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5 days of favorite projects {day 1}

favorite projects

I love a good project. In fact I feel a little lost when I’m not working on something. This week, I’ll be putting together a tutorial each day on some of my favorite projects, which {I think} are also some of yours.

Let me start by saying I probably didn’t come up with any of these on my own. I’m not that creative.  I love looking around me for inspiration and then figuring out how to make things on my own and with my own twist.  I also don’t like to spend much on projects, so all 5 days will be very inexpensive and will hopefully utilize things you may already have. Okay, now that that’s out of the way :

It was only natural for me to begin with my current favorite project – one that you’ve seen in my shop, on the baby {over and over and over again}, as favors at my sister’s baby shower, in many of my what I wore posts and in this family picture:

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Can you guess?

Yep. These fun {and simple}

flowers

Here’s what you’ll need:

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:: polyester satin

:: scissors

:: candle & lighter

:: ruler {not really necessary}

:: needle & thread

:: beads or other center embellishment

STEP ONE: cut squares

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first square {3 x 3}

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second square {2 x 2}

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third square {1.5 x 1.5}

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don’t feel locked into these sizes : make them as large or petite as you like.

STEP TWO: round the corners

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They do not need to be perfect circles {in fact, I like them a little off}. You can also skip this step and do the flowers as squares. Both ways are beautiful.

STEP THREE: melt the edges

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Using a candle, gently {and carefully!} hold the edge of each circle over the flame {not touching the flame} until the fabric begins to melt & curl.

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If the edge is burnt and you don’t like the dark parts,

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simply cut it off and melt again.

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If your material ignites {as I have found some do} it’s probably just best to start over with a different material.  I haven’t figured out why some polyester satins melt and others burn : I’ve found that the thicker satins used for lining work well.

STEP FOUR: stack them up

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STEP FIVE: stitch them together

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Using a need & thread, start from the bottom and make a stitch.

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STEP SIX: add the beads

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STEP SEVEN: tie a knot and snip the thread

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Done!

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You can add lots of layers for a fluffier flower

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or cut out a felt leaf

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and attach {stitch or glue, your choice}

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add one to your bag

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or to embellish a pair of shoes

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pin one on a sweater or jacket

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attach to a hair clip

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or magnet

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sew on a pin

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make a headband

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or add it to a hat

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I hope I’ve inspired you to make some flowers!

please come back tomorrow for day 2 of the tutorial series :

{linked to http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/}

linked to

get-your-craft-on

114 thoughts on “5 days of favorite projects {day 1}”

  1. Amanda
    Reply

    I love these flowers! I’ve made so many of them for gifts and for my own daughter. Now baby girl #2 is on the way and I need to make more! Thanks for sharing!

  3. Anat, Carob Studio
    Reply

    Dear Emily,
    thank you so much for the tutorials. I love your creativity and your great taste,
    love the way you designed the house. I cerefully follow your posts, there is so much to study. Kisses

  5. Shara Lee
    Reply

    Hi Emily,
    I’m new to your blog & am LOVING the fun, doable tutorials. My daughter and I are making the curling flowers. Our inquiring minds are curious – how you figured out that the candle’s heat would curl the material? Thanks for sharing your love & God-given gift to create with us. Shara & Olivia :)

  7. Miriam Reyes
    Reply

    Thanks so much for sharing your ideas and tutorials, I was planning to make paper flowers and found that yours were the best on the web.

    Miriam

  8. Tania
    Reply

    Hi…I love, love, love the little black and white baby shoes with the bow…do you know where I can find such an adorable pair or at least the brand?
    Thanks, Tania

  14. Natalie Simerly
    Reply

    I just wanted to let you know that I used this idea for my boutonnières in my wedding this past spring. I was able to do over 50 for under $12!! Some were put on hair clips for my flower girls others put on elastic bands for corsages! Thank you SO much for your ideas! :)

  21. Melissa M
    Reply

    I cant wait to make a bunch to accessorize my daughter’s fairy party!!! thank you for all amazing ideas!!!

  22. Katie
    Reply

    I love these. I’ve been blessed with a granddaughter and two great-nieces in the past year. I now have something sweet and not too expensive to make for all of them!

  24. catherine
    Reply

    made these this weekend…..love, love love. they turned out just as adorable as the pictures. (i made mine into pins) just wish i had bought more colors

  25. corrie
    Reply

    I am having a little girl due to arrive in July (very similar family arrangement, 3 boys 6 and under and little girl on the way)! Anyhow, I was looking over the tutorial of the flowers and noticed the small headband and would LOVE to know where you got it or how you made it:) Love the small size!
    Thanks so much for y our help! Love your blog!

  26. Katie
    Reply

    This tutorial has brought out my crafty side for the first time…literally! Thanks so much, my flower pin came out beautifully.

  27. Mary
    Reply

    so I tried this w/some ADORABLE green polka dot silk material last night for St. Patricks day. The silk was NOT a good idea. It went up in flames…. literally… hahaha!!! I’m going to try the polyester next time! and have a fire extinguisher close by as well! :)

  28. maria martha
    Reply

    thanks so much…. you are one of those blessed souls who does not keep their talents to themselves… God Bless you… and your loved ones…

  29. Anjel McGeorge
    Reply

    I finally found the time to make these absolutley adorable flowers I placed one on a magnet, headband, purse, hair clip oh and I made nonnas flower pin I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!

  30. Sabrina Arave
    Reply

    i made these a couple of days and used them in our family photo shoot…love them. They are so much cuter, cheaper, and sturdier than the ones that i have bought at the store and they don’t fray…gotta love that.

  33. Meredith
    Reply

    Hi Emily! My daughter and I are making these for the first time tonight. She really likes the rhinestone centers you used on some of your flowers. Can you tell me what they are or where to get them? Also, thank you for your blog and tutorials. My husband is in the military and we are far from family and friends making for some long days and weekends right now. My daughter and I have enjoyed studying your tutorials and planning trips to craft stores for supplies. After the flowers we are on to the book wreath!

  41. Judi
    Reply

    I’m going to give these a shot. My sister-in-law to-be wants rosettes on the bridesmaid dresses. I’ll make a few up and see if she likes them. I can just see them on her little nephews now who will be ring bearers!

  45. Leslie
    Reply

    Oh my goodness, these are too cute. They look so simple to make and I can’t wait to try.
    Question: Can you use any other type material to get the same look?

  46. Rebecca
    Reply

    i love these! when you make headbands for your daughter, do you just use regular elastic, or do you buy baby headbands somewhere? i want to make some for my 7 mos. old baby girl, and was wondering. thank you!

  48. Cheryl O'Donnell
    Reply

    I am so in love with your web site and ideas! I have to be careful not to spend the whole night looking through yur greatness! Thank you for sharing all your great ideas, I truly believe what we share we get back, ten fold! xoxo Cheryl / Voondi

  54. Jenna
    Reply

    I’ve seen these around blogland, but never tried it. I finally did thanks to this super-easy tutorial! Oh my goodness, I am in LOVE! I made two today – one as a hair clip for my daughter and one as a pin for me (that I’m wearing now!). Thanks for this! I can’t wait to make more!

  60. Mary
    Reply

    I am new to the blogging world but let me say I am thrilled to become a part of so many wonderful and creative people. You are at the top of the list. I am so excited and wish I the fabric stores were open. Beautiful! Thank you for sharing!

  65. Kelsey Cafferky
    Reply

    What gorgeous flowers!! I’ve attempted some myself but they never turned out this good. Great job and thanks for the “how to” on making them. Question for you…when you make your headbands, do you just use regular elastic for the band part? What length do you normally cut it to? Is there an elastic that you like the best? I have a one month old baby girl and I’m so excited to make these flowers and headbands for her! Thanks!!

  66. Wendy @ the Shabby Nest
    Reply

    What a great tutorial!!! Thanks for sharing and linking up to Frugal Friday…I’ve been wanting to make some of these…guess I’m off to the fabric store. (Oh, and you look amazingly gorgeous in that first photo, by the way.)

  73. Amanda
    Reply

    Look at all these comments!! You have earned yourself lot’s of followers! Okay, so just wanted you to know that my girlfriend and I are going to make flowers galore on our cabin trip this weekend. Hello kiddie naptime activity!! I love flowers and she has a baby girl — we’re set! …and my purse is begging for a flower… :)

  79. tammy
    Reply

    ok so you finally gave out your secret! I thought you were never going to tell me! LOL So beautiful and so great and I am so surprised that your FIRE FIGHTER husband lets you teach all of us how to play with fire like that!

  81. Priscilla
    Reply

    I’ve made a bunch of flowers recently but they’re a little different. I can’t wait to try these! It’ll be a great craft for me and my 12yr old daughter. Thanks for sharing!

  82. Abbie
    Reply

    Emily,
    Can I just say how much I LOVE timely answers (that require little or no effort on my part) to burning questions that I have. It’s happened twice today.
    1) I wondered where in the WORLD my bank card had gotten off to, and a new one arrived in the mail today quite unexpectedly.
    2) I have been wanting to learn to make JUST these sorts of flowers (the ones with the curled edges) and did a brief, unsuccessful internet search before clicking on your tutorial (via my email updates; nice touch) and practically squealing with joy.
    God is good, even in the tiny details, isn’t He?

  87. chasity
    Reply

    i’m gasping with excitement….
    i love fabric flowers but i’ve never seen them made this way.
    i adore them and can’t wait to give it a try!!!!

    thanks so much for this wonderful tutorial~

  88. cailan
    Reply

    So sweet of you to share this. I love dressing my one little girl, but hair adornment is that last elusive step I never seem to get to – I’m going to have to get on this…Love how you used it for the boys too. I found those Cherokee suits on sale for my boys for next year. Thank you!

  93. Kim Ellis
    Reply

    cool, thanks for sharing. If you do stamping and have an embossing heat gun, you can use that to melt the edges too. So cute, think my granddaughters need some.

  96. Becky
    Reply

    How I’ve wandered here, I don’t know, but I LOVE your blog and your style. Can I be like you when I grow up? When I saw these flowers I thought, I can do this, so I have been cutting and melting and stitching all week. Fun to see your tutorial and see I figured it out myself. Not that it’s too difficult, but it still makes me cheerful. :)

  99. Tessa
    Reply

    Thank you so much for sharing. I love your flowers and can’t wait to make some of my own. The flowers on little Audrey’s shoes are my favorite. Don’t think my boys will go for that one! :)

  101. Monica
    Reply

    Hi Emily-
    These are adorable! Thanks so much for all the details! Hopefully I can make some of these without burning down the house! So excited for the rest of the week!

  106. Jill Lee
    Reply

    So excited, going to go get fabric today to try and make these! love them as pins and in pony-tails for my girls! Great idea for tie-backs for curtains, I might have to try that too! Thanks for the great lesson, and can’t wait for day 2’s!

  107. Amanda M.
    Reply

    okay, so i make flowers, but a little differently and i have always loved yours. like oh-so-much loved yours. i am so excited to make some. thank you so very much for sharing. i think my little flowers are going to become tie-backs for a set of curtains and i think they are going to look fabulous. thank you sooooo much!!!

  110. susan isaacson
    Reply

    Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge! I can’t wait to make some of these for my grandchildren, and friends at church! Can’t wait to go shopping for the fabric! Oh, and thanks for the warning about combustible polyester! Boy, that would have been a surprise! Blessings on you!

  112. Jo in New Prague, MN
    Reply

    AWESOME!! I have 2 friends whose daughters are getting married next year. i’m going to make one as an example and we might use these. Thanks so much. Excellent directions – great pics – beautiful little flower. I can’t wait for Lesson 2. Have a great day.

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