How to Make Whimsical Fabric Flower Hair Clips

How to Make Whimsical Fabric Flower Hair Clips? You just need a little fabric, some hair clips, and a flame.

Materials for Fabric Flowers:

• synthetic fabric in whatever colors and styles catch your eye.  I used 1/8th of a yard each of five different types of complimentary fabrics, some sheer, some opaque.
• a candle
• scissors
• something for the center of the flower.  I used Swarovski crystals, but rhinestones, buttons, sequins, anything would work.
• needle and thread (or glue, if you prefer)

Instructions for Making Fabric Flowers

First, cut your fabric into circles of varying diameters.  Don't worry about being precise, or getting the circle perfect.  Really, you can just freehand it and be awfully sloppy about your cutting technique.  Put your kindergartner on the task and it will be just fine.  It's that easy.  I want to make a quick comment about the type of fabric here.  You really need to be sure that you get completely synthetic material.  No cotton or silk can sneak in there, or the technique won't work.  I found a great selection of shiny synthetics in the formal dress section of Joann Fabrics.

Next, light your candle.  Hold the cut edge of your circle close to the flame, and you will see it start to melt and curl.  This is what we want!  (I had total flashbacks to my 4th grade science fair experiment on flammability of synthetic versus natural fabrics when doing this step.)  Melt and curl all the edges, and you'll have not only sealed the edges from fraying, but you'll have a perfectly shaped layer for your flower.

Stack the circles so that you have a nicely layered flower. Again, this is incredibly easy. I put my first-grader in charge of this job. There are no real rules, just stack from biggest to smallest, and you'll have a beautiful flowers.

Use a needle and thread to secure the stack of petals and to sew any center in the flower if you want to. You could also easily use glue to stack the layers together and glue a center in the flower if you want a completely no-sew project.

Glue the completed flower to a headband, a pin, or a hairclip for an easy and gorgeous accessory.

Source: http://tradewindtiaras.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-to-make-whimsical-fabric-flower.html

Read More

Fruit and Vegetable Carving - What is it?

Welcome to the wonderful world of fruit carving. Whether you’ve considered hosting an elaborate event or a simple party amongst friends, fruit carving will be sure to be a hit. With the latest trend of theme parties increasing, the art of fruit carving can bring that extra special pizzaz to your party. The fruit you carve can create fanciful centerpieces for your parties at a fraction of the cost that expensive caterers or party planners would charge. You’ll save on both the cost of food and decorations. For occasions such as baby showers, bridal showers, weddings, birthday parties, or just a fun night with the friends, there are many creative fruit carving ideas that will impress your guests.

What is fruit carving?

Fruit carving is the art of carving and shaping fruit into intricate designs to create an elaborate centerpieces or food holders for parties. Made popular by Asian cuisine creators, fruit carving explores the creative realm of using food as decorations. Carve a watermelon basket and use as a fruit bowl. Create a pineapple flower bouquet display and place in a vase as a centerpiece. Make a cantaloupe boat for the kids. Whatever the occasion, your friends and family will be glad you did.

How to get started?

First, pick a theme. Having a luau? Make little hula girls on pineapple surf boards. A baby shower? Create a watermelon baby stroller to use as a serving bowl for fruit. A safari themed party? Make giraffes with skewers and place strawberries, mangoes, and grapes on them. Can’t think of a theme? Do an online search. There are fruit carving ideas available. Because of this recent craze, books on fruit carving, articles, and websites provide frequent how to articles and, often times, will show you a step by step plan to create the shapes you want to carve out of the fruit. Carving watermelons are usually the easiest to begin with because of their size, firm rind, and soft center. Most novice fruit carvers choose to begin their carving journey there.

Once your theme is chosen you will need to choose a variety of fruit. Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, pineapple, grapes, kiwi, oranges, strawberries, blueberries, or any kind of fruit that doesn’t brown easily (such as apples, bananas, or avocadoes) work wonderfully for edible centerpieces.  Utensils like ice cream scoopers, a sharp knife, a cutting board, skewers, and tooth picks should all be set up ahead of time.  Readying your supplies ahead of time will aid in creating easy to make, elaborate fruit carved masterpieces.

How long will it take?

Like with any skill, fruit carving takes time to perfect. Practice, practice, practice. Do not wait until the morning of a big party to begin your first carving project. Practice ahead of time making strawberry and pineapple flowers to dip in chocolate for your family one night for a special dessert. Or, make a watermelon fruit basket to bring as a gift to your neighbors to say thanks for being a great neighbor. The more you practice the more confident you will become in your fruit carving abilities. The more confident and adept you become, the less time consuming your fruit carving projects will be.

Whether beginning fruit carving as a hobby, to impress friends and family, or as gifts to others, you will be glad you did. It’s a simple and inexpensive craft to undertake. It will make others feel like you’ve taken the extra time to make them something special and will show them you care. Carving fruit into fun shapes will be sure to make you a hit at any party.

Read More