit where due (to ANY artist) because tutorials do take a lot of effort to produce. Thank you. For more flower tutorial, please visit my blog at http://simplypaperandcreativity.blogspot.com/.