here's how I got started...

here's how I got started...
a 20 minute podcast by Crazy BeYOUtiful

Friday, April 4, 2014

inspired by tim...

specifically by his April tag...

when I have a long post, I invite you to grab a beverage...
but for this one...
you just might need to grab LUNCH...

YIKES...there's lots to tell...

tim used his Sizzix tattered pinecone die to create a rose...
I had played with this before, but not for quite a while...
and I wanted to...

the idea went like this...

could I use Clearly For Art (CFA) to make a rose with the tattered pinecone die?

I did & below you'll see the result...

the photo looks fairly decent, but in person, it's not very effective...
there's not much definition,...
you really don't see the petals & actually it looks like a blob of plastic...




on to plan B...
would frosted film help define the petals?

I covered a piece of Clearly For Art with tim's frosted film...

the frosted film is self adhesive, so remove the backing a bit at a time & press it onto the CFA, then use the pinecone die...

when using CFA, tim's toothpick trick didn't work...
CFA is strong stuff & the toothpick wasn't strong enough to allow me to roll the CFA...

I had much more control using the hemostat...

I'm working from the CFA side & grabbed the end of the die cut like this...





CFA needs to be heated to make it soft & pliable...
one cooled it's rock solid, but can always be reheated to allow reshaping...

I heated small areas...just 3 or 4 petals at a time...

DO NOT TOUCH the HEMOSTAT...
metal gets hot...


the photo below is showing that once heated, it will retain it's shape...



when I got to the final 4 petals & the little tab, it looked like this...

you can see that I used the hemostat thru the center of the rose while rolling it...
and heated it mostly from the bottom...


see those points in the photo below? I chopped them off because they made the flower too tall...
it looked like a pinecone...imagine that! lol...

don't chop the points off at the beginning...
that made it harder to roll...


I used hot glue on the tab and here it the flower so far...



the center opening was too large, so I used the scraps of the CFA covered with frosted film & cut this...

then cut 2 individual petals, heated them & shaped them & used them to fill the center...

I did trim off the points to make them the right height...
it's easy to test drive them before cutting...




to further shape the rose petals, I slightly heated a few petals & grabbed them with the hemostat to bend them down...



same process for this one, but I lightly rubbed the tree branch archival pad over the frosted film & dried it before I started...

frosted vintage! hello...in LOVE!


here is a side by side comparison...

CFA covered with frosted film...

same on the right, but with tree branch to add a tint of color...




now to create my tag...

I used this combo...






I cut a piece of manila cardstock large enough for tim's Sizzix ornate frame...

I added distress embossing ink over the manila piece, then sprinkled on the custom embossing powder, heated it to melt, then die cut this ornate frame...



to age the frame, I used tree branch archival...


and then some potting soil archival ink around the outside edge...
& gave it a quick dry with the heat tool...


then used the Stabilo pencil to trace around the cutout area & blended it with my finger to define the opening...




I used a found relative card & die cut it, using the ornate frame...

that assures the cutout is a perfect oval fit for the frame...

I know...the backs are as cool as the front...
it KILLED me to cut it!
totally...nuts! there's LOTS more in the package!




below is the #8 black tag...

I added a leftover strip of paper from the new wallflower paper stash...

on the far left, I stamped my new lace border with distress embossing ink, sprinkled it with the custom embossing powder mix & heated it to melt the powder...

the paper intersection is ugly, but I'll cover that up in a few...


see the right edge?

I used the emboss it dabber to add embossing fluid to the right edge of the tag, then touched the edge to the embossing powder & heated it...

the emboss it dabber is a convenient way to get a thin embossed edge...


previously I had used my "in full bloom" SiSi (Stamp it Stencil it) to create a card front...

I first stamped the image with jet black archival...

it's easy to place the stencil over the stamped image...
and ink the leaves with fern green archival & a bit of leaf green archival...
you can ink right over the flower since it's protected by the stencil...

it's ADORABLE & perfect for stenciling!


then reposition the flower portion of the stencil...

you'll see the leaves are masked off...
and use orange blossom archival to ink the flower...

this was done & sitting on my desk...unused for another project, so I cut it out...




I had a leftover CFA orange blossom rose...
an it was a perfect fit over the SiSi...




the parts are all done, so now they get glued in place...

I used several different packages of remnant rubs for adding the words to the paper strip & the frame & also to give the kids numbers & a little star...

oops...somewhere along the way, I used the add a stencil with super fine detail embossing powder on the right side of the tag...



the new alpha parts "framed" had a perfect word to tie it all together...


here's a better look at the CFA, that was covered with vintage dictionary text, which created the orange rose...


Ok...here's the scoop...

using CFA isn't as easy as using cardstock...but it is SO WORTH the time & effort...

I'd say it took me 10 minutes...and that the second flower was much easier...

the CFA roses are super strong...

you will find that the hemostat is a HUGE help...

and that frosted film over the CFA saved the day, allowing the petals to show up much better...

can't you see a bowl of CFA pinecones sitting in a bowl?
because they're so sturdy, they would be simple to pack away & bring out each fall...with no fear of them being squished...

so...I didn't follow along exactly with tim's tag, but it sure did inspire me...

I had intended to use the frosted film rose, but it didn't stand out enough for this piece...

but I think it will be perfect with this paper...
I have a plan!




they're in the studio all ready & waiting for me to...

make art!
wendy

36 comments:

Nicole Wright Designs said...

Love your Tag! It took me buiding30 flowers to finally love my tattered pinecone die! So now when I see beautiful projects like this using this die I don't cringe. Love it!

Lori said...

Oooo...I really love this idea! That tag is just FAB-U-LOUS! The CFA would definitely make it stronger. Love it!

Marci said...

Love this!! Thanks for the tips.

newfiecrafter(Marilyn) said...

Love this this idea of using CFA with the pinecone die and must give it a try . Thanks for sharing this tutorial on how you made this beautiful tag .

SusanK said...

What a great tutorial! I have been playing with the pinecone rose lately; sometimes I get great results, other times...compost pile gets an addition. lol

Cim Allen said...

I love the roses .. I recently found some CFA and this is a great reason to go play with it .. thanks Wendy .. Happy Friday !!

Dee in N.H. said...

Your tag is beautiful! Love the roses!

slbt17 said...

the flowers are back!
Lovely! thank you for the tips.
Sandra ltb

Hels Sheridan said...

how fabulous.... LOVE IT LOTS!!!

Unknown said...

I *think* I might like yoir tag better'n Tim's! Shhh! Don't tell him!

Rea' said...

WOW,WOW and WOW again! That's amazing ( of course you make it look so easy)... love the effect!!
Okay I got my happy for the day smiling REAL BIG Thanks!
I'll be back to see what you do with the rose and that paper!

Redanne said...

I am in love too - with your frosted vintage - gorgeous. Love your flower on the finished piece at the end too... must try out the frosted film with my roses this month....

Shelly Hickox said...

Brilliant! Your experiments are so much fun. :) Love the CFA rose - will definitely be trying that!

Tona said...

Holy Moly! Everything you did looks amazing!

Dorothy said...

Totally awesome!!!!!

Vic said...

You are the best "mad scientist" ever! Your tag is fabulous.

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Absolutely gorgeous, the Rose is stunning as is your design, I adore the focal image too and the way you have showcased it. Truly beautiful . Tracy x

Lisa said...

Oh wow, this is absolutely stunning!! I love seeing how you put your amazing creations together!! This if fabulous!! Thanks for the inspiration!! Have a great day :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Anonymous said...

Totally gorgeous Wendy! Sue C x

Miriam said...

such a fabulous tutorial - I just love your tag. I am definitely trying the CFA flowers/pinecones!!

toni said...

Fabulous work Wendy and thanks for giving us the lowdown on using the CFA . My tattered pine cone die just arrived today so I'll be trying this out! . Love your tag also xx

Unknown said...

Would not have thought to try a rose from CFA, thanks for helping me to think outside the box.

Elaine A said...

What a gorgeous tag Wendy! I love, those sweet little roses too!

Elaine Allen

Two Mad Dahlias said...

This is gorgeous! I love that rose made with the frosted film. So smart. I am enthralled with the found relatives right now. That frame worked perfectly on there.

Art By Wanda said...

Fabulous!!!

barbarayaya62 said...

Amazing tag!LOve every little detail! Thanks for sharing your wonderful tutorial! BArbarayaya

sally said...

What a cool idea! The cones look really great... Must give that a go :-)

Sally

Theresa said...

wow Wendy! This tag is beautiful!! I think you outdid Tim!!! ;)

Debby said...

Amazing!!!

Unknown said...

So, how many fingers did you burn? Lol

Julie S said...

Wow! This is fantastic. Thanks for sharing the adventure of your process too.

Ellen said...

great work as always!!!

Ellenxx

Diana said...

Amazing art - what detail. Loved following your tutorial. Thanks for all the tips and inspiration.

Kathy Eddy said...

Love, love, love this one Wendy and the flowers are brilliant!

Anonymous said...

Your tag is stunning, really beautiful, I love the CFA rose & thanks for the excellent step by step.

S@ndy Diller said...

Totally fabulous, love the CFA flower. The extra work and time paid off big time.