Paper Hydrangea's

Paper flowers are so easy to make yet they can be rather expensive to buy. I recently found a package of 6 flowers for $5 at a local scrapbook store. Instead of buying the pre-made flowers I decided to buy some paper punches to make my own flowers. I bought the Martha Stewart hydrangea and rose leaf paper punches for a total cost of $20. I wanted the hydrangeas to mimic the colors of the hydrangeas in my garden so I chose purple and pink card stock. The flowers were easy to make and assemble.

I punched 18 hydrangeas out of pink card stock, 12 out of light purple, 6 out of blue violet and 10 out of dark purple card stock. Next I used pink chalk to highlight the centers of the pink flowers and purple to highlight the centers of the light and dark purple flowers. Starting at the center of the flower apply the chalk in a circular motion extending it toward each petal.


Using a stylus and a foam mat or the back of a mouse pad press the stylus into the center of the flower and move the stylus in a circular motion until the flower begins to have a cupped shape. Don't press too hard to avoid poking a hole in the center of the flower.



Next take a stylus or an awl and slightly curve the end of each petal backward.


Once the petals are curved add a small adhesive pearl to the center of each flower.




Punch the leaves out of parrot green Bazzill card stock. Place the leaf on the foam mat and press the stylus from the top of the leaf to the bottom to form a vein. Add smaller veins to the right and left of the center vein. Highlight the leaf with dark green chalk. Glue two or three leaves under the petals of each flower and set aside to dry.

After I had made all of the flowers I wanted to use them to make a card.






Directions for Hydrangea Card:

Parchment card stock
Paper hydrangeas
Recollections Adhesive Faux Pearls
Purple ribbon
Tattered Angels Pearl Glimmer Mist
Spellbinders Nestabilities Rectangles
K & Company Ariana card stock
Foam Dots

1. Fold a piece of parchment card stock in half lengthwise and crease.

2. Cut the second largest rectangle from the Spellbinders die set out of parchment card stock.

3. Place a foam dot on the back of each of the flowers and position the flowers on the parchment rectangle as shown in the picture.

4. Cut a piece of blue and white print card stock from the Ariana collection 4 7/8 inches wide by 7 1/2 inches long. Glue the card stock to the front of the folded parchment card stock, leaving a border around the edges of the card.

5. Center the parchment rectangle on the blue and white card stock and attach with foam dots.

6. Cut a piece of purple ribbon approximately 5 1/4 inches and tuck under the edges of the blue and white patterned card stock. Position the ribbon at the bottom edge of the card stock, just under the parchment rectangle. Glue in place. Using the purple ribbon tie a small bow and attach to the center of the purple ribbon.

7. Place the faux pearls in the upper right and lower left corners of the blue and white patterned card stock. The pearls on the left side of the card should be slightly above the ribbon. Press the pearls in place.

8. Lightly spray the flowers with the pearl Glimmer Mist and let them dry.

Mother's Day Card

Cricut's Kate's ABCs cartridge is quickly becoming my favorite cartridge because the images are so cute. I especially liked the image of the girl hugging the kitten and thought it would make a nice Mother's Day card. I wanted the girl with the kitten to be the focal point so I decided to use a ribbon rather than a lot of other embellishments.








Directions for Mother's Day Card:

Cricut Kate's ABCs cartridge
Spellbinders Shapeabilities Pendants-Lattice
Sizzix Damask Embossing Folder
White, light pink, medium pink, dark pink, yellow, light tan, brown and green card stock
Stickles glitter glue- Platinum
Pink and white gingham ribbon
Chalk or pastels
Foam Dots


1. Using the Cricut Kate's ABCs cartridge cut Girl 6 at 3 inches out of brown card stock. Press the Shift and Girl 6 keys and cut the grass out of green card stock. Next press the Layer 1 key and cut the hat and dress out of medium pink card stock. Press the Shift and Layer 1 keys and cut the dress and flower out of dark pink card stock. Press the Layer 2 key and cut the hat out of yellow card stock. Press the Shift and Layer 2 keys and cut the face, hands and feet out of light tan card stock. Assemble the image and highlight the girl's face and lips with a pink pastel or chalk. Highlight her arm with light pink chalk and the grass with green chalk. Apply the platinum stickles to the cat's neck to make a collar.

2. Cut the pendant out of light pink card stock using the Spellbinders die.

3. Use the Sizzix Damask embossing folder to emboss a piece of white card stock.

4. Cut a piece of light pink card stock 6 inches high by 4 7/8 inches wide.

5. Fold a piece of white card stock in half lengthwise. Center the pink card stock on the white card and glue it approximately 2 inches from the bottom of the card. Glue the white embossed card stock on top of the light pink leaving a 1/4 inch border on all sides. Attach foam dots to the back of the lattice pendant and position it approximately 1 inch from the edge of the embossed white card stock. Attach foam dots to the back of the girl with the kitten image and center it on the lattice pendant. Position the flowers near the grass blades and secure them in place with foam dots. You may have to cut the dots so that they fit the flowers. Position the butterfly just above the upper right edge of the pendant and secure in place with a foam dot.

6. Cut a piece of ribbon the width of the card plus 1/2 inch and glue to the card approximately 1 inch from the bottom of the card. Tie a small bow and glue to the ribbon.