Wednesday 21 October 2015

Silk Flower Crafts

Colorful silk flowers can do more than fill a vase to become a table centerpiece. Use beautiful blooms that replicate the look of flowers like roses, daisies and lilies to create an assortment of floral-themed crafts. To determine the type and amount of artificial flowers to buy, consider factors like the size of the project, color or theme requirements and potential uses for the craft.


Flower Pens


Create a bouquet for your desk by using silk flowers to turn inexpensive ballpoint pens into floral writing utensils. Make a flower pen by removing the pen cap and throwing it away. Select a silk flower like a daisy or a peony and hold the stem next to the pen so the flower rests at the top of the pen. Wrap green floral tape around the two items to bind the flower stem and the pen together. Complete the look by tying a piece of coordinating silk ribbon into a bow beneath the flower.


Refrigerator Magnets


Gather an assortment of silk flowers to make refrigerator magnets you can use at home or hand out as favors during tea or garden parties. To begin the simple silk flower craft, snip off the flower stem with sharp scissors. Try using "full" flowers like carnations and gardenias or flat blooms like Gerbera daisies or poppies. Use glue to attach a flat magnet to the back of the flower and let the adhesive dry before placing the decoration on a metal surface.


Holiday Wreath


Design a holiday wreath for each season with a 9- or 14-inch Styrofoam ring and assorted silk flowers. Create a Valentine's Day wreath by using scissors to snip the ends off of silk rose stems, leaving 2-inch stems. Coat the stem with glue and push the flower into the Styrofoam. Repeat the process until you've covered the entire wreath. Tie a silk ribbon to the top to hang the decoration on a door or mirror. Create an Easter wreath using pastel-colored flowers or a Halloween version using flowers in shades of orange, for example.


Fashion Accessories


Use silk flowers to turn fashion items like plain flip-flops or headbands into custom-made accessories with a designer touch. Pluck silk flowers like daisies or stephanotis from the plastic stems. Use a hot glue gun to affix the blooms to the flip flop straps and press plastic gems into the flower centers for added glitz. Design hair accessories like ponytail holders or headbands by using small stitches to attach silk flowers in the desired spots. Since you'll be wearing the silk flower projects, keep the blooms clean and vibrant by spritzing them with clear spray enamel available at craft stores.

Tags: silk flowers, flowers like, silk flower, flower stem, flowers turn, silk flowers turn