I posted a question Friday to my Facebook Business page because I was truly concerned on whether my love of paper crafting was going too far. ...WHAT?!
I had made this paper flower corsage for my 17 year old daughter who was attending her Junior prom.
Most of the girls who attend alone (with friends not a "date) don't usually wear a corsage so we had not really talked about it prior to the event so there was no expectation on her part other than the fact that she knows I am a florist by trade. Even though I could have gone and picked up some fresh flowers and put together a corsage I had an epiphany and thought why not put my love of paper together with my trade as a florist and surprise her.
I loved how it turned out but that thought of how I felt as a child when I had to wear homemade clothes that my mom sewed instead of the purchased clothing my friends got to wear nagged at me. I started second guessing myself on whether a 17 year girl would be totally embarrassed by it. I then posted to Facebook to get peoples opinion before giving it to her in case everyone said "UM, NO, you better go make fresh flowers". I think the response was overwhelming that she would love it! Those that know my daughter Abby were of the opinion that my Artsy Fartsy daughter would love it and thankful she did!
It was not hard, it really did not take me very long and seriously with the right tools anyone could make one. Maybe we will start a trend?! Here is what I used to make it and after the Product list I will give you a few tips so keep scrolling.
Product List
I wasn't sure how I was going to assemble this paper corsage. Normally my corsages are made with wire and florists tape. This one was different. These flowers did not have stems, they were just flower heads.
I had recently seen a leather band bracelet at a store and thought this idea might be the way to assemble this corsage. I had some "fun foam" sitting on my desk (hey I am a crafter!) so I cut it down to 1 1/4" strip about 9 inches long (use your recipients wrist as a guide, you will want about an inch to overlap each side) I created my 2 main flowers with the spiral die and sponged them with a coordinating ink. Then use your bone folder or the edge of the scored stylus to break the fibers on your paper to make assembling the flower a little easier. Also bending each petal back makes the flower look more realistic when you put it together. I used hot glue to assemble my flowers because I wanted it to last a very long time. I mean there was dancing that was going to be happening, right?! She gets to keep it as long as she likes hence the term "keepsake".
A tip on the punched flowers is to use your Stampin' Pierce mat and stylus tool. I start in the middle of the punch flower with the larger end of the stylus tool and with steady pressure I go around and around the flower in a circular motion until I get to the petals. It makes the flowers less paper-like and more realistic and easier to manipulate because again it breaks the fibers down and makes them little cup like. I finished each flower off with some pearls in the center. I made a bow and hot glued everything to the "fun foam" band. To make it into a bracelet I used 2 antique brads to finish it off.
I hope that you will play with this idea not only for a corsage but it would make a fantastic wrap on a candle, vase or anything cylindrical for that matter. This one was just very near to my heart.
Enjoy!
M.E.