Tips and Tricks: Silk Flowers (Plus a new Freebie!)

Credits Digital papers by Shabby Princess downloaded and printed from theshabbyshoppe.com; Cardstock: Making Memories; Chalk: Inkadinkado; Font: Gloucester MT Extra Condensed; Misc: silk flowers, eyelets.

I have been really enjoying the Scrapbooks Etc. website lately! Last week, on Scrapbook Lifestyle, they had a fun challenge for the designers to create a piece of wall art in 90 minutes. I loved how Johanna made a sweeping wave of silk flowers on hers. And I also recently saw an article on the Creating Keepsakes site about 10 ways to use chalk, one of which was to alter silk flowers.  Today I’m going to show you how these ideas can come together for a fun, girlie page!  

Tips & Tricks:

• I printed digital papers to use on this page.  By turning everything on an angle I could use smaller pieces of paper on my 12×12 inch page.
• Because the paper was in digital format, I was able choose a perfectly matching color for my text by using the eyedropper tool in photoshop elements. I just opened one of the papers, selected a shade of pink and typed out my text in a new document. Then I printed it out on cardstock. 
• If you plan to cut your journaling into strips like I did, be sure to add several extra spaces between the words that will be separated for easier cutting.
• I used eyelets to secure the silk flowers to the page, they’re just the thing!

Technique: Altered Silk Flowers

I have tons of these little bunches of silk flowers around my craft room, but it was only recently that I discovered their usefulness in scrapbooking! Here are the steps I took to alter them and make them usable on my page (please refer to the numbered images above as you follow the steps below).

1. This is what my flower bunches looked like before I began – but there are many different types of silk flowers that could work well with this technique.
2. First, I removed the flower head from the stem by just “popping” it off.
3. Next, I pulled the flower pieces apart and threw away the plastic parts. I cut some slits in the smallest piece, so that it would be able to lay flat on the page.
4. Finally, I added color with chalk.   I mixed water with the chalks to help them go on smoothly and to give them a nice watercolor look. I used generic eye make-up applicators to add the colors.

After the flowers were dry, I used eyelets to attach them to my page.  Here are some other ideas for attaching flowers: brads, buttons (sewn) or glue the flower on with a bead or jewel glued in the center. Be creative – I’m sure you can think of lots of great possibilities! 

Little Girl Poem Freebie

The poem I used as my journaling on the page above is yet another one I originally saw in a Shabby Princess kit (we have such similar taste!) and I’ve loved it ever since. In the freebie offered below, the words of the poem are placed on some cute little ”shabby” chipboard tiles. I hope you find a use for this – if you do, please let me know!

**NOTE: The flower paper shown in the preview is by Shabby Princess and is NOT included in the free download – it is for preview purposes only**

Download Poem Freebie Here (Expired)

Click Here if the Link Above Expires (Expired) 

Sorry if you missed this one.  

Keep your eyes open for more great freebies coming soon!

 

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