Susan Tierney-Cockburn Archives

Through the Garden Gate Floribunda Roses and Bee Blossom Card with Prima Peach Tea

Hello, Friends! Get ready for a floral extravaganza with this Through the Garden Gate Floribunda Roses and Bee Blossom card. These are the new Susan Tierney-Cockburn dies from Spellbinders, and I am swooning over them!

Ann’s Rose Garden

My mother-in-law, Ann, grew the most gorgeous roses I have ever seen. Every spring the bushes she had pruned in the fall spread out their branches toward the Carolina Blue sky. By early May, they were laden with buds, and by early June the roses burst forth in glorious display. She tended those roses like they were little children, pouring her love into the soil and carefully protecting them from harm. She also fed them on a daily basis. Yes, she did. I will tell you one of the secrets of her success with roses: she fed them banana peels! Isn’t that hilarious?

There is nothing on earth that matches the fragrance of a rose grown in a home garden. If you pick an armful of them early in the morning, when the dew is still on the petals, you will wear that heavenly fragrance all day long. I could almost smell that wonderful aroma as I was shaping these Floribunda roses.

Roses That Never Fade

Here’s the process I followed to create these roses that never fade. It’s a little bit messy, but worth the time it takes to clean up!

First, die cut the roses from heavy white cardstock. I like to use Heartfelt Creations Specialty Flower Shaping paper (linked below). It does not fall apart when colored with ink, spritzed with water and shaped.
Follow the directions printed on the dies so that you die cut the correct number of petals for each layer.
Now, pull out your Distress Ink pads. I used a combination of Spiced Marmalade, Dried Marigold, Wild Honey and Worn Lipstick.
Next, swipe each pad across a non-stick craft sheet and spritz with water until droplets form.
Then lightly tap and swipe the die cut petals through the ink, making sure to color both sides. Lay the damp layers on a paper towel and gently pat dry. You can repeat this process to achieve the desired depth of color.
When the petals are almost dry, but still slightly damp, shape them with a stylus and quilling tool.

I opted to create fully opened roses, and filled the centers with Prills. The Bee Blossom is colored with Spiced Marmalade and Picked Raspberry inks using the same technique. I added beaded stamens to the centers. You can use leftover ink to custom dye seam binding ribbon, too.

A Peek Inside

Here’s a look at the inside of this card made with Prima Peach Tea papers. Of course, I added a pocket and a tea wallet.

I even had a packet of Peach Tea and a honey stick to go with the color palette of the roses.

I did make a couple of extra roses for use in a future project. While you have all the “mess” out on your work surface, you might as well make extras!

This might be my favorite rose die of all time. It does take a little extra effort to make these bodacious blossoms, but I think that it’s worth it. Now if I just had some the dew from Ann’s garden to add as the final ingredient, we’d be all set.

You can find a linked supply list below this post.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy

SUPPLY LIST

Spellbinder’s Parrot Tulips from Susan’s Garden Spring Florals Release

Hello, Friends! Does anything say “Spring is here” better than Parrot Tulips? Today I’m sharing a lovely bunch of Parrot Tulips made with Susan Tierney-Cockburn’s latest Spring Flora Release from Spellbinders. To fill out the tulip cluster, I created some greenery with her Ferns and Ivy Dies from this same release.

I’ve paired these flowers up with Carta Bella’s cheery Farmhouse Market Paper Collection. It just seemed to be the perfect partner for these blossoms.

Flower Making Details

Do you like to make your own flowers? I love doing it when time permits.

First, Die cut the tulip layers from scraps of the Spring Farmhouse Solids cardstock for a perfect color match. This automatically gets you started off on the right foot!
Now, sponge each petal with a combination of Abandoned Coral, Fossilized Amber, and Ripe Persimmon Distress Oxide Inks.
Next, shape the petals with the Groove Golf Flower Shaping Tools. Use the medium tool to add “veins” to the tulip petals.
Now round the petals with the blunt end of the largest Groove Golf Tool. If you place the rounded (blunt) end in the center of the tulip petal, the sides will cup up beautifully.
Then, layer the flower petals together, staggering the edges for a more natural look.
Next, Use the piercing awl to make a hole for some stamens. Add the stamens through the center for a stunning finish!

Creating the Bouquet

Die cut the ferns, ivy and tulip leaves from scraps of green cardstock. Then shape with the groove tool and spritz with Glimmer Mist.

Our son had cut me some slices from a fallen branch. This seemed like the perfect way to display this bouquet. First, lightly wash the wood surface with some diluted ivory chalk paint. Use a paper towel to dab away the excess. Then spatter the wood with flecks of white chalk paint and Abandoned Coral Distress Paint. Now you just need to add a bow and some buttons to finish off the card.

A Peek Inside

Create a treat pocket and a little photo spot inside the card to turn it into a thoughtful gift.

There are so many lovely flowers and fillers in this Susan’s Spring Flora Release! If you like to make your own flowers, you might like to check them out HERE.

I love flowers at any time of year, but spring flowers seem to be the most precious. Perhaps it’s because we’ve just endured the bleak winter months that they bring us such joy. What’s blooming in your life right now?

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Cheerio,

kathy