Tissue paper flowers

Flowers are in full bloom around us. I go out for walk with my five month old son everyday. Its a visual feast to go out and enjoy the beautiful colors. It has been ages since I have attempted any craft project(with a baby at home crafting is kind if a fantasy) but could not resist today. So when my little baby was napping I made these tissue paper flowers. Kids can make these with little supervision. This is a great handmade gift idea for kids to take to their grandparents house this summer or just decorate their desk or a corner in their room.

With Father's day approaching, this can be a good gift for a Dad or Grandpa who loves gardening.

Here are the supplies you need for the project:

- Tissue paper ( Any two contrasting colors, I used violet and yellow)
- Scissors
- Binder clip
- Glue stick
- Paper bamboo for the stick ( you can use chenille stem or wooden stem too)

I made a set of six flowers. You can make as many as you want depending on the size of vase you are going to use.

Step by step instructions :
- Cut four 3" x 5" tissue paper strips of each color.

- Fold individual strips in half along the width.

- To create the fringes , follow the illustration below. I have used binder clip as a guide to help cut the fringes. Since tissue paper is quite thin, you can cut multiple layers at once to reduce fringing time.

- Use glue stick and spread glue at the uncut end of the fringed tissue paper strip.

- Take the paper bamboo stem and wrap the yellow fringed tissue paper strip around it. Using the same process glue all four yellow strips around the stem to create center of the flower.

- Now , glue the violet strips around the yellow strips to get the beautiful tissue paper flower.

- Flare the paper fringes using your fingers and you have the tissue paper flower ready.

These flowers can be used in multiple ways.I used mine to create this vibrant flower arrangement.You can use these as gift box toppers too. Here is another picture:

Hope you have fun making these and bringing some of the outside color inside your home.

Mother's Day Gift Ideas

With Mother’s Day around the corner we just thought of compiling some of our creations which our readers can easily use this Mother’s Day to gift their Mom. These heartfelt, handmade gift ideas are bound to make the Mom the happiest person this Mother’s Day. For detailed step-wise tutorial click on the links provided.

For Mother of a Crafter: We made the above flower arrangement for our mom. Clay Flower Arrangement
http://craftideasforall.blogspot.com/2009/11/handmade-clay-roses-and-cherry-blossoms.html

For Mother of a Budding Artist: Spray Painting Greeting Cards. Make one with Elephant and a baby Elephant or the Giraffe and the baby Giraffe. Write inside what you want to tell your Mother this Mother’s Day.

http://craftideasforall.blogspot.com/2009/08/easy-spray-painting-craft-for-kids.html

For a Mother who loves Origami: Kusudama flowers for intermediate level. Make two flowers in a Vase. To make this more interesting try to make one bigger than the other by using two different sizes of paper.

http://craftideasforall.blogspot.com/2010/04/kusudama-flowers-in-vase.html

For beginner level origami make pair of Penguins.



http://craftideasforall.blogspot.com/2009/09/origami-penguin-pair.html

For a Mother who loves Paper Quilling or Paper Crafts: Make this paper quilling wall art.



http://craftideasforall.blogspot.com/2009/09/flower-bouquet-paper-quilling.html

You can also try this Paper quilling Keepsake Box.


http://craftideasforall.blogspot.com/2009/09/paper-quilled-jewellery-box-keepsake.html

For a Mother of Toddler: Make this keepsake box or this Foam sheet Flower. (Daddy has to help out the tots).


http://craftideasforall.blogspot.com/2010/04/keepsake-foam-box-with-foam-stickers.html


http://craftideasforall.blogspot.com/2010/01/foam-sheet-flower-wall-art.html

For a Mother to be: A Father to be or a sister of a Mom to be or even a friend of an expectant mom can make it this Mother’s Day.

A creative and beautiful idea to give a Mom to be this mother’s day is a decorated egg (signifies fertility and that the baby is growing)

http://craftideasforall.blogspot.com/2010/03/easter-eggs.html

or this Baby cart refrigerator Magnet (Signifying a baby is one the way).

http://craftideasforall.blogspot.com/2008/11/refrigerator-magnets.html

For any Mom: We are sure any mom will like any art made by their cute baby with so much love. This Photo frame with your (the child’s photograph) is sure to melt the heart of any mom.

http://craftideasforall.blogspot.com/2009/12/photo-frame-decorated-with-felt-flowers.html

Based on your skill level and your need, you might want to select one of the ideas as mentioned above. You can also select one from the categories on the blog specifically for gift ideas. If you are hard on time then simply write "Mom I love you" on a card stock. Tell your Mom how much you love her. Do not forget to give one to your Grandmother too. Mother's are the most beautiful creations in this world. Their love to their child is unconditional. This is the time to show your love to them.

We hope our readers loved the ideas and will definitely try one of these.
Happy Mother’s Day to all our readers esp Mothers.

Kusudama Flowers in a Vase

Origami Kusudama Flowers are one of the cutest origami creations. It is easy enough for kids to make with little adult supervision. These make a perfect gift for their Mom this mother's day. What can be more simple, easy and beautiful?
Follow the instructions and pictures to make one of these for your mom this Mother's Day.

Supplies you will need:

- Origami paper 3 inch squares : 5 for each flower
- Green Chenile stems - 1 for each flower
- Glue
- Vase (if you want to keep in vase)
- Scissors (optional, if you want to cut squares from bigger size paper)

Origami Paper is easily available from various online resources like Amazon.com
We have used Melissa Doug Origami Paper 6" squares They are great for beginners. We cut them into 3 " squares.

Follow the steps shown in the set of pictures to create your first flower.


1. Collect the supplies.
2. Cut into 3 inch squares.You need 5 such squares for one flower.
3. Take one square.
4. Flip it so that the white side is on top and fold bottom corner to top.
5. You get a triangle, now hold the right corner and bring it to the top point.
6. Now bring the left corner to the top. You will get a square.
7. Fold the right flap down so that it matches the edge of square.Press firmly.
8. Fold down the left flap so that it matches the left edge of the square.
9. Open the right side flap as shown to flatten them.


10. Open the left side flap in the same way.
11. Fold the top triangle on the right side towards you. Crease gently.
12. Fold similarly on the left side.
13. Fold the triangles back.
14. Put little glue on the edges as shown.
15. Glue the outside triangles and hold it till it sticks.
16. One of the five petals is ready.
17. Make five such petals.
18. Glue the five petals together to make a flower.



19. Make one more such flower in any other clor of your choice.
20. Take two chenile stems. Keep the length about 1 inch more than height of vase.
21. Simply push the stem from the center hole of the flower.

Your flowers are ready.



Give them as is or put them in vase. Gift this lovely Kusuduma Flowers in a Vase to your mother on mother's day.


Tips:
-Make 5 of these flowers and tie them with ribbon to gift as a bouqet.

-Make 12 of such flowers and glue them together to make the famous Kusudama Ball.

-Kids can gift it to their friends or decorate their table too.

Paper Quilled Rose and Daisy Wall Art Tutorial

As promised earlier, here is the detailed tutorial of my Valentine’s Day creation- The Quilled Rose and Daisy Wall Art.
This simple yet delicately beautiful wall art is easy to make if you have worked on paper quilling basic shapes earlier. Check out our previous posts for detailed instructions on basic shapes.

You will need
- White and Red Duplex Paper ½” strips
- Yellow and Green quilling paper ¼” strips
- Pollens and Beads decoration accents
- Paper quilling tool
- Glue
- Scissors
- Marthastewart Simple Paper Trimmer- optional
- Card stock : 51/2” x 51/2”
- Shadow box : Ikea 51/2” x 51/2”

The variety of colors that are available in duplex paper and its texture inspired me to attempt paper quilling using this paper. I am sure you will agree the results are good too.
This paper is particularly good for creating flowers as it retains the shape you create and it comes in double shades too. This adds depth and definition to your creation.
Follow the step- by-step snap shots in the illustration below to understand how to create the duplex paper quilled rose. You will have to cut the strips using scissors or paper trimmer.


For this piece of art you will need 10 red roses, 4 white roses and 4 daisies.


Use basic shapes to create quilled paper leaves and tendrils. I made couple of leaves using duplex paper too.

Arrange the flowers and leaves as per the photos below. Since, this was a Valentine’s day creation I have arranged the flowers in heart shape. The heart shape is evident in the top view.

Refer to the close up pictures for details of how to arrange. You can decorate it with pollens,beads and other decoration accents to add more delicate details. You need a very little glue to stick the flowers etc on the card stock.




Frame your art.


Tips :
Double crepe paper or duplex paper is easily available from multiple sources online.

If the notch in your quilling tool is unable to hold the thickness of duplex paper you can use bamboo skewer too for this.

If this is your first attempt at paper quilling then I would suggest practice some basic shapes using paper quilling strips before attempting this with duplex paper.

P.S. Click on the picture for larger image.

Beautiful flower bouquet in fall colors

We have recently moved and it has been really difficult to find time for my craft projects. But it was my friend's birthday this weekend and I wanted to gift her something handmade. Its beautiful here these days with leaves changing colors and I got inspired to make something that brings these beautiful fall colors outdoors inside the home.

Following are the supplies you need for the project :
- Double crepe paper (Orange)
- Pollens ( Black)
- Floral Wire
- Floral tape (green)
- Wire Cutter
- Fall Bush ( I used purple. you can use any contrasting color)
- Leaves and other fillers
- Glue and Scissors
- Ribbon to finish the bouquet
- Cellophane paper or any transparent gift wrapping paper


Refer the picture above for step by step instructions. ( Click on the pic to get a better view) Take a bunch of pollens and attach them to the wire (stem) using floral tape. Cover the wire with floral tape too. Now cut 8 petals out of the orange double crepe paper (duple paper) for each flower. Refer the image for the petal shape. Stretch the petals to give them a concave shape. Arrange the petals in pairs. Then arrange them overlapping each other around the pollens attach them at the bottom using glue. You can make as many flowers as you want. More the merrier :).

Use the purple fall bushes as fillers and arrange the flowers as shown in the picture. Finish the bouquet by taping all the stems together using floral tape. Add the cellophane paper and a beautiful ribbon bow. You have a beautiful fall theme bouquet ready. Here is another picture of the finished bouquet.

Flower Bouquet : Paper Quilling

I just started paper quilling and am loving it. I made this as a gift for one of my old friends. Hopefully she will like it.

Following are the supplies I used :
1. Quilling strips
2. Colored paper ( yellow and orange)
3. Quilling tool ( bamboo skewer will work too)
4. Glue
5. Card stock
6. Shadow box

Instead of using the double fringed flowers I used in my previous post I used simple fringed flowers. For the basket I cut strips from brown card stock and weaved the strips. You can use any thick paper or quilling strips. I did not have them in brown color.

To make the fringed flower, cut thin strips of paper. Roll a quilling strip using the quilling tool. Glue one end of the fringed paper strip to the quilling strip.

Once you have rolled the fringed strip, glue the end and remove the flower from the quilling tool. Use you fingers to spread the petals out and your flower is ready! Refer the image above for more details.

For leaves I used the basic petal shape. Refer my previous post for different quilling shapes.

To finish the project ,I framed the arrangement in a shadow box. Am visiting her tonight and hoping she will like it :). Do leave your comments whether you liked it or not!

Handmade wood rose arrangement

This is one of the most liked creations of mine in one of the Craft festivals in UK.
It is unique and works best when you want to achieve festivity along with a rustic feel.This wood rose arrangement uses a slightly different technique than the usual double crepe flowers I create.

Materials you will need :
For Bud and Flower
Double crepe paper - White and brown
Wire 18# and 30 #
Glue
Floral Tape
Scissors

Stamens
Double crepe paper- white and brown
Cotton ball
Wire
Glue
Floral Tape

Flower Arrangement
Vase
Oasis floral foam
Gold painted dried stem or any variety of dried stem looks good.

Refer to the template and cut out 3 small petals for one bud, 3 small petals and 5 big petals for one flower. Cut 6 rectangular pieces in contrasting color than as of petals. Refer the picture.

Begin with making stamens. Take a small piece of absorbent cotton ball around 1/2 inch in diameter. Stretch the rectangular crepe meant for stamens and put the cotton in the middle. Holding the ball twist the 30# wire around the neck of the ball.Wind it downward. Cover the wire with floral tape. Make 3 each for bud and flower.
Hold 3 stamens together and bind it together with wire and cover with tape. Make two sets of stamen.
Hold the petals with two hands, using your thumb stretch the petals to make concave effect.

For bud using glue arrange 3 small petals so that two petals overlap one. Once it is dry cover the wire with floral tape.

Make a similar bud and then arrange 5 large petals around it and fix the base with glue. Once dried finish it with floral tape.All the supplies are available at art supplies store like Michaels, Joann, Wal-mart. Wide variety of double crepe papers are available at the link provided above.
Depending on the size of the arrangement you want to make decide how many flowers you need.Arrange the buds and flower in a vase which has floral foam in it. Make sure the foam is not visible from outside. Use dried gold painted stems as fillers.
Amazing wood rose arrangement is ready to brighten your house.

Paper flower arrangement

Making paper flowers has been my passion since I learned this art during the summer break before joining college. I did incorporate my imagination to the basic art I had learned. Its amazing how you can create amazing pieces of art once you set your heart into it.
This creation was inspired by a fresh flower arrangement recently given to one of our neighbors on her 50th birthday.

Material
Double crepe paper - Pink color 1 sheet for petals.
Double crepe paper - Green color for calyx
Floral tape
18# wire - 5 pieces each about 6 inches long
Wire cutter
Glue
Pebbles - about 2 bags
Round transparent glass vase
Baby breath flower stems artificial - 2

All the material is easily available at craft stores like Michaels.
To make rose first cut out the petals as per the template.
For one rose you will need about 11 petals. Take the stem, roll one petal entirely on the stem at the center using glue. Its better to use a painting brush to apply glue. Add the next petal making sure its opposite to the previously added petal. Once you have fixed five petals and it starts looking like a rose bud which is just starting to open, take another petal roll the sides using a toothpick. Fix the rest of the petals in such a way that they face each other and on putting the last petal it looks like a complete rose. If you feel the rose is complete after fixing the 10th petal there is no need to put the 11th one. Make sure height of all the petals are same.
Turn the flower and fix the calyx on the stem. Calyx can be cut using the template on the green double crepe paper. Fix it using glue.
Cover the stem using floral tape. Make the rest of the 4 rose flowers using this technique.

Now fill the glass vase with the pebbles, keep a little aside for later use.
Put one rose in the center and rest four on the sides in a symmetrical pattern. Fill up the vase with baby breath stems. You might have to cut the branches based on the height of the vase and to use as a filler in the arrangement. Once done, fill up the vase with rest of the pebbles to give a perfect finish. Your arrangement is ready. Enjoy your morning with the lovely roses at your breakfast table.