Anchuca Weekend

This is the project I made at a Miniature Retreat in Vicksburg, MS. this past weekend.


This is the project in the handmade stained glass case. It doesn't show up in the picture but the base and the knob on top of the case are purple glass. The base of the project is 4-1/2" square and from the base to the top of the statue is 5-1/2"

This is the front of the project. We chipped and painted bricks to age them and then laid a patio. I chose to lay my patio bricks in a herringbone pattern and then built the pedestal for the statue. We painted and aged the statue and added snow.

Wire was twisted to form plant stems and then we cut leaves by hand and added holeless beads for berries.

This is a closeup of the aging on the statue and bricks. When I got home I added the little bunny and the bird feeder and cardinal

Paper roses

Wow! Thanks for all the interest in the flowers! Phyllis asked to see more and Kanan asked how I made the roses and so I am going to attempt to explain it.

Keep in mind that these are in 1 inch = 1 foot scale, The whole arrangement is only about 1 3/4" tall including the vase and the roses are only about 5/16" across. Of course you can make then bigger by using a larger circle punch and thicker wire. The finished size of your rose will depend on the size of the circle punch you use.

SUPPLIES

Paper (you can use regular copy paper I used japanese crepe paper but it is hard to find and expensive)

Round hole punch (I used a regular office hole punch)

Fine pointed tweezers

Paper or cloth covered wire (I used 32 gauge paper covered wire which is hard to find)

Acrylic paint

Matte medium (Paper has a 'memory' meaning that however much you shape it will eventually go back to it's original form which is flat! Humidity makes it go quicker so the matte medium is essential to make the petals hold their shape)

Markers or dye ink pad(I used Marvy markers)

Soft pad and large ball stylus for shaping. (I use a piece of a cheap place mat. You can use a mouse pad or a piece of fun foam but these are a bit too soft)

Tacky glue (I use Crafters PickThe Ultimate)

Finishing spray

PREP

Thin your paint with a drop of water and paint the paper on both sides in the color of your choice and let it dry. When paper is dry spread a thin coat of matte medium over both sides and let dry.

Cut the wire into the length you want for the stem and seal the ends with glue so that the paper or cloth doesn't come off the wire.

ASSEMBLY

1. When the paper is dry punch out the petals, about 16 for each rose. Using a marker or ink pad and paint brush a shade darker than your paint shade a roughly U shape on one side of the petal. (This step is optional)

2. Transfer the petals to the shaping pad and with a ball stylus gently curve the petals with a circular motion.

3. The cupped side goes towards the stem with all the petals. Pick up one petal with tweezers and using a pin or toothpick put a dot of glue on one side of the petal and glue it to the tip of a stem. Wrap the petal around the stem using a dot of glue to hold it in place. Pick up another petal and put a tiny dot of glue on the bottom of the petal and glue it to the stem right under the wrapped petal. Add 2 more petals overlapping each other. Continue adding petals making sure the next round of petals covers the gap in the previous row. When all the petals are attached set aside to dry.

Once the petal are dry use tweezers to gently bend the tips outward. Do this for all the petals. Spray with a finish to hold it all together and your rose is done. If you try this I would love to see what you do with your finished flowers!

Made from paper but not a card.

I have been MIA for a while, sorry. I have been busy making card sets for my daughter but they are almost identical to what I have shown you so I haven't taken pictures. I have also made cards for swaps but I can't show them as they haven't been mailed yet.

I used to make and sell miniatures, mostly flowers, at shows around the country.My first digital camera was a Sony Mavica that used floppies. It took great pictures and had a 10x zoom which was great for taking pictures of my miniatures. Tonight I looked through some of the old floppies to see what was there and I found this pic of an arrangement I made and sold a few years ago.

I really didn't want to sell this arrangement as it took a loooong time to make. I had the picture on my website as an example of a custom arrangement but without a price. I had an enquiry from a lady who wanted to buy it. I really didn't want to make another one so I told her it was $300 thinking that would put her off. She bought it along with a whole bunch of other arrangements so now all I have is a picture! The whole thing is 3 inches tall and the flowers are all made of paper.

Cottage Door

Before I started making cards I made miniature flowers and sold then at miniature shows around the country. My business name was Cottage Door Miniatures and this was what I had on my table as my logo. The frame is 11' x 14" and the box is 2" deep. The scale is 1 inch = 1 foot. What does this have to do with Bloomin' Paper? I made my miniature flowers and most of what is in my logo is made from paper!


What is made of paper? The door and hardware, all the flowers and leaves, the basket and the steps! I am afraid it is beginning to look a little ratty from being in a suitcase and thrown around by the airlines for a few years.

I love paper, it has so many possibilities!