30 Days of Flowers - Day 5 - FlowerBursts

Patriotic Paper Strip Flower Burst Decoration

Last year I made some newspaper wreaths and thought about using colored paper instead to do something similar. Since I needed a flower for today and Independence Day is coming soon, I thought I would try this.

 I used a plastic plate and varying widths of paper strips the same way I cut the newspaper for the wreath. Then I added them to my paper plate in layers and this is what I came up with. It needs to be tweaked a bit, but it will be a nice centerpiece or “wreath” to hang on the door.

While completing this project I discovered by accident that if you cut with the fold intact instead of the way I have shown above you end up with a unique little flower as well. I am going to save that one for another one of my days this month.

If you want to try this here is what you need:

Supplies:

·         Plastic Plate

·         Scissors

·         ScrapBook Size Paper / Cardstock okay

·         White Standard Printer Paper

·         Hot Glue Gun

Fold your paper in half and then in half again, if using standard size scrapbook papers. You will cut towards the fold but not through it. Leave about 1/4 inch.

Once you have all your cuts made, roll the paper around a pencil or straw. If you are making flowers, glue the end together so you have a nice round flower. If you are using this color as your strip to put on your plate. You will fan fold it instead and then glue them in layers to your plate.



Plastic works better than paper. The more layers you have the heavier your plate will become and the paper plates just don't hold up.


Okay, there you have it. Day 5 of 30 Days of Flowers. Let me know what you think .
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30 Days of Flowers - Day 4 - Wax Dipped Flowers

30 Days of Flowers

Day 4:

Wax Dipped Flowers

While reading an old McCalls magazine from the 60’s I saw these wax dipped flowers. Their instructions were pretty complex and didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. So, as I often do, I winged it.

My Supplies:

·        Crepe Paper

·        Scissors

·        Clear Candle Wax

·        Floral Tape

·        Hot Glue

·        Double Boiler

·        Stove Top or other heat source

·        Tweezers or Tongs

·        Wax Paper

 

I used various lengths of crepe paper based on how large I wanted the flower to be. For one type, I cut a wide scallop pattern onto one side of the strip. Then I wound it tightly together for the middle and pinched it around the finish it off. My pinches were looser as I got to the end. You may want to add a dab of glue here and there to keep it together.

For the other type I used about 1 ½ feet strip and cut 1/8 inch cuts all along one side about ¾ of the way up, then rolled this onto a straw, secured the bottom with floral tape then slid it off of the straw and stretched out the petals to get the dandelion? effect.

Secure the flower at the bottom with floral tape.

Once you have all of your flowers made fill your bottom pot of the double boiler with water about ½ full. Place your candle wax in the top pot. Wait for the wax to be completely transparent. DO NOT RUSH this step. If you do, you will have a thick waxy residue on the flowers.

Once the wax is transparent, grab your flower by the bottom with your tongs and dip into the wax completely submerging it. Lift it up quickly and let it drain for a moment. Place it on wax paper up right. 

For the dandelion or carnation type flowers, you may want to have a fork handy. As you bring the flower up out of the wax, use the fork to separate the petals, otherwise they may stick together.

I will be adding a separate tutorial for this with more pictures in the next week or so.

These are pretty flowers that have such a beautiful texture and shine to them after they are waxed.

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30 Days of Flowers - Day 1 - Paper Roses

Day One:

I can't believe they're not roses.

( For June I am going to attempt 30 days of flowers. I hope you will join me.)

These are amazing. They seem so real and are so versatile. I found the instructions for these beautiful flowers  at  http://www.ellinee.com/blog/paper-rose-bouquet/. This site is incredible and you must stop by to see all that she has to offer. What an amazing designer she is and how gracious to share her secrets. 

  

As you can tell by the pictures above I made a few of these but I wanted greener leaves and more color variety. Instead of buying different colored paper, which gets expensive fast, I had quite a few cans of spray paint that my husband and mother-in-law (enablers to my crafting habit) have given me over the past year or so. I thought I would experiment and here is what I came up with. My mind is full of the possibilities with these. I am sure these will reappear in many upcoming crafts projects soon.

 





There are so many ways to create flower. I have seen paper, plastic, cloth and aluminum. I will be featuring some of these in the days to come and attempting many of them as well.

If you would like to guest blog on crafted flowers for one of the 30 days of Flowers in June, please contact me. ( I initially titled this 31 days of flowers. Phew...now I only need to come up with 30...oops )

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