Hi everyone! It's Amy here today with a fun tutorial on a new paper flower embellishment idea.
I love folding paper and playing with shapes. I was recently playing with a new punch that I purchased, a heart, and in the process of folding and experimenting, I discovered a fun new flower shape that has a three dimensional "explosion" in the center. It also creates a five point pentagon shape in the middle, perfect for inserting stars, so I thought I would call it a Firework Flower! This may not be a new idea, I don't know, but I've never seen it, so it is new to me! :) These flowers are ideal for upcoming Fourth of July party pages, birthdays, picnics, or even maybe some outerspace -themed layouts with our latest collection, Rocket Age. And let's not forget cards! They would be perfect for those as well. Here's what I created with them:
Everyone Loves A Parade
**(OA Papers - Rocket Age, Modern Homemaker, Seaside)**
Do you want to learn how to make these festive firework flowers? Well, let's get started!
First you need:
1) A Circle hole punch (mine is 1.5")
2) Heart Punch (Mine is approximately 1.25" wide)
3) 1 sheet of double-sided patterned paper (I used OA: Rocket Age:All Systems Go)
4) 1sheet of patterned paper (does not need to be double sided - I used OA: Rocket Age:Black Hole)
5) Adhesive pen
6) (OPTIONAL) Sewing Machine
For one basic flower all you need it one punched circle and 5 punched, double-sided hearts. For extra dimension, punch 5 or 10 extra hearts out of the paper you punched the circle from. (I'll get to those hearts last - set those aside)
1) Take your 5 hearts and fold the bottom point up to the center point at the top of the heart. Set aside.
2) Take your adhesive pen and draw a line of adhesive around the perimeter of the circle, as close to the edge as possible, so it won't be visible.
3) Begin laying down your folded hearts around the perimeter, making sure that the flat folded edge meets the flat folded point on the next flower you lay down. Continue around the circle.
4) Nudge the hearts until they are evenly spaced around the circle, creating an even pentagon in the center.
Now, you can leave your flower as is, and simply embellish the center how you wish, or you can take it a step further and include some machine or hand stitching.
5) When you go to do your machine stitching, make sure you fold the points of your hearts back down so as not to bend them while sewing.
6) Stitch around the perimeter a couple times.
7) Open up your hearts again and you will end up with a fully secured and whimsical firework flower!
However, if you are anything like me, you might be wondering, how do I make it even MORE impactful? Well, you remember those extra hearts we punched out at the beginning? Well this is where they will come in.
8) Turn your flower upside down.
9) Apply glue adhesive to the bottom of your flower.
10) With your hearts paper upside down begin applying them, again upside down (points out) in between each of your hearts. This will create a five pointed star behind your flower, mirroring your pentagon in the center.
11) To add even further contrast, apply 5 more hearts in between those that you already did in step 10.
Now you are ready to embellish the center to your heart's content! I layered mine up in a variety of ways, even making one of my flowers the center of a large star itself!
What do you think? You going to try out some of these fun exploding flowers out yourself? I would love to see your versions! If you do, make sure you submit them to our Flickr gallery! We LOVE seeing what you've been creating!
Thanks for stopping by today, and have a wonderful day!! :D
Love these times a million!!! :) Can't wait to give it a try :)
Posted by: Lisa Westphal | July 04, 2011 at 01:57 PM
I love, love them, Amy!!! Fabulous tutorial, and gorgeous page!!!!
Posted by: Suzanne | June 25, 2011 at 09:50 AM
Adorable!!!!!
Posted by: Toni K | June 23, 2011 at 04:05 PM
These are SPECTACULAR!!! I will definitely have to give these a whirl! Thanks so much for sharing!! ;)
Posted by: Jessica R | June 22, 2011 at 02:07 PM
Very cool, I haven't seen this before!! Can't wait to try it out, thanks for sharing your wonderful creation Amy!
Posted by: Renee VanEpps | June 22, 2011 at 12:55 PM
Genious :-)
Posted by: Stine Maansen | June 22, 2011 at 06:42 AM
these are awesome. I am totally going to make some of these.
Posted by: Jennifer Findlay | June 21, 2011 at 03:12 PM
Oh goodness! I just love these!!
Posted by: Diana Fisher | June 21, 2011 at 02:03 PM
Thanks for sharing! what a fun idea! Love the layout!
Posted by: Kelly McGarry | June 21, 2011 at 01:58 PM
wow, what a great tut. tfs! xo Felicitas
Posted by: Felicitas Klink | June 21, 2011 at 01:34 PM
Wow! How do you think of this stuff, those are beautiful!
Posted by: Kendra | June 21, 2011 at 08:59 AM
awesome tutorial! thanks for the inspiration!!!
Posted by: Deanna M | June 21, 2011 at 08:26 AM
LOVE this Amy!!
Posted by: Lexi Bridges | June 21, 2011 at 08:20 AM
I love these little cuties!!!!
Posted by: susan Tutt | June 21, 2011 at 08:15 AM
Awesome tutorial!
Posted by: Marsha | June 21, 2011 at 07:49 AM
What an awesome idea! Thanks for sharing :D
Posted by: Cassie | June 21, 2011 at 07:34 AM
What a gorgeous flower. I just might have to try it!
Posted by: Becky Williams | June 21, 2011 at 07:22 AM
I LOVE your firework flower - and it's defintiely new to me too!! Thanks for the great tutorial and FAB inspiration! bx
Posted by: b | June 21, 2011 at 06:34 AM