Rose Ball Wedding Centerpiece

A rose ball wedding centerpiece is easy to make using fabric rose petals.  By using fabric rose petals you can easily determine your color scheme and add as many colors as you would like.  The floral rose wedding table centerpiece is easy to make and is gorgeous either in a vase or just placed on the table.

Supply list is from Consumer Crafts (http://consumercrafts.com):

• RC-7209-51 Purple Loose Rose Petals (2 packages)
• RC-7209-102 Silver Finish Loose Rose Petals (2 packages)
• TW05CL Clear Glass Tower Vase - 24 in
• 38002 1 1/2 in white round head corsage pin
• V35442-102 Single Rose Leaf Silver Metallic
• 01007 4 in white styrofoam balls
• VL23 Clear Plastic Faux Ice - 8 oz. Bag
• 2902-142 5/8 inch purple poly satin ribbon

Instructions:
1. Begin by inserting the ends of the fabric rose petals onto a corsage pin.  I used several purple petals and then finished with silver.

2. Next, insert the roses onto a Styrofoam ball.

3. Completely cover the Styrofoam ball with roses.  Optional: Place the rose ball onto the table as a centerpiece or continue with the instructions for larger style centerpiece inserted into a vase.

4. Wrap a large wooden dowel with ribbon and add a few metallic silver leaves.

5. Insert the wooden dowel into the bottom of the Styrofoam ball.

6. Display the rose ball in a large vase filled with clear plastic ice.

For a variation of this craft visit my Mini Roses Tutorial at Crafts Unleashed, where I am a Senior Craft Designer.

Craft Designer: Sarah Forhan
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How to Shape a Grapevine Wreath

Recently, I saw on the Martha Stewart Show a craft that involved re-shaping a grapevine wreath into an oblong.  I was watching the Martha Stewart Show because a crafty friend of mine was in the audience as a guest craft blogger.  Big shout out to Jenny from Craft Test Dummies!  I was not only thrilled watching you and following along with your tweets on the Martha Stewart Show but I was also inspired by one of the crafts that was featured. 

Hannah, a lead crafter on the Martha Stewart, showed how to embellish a wreath that was oblong shaped.  The idea of reshaping a grapevine wreath sounded fantastic to me.  Hannah suggested soaking the wreath overnight and then bending it into the shape you want.  Hannah was using smaller wreaths, I wanted to reshape a large 12" grapevine wreath which required a larger bucket of water.  I really didn't want to leave a bucket of water overnight in my home.  I have dogs and small children and I was hoping to lessen the possibility of the bucket being knocked over by doing the whole process during the day.

To begin with I placed a large bucket inside of my tub and then filled about 6" inches high with very hot water.  The grapevine wreath sheds and you will see little twigs and bark in the water.  This was not something I wanted to pour down into tub.  So make sure you do not fill the bucket so that it is too heavy and you can't carry it outside to dump it.

After a few hours of soaking I wrapped floral wire around the sides of the wreath to get the shape I wanted. 

 I soaked the wreath for another two hours and tightened the wire.  I then soak it for a final two hours tightening the wire once more.  To get my desired shape I soak it for a total of 6hrs.  I then took the wreath out of the water and let the wreath dry overnight.  I also carried my bucket of water outside and emptied it.  Success no one knocked over the water!

Once the wreath was completely dry (it took about 12hrs) I cut the floral wire off.

I then waited another day just to make sure it was completely dry and I spray painted my wreath.

Helpful Hints:
I noticed the day after I spray painted the wreath that the circular shape came back a bit.  The final shape is not as oblong as I would like.  When soaking the wreath I would really exaggerate the shape you are looking for and leave the wire on for a full 2 days of drying before removing.  


Craft Designer: Sarah Forhan
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Tutorial: Woven Ribbon Headband

I designed a detailed tutorial on how to make a braided headband.  Today, I decided to mix it up a bit and make a woven headband using the same instructions I used a year ago.  However, instead of having three separate colored ribbons I used two ribbons that were the same color and one that was a coordinating color. 

To make the woven headband follow the braided headband tutorial, however, the single colored ribbon should always be one of the ribbons that wrap around the back of the headband along with one of the other colored ribbon.

I used a headband that was wider than the one in the original tutorial because the headband tapers at the edges I wove my ribbon very tightly and kept it very close together.

Craft Designer: Sarah Forhan
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Baby Shower Centerpiece

Recently, I made several table centerpieces for my cousin's baby shower.  They came out so great I had to share.  To make the chocolate ribbon roses I used a tutorial I had designed years ago for Valentine's Day.  However, instead of using just one color ribbon I used two.

I made a total of twelve chocolate ribbon roses for each centerpiece.  I added the roses and greenery into mason jars. Helpful Hint: I used recycled mason jars.  We eat Classico Spaghetti Sauce that always comes in large mason jars.  I never throw them out I just rinse and save them.  

To finish the centerpiece I attached ribbon around the mason jar and added a sheer bow.  I made my sheer bows by using my Mini Bowdabra.  All the ribbon I used can be purchased at Bowdabra's Ribbon Crafts & Things Store.  I found the little pink bird clips at a Michael's Craft Store.  The bird's had little alligator clips that I just attached to the front of the bow.

These centerpieces not only worked great for a baby shower but I think would look great at an Anniversary Party, Wedding Reception, Sweet 16 Party, or other formal gatherings.

Craft Designer - Sarah Forhan
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How to Make Tissue Paper Flowers

For the last couple of days I have been trying to re-create Martha Stewart's Tissue Paper Pom Poms, easily and quickly.  Using my Bowdabra I created fun quick multi-colored tissue paper pom poms.  The step-by-step instructions for my tissue paper pom poms can be found at Sandy Sandler's blog (I am a guest writer and my detailed instructions along with pictures are there.)

For my readers here at Sewing and Crafting with Sarah, I designed easy tissue paper flowers, again using my handy dandy Bowdabra.

Materials:
4 Sheets of Tissue Paper
Bowdabra
Bowdabra Bow Wire
Faux Long Flower Stem
Long Fluted Vase
Scissors

Instructions:

To begin with I placed my Bowdabra Wand into the towers of my Bowdabra to widen the opening.  I found if I didn't widen the opening the tissue paper tore.  Then fold a 24" piece of Bowdabra Bow Wire in half and place into the Bowdabra.

Next, I took four standard sized tissue papers all the same color.  I folded them in half length wise and then width wise several times.  Then, I just quickly added some scalloped edges to the tissue paper. 

Then open the tissue paper up and cut in half, you will now have 8 layers of tissue paper.  Helpful Hint:  Use really sharp scissors to get through all the layers of tissue paper.

Now, slowly start to feed the tissue paper into the opening of your Bowdabra.

Start to fold the paper in an accordion shape down into the Bowdabra.  Place all the tissue paper into the Bowdabra.

Once tissue paper is completely in the Bowdabra, thread the Bowdabra Bow Wire through the loop that you made when you folded it in half.  Pull the wire tightly.  Take the tissue paper out of the Bowdabra and tie it in the center.

Next, using sharp scissors cut along the folds that were formed when you placed the tissue paper into the Bowdabra.

Turn the paper over and cut the folds on the other side.

Slowly, begin to separate the pieces of tissue paper move some to the left and others to the right.

Attach the tissue paper to a floral stem either by tying it onto Bowdabra Bow Wire or by gluing it onto the stem.

Place the flower into a long fluted vase.

Related Articles: How to Make Tissue Paper Napkin Rings

Craft Designer - Sarah Forhan
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How to Cut Styrofoam

Day 4 of National Craft Month!

Styrofoam is a wonderful craft tool for floral arrangements, but how do you cut it? Cutting Craft Styrofoam really depends on how thick it is. For thicker Styrofoam an electric knife (you know the kind you would use to cut the turkey at Thanksgiving) works great. For thinner Styrofoam, ones that are only one inch thick or less, a serrated bread knife works awesome.

First, begin by tracing out your pattern on a scrap piece of paper.

Next, mark your pattern onto the Styrofoam with a blunt instrument, I used a metal chopstick but the tip of a paint brush would work well, also.

Begin by cutting the straight edges first. To not damage your work surface-be sure to use a cutting board or cutting mat.

To finish the design slowly cut the curves of the Styrofoam running your knife along the edge at an angle.

Several pieces of Styrofoam can be glued together or even stacked one on top of the other to form a design.

To purchase the Styrofoam seen here along with other sizes visit Consumer Crafts.

This weekend only at Consumer Crafts 

Saturday, March 5th, 2011 and Sunday, March 6th, 2011