Keeping With The Times

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Paper Flowers DIY

March 8, 2016 by Barb 11 Comments

Inspiration to create my own vintage book paper flowers came after visiting a beautiful (but expensive) little shop in my hometown.

As I was browsing their display of silk flowers and branches, I spied a paper bunch for only $20.00 … eek! and there were exactly 4 per bunch! Needless to say, it took me a nano second to figure out how I could make my own version for $0.00.

PLUS … would you believe it … just that very morning I had salvaged about 5 old Reader’s Digests from our local “take it or leave it” which is to say “take it or leave it and it goes into the dump.” Hmmm, yes … my name is Barb and I’m a dumpster diver … and that is another story … oh hey, maybe you’d like to read about my Rustic Photography Background which also came from said dump.

Anyway, I couldn’t wait to get home and start creating.

Sometimes it pains me to rip up a book, sometimes it doesn’t …Vintage Book Paper Flowers DIY, Keeping With the Times, Barb BrookbankIt’s funny how things go … I needed a craft idea, not for any other reason than I was missing working with my hands, and voila, it appeared, seemingly out of nowhere. And did you know that March is National Craft Month? how cool … and serendipitous …Vintage Book Paper Flowers DIY, Keeping With the Times, Barb BrookbankVintage Book Paper Flowers DIY, Keeping With the Times, Barb BrookbankI thought they’d make lovely toppers for presents …Vintage Book Paper Flowers DIY, Keeping With the Times, Barb BrookbankI purchased a tiny cardboard box from Michaels, tied twine around it, and topped it with a flower …Vintage Book Paper Flowers DIY, Keeping With the Times, Barb BrookbankI love how they look in vintage glass jars. For this flower, I didn’t crumple the petals:
Vintage Book Paper Flowers DIY, Keeping With the Times, Barb Brookbank

Here’s a quick little tutorial for you!

Vintage Book Paper Flowers

Use a punch, or simply cut 5 circles of varying sizes for each layer.

Here I used three different sized punches … I have a thing for punches and believe wholeheartedly that a person cannot have too many punches :)Vintage Book Paper Flowers DIY, Keeping With the Times, Barb BrookbankGently crumple each circle, but be careful because the paper is fragile. Also, you can try making some without crumpling the paper—they’re pretty too.Vintage Book Paper Flowers DIY, Keeping With the Times, Barb BrookbankGently uncrumple:Vintage Book Paper Flowers DIY, Keeping With the Times, Barb BrookbankFold in half, pinching only the bottom of each circle:Vintage Book Paper Flowers DIY, Keeping With the Times, Barb BrookbankUsing white glue, fold and pinch to glue the bottom of each circle together:Vintage Book Paper Flowers DIY, Keeping With the Times, Barb BrookbankGlue the petals of each layer together. White glue works better than a glue gun since it allows for readjusting the petals:
Vintage Book Paper Flowers DIY, Keeping With the Times, Barb BrookbankGlue together, off-setting each layer:Vintage Book Paper Flowers DIY, Keeping With the Times, Barb BrookbankPoke a hole through the middle using a strong toothpick or a skewer. I switched to a wooden skewer which was a lot stronger. Insert a piece of heavy florist wire, and bend the end over to keep it in place. Later, when you add a button with the glue gun, it will secure the wire:Vintage Book Paper Flowers DIY, Keeping With the Times, Barb BrookbankWrap the stems with florists tape:Vintage Book Paper Flowers DIY, Keeping With the Times, Barb BrookbankGlue a vintage button onto the paper flowers for the perfect centre:Vintage Book Paper Flowers DIY, Keeping With the Times, Barb BrookbankPIN IT:
Vintage Book Paper Flowers DIY, Keeping With the Times, Barb Brookbank

Filed Under: DIY AND CRAFTS Tagged With: crafts, paper flower, vintage

Vintage Tin Jelly Mold Star Wreath

December 4, 2013 by Barb 28 Comments

Here’s the scoop on how I created this vintage tin jelly mold wreath!

Once again as I was browsing my favourite junque store, I came across a treasure! Sitting in a cupboard (I think it was hiding) sat this wonderful old tin jelly/cake mold and it was shaped like a star… a star, people! And what time of year is it?? and what could I possibly do with a star?? perhaps put it on a wreath?

vintage tin jelly mold wreath

After I got it home, it sat on the counter for a week as I pondered how I was going to make this thing work.

I thought about making a twiggy wreath, but it’s so darn cold here I couldn’t bear the thought of going out into the bush to gather branches, so I bought a fresh pine wreath instead.

To attach the star (mold), I made the quick executive decision to not bother even trying to hide the (kite) string that I used. It somehow seemed to fit.

Thinking hard about what would go with a kitcheny (kitschy) theme, I suddenly thought of all the vintage spoons I’d collected… I giggled the whole time while I was arranging them.

You see, a long time ago, I took a course in floral arrangement and I reminisced about all the effort our instructor had put into teaching us how to create pretty sprays. I wonder what she would think of this? I don’t think she had spoons in mind…

Vintage Tin Jelly Mold Wreath

I gave some poppy seed heads a very light spray of silver paint, and simply stuck them into the greenery.

Vintage Tin Jelly Mold Wreath

Vintage Tin Jelly Mold Wreath

It now has a place of honour on our front door.

Vintage Jelly Tin Mold Wreath

Ummm, yes, on this particular day we were under a “winter storm warning”, a “heavy snowfall warning”, and a “blizzard warning”. Our forecasters covered all the bases.

Vintage Tin Jelly Mold Wreath

Isn’t she lovely?

Vintage Tin Jelly Mold Wreath

I hope you are having a wonderful season, and are having as much fun as I am!

Thank you for stopping by!

 

Filed Under: DIY AND CRAFTS, HOME DECOR Tagged With: home decor, junk, junque, vintage, wreath

Welcome! I'm Barb, and this is where I practice my mantra to "learn something new, try something different". It's my hope that something I do here may inspire you! Read More…

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