Here are examples of possible final outcomes:




Great, let's get started!
1.

Open gimp, and make a new image that's a square (i used 300 px). Set the background to transparent, and let everything else be default.
You should have this:

2. We're going to make a textured middle for our flower right now, although you could make a plain solid-colored middle by altering this step. SO... take the rectangular selection tool, and make a small selection at the bottom of the canvas and fill it with the 'java' pattern.
You should have this:

3. Now go to layer > colors > colorize.

You can use the values in the image, or play with it yourself. The end goal is to get a light-ish yellow or orange color.
You should have this:

4. Great! Now add a new transparent layer, and call it 'petals'. With 'petals' selected, use the elliptical selection tool to draw a long, thin oval.
Like this:

5. Now select two colors for your fg and bg that would look good as petals. I'm using #b57c99 for my fg and #ffd0ec for my bg. Select the gradient tool and set opacity to 100%, mode to normal, shape to radial, and the gradient to FG to BG (RBG).
Like this:

6. Now click and drag from the middle of the selected oval region to just below the top.
yay! now you have one petal done!
Should look like this:

Copy and paste this petal until its clones are lined up all accross the yellow coffee beans. To expedite this process,
I copy and paste about three of them, and then copy and paste all three. Depending on the size of the petal you drew,
you might end up with a space at the end that is too small to fit another whole petal. DO NOT shrink the petal down
or put only a fraction of a petal. Instead, stop your petals at the point where they can no longer naturally fit,
and then select the whole row of petals and use the "scale layer or selection' tool to stretch all of your petals to fit.
If you want more petals, or don't like the gaps, you can place more petals of a different length, size, or color
in between the existing petals. For the sake of making this a consice tutorial, however, I will be moving on with my
petals as-is.
Now you should have this:

7. Right click on the 'petals' layer and select 'merge down.' You should now have only one layer.
8. you should now have only one layer.
Now go to filters > map > map object

in 'Map to:' select Sphere
select transparent background
and change depth to 5.0
9. Right now you are viewing your flower from straight on. click the orientation tab.
mess around with the 'rotation' axes until your flower is at an angle that you find appealing.

10. click the 'light' tab. Right now you are probably set to 'point light.' I sort of like the unnatural shininess this
gives, but if you'd like something a little more natural, select 'Directional Light' from the drop-down menu. This evens out the shine and makes it less pronounced. If you'd like no shine at all, then go to "No light." I don't like this setting as much
because it takes the shadows away from the underside of the flower, but if you like it, then go for it.
Now you should have this:

11. lastly, click 'OK!'
Now you've got an awesome flower!

I prefer to save them as .JPG with a white background because i can't figure out how to preserve the quality in gif.
I messed up while saving this one, so it look horrible, but i think you get the idea.
SHOW ME YOUR ATTEMPTS!C&C are extremely welcome and appreciated.

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