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

gathered flower {tutorial}

A few months ago my sister found a really cute burlap table runner with three fabric flowers on each end. She loved it, but didn’t really love the crazy-expensive price tag. So she asked me to re-create the flowers to attach to her handmade burlap table runner and this is what I came up with.

Here is what you’ll need:

:: fabric {linen, canvas, wool, felt – something slightly sturdy}

:: template {download here or at the bottom of post}

:: scissors, needle, thread

:: something pretty for the center {rhinestone, old brooch, a button}

STEP ONE: print template and cut out petals

There are two templates available for download: small and large. I used the small for this example and the large for the pillows. You can certainly adjust the size and shape to your liking and disregard the template altogether if you prefer.

STEP TWO: cut petals

I fold the fabric so that I only have to cut once.

You’ll need FOUR large petals and THREE small

STEP THREE: gather the center of each petal

Make a running stich through the center, then pull the thread taught, wrap it around the center a few times and make another stitch through the center. Knot it off and cut the thread.

You’ll have this:

STEP FOUR: stack the petals

Start with the large,

then layer on the small.

STEP FIVE: stitch the petals together

Just stitch back and forth through the center several times to secure the layers.

STEP SIX: embellish the center

a little dab of hot glue does the trick.

This size is just right to attach to a headband

And do you remember this cute flower pillow? It is part of this month’s giveaway {have you entered for a chance to win? You can do it here}. I made it out of felt then stitched directly onto the pillow.

If you would like to make a few of your own, please feel free to download my templates:

{click on image to download}

Note: to make a fuller flower keep the center a bit wider than on the template.

I hope you are enjoying flower week! Come back tomorrow for another great flower project.

share | save | send

rolled paper flowers {tutorial}

Welcome to flower week – five days of simple and delightful flower projects. I could probably do three weeks of flowers because there are so many different ways to create them, but I’ve limited it to five of my current favorites.

Before we get started, let me make a few disclaimers:

1. I find inspiration for projects all over the place {online, in shops, in magazines}, then figure out how to re-create them on my own. Each of these projects are my adaptation of something I’ve seen elsewhere.  In other words, I do not take credit for ‘inventing’ these blossoms.

2. Simple, inexpensive projects are my favorite. Each of the flowers this week use just a few low-cost materials and can be created by even the beginning crafter.  I hope you give them a try!

3. My fingernails are a mess. I should probably take calcium supplements or at least get a manicure. Sorry you have to look at them.

Okay, so let’s begin.

FLOWER WEEK PROJECT ONE:

Here’s what you’ll need:

:: paper {either cover or text weight}

:: florist wire

:: scissors, pencil, glue gun

STEP ONE: cut irregular circle

This circle is approximately 8 inches, but you can do any size you wish.

STEP TWO: cut spiral

Start at the outside edge and cut in a spiral fashion to the center.

I like a sort of bumpy shape so that the petals end up a bit irregular

If you aren’t so sure about your cutting skills, feel free to draw your spiral before cutting. I did this one with a straight edge, but you could make it bumpy as well.

To add a little interest to my bouquet, I used a variety of yellow scrapbook papers {my favorite is that yellow dot}

STEP THREE: roll your blossom

start at the outside edge and coil tightly

Continue rolling until you get to the center. You’ll have a tightly coiled rosette.

STEP FOUR: release coil

And your flower grows.

STEP FIVE: glue together

Add a glob of glue to the center and press to adhere the coiled paper

TO MAKE A LEAF:

cut a leaf shape out of green paper

Fold in an accordion-style fold

and adhere with a dab of hot glue.

TO ADD A WIRE STEM:

Cut a piece of floral wire to desired size {mine are about 6 inches} and bend a small piece at a 90 angle.

Glue wire to the bottom of the flower.

Then attach the leaf to cover the wire.

When grouped together, you have a very sweet bouquet of wilt-less blossoms.

I also tried these with sheet music.

And attached to a wreath form covered in linen.

Aren’t those the cutest paper rosettes? Start rolling …

I’ll see you tomorrow for another flower project.

share | save | send