Spring is blooming

This month I joined up with 43 other bloggers in a Silhouette challenge!  After you read my post, keep scrolling down to see the list of all the other projects they came up with!

For my Silhouette challenge this month, the theme was paper.  Yes.  Paper.  The possibilities this month were endless and quite honestly, pretty intimidating.  I knew the pressure to have something amazing would be on!

I wasn't sure what I wanted to do for this challenge, and really, I almost sat it out because I couldn't commit to any one thing.  But, on one of my trips to Ben Franklin (a local craft store) I came across a display of a paper rosette wreath and I knew then, that I needed to have one in my life.

Making these rosettes was pretty intimidating to start.  Getting the right sizes was challenging.  I started simple and did exactly what all the tutorials I read said to do, which was to use a scorer.  This worked out well, but it was time consuming and did't use my Silhouette at all, which after all, was the whole point to this.  I also felt that a lot of the tutorials didn't explain that you would need two paper strips per rosette to get a really good look.  A lot of trial and error was had with this project.

Once I got the general concept of the rosettes down by hand, I headed over to my Silhouette program and started playing around.

I first drew a rectangle.  Then I put on my grid and also selected "snap to grid." With those in place, I drew a line every 1/4 inch down the rectangle.  When that was all done, I selected just the lines I drew and went into the cut style function. This is where I learned a new feature.  I had no clue I could have it cut a perforation.  It was amazing!

When it cut out it made just these tiny dashes that I used as fold marks.  It totally made it easier and quicker than using the scorer.  Honestly, it took me a good hour testing sizes and methods until I found this one.  I almost gave up and just went with the scorer, but I am so glad that I did not.

Of course, after I spent all this time trying to figure out how to do it myself, did I search the Silhouette store and found 5 or 6 different files I could have just bought.  I did end up buying a couple so I could have fancy edging because I was not ready to venture into that realm just yet.

To make them is simple, well after you get the hang of it.  It took me about 4 tries to get it down. First you need to cut out your design.  I choose to show you with one of the spiky ones I bought from the Silhouette store so it might be easier to see the folds and stuff.  

Here you can see the perforated cuts.  All you do now is simply fold in a fan like manner on the perforations.

For this rosette I went with four sections.  I probably could have gotten away with three, but I didn't want to waste a bunch of paper.  

When they are all folded, you need to line them up together.  You want to make sure they fit together if that makes sense.  Then I hot glued them together.

See what I mean about fitting together?  Now it's like one continuous piece.  Do that with all your pieces.

When you have one long piece, you just hot glue he ends together so it's a circle.

To get the rosette look, you then need to push it down flat.  This was the part I struggled with the most.  First, I didn't have a circle long enough so all my paper ripped.  You also have to be careful you don't make them too big either because they are hard to hold together when you glue them.

When you get it all pushed down, you have to squeeze it together.

Then you stick some hot glue in the middle and squeeeeeeeeeeeze until it's nice and tight.  And then you wait.  You have to hold it while it's drying because if you don't, it will pull apart.

And then voila!  You have a fancy rosette!  At this point you can add a center to it, I just cut out various sized circles and hot glued them on.  But easy peasy right?

I am totally loving how it came out.  It was simple (when I had the right pattern) and quick (once I got the hang of it).  I have become so obsessed with them, I made a book one for my friend's baby shower and a St. Patrick's day one too.  I also plan on making a garland with them too for Lucy's birthday party.

So end of story, I love them and I really like making them!  Look out, I might make one for every holiday now!

Want to Check Out More Silhouette Projects?

My Silhouette Challenge buddies and I are all sharing projects on our blogs today, so peruse the projects below for a wealth of Silhouette inspiration!
 
1. McCall Manor // 2. The Turquoise Home // 3. Creative Savings // 4. Sandpaper and Glue // 5. The Thinking Closet // 6. Sowdering About in Seattle // 7. Persia Lou // 8. From Wine to Whine // 9. Dream a Little Bigger // 10. Please Excuse My Craftermath... // 11. Play. Party. Pin. // 12. Everyday Paper // 13. Practically Functional // 14. A Tossed Salad Life // 15. My Favorite Finds // 16. The House on Hillbrook // 17. Adventures in All Things Food // 18. A Glimpse Into Barb's Life // 19. TitiCrafty // 20. The Experimental Home // 21. feto soap blog // 22. Creative Ramblings // 23. The Stamp Doc // 24. Ginger Snap Crafts // 25. Simply Kelly Designs // 26. Whats Next Ma // 27. unOriginal Mom // 28. Bringing Creativity 2 Life // 29. Cutesy Crafts // 30. My Paper Craze // 31. Create & Babble // 32. Grey Luster Girl // 33. The Sensory Emporium // 34. Lil' Mrs. Tori // 35. Black and White Obsession // 36. Mama Sonshine // 37. Weekend Craft // 38. Creative Carnival // 39. Peace, Love and Joyce // 40. Tried & True // 41. The Frill of Life // 42. Dragonfly & Lily Pads // 43. Get Silvered // 44. Minted Strawberry