Artsy Addicts Technique Blog Hop

Welcome to the Artsy Addicts Technique Blog Hop. You should have come here from Teri Dorowsky's blog. Come check out the Creativity Bugs blog to see a nifty flower technique, enjoy collecting a few recipes, and then click here to go to Marion Smith's blog for the next technique.

I love flowers!! There is nothing I like better than to create a scrapbook page, card, or tag and embellish it with my favorite Prima flowers. They are big, luscious, glittery, fancy smancy, and stand out on a page.

My problem is that my love of Prima flowers and my pocketbook do not agree. So, I searched all over the web looking at websites, blogs, and YouTube videos trying to find a way to make these flowers without putting me in the poor house.

After countless hours, I found a few great sites, combined their ideas, and came up with the Creativity Bug version of the perfect paper flower.

Supplies:

large flower punch (Retro Flower by Paper Shapers)
double sided pattern paper
light weight card stock paper
coordinating brad
paper piercer
spritz bottle filled with water (optional)
Distressed ink (optional)
Stickles (optional)

Step 1:  Punch out 8 of the same sized punches from pattern paper or cardstock

Step 2:  Distress the edges of the punched out paper pieces with coordinating ink (optional)

Step 3:  Scrunch up punched out paper pieces tightly. If you are using thicker cardstock paper, spritz lightly with water before scrunching up.

Step 4:  Carefully open up scrunched up paper pieces and stack.

Step 5:  Pierce a hole in the center of the paper pieced stack with a paper piercer.

Step 6:  Insert brad and tighten.

Step 7: Re-scrunch the paper pieces starting tightly with the top piece and more loosely with each layer following.

Step 8:  Fluff the paper pieces until it resembles a flower.

Step 9:  Add Stickles to flower tips to add an extra touch of bling!

For variation, punch out 4 flowers in one color and 4 flowers in another to create a variegated rose.

Or try using a different flower punches to create a different style of flower. The first flower shown uses the Paper Shaper punch called Daisy. The second flower shown using the Stampin Up punch called Flower.

Here is a look at all three different flowers.

If you like what you see, please leave a comment or become a follower of our blog.
Creativity Bugs ~ Sandy and Sue

Make Your Own Glimmer Mists

Glimmer Mists are all the rage, but can get pretty expensive to have every color in your collection. To save money, I found 3 different recipes to make your own glimmer mists for all your paper crafting projects.

Color Mist 1

Ingredients:

Liquid non aerosol hairspray

Small spray bottle

Pearl Ex powder 

 Directions:

1. Fill small spray bottle ½ full of liquid hairspray
2. Add ¼ teaspoon PearlEx powder & shake well
3. Add additional PearlEx powder as needed to deepen color

Color Mist 2

Ingredients:

White Glue
Popsicle Stick
Water
Empty Spray bottles
Metallic / Pearlescent Acrylic Paints

 

Directions:

1.       Fill your spray bottle about 3/4 of water

2.       Dip popsicle stick in white glue and mix with water in bottle. The glue will act as a binder.

3.       Add one to two drops of paint to water and glue mixture. Shake well.

4.       Spray onto white piece of cardstock to test out color.

5.       Add more drops of paint as needed.

Color Mist 3

Ingredients:

Spray bottle

Liquid decoupage lacquer or PVA glue

Water

Pearl Ex powder

 

Directions:

1.       In a spray bottle, mix equal parts decoupage lacquer and water, about 20 ml of each will go a long way.

2.       Add ¼ teaspoon of PearlEx powder, put on the lid and shake well.

3.       Spray on white piece of cardstock to test out color.

4.       Add more PearlEx powder as needed to intensify color

Try out some of these glimmer mist recipes and let us know what you think!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

I Won! Imaginisce d-stress Tool

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it!! 

I don't usually make comments on blogs with the belief that I am going to win anything. Mostly I post to leave recommendations, compliments,  and to spread the love with my fellow bloggers. However, last week on the Imaginisce blog you had an opportunity to watch a demonstration on the new d-stress tool, leave a comment, and have the chance of winning it. And I actually won!

The d-stress tool is a hassle-free way to distress your edges from Imaginisce! The distressed look is in! Now it's easy to get that archival touch for photos, cards, and other paper crafts - right down to the finest detail. This rotary tool comes with three different crafting tips. As well as being cordless, running on 2 AA batteries (sold separately), you can take this ergonomic tool with you and work anywhere.

I can’t wait to receive my package in the mail and post pictures of my completed projects.

Creativity Bug ~ Sue

Recipe Friday: Side Dishes

Looking for the perfect side dishes for your grilled steak, fish, or poultry meals? Look no further and enjoy yummy roasted potatoes and fresh asparagus with prosciutto.

Roasted Potatoes and Lemon with Dill

Ingredients:

2 pounds new potatoes, halved

1 lemon, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons olive oil

kosher salt and black pepper

2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh dill

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 450° F. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the potatoes and lemon with the oil, ¾ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper.
2. Roast, tossing once, until tender, 25 to 35 minutes. Toss with the dill before serving.

Asparagus with Prociutto Chips

Ingredients:

3 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto

2 small bunches (about 1 3/4 pounds) asparagus, trimmed

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350° F. Place the prosciutto in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake until crisped, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer to a plate and let cool. 
2. Meanwhile, bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Add the asparagus and cook until tender, 3 to 5 minutes, depending on thickness. Drain and transfer to a bowl of ice water. Drain again and pat dry.
3. Cut the asparagus into 2-inch pieces. Transfer to a bowl. Add the oil, salt, and pepper and toss. Break the prosciutto into pieces and sprinkle over the asparagus

Happy Friday!

Creativity Bug ~ Sue