Lilies of the Valley with Freebie Silhouette Studio Cut Files

Similar cards and layout, but much different looks. I have been very fascinated with flowers recently, and this is just the latest in the line. The more nostalgia with the heirloom flowers, the better. This is another one of the flowers that my family seems to gravitate toward.  We all have it in our gardens, but it isn't the sacred pass me down that the Bleeding Heart is.  Most of my flowers are things that I have gotten from friends and family, and I'm thinking of doing the Silhouette Cuts for all of my favorites; especially if I can't find a pattern online.  

The flowers are shaped by cupping, you can see the instructions below.  I place a round dimensional adhesive dot on the back of them.  The stem had tiny dimensional adhesive dots right at the junction of the flower stem, and in some places I actually glued the rest of the stem down to the leaf. I left the end of the flower stem loose until I had placed the flowers at the end of those stem, and then used my trusty Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive to the very end. I let it drop down on the flower and let it dry in place.

I used the smaller stylus to make some veins in the leaf. I did this in a pattern that gives the leaf some life.  On a hard surface I start at the bottom of the leaf, just above the stem, and drag the stylus to the top of the leaf.  I then do similar motions but terminate the action further down the side of the leaf using just a bit of pressure. I did this about 5 or 6 times per side. I then used my hands to gently coax the leaf into a cupped shape.  On the top card I only glued the center of the leaf, from the bottom to about one inch from the top, which curves up off the paper.  On the bottom card I used more glue, but I don't like that as well.

The backgrounds are from my scrap paper pieces, and I have forgotten who they are.  The grid is done with DMVW Cardstock.  I used Prima beaded medallion, and an unknown clear stamp I've had forever, probably from Paper Wishes.  I used two white card bases from Paper Wishes, and Tim Holtz tea dye and black soot Distress Inks.  

Cupping-Shaping the Flowers

The trick to this card is the shaping of the flowers, and I have a tutorial on this that I used for a class that I taught a while back. The first step in the process is called Cupping the flower.  To do that I use the McGill tools that I have, but any mouse pad and larger stylus  will work.  Press firmly, but not so hard that you punch through the paper/cardstock. Go in a circular motion to form a bit of a cup with the petals. You will be surprised how easily they just curl up.  See the example below.  I don't suggest using a really small ball stylus. 

If you don't have a large ball stylus, you can use your finger nail edge by pulling it across the paper, and forming the petals to your desired shape.  I used fairly light weight cardstock for this project.

The Grid

I designed this grid using the Silhouette Designer Edition Software.  This started out as a circle, and I point edited to form an interesting shape.  I then made four copies, and fitted the shapes together in a square. It is important to get the spacing as even as possible.  I grouped four together in a diamond shape, and duplicated the grouped shapes until I had filled the page.  I had to adjust sizes, and ungroup to delete some single images, but finally got it onto the page in a good configuration.  I cut these out of a double sided heavier card stock.  I plan to use the grid for another project that I will share.  I will also cut this out of acetate, and use it for a stencil.

As you notice, I used some of the shapes as embellishments on the above cards.

The Blog Hop

The Free Downloads

I hope you enjoy this project, and the free downloadable files. Downloads are from Box.com .

Lilies of the Valley are Here
The Ornate Grid is Here

Purr-fect Copic Coloring Tutorial

The name Purr-fect is the name of the stamp from Flowersoft.  We will be using some of the newer Copic Markers in some different techniques to my site.  One of the things that we will be covering in this tutorial is the blending techniques when you don't have colors that closely similar.

This is the finished card front.

Stamp the little girl with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink on two pieces of Express It paper.


The Memento Inks will hold up to the alcohol of the Copic Markers. I'm told other dye base inks work, but I haven't found one that does yet. If you know of one, please share with me?

Using your favorite skin colors, do the face, arms and legs.  I used E000 and E00 for the sample.  I have to be extra careful that you get all the flesh areas.  I have a bad habit of missing one small spot.

Using E89 Pecan and YR27 Tuscan orange, two of the newer colors, color the cat.  Start with the YR27 and color the whole cat.  Use the E89 and color the strips, then use the YR27 to blend the hard lines out of the stripes; it is fur after all. 

Using the V22, color all areas of the dress, and socks leaving the underskirt white.  Then color the ribbon (including the one in her hair), stripes, buttons and sleeve trim and shoes with BV34.  Do the kittens ribbon and the girl’s shoes with BV34 too.  Finish the sole of the shoe with E89.  You may choose to accent your ribbons with clear Stardust pen, this gives it a nearly satin look, and is really attractive.

NEW TECHNIQUE

The darker colors will build up colors each time you go over an area.  We are giving the areas plenty of time to dry in between applications, so the buildup will be dark enough to serve as a shadow.  You will color any areas around the waist, sleeves and skirt with the V22 that already have crease lines in them.  This will shade those areas.  You will also shade areas or the dress around the ribbon belt where it would naturally shade the dress, and any low spots in the skirt.  You may blend the harsh lines in the skirt areas, but it isn't necessary.  

Using the Y23, color all of the hair.  Using E55, shade the areas that are naturally shaded in the picture.  

Blend the shadowed area, by flicking the Y23 into the dark shaded areas.  Don't do this a lot. Just blend enough to soften any hard lines.

I enhanced the images of the hair and ground a lot to show you where the color differences are.  This was before I blended the colors.

Using one more of the new colors G43 Pistachio, color the grass.  Using BV34 and V22 color the flowers in the grass.  Now is a good time to take a break and shop or go to the restroom.  Now use the G43 to shade the areas around the girl and kitten.  

Use the finished picture as the example for the background.

Background Colors are V01 Heath, B000 Pale Porcelain Blue, BG000 Pale Aqua, N1 Natural Gray No. 1.  This is a combo that I use a lot.  I did add one of the new colors to this BG90.  This is light enough, and in evidence in the actual artwork we have created.  Using a long flicking motion, starting at the edge of the image, flick color away from the picture in one fluid motion all the way to the edge of the card stock.  It won’t matter if you get into the dress at all, but be extra careful around her hair and the Kitten, as you will drag that dark color into the background and that is undesirable. I don't take the background any further than the grass area. Remember the colors are darker when wet, and will lighten as they dry.  

I used Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Pad on the entire image to give it an antique look.  When I put it on the card I distressed it even more on the edges.

I used this image in a birthday card for my niece.  She loved the card, and I loved doing it.  I hope you enjoy the tutorial.  The photos weren't my best yet, but I'm getting much better.  I did this one a while back for a class at my local scrapbook store.

Hugz, Peace and Blessings.

Namaste,

Lynne

Fall Boxed Card Set

I would normally worked to remove the glare from this picture, however, I wanted to assure that you realized that this is semi-gloss presentation paper.  I got this at Staples and just love it for this type of card.  This was the freebie from Silhouette for Octover, but works great for the Thanksgiving Holiday as well.  This is a box of six (6) identical cards, in a matching box.  These are great for hostess gifts, and can be done in any variation.  I've made mixed greeting cards,  and boxes of holiday cards.

It is simpler to make a whole box of cards in the same style.  I have made some what I call owner's choice cards.  I make six cards that will be good for multiple occassion.  Like flowers that work for birthday, sympathy and get well cards.  Sometimes they work for Mother's Day.  I also will make a box of masculine type cards, and make sure they are generic enough to work for multiple occassions.  Everyone can use more masculine cards. 

I then will create greetings and inside sayings for all occassions that suit the card art.  I use the Silhoutte Cameo to print and cut them.  I add double sided tape and/or pop dots to the word art cut-outs, and give instructions on how to place them on the cards.  They are really a hit, as you never can guess just what cards you may need during the year.  This way, you have just what you need.

The box instructions came from GinaK and can be found HERE.  The cardstock is GinaK heavy base weight cardstock, and I forgot the color name.  Her cardstock is so nice, and a good price.  I love to use it for cards, and boxes, as they fold without looking nasty, as cheap cardstock can sometimes.  It also has a nice heft to it which screams premium without the premium price.  She also has a layering weight that is great for stamping and layering similar to how I did the oval Greeting Card embellishment.

All the cards in this example are exactly the same.  I left the inside plain, so the giver may write their own note, and wishes on the inside.

I hope you enjoy.