Up and down the long aisles one walks at the Anaheim Convention Center looking for something to truly grab your attention. As I watched the Flower Soft demonstration at CHA I knew that it was a product that we just had to add to our store. The detail that can be added to stamped images such as the Lockhart florals, slippers or robe, using this product, is QUITE beautiful.
As we all know most Lilacs are lilac in color, so I wanted to step outside that box because I KNOW that you will all find the beauty in using that color with this image. Being that I was extremely taken with the new Basic Grey papers at CHA, and even had the opportunity of meeting the two graphic artists that completed the Porcelain and Marrakech lines, I elected to use the Porcelain papers together with Ivory lilacs. These two Basic Grey collections are so diverse, but the Porcelain collection just seemed to call my name, in conjunction with the Lilacs in Pitcher image.
I began by stamping my image on a piece of designer paper. One trick that I would like to share is to first stamp your image on a Stamp-a-ma-jig imaging sheet. Then move this sheet over your various papers to select the one you want, as well as the precise pattern you would like to use in your completed project. After your image is stamped add the details to your image using your Copic markers and color pencils. This will truly help define the image and "round" out the shape appropriately.
To begin I collected the materials that I would need to construct my Lilacs. The starter kit comes with the glue, wire and foam shown above. Most items are also available separately, except for the foam. You could most certainly use any type of styrofoam to insert your wires in as shown below without the need for the starter kit. The advantage to the kit is that it comes with all the necessary components along with some interesting tag assortments, urns, etc. I will try and show a more closeup shot of these pieces in a later post.
To begin Flower Soft recommends removing the product from the container and breaking it apart with your fingers. I just used my tidy tray to catch the product as I "crumbled" it between my fingertips. By doing this it breaks apart being it is squeezed so tightly in to it's cute little container.
Next I snipped the wire to a length that was slightly larger than what I thought I would need. I figured I could always make it shorter, but I most certainly can't "grow" the wire longer - LOL! I tried using my regular little scissors, but realized that I would most likely damage the blade and so I reached for my Bind-it-All wire cutters instead. They worked great!
Next I snipped approximately 1/4" off the tip of the Flower Soft Glue applicator. It comes with a closed tip so as to avoid leaking and drying. This applicator worked well for me - I easily squeezed the glue on to tip of my wire as shown above. The Flower Soft gal told me that if you have Aleene's glue, a PVA glue that has the right consistency, there is no need to purchase this glue. I most certainly do not want to sell you something that you already have in your "stash" and so I wanted to share this information with you. If you are like me I probably have it, but... where did I put it? LOL! Or is it dried out now? So before placing your order be certain to check out your already owned goodies.
Next I sprinkled the Flower Soft over my glued wire tip as I slowly rotated it. This allows the Flower Soft to adhere naturally for a more consistent, fluffier look. After applying my Flower Soft I then added a little sparkle, by adding some glitter to my project. The Flower Soft is a larger scale and so it leaves gaps on with the glue exposed. The glitter being fine will pass through to the exposed glue and attach itself. This just brings another level of interest to your project. I can totally see this with Lilac and Lavender Flower Soft together with sparkley glitter! Oh man what about Diamond Dust?!?! I must give that a try Ü
After adding the Flower Soft place the wires in the foam so that your Lilacs will remain in an upright position as they dry. If you were to lay these down on a flat surface you would end up with a "flat-side."
To create the unusual shape of the lilac once the first application of glue and flower soft had dried I added an additional layer of glue to the base of the flower as shown above.
As you can see it truly altered the shape! Just think of the different ways you can form the wire to create different flower shapes! OR add stamens to your paper flowers, your Prima flowers and more!!!
Next I stamped my image on a lacey paper includedin the Porcelain collection. I then added color once again with my Copics and Prismacolor pencils. After completing the coloring I added glue to the lilacs as shown.
Next sprinkle Flower Soft over the top of your project, let it sit for a few seconds and then shake the excess off. At this time I felt that I needed a little more "shape" to these lilacs and so I added a little more glue and Flower Soft to my image.
I then "bundled" my lilacs and snipped the wires so that they would be hidden beneath my colored pitcher. To adhere the wires to my project I simply taped them in place. This allowed me to move them up and down, as well as bend them in to their final position. I then firmly pushed my tape down in to place.
I added dimensionals to the back side of my colored pitcher and placed it over the wire stems. It was then that I realized I still had white "stems" or wires. BUMMER! I VERY carefully used a Copic marker to add color to my stems. Next time I also want to try airbrushing my flowers, but I knew that this time I just didn't have enough space in this post to share that as well - LOL Ü To completely finish my pitcher I added some glue to the handle with my glue pen and held the handle down, matching it to the handle on my lacey paper, not letting it go until the adhesive had set.
These would make exquisite little shadow box framed pieces for gifts! Now I just need to wait a little longer for the springtime lilacs to appear here in the Puget Sound area, but until then I can make my own - LOL!
