Types of Flower Making
You can make flowers from a variety of materials, including fabric, wood, paper, beads and ribbon. There are different techniques for making flowers from each medium; some require more skill than others. Explore the possibilities of creating beautiful blossoms for a bouquet, fashion accessories and for your home's décor.
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Fabric
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Silk and other fabric flowers are commonly used in place of live flowers in floral arrangements for homes and events. Fabric flowers are widely available for purchase, but you can make your own if you have an eye for color and the ability to cut small, precise sections. It's easier to make a flower shape if the fabric is stiff; you can use starch or glue to stiffen the fabric before you assemble the petals together on a floral pick.
Wood
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Making wooden flowers requires a talent beyond cutting and assembling fabric swatches. Some artisans use a lathe to turn the flower designs and some crafters prefer to hand carve the wood. Wooden flowers are often painted and used in a wedding bouquet for a distinctly beautiful arrangement that will last a lifetime.
Paper
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Making paper flowers is a simple project for anyone, but kids especially enjoy creating these beauties. Thin paper like tissue or crepe works best to make paper flowers, but you can also create color paper flower designs with coffee filters. One process for making paper flowers involves cutting tissue into squares, layer them and fold the pieces like an accordion. Make a notch in the center, insert a pipe cleaner and twist it around the notch to hold it in place. The tissue paper can then be fluffed and arranged to simulate a flower.
Beaded
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Making beaded flowers requires beading skill and a pattern for specific flower designs. Many beaded flowers use small seed beads or delicas to create the layered petals, with a larger pearl or crystal bead as the flower's center. There are different beading techniques, like French and Victorian, for making a variety of flowers that you can use to create jewelry and home décor items.
Ribbon
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Making flowers from ribbon is a simple project that just about anyone can do. You'll need a 12-inch strip of ribbon and a threaded needle that you will insert in and out along one edge of the ribbon strip. When you're finished stitching, pull the thread to gather the ribbon along the edge and shape it into a flower. You can make a round spiral shape, like a rose, or you can make a circle with the gathered ribbon and insert a button or some other embellishment as the center.
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