Friday 27 June 2014

LIM 178 Guest designer spot & my first ever tutorial - pop can flowers!

I am so excited this week to have had the opportunity to be a guest designer on the Less is More challenge blog. The remit was a recipe to use a recycled element on your card whilst maintaining the CAS style. This was a great project for me, not only because I like to recycle and find ways of reusing different things in my crafting but also because I am not fortunate enough to have lots of money to spend on my hobby and therefore if you can create beautiful cards from free stuff what's not to like!

I have played around with several ideas but settled on these two for the challenge. The first card uses the technique of iris folding, one of the first techniques that drew me into cardmaking and made it such an important part of my life. I have reduced the size of the original sailboat design, a pattern I have used many times. The main recycled element is to use the insides of standard envelopes that arrive in the post (mainly blue, but also some orange) to make my iris folding strips. The bright blue strips are from one of my wage packets!


The iris folded panel is finished off with two strips of recycled ric-rac used as waves. I also deliberately chose a scalloped edged card to reflect the watery theme!

The second card I made uses a technique that has become a favourite of mine, making die-cut metal flowers by recycling pop and beer cans. I first discovered this technique several years ago whilst browsing YouTube for different methods of creating flowers. These can be used on cards but could also be used as a brooch or as a hair slide. I think these flowers are so stunning that they just need a little something to show them off but not much so the CAS style is perfect for this!


Over the last few years I have discovered so much information and inspiration from tutorials and photos on other crafter's blogs. To thank everyone whose blog I have ever taken something from I would like to give something back by putting my first ever tutorial on my blog! So here is the method I use to make these flowers. I decided to do it in a pdf format as this made it easier to put together and will, I hope, be easier for people that want to download the project. Apart from that I couldn't place the photos exactly where I wanted to in the body of my post!


Thank you to Chrissie for giving me this fantastic DT opportunity. I will visit as many of your blogs as time allows to see how you all get on with the challenge and will look forward to joining in again soon!

Thanks so much for visiting my little world
Stef x

24 comments:

  1. WOW Stef, you rock the challenge!
    The drink can makes a fab and unusual card and thanks for the tutorial. I've never been drawn to iris folding before but the envelope innards give it an almost Japanese feel and your nautical scene is so stylish. Drat the recycling was collected yesterday, I shall be inspecting envelopes in the post from now on!
    Anne
    x

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  2. I watched a similar youtube video a while back too, but never got round to making these - your lovely project and tutorial have inspired me to have a go. Gill x

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  3. Well done on been a GDT and smashing cards x

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  4. What a great idea to use the insides of envelopes for your tea bag folding - it looks great! I also love the tin can flower - so creative. Thanks for the tutorial!

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  5. Thanks so much for agreeing to Guest for us this week Stef. These are both great projects... super to have the tut too!
    Thanks so much
    Chrissie x

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  6. Wowzers Stef that's 2 stunning cards and the envelope insides look fantastic. Great idea with the pop can too ... so effective.
    Great to have you on the team this week.
    Sarah xx
    Less is More

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  7. I love both your cards - they are fab. thanks for the flower tute. Two things I would add are make sure the can is aluminium not steel and after die cutting hammering gently around the edges will make them less sharp.

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  8. What a fantabulous use of old cans!!
    Love both cards but adore the flower xx

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  9. Stunning iris folding and very creative use of the pop can.

    Warm hugs
    Maarit

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  10. Two great cards, I love creating flowers with cans they keep their shape so well.
    Elaine

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  11. Well done what a great idea TFS xx Jna

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  12. Both fabulous cards, Stef ... the flower from a can is amazing ... such gorgeous dimension and so beautifully and CAS-ily showcased! Anita :)

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  13. congrats on your LIM GDT spot- iris folding with wage slips - wow! I've still got an iris folding kit somewhere to do LOL!
    thanks for visiting my blog and yes my header is my garden, although last year the poppy got trampled by some builders, I thought it might survive but it hasn't come up again this year.
    Linbyx

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  14. I love the cute little sailboat you made with the security envy pieces, Stef! What a great recycle idea. And, your flower made from pop cans is beautiful!

    Thanks for your sweet comment on my blog. I think I did use two tea bags for that background, because I wanted the strips to overlap and create more interest. It was a lot of fun to make!!

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  15. Fab cards love the recycled flower !

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  16. Thank you for all your lovely comments. My aim as a GD this week is to visit all the entries and leave a comment. This is a huge task for me as I don't get much spare time but have looked at 35 already, so doing well! Stef

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  17. Congratulations on your GD position this week with LIM I love your recycled flower it fits so well with the CAS nature of this challenge and your folding is immaculate, love both cards:D Thank you so much for visiting me also :D Gay x

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  18. I've not dome any iris folding for years and I have some cards ready cut, really must get back into it! I love the sail boat, and the use of envelope insides, one of my favourite recycling tricks!

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  19. Gorgeous cards Stef, TFS your tutorial too, Cathy x

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  20. Congrats on your GD spot, it's a great way to test the waters! Love the iris fold card, a great way to recycle. I'm not very good at Iris folding so tend not to do it. Perhaps I should have another go. :)

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  21. That's an amazing iris fold card...awesome!

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  22. Well done on the GDT spot Stef, two fabulous cards also. I love that amazing flower you created and the ship is so clever too :) Viv xx

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  23. When I read that you do IF cards in your intro...I had to go and find them. It's how I started card making too. It's still one of my favorite techniques although, I don't do as many IF cards anymore...but you sure have inspired me to give it another go....
    The above cards are really so well done, and that boat pattern is also one of my favorite to do.

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