Sunshine Yellow Foam Flowers DIY

"Where Flowers Bloom, So Does Hope"

                                                     - Lady Bird Johnson

One of the best things about Spring - the season of renewal - is seeing all the pretty flowers  - whether they're fresh or faux. And in these trying times if fresh blooms are not available, why not make your own! It's a wonderful way to uplift your spirits and keep yourself busy as you shelter in place!

Foam flowers are quite easy to make! You only need a few items:

• Foam Sheets
• Square templates - cardstock in various sizes (2-4")
• Scissors
• Iron
• Hot glue
• Acrylic paint (optional)

For these flowers, I used a few old packs of foam sheets I had on hand from the Dollar Tree. I don't think they sell them like this anymore but the sheets are nice and thin, perfect for flowers.

To begin, cut out the foam into squares using templates. I wanted my flowers to be rather large so I started with a four inch square, two 3 inch and two, 2" squares.  

And then folded the squares two times. 

Next, cut out a petal shape starting at one fold, curving around to the next folded side. 

Open the folded square to reveal the four petals shape. Trim petals around folds to make them more define. 

Place petal on iron for a few seconds to soften and curl the edges. 

Continue to shape petals by using the round end of a tool and pressing down in the center on a soft pillow or sponge, and twisting the edges, as if tearing. Repeat the steps for all the petals. 

To make the center bud, loosely gather one of the smallest petals, dabbing closed with hot glue. 

Cup the opposite petal and glue the edges around the first petal. 

Continue cupping the third and fourth petals around the first two and seal edges with hot glue to form the center bud.

Assemble the flower by applying hot glue to center of the largest petal and placing the next size on top. Continue attaching each petal to the center with glue in gradual sizes, staggering the petals until .  .  . 

the flower is formed. 

Isn't this beautiful! 

Cut out leaf shapes and use the tip of a phillips screwdriver to add leaf lines. 

Use scissors to serrate the edges for a realistic look. 

Soften the leaves by placing on an iron for a few seconds and then twist to shape.

Rub on acrylic paint with a damp towel to shade the leaves. 

Cut out sepals to encase the flower at the bottom the same way to make the petals, except cut a center point instead of curving. 

Then heat .  .  . 

and twist .  .  . 

and then glue on the bottom of the flower. 

They look just as pretty as real flowers!

Meet this month's co-hosts!

Across the Blvd | Purple Hues & Me

Stone Cottage Adventures | Slices of Life

Domestic Deadline | Chas' Crazy Creations

Sum of Their Stories | Cookies, Coffee, & Crafts

Coastal Bohemian

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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

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Dollar Store Crafts - Monthly Challenge Blog Hop

Welcome! 

It's that time again for our Monthly Challenge Blog Hop!

On the 2nd Monday of each month, a group of talented bloggers share their themed creations for the month, be it Upcycling, family Recipes or Dollar Store Crafts.  This month, it's Dollar Store Crafts, new or old! Everyone loves dollar store crafts so I'm really excited about this one!

It's amazing what can be created with items from the dollar store! Can you imagine making adorable centerpieces of handcrafted foam flowers with crystal-like centers in large salt shaker vases filled with pebbles?

Yes, I can and let me show you how you can, too! 
Gather the following from the Dollar Tree:

• Large Salt Shakers - 5"
• Foam Sheets - assorted colors
• Seed Beads
• Bag of Pebbles
• Hot Glue Sticks
  

You will also need:

• Floral Wire - 18 gauge
• Glue Gun
• 2" Scallop Circle Puncher or create your own circles by hand
• Scissors
• Smooth Hot Plate or Iron 
• Packing foam or bouncy/soft surface
• Wooden spoon round handle tip

1. Begin by punching out lots of scallop circles from the foam sheets. If you don't have a puncher, just make a two inch circle pattern with scallop edges. You can count the holes in the shaker tops to see how many you might need.
2. Then make slits in the circles every two scallop edges, stopping just before center.
3. Lay the foam circle on a heated plate or iron for a few seconds and

let the edges curl.

4.  Remove and lay on top of foam, pressing tip of handle down in center of circle, twisting to form flower shapes. Repeat to make more.

5.  Next, cut floral wire into 4 and 6 inch lengths.

6. Then, add hot glue to the tip of the wire, swirling the wire around so the glue won't fall off.

7.  Dip the glue tip into the seed beads, swirling it around. You can use your fingers to shape the beads around the wire while it's still in with all the beads to help with not touching the hot glue and getting burn.
*Keep a cup of ice water nearby for touching the hot glue.

8.  Remove and cautiously use your fingers to shape the beads round and let cool.  

9.  Insert opposite wire end into center of foam flower shape, pushing it toward the seed beads.

10.  Add a dab of glue to bottom of beads and press foam flower shape together to form an adorable handcrafted flower.

Love how the seed beads look crystal-like! 

11.  Fill the salt shaker containers with pebbles and screw on tops.

12.  Insert handcrafted foam flowers into top holes, curving the wires and arranging at different heights.

Then stand back and admire your lovely creations!

Be sure to visit all of the ladies' blogs for their awesome Dollar Store Crafts:

Beverly@Across the Boulevard 

 Marci @Stone Cottage Adventures  

 Laurie @My Husband Has Too Many Hobbies
Mary@The Boondocks Blog

Gail@Purple Hues and Me

Thanks for stopping by and we hope you've been inspired to make your own Dollar Store project!