How to Stiffen Organza Flowers with Glue

Organza is a light, diaphonous fabric that makes pretty fabric flowers.

Organza features a thin, delicate texture that lends itself to making feminine flowers with ruffled edges. However, if you love the look and feel of organza but prefer more structured flower accessories, you can try stiffening your flowers with glue. The result will still be diaphanous and elegant, but less freeform. When finished, these flowers can decorate headbands, purses, shoes, lapels and even chokers. Your flowers will keep their shape and look fresh and light.

Things You'll Need

• Organza fabric: any color
• 3 inch diameter, 6 petal flower punch
• Small plastic bowl
• White school glue
• Warm water
• Small metal mixing bowl
• Plastic wrap
• Crystal buttons
• Needle and thread

Instructions

1. Punch three six-petal flowers from the organza fabric color of your choice with your six-petal flower punch. Punch them one at a time instead of folding the fabric to punch out several flowers at once. Since organza is delicate, you could end up with warped petals.

2. Mix about 2 tablespoons of white school glue with one tablespoon of warm water in a small plastic bowl. The mixture should look like paper mache mix or white doughnut glaze.

3. Flip a small metal mixing bowl up-side down and tear off a square of plastic wrap. Place the wrap on the underside of the bowl. Metal works better than plastic because metal bowl bottoms are usually smooth and seamless. Plastic bowls often have a lip or manufacturing information stamped on the bottom.

4. Place one of your organza flowers on the plastic wrap on top of the metal bowl. Dip a finger into your glue and water mixture and hold your flower in place with the other hand. Smooth your finger against the organza, curving the petals down against the curved bowl bottom.

5. Allow each flower to dry for about 10 minutes before peeling it off of the plastic wrap. Gently remove any glue "fringe" around the edges of each flower and set them aside to dry for an additional 20 minutes.

6. Layer the flowers on top of one another, staggering the petals so you can see them all. Place a crystal button in the center of each flower and stitch it into place with a needle and thread.

References

• Crafty Pod: How to Make a Stiffened Fabric Flower Brooch
• Elizabeth Anne Designs: Organza Flowers
• Craft Gossip: Delicate Organza Flowers