I loved making this project! And while I referred to these card stock flowers as being for a springtime bouquet, they would be a welcome touch of color
any time of the year.
The idea for making a potful of these whimsical flowers started when I was window shopping at Custer's Last Stamp (I love that name!), a rubber stamp store in Traverse City, Mich. Debra Anderson, the owner, had filled the front window with a display of T-shirts, invitations, shoes, paper bags, etc., that she had stamped with this wonderful daisy stamp. There was also a bouquet of the daisies, of course. They were all stamped in black ink on white backgrounds.
And so it started. As you saw on the show, my bouquet soon branched out into different kinds of flowers stamped on a variety of backgrounds. The directions are very basic. It's what you stamp ON and WITH that makes the difference.
Materials:
large daisy stamp - Custer's Last Stamp
black embossing ink
black embossing powder
heat gun
brightly-colored card stock
printed card stock
1/8-inch dowels for stems
double-sided adhesive foam mounting squares
glue
Note: I selected printed card stock that comes in 9" x 12" sheets featuring different patterns in the same color. The first set of daisies were all made from black and white sheets in polka dots, plaids, checks, etc.
Steps:
1. Stamp and emboss daisies on plain or patterned card stock. I used the patterned card stock sheets featuring different patterns in the same colors.
2. Stamp and cut out two daisies for each flower. To give added dimension to the flower, cut down between each petal so you can shape it with your fingers.
3. Cut a length of the dowel to a desired length. Mine were about 12 inches long . Attach a mounting square to the back of one of the flowers, press the end of the dowel in place (figure A), top with another of the foam squares and press the second flower over that (figure B). The two flowers should be facing in the same direction, but do not try to line them up perfectly. The petals should NOT match.
4. From a piece of card stock in a contrasting color cut or punch out a 5/8-inch circle for the flower center (figure C). Glue in place.
Bouquet of roses
The roses were constructed in the same manner as the daisies, however the stamp was a solid image rather than an outline (figures D and E). The petals were indicated by white spaces between them. In this case, I cut out the flower, leaving a matching white border around the outside. The stamp was coated with a layer of acrylic paint rather than stamping ink.
This bouquet was inspired by one I saw in a rather upscale catalog featuring children's clothing and furniture. On one of the bedside tables was a vase of paper roses!
Planting the flowers
The black and white daisies were planted in a piece of foam, placed in a terra cotta flower pot and covered with Spanish moss. The pot itself was covered with a piece of checkered card stock cut to fit around it. The roses were in a rose bowl and held in position with small glass stones.
Stamping images
I used the large daisy stamp from Custer's Last Stamp and the rose from Hot Potatoes, however if you have a collection of stamps, you might very well find one or more that will work for you. Even heart stamps could make an interesting bouquet.
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