4/22/09

Flower Clips Tutorial

It's FLOWER CANDY! I could EAT it all! Power to the flower, girls. And just in time for May Day! (whatever May Day is...) But how fun to give one to each of your friends on May Day!

So apparently BIG FLOWER accessories are all the rage right now and I've seen these all over the place. Naturally, on account of my need to fit in at all costs, I had to make my own.

You can clip them in you hair, clip them on a purse, glue them on a skinny headband, or clip one on your shirt as a brooch - the possibilities are endless. UH-DOR-ABLE.

I have no more words.





















































Okay - so you'll need a few supplies. Flowers, buttons, sparklies, etc., and whichever clip you're going to use. I prefer the "aligator" clip - the top one - simply because they're SO versatile. I get mine at "Ribbons and Bows, Oh My!".

DON'T FORGET TO PLUG IN THE GLUE GUN!


















First I wanted to show you that if you're loving your purchased flower just the way it is and you don't want to take it apart, you can remove the middle, glue in something pretty there, and add your clip to the back and be done.



Just make sure you clip off the stem before you glue the clip on.


































Otherwise, take ALL of your flowers apart, throwing away all of the plastic pieces. You don't need 'em.





Now is where it gets really fun. You get to totally play!! Using the larger petals on the bottom, play with your colors, shapes, and designs until you get something you love.

Once you're satisfied, turn them upside-down and work from the bottom. Lay the bottom piece down, add a little glue around the middle, and stick the next piece on top of it. Keep going on this way until you've got your flower all glued down.










If your bottom petals are too floppy, add a drop of glue to them and press them to the middle petals.


Now you're ready to finish off with a middle sparkly.












If you choose a button with a back on it, I'd suggest cutting it off somehow. Otherwise, you can sew the button to your flower with a needle and thread *carefully* because you have dried glue to deal with. I will guarantee that you'll loose your sparkle button if you try to hot glue that knobby end to the middle of your flower - unless you use 5 glue sticks to make a giant mound of glue! (eww. don't do that.)

To make a covered button, you'll need this handy little kit from your craft store. Covered buttons are SO cool. I think you should get this kit just so you can make one and use it on something random!

The back of the packaging has good directions but I'll show you here, as well.





I wanted a specific part of my fabric scrap to be in the middle, so I held my button there while I cut around the fabric.






Then you put the fabric inside the little rubber mold thingie - and put the button piece in the middle of the fabric. Trim up the edges of your fabric a little bit to prevent bulging.





Press everything together with the tool and you have a custom-made button!!!







I tried using felt to secure my clip to the flower but I like using this method instead. (The felt was making my hair slip out of the clip!)

Using a small flower, put your clip right in the middle of one of the notched areas. You're going to put glue on the petals and the back of the clip, securing it to the big flower.

Make sure you're able to open the clip before the glue dries - sometimes the glue can leak and make everything stick together.

















Now it's totally secure and WON'T slip. (and it's a cute way to finish off.)









I'm crazy in love with this green and white one! I love green! And, apparently, everybody is going green nowadays, so I guess I am, too.










ENJOY your clippies!!!

52 comments:

Jaime said...

umm... I really LOVE your blog (I found it one time searching for an apron tutorial) and cannot wait for this tutorial. I have been seeing these cute flowers around, but haven't attempted making my own just yet. Anyway, thought I would say "hello".

Trisha said...

LOVE IT!!!! I am so ripping this idea!!!!

Montserrat said...

Oh yes! Tutorial please!!! I've been wanting to do this hairstyle but don't have a big pretty flower.

Welcome to the Garden of Egan said...

So very darling! I can't believe how cute you are wearing the big flower!

Kristin said...

Wow! I love them, and cannot wait for the tutorial!

Melissa at Perry Jayne said...

SO very cute. Can't wait for the tutorial.

Amanda said...

oh my heck i LOVE these. i happen to be going to michaels today maybe i should find some flowers and clips to make my own. i can't wait for the tutorial!

Christina said...

These are fabulous. My daughter is standing behind me oohing and ahhing.

Look forward to the tutorial.

Lynaya said...

I have fallen in love with the flower clips. I have a really hard time finding the right flowers. I really like the covered button that you put in the middle of them. I will have to try that when I find some more flowers.

Dawn said...

So cute! I will be checking back for this tutorial!

mandbrid said...

These are too cute! Can't wait to see the tutorial...

Tami (Pixeltrash) said...

Awesome tutorial! Love those flowers and I have been having fun making those exact covered buttons. I'd love to wear a great big flower!

Tami

Rae said...

Ultra-fabulous!!!

Amy said...

Thanks so much for posting the tutorial so quickly. Read the tease post earlier in the day and thought making one of these for a baby shower this weekend would make a great game prize. Thanks, thanks, thanks!

Poulsen Family said...

Very cute!

Anonymous said...

I have noticed how popular these flowers are right now. I love the tutorial, I think I am going to make one for each of my girls.

Kari Sweeten said...

Thanks again for letting me feature you! You're so creative!

The Cairns Family said...

I love your tutorial I bought a button cover kit but I can not find cute flowers any suggestions? Thanks!

Abby said...

Hi Cairns! Pretty much any flower will work. Of course, craft stores will have the best but when you dress up any of the flowers you can find, they'll do the trick just fine.

Sawyers Family said...

I am the Enrichment Leader in my ward (not counselor) and I wish I was 1/2 as creative as you are! I love the flowers and have been wanting to do them for my little girl, but now it looks like BIG girls can do them, too!

michelle@somedaycrafts said...

Just found your blog and I am in love with it! I added it to my craft blog list!!! I am linking to this post (and probably a few from your archives)! Thanks!!!

Rachel@oneprettything.com said...

These are gorgeous! I can't wait to use some of my vintage clip on earrings and make some! I'll be linking to this.

Tami (Pixeltrash) said...

I just saw your tutorial on One Pretty Thing! I'm on there today too for my headband!

Congrats for being featured.

Tami

Myrnie said...

Came over from One Pretty Thing- these are fantastic! I never thought of creating franken-flowers. They're great!

Cassie said...

these are just fabulous!!

SoBella Creations said...

Great tutorial~!

Amy Jo said...

Cute! I've been making some little ones for my toddler, but havn't done anything of this size yet.

inkyfamily said...

Loving these flower clips! I want to do these as a girls camp craft and was wondering if you had any suggestions on where I could get cheap bulk orders. Thanks!

Abby said...

To Inkyfamily - (hi!) I have NO idea where to get bulk anything - definitely the Ribbons and Bows Oh My place would know how to help you with the clips, but as for the flowers, I have NO idea. I just looked up "bulk silk flowers" and found a cool place called afloral(dot)com - they look pretty good. Ebay has some, too, but I'd be very, very careful to make sure you're not getting junk. Check the comments on any seller profile to get an idea of who you're dealing with.

To Everybody - I'm glad you all like the flower clips! Now go make a bunch!

Kristin said...

I did make a bunch - 17! I linked to your tutorial on my blog, and am even giving a few a way; thanks for the great idea!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for helping me get crafty!! I need all the help I can get! I would love to know where you got those blue and green jewel things for the center of the flowers. I love them!! Thank you!!

Martha said...

How cute! Ive tried these flower clips with smaller flowers. Where do you get the flowers? ThankS!
Martha

Abby said...

Hey Girls! I got the cool shiny buttons and the flowers from JoAnn's.

Abby Lanes said...

Oh my goodness! I just found your blog for the first time. You are so super creative! I love these, and I'm headed back to the craft store right now. This sounds like so much fun! Thank you for sharing your creative idea!
~Abby

Susannah Jane said...

Your blog is adorable!The Flower Tutorial is my absolute fav!

Unknown said...

fun fun fun!
I've been seeing these around and wanting to make them... lovely!
I'll add them to my list of "to-make" links next week...

lorrwill said...

GAH!!!!!!!!!!! This is AWESOME! I have too many things I want to make already! Must make this, too!!!!!!!

Kristi M. said...

What size alligator clips do you recommend. I am ready to order some for this weekend. Can't wait to make some of these for a fundraiser.

Renae said...

This is great. We're doing a Hawaiian night theme at our family reunion and we've been talking about what craft or something we can do. This may be the ONE.

Just found your site and you have great ideas. Good luck with your calling too. Sounds like they are lucky to have you and your fun ideas.

Shayla said...

I just came over from Tip Junkie & am so excited! I've been searching for a perfect tutorial to make these & I found it here! Thanks!!!

Kim - The TomKat Studio said...

Great tutorial! I love the white flower with the green sparkly jewel! This is a trend I keep seeing more & more of...not just for little girls anymore!

Kim - The TomKat Studio said...

I posted a link to your tutorial on my blog today! (Hope it's ok!) www.TheTomKatStudio.com

FABULOUS!

rozzissweetpeas said...

GREAT TUTORIAL...thanks a million...hugs Rozzi

Ashlee said...

oh i can't WAIT to do this with some friends! you are just fab-u-lous:)

Meredith said...

You know you can buy those 2 prong alligator clips at Sally Beauty Supply for $4.99 for a box of 100? Less than the price of the website you posted. They occasionally go on sale too. So cute - thanks for sharing!!

lorrwill said...

I made one last night and wore it to my company's open house today (you can see it on my blog).
It was an undeniable hit. Thanks for this truly excellent tutorial!

Unknown said...

Adorable!! Those hair clips look so pretty! I'm not sure if I have talent to do it but perhaps I will give it a try! GREAT tutorial! Thank you so much!

Lynnea B said...

Thanks for the how to on the flowers. I saw one on a dress on Etsy that I loved, but I couldn't buy just the flower (and the dress was the wrong size). so I became determined to make my own! This really helped and even though winter is coming a few flowers never hurt anyone!

Hillary Monroe said...

Thank you so much! A friend of mine makes these all the time but hasn't ever posted on her blog how she makes them. I went to the craft store today and put together about 2 dozen flower clips. I'm in love with your site. My next project will probably be the iron-on onesies. That's just too simple to be true!
Thanks for all your hard work. I appreciate how much time RS takes out of someone and I'm so glad you've found the energy to post all of these adorable things. I can't wait to frequent your site for my next project.

Erin said...

I love the embellishments you used for the inner flower! I've been making flower hair accesories...kind of plain though. I have another idea if you want another kind of hair clip or accessory for you hair that's hand made and extremely easy! You use fabric and wrapped floral wire...you cut out the fabric into petals then glue the cut pieces of wire on the edges and then gather all the pieces together with floral tape and you can stick it behind your ear. Not good instructions here but with pictures it's easier to understand I'm sure. I learned this from some Polynesian friends. It's unique and easy to make.

Erin said...

By the way, I love following your blog. It's a great way to get ideas...I dream up all these crafts I want to make and don't have time just yet for! If you'd like ot know more about those fabric flowers, my email is: smilin_chick@hotmail.com...it's just another idea.

Syme Family News said...

Have you done the crochet headbands with flowers too for babies and children? I have the supplies, but I wasn't sure if people just attached clips to the headbands or how to attach the flower to the headband? They look so easy and great Thank you.