Monday, July 25, 2011

Early bloomers...




Paper towel doesn't generally cheer me up. However, get a bit crafty with the stuff and spring will arrive early!



Start with some paper towel squares cut into quarters. You can get a bit tricky and cut a few circles (or dodecahedrons if you are truly loopy). Also gather to the fray, some tape, food dye and pipe cleaners (or wire, or skewers, or straws). Anything that would work as a flower stem will do...


...twist your squares, circles and dodecahedrons to look like little blossoms, as shown...


...then dip the pointy ends of each into some food dye that you've mixed with a bit of water. Quickly in, then out is best to avoid a handful of soggy mush and to retain a lovely white edge...



...once they've dried (in front of the heater for impatient types like myself) tape each little bloom onto it's stem. We had banana yellow pipe cleaners in abundant supply, so we used those...



...bundle them into a little posy or massive bouquet (if you had so much fun you used the whole roll of paper towel). Then plonk them into a vase, no water required, and admire their happy little papery faces smiling at you, because they think they're the real thing!
As usual, you can of course up the ante. I'd try double dipping, one colour on the pointy end then another on the frilly end. They'll blend where they meet and look all tie dyed and lovely.
I also pondered the idea of taping some stamens in when attaching them to their stalks. Maybe use tooth picks with dip dyed tips, fine strips of coloured paper, or get some of those little fake ones from a craft shop.
Oh, and glitter makes most things better, especially if you are a girl under ten. Perhaps, some glue around the upper frilly edges then dip them generously in the stuff. Hmmmm, I'm almost inspired to have another whizz at them myself...

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