Sep 15, 2013

Paper Orchid Birthday Card


My wonderful neighbor loves orchids and receives them as gifts. For his birthday, I wanted to make a paper orchid and used my own for inspiration.


I scanned and traced the petals, reducing them to 25%, then cut out with my Silhouette die cutter. Next I added color with a marker and water color paints. Using a dried out ballpoint pen, I scored the middle vein and curled the petals. After stacking and gluing the layers together, the blossom simply comes to life.



I poked a hole in the middle of the smallest bud and inserted the end of the floral wire, adding white glue to hold it in place. I then glued the open blossoms to the wire, ensuring my glue coated the wire thoroughly.


My favorite part is the delicate pair of curly wisps in the center of the flower. 


Then I cut two leaves and manually scored the vein with a dried up ballpoint pen. The pot is made of 3 layers of metallic copper card stock and floats a bit due to adhesive foam dots on the back. It was great having my real plant as a visual reference, because it helped me realize I should glue the items asymmetrically, not all centered. I believe it's these small subtleties that makes a piece.


I have moved my plant throughout the room, depending on my needs, and the stems would gently wave up and down, heavy with the weight of so many blossoms. I deliberately left the wire unglued to his birthday card, and as I place it on a table, it also gently waves, just like the real thing - so fun to watch! The blooms are cut from 65lb paper, so it's sturdy and gives just the right amount of weight on the wire to make it bob.


By the way, I'm often asked how I managed to have 4 new stems bloom. This is my first orchid and I feared it would remain the desolate stick with 2 leaves I often see in homes. My secret? I have a worm condo and fed my orchid the worm tea.


My orchid files are available via my Etsy store. I also include larger sizes for other greeting cards and a tapered gift box, perfect as a wedding party favor.

12 comments:

  1. It's beautiful, Cecelia - lucky neighbor!

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    1. Thanks so much Ann! Actually they are the BEST neighbors, so really we are the lucky ones :D

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  2. Love your 3D orchid card, well done. I Too Love Orchids! But like many the failed to bloom after first blooms when received. Can you share more details about where to find/get a worm condo how much too feed etc? Many thanks, KSG on the MTC forum...

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    1. Hi Letha, my orchid came with a care instruction tag and it suggested fertilizer every other watering, but I didn't want to bother buying it or remembering.

      I bought a used worm composter off Craigslist, like this one: http://www.amazon.com/Worm-Factory-WF360B-Composter-Black/dp/B002LH47PY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379954095&sr=8-1&keywords=worm+tower

      I store the worm tea in jugs and watered my orchid with it twice. The moss on top darkened and then I only used water from then on. My neighbor uses a store bought fertilizer and doesn't get as many blooms.

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  3. Would you consider selling/sharing the cutting files for these beauties?

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    1. Hi Kim (are you the same Kim from Facebook?), Thanks for your kinds words! Yes I plan to sell the orchids soon, but I just have to finish up some other patterns. I also want to combine this orchid with more items to create a complete package! Cecelia

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    1. Hi lyly, thank you SO much for your enthusiasm! I'm thrilled to hear that! I am very close to finishing the files - thanks for keeping tuned!

      Cecelia

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  5. It's very beautiful !! I like it very much !!!
    I want to try it !
    Thanks !

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    1. Hello Hay, and thanks for your enthusiasm! It is sure fun to watch it come alive.

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  6. hi, can you send me the paper orchid template so that I can trace and cut the petals out ?

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    1. Hello Adeline, thanks for visiting my blog! I'm happy you enjoyed my post about die cutting a paper orchid. The pattern files can be purchased in my Etsy shop here: https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/168505006/orchid-cards-and-gift-box-wedding?ref=shop_home_active

      Happy crafting to you!
      Cecelia

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