Friday, August 29, 2014

DIY Burlap Purple Coneflowers



I love seeing purple coneflowers in the garden and thought about using them in place of sunflowers in décor.  I'm a bit tired of all the yellow and would like to see something different.  To my surprise, I really couldn't find much of anything so far as using purple coneflowers around the house or in crafting.  Why is that?  It's such an unusual shaped flower well respected among gardeners and scientist, alike.

At the top of the stem is a single large coppery brown cone which is quite impressive.  It is surrounded by droopy petals, in shades ranging from lavender, pink and purple, that to me, mimic the brim of a hat.  It's medicinal powers are both ancient and modern.

A friend gave me a small portion of his beautifully landscaped purple coneflowers before he moved and now this wonderfully transplanted lovely has transformed my garden into an array of different shades of pink, salmon and purple flowers throughout the summer and into fall .  .   .  



 Can you understand why I was inspired to craft a few burlap purple coneflowers of my own?

Here's how:

First the burlap must be stiffen to make the coneflower petals by
spreading Mod Podge over the burlap with a brush and allowing to dry.



While the burlap is drying make a flower template using a 5 1/2 inch square sheet of paper.


Fold the paper in half.


Fold that triangle in half again.



Fold over the area by the center of the triangle. as pictured.
 See the fold line?




With scissors, cut off the top.


Draw a narrow shape for the petals from the side top to JUST before the bottom, leaving space, as pictured.


Cut out the pattern carefully, keeping the paper even.


Open to reveal an eight petal flower.


 Use the template to draw flowers on the stiff burlap.


And then cut them out.
 Glue two together for a fuller look.

I placed a cup over the petals to make them droop.



To make the center cone, cut Styrofoam balls in half and paint with copper metallic acrylic.  I pressed a black magic marker (lower right) around the cone for a more dimensional look.


Glue the cone onto the center of the petals.


A smaller version using cut out petals from scrap pieces and gluing them to a circle.




You can use the burlap coneflowers alone or attach to stems from old plastic flowers you have on hand or make your own stem. 






Haven't decided how I'll be using my burlap purple coneflowers, but I am loving how they turned out. 
Maybe I'll put them in a wreath or perhaps a centerpiece.
Stay tuned!

Thanks for stopping by
and take a little time to enjoy,

Happy Crafting!



31 comments:

  1. Oh, I simply love your burlap coneflowers. Gorgeous! What is it about this beautiful color that always evokes tranquility. I felt so relaxed as I scrolled through your post. Lovely, simply lovely.
    Stopped by via Friendship Friday.
    Pleasure to meet you, Gail.
    Love and blessings.

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  2. Gail, you have to create a special vase for the coneflowers. I love them!

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  3. Oh my goodness they look real, they're so pretty Gail. The centres are genius, the look just like them too.

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  4. OMG Gail, these flowers looks so great! Thanks for sharing!
    Hugs,
    Vesna

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  5. So beautiful!!! You always come up with such brilliant ideas on crafting!!

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  6. Oh my gosh! These are gorgeous! I hope you make a wreath with them. I miss the cone flowers from my fields.

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  7. So clever Gail, and what a great tutorial! Putting the flower inside a glass to shape the petals is totally brilliant!
    Jenna

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  8. Amazing- love these! I'm always impressed with your creativity!

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  9. WOW!!! These are absolutely beautiful Gail. I love them.

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  10. Gail, your flowers are amazing! You are so talented making these gorgeous flowers. Thank you for sharing the tutorial. Happy Labor day weekend.

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  11. Wow they look so natural and beautiful. Great work!
    Roopini,
    Let's Make It Lovely

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  12. Wow that's so creative! Love how you made your own flower. Pinned. Thanks for sharing your tutorial on Merry Monday.

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  13. Another cute craft idea, Thanks for sharing it with us at the #WWDParty and enjoy the holiday.

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  14. I love this! The best burlap project I have ever seen!

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  15. Those are just amazing and if I saw those in a vase I would thought you bought them...I can't believe how easy you made it to make those Gail!

    Great job!!

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  16. LOVE this. There was a patch of coneflowers down the street from me and I would gaze at them while walking my dog this summer...I really took a liking to their wild/vibrant beauty. Your "knock-off" flowers are amazing!!

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  17. Wonderful! You really caught the essence of them.
    Kathy

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  18. You did a great job on these. I love cone flowers too :)

    Thanks for sharing!

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  19. These are seriously creative and oh so pretty! Thanks for linking them up to Inspire Me Monday! Pinning it!
    ~ KIM @ Sand & Sisal

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  20. Very cute! Thanks for sharing with us at Your Designs This Time!
    Emily & Erin

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  21. Congratulations for being featured for your flowers over at Boogie Board Cottage!

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  22. Pink burlap! Very neat. Your flowers turned out so pretty. Thanks so much for sharing at the Make it Monday Party! Hope to see you again next week :)

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  23. Well done! Thanks for such a great step-by-step tutorial!

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  24. Gail, you're project has been selected as one of three features for Make It Monday this week! If you would like a "Featured" button, please contact me at cmufsu@comcast.net and I'll send one to you.....

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  25. these flowers are just beautiful! Thanks for sharing the tutorial.

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  26. Your burlap cone flowers are fabulous; such a clever idea. Thank you for the tutorial.

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  27. This is brilliantly clever, your lovely flowers will be one of the features at Handmade Monday when it goes live tomorrow :-)

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  28. I love coneflowers too. Your flowers are beautiful. Thanks for sharing on Sunday's Best.

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  29. Saws these at Handmade Monday. So very pretty. Pinning.

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  30. wonderful Post!! Thanks To Shared With us as we provide burlap rolls at affordable price for more information visit our site.

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