As much as I LOVE it (and the birthday girl), this is one Birthday Gift I am not in a hurry to make again ...
What
isn't there to love?? Get an eyeful of all those glittery sparkles of
glass beads and silver thread entwined amongst handmade flowers -
stunning aren't they?? - but making so many of them has removed any
fingerprints my hot glue gun had left me!
So how did I make it?
Start by covering a length of wooden rod with some of our silver cup chain.
Adhere it to the rod with wonder tape. I love the fact that the tape -
whilst mega sticky - still lets you move it about to push the chain
into place, if you don't get it straight enough first time.
Stick the rod into a pot and cover around it with fabric.
Then
start to make the first of eleventy billion and one hand-made flowers
(and no - I am not exaggerating and yes - it is a real number)
instructions to follow for how to make the flowers - and add to your pot
with assorted baubles, beads and gardenias.
Now to face my fears!
(Don't understand how something small and rubbery can be so scary!)
Note
it would be easier to use a polyfoam ball, but I was stuck at home for a
few weeks unable to drive due to a crook back, so this was my
compromise.
Take yourself back to 'ye olde' kindy days and make up some homemade glue - this is the recipe I followed.
1 cup flour
1/3 cup sugar
1-1/2 cup water with 1 tsp white vinegar mixed in
Now cover that horrible rubber thing.
I think I need this to help me ... just in case the horrible thing pops!
Now wait patiently for it to dry! Not my strongest point - so time to make some flowers...
I
have this gorgeous pink fabric (the sort used to make sari's) and using
a very old flower die, I made a ridiculous amount of flowers (I lost
count at 600 individual flowers) and I must note here to give a
HUGE THANK YOU
to Audrey - who has been cutting flowers on the cuttlebug for me instead of scrapping at Timeout Tuesday
and of course my DD Angel for her contribution.
Here is how I made them ...
WARNING - if you don't have a hot glue licence - keep band-aids and ice on hand!
Using the
SAME size flowers.
Glue and fold one flower in half. I use my hot glue gun, as the glue gives you
flexibility when pinching – don’t use
too much glue, just a thin layer is
needed.
 |
Fold in half again and glue - then pinch.
 |
Glue 3 pink flowers on the side, then glue the 2 silver flowers in the
middle - as the photo shows - then glue the last 3 on the other side of the
silver flowers.
Or just glue all 6 together of the same colour, pinching them to shape as you go. |
Glue some fibre wool to the back of each flower.
Now - start gluing them - all 600 plus - to your ball.
Pop in some glass beads (which catch the light beautifully) here and there for the sparkle factor.
and - finally - many hours later - ta da - one gorgeous birthday present.
We have a sale on our rhinestone chain till the 15th March and over the coming weeks there are several projects where I will show you how to pretty much wrap them around anything to make it sparkle. It's just amazing what you can do with some sparkly chains...
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2 comments:
This is beautiful but sounds dangerous to make!! I found a cold glue gun at Spotlight here in Christchurch and have changed to using that as I have very, very sensitive fingers.. Might be time to find one for yourself over the ditch!!
Really? i had no idea you could get cold ones, damm wish I knew when we were in Christchurch last year. Might have a look around here, thanks for letting me know Pauline:)
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