We are really excited to be trying something new in the CLASSroom this week!
A combined event where we are all inspired by the same topic and we want you to play along!
The topic that we are using for the inspiration for this exciting event is "Flowers". There are many types of flowers in this world and even more ways to explore your creativity using them. It is easy to share many types of emotions with flowers and at times when words may fail us, a flower won't.
I have a fun tutorial for an "accordion flower" to share with you. From what I have read about the reviews at the Craft and Hobby Association show that was just in Chicago last week, this type of posie is all the rage as a product with many manufacturers. By knowing how to make one, you can create a wonderful coordinating embellishment without the big price tag.
The first step is to trim your paper into strips. As a sample I made an extra large accordion flower that measures a little over 12" in diameter. It takes two of the same piece of paper to make, but it is easier to learn how to make this by starting large. Cut each of the two pieces of paper into 6" x 12" strips. When you are done you should have four strips that are this size.
You will then want to score at even intervals across the width of the strip. I used my Scor-Pal and used the 1/2" marks. But a tool that is better suited for the job is the Martha Stewart Scoring Board, it has more scoring lines and doesn't have the edge on the right so the length of your paper isn't inhibited, a tool that is on my wish list!
When you have scored all of the strips, then it is time to fold them accordion style.
After you have each of the strips folded, you then need to adhere each end to the next to create one long continuous piece of folded paper.
After you have done that, pull the two ends together and adhere those to each other. (I had to show a smaller version for this step, I couldn't hold the big pieces together and shoot the picture with the camera, lol!)
What you will then have is something that resembles a lampshade.
Apply gentle pressure to flatten the piece.
Then adhere it using a quicker drying glue product. I used a hot glue gun, but adhesive is at your discretion. Just remember that you will have to hold it in place until it dries, that I why I chose something that was quick to hold.
When it is done, it is time to give it a little finishing touch. For the flower on the card I added a button that I threaded with silk ribbon. Simple and lets the flower take the center stage.
To make a smaller flower you will want to start with a piece that is about an 1" x 12" then score at about 1/4" intervals. You won't have to do any piecing with this as the strip is long enough to make the circumference of the flower. After you have made a few of these, experiment with different widths and number of piecings to get the size of flowers you want. You will love how fun they are to make, and they are a wonderful way to add dimension to your projects!
So now are you ready for the parade part?
Here is how it will work:
Leave your link to your project using the Inlinks that we have at the bottom of the post. Then go and visit everyone's project and leave a comment. We all enjoying receiving kind words from our friends on our projects, so let's do that for each other. And to make it just a little more interesting, we will be randomly selecting one blog post to receive a $15.00 gift certificate to the shop, and one randomly selected commenter from a different randomly selected blog will also receive a $15.00 gift certificate! You will have all week to leave links and comments. After the week is up, we will then select our random recipients and notify them.
We hope you are feeling excited, inspired and kind, because that is what this parade is all about!
B-
