More Punch Art ... Paper Roses!!!

I made this card last summer but hadn't posted it as I hadn't had the chance to give it to the intended recipient!  The cardstock and DSP I used is no longer available but I wanted to share the technique with you so that you can give it a try too! 

Can you believe that I made that rose and those buds with the new flower punch?  Well I did!  The moment I saw this technique, I just had to try it.  First you punch out 3 flowers with the punch.  Then you cut one petal from the first flower (like a pie to the center of the flower) leaving 4 petals and a triangle cut out of it.  The next flower, you cut 2 petals together (it will look like a heart) and will leave 3 petals on the other piece.  The last flower you leave whole, except for one slit into the middle of the flower between 2 petals.

The buds are just the single, double and triple petals rolled up and curled using your bone folder.  It helps if you play with the paper a little bit before you punch out the flowers to make it soft (break up the fibers a little).  You can also spung or stamp colour onto the paper to help this process.

First, curl up the single pie piece, rounded edge up and secure with a drop of strong glue (trombo or tacky strip will work) then carefully use the tip of your bone folder and your thumb to curl the rounded edge of the petal over to open up the center of the flower. Then Nip off the tip so that it will nest into the next layer nicely.

Next, the 2 petal 'heart' shaped piece, fold it over onto itself and create a little pocket in the center where you can slip the single petal - this would be a good bud.  Again, use your thumb and the tip of your bone folder to curl the edge over.  Nip the tip for the next layer.

Continue with the 3, and 4 petal sections, folding over to glue one petal over the other leaving 2 and 3 petals and staggar them together glueing as you go.  Continue to trim off the tip before nesting them into the next layer

The last one is the 5 petal flower with the slit, over lap 2 petals making it a 4 petal and glue the others to the center.  Trim off the point to flatten it.  I used a large glue dot to secure it to the page.  Now you can tweak your petals a little and add some greenery to make your rose complete.

I gave it some greenery in a couple shades of green using the 5 petal flower punch and my bone folder to press veins into the leaves before nipping them so that there were 2-3 leaves (petals) per section.  Then I added some bling to finish off my card!  What do you think?  Can you master this 3D punch art?  I'll bet you can - these pictures are of my second attempt!! If I can do it, I know you can too!

Let me know how you did!