I found these three rolls of organza at JoAnns for $2.50 a piece. I love the fall colors and as soon as I saw them I thought they would make a gorgeous accent for a fall sweater, shirt or even a headband. This flower is super easy to make BUT you must take EXTREME CAUTION when using the candle to melt the edges. The organza trim will go up in flames if you hold it in one place too long… believe me when I tell you this… I am experienced. Yes my first attempt went up in flames but fearing this might happen I first filled the kitchen sink with water, placed my candle next to the sink and carefully started melting the edges so I thought… before I knew it dear husband is looking at me with the what in the world are you doing, do blog tutorials have to burn down the house kinda look, I pass on the gotta love me grin and proceed to flower attempt #2. With great success  I might add, I am a quick learner in the error of my ways. So if you would like to make one of these flowers here is how you do it… remember take EXTREME CAUTION when holding the trim over the flame.

Supplies Needed: Organza, Scissors, Sewing Needle, Thread, Fabri-Tac, Rhinestone Button, Felt, Pin Back

Instructions:

• Cut a piece of Organza trim 24″ long and approximately 2″ wide.
• Cut freehand scallops along one edge of the trim length wise. The scallops do not all have to be the same size so don’t worry.
• Now CAREFULLY hold the scallop side of the trim over a candle flame. Remember do NOT hold it too close or it will catch on fire. Make sure you have your kitchen sink filled with water just in the case. The heat from the flame with melt the edges of the scallops.
• Once the entire length of the trim has been slightly melted begin gathering the opposite edge (straight) with a threaded sewing needle.
• Once you get to the end of the trim tightly pull the ends together and double knot the thread.
• Apply Fabri-Tac to the center of the flower and place a rhinestone button on top, let dry.
• Attach a small piece of felt to the back using Fabri-Tac, let dry.
• Attach a pin back on top of the felt using Fabri-Tac, let dry.

There you have it… a cute organza pin to accent anything you want.

Have fun!

I created this banner nearly a year ago for last years CHA-S. I love it so much that I thought I would share with you a tutorial on how to recreate it. I love the combination of the pale pink paint and vintage sheet music as well as the German glass glitter, crepe paper, Platinum Stickles and trims. I guess it is safe to say I love it all.

Supplies Needed: Maya Road Mixed Scallop Triangle Banner Album, Maya Road Philadelphia Uppercase Alphabet, Maya Road Silver Metallic Mist, Vintage Sheet Music, Platinum Stickles, Pink Crepe Paper, 5mm Self Adhesive Pearls, Fine Silver German Glass Glitter, White Tulle, Brown and White Baker’s Twine, White Seam Binding, Embroidery Floss (color does not matter) ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink – Creamy Brown, Glossy Accents

Tools Used: Paintbrush, Scallop Scissors (Fiskars Cloud), Pinking Shears, Sewing Needle, Glue Stick, Craft Knife, Craft Mat, Sanding Block, Scissors, Martha Stewart Punch (looks like a seal), Sewing Machine (Optional)

Instructions:

• Paint the scallops as shown above as well as the back of all 4 scallop pages, let dry.

• Cover the 4 triangle pages using vintage sheet music, using a craft knife cut out the holes at the top of the banner page, sand the edges of each page using a sanding block
• Accent the edges of each page using creamy brown ink.
• Accent the edges of each page using Platinum Stickles, let dry.

• Mist each letter using metallic silver mist, apply glossy accents onto each letter then add fine silver German glass glitter on top, tap off excess, let dry.

• Create two crepe paper flowers, trim each flower using pinking shears, trim one flower so it is smaller than the other.
• Attach the smaller crepe paper flower on top of the second as shown above.
• Using a Martha Stewart punch, punch a circle out of vintage sheet music, accent the edges using Platinum Stickles, let dry then attach to the center of the crepe paper flower. You will need to repeat these steps 4 times – one flower for each banner page.

• Using scallop scissors cut three strips the length of the top portion of the triangle banner page.
• Ink the edges of the scallop strips using creamy brown ink.
• Using a sewing machine stitch a zig zag strip across the top of the stacked paper strips.
• Accent the scallops on the second layer using 5mm cream colored self adhesive pearls

• Cut tulle, twine and seam binding to create a hanger for each end of the banner and to attach the scallop banner pages together.

• Attach the sheet music triangle banner pages to all 4 scallop pages, attach layered scallop strips to the top of each triangle banner page, attach the crepe paper flowers to the center of each triangle banner page, attach one glittered letter to the center of each crepe paper flower.
• Accent the point of each triangle banner using a medium sized cream colored self adhesive pearl.

And if you are wondering just who Lola is well…. wonder no more. My daughter and son-in-law love their little Lola.

This card was created using up some of the scraps I have been saving. Scraps make the perfect sized cards to attach to gift bags, presents or to use as enclosure cards. And with Graduations just around the corner I’m sure some of you will be needing a few cards… I say make them and keep the savings for more scrapping supplies.

Instructions:

• Trim 3 patterned paper scraps to 2″ x 4″
• Scor the left edge of the patterned paper piece that will go on top of your card a .25″ from the edge.
• Fold over the scored section and attach it to the patterned paper piece that is 2″ x 4″ (this will be the inside section of the card) using a strong adhesive.
• Sew a straight stitch along the left side of the card.
• Cut a piece of trim and attach to the lower back portion of the card using a strong liquid adhesive.
• Cover the back of the card (if not double sided patterned paper) with patterned paper.
• Trim the right edge of the card using scallop scissors.
• Punch two hearts out of patterned paper, ink the edges using creamy brown ink.
• Attach the hearts on top of each other using a foam square.
• Apply sentiment.
• Ink the edges of the card using Creamy Brown ink.
• Attach an eyelet to the upper left corner then thread seam binding inside the eyelet.

Tips, Techniques and Tutorials

Really should this even be a question but I think these little roses look pretty either way. As you can tell I cannot seem to get off this flower addiction. I think of ways to make flowers all the time now. Seriously, it is bad. But oh so fun… so the addiction remains. The tutorial to make these little roses will be posted on my Tips, Techniques and Tutorials paper crafting community soon. I have two flower tutorials posted there now.

I think these tiny flowers would look so cute clustered on top of a gift box… hmm, might need to create a mini box template just for these roses.

Enjoy your day… it is gorgeous here in Frisco.

it was only a matter of time before I started trying to create some of these fabric flowers Jessica and I made out of crepe paper.

To start all you need is a strip of crepe paper (I used pale pink) approx. 24″ in length. Fold it in 1/2 length wise. Using scallop scissors trim the non-folded edge. Thread a sewing needle with embroidery floss and begin gathering the crepe paper along the folded seam of the crepe paper. Once you get to the opposite end of the strip even out the gathers. Now begin rolling the crepe paper tightly at first then a little less as you go along until you reach the end. You can added a small dot of liquid adhesive along the way or wait until the entire strip has been rolled then add liquid adhesive to the bottom of your flower.

And there you have it a perfect peony or carnation… you pick. My flower measures 2″ in diameter. If you want yours larger just increase the length of your crepe paper strip.

Supplies Used: Crepe Paper Streamer, Sewing Needle, Embroidery Floss, Liquid Adhesive

Are you tired of seeing flowers? I sure hope not because Jessica and I are having a blast making them. The flowers shown below are made out of several different kinds of material. Thankfully, Jessica is the fabric queen and made the selections. If not I would still be standing in the fabric section trying to make up my mind as there were too many colors and textures. Talk about sensory overload. Honestly, it would have taken me forever… she just said, “How about these colors and textures?” And I quickly replied back with “Perfect, looks great to me.”

Jessica found the tutorial on how to make these flowers on the Sew 4 Fun blog. You really need to check it out. I think you will love creating them. They are another really easy flower to create. The large flower is made using the 5″ circle as the base and the smaller one is made starting with the 3.5″ circle as the base. You can easily vary the sizes of these flowers.

We also started on a canvas mini album. The front is covered with burlap and accented with one of the fabric flowers we made using all red and white fabric. It is ADORABLE… I will share a sneak peek of that tomorrow. You will love it.

I can’t believe my week is almost over. I will be coming home with lots of great recipes, loads of flowers and tons of inspiration. It has been such a fun filled visit.

Okay here are some more flowers Jessica and I created. Be on the lookout for some new tutorials coming your way soon. These shown below are so fun to make.

This is a zipper flower we made using a white zipper and mist.

And here are the fabric flowers we created to accent Jessica’s banner. You can find the tutorial to make your own on the Sew 4 Fun blog. We made 12 flowers then made ourselves stop. We could have gone on forever. These flowers are super fun and easy to make. Notice the yellow and green seam binding… we dyed and crinkled it… another tutorial headed your way soon.

The flowers are all made in the quiet of the night so during the day we do fun stuff like go to Anthropologie. I thought these dish towels were adorable not to mention extremely inspiring. I love every single one.

And eat wonderful treats from this fabulous bakery called Zeppole. I ate the BEST Lemon bar EVER there…. thankfully I do not live near this place. I could do some serious damage.

I finally got my hands on some Grungepaper! And yes, it is super fun to play around with and I have lots of ideas for this neat product. This photo is of a flower I created using one of my templates, some Maya Mist, Glitter and Stickles. It was not a great day for photos this morning as it was very cloudy. This flower is a much brighter pink… it kinda looks cranberry here.

I did discover a helpful hint that I want to pass along. When using any of the Maya Mists it is much easier to apply to Grungepaper using a paintbrush instead of spraying. Grungepaper does not absorb the mist as fast as chipboard. If you over spray you will end up having to blot some of the mist off which I quickly discovered. So if you Mist a lot of chipboard and want to try it on Grungepaper get out your paintbrush. My friend Dina would not be too pleased with me if she knew how much mist I wasted blotting. Don’t tell okay.

If you would like to make this flower as well as another version I have listed a new tutorial for you to download in my store. The cost is only $1.25 and you get a complete supply list, color photos, step by step instructions and the template.

This basket can be used as Easter decor in your home or given to a friend or neighbor filled with tummy treats.  You could also use this as a May Day Basket… One fun May Day tradition is to hang a basket full of spring flowers or other small gift on your neighbor’s doorknob. Just make sure you don’t get caught because if you do you will have to kiss them.

Supplies Used: Peat Pot (Garden Section at Lowe’s), Maya Mist – Brown, Prima Hydrangea Blossoms, Self Adhesive Rhinetsons ($1 Section at Michaels), Bethany Lowe Designs All Seasons Festooning Garland, Pale Pink Seam Binding, Creamy Brown Ink, White Chenille Stem, Fabri-Tac

Tools Needed: Scissors

Instructions:

1. Mist entire peat pot using Maya Mist – Brown, let dry.
2. Attach to the top edge of the peat pot a piece of Festooning Garland using a strong liquid adhesive.
3. Using a strong liquid adhesive attach Prima Hydrangea blossoms around the entire outer area of the peat pot, let dry.
4. Accent the center of each blossom with a self adhesive rhinestone.
5. Lightly distress the tissue garland and blossoms using Creamy Brown ink.
6. To create the handle wrap a white chenille stem with pale pink seam binding. Using a strong liquid adhesive attach the handle to the upper inside portion of the peat pot.
7. Create a bow out of the pink seam binding and attach to one side of the handle making sure to use a strong liquid adhesive.
8. Fill basket with shredded book pages, fill with glittered eggs.

As I look at the photos I do believe I am going to add a book page butterfly to the center of the bow. I think that will look nice and finish the project off completely.

How sweet will this be filled with a little Easter surprise? I love surprises and think this altered egg shaped paper mache box is perfect to hold that special Easter something.

Supplies Needed: Small Egg Shaped Paper Mache Box, Vintage Easter Postcard Image, Folk Art 526 Soft Apple Acrylic Paint, Collage Pauge Instant Decoupage – Glossy, Martha Stewart Crafts Crystal Coarse Glitter, ColorBox Fluid Chalk Ink – Creamy Brown, Maya Road Vintage Crochet White Zig Zag Trim, Pale Pink Seam Binding, Fabri-Tac, Maya Road Clear Jewel Pins, Copic Ciao Markers RV13 Tender Pink & G21 Lime Green, 3mm Rhinestones, 5mm Self Adhesive Pearl

Tools Used: Scissors, Pencil, Paintbrush

Instructions:

1. Using a paintbrush paint the entire paper mache box, let dry.
2. Lightly ink the painted box using Creamy Brown ink. Note:  You just want a slight distressed look to your box.
3. Trace the lid onto a vintage postcard Easter image, cut out. Ink the edges of the postcard using Creamy Brown ink.
4. Using a paintbrush apply instant decoupage to the back of the vintage postcard Easter image, attach to the top of the lid, let dry.
5. Using a paintbrush apply instant decoupage to the top of the vintage postcard Easter image, while still wet generously apply crystal coarse glitter, tap off excess, let dry.
6. Cut a piece of white Vintage Crochet Zig Zag Trim long enough to wrap around the side section of the lid, apply Fabri-Tac to the trim and attach to the side area of the lid, let dry. Note: Make sure your start and end points are where you want to place your seam binding bow.
7. Create a small bow out of pale pink seam binding. Using Fabri-Tac attach the bow over the area where the two ends of your zig zag trim meet.
8. Color two jewel pins using the Ciao Copic Markers listed in the supply list. Accent the top of each pin using a 3mm rhinestone. Make sure you use a strong liquid adhesive.
9. Place pins in the center of the seam binding bow. Accent the center of the bow with a 5mm self adhesive pearl.