Laura Vegas adds dimension with a paper crimper...and one more!

Welcome back! Thanks so much for all of the sweet comments on the layout I shared with you on Monday. I hope that some of you were inspired to find an inspiration piece to use when creating your next layout. Today, I want to share a simple tutorial using the paper crimper to create a handmade flower that is full of layers and texture, and perfect for adding to layouts and/or cards.

 

If you're not sure what a paper crimper tool looks like, here it is in all it's glory! Fiskars makes this fun little tool, and it still looks just like the one that has been in my drawer for years and years.
 


To use the paper crimper, you simply insert the item that you want to "crimp" into the metal roller piece (the arrows on the tool tell you which way to insert into), and then turn the orange handle on the side.
 


This will "roll" your item through the metal roller, and give your item a crimped look.


It will look a bit like corrugated cardboard.
 


When running pieces of cardstock or patterned paper through your paper crimper, keep in mind what direction you want the crimping lines to go.
 


And if you're super picky about them being straight and even (like I am!), make sure and insert your paper in nice and straight.
 
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Also keep in mind that your paper pieces will shrink a bit in length, once they are crimped. You can see here that I lost almost half an inch on this small strip. Cut your papers accordingly, so you don't fall short later on.
 

Paper is the obvious choice to use with a paper crimper. After all, that's probably why they called this tool the "Paper Crimper". But you can use a variety of products in here as well. Just experiment with it and see how it goes. I tried out this metal flower. It didn't really "crimp" the flower. But I kept running it through, over and over, turning it different directions, and I love how it roughed up the flower and made little bends in it that I couldn't have done on my own.
 

Paper flowers are another great item to use. It gives a more subtle look, but with just enough interest.
 


I die cut 6 flowers of varying sizes with my Silhouette machine, and ran all of them through the paper crimper. Then I added pop dots to the backs of all of the flowers, except the largest one that I was going to use for the base of my flower.
 

Then I started layering the flowers together, largest to smallest.
 

To add even more texture, I curled up the edges a bit on the flower petals.
 


I finished off the flower with a threaded button in the center. It's hard to see here, but I did work in the white paper flower that I crimped as well. And after taking this picture, but before adding the flower to my card, I went back and peeled off the button so that I could add my metal flower directly under it.
 


I ran three strips of my aqua patterned paper through the paper crimper, and then adhered them to the front of a white cardstock card base, overlapping them as needed. I also added two punched border strips to the top and bottom section of the card.
 


The final layered flower is so full of texture and dimension, and looks so cool on the front of this card. While I certainly wouldn't try and mail a card this thick (although you CAN mail it), it's perfect for hand delivering to family and/or friends.
 

Thanks so much for having me here this week. I hope you have enjoyed what I have shared, as much as I enjoyed sharing it with you!

~ Laura Vegas

Thank you SO MUCH Laura for joining us this week!  SCT friends if you want to see more of Laura's work, be sure to visit her blog HERE.  You will also see more of Laura's work on Saturday as we celebrate...

Ohhhhhh SCT friends, you have no idea what a fun day we have planned!!!  Cards every hour, surprises, challenges, it's going to be so much fun!!!  Be right here at 8:00 a.m. EST to start the festivities with an early challenge to get those juices flowing. 

~ Catherine

 

Comments

[Dorina D]

Fun tutorial and the flower came out so cool. This card is darling.

Looking forward to the fun on Saturday, even if I have to work first!

[Kathi]

Love this card! Thanks for sharing another fun way to add texture to flowers! Kathi

[Darla]

One of the first tools I ever bought. Good to see it used still.

[Rea Custer]

Adorable card.

[Kim Thomas]

You are so talented Laura! Thank you for the inspiration. You are amazing! Take care. :)

[Kathy Martin]

Laura ROCKS! Very cool flower! :)

[Cheryl Hutcherson]

Love this! I forget about my crimper...not anymore!

[Eveline van Heijst]

I love my crimper. I might not use it much but I know where it is. I bought it at the weekly market in my town. They have a craft stall there every week.
Eveline.

[Gisele]

Humm, have not used that in a while!! Better take my crimper out of the closet LOL
Tks for the inspiration 😄

[Sharon]

What a lovely idea. I just love how the flower turned out. Another use for my crimper. I haven't used it for awhile so this is a great tutorial. I forgot that you lose a little of the original length when you crimp. I'll have to dust the cobwebs off of mine (perfect time as it's Halloween) and give it a go with my next project. Thank so much!

[Cynthia B.]

Thanks to Laura for showing off her beautiful layered flower and card! Why yes, I do have a paper crimper that I have used exactly once (?!). Thanks for the reminder to dig in and use it!

[Roxx.T]

Fabulous flower tutorial! TFS
Roxx.T

[emmaeh]

The photographs you took really helped me out! Wonderful flowers!

[Jude]

Laura... terrrrrrrrrrrrrrific tutorial! The flower has that 'WOW' factor. If you did mail it you would have to give Canada Post more money due to the thickness, eh?!
Thanks for sharing!!!

[Nicole]

Great quick tutorial Laura!!! love the flower :)

[Renee VanEpps]

Beautiful!!

[Julie A. Shearer]

Adorable !! Thanks for all of the tips.