Protea Flower DIY - Pinterest Challenge

Welcome to the May Pinterest Challenge Blog Hop, hosted by My Pinterventures.  If you aren't familiar with the Pinterest Challenge, it's a monthly event that challenges us and you, too,  not just be pin hoarders, but to make it happen!

This post contains links to products, if you purchase something after clicking on my link I may earn a small commission to help with my craft expenses (at no extra cost to you).Thank you!

This month, I chose to create a Protea Flower.  If you follow my craft posts you know I love making all sorts of flowers out of different materials.  So naturally, I'm always on the lookout for interesting types to re-create! One such flower is the Protea. I was really taken with it's beauty and uniqueness. 

Here are a few fun facts why this flower is so interesting: First and foremost, the protea flower is from South Africa and dates back millions of years. It is considered to be among the oldest families of flowering plants on the planet. Protea plants come in different colors, shapes and sizes. The flower earned its' name after Proteus, the son of Poseidon and the striking petals that resemble a colorful crown. It is composed of many flowers grouped together inside a set of surrounding petals called bracts which actually serve to protect the true flower in the center - tepals and stamen fused together. The leaves are leathery and thick. Some commonly agreed upon meanings for the protea flower is that it represents change and hope and also symbolizes diversity and courage! Can you see why this is such a fascinating flower?

There are plenty of beautiful proteas that have been pinned. Not too many are handmade though - just a few in paper and felt. Here's a lovely pin that's handcrafted and inspired me to try my hand at creating one.

I love using foam sheets and thought this material would be perfect to make a protea flower!

Begin by gathering:

6" Foam egg

White and green foam sheets

Scissors

Soft pastel chalk 

Acrylic paints/paint brush

Paper towel sheets

Hot plate/iron

Tacky glue

Hot glue gun/glue sticks

Large faux floral stem

Protea petal and leaf templates

For the center protea flower, cut a piece of foam sheet long enough to wrap around a foam egg and also to cover the height. Next, cut narrow strips from end to end, leaving a border.

 To color, I started with soft pastels that I blended together using deep red and purple and a damp paper towel, but that took too long so I switched to acrylic paints for the rest of the pieces.

Next, place the strip ends on a medium hot plate or iron for a few seconds until they curl.

 Spread tacky glue over the foam egg and wrap the fringed strip around, shaping the curved ends up and over the pointed egg end. Let dry.

You can probably draw simple petals and leaves to cut out and paint, but here's a shortcut for you to try: Copy, paste, and enlarge the template in Word. Print and cut out pattern. Then trace outline on white foam sheets and cut out petals.  

Paint petals with acrylic colors, quickly wiping off using a damp paper towel for a shading effect.,Add extra color to tip and edges.

 Once the petals are dry, place on a medium hot plate or iron for a few seconds until petals curve naturally.

 Glue on petals using hot glue beginning with the longest length around the center flower, evenly around the base .  .  .

staggering the petal lengths in graduated sizes - long to short, filling in gaps.

Next, copy, paste and enlarge the leaf pattern in Word. Print and cut out  .  .  .

Trace pattern on green foam sheet and cut out.

 Using the tip of a narrow pen, draw on impressions of leaf lines.

 Then crumple and twist leaves with hands to flex and shape.

Hot glue leaf to base of protea flower. Push the tip of scissors through the leaf into the foam flower in the middle and twist around to make a hole. Add hot glue and insert the faux floral stem for the finished flower.

I'm loving this look!

 Really makes a bold statement .  .  . in any décor!

Thanks for stopping by!

To join next month's #pinterestchallenge, click here to sign-up ⇒ June Pinterest Challenge.

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Now let's see what other things Pinterest inspired! Head over and visit the other hosts to see what they crafted, cooked, built, or tried!

Erlene - My Pinterventures • Lauren - Mom Home Guide
Debbee Debbee's Buzz • Laurie - My Husband Has Too Many Hobbies
Marie - DIY Adulation • Julie - Sum of their Stories
Marie - The Inspiration Vault • T'onna - Sew Crafty Crochet
Pili - My Sweet Things • Debra - Shoppe No. 5
Roseann - This Autoimmune Life • Terri - Our Good Life 
Marci - Stone Cottage Adventures Leslie - Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After
Kelley - Simply Inspired Meals • Joanne - Our Unschooling Journey
Jenny - Cookies Coffee and Crafts • Gail - Purple Hues and Me
Rebecca - Hello Central Avenue • Sam - Raggedy Bits
Beverly - Across the Boulevard • Tyler - Just Enough Blush
Kristie - Teadoddles • Shirley - Intelligent Domestications
Kelli - The Olympic Nest • Lydia - Lydia's Flexitarian Kitchen
Cherryl - Farm Girl Reformed • Ola - J'adore Le Decor
Rebecca - Simple Practical Beautiful • Gwen - Geez, Gwen!
Michelle - Our Crafty Mom • Emily - Domestic Deadline
Megan - C'mon Get Crafty • Micah - Home Faith Family
Chelc - Inside The Fox Den

An InLinkz Link-up




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