Haute Couture

As soon as I saw this fabric flower brooch here, I knew i had to make one.

Designer flower:



My flower:



The only supplies you need are fabric, glue, 28 gauge wire and pinking shears.

1. cut about16 inches of wire and form it into a petal shape, twisting the ends together to secure and form a stem.
Make 10 large petals, (mine were 7" long,) and 7 small petals, (5" long.)



Cut fabric wide enough to enclose the stem when folded in half.



Lay your stem on half the fabric and run a line of glue over the entire stem. Then fold the fabric over to cover the stem, pressing the fabric firmly to the wire.



Now comes the hard part. Wait and let the glue dry thoroughly!

Once it is dry, take your pinking shears and cut out the stem shape, following the outline of the wire.



Once all your stems are cut, make 2 stacks of 5 large stems, and 1 stack out of the 7 small stems, then lay the stacks on top of each other, Large-small -large.





Once they're stacked, twist the stems together to form one large stem.



Now the fun part! Start opening the petals, spreading them out like a flower.



Turn the flower over and curl the stem so it lies flat around the flower. I covered mine in duct tape first.



Thats it! I used a large safety pin to pin the flower to my jacket. This was my prototype. I think I'll make my next flower a bit smaller.

Beaded Flowers

I like these because they have a vintage look, and can be made into a necklace, hair accessory, pin, or even a magnet for your refrigerator.

Supplies: Beading wire, I used 24 gauge
a package dark color rocaille beads
a package of light color rocaille beads
a package of assorted rocaille beads
a small piece of felt
glue gun
pliers/wire cutters

1. Forming a petal.
Cut a piece of wire, 9 inches long. string on two of the assorted color beads, (I used clear,) then string on 10 of your dark color beads and 2 more of your assorted color beads. Push the beads until they are about 2 inches from the end.



Form a loop with the beaded portion and twist once to hold the beads in place.



Working with the long end of the wire string on two assorted color beads, 20 dark color beads, and two more assorted color beads.



Form the beaded section into a loop going around your first loop, and twist to hold.



Working with the long section of wire, add 4 of the assorted color beads, 25 dark beads and 4 more assorted color beads. Form into a loop and twist.



You have now completed one petal. Follow the steps to make a total of 5 dark color petals, and 5 light color petals.



2. Assembling the flower.
Stack 5 petals together alternating light and dark. Twist the stems together.



Put on stack on top of the other and twist the stems together.



Spread the petals out, overlapping them.



On the back of the flower, curl the wire around, flat to the flower and trim.



Hot glue a piece of felt over the wire.



On the front of the flower, put a dab of hot glue in the center where the wire is showing. Sprinkle on some of the assorted color beads, a rhinestone or a large bead.
(I used the clear beads.)



Now you can add a pin back, barette, or magnet to make the flower into what ever accessory you want.