Friday, April 30, 2010

A Tutorial and a Giveaway: Flower Collage




Flower collages are really easy to do and you can make them big or small, simple or really complicated!

Materials:

base material like canvas or board, wall putty or gesso, brush, acrylic paint, water, various paper and fabric. Scissors, white glue, crochet thread, needle,

Optional materials:

Stencils, rubber or foam stamps, fabric, felt, leather, decorative scissors, spray bottle, fixative

1. Decide on your substrate or base material- canvas? Cardboard? Just make sure you can put a needle through it. Coat with gesso or wall putty. I prefer the latter as it’s cheaper, it’s not as fine, but I like the texture it makes. Dry the gesso or wall putty well. If you paint on it and it's not that dry, your work will have white streaks on it..

2. Paint the surface a light color (yellow, light blue, pink, etc.) and wait for it to dry. Apply a second coat of paint – use a slightly darker color. You don’t have to paint all areas. After this dries, apply a third coat of darker color (dark blue, orange, brown, etc.). Again, you don’t have to cover all areas. You can use stencil, or stamps to add texture and interest to your background. You can wipe away some parts and you can even use a water spray bottle to add moisture and dab away the moist paint.

3. Prepare your materials for the flowers. You can use printed cardstock but I prefer to make my own painted paper. Look for old books with music sheets, foreign languages and paint them in different colors. Make your own designs using the computer- use interesting calligraphy fonts to encode french poems for instance. You can also use wall putty or gesso on bookpaper and paint it after it dries.

I also like to draw on book pages and copy it. Paint with acrylic or watercolor. Make different patterns and designs.


4. I also use fabric glued on paper. Use 50/50 water and white glue to attach the fabric to the paper. Sometimes I can find leather or felt scraps and this can make a nice addition to the collage.


5. Cut out different shaped flowers and petals from the paper and fabric. Sometimes I use decorative scissors for the paper and pinking shears for the fabric. I tried tearing flowers and I liked how that turned out too. Cut out leaves and stems and grass too.


6. This is the part I like. Try out different combinations of the cut out flowers and see which ones you like. Place them on the canvas or cardboard to see the placement of the flowers. Stems can be straight, wavy or crooked depending on your preference.

7. Glue on the stems, and the leaves and use olive green crochet thread to make some stitches. You can use whatever kind of stitches you like. I usually do the back stitch http://www.embroiderersguild.com/stitch/stitches/back.html but couching http://www.embroiderersguild.com/stitch/stitches/couching.html , and stem stitches will do as well. http://www.embroiderersguild.com/stitch/stitches/stem.html

8. Glue on the flowers, making sure you have a balance of small and big ones. In my first canvases, I didn’t glue on the flowers and they were 3d, with the petals standing up. However, I started gluing on my flowers because I thought the 3d ones wouldn’t stand the test of time. Either way you want to do it, you will now choose a button to put in the middle of your flowers. Sew this on.

I like adding embroidery stitches to the flowers to add interest and texture.

9. As a final step, you may decide to put a bible verse or a favorite quote on it. Spray the collage with fixative to protect.

Here’s the finished product:

If you would like to win this 5 ½” square flower collage on liner board, please make a comment below.

To get an additional chance to win, you may opt to put the picture on your blog and a link to mine. Please make an additional comment informing me of this.

Of course all my followers get an additional chance too! I'll add your names after all the comments.

If you ever try doing this, I'd be interested to see the results. I'd be happy to answer any questions, don't hesitate to ask! For more tutorials, visit Inspiration Avenue and come join the party!


The winner for this giveaway is no. 107, Lisa Lectura. Hope you like it, Lisa!


65 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for this tutorial--I know I will be trying this!!

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  2. I love this collage! It looks like such fun to do.

    Thank you so much for the chance to win it and for coming to the Inspiration Avenue blog party!

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  3. It's so pretty and your instructions are very helpful! I love the blue in the background.

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  4. Have a good job,best wishes

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  5. Love this, thanks for the tut, I will be trying it and will add it to my side bar. xx

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  6. This is great - the embroidery is a lovely touch. I've tried it on canvas a few times and it looks lovely (though sewing through canvas hurts my fingers lol!)

    Thanks for coming to our blog party!
    Angie x

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  7. Thanks so much for the tutorial, I love seeing your name come up in my RSS blog-feed! It's such a gorgeous pretty collage~ Happy May Day from the other side of the world in Ireland!

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  8. This is fabulous, and if you don't mind would love to take a picture and add it to my side bar for a permanent link to you!

    (Lyn))

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  9. Oh wow, I love this. I'm going to have a go... Brilliant. Thanks so much for sharing :)

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  10. This project looks like a lot of fun. I love to use old buttons in my art so this is right up my alley. Thank you.

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  11. What a beautiful collage! Thank you for sharing this lesson with us!

    Wow ... and a giveaway ... you are a very generous party hostess! :)

    Thanks, again!

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  12. Hey that is so neat thani you so much for coming and posting this. I am so going to trey that too.

    Shel

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  13. This is simply a great bunch of ideas. I did three collages to decorate for a retreat this summer, then we shrunk them and put them on everything else we used...postcards, folders, notebooks, name tags...etc. Then I put up the three collages for added decorations.

    I wish I had know half of what you taught here. But that's ok since I will be doing it again next year! Just love this...you made it so simple and it is so charming...and it adds to what I know!

    Suz

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  14. This is simply a great bunch of ideas. I did three collages to decorate for a retreat this summer, then we shrunk them and put them on everything else we used...postcards, folders, notebooks, name tags...etc. Then I put up the three collages for added decorations.

    I wish I had know half of what you taught here. But that's ok since I will be doing it again next year! Just love this...you made it so simple and it is so charming...and it adds to what I know!

    Suz
    http://katsuijewelry.blogspot.com

    P.S. My daughter and I are relatively new bloggers...come by if you would like. It really is not all about jewelry! We like too many arts and crafts!

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  15. I adore your flower collage! I am going to try some of my own flower designs. I love altered books and these are too fabulous! I would love to win your collage!

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  16. Wow, this is gorgeous! I love your work. Thank you for the tutorial. I will be trying it very soon. You have inspired me. Please enter me in your giveaway x 2 as I am now a follower of your fun blog. I would love to hang this in my art room. ;D Thanks for participating in our blog party.,
    Tammy

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  17. What a fabulous tutorial and a wonderful giveaway! Please count me in and I'll be back to post another comment right after I post your image.
    ♥Sharon

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  18. Ok, I've posted your image on my blog. Best of luck to all your visitors.
    ♥Sharon

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  19. Absolutelly stunning Give away and you creation is totally great!-)*

    Love these colors and thank you so much for these lovely and so sweet tutorial:-)))*

    Love and hugs,
    ***Violetta***

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  20. Wow what a fab blog you have, thank you for visiting my blog I'm so glad to have found your amazing inspiring work, this collage is just so beautiful, I love flowers and would love to win this beautiful piece of art, I am now a follower and will be back to visit very soon, Happy Crafting to you, Sue xx

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  21. Wow, what a talented artist you are - I not only love your flower collage, but I love all of your faith-based ATCs as well!

    I am a follower and I would be honored to win this gift from you!

    Hugs
    Ramona
    http://create-with-joy.blogspot.com

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  22. What a fun idea for your tutorial! I love any new ideas for working with recycled book papers- thanks for sharing!

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  23. This is so beautiful I just HAD to place it on my sidebar!

    Ramona
    http://create-with-joy.blogspot.com

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  24. Lovely piece. And a great tutorial. Thanks so much for coming to the party!

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  25. Very cute. Thank you for the inspiration.

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  26. What a great tutorial and collage, I'd love winning it.

    I also posted it on my blog: http://dishvish.blogspot.com/2010/05/flower-collage-tutorial-and-giveaway.html

    Thank you for sharing.

    Danit

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  27. Thank you for joining the fun and adding this fun tutorial. You are so generous spreading the love...a very happy picture :D
    xox

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  28. I adore this tutorial. I really MUST try these flowers. They look like so much fun. I love all the color and whimsy of the finished piece, too.

    I was so glad to see another friendly face at the Inspiration Avenue Blog Party.

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  29. Wow! You have such a great tutorial - I'm ready to try it. I'll post in a few days with the results.

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  30. This is right up my ally, thanks for the idea!!!
    I love flowers!!!
    Saw your workdesk, a creative space with lots of ideas waiting to be created!!!

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  31. Hi I came over by Plumrose Lane, thanks for the chance to win it. it is beautiful, and i have become a follower too.

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  32. i am not at ALL artistic or inclined to be,
    but you made me feel a teensy bubble
    of it.

    thank you for such an easy to follow
    tutorial.

    i will keep reading and hopefully the
    bubble will turn into something
    beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  33. This is really beautiful. Looks like it would be fun to make.

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  34. What a beautiful Collage, thank you for sharing it...

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  35. Just to let you know I've linked the tutorial on todays post - Make Your Own Flower Collage

    http://flowerpotdesign.blogspot.com/2010/05/make-your-own-flower-collage.html

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  36. I found your blog on the Clips-N-Cuts blog hop when I was poking about.

    Thank you for the tutorial. Wonderful project.


    Cheryl
    http://shestamps.blogspot.com/

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  37. Very clever! Great inspiration! Am a follower and added your blog to my sidebar

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  38. i would love to win your collage. i will frame it if i am the lucky winner!

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  39. I am so glad I've discovered your blog--your art is amazing. Thank you so much for your sweet comments on my blog! I'll be following you now for inspiration! Thanks for sharing your wonderful projects-God has truly given you a gift!

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  40. I love your work~it's so fun and interesting.
    I'd love to hang it in my house. :)

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  41. That is SO beautiful!

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  42. its so lovely!!! and thanks for the tutorial!

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  43. Beautiful page.
    Thanks for the tutorial !!

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  44. I am definitely going to try this. It looks like so much fun and I think this techniqe would make for some great ATC's too. Do you glue the finished project to something else to cover up the stitching in the back? Or do you just frame it? Just wondered. I always hate stitching to show on the back. although in a journal the stitching on the next page could be incorporated into the theme/design of the next page. Now you got me thinking.... :)
    Tess
    P.S. Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier and commenting. I appreciated your visit.

    ReplyDelete
  45. You inspired me to try something like this. I'm a total beginner, so mine is nowhere near as beautiful as yours, but I had fun trying something new. Thanks! :)
    I blogged it here..
    http://myhomemakersheart.blogspot.com/2010/05/trying-something-new.html

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  46. Hi I found you through Tea. Your work is lovely! thanks for the tutorial and the inspiration and the chance to win!!

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  47. thank you for this tutorial, it's really wonderful, I will be trying this. This blog is very interesting, I'll add it to my "balades".
    Pamina from
    "pamina.over-blog.fr"

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  48. I maked the Flower Collage, you can see it at this address:I put your link- of course-

    pamina.over-blog.fr

    I don't know how and where to send you my collage. Thank you so much for this idea..Pamina from France

    ReplyDelete
  49. Thank you for this Amazingly Beautiful Tutorial. You are very knid to share your talents. x

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  50. Wonderful collage and tutorial - am a new fan!

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  51. Great tutorial thank you.

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  52. I'm a new follower for your blog...love your collage style. And this is a great tutorial. I love the fact that you sometimes recycle - as that is the focus of my own blog (recycled and repurposed arts and crafts).
    Michael
    bluevelvetchair.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  53. Anonymous1:17 AM

    I really liked your article.

    ReplyDelete
  54. Love it! Can't wait to try this.

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  56. I have done lots of crafts - as a former Girl Scout in another life. Most of them self-taught.

    But the idea of creating something like this image, overwhelms me a bit. My self-talk has to change to be okay with however it turns out. Thanks for the tutorial and encouragement.

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I am so glad you dropped by! You are a blessing!
:^) Patsy