Fall Flower and Pumpkin Wreath.

So where did I use those flowers?  Here on this wreath.  I think it tuned out fantastic and since I’ve already shown you how to make the flowers, there’s not much else to tell you except the 3-D pumpkin.

I used two colors of organza twisted together for the ribbon.  I tied a big blow but when I tried to use it, I saw the wreath really didn’t need it.  The pumpkin is a cut file I made with George because I didn’t like any I had on any Cricut cart.  I embossed it the Cuttlebug Victoria A2 embossing folder and rubbed the embossing with a gold ink pad.  I can’t remember what cart the leaves are from, but I folded them down the middle and curled the edges down.  I also inked them with a brown ink pad.  Every thing is wired on the wreath because hot glue has a tendency to release when in the sun for long periods of time and I wasn’t sure where I would hang it. 

The pumpkin is about 6 inches across and the largest flower is about 3 1/2 inches across. 

 

Well, that’s it!  Check in for more surprises, paper wise, this week.

Flowers by Cricut

I have been squirreled away in my studio making flowers for a project I’ll show you all next week, but I thought I’d show you how I made them.  I don’t usually post on Saturdays because I reserve that time for my husband and family; however, Jim’s working and I have no other obligations, so I thought I’d send a bonus post to those of you who check in on the weekends. 

I’ve been making these. 

Here’s how I made them:

I started with the flower cut on A Child’s Year, and made several sizes.  then I collected my supplies

I inked the edges and although I don’t show it here, I used two different colors ink, orange and yellow on both sides of the flower because the tips will be curled up except for the bottom flower. 

I used a wooden pick to curl the petal down and up on the rest of the layers. I also folded the flowers down for the first couple of rows and then left some as they were and then up on the last couple of rows. 

After the bottom two rows were clued together, I added pop dots before I added the next row. 

I used pop dots a couple more times to lift the center of the flower up.  Just before I added the last flower layer, I ran a length of about 15 inches of floral wire through the flower, so that it could be used in a way I am not going to share right now. 

I wanted to add some texture to the flower and I had the bright idea to use a brown pom pom.  The only problem was I didn’t have any brown pom poms.  Then I thought, “Why not dye them!” Actually I think they turned out better this way because they have a depth of color they wouldn’t have otherwise. 

I think they turned out more than acceptable.  What do you think?

Now I can’t wait to show you how I am using them. 

A Little Flower Tutorial

After making my spooky banner, I thought that I might pay a bit more attention to the flowers that really made my banner much more effective. 

My original idea was to have flowers that looked dead and sort of moldering and using the dark purple and black fit into that idea.  I first started just making regular flowers with Cricut cuts, but I wasn’t really satisfied with them because I didn’t feel they were dimensional enough for my purposes. 

The technique of this flower is not my original idea.  The gathered flower has been around for a long time.  I did give it a little twist by adding Cricut cuts to it.  Anyway, I thought I’d share the process with you especially if you are not familiar with the idea. 

I started with about 15 inches of 1 1/2” organza ribbon.

I seamed the ribbon so that I had a circle of ribbon.

Then I ran a gathering stitch about 1/4”  around one edge.  I did this flower by hand, but you could also use your sewing machine.

As you can see, I changed the background so that you could see the flower better.  I pulled the gathering stitch until I had a tight circle and whipped stitched it together and fastened it off to keep it together and gathered. 

Then I turned to my trusty Cricut and my Walk in my Garden cart and cut two of the daisy cut at 1” and 1 1/2” and leaves and added them to the flower.  Regular glue doesn’t work that well with this flower, so I used Fabri Tac.

Then I added a button . . .

and leaves and  . . . VIOLA!

I have a neat little flower for one of my next projects. 

I hope you find a use for these lovely little flowers and add your own special twist on the idea.