Create Three-Dimensional Cards with Paper Hibiscus Flowers

Figure A

Steps:

1. Break a cotton swab in half. Coat the tip with decoupage finish and set aside to dry. This will be the stamen of the flower. Using the heart punch, punch three hearts out of the hot pink card stock.

Figure B

2. Cut each heart in half from the tip at the bottom to the cleft at the top.

Figure C

3. Trim five of the six petals so they are rounded at the top. Discard the sixth petal or save for future use.

Figure E

4. Rub the rounded tops of each petal with the white dye ink using the "direct to paper" technique. Rub the pointed ends of each petal with the crimson dye ink using the same method.

Figure F

5. With the magenta colored pencil, lightly draw radiating lines from the tip of each petal out toward the top edge of each petal. Add secondary lines from the first set of lines to resemble veins. Using the black marker, blacken the tips of each petal.

6. Using the black pencil and a light scribbling motion, soften the boundary between the black area and the crimson area on each petal. Using scissors, cut off a tiny bit of the tip of each petal.

Figure J

7. Apply green ink directly to the medium green card stock using the "direct to paper" method. Rubbing the ink pad randomly all over the surface of the paper gives the card stock a mottled, textured look.

Figure K

8. Using the round punch, punch out six or seven circles. These will become leaves. Fold each circle in half. Using deckle-edge scissors, cut out a heart shape.

Figure L

9. Using the white pencil, draw the veins of the leaves.

Figure M

10. Using the six-petal flower punch, punch out a flower. This will be the back of the flower.

Figure G

11. Cut between two petals just to the center of the flower. Move one of the petals from one side of the cut up over the petal on the other side of the cut and glue in place; this will give you a five-petal green base on which to glue each of the five hot pink petals.

Figure I

12. Glue the tip of one hot pink petal to the inside of each of the five petals of the green base.

13. Using the tip of sharp scissors, punch a small hole through the center of the completed flower. Paint the dried cotton swab: the stick portion red and the swab portion yellow. Let dry.

Figure P

14. Push the painted cotton swab through the center hole of the flower just until it emerges from the hole on the back of the flower base. Place a little white glue over the area to secure the "stamen" in place.

Figure Q

15. Arrange the leaves on a card and tape or glue them in place. Add the flower and secure it in place with white glue or double-sided tape.