Finally! The Flower Tutorial

This is a LONG post with a lot of pictures. I wanted to be as detailed as possible because I know that the majority of crafters are visual creatures & want to see a step executed so they can recreate it on their own. I'm in the minority...I can look at something & mentally break it apart, then build it back. It's how I taught myself to tole paint. Never could watch others do "floating," I just looked at the effect I was supposed to achieve, then sat down and made myself do it. Same for the "one stroke" technique that Donna Dewberry made famous.

Anyway, I saw this particular flower on a blog about 3 weeks back now & made one in my spare time when I was stitching that large embroidery project. Remember this?I'd love to be able to link you all back to the blog I first saw this floral piece on, but I've spent the last week looking and can't find her. If you recognize who this might belong to, please let me know & I'll edit this post. For now, I'll show you how I've done MY version of this flower.

Step 1: Using ivory paper (NOT cardstock) print off some vintage sheet music, a wallpaper sample, a storybook page, or scan a dictionary page. I used the Print Wizard in Windows to get {4} 3.5"x5" prints on one page. The image was a freebie that I downloaded, I THINK, from The Graphic Fairy. For a funkier look you can print on both sides of your page. You could use an old book to punch up, but I'm not a big fan of tearing up my "friends" to make a craft. The ONLY way that I could tear up a book in good conscience is if it's nearly destroyed when I find it (of course, if you saw my 1905 hardcover edition of Helen Keller's "The Story of My Life" or my 1948 course textbook on Gregg shorthand, you'd call me a liar AND a sucker for old books. *LOL* I try very hard to save these "treasures" whenever possible.) I just prefer using scans - that's my story & I'm sticking to it!!
Step 2: Once you've got your print (you can make more, if you'd like), you need to get out your punches or, if you're lucky enough to have a set, your Nestabilities. I don't have any scalloped Nesties, so I'm using my scallop circle punches. I have a Marvy Giga Pink that cuts I believe a 2 1/2" circle, an EK Success 2", & one from The Paper Studio that measures 1 7/8". I'm going to use the largest punch. If you're going the Nestie route, pick one die in a size that appeals to you.
Step 3: Trim away the outside borders of the paper to bring you as close as possible to the printed image. This large punch and this printed size of 3.5x5 will yield you TWO PUNCHES per image. If you're using Nesties, you may need to cut the images apart, then layer as many as you can cut per pass through your die cutting machine of choice.
Step 4: Stack the circles together - use a MINIMUM of four layers. You're always welcome to use more. For this flower, I used all eight circles.
Step 5: Using either a hand-held punch OR a Crop-a-dile (for those with grip/strength issues), punch a small 1/8" hole in the center all the way through the bundle of circles.
Step 6: Separate all of the circles, then crumple up all of them EXCEPT for one (this will be your flower base).
Step 7: Grab your ink pad & sponge (or whatever you like to use for antiquing). Color does not matter - I've used black, Ranger's Walnut Stain, Tea Dye, Tattered Rose, & Mulled Lavendar. It depends on the effect you're wanting from your flower & how it will tie in to your project. I chose Vintage Photo for this one.
Step 8: Antique the "base" as little or as much as you'd like.
Step 9: Unfurl the layers you crumpled, without flattening them out entirely & using your applicator, put on your ink. I wanted mine "grungy" so I covered the every layer completely, but if you want a lighter look, you can do just the edges.
Step 10: Stack the layers together. Be deliberate about NOT LINING UP the scallops...the more disarrayed, the better for this flower. Using the smallest brad you can find, "pin" the layers together & open the brad on the back side. You'll have something that looks like this:
See how crumpling the layers gave it dimension? You COULD stop here, but c'mon...we're crafters! *LOL* We can't just STOP & leave it without doing that "something extra".....right? RIGHT!!
Step 11: One layer at a time, start curling the paper UP toward the center....
Every layer, except the last one - remember it's your flower base. Then, slowly, unfold each layer again, rolling the edges of the flower up or down (again, your preference), until the flower is completely open again.
Step 12: Drag out your button stash...the older the buttons, the better, in my opinion. I have my "big" antique buttons in this darling little onion jar I found at a thrift store for 50¢.
Setp 13: Pull out the buttons that look like they might coordinate with your flower or your project. Play with them. Place them in the center of your flower to see how they look.

I chose this one. I liked the texture in it...kinda looks like a slice of coal.

NOTE: If the button has a shank, be sure to use some flat-sided wire cutters & clip it as close to the button back as you can. If necessary, you can use sandpaper to file the "bumps" down a bit. If your button choice has holes, use Scrapper's Floss, twine, linen thread, hemp thread, or embroidery floss to tie through the holes for some added visual interest, like I did in the first photo at the beginning of this tutorial.
Step 14: Using a good glue, glue dots, or pop dots, adhere your button to the center of the flower.

Step 15: Put glue dots on the flower "base" and attach it to your project. The flower I made in this tutorial, ended up HERE.

Variations:
Using the 1 7/8" punch from The Paper Studio & the same size 3.5"x5" images, I was able to make 3 flowers with 4 layers in each flower.
Different centers...

I used a rose from Prima for the center of this flower instead of a button. I just flipped it over & twisted the wire that came on the rose to secure the flower, instead of a brad. I even restrained myself from antiquing the entire thing!
Don't be afraid to play around with what you've got hiding in your stash...Stickles, Liquid Pearls, half pearls, rhinestones. Dig through hubby's toolbox. How would a washer or a nut look? A glass flat-back marble? A seashell? Use your imagination...it's what we crafty types do best!

That's it! Hope you enjoyed my tutorial. One of these days, I'll figure out how to do a video of this, or find one of my men that can stand still for 20 minutes to lend me a hand doing the shooting while I do the talking! *LOL* Thanks for stopping by & have a great rest of your day!!