OLW: Gigi's Tips & Techniques #1

Flowers... are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

i love flowers....i just love them....so of course my love of flowers carries over into my love for scrapping.....i love to add flowers as accents to my pages and projects...and one of my favorite types of flowers to make as embellishments are rebecca sower's posies....rebecca is an amazing artist who completely changed the face of scrapbooking forever...i for one am eternally grateful & have gotten so much inspiration from her art.

so, in order to pass on how i was inspired by the amazing rebecca sower to all of you....here is how i make a version of her gorgeous posies:

supplies needed:

scissors
scraps of patterned paper
buttons
ink pad
glitter or acrylic paint
ink
needle & thread

freehand cut....yes...i said FREEHAND cut a bunch of different sized circles...don't get all caught up in making them exact...just cut a big one...a medium one & a small one that is still a bit bigger than the button you are going to use for your little guy

(here we are doing 3 layers...but feel free to go crazy & make as many layers are you want to here)

now take all of your layers & crumple them up....ball those suckers up real tight so they will get all scrunched & crunched & smunched.....we want that rumpled and crumpled look that will give your little guys lots of texture

now....take those little balls of paper & ink those bad boys up....dab the crumpled edges on an inkpad & go nuts...don't be shy...get some ink on those little creases that you created

& just a hint...i use staz on ink for this...it dries like instantaneously so you don't get ink all over your hands....

now....stack your little pieces up so you know where you stand...then take each of the layers & pretty them it up...add glue to the edges & glitter...or swipe with a bit of acrylic paint...add a special touch to your sweet little guy...

re-stack, (i like them to be a little off center at this point too) take needle & thread, pop it through all the layers, & sew your button on...

voila!!! now you have a little sparkly posie to pop on your mini book....your layout....your next handmade card....you name it!!!

here are some projects that i've made using different versions of these posies:
simplicity project

thank you

note to self

apple of my eye mini

i love making different kinds of these posies & tend to substitute all different kinds of stuff for the patterned paper...the possibilities are endless...you can use such things as fabric...pages from vintage books...sheet music...tulle...felt...punched paper...transparency film...fabric netting...lace...bubble wrap...wire mesh...tissue paper...playing cards...ribbon...basically anything your little heart desires for the layers. these little pretties are crazy addictive....fun stuff :)

and i'd love to see your own special take on the posies & other flowers you love to create!

have a happy wednesday!!!! - gi :)

p.s.......just a shout out to all who've posted "SEEK" projects thus far....you are AMAZING & AWESOME!!!!!! we all have been totally loving what has been shared....absolutely phenomenal stuff everyone...

now don't fret if you haven't linked up yours yet...you still have until this friday, august 17th, at midnight central time to link up your good stuff & be in the running for those kick butt prizes :)