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Watercolor Chipboard Flowers | 31 Crafty Flowers Day Eleven

Hey Welcome Back! 

It's week 3 of my 31 Crafty Flowers in 31 Days!

Today's flower is a Watercolor Chipboard flower. 

It's super easy and can be used in all kinds of crafts!

Here's what you need to get started:



-Watercolor crayons
-Water & paintbrush
-Chipboard (thin, like cereal box, notepad backing, etc.)
-Sequins (or other embellishments for center) 

Step One

First draw your flower and fill it in with watercolor crayons.  I like to use two contrasting colors for the outline and the fill.  Here I used red and pink.

Step Two

Now dip your brush lightly in the water and blend the color on the petals.

The chipboard will turn dark as you blend, but don't worry this will dry.

Step Three

Next cut your flower out.  It should look something like this:

Step Four

Now it's time to give your flower that distressed look. 

While it's still damp, crumple it up, being careful not to tear the edges.  (Although if you do tear the edges don't worry about it, it will just add to the distressed look.)

Step Five

Unfold your flower and let it dry for 10-15 minutes before adding the sequin center.

Step Six

You can use glue dots to attach the sequins or sew them on with needle and thread.

That's it!  Now you have a gorgeous watercolor chipboard flower. 

These are perfect for scrapbook pages like mine below or:

-journal covers
-mixed media collages
-shadow boxes
-handmade cards

Have fun!

♥ Grace & Peace,

Melissa~
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"The lampstand was made of hammered gold from its base to the decorative flowers on top, exactly like the pattern the LORD had described to Moses."
-Numbers 8:4

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31 Crafty Flowers Day Ten - Childhood Memories of Daisy Chains

Day Ten - Let's back it up and do it again!

(ok these are starting to not make sense...that was from a highschool cheer we used to do!  I may have to quit with the rhyming. Really...don't try to stop me...)

This morning I was noticing my neighbors weeds wildflowers behind their fence and I remembered how when I was a little girl we would sit in the grass giggling and talking and making daisy chains from Clover flowers during recess.  Did you ever do that?

Well I thought that would be a fun crafty flower for today!  It may be a short-lived craft, but the memories will last forever!

So here's what you need to get started:

A Patch of Wildflowers!

Step One

First pick a bunch of pretty wildflowers like clovers, dandelions or these buttercups (is that what these are called?).

 

Step Two

 

Next choose the flowers with the thickest stems. 

How many you need will depend on whether you want to make a crown of flowers, a necklace of flowers or a bracelet of flowers. 

We used to always make bracelets so that's what I've made today. 

You need about 8 flowers for a bracelet.

Step Three

Strip off the leaves & any extra buds of your flowers.

Step Four

Make a little slit in the stem of the first flower with your fingernail if you're a little girl (if you're a grown up you can use an exacto knife, but what fun is that?)

Step Five

Place the end of the second stem through the slit and pull the flower down.

Step Six

Keep adding to your chain by making a slit in each successive flower and feeding the next flower through.

When you get the chain long enough, make a slit in the top of the first flower stem and feed the last flower through it to close the chain.

That's it! You have a pretty flower chain to wear now!

If you have little girls they will probably really love this crafty nature fun, but my boys were more interested in all the little bugs that were crawling out of the flowers I picked!

Have a fantastic weekend everyone!

Don't forget today is the last day to vote (*cough* for me) in the Mommyfest photo contest!

Be sure and leave a comment after you vote for a chance to win a 1lb box of chocolate! Yum!

More flowers on Monday!

Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~
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"And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, He will certainly care for you..."
-Luke 12:28

31 Crafty Flowers Day Nine - Watercolor Button Garden

Day Nine - And We're Feelin' Fine!

Today's crafty flower was even more fun than I thought it would be! 

My little guy (who's five) really loved this one so if you want something fun to do with the kiddos this is it! 

The perfect mommy & me craft!  Watercolor Button Stamping!

Here's What you'll need to get started:


-Crayola Watercolor Markers
-Cotton Swabs
-Buttons
-Scotch Tape
-Scissors
-Paper Towels
-Watercolor Paper
-Patterned Paper 

Step One

First you'll want to sort through your buttons looking for the ones with the best shapes. 



Buttons with raised rims (like the ones above) make nice circles that you can then fill in with the smaller, flat buttons. 

Just experiment with the buttons you have on hand to see which make the nicest shapes.


Step Two

Once you've selected your buttons you'll want to mount them to something that you can hold on to.

I chose to use cotton swabs so that I could reuse my buttons. 

(For a more permanent solution you can attach a wine cork to the back of the button with a hot glue gun.)

To use the professional q-tip method (heh-heh) just bend the tip up like so:

And use sticky tape to attach it to the back of the button.


You should have a selection of mounted buttons to use now that looks something like this (a mix of rimmed, flat, large and small):



Step Three

Now it's time to apply the watercolor.



Use the watercolor marker to apply color on the button.  In the above photo I'm applying color only to the rim so I can create a circle to fill in.

Step Four



Next dip a cotton swab into some water and let a drop of water fall onto your button.

Swirl the button around so that the water mixes with the color on the button.

Step Five


Now hold the button gently against the paper towel to let the excess water be absorbed by the paper.

Step Six



Next press the button firmly onto your watercolor paper and lift straight up.



You need just the right amount of watercolor ink + water to make this work.

Too much water and your print will be faded and runny, too little and it will be dry and incomplete.

Don't get discouraged if it doesn't come out just right the first time, (especially if you're working with little ones).

You want to practice, practice practice until you get the hang of it, and like the shapes that you're making (encourage little ones to practice and play and enjoy the process - not to look for the "perfect" flower).

See, I practiced first and it was fun!

Continue layering the button stamps until you feel your flower is complete:




 


Step Seven

Once you've stamped your button flowers it's time to cut them out and arrange them on your card or scrapbook page.





Step Eight

I used a piece of patterned paper as the "grass" for my garden, but you could paint watercolor grass.


Step Nine

Next  paint your stems & leaves with green watercolor and your flowers are finished!



Hope you have tons of fun making these!  Send me pics!



Thank you all so much for the sweet emails & comments about the 31 flowers. 

It has been so fun for me and the fact that people from all over the world are having fun with their kids,  friends & families is just a blessing beyond words!

Don't forget to stop in at Mommyfest this week for free workshops and prizes and be sure and vote for my photo in the photo contest here!

See you all tomorrow as we wrap week two of 31 Crafty Flowers in 31 Days!  Woo-hoo!

His Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~
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"He sent Me to give them flowers in place of their sorrow, olive oil in place of tears, and joyous praise in place of broken hearts.  They will be called "Trees of Justice," planted by the LORD to honor His name."
-Isaiah 61:3

31 Crafty Flowers Day Eight - Ric Rac Flowers

Day Eight - Let's Celebrate!

First of all I want to welcome all my new visitors stopping in from CRAFT magazine's blog!

I have to admit I was pretty excited to see 31 Flowers featured there today! 

If you look in the right sidebar you'll see info for subscribing to Pink Paper Peppermints either in a reader or through your email.

I hope you'll do that and stick around for all the crafty fun we're gonna have this summer!

Now let's get to today's flower made from Ric Rac! 

These are similar to the ribbon geraniums we made on Monday. 

What you'll need to get started:

-Ric Rac in varying colors & sizes
-Needle & thread
-Buttons & Brads
-Scissors

Step One

First cut your ric rac to size. The longer and thicker it is the larger your flower will be.  I make mine anywhere from 3" to 10" long.

Step Two

Next make a running stitch along the points of the ric rac on one side. (I used a contrasting thread so you could see, but you'll want to use a matching thread.)

Step Three

Once you've completed your stitches pull the thread to gather your flower and create petals.  Stitch or glue the end pieces of ric rac together.

Step Four

To create the center of your flower, add a button or paper fastener (brad).

That's it!  You can make lots of different sizes & shapes of flowers by varying the color & size of the ric rac.

These would be so cute sewn on a tote bag, glued on a barrette or used for a scrapbook page or handmade card!  I think they would look especially cute paired with denim!

Have fun making them and send me links & emails so I can add you to our gallery!

Don't forget about Mommyfest going on this week, lots of prizes & giveaways! 

Remember you can vote here (*ahem* for me) everyday in the photo contest and enter to win chocolate!

See you tomorrow!

Grace & Peace,

♥ Melissa~
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"Attention, all! See the marvels of God! He plants flowers and trees all over the earth..."
-Psalm 46:8  (the message)
 

31 Crafty Flowers Day Seven - Repurposed Magnet Flowers

Day Seven - Flower heaven!

Today's Crafty Flower is a great way to recycle those advertising magnets we all get in the mail! 

This is a such a quick and easy craft for the kiddos to do and makes a great gift. 

While making these I came up with so many ideas for these magnets so look for a post about more crafty uses for magnets soon!

Here's What you need to begin:


-Patterned Paper
-Buttons
-Old advertising magnets
-Adhesive
-Foam brush
-Needle & thread
-Scissors
-Pencil

Step One

Trace the shape of the magnet on the back of your choice of scrapbook paper and cut out the paper. 

This doesn't have to be exact as you'll be cutting your flower out later.

Step Two

Spread glue over magnet with foam brush and attach the paper piece you cut out in step one. 

Let this dry for 15 to 20 minutes.

Step Three

On the back of the now paper covered magnet draw or trace your flower shape.

I have a template flowers and other shapes you could use if you like. 

You'll need to shrink it down quite a bit for it to work for the magnet. 

Click here for the template.

Step Four

Cut the flower shape from the magnet.

Step Five

Trace and cut the leaves the same way you did the flowers.

Step Six

Choose a button for the center and stitch through the button holes *before* attaching with a glue gun or double-sided tape.

That's it! 

Your magnet is complete!

I have to warn you that these don't hold up very much weight, but don't they look prettier than advertising on a fake credit card? 

(and isn't nice to have them making your kitchen pretty instead of taking up space in a landfill?)

Have fun making these! 

I've received some more photos (thanks guys!) so I'm working on getting the gallery set up.!

Don't forget to vote for me in the Mommyfest Photo Contest! (click here to vote)

Grace and Peace,

♥ Melissa~
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Let cities overflow with food and hills be covered with grain, just like Mount Lebanon. Let the people in the cities prosper like wild flowers.
-Psalm  72:16