Monday 30 July 2012

Squished flower background technique

All of these cards were made using the squished flower technique!


Several people have asked me for a tutorial on how I do this, so here it is.
  • Take some fresh  flowers and leaves and arrange them on a sheet of absorbent card, placing a second sheet on top.
  • The sandwich I used in my Cuttlebug for pressing the flowers is 
Baseplate
B plate
2 pieces of card with the flowers between them
Tan Mat
B plate


  • Run the sandwich through the machine. It needs a reasonable amount of pressure, enough to make some of the juice run from the plants. Remember to clean the rollers carefully afterwards.
  • Open the sandwich and lift off the debris of the plants.
  • Clean any residue left on the card with a brush.
  • The finished result may look a little dreary, but when sections are used either with dies or other shaped panels the effects can be most satisfying.

In the above photograph, the card at the left of the picture was pressed without the addition of the tan mat and the effect is much gentler and less vibrant as less liquid was extruded from the plants.

I hope that this helps!


22 comments:

  1. Beautiful cards and a wonderful technique! Would you mind if shared this technique in one of my classes? Please let me know, thanks!

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  2. Beautiful cards Chrissie, and a fab technique.
    Great set of instructions too. Off to give this a try. xx

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  3. As always, elegant and beautiful.
    ***
    This technique of bouncing flowers and leaves, in Poland called "frotage". I love her and I often use in their work with children. But I did not think that it can be improved by passage through a cuttlebug

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  4. Beautiful! Great technique.

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  5. wow what a intriging tut...fab what a clever idea....and your finished cards are so beautiful...hugs sassx

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  6. Thank you, Chrissie!! Do you also find that some types of flowers extrude better than others? I can't wait to start playing now and see what works (and what doesn't work as well) from my garden! I appreciate that you took the time to do this for us!

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  7. Thank you!!! This technique looks do-able with absolutely amazing results!!

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  8. Thanks you so much! I was trying flower with much bigger centers, and it wasn't very pretty! I knew there must be a trick to it! Off go again! This is so great!

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  9. Fab cards and awesome technique. TFS and visiting my blog and leaving the sweet luv. Hugs

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  10. This is a great idea, thank you so much for showing and sharing!

    Anja xx

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  11. these cards are just stunning and thank you so much for this tutorial, I certainly go try it soon

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  12. So gorgeous.

    Hugs Riet.xx

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  13. Hi Chrissie!

    Another use for a Cuttlebug - way to go! Love the results you've achieved.

    Hopped here to say that yes I do live in Hampshire, but it's further North than where you are, just near Dummer off the M3 in Hatch Warren, South of Basingstoke.

    What a downpour that was you mentioned on Sunday - at least it cleaned the conservatory roof a bit :)

    Di
    xx

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  14. Another great technique Chrissie, how do you clean the rollers though?? I want to try it but worried all that juice will seep down between the rollers.Viv xx

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  15. Hi Chrissie, awesome tutorial thanks so much for sharing it would never have thought of it.. can see I will be picking flowers on my walk wattle is in flower now so might give that a go .. get your posts in my inbox so sorry don't pop over to say hi like I should love Shaz in oz.x

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  16. Great technique Chrissie - love the soft effects it produces.

    Love your stamp on Craft Stamper - thank you.

    Hugs
    Valxx

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  17. Wauw! How great is this! Love it! Thank you so much for leaving a comment on my card!

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  18. Wowwwww Chrissie these are awesome, so very beautiful I love the images and design also the 'squished' colours.
    Hugs
    Lorraine x

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  19. Stunning card can't wait to try this technique out

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  20. Thank you for this Chrissie. With all the lovely flowers in my garden at the moment, I've been wanting to try this but wasn't sure of the sandwich so this is very timely :) Elizabeth

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  21. Thanks for sending me the link for this Chrissie; guess what I'm going to do tomorrow?! xx

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  22. Chrissie, did this years ago for Scouts..think we called it 'Flower printing' with single flowers. You are so clever to put this to making background papers...Thanks for sharing your beautiful cards.

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Thank you so much for popping by, I appreciate your comments!
Thanks,
Chrissie