It's What's Up Wednesday! for May 5, 2010

Here's some different flowers for Mother's Day....made out of metal!!!


To make these special roses just in time for Mother's Day, you will need Embossing Metal (it's kind of like REALLY heavy foil), a flower die (I used Tim Holtz's "Tattered Flowers" from Sizzix), and snips to cut metal (T!m's Tonic Scissors....my fav!).


These flowers are made similar to the method T!m uses on his blog (look under 12 Tags of Christmas 2009). Cut 3 flowers from the die cut. Snip petals towards center.


Roll he petals around a small round object like a paint brush handle or whatever you have handy. Don't roll too tight!


Gently fold petals in halfish. USE EXTREME CARE! The metal edges can be sharp!!


To make the center of the flower, fold 3 of the petals towards the center, folding around each other to form the bud-like center. Fold the remaining 3 petals up around the inside petals.



Repeat the roll, fold, and form the petals with the other 2 flower parts, allowing space in the center to stack the previous sections.


To "age" the metal so that it isn't quite so shiny and new, you can use a kitchen torch (found at kitchen supply stores for Creme' Brulee') Again, use EXTREME CAUTION!! The torch is significantly hotter that you heat gun (your heat gun won't get hot enough to do this!) DO NOT TOUCH the metal after you torch it....quench it in cold water wit a pair of tweezers before you touch it!!!


This photo shows how the torch takes the shine off the brass. With copper you can get a rainbow effect of colors!! The aluminum doesn't really do anything.


Stack and adhere sections together to form complete flower (I used glue dots!) To make smaller flowers, use only two flower sections.

Here I used both copper and brass flowers on an unfinished frame. I painted the frame with Distress Crackle Paint in "Antique Linen". I enhanced the crackle with Distress ink in "Frayed Burlap" and sprayed it with Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in "Wheatfield". In addition to the metal roses, I attached a Holiday Lights Butterfly Spray from Prima. I hot glued everything to the frame. The brass and copper colors go great with the photo of my Mom with my brother and I when I was about 2.


Have an awesome rest of your week!!

Laura