Monday 6 October 2008

Poinsettias, nerines and ...

... a surprise! Jane Gill's Floral Punch Craft workshop at the Glitterpot on Saturday.

Poinsettias
We made 3. A large one and 2 smaller ones. It's amazing what you can do with the most unlikely punches. Punches used to make the poinsettias were the Christmas tree, small daisy and the stamen.







The base card is an A5, hammered, cream card blank. The card front was covered with a border of cream Bazzill and remaining card covered with cream based Christmas text (in this instance Plum Pudding Marzipan by Crafts House) and join trimmed with a strip of gold card. The poinsettias and holly leaves were then arranged to suit. The card was finished with a gold organza ribbon bow. I just love this card and it is definitely one that looks better in the 'flesh' than in a photo!

A full tutorial on how to make the poinsettia's can be found here.



Nerines ... Well, they didn't do it for me. I didn't like the colouring detail. Far too harsh in my opinion but also I felt the base colour was too pale. The punch used was the Giant Lillium Feather. There are 2 sizes of this punch. It was the largest of them that was used here. Full details of how to make this flower can be found in Leone Em's Floral Punch Craft VIII (Camellia's, Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Tulips and more).



We had a bonus to this class .... the Surprise!!
Again, it was using the Giant Lillium Feather but with this the smaller version of the punch could be used just as well and even in conjunction with - lol!! We made .......... Christmas trees! Really quick and easy to do and very effective! There are many ways of making a tree with this punch so it's a case of punch the shapes, cut, shape and just play with the putting together! The picture here shows trees made with a 6,5,4,3,2 combination but I've since played with others to great effect. These trees, believe it or not, are made from the same sheet of paper ..... BasicGrey Fruitcake, Berry Branch/Maraschino Cherry. Unfortunately it is last years design and no longer made but, any double-sided paper (if you're going to do severe shaping) will do. The shapes were punched and then the edges inked. I decided to alternate the layers on one and inked all outer edges in green. With the other I decided to keep the front the same for each layer and I inked that one with a rusty colour. In both instances I tried to pick out one of the shades in the paper. A large ball tool was used, in a circular motion, on the full part of each shape above the 'branches' to give a bit of definition. The 'branches' were then curled, each to a differing degree. Blobs (technical term!) of PVA were put at the top of each shape, with the exception of the top one (2 branches) and then each piece was stuck to the other in descending order. The trunk was cut freehand from brown Bazzill and stuck on the back.

I thought these were really great and can see me making a good few more - lol!


Enjoy!!

23 comments:

Jean said...

WOW Pam - no other word will do.

Budge said...

That is absolutely beautiful Pam.


Sylv xx

Louise Emma said...

They are brilliant Pam, especially love the poinsettias xx

Joanie said...

Beautiful Poinsettias Pam, I love the Christmas Trees too.
Joanie x

Anonymous said...

Fascinating Pam and lovely work! Who'd have thought you could do these with those punches! I think I will have to have a look at my punches in a very different light from now on! Thanks for the inspiration.

Viv xx

Daisycat said...

Oh what a fantastic workshop, the flowers looks so realistic. I hope Jak is taking note of the cards because she will have to show me how to make the flowers.

Cazz said...

absolutely stunning Pam. Your poinsettia card is amazing xx

Anonymous said...

Fabulous Pam very realistic
Luv nena x

Toni said...

wow fabulous Pam and i do have one of these stamps been in the draw for a while now love the trees you made with it

Jak Heath said...

whoooo hooooo I love this and thanks to you I've got the punch.

Jak Heath said...

I was so excited when I got to the end to say how much I love the poinsettia card, I really don't think that Paul is worthy of it for his comment to my sunshine post but I know a friend of yours who would treasure it. So knowing that you want this one I think it is only fitting that you make another before you forget how to do it lol!

Margaret A said...

I am sooooo jealous.....I want to play too. They are all stunning...but the poinsettias....are amazing.

Jan R said...

Absolutely stunning Pam. Your talent is endless!

Anonymous said...

Just gorgeous Pam those poinsettas are surperb.
Myrax

Karen J said...

Just stunning Pam .. can't say anything else really!!!
Karen xx

Sue said...

Absolutely stunning Pam, I would love to receive a card like that for christmas, I love it.

Jen's crafty bits said...

What beautiful cards they are, you are brilliant at making the floral punch craft flowers :) I definitely will have a go one day :) Jenny M xx

Jackie said...

Wow Peejay, love those pointsettias, I must try to find that tree punch and have a go. I'm not sure how good it will turn out with Jane's expertise to guide me but it'll be worth a try.

Jackie

Joanne said...

Knew I shouldn't have looked at this - am even more sad now that I couldn't make it!! :0(
Your poinsettia card is just gorgeous - I have the tree, so no excuse really!
I agree with you about the nerines - realise I have the right Leone Em book, so had a look in there, and they do look better in the stronger colour with an edge that is less of a contrast.
Love those trees too - will be having a go at them as well.

Sarah K said...

Wow what a fantasic blog and you are so talented, I love your flowers and they really look real. xx

Heather "Hev" said...

Been cruising through your blog and I must say I am overwhelmed by your talents!!

Fabulous work!!

jay670120 said...

WOW i thought the nerines were real !!!!
if you fancy showing off your work , entering competitions and challenges come and join us at www.fiskarettes.co.uk theres a chance to win £50 worth of Tools too on the 15th of each month !
x jayne x

Norma said...

All beautiful Pam but those poinsetias are just fabulous

Norma x