Altered Flower Tutorial

I've been wanting to add some different flowers to the Christmas tree this year.  The tree isn't finished, but I was in the mood to play with these flowers finally and thought I would share it with you.

 
This is what I came up with.  I really like how this one turned out and can't wait to finish the others.  In doing this flower I wanted to see if I could take a very inexpensive flower and turn it into something pretty enough to use.  So I was at the local $ store.  Most of them around here are called the Dollar Tree.

I found these garlands and decided to give them a try.  Their were 6 flowers on each garland for only $1.  So I grabbed a few garlands and a package of the precut round tulle circles.  I found the tulle circles in the wedding section.  I believe there are 15 to a packag and they come in white. 

 

I decided to dye the flowers and the tulle.  To do this I added coffee and a bit of pink rit dye to my pot of water.  Heat the water on the stove and let it get hot. To dye the flowers I just dropped them in the water and let them sit for a minute or so.  The longer you let them stay in the darker they become.  I then pulled them out and set them onto an old towel to dry.  The tulle circles I just split the package into thirds and folded them up and using tongs I dunked them into the dye and pulled them right back out. 

This is what the flowers looked like after they were dry.  As they were drying I fluffed them a bit with my fingers.  You can either use them like this or continue on.

Next I took one of the flowers and pulled it apart.  They come apart very easy.  I don't save the stuff that keeps them together.  I just toss it.

It's hard to see in this photo, but I took some brown ink and stamped onto the petals with one of my background stamps. I then took the tulle and cut it in half to use as layers between the petals. I also tore the edges of it a bit.  Just gathering it a bit with my fingers and layering it between the layers of petals.  I also layered some vintage lace as well.  You can layer whatever you like with the petals.  I did this between each layer of petals and then used my trusty stapler to secure them all together.  If you want them a bit more sparkly it would be fun to glitter the edges of the petals as well.  After the flower was secure I just hot glued a vintage button to the center of it.  Of course there are many different things you could put in the center of the flower to personalize it!  Onto the back of the flower I glued a clothes pin.  This makes it nice and easy to put onto the branch of the Christmas tree.

This is a closer look of the stamping and layering of the flower.  These flowers would look beautiful on top of a package as well.  I hope that you are enjoying your holidays and taking time to spend it with family and friends! 

Hoping to share another quick tutorial tomorrow with you from my 6 year old. She came up with a cute idea for her gingerbread house that I will also be sharing.

 

Comments

[rebecca]

thats adorable and inspiring! i might make some hair accessories like that!

[Kim Hesson]

Thanks Rebecca! I thought they would make cute hair clips or pony holders to!

They could be done in any color! Have fun with them!

Hope your doing well!

Take care!

Kim Hesson

My Blog

My Business - Miss Alayneeah

Pronounced like Miscellanea

Noun - A collection containing a variety of sorts of things.

[Kelli]

GREAT ideas! I cannot wait to give em a try. Thanks for sharing. Happy Holidays. :)

[tina]

This is a fab tutorial. I love how you used stuff from the Dollar Tree. :)

[Flowers Japan]

Some times things created artificially appeal more than the Natural ones. Your Floral designs are just like that, Colors full of variety and finishing at its extreme.