Saturday, May 2, 2015

Foam Lilies and Pot Framed - DIY




I've had an obsession with crafting using foam sheets.  Yes, the ones you  find at the craft stores in the kiddie section.  The material is so easily manipulated just by using heat - either from an iron, candle, griddle or hot plate.  You can even form beautiful contours from the heat of your hands by twisting, pulling and shaping.

I first noticed foam flowers at a local upscale garden center, Homestead Gardens - beautiful, large, realistic looking flowers.  I took several photos of them at different angles, determined to re-create those lovelies!  Using mostly white or light colored foam sheets, I could use any type of coloring - acrylics, colored chalk and even eye shadow to change the foam into a work of art.  So far, I've made a few different types that you can find here, here, here, here and here.  Whew, I told you I'm obsessed!

One day last week, while rearranging my linen closet, I found a beautiful paper guest towel I had forgotten about.  I knew I wanted to use the flower on the paper as a pattern for a foam flower creation.  


And this is what I came up with:

Materials Used:
  • Foam sheets - white, green
  • Scissors
  • cardstock/posterboard
  • Acrylic paint/water
  • Brush/small sponge
  • Griddle
  • skewer stick
  • Faux stamen
  • Hot glue/E6000
  • Wire stem
  • Styrofoam cup
  • Craft knife
  • Mod podge
  • Decorative paper towel/napkin
  • Cling wrap
  • Floral moss
  • Frame

1.  First, make a pattern - either by taking an artificial flower apart or using free petal/flower graphics online.  Remember, the size of the petals dictate how large the flower will be.   Once you've found a pattern, cut it out on cardstock or posterboard.  Using a toothpick, trace around pattern onto foam - remember, pencil marks are hard to remove from foam. Cut out six petals.


2.  Heat the foam petal by placing it on an iron or hot griddle or plate or over a candle to warm - your choice.  I prefer to use a griddle or iron.  If using a hot flat surface, it only takes a few seconds for the foam to curl.  Remove the foam using a skewer stick so you won't burn your fingers. 


3.  Carefully twist the edges back and forth like a ripple effect and shape.  You can use the tip of a toothpick to draw veins in the petals.


4.  Color the petals, front and back, using pictures of real flowers to follow, by swiping the paint on, giving it a gradient or shading effect.
Start at the bottom with green .  .  .


and then use a purple shade.  Paint can be thinned out with water.


5.  Stems can be added to back by dipping the wire into the opening of E6000 glue and pressing on.


6.  To assemble flower, glue faux stamen onto center of a petal .  .  . 



and then glue on two more petals. 



7.  Continue gluing on petals, staggering them in between.


I love how this flower turned out.


8.  You can freehand cutout leaves in the same manner as the petals and add on, as desired.



To make the pot:

Using a craft knife, cut Styrofoam cup in half.







Coat cup with Mod Podge.


Select desired pattern from paper guest towel. Separate white backing from color pattern and lay on top of coated cup, smoothing out using cling wrap. Allow to dry. Paint on additional mod podge to seal.


Remove glass from frame and hot glue decoupage cup to inside frame backing.


Add floral moss .  .  .


flowers and leaves.





Pretty cool, don't you think!




Take a little time to enjoy

and

Happy Crafting!









22 comments:

  1. Wow what beautiful foam lilies! I have always ben partial to lilies since my daughter Lily was born 3 years ago and I love Lilies that will last forever even more, would be cute in her room. Thanks for the tutorial. Found from Life on Lakeshore Drive.

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  2. You always blow me away with your craft ideas. These are just gorgeous Gail.

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  3. Gail this is absolutely stellar. Not just a gorgeous result but a thorough tutorial as well. thank you!!!!

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  4. Beautiful 3-D art! Thanks so much for the tutorial! Do you add a wire to each petal of the flower? Where do you get your stamens?

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  5. so so beautiful! Your patience and attention to detail pays off with such a beautiful creation!

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  6. You did it again Gail! Those are just beautiful!

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  7. WOW that is amazing and absolutely beautiful. Wonderful job!

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  8. Gorgeous work on the flowers they look so real and the vase is just lovely also!!

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  9. Your project turned out great! Very nice. :)

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  10. What a detailed craft! They are so realistic and look great.

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  11. Wow, all of that is foam?! Gail, you take the items that I usually toss out and make them into something beautiful. The petals look like glass, my friend :) You have created another gorgeous project and I am honored that you shared it with Roses of Inspriation - thank you!

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  12. Wow, this is gorgeous! It really does look realistic.

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  13. These are gorgeous Gail. You are a master of making realistic foam flowers. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful tutorial with Share It One More Time. Cathy

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  14. If I hadn't read the title, I'd have thought they were real flowers! So pretty. Thanks for sharing at the #HomeMattersParty :)

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  15. Wow! You always amaze me with our creativity! I would have never guessed that you made this out of styrofoam plates.

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  16. This is gorgeous, and I would never have guessed the flowers were made with craft foam sheets!

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  17. Congratulations! This post is featured over at Diana Rambles today and has been pinned in the Featured at Diana Rambles board at Pinterest. Please grab a featured button off my button page or via the post guidelines graphic. Thanks for sharing this awesome idea!

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  18. wow took me a minute to realize those weren't real flowers! totally awesome Gail! You always share the most beautiful crafts!

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  19. Holy smokes, Gail!
    Incredible crafting talent! You certainly are a master of crafting floral pieces. This one tops all others you've created yet! Just gorgeous.

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  20. Are you for real? These lilies look awesome. I feel like to give this project a go, you make it look easy in the tutorial.

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  21. This is stunning, Gail! Thanks for giving such a detailed tutorial.

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  22. You are most crafty. I love reading about your projects.

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