Tuesday Tips - Owl Punch Flower

Isn't the flower on this card a stunner?!  Perhaps you read my blog post on 4/6/2011 and remember that I promised to explain this flower technique.

Here's a second flower I made using different patterns from the same designer series paper.  Isn't this Paisley Petals Designer Series Paper exquisite?   You can purchase it as a sneak peek dsp at $9.95 during the month of April only, with a $20 product purchase!  This paper will then be available again in the 2011-2012 Idea Book & Catalog beginning in July.

Stampin' Up's Owl Punch is the tool you need to make this flower.  How fun!  You only punch out the owl body (you won't need the little circle parts and other doo-dads that this punch also punches out).  On the 4/6 card, I punched out and used 6 owl bodies.  For today's card, I used 7 owl bodies, and I think the 7 owls is an improvement.

NOTES

1.  Fold the owls in half lengthwise.  If you are using double sided paper, the pattern that you cannot see when the owl is folded will become the smallest inner petals.  I folded my owls inside out, so I had to flip the pattern that I preferred later before assembling the flower......

    

2.  Cut off their little toes (ouch - poor little owls).

 3.  Make a cut along the curve of the ear, continuing that cut so it goes all the way through the fold - discard the scrap & you have created the long petals.

   

4.  Fold back the rounded sides of each owl, like little flaps, beginning at the center fold, and ending approximately where the curve begins to go inward.  Those two flaps are the small inner petals.  Depending on what size your flaps are, you will need to prepare either 6 or 7 owls.

SIDE VIEW OF A PETAL

TOP VIEW OF PETAL

5.  Punch a circle from cs with the 1 3/4" circle punch, then cover it with adhesive.

6.  Begin laying the folded petals around the cs circle, with pointed edges meeting in the center.  You may have to reposition the "wedges" until they fit together well and look symmetrical.

CLOSEUP OF FINISHED FLOWER BEFORE

7.   Curl the long petal tips and sponge edges if desired.  To curl a petal, slide a petal between a bone folder and your fingers to curl the tips of each long petal.  Holding the base of the petal with your other thumb & forefinger while VERY GENTLY curling will prevent ripping.  The process is similar to using a scissors to curve the ends of curling ribbon on a gift package.

FLOWER AFTER CURLING & SPONGING PETALS WITH PEAR PIZZAZZ INK

You can create this flower on an extra special card on Wednesday at 7pm for my April Stamp Camp.  There are a few spots left, so email or phone me quick to register!

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial and have fun with this technique!  Feel free to comment or email if there are questions.

Linda