Flower Bib Necklace

Several months ago, I had a craft night with some girlfriends, hosted by our sweet and talented Emily. There, I learned the way of the fab fabric flowers!

After learning about these, I was hooked. I've always loved these necklaces, and now I can make one! What an awesome way to dress up any outfit.

Supplies:

• fabrics of choice (felt, jersey knit, old t-shirt...!)
• scissors
• hot glue gun
• chain/pearls/necklace

Step 1:

Create your flowers. I must have erased the pics I took while making the flowers, but don't worry. Below are some awesome tutorials for fabric flowers.

fluffy t-shirt flower @ Emily's Little World

rosettes @ Little Birdie Secrets

gorgeous felt carnation, right here, @ Shenanigans

a collection of 10 additional tutorials @ Skip to my Lou

Step 2:

Arrange flowers and prepare them for the necklace...

Spread hot glue on the bottom piece of each flower (if your flower doesn't have a clean, flat piece of fabric on the under side of your flower, simply glue on a round piece of felt).
Step 3:

Place each flower onto a full sheet of felt, in the exact arrangement you'd like for the necklace.

Step 4:

Trim away felt so that it can't be seen from top of flower arrangement.

Step 5:

This step is where we attach the necklace to the flowers to make the bib. You will need a longer chain of some sort. Clasp the necklace together to make a loop, then find the middle of the chain. Break the middle link with jewelry pliers so that you now have 2 pieces of the necklace when it's unclasped, or just one long chain when it's clasped together.

Using hot glue, attach one broken end of the necklace to the under side of the flower arrangement. Then, continue for the other broken end. (so, so, so sorry about the blurry photos!)

Step 6:

Cut and attach a final piece of felt to cover the work. Be sure to glue down all the sides, so that none of the chain is exposed on the under side. Trim that piece, and allow it to dry completely before picking up by chain.

There you have it! Super easy, quick, fun, and cute!

Linked to Blue Cricket Design

Felt Flower

Here's a really simple way to make these fun felt flowers you can clip to your hair or pin to your favorite sweater or coat.

All you need is:

• a flower cookie cutter
• a piece of paper
• a straight pin
• a sheet of felt
• a stapler
• a hot glue gun
• an alligator clip
• a pin to pin the flower to your clothes
  

Get a flower shaped cookie cutter and trace around the edges.

Cut out the flower and use it as a pattern to cut out 6 felt flowers.

Be sure to save a few of the long pieces left over. I usually end up with 3. One longer than the other two.

Take 4 your flower cut outs one by one and fold them in half twice.



Next, staple the flower toward the pointy edge.

Do that with 4 of the flower cut outs.

Next, take the remaining 2 flower cut outs. Fold them the same way, but staple closer to the middle.
Take the 2 folded and stapled cut outs and cut off the pointy edge.


Take your longest left over piece and make it into a scalloped edge. It does not have to be perfect. I think it's cuter if it's not. :)

Roll it up.
Like this... AND staple it!

This is what you should have. 2 rectangle pieces, 2 folded with points cut off, 2 folded with points and one rolled up piece.

Clean up the edges of one of your rectangle pieces and begin to place the pointy ended flowers on the rectangle. Hot glue them in place.


Next, take your two pieces with the points cut off and glue the ends on top of the previous 4. Glue them upright and more toward the center. This will help the flower start to be rounded and full.

Next, take your rolled up piece and glue it right in the middle of the previous two. It should be in the center of the flower. You should have a beautiful little flower.

Take your last rectangle piece and clean up the edges. Prepare your clip and your pin to be glued between the felt rectangle and your flower.


Drag a strip of glue down the back of the flower.

Attach your last rectangle strip to the flower with the pin and clip.

Wa-la! Done!
You can wear this beautiful flower in your hair or you can pin it to your clothes. Very versatile and fun!

Heart Burlap & Felt Rosette Wreath

Who doesn't love Valentine's Day? Well, apparently a lot of people! I, however, am hopelessly devoted to the traditions of the holiday. Never one to hate Valentine's Day (a.k.a. "Single Awareness Day"), I'm totally stoked to decorate for it each year!

I've proudly jumped on the burlap bandwagon, and love the organic-chic look of it! I know this stuff has a loyal following in many places. However, St Louis is not one of them, so this stuff is way hip to me!

So, for my first official burlap decor project, I made this ca-ute heart shaped wreath, inspired by this one on Craftaholics Anonymous. I wanted to add a splash of color with the felt rosettes. Here's what you need to make your own:

• wire (I used a wire hanger)
• wire cutters and pliers
• 1/4 yard of burlap (there are many color choices)
• 4 pages of felt
• ribbon
• scissors
• hot glue gun

Cutting burlap can be tricky, so I learned a lot from this link, also from Craftaholics Anonymous.

Step 1: Using pliers, take your wire (or hanger) and form into shape of a heart. Leave a little extra for twisting it closed when you're finished placing the burlap. The closure can be at any spot on the heart.

Step 2: Cut your burlap into several 2 1/2 inch strips. I used 6 strips for mine. Take the strips, and thread them (accordian style) onto the wire as shown below.
Do that for all the strips, and choose how full you want your wreath. After you've added the burlap you want, arrange it and decide where you want your rosettes. The rosettes will be placed permanently in their spots, so keep that in mind.

Step 3: Begin making your rosettes by taking one piece of felt, and cutting it into a large circle, using most of the rectangular sheet of felt. Then take that circle, and cut the edge into a random wave-like pattern all the way around. After you make the whole circle wavy, begin to cut about a half inch strip inside the circle, following the outside of the circle (only no waves this time). You'll cut the circle into a spiral. When you approach the end, stop cutting and leave a small circle of felt attached to the spiral.

Begin rolling the top of the spiral as shown below, and place dabs of hot glue along the way. Note that you have a wavy side of the spiral strip, and a flat edge. Be sure to line up the flat edge, as the bottom of the rosette.
When you get to the end (or desired size) of the felt, you'll come upon the circle you left uncut. Flap that over the bottom of the rosette as a cover.
Step 4: Spread the burlap flat on the desired spot of the wreath, and hot glue the rosettes to the wire and flat strip of burlap.
Step 5: Twist the wire closed, and wrap ribbon around the top of the heart, tie a bow, and hang up your wreath! Quick, easy, and fun! I linked up to Craft-O-Maniac, so check out the other great stuff over there!