Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Protea Flower DIY - Pinterest Challenge


Welcome to the May Pinterest Challenge Blog Hop, hosted by My PinterventuresIf 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.

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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20 comments:

  1. Gail, this flower is so gorgeous. What a unique flower. You have captured it’s beauty perfectly. Love your creativity.

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  2. You are amazing! You have such great vision and talent! That looks so pretty!

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  3. I always look forward to your paper flowers, these are amazing and so realistic. Beautiful!

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  4. Wow, that's stunning!!!! I thought it was a watercolor at first I had no idea, I have a Cricut Explorer 2 and I'm so frustrated. I wanted to make flowers like the one you did. I'm so impressed.

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  5. Oh my goodness, that is extraordinary! I didn't realise it wasn't real at first glance. Very Very clever.

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  6. Oh my! This will be the go-to DIY for protea flowers on Pinterest! It is so very real-looking. Thanks for the detailed instructions (and shortcuts).

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  7. Wow, this is truly a work of art! What an incredible gift it would make for some lucky person.

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  8. That is beautiful! You always have such neat crafting projects. Pinned.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for sharing with us at the Summer Fun Linky Party.

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    2. I picked your post as one of my features of the Summer Fun party. Thanks once again for sharing with us.

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  9. This looks fabulous. It is so lifelike.

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  10. I had not heard of this flower so I am happy to have learned something new. Your crafts amaze me and this one is just that, amazing!

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  11. Wow I had no idea foam could be painted and heat treated to make it curl! This is wonderful!

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  12. Wow! You are so creative, an artist! This turned out beautifully! I am so impressed :) Great work!

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  13. This is absolutely beautiful! Artistry at its finest.

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  14. Beautiful! You really captured the essence of the flower & had a great tutorial. Pinned!

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  15. Wow! This is really beautiful - I thought it was real!

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  16. That really turned out lovely. I love that you were able to use a hot plate to get the leaves to curl. Very neat project. Pinned.

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  17. I may be good at furniture Gail but you have the patience to make these little masterpieces. Look at all those little pieces how you paint them and then glue them all together. I am awed by your persistence and patience, and it is so worth it in the end. It turned out beautiful.

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  18. You have such a way with the foam! I really enjoy all the foam projects you share.

    Alexandra
    EyeLoveKnots.com
    OnRockwoodLane.com

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