Sunday, April 29, 2012

Spring Bouquet: Ribbon and Button Flowers

Is spring taking it's own sweet time in your neck of the woods? Well, it is here. I crave color and life; I want to see green grass and flowers! On this sunny 27 degree day in Pittsburgh, I have to settle for some crafty flowers instead. Do you have ribbon or buttons lying around? Okay, let's get to work.
Spring Bouquet

Materials:
  • Ribbon
  • Buttons
  • Floral wire
  • Floral tape
  • Needle
  • Thread
  • Scissors
  • Glue gun
Note: You can use any width of ribbon; just vary the number of ribbons used to adjust for thicker or thinner ribbon.
Steps:
  1. Here, I'm using a thin ribbon, so I cut 8 pieces, 6 inches long. Arrange the ribbons as shown with the centers overlapping. Put a small stitch or two through the center to hold them in place.
    Spring Bouquet step 1
     
  2. Now, take the free ends and bring them into the center, like this, and secure with another stitch or two to hold them in place.
    Spring Bouquet Step2
     
  3. Secure a button or two to the center either with a stitch or hot glue.
    Spring Bouquet Step3
     
  4. Bend the floral wire in half and slide it under the stitches on the back of the flower to form a stem.
    Spring Bouquet Step4
     
  5. Wrap the wire with floral tape to finish
    Spring Bouquet Step5
     
  6. The next style of ribbon flower uses a thicker ribbon. I used 1 inch grosgrain, but any style of ribbon will do. You can see in the bouquet I also used a 2 inch sheer ribbon and it worked out just as well.
    Spring Bouquet Step6
     
  7. Sew a basting stitch along the edge of the ribbon, like this:
    Spring Bouquet Step 7
     
  8. When you pull on the thread, the ribbon naturally gathers to form a flower. See?
    Spring Bouquet Step8
     
  9. Thread a piece of floral wire through the holes in the button(s) and slide it through the center of the ribbon "flower". You can dot some hot glue onto the back of the button to secure it to the ribbon. Then, wrap the wire with floral tape, as before.
    Spring Bouquet Step9
     
  10. Bonus Button Flower Tutorial: Stack your extra buttons in interesting combinations and thread them onto the extra floral wire for a button flower to accent your ribbon flower bouquet. Wrap the wire with floral tape as described previously.
    Spring Bouquet Step10
     
  11. Place your bouquet on the nearest shelf, sip some lemonade, and dream of spring...
    Spring Bouquet Finished
     
Read more about Jennifer, author of this craft tutorial, a Featured Craft Designer at FaveCrafts!
 

No comments:

Post a Comment