Purple Clematis

Here is my second clematis flower card that I said I would put on...with instructions at the bottom. :)  I loved making them, but they were a little bit of work!  I made this one as an anniversary card for my mom and dad and used Saturday Sketch Challenge 207 from Stamping 411 for my design...although I did have to make the card 5 1/4" x 51/4" to fit the flower.  Here is the flower that I got my inspiration from and Stamping 411's sketch challenge...

A picture of the whole card.

A close up of the clematis...nope, they don't have sparkles, but I like to add it anyway. :)

...and the inside with a little bit of embossing in here too.

Thanks for looking and have a great day!

Stamp Sets:  On Your Birthday & a retired Happy Anniversary stamp

Card Stock:  Elegant Eggplant, Marina Mist, Garden Green, Rich Razzleberry & Whisper White

Classic Stampin' Pads:  Elegant Eggplant, Marina Mist, Garden Green & Rich Razzleberry

Punches:  Blossom Petals (indirectly) & Decorative Label

Embossing Folder:  Elegant Bouquet

Ribbon:  5/8" Grosgrain in Marina Mist

Here are step-by-step instructions on how to make the flower with a few tips first.  I found that Whisper White does not hold it's shape as well because it's a thinner card stock.   I still used it, but it will tear easier so you'll  need to be careful especially when trying to get the ruffled edge look.  I also wanted my petals bigger so I traced them, then enlarged them and printed them out on my cardstock. You don't have to do that, I just wanted mine a little bigger. :)  

You need to punch (Blossom Petals) or cut out eight petals.

 Take your mat pack (you need the cushion underneath) and using your paper-piercing tool run a few lines down the center of your leaf.

I used an older, small (and dull!) pair of scissors to curl the leaf up just like you do to make ribbon curly for a present.  I would start at the bottom of the petal and pull it to the top, repeating it until I got the look I wanted.

Now it's time for sponging.  For the white clematis petal I pinched a sponge until it was nice and thin so I could get a small stripe down the middle and not anywhere else on the petal.  Note:  When I sponged the white petal I had the side that I used the paper-piercing tool on facing up, but on the blue/purple petals I wanted them bumping up so I turned it over. :)

 I sponged the outside of the petal first...

then did the middle, pressing and dragging from the bottom of the petal to the top.  If the groves don't stand out, use your piercing tool again because you want the stripes down the middle to be noticeable.

This is what they should look like when you have eight of them done. :)

Next I punched out a 1/2" circle, then a 1" circle and sponged it to match the petals.

I attached the petals using adhesive.  You can use whatever you're comfortable with.  I just didn't want to use any sort of glue for this part because the petals would slide all over for me. :(

Once you have the petals where you want them, use your paper piercing tool to poke holes all around the center of your flower...

turn it around and pierce some more if necessary and then pull it out so you have about a 1/2" hole.

I cut a piece of rich razzleberry card stock 7" x 1 1/2" and made close cuts around 1/2" long.  I also added a small Whisper White piece to make it as close to the real flower as possible.  Make sure you add it on the correct side to get the right effect.

After I got all the slits cut in I trimmed it down a little and added adhesive.

I used the paper-piercing tool to start folding it in keeping it tight!  Sorry, guess I don't have a picture of that. :(  I did not start on the end that has the white.  I wanted that on the outside.  

It should look something like this when you are done. 

You need to fan some of the outer pieces out...

and push the inside down so it folds in a little.

It should fit right in the hole you put in your flower. :)

Turn it upside down and glue.  I used the multipurpose liquid glue (Tombow) and let it dry over night.

To make the leaves you use the same size piece as you did for the petals.

Use the mat and paper-piercing tool to draw the veins on the leaves.

Turn it over and sponge around the edges and over the "veins" to get this look.

Cut a few thin strips of card stock, sponge them a little and curl them with your scissors.

Now put everything on your card however you think it should look and viola! you'll have a clematis!  

I hope you enjoyed looking over my instructions.  It's a little bit of work to make, but after you've done it once, it's not so hard to do the second time around. :)  Find a picture of a clematis that has colors you really like and give it a try!