forcing paper tulips

Supplies:

- Double sided paper for the flowers and leaves, cut in to 1 1/2 inch square x 6

- 1″ circle out of matching cardstock

- green chenille pipe cleaner for stem

- small rick rack for flower stamen

- adhesive

- scissors

- template (print and cut to fill a 8 1/2 x 11 sheet)

Now, let’s get started.

Step 1

Get everything cut first. I chose some pink patterned paper for the petals. I prefer double sided paper for this project because you will see both sides. If you don’t have double sided paper, you can always finish the other side with chalk, ink or paint.

Step 2

Curl each petal around your finger to shape them. You don’t have to be perfect about it. In fact, less perfect is best!

Step 3

Apply your adhesive to the center cut on the inside of the petal. I went ahead and did it on all my petals so I could make them in an assembly line.

Step 4

Fold one side on to the adhesive and secure it. Then fold the other side in. The petal starts to take shape.

Step 4

Your finished petals should look like a bunch of painted finger nails when you are done. Just kidding. No I’m not. They look like fake finger nails.

Step 5

Take your 1″ circle piece and poke a hole in the center. The hole needs to be small so just use a large needle or pick. If it’s too big, it won’t hold the stem in place, as I learned from experience.

Step 6

Slide your circle on to the pipe cleaner. Then fold the top down to make a little nub.

Step 7

Tie a piece of rick rack on the nub. This is your stamen. I waited to trim mine down but you can do it now if you want. Just leave about 1/2″ to stick up to the top of the petals.

Step 8

Now we start the flower assembly. Begin by applying adhesive to the bottom of each petal. Mount on the circle using it as a base.

Step 9

Alternate petals on each side to build the flower. Again, it doesn’t have to be perfect but you don’t want any gaps when you are finished.

Step 10

Apply the second set of petals to the outside of the first.

Step 11

Once all four sides are covered, use the last two to cover over the first two. This gives some dimension to the flower. Slide the stem down inside the flower until the stamen is just peeking out.

Step 12

Take your leaves and curve them over in the same way we curved the petals. (The paper I showed in the supply photo is different than this because I ran out and did the supply list last.)

Step 13

Apply adhesive to the bottom inch or so of each leaf. If you think about how tulip leaves grow on the stem you realize that the stem grows up the middle of the leaves.

Step 14

So we apply the leaves curling it around out pipe cleaner stem. I started with the smaller one at the top and staggered down to the largest, which is how they grown. Curl any left over pipe cleaner up and around the base.

Step 15

Put your finished tulip in a flower pot or vase and you are done. I put mine in a vintage blue ceramic gravy boat with some of that floral moss. I like how the tulips move and are a little floppy just like real tulips.

Make flowers from crepe paper

Materials:
Sheet of crepe paper
Small piece of cardstock
Scissors
Glue (I used Aleene's Tacky Glue)
Toothpick

Cut 12 circles from a sheet of crepe paper, any size you like depending on how big you want the final flower to be. I accordion-folded a strip of paper and cut multiple circles at once. No need to be too precise; freehand circles will do.

Orient each petal so the grain in the paper runs vertically. Apply a bit of glue at the bottom of the petal and pinch it to create small gathers. When the glue has dried, press both thumbs into the center of each petal and stretch the paper to curl the edges inward, forming a bowl shape.

Cut out a small circle of cardstock (about the same size as the petals before you shaped them.) Glue five petals around the outside edge. Then stagger four petals inside that ring, followed by three petals in the middle.

To make a center for the flower, cut a small strip of crepe paper and fold it in half. Cut notches along one long edge of the doubled paper to make fringe. Roll the fringed paper around a toothpick and secure with glue. Finally, glue this piece into the center of the flower.

DIY Gifts | Summer-Inspired Favor Boxes

Materials
Paper Box from local craft store (not too thick)
Japanese hole punch
Fabric or paper flowers


Step 1:Gather you store-bought paper box (in a colors complimenting those of your wedding) your Japanese hole punch, and the flowers you'd like to use.

Step 2: Build your box, and become familiar with the piece that will be the top. Using your Japanese hole punch, punch several holes in the center of the top flap of the box.

Step 3: Separate the flower stems and feed 1-2 into each hole you've punched.

Step 4: Flip over the flap. On the inside of the box, cut the wire stems short and twist them into one stem so they don't hang down into the box and interfere with your favors.

DIY Gifts | Favor Flower pots

Nope, not just any old flower pot. We decided to give the typical (and cheap) terra cotta pots a fresh coat of paint... in your signature wedding color, of course! The best part: it's chalkboard paint! Write a note of thanks or use it as a place setting and scribble your guest's name. How convenient!

Materials
Terra cotta pot
Chalkboard paint
Paintbrush
Flowering plant
Chalk

How-to
Step 1 Buy your pot and pick your paint color (you can get pretty much any color you want!
Step 2 Give the pot a coat of paint. Set aside to dry.
Step 3 Add in a plant.
Step 4 Write your personal message!

DIY Gifts | Zipper brooches

Supplies:
Fabric marking pen or chalk
Hand-sewing needle
Nonwoven material scrap for pin back (suede, leather, synthetic leather, or felt)
Pin closure
Pins
Ruler
Scissors
Sewing machine
Thread to match zipper tape
Zipper tape, 56 inches (or one 28-inch zipper, separated)

Create flower petals from a zipper
The brooch has two six-petal layers, plus a center swirl. After you cut the zipper up, the parts are swift to baste and sew by machine.

1. Prepare the zipper. You need zipper tape and teeth only. Cut away stops, and remove the slider. Press the zipper tape if it needs it.

2. Segment the zipper. Cut six 4-inch lengths for the larger petals, six 3-inch lengths for the smaller petals, and one 8-inch length for the center.

Wriggle the scissor blades between the teeth to cut the zipper tape.

3. Gather to give the petal shape. Machine-baste close to the long tape edge on a zipper petal length. Pull the bobbin thread to gather slightly (the zipper curls toward the tape edge). Push the gathering to the middle. Repeat for all petals.

Pull the bobbin thread to gather each tape edge.

Tip: Plan the pieces If you don’t use a single zipper tape, you should plan and mark the cutting lines on a separating zipper or multiple shorter zippers. Arrange the cuts so you don’t run short for any pieces.

4. Form and sew the petals. Fold a gathered zipper length in half. Open the fold at the cut ends, and overlap the tape with the zipper teeth to the outside. Pin, or hold in place. Stitch the petal center through the overlapping tape from the cut ends to the petal’s outer tip. Repeat for all remaining petals.

5. Make the flower center. Baste close to the center’s long tape edge. Pull the bobbin thread to gather the center into a spiral. Make the spiral tight at the beginning; loosen the gathers for the outer rings. Tuck the end under and baste in place.

Gather the flower center zipper tape into a spiral.

Assemble the flower, and make it a pin
With some hand-sewing, you’ll build your pin from the petals and center. The finishing touch is a quick pin backing.

1. Join the petals in two layers. Sew the six large petals together, adding one at a time to create a circle. Lap each petal’s base over the next, clockwise or counter-clockwise (it doesn’t matter as long as you’re consistent!). Hand-stitch them together securely. Arrange and sew the six small petals in another circular layer.

Hand-stitch the petals together.

2. Sew the petal layers together. Place the smaller layer over the larger layer. Offset the petals to fan attractively. Pin in place. Secure the petals by hand-sewing through both layers close to the middle.

Arrange the two petal layers into a full flower.

3. Finish the flower, and Add a pin closure. Slipstitch the flower center in the center of the petal layers. To attach the pin and back, cut a 11⁄2-inch circle from the backing fabric. Sew the pin closure to the circle, and then hand-sew the circle to the flower’s bottom petal layer. You can hide your stitches beneath the smaller petal layer and flower center.

Plant-Care Gift Cards

The next time you give the gift of an amaryllis or paperwhite bulb, top the package with a silk version of the flower: You'll give the recipient a cheery glimpse of what's to come.

1. Wrap bulb in tissue paper, and place inside a gift bag.

2. Fold down top edge of bag to close. Wrap bag lengthwise with satin ribbon, and knot loosely at the top.

3. Trim the stem of a silk flower to 3/4 inch, and then slide it through the knot. Use a hot-glue gun to affix the stem, and the ribbon covering it, to the back of the bag.

4. Write care instructions on a blank card, and slip behind ribbon.