Monday 25 July 2011

Fabric....Aimes style!

Hey!

Happy, happy Monday everyone! Super duper happy today for me because:

  1. It's the first Monday lie-in of the summer holidays - bliss!
  2. It's time to kick of Round 3 of Gallery Idol 2011!

Y'know all weekend I've tried to get my ahead around the fact that I'm still in this competition - it all still feels like a dream to me! But thanks to you lovely, lovely people I'm still here and ready for the next round which just so happens to be the Semi-Final of the competition! This is where things heat up a little - and in my case they heated up literally if you read on...

The design brief was to create a card which incorporates fabric...

....yup....

....non-seamstress me......and.....

....fabric...*shudder*


Did you hear me scream from my place when I read that? LOL!

As most of you will know, my kinda material is paper and that's about it! I can push it to ribbon but anything else just scares me (and don't even get me started on my love/hate relationship with my sewing machine - Machiney!)

But a challenge is a challenge and with a place in the Final of Gallery Idol up for grabs I just had to think of something! So I rooted through my supplies and dug out some sheets of organza material that I'd purchased super cheap years ago (seriously - years ago!) and started to play.

Here's my end result:

Congrats

I promise you that I actually made that flower without a single stitch! No sewing required at all! Even better - I attached that flower onto a clip so you can remove it from the card and place it on anything or anyone for extra prettiness :)

Congrats Blog

Now that's my kinda fun with fabric :)

Wanna make your own? I've gotta confess that I'm slightly addicted myself; you will be too after following these simple steps:

Step One
Get your supplies!


  • Few small sheets of organza material
  • die cutting machine and circular dies of 3 different sizes (don't worry if you don't have them you can just hand cut them!)
And in addition to this:
  • Small candle and matches
  • Heatproof surface (for step 3!)
  • Tweezers (to prevent burnt fingers!)
Step Two
Cut out a couple of sizes of each circle



Step Three
Here's where any kids will definitely need an adult's supervision!
Light a candle on a heatproof surface, and with tweezers gently hold the edges of each circle of organza about 10cm above the flame.

Yup - Gallery Idol 2011 - the competition is *seriously* heating up!

You'll notice the edges curl and seal; the more random your edges, the more realistic your flower will look (trust me - I skipped this step on my first attempt and my flower looked pretty lame) Move each piece around so all edges are affected. There is a knack to this and it's easy to get the gist of - trust me; if I can do this, anyone can!

Step Four
Here's what you should now have:


Now simply layer the circles on top of each other and place a brad through the centre to secure - the nature of organza means you can just simply push the brad through all layers in one go! You may choose to omit layers or even add some more - it's totally up to you. Just position the layers until you're happy!

Step Five
Add desired centre. I went for an arrangement of bling with a poppy-style centre but you could use pearls or buttons - the world's your oyster!

Step Six (Optional)
Adhere flower to small clip (I'd recommend a hot glue gun for this to ensure that your flower stays secure!)

Ta-dah!

Aimes Hair Distant

Here's a close up:

Aimes Hair

To attach the clip to the card I simply punched two holes to thread the clip through. The front layer adhered to the card base on raised foam-pads so the inside of your card stays nice perfect :)

Card and Clip

I also went ahead and stamped a flower on my card front and dusted with shimmer chalk. It's a little finishing touch that means once the clip is removed, the card still looks somewhat complete!

Card and Clip2

And of course - I've had my mascot, Pigster, cheering me along from my desk throughout this whole competition so it's only fair that Pigster got a chance to shine too, right?!

Pigster
*grin*

Finally just a few design pointers that you might not see from my pics:
  1. The front panel of my card is matted on a layer of vellum. This continues the floaty/transparency theme of the organza flower. It's also a super idea to use vellum for layering onto coloured card-bases for perfect colour-coordinated layers.
  2. The leaves are stamped twice each side of the flower to add more depth when dusted with chalks.
  3. The sentiment and gems are placed to reflect the design of the flower and leaves (with the sentiment reflecting the position of the flower and the gems reflecting the position as the leaves)
Phew! I think that's everything!

So do you likey? If you do then be sure to vote for it! This is the semi-final and the only way I can get into the final is with your votes! Be sure to check out the rest of the other amazing entries too and make your vote count because you only get one! (you can click on the link in my side bar for a direct hop across to my entry *wink*)

Thank you so, so, so much for all your support and encouragement! I'll be needing all of it if I'm to move through to the final. But still, if I don't I have had an awesome time in this competition and feel blessed to have had such fabulous support!

Thank YOU!


Catch ya later!






Card Deets
{Celebrate}
Stamps: Sentiment from Frame-It (Waltzingmouse Stamps)/Leaves from Turning a New Leaf (Papertrey Ink)/Flower from Hope Blooms (Verve Stamps)
Ink: Versamark
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Vellum Cardstock (Papertrey ink)/Grey (Craft Supply)
Accessories: Cuttlebug (Provocraft)/Nestabilities (Spellbinders)/Linen Impression Plate (Papertrey Ink)/Organza (craft supply)/Gems (Hero Arts)/Brad (We R Memory Keepers)/Shimmer Chalks (Dovecraft)/Hair clip (my own!)

32 comments:

Tanya said...

This is so elegant and beautiful. I love your use of your fabric, and even better, it's a hair clip, clever!

Ann said...

Really pretty - I love that singeing technique and the flower looks so lovely in your hair Aimes. I really like cards that are a gift too - always appreciated by the recipients.

Caryn said...

Pigster is the perfect model - she has such a demure look!!
Well done on getting this far hunny - can't wait to see you in the final - go Aimes!!

Maureen said...

Oh, Moe more than likey :) This is over the top (again!). LOVE that organza and the tea light technique :) Thanks so much for the tutorial :) Lynn and I are in her studio so I can play with the PTI sets I don't have :) I've weighed my bag and am 3 lbs under the limit :) Now I'm off to VOTE...you are sure giving all those other gals major competition...I call TOP 5 for you, Duchess :) hugs :)

Unknown said...

adorable pictures, love, love, love that beautiful hair clip, you look sooooo pretty in it, beautiful hair!!!! and your little piggy, cutie patootie! great job this round, good luck to you:)

Lynn said...

Aimes....wow! This is stunning and I love the model shot! So elegant and I love it even more as it is very true to your style!

gertinefromholland said...

A fabric flower, without sewing etc. That´s my kind of fabric flower! Love the card and the fact that the flower is on a clip.

Nerina said...

You look simply gorgeous with that flower in your hair ... and 'lil Missy Pigster just shines all by herself anyway ;0)!

Just *beautiful* Aimes - any recipient would be totally THRILLED with this! Another CONGRATS and loodles of best wishes to you!!

Tigriswillreign said...

Me soooo likey!! I will absolutely have to try this! Thanks so much for the amazing tutorial and the model shots! ;)
Also, thanks for the vellum tip... You can bet I will be using this in the future!

Jennifer Rzasa said...

This is so pretty- I love the clip and the fact that you stamped behind it.

Jenny said...

So simple but absolutely stunning and I love that it can be used as a hair slide too...very clever twist :)
Jenny x

Anonymous said...

Like, like, like!!!! You stayed true to your style yet managed to play with fabric in such an awesome and inspiring way! You should make a few more to adorn yourself in the cruising nights ;)

Debby said...

To start with your card looks stunning. Then add in the amazing embellie and the thought process and you are surely on to a winner!

Lindsay said...

Seriously awesome Amy! I love your post, it had me giggling and your clip is gorgeous in your hair! Great job!

Karen B. said...

Fun post, and wow, what a beautiful card!

Cristina said...

I love that you're staying so *you* - in these posts, in the cards. The whisper of the leaves is so beautiful, too. Onward and upward, my friend!!!

Unknown said...

So chic! I've done that technique before, what fun that stampers get to play with fire! But that is so elegant as a clip and pigster is stylin' with that beautimeous hair? adornment! Good luck! I have to go vote yet.

Iwona Palamountain (Chupa) said...

Me not likey, me lovey... and not only your card (that I think is ingenious!), but you as a whole, a person who stays true to herself and brights up my days with posts that bring smile to my face. You'll always have my vote, girlie! HUGS!!

~amy~ said...

LOL...I gotta admit, I thought of you and machiney:)

You rocked it sista...love the clip:)

Carol's Ink Spot said...

Aimes this is gorgeous! You nailed the challenge. Positively beautiful.

Anonymous said...

very cool!

Debbie Carriere said...

A beautiful CAS card!!! Love the textured background. Great tutorial, too :)

Inkyfingers said...

Wow Aimes you are going to rock the competition with this beauty. I love the tutorial and the design tips. Is there a Passion for Papertrey gathering in the pipeworks? I really enjoyed meeting everyone last year and it would be great to meet up again.
Hugs
Carol x

Torico said...

Oh my... This is breathtaking, Aimes. You rock!

Emma said...

Wow Aimes - what a goddess you are! such a classy little pin number from you. This is so exciting - eeeeee - GO AIMES!!

Renee said...

GORGEOUS!!
I'm so using your flower tutorial because that flower is stunning!
Beautiful card...
so elegant!!

Sharron said...

Goodness, Aimes--this is such a beauty! Your card is stunning--as are you with that lovely decoration in your hair. And how sweet to include a tutorial in your post. This is definitely another winner. Best of luck with this round of voting. HUGS!!

Katie Berberich Handmade said...

Oooh so stylish Aimes! I've seen this technique before but never tried it and it looks spectscular in your hair too!
Off to vote now, best of luck you clever thing :)
Katie xx

Jaclyn Miller said...

Love that you created a clip using fabric and love that you let pigster wear it! Super elegant and simple. Good luck in this round!

itsallrosi said...

I love that you used fire to make this! Its really gorgeous - good luck!

Andrea M said...

WOWZAS!!! Look at you go!!! Making fabric flowers and accessories!!!! You are AMAZING!!! This card is STUNNING!!! LOVE the organza flower! Congrats to you! WOO HOO!!! So happy for you!!! By the way, I LOVE the subtly chalked leaves - GORGEOUS!

shafarina said...

Thanks for the tutorial Aimes!

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