Spring = (Paper) Flowers

I'm a huge fan of flowers. The planting/cutting/vase variety. Not a huge fan of scrapping flowers. Part of it is that I have only boys in my household. And while I regularly use what might be considered "girl-y" patterned papers, I don't use flowers much. I think I used it once before. In the ten-ish years I've been scrapbooking. One time.

That is until two weeks ago. I was in a scrapping frenzy, trying to get stuff done for a last minute project. It had to be technique-driven. Alas, I don't know any techniques! But it had to be done. So I ended up researching paper flowers, because let's face it, I might not use any, but they are everywhere. And I do love the look of a handmade flower. I just didn't really know how to make them. After much googling and youtubing, I ended up using three handmade flower techniques. One of which I'm sharing here. It's ridiculously easy. Easy enough that my five year is making them. Everyday. (It's out of control.) But the results are really nice. Nice enough that non-crafty people get really impressed when you mention that you made those yourself. (I impressed my mom. And she's not easy to impress!)

Pretty easy, right?

To recreate the card, you'll need to make 8 more flowers from the same patterned paper, and one from a contrasting cardstock. Cut a 8"x4" strip of patterned paper, fold it in half. Stick the flowers on the card using glue dots. I printed the phrase in my printer, then stamped the banner (I think it's an old Martha Stewart stamp.) Colored it in with a Letraset Promarker (alcohol-based marker), cut it out, added the little pearls, and used some pop up dots in the back. Easy peasy.

(A few thoughts: if you spray the paper circles lightly with water before you staple them together, they will fold up more easily. Unscrunch them very carefully. You can also use mist, but again, lightly. And you can also ink the edges. That would be super cute.)

Now I'm totally addicted to making paper flowers. I've even created a layout using, gasp, three flowers. Don't judge. That's a big step for me!

Hey, before I go, there is still time to apply to the Lily Bee Design Team! Find out more here.