St. Patrick's Day Centerpiece

When I think of St. Patrick's Day I immediately think four leaf clovers, gold, and green. I try never to think about those creepy little leprechauns! They give me the chills!

I wanted to design a table centerpiece that would look cute on my table without blocking anyone's view. I hate those big centerpieces that don't let you see anyone else at the table. I wanted something simple and fun.

Materials Needed:

• Foam Green Discs Item #01071P
• Silver Tulle Item #2913-25
• Apple Green Tulle Item #2913-41
• Pearlized Stamens Item #02PFS-21-P
• Corsage Pins 2.5″ Item # 38006
• Silver Bowdabra Bow Wire Item # BOW3060
• Brass Head Pin Item #1880-12
• Green Seed Bead Item# 1101-43
• Double Gypso Faux Flower Spray Item #DS-104-00
• Florist Wire Lime Item #1186-51
• 24 gauge Jewelry Wire Item #32030-4

Instructions:

1. I began by following the Tulle Flower Tutorial to make four green and silver tulle flowers. Please note I omitted the floral leaves.

2. Next, I used the Cutting Styrofoam Tutorial to cut 4 hearts and a clover stem. I then glued the pieces together with tacky glue, and let dry. I used the tacky glue liberally and waited an entire day for it to dry.

3. Once the glue was dry I used a hot glue gun to attach green ribbon around the edges of the clover. The hot glue worked really well to attach the ribbon to the Styrofoam, however, experiment first with a scrap piece of Styrofoam because often the hot glue will melt the Styrofoam. When using the hot glue run a thin bead of glue along the Styrofoam and immediately attach the ribbon.

4. Now, place the tulle flowers into the center of the Styrofoam clover. Then using white petals that you disassembled from a faux flower spray (item #DS-104-00) attach them to the Styrofoam using brass head pins threaded with small green seed beads.



5. Place the small flowers with bead centers around the entire floral arrangement.



6. Next, form a clover from the lime green florist wire. Forming the clover is a delicate process. First, begin by unraveling several feet of the wire and then slowly start to form the clover. To form the indents on each clover petal use something hard like the edge of a screw driver. Complete the clover by wrapping the floral wire with jewelry wire and small green seed beads.



7. Finish the arrangement by inserting the wire clover into the center of your arrangement. Place the floral arrangement on your table as a St. Patty's Day Centerpiece.




Original Post Published at Crafts Unleashed by Sarah Forhan
Follow on Twitter @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
Follow on Twitter @sarah_forhan
Sewing & Crafting with Sarah on Facebook

National Craft Month Day 2 - Decorating Your Banister

I love to decorate my banister according to a current holiday or season.  First and foremost, I want something that I can easily put up and take down without ruining my banister.  Secondly, I want something that just makes me happy every time I see it!

I am a Bowdabra designer and I use my Bowdabra to make all of my bows.  I decided to make some simple loopy bows first, next stack some green wire garland on top to form a four-leaf clover, and lastly I added a green pom pom for the center.  The greatest thing about this bow is that I was able to make it all in one easy step inside of my Bowdabra.

1. To begin cut and dove-tail the ends of two strands of ribbon long enough to fit the length of your banister, with tails hanging down.

2. Next, place a 24" strand of Bowdabra Bow Wire folded in half into the Bowdabra.  Then place the two ribbons into the Bowdabra at the spot that you want your first bow to be located. 

3. Then using the same ribbons or coordinating ribbons make several loops using the Bowdabra to hold it all in place.

4. Then using green wire garland place it into the Bowdabra so that you have two loops.  Place more wire green garland into the Bowdabra to form two more additional loops for a total of four wire loops.

5. Next, place a green yarn pom pom in the center of the Bowdabra.  Yes, the yarn pom pom fits great into the Bowdabra!  It makes the perfect centerpiece for your bow!

6. Scrunch the bow down with your Bowdabra and then tie it all together with your Bowdabra Bow Wire.  Thread the two Bowdabra Bow Wire tails through the wire loop and pull tightly to hold your bow firmly together.

7. Take the bow out of the Bowdabra and twist and tie the Bowdabra Bow Wire.  Fluff the bow and form the garland clover.  To form the clover; take each garland loop and place it north, east, south, and west.  Next, press with your finger into the center of the garland wire forming a heart.

8. Make an additional bow for the other side of the banister.  Place the ribbon tails into the Bowdabra at the point you want to start your next bow.

9. Attach your bows to the banister using the left-over Bowdabra Bow Wire on the back of each bow.

Stay tuned tomorrow for another post for National Craft Month.

National Craft Month Day 1 - Yarn Kites

National Craft Month!  A entire month dedicated to crafting; really what could be better.  Each day for the month of March I will be posting a new craft.  I invite you to join me each day to see what craft I will be featuring.

For today, March 1st, I will be featuring Yarn Kites.  This is a really simple craft that is perfect for adults and children.  It is one of those crafts I pull out on a whim because it is always materials I have on hand.  It always seems to entertain my children, and myself!

Materials Needed:
Yarn
2 Dowels
Scissors

Instructions:

STEP 1:

Mark the center of each dowel and then tie them together in the form of an "X" using yarn, leave the yarn on its spool. They should be tied firmly together.

STEP 2:
Using the tail of the yarn, place the yarn to your left. Next, loop the yarn around the front of the dowel and continue to loop around each dowel the same way.

STEP 3:

Continue looping the yarn around the dowels. If you would like to change yarn color just tie one end of the yarn to the other.