You will need…

• fabric (voile works nicely!)
• tray (something shallow like a clean baking sheet)
• medium paint brush
• liquid fabric stiffener
• petal and leaf craft punches (available at Michael’s and Walmart)
• micro hole punch
• floral pips (or stamens)
• contact cement
• floral wire (if making bouquet)
• wire cutters (if making bouquet)
• green floral tape (if making bouquet)
• hair comb(s) or pin(s) (if making hair combs/pins instead!)
• needle and thread and/or a strong glue (if making hair combs/pins)

Instructions

1. Begin by punching your fabric flowers: Lay a piece of fabric in a shallow tray. With a medium paintbrush, apply enough fabric stiffener to saturate, but not soak, the fabric. Let it dry, about 1 hour. Repeat with any remaining fabric.
2. Using craft punches, punch out petals and leaves as close together on the fabric as possible.
3. Using a micro hole punch, make a hole in the center of each bloom. Slip a pip through each hole, and secure it with a dab of contact cement.

For bouquets:

1. To make a stem, cut a length of floral wire, and wrap it around each pip with green floral tape.
2. For leaves, glue floral wire to each one to create veins and stems. Wrap stems with floral tape.
3. Gather blooms and leaves into a bouquet, and either tuck them in a vase or wrap the stems in more floral tape to join them.

For hair combs and pins:

1. If using a comb gently sew your flowers to it with needle and thread, reinforcing with a dab of strong glue (hot glue maybe?) if you like. If using pins place flowers where u want them at the top of the pin and glue with strong glue.

credit: Martha Stewart

There you go! with those easy instructions you can fill your ceremony and reception with your own handmade bouquets and centerpieces that will last forever! Beautiful keepsakes you will cherish. The hair pieces would also look good not only in your bridal hair..but your bridesmaids and flowergirl’s hair too!

So let’s get started!

Pick out the fabric color scheme you want. This project is perfect for all those fabric scraps you’ve been stashing away.
Purchase round wooden dowels at your local craft store (any size works; these are 3/16 in by 12 inches long. They’re inexpensive. About $2 for a bag of 16). You can also use pencils, chopsticks, or any other long stick you can think of.
Cut strips of fabric approximately 2x16 inches (no rules here, do whatever size you’d like. This is the size I used)
Then, with your fabric strip, wooden dowel, and glue gun….we’ll make a flower.
Bunch up the beginning of the flower a bit (this will be the center of the flower). Btw, I’m right-handed and found that it’s easiest to hold the flower in my left hand and work the fabric around with my right. If you’re a Leftie, do the opposite.
Stick a dab of hot glue right in the center there and glue the end of the dowel to the center of the flower.
Don’t worry, the tip of the dowel won’t show when you’re done (unless you want it to! You can push it out more and add something to the top of it for a cool center. I just kept mine simple).
Then, run a few inches of glue along the next section of the fabric,
Like this:
And carefully, oh so carefully (so that you don’t burn your hands…which I did….a few times), scrunch bits of the fabric up and press it together at the bottom of the flower. It’s like you’re “ruffling” the fabric. Just keep doing this, bit by bit. Glue, gather, stick, etc. Until you’ve gone all the way around.
You may try using the back of a pen to help press the glued fabric down to keep from burning your finger.
And there you go! You should have a pretty blossom like this:
But let’s finish off that base….
Cut a small FELT circle (any color you’d like). Doesn’t need to be a perfect circle, just eyeball it. Cut a slit in the middle, a la Mrs. Pacman, like this:
Then, glue and wrap the little felt circle around the base of the flower to disguise the messy glue and fabric:
And you’re done!
Wasn’t that E-A-S-Y? And really, pretty cute.
Okay, let’s try variations…

Want to color your stems? Easy again!
Grab your favorite spray paint color. Who said stems had to be green?
You need to find something to make the dowels stand up while you spray them. Use whatever you have in the house. Nothing fancy. I grabbed a sponge, poked tiny holes in it, and stuck the dowels down in each hole….
Ta-Da!
Take your dowels to a good/ventilated “painting spot”.
To contain the paint even more, spray them inside of a box. These bankers boxes have come in more handy for craft projects than for moving.
And start spraying away. Make sure everything gets an even coat. Let them dry.
The tips of the painted dowels will be left unpainted, so use that part of the dowel when you glue it to the center of the flower, so it’s hidden:
The orange really adds a splash of color:
To create the “scalloped” look of the two flowers above, fold your fabric strip in half a couple times:
Then cut a wavy pattern or scallops out of the one side:
And glue it around the dowel. You can also trim the edges a bit when you’re done to sculpt the flower even more.
More ideas….

Add a center to your flower by bunching up a small scrap of fabric and gluing it right into the center:
Try a bright color at the base of your flower:
Or oatmeal brown:
And better yet, take your bouquet to the Mother’s Day party with your family and friends….
And give each woman her own bloom (with a little message attached).
In fact, these flowers make the perfect “party favor” gift for any girly get-together. Or hey….make a gazillion of them for a Wedding! You’d probably want to enlist some friends to watch Seinfeld re-runs with you while you all cut, glue, and ruffle.

Enjoy!

Supplies: Scissors, needle and thread, fabric, and a pencil.

Step 1: Fold your fabric and use the spool of thread to trace a circle. Then cut the circles out.

Step 2: Take one circle and fold it in half.

Step 3: Take the half circle and fold it in half again.

Step 4: Then take your circle and stitch through the bottom. Continue this step, adding at least 6 circles on top of the first.

Step 5: Once you have sewn all 6 circles, connect the petals together by stitching through each one at the corners and then tying off the tread with a double knot.

Step 6: Next, cut 3 yards of thread and add on the flowers one by one.

Project created by Dolci Odille

What You’ll Need For Our Ribbon And Bow Projects
Rickrack, ribbon, or woven fabric; artificial stamens; milliner’s sewing needle; thread; floral wire and tape; liquid seam sealant; tacky glue. For fabric, opt for lightweight cotton (such as most quilting fabrics), since they can be easily torn along the fabric’s grain.

Ribbon And Fabric Flowers
For fabric flowers, tear fabric into 1-inch strips and cut to 8 inches long. For ribbon flowers, use 1/2-inch ribbon cut to 4 inches long.

1. Use thread in matching color (knot the end) to sew a running stitch lengthwise along one edge of the strip or ribbon.

2. Slide fabric along thread, drawstring style, to gather.

3. Bring ends of fabric together, right sides facing, and sew. Snip off excess seam allowance, and apply seam sealant to cut edges of fabric to prevent unraveling. Fold a few stamens in half, then slip a 10-inch floral wire through them at the fold; fold the wire in half, and twist to secure. Insert stem into center of flower so stamen heads emerge just a bit; add a dab of tacky glue to secure, and let dry. Wrap stem in floral tape. To decorate favors, glue flowers to fabric bands.

Rickrack Flowers
Count 16 points along lower edge of rickrack; snip with cut edges pointing upward.

1. Knot thread, and sew through the points along one edge.

2. Gather rickrack onto needle as you sew.

3. When entire strip is gathered onto needle, hold tightly, and pull the thread through firmly; then stitch through the first fold and pull tight.

4. Bring ends of rickrack together, with right sides facing. Sew, then trim off excess seam allowance (do not cut thread).

5. Apply seam sealant to raw edges.

6. On underside of flower, backstitch points together; anchor end of thread with tiny stitches. Fold a few stamens in half; slip floral wire through them at the fold, fold wire in half, and twist to secure. Insert stem into center of flower; dab on tacky glue to secure, and let dry. Wrap stem in floral tape.

Flower-Girl Basket
Cut 1/2-inch twill tape long enough to wrap around basket and overlap slightly. Cut 5/8-inch grosgrain ribbon to desired length; make enough strips to fit around basket. Fold each ribbon in half as shown, and pin onto twill tape. Alternate colors as desired. Hand-stitch ribbons to tape, and snip ends at an angle. For handle, lay 8-inch piece of ribbon across top of basket (do not pull taut), and attach to side just below rim with tacky glue. Glue ribbon-fringed tape just below rim, making sure to cover ends of handle ribbon. Trim ends of tape where they join.

Ring Pillow
Cut linen to 6 1/2-by-12 1/2 inches and double-sided ribbon to 62 inches. Using disappearing-ink pen, draw a line down middle of cloth; draw a line across ribbon every 3 1/2 inches. Pin ribbon in loops as shown, matching marks on ribbon to line on fabric. Sew along the line. Fold fabric in half (with ribbon inside). Leaving a 1/4-inch allowance, sew the two edges parallel to central line. Sew fourth side halfway; turn pillow right side out through opening. Stuff with polyester batting, and stitch closed. Sew center of a 5-inch thin ribbon to pillow for tying on rings.

Wrapped Branch
For each section of branch, tie 1/2-inch seam binding to bottom of branch (secure all knots with a dab of tacky glue beneath them). Pulling slightly to keep seam binding tight, wrap it around branch, overlapping by about a third (keep ribbon tight during wrapping to ensure a snug fit). When you reach the end of the branch, tie a knot, and trim excess to create a “leaf.” If you run out of seam binding mid-branch, tie loose end to branch and trim closely; then tie on a new ribbon, trimming excess to create a leaf, and continue wrapping. Glue on flowers and extra ribbon leaves where desired. Place dense floral foam into a vase and arrange branches, inserting them into the foam.

Paper Ribbons
Cut white artist’s paper (at most art stores) into 3-inch strips. For circles, make a tight circle at one end, and secure with double-sided tape; don’t cut remainder of strip. Continue to wrap the strip loosely, securing it at the top each time with double-sided tape, until the strip runs out; trim off any loose end. Use double-sided tape to secure a 2-inch-wide yellow ribbon to outside of outermost layer.

For teardrops, cut a strip for the inner-most shape. Bring the ends together, and tape across the joint with regular (not double-sided) tape. Place double-sided tape on both sides of the point, and add the next, slightly longer, piece of paper; continue until teardrop is the size you like (many of ours used strips 9, 11, and 13 inches long.) Attach ribbon to teardrop with double-sided tape.

filledwithyourlove:

I’m in love!

(via readyforawedding)

We made flowers using woven ribbons with similar floral patterns for a cohesive look. Using all striped or all polka-dot patterns would have a playful feel, while solid-color grosgrain ribbons could be chic. Use a ribbon that keeps its shape; heavy double face satin or stiff silk will also work. For the centers, use fabric-covered buttons; buy them already covered or use a kit to cover your own.

Tools and Materials
7/8-inch heavy ribbon
Needle and thread
Covered buttons
Safety pins

Loop Flower How-To
1. Precut four equal lengths of ribbon (we used 13-inch strips for large flowers and 6-inch pieces for small ones).

2. Lay two pieces right side up, overlapping them at their midpoints to form a cross.

3. Lay the remaining ribbons as shown. Insert threaded needle down through center and pull through to the knot on the end of the thread.

4. Flip ribbons over. Fold end of one ribbon in toward center to form a loop; sew it in place. Repeat to form remaining petals.

5. Make several additional stitches through the center of the ribbon flower to secure.

6. Sew a covered button onto the front.

What You’ll Need For Our Ribbon And Bow Projects
Rickrack, ribbon, or woven fabric; artificial stamens; milliner’s sewing needle; thread; floral wire and tape; liquid seam sealant; tacky glue. For fabric, opt for lightweight cotton (such as most quilting fabrics), since they can be easily torn along the fabric’s grain.

Ribbon And Fabric Flowers
For fabric flowers, tear fabric into 1-inch strips and cut to 8 inches long. For ribbon flowers, use 1/2-inch ribbon cut to 4 inches long.

1. Use thread in matching color (knot the end) to sew a running stitch lengthwise along one edge of the strip or ribbon.

2. Slide fabric along thread, drawstring style, to gather.

3. Bring ends of fabric together, right sides facing, and sew. Snip off excess seam allowance, and apply seam sealant to cut edges of fabric to prevent unraveling. Fold a few stamens in half, then slip a 10-inch floral wire through them at the fold; fold the wire in half, and twist to secure. Insert stem into center of flower so stamen heads emerge just a bit; add a dab of tacky glue to secure, and let dry. Wrap stem in floral tape. To decorate favors, glue flowers to fabric bands.

Rickrack Flowers
Count 16 points along lower edge of rickrack; snip with cut edges pointing upward.

1. Knot thread, and sew through the points along one edge.

2. Gather rickrack onto needle as you sew.

3. When entire strip is gathered onto needle, hold tightly, and pull the thread through firmly; then stitch through the first fold and pull tight.

4. Bring ends of rickrack together, with right sides facing. Sew, then trim off excess seam allowance (do not cut thread).

5. Apply seam sealant to raw edges.

6. On underside of flower, backstitch points together; anchor end of thread with tiny stitches. Fold a few stamens in half; slip floral wire through them at the fold, fold wire in half, and twist to secure. Insert stem into center of flower; dab on tacky glue to secure, and let dry. Wrap stem in floral tape.

Flower-Girl Basket
Cut 1/2-inch twill tape long enough to wrap around basket and overlap slightly. Cut 5/8-inch grosgrain ribbon to desired length; make enough strips to fit around basket. Fold each ribbon in half as shown, and pin onto twill tape. Alternate colors as desired. Hand-stitch ribbons to tape, and snip ends at an angle. For handle, lay 8-inch piece of ribbon across top of basket (do not pull taut), and attach to side just below rim with tacky glue. Glue ribbon-fringed tape just below rim, making sure to cover ends of handle ribbon. Trim ends of tape where they join.

Ring Pillow
Cut linen to 6 1/2-by-12 1/2 inches and double-sided ribbon to 62 inches. Using disappearing-ink pen, draw a line down middle of cloth; draw a line across ribbon every 3 1/2 inches. Pin ribbon in loops as shown, matching marks on ribbon to line on fabric. Sew along the line. Fold fabric in half (with ribbon inside). Leaving a 1/4-inch allowance, sew the two edges parallel to central line. Sew fourth side halfway; turn pillow right side out through opening. Stuff with polyester batting, and stitch closed. Sew center of a 5-inch thin ribbon to pillow for tying on rings.

Wrapped Branch
For each section of branch, tie 1/2-inch seam binding to bottom of branch (secure all knots with a dab of tacky glue beneath them). Pulling slightly to keep seam binding tight, wrap it around branch, overlapping by about a third (keep ribbon tight during wrapping to ensure a snug fit). When you reach the end of the branch, tie a knot, and trim excess to create a “leaf.” If you run out of seam binding mid-branch, tie loose end to branch and trim closely; then tie on a new ribbon, trimming excess to create a leaf, and continue wrapping. Glue on flowers and extra ribbon leaves where desired. Place dense floral foam into a vase and arrange branches, inserting them into the foam.

Paper Ribbons
Cut white artist’s paper (at most art stores) into 3-inch strips. For circles, make a tight circle at one end, and secure with double-sided tape; don’t cut remainder of strip. Continue to wrap the strip loosely, securing it at the top each time with double-sided tape, until the strip runs out; trim off any loose end. Use double-sided tape to secure a 2-inch-wide yellow ribbon to outside of outermost layer.

For teardrops, cut a strip for the inner-most shape. Bring the ends together, and tape across the joint with regular (not double-sided) tape. Place double-sided tape on both sides of the point, and add the next, slightly longer, piece of paper; continue until teardrop is the size you like (many of ours used strips 9, 11, and 13 inches long.) Attach ribbon to teardrop with double-sided tape.

cruiseshiplover:

DIY Wedding Ceremony Flags

http://www.diywedding.org/diy-wedding-ideas/free-downloads/diy-wedding-ceremony-flags

Print your own fabric

screensociety:

Beautiful and simple tutorial on how to spend an afternoon making your own fabric with supplies you probably already have at home.