flouncy flowers {two tutorials & more}

Well, today is the final day of flower week and I can say that I’ve loved it! I hope you have learned a few new things, have been inspired to create and maybe even finished a few of the projects. Like I said earlier this week, I could probably keep going for days and days with so many fun ways to create blossoms. I tried to narrow it down to five of my current favorites, but I just couldn’t. So today, there are two flowers.

Be sure to scroll all the way down for a few extra goodies at the end of the post.

The first flower today is a simple and modern one.

Here’s what you’ll need:

:: satin fabric

:: beads for embellishing {I used pearls from a broken pearl bracelet}

:: round template {mine is approximately 2 1/2 inches}

:: needle, thread & scissors

STEP ONE: cut four circles

STEP TWO: stack circles and stitch through center

STEP THREE: add beads to center to embellish

STEP FOUR: snip into circle

And you’re done!

Pin a little bunch to a sweater for a fun accessory.

Cute and simple, right?

Let’s move right into the next flower:

Here’s what you’ll need:

:: organza

:: a small piece of satin for the center

:: thread, needle & scissors

STEP ONE: cut organza into eight rectangles

My rectangles are 2 x 1, but you could cut them any size you like

STEP TWO: layer

STEP THREE: stitch through the center of the layered pieces

Just use a running stitch and go from end to end, gathering as you go

STEP FOUR: wrap thread around center

Tie off in back and snip thread and you’ll have this:

STEP FIVE: add center embellishment

cut small circle from satin {approximately 3/4”}

fold into quarters and stitch through the bottom to secure

then attach with a stitch through the center of the flouncy flower.

So sweet. I attached two to a pair of shoes for a summery look:

And there you have it. Flower Week 2011. Six great flower projects to get you in the spring and summer mood.

As a special gift for mother’s day, I’ve created a free printable card for you to download and print.

Just click the image below for the pdf, print on cardstock, cut along dotted lines and fold in half.

I hope the mothers in your life enjoy it!

One last thing …

Over the past week many of you have commented or sent notes letting me know that you’ve enjoyed these tutorials.  While I am not always able to respond back, please know that your encouragement really does make a difference and I am so appreciative of your kind words.

To say thank you for joining me during flower week and for always being so sweet I have put together an assortment of art prints for you.

The art print assortment includes the following prints:

Each measures 8 x 10 and is printed on heavy linen-textured paper.

The collection includes 15 of the best selling prints which are delightful gifts for weddings, baby showers, birthdays {or, of course, keeping for yourself}.

Separately these cost over $260.  You can purchase the collection today for $95 {a $165 savings}.

To make things even more fun, five of the first 50 customers who purchase will receive this art print pack for free {your payment will be refunded when you win}.

To purchase the art print assortment, click the add to cart button below.

art print assortment Price: $79.95

I hope you have a lovely weekend!>

share | save | send

rolled fabric flowers {tutorial}

Perhaps you’ve seen this flower elsewhere … it is a popular one.  There are many different ways to roll and fold the fabric for different looks, but today I’ll show how I make these rolled fabric flowers.

Here’s what you’ll need:

:: fabric

:: scissors

:: hot glue gun {you could also hand stitch if you prefer}

STEP ONE: cut fabric into strip

For this 2 1/2” flower, the strip is 2 1/4” x 28”

I tear the fabric both for ease and because I like the frayed edges

STEP TWO: fold strip in half

STEP THREE: roll end into a ball for the center

Add a dab of hot glue to hold securely

STEP FOUR: twist and roll

starting with the strip held straight, twist away from the center

then roll around the center

Did you get that? Twist away

then roll.

Every few twists you can add hot glue to hold

Keep twisting and rolling to your desired size

STEP FIVE: finish the back

Leave a bit of fabric at the end so that you can flip it over the back

add hot glue

and trim the ends

The back will look like that and the front looks like this:

I attached a mini flower {and felt leaf} to a hair clip for the baby

and added one to a piece of thin elastic for a dainty headband

A bundled group of funky flowers makes a fun belt when pinned to a grosgrain ribbon.

For this pillow I cut up an old shirt and used the material to hot glue a enormous flower to an existing pillow.

I can’t decide if I’m in love, but it was super easy and a good mindless activity while the kids were out making mud pies in the back yard. You should have seen their muddy little bodies when they were finished. Oh my.

So have you enjoyed flower week so far? I hope I’ve given you the inspiration and easy steps for making a few of these blossoms. I’ve heard from many that it is teacher appreciation week and a few of the flowers have been made for the sweet ladies who teach our kids. I’m sure they love receiving a hand-made gift! And, of course, we have Mother’s Day on Sunday and what mom doesn’t like a flower?!  So keep creating and I’ll be back tomorrow with one more flower tutorial.

share | save | send

button flowers {tutorial}

Today’s flower is the simplest of them all {perfect for a mid-week spurt of creativity}.

I saw this project in the April 2008 issue of FamilyFun magazine {yep, I still have the tear out in a binder}. I didn’t changed much from the original how-to, other than using silver wire instead of florists’ green.  These are super easy and a great craft to do with kids.

Here is what you’ll need:

:: buttons in various sizes {I went monochromatic, but you can be as crazy as you want}

:: 26 gauge wire {or whatever you have that is easily bendable}

:: scissors or wire cutters

STEP ONE: select your buttons

Choose three buttons in varying sizes and stack them up

STEP TWO: cut wire to desired length {mine are approximately 6 inches}

STEP THREE: thread wire through holes in buttons

STEP FOUR: loop the wire up through the hole and down the opposite button hole

{oh good heavens, don’t judge my hands}

Thread the wire back through the bottom button

STEP FIVE: twist the wire to secure

Aren’t they so sweet?

I used a silver egg cup, added play dough to the inside {you could use florists foam if you have it, but I didn’t and play dough seemed to do the trick!} then covered with a bit of moss.  Poke the wire stems in and you have a playful little flower arrangement.

These are the same button flowers that are in Audrey’s room, except in white and tied up with twine.

I did a search on google images for ‘button flowers’ and look what else I found:

How beautiful, unexpected and cheap{!} for bridal bouquets. Wish I thought of that for my wedding! You could even have each of the bridesmaids make their own at a button-flower making party. I like that idea.

This is the photo from that magazine article where I first saw these flowers. They look awfully cute sticking out of a plant.

And I love these ones that have black wire stems that twist all the way down. Very whimsical.

So many variations you can do with sizes and colors of buttons. I can’t wait to see what you come up with.

share | save | send