Is one package of flowers ever enough? Or any embellishment for that matter. When you love a flower,it seems like there is never enough in one package. Buying more isn’t always an option. You either have to wait for the mail or time to go to the store. Ans what if they aren’t making them anymore? ( I have a tendency to decide I love something only to find it is sold out everywhere.) You could hoard it, but that sort of defeats the point. You’re supposed to use the flower, not save it.What do you do when you need that extra flower right now but can’t buy one? You do your best to make it. Today I have a resource roundup of easy, budget friendly resources for beautiful handmade flowers.
Option 1: Replicate the flower as best as you can.
These flowers are similar to the ones I love from Sassafrass. The company is no longer making scrapbook supplies so buying more is not an option. See how I made these in this tutorial I shared over at Punk Projects.
Option 2: Make dimensional flowers from a digital kit.
I don’t like flat flowers. I have adapted a technique which allows me to build dimension from several printed flowers. While these were specifically made for hybrid layouts, there is no reason you can’t make a few extras for use on traditional scrapbook layouts. You can view the complete tutorial on the Traci Reed Designs Blog.
Using punches, e-cutters or printing and cutting flowers from a digital kit are all budget friendly ways to grow your supply of flowers. You can make them in batches or make only enough to match your current project. To make your budget stretch even farther, create a flower making tool kit:
- Use scraps of patterned paper, cloth and fibers when you can. Tiny bits of ribbon and twine are often the perfect size to embellish a flower. punch or cut the flowers from odd size pieces of fabric or patterned paper. Store these by color in a divided box or in zip loc baggies. ( I store my flowers in a large tub in zip loc bags)
- Endeavor to use up partial packages of jewels or enamel dots to decorate and add dimension to the flowers. Save room in your stash by throwing away packaging and placing the small individual bits in your flower making tool kit.
- Don’t over buy punches or dies. Select a few basic flower shapes in various sizes and stick with those. It may help to make note of the types of flowers you prefer. Do you like roses and realistic flowers or do you prefer whimsical ones? If you are choosing dies, it may be helpful to look for the ones that can cut through multiple materials like cloth, cardboard and metal. If you want more variation, choose additional shapes for your e-cutter so that you won’t have to worry with taking up physical space in your craft room.
- Keep your ready made flowers and flower making supplies stored close together. This will make it easier for you to determine whether a pre-made flower will suit your purposes or whether you should make one.
There are lots more ways in which you can create and use hand made flowers. Be sure to stop my the My Scrapbook Evolution board on Pinterest for more inspiration.
Follow My Scrapbook Evolution’s board Motif-Flowers that Bloom on Pinterest.