When you grow, collect and look at flowers a whoooole lot…

Paper flowers 8

You start to get the funniest ideas.

Paper flowers 10

You start to see things.

Like seeing zinnias in pine cones.

Then all of a sudden flower ideas burst out of your head.

And, it's almost like eating potato chips.

After you have one, you want more and more.

Until you've eaten the entire bag.

After you make one flower, you want all sorts more.

Especially when some of the flowers look so much like paper.

Paper flowers 18

Then you realize it's almost mother's day and ideas start to swirl out of your head.

Paper flowers 11

I happen to like simple crafts.

Instant gratification.

I also happen to looooove crepe paper streamers for crafting with.

It's an extra bonus that they carry rolls and rolls at grocery and drug stores.

So the more I looked at the hollyhocks, especially barely unfurling blossoms or closing blossoms, I thought crepe paper streamers!

Paper flowers 3

I took a piece of streamer, folded it sort of into an accordion, then unfolded it and regathered it in a circular motion, until it looked like a little hollyhock bud below.

The image on the left is paper, on the right is an actual bud.

Paper flowers 2

I think we have an imposter in our midst!

Paper flowers 1

Then I just took some green pipe cleaners and twisted them around the base of the paper bud to hold it together.

Simple.

Nothing fancy.

Paper flowers 4

But pretty.

Paper flowers 5

I showed Mister Lovee and he couldn't tell the difference.

The only thing giving them away was the fuzzy pipe cleaner.

You could get really detailed and build the bud bottom with green crepe paper if you wanted.

But I'm okay with pipe cleaners for now.

Paper flowers 7

I think I want to make a sort of vintage looking granny chic brooch for mother's day.

Stay tuned to see what I decide to do.

But I thought I'd share them as they are for now.

So simple, but really pretty I think?

I decided to hide mine in a real hollyhock.

Paper flowers 12

They do disappear in there don't they?

Paper flowers 13

Hiding away.

Acting like they belong there.

Paper flowers 17

So, now I'll go play with some old pearls and bits and bobs of this and that.

Like I said, I have a granny chic brooch in mind, we'll see how that goes.

I love vintage crafts and this feels like it could go in either direction.

Paper flowers 6

So, I'll be over here with butterfly brains.

Hot gluing my fingers together and such.

Haha!

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I need to get more pipe cleaners in green so I can make a big bouquet too.

They could also double as carnations really.

Don't you think?

You see, these are the things I get myself into.

I'm walking over to do one thing, and before you know it I've forgotten that and I'm twisting crepe paper.

🙂

How are you?

What have you been up to?

We've had some insane rain storms here.

Greatly cherished with thunder and lightning and hail.

They said on the news that such rain in May hadn't occurred in our area for over 100 years if ever.

Pretty snazzy eh?

Good thing I had just planted a bunch more kinds of pumpkins and gourds.

Yay rain!

 

Okay, time to make more flowers.

Fill me in on your goings on, won'tcha?

 

Love, Vanessa

 

 

Sparkly heart

 

 

Ps:

Windows open.

Cold breeze, sound of rain on corrugated metal porch roof.

Hail, thunder, delicious.

We enjoyed it so.

Case in point.

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Dreaming Away.

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I lost my spot, but that's okay.

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🖤

  1. Suzanna Dunn says:

    Dear Vanessa, This is such a beautiful post, but you always do post the most lovely things. I’m enjoying the sprinkling rain and inside finishing a painting and playing with gemstones and bit and bobs waiting for them to talk to me. Was thinking that you might want to try painting some watercolors on the crepe paper and seeing if it turns out pretty too…? Thanks for sharing, Suzanna

  2. Renee says:

    I love the idea. So pretty. Gardening, planting, weeding, scanning old pictures and making prints 🙂
    I had the windows open all day while I cleaned house. I love the time of year between needing the heat on and the air conditioner on 🙂

  3. Dena Miller says:

    Absolutely Lovely Vanessa!!! I adore paper flower and will have to give these lovelies a try. Today,I spent time out in my Garden, bare footed of course…took in the delicious aroma of our Lilac Bush, planted hosta’s, and a pussy willow tree. I also found a baby rose that propagated from our original rose bush of which we lost last year. It was lovely to be outside and enjoy the earth and flowers🖤
    Much Love,
    Dena

  4. jennifer says:

    Those are the cutest little paper buds! And the color is almost identical.
    I’m in the process of planning a wedding shower in a month. So lots of fun things going on in my studio….and….I found out that I am going to be a Grandmother…so my mind is buzzing with baby ideas. Your blog inspires me….so thank you! 🙂

  5. Michelle Lindquist says:

    Okay. Due to the last set of photos, I can hardly focus on commenting on the crepe paper flowers, but . . . I will try. Sooo pretty, and YES! Very realistic! I really did have to look around in two photos in particular, to find where they were amidst the real blooms! Such a charming little project, and even though I love art, I too just adore sweet, simple crafts as well — I need both in my life, and I know you do too. Now. The last photos. I can hardly even take it. Best sleeping-Miles photos EVAH. Could he BE any more comfortable?! I think not!! Too, too funny, and sooo unbelievably precious. What an angel doggie. Thank you for posting these — they absolutely made my day. 🙂

  6. deb says:

    i have to say i’m not a fan of the green pipecleaner… i feel it cheapens the idea somehow… BUT the crepe paper is just perfect for the petal portion… i love these simple kind of crafts too…i’m going a little stir crazy without all my art and craft supplies…no creative outlet….But the good news is we close on our new house next Tuesday… This coming Saturday we are getting a hotel room for a few days to help us recover from sleeping on an air mattress for a month…uuugh… BUT there is a light at the end of the tunnel and thats really all that matters… Thankyou so much for sharing this V. They are just lovely!Hugs!deb

  7. jeanie says:

    Well, this post makes me all happy and springy! And quick and fun! It’s getting all springy over at the Gypsy, too — open windows, happy cat, lots of birds and good walks! At long last, spring!

  8. Candice says:

    Seeing your pretty flowers made of streamer and pipe cleaners reminds me of the tissue papaer Mexican flowers we made when I was a little girl. I think we made them in Girl Scouts. Sister and I made a whole bunch more to sell at Park ‘n Swap in Phoenix. As I recall, I became quite adept at making the flowers and made a bunch of cash selling them. I think I have some pictures somewhere….

  9. Misha/Dawaioser says:

    Oh my gosh…will you just look at Miles? Seriously, could a dog have a better life, I ask you? I think not. He and the “brownie” are so lucky to have you as a dog Mommy. Hahaha.

  10. Lynda Shoup says:

    I feel like every time I post a comment it starts with the word Lovely. I’m going for diversity so I’ll use the words delicious, luscious, dainty, sweet and chic. I love the colors of this post. The flowers real and disguised. It’s all so beautiful. I want to live in your photographs.
    I love the blissful look on Miles’s face.
    Your last post has me thinking of tea parties. It seems too soon to be thinking that far ahead, but when I look at the calendar….it seems I’m already late. Getting a start on my plans.

  11. Ms. Linda says:

    Oh, how wonderful, It all makes me smile and Miles, what a beautiful fury friend. I’ve been out of the loop…not really concentrating on anything….Light case of vertigo…..I’m getting better.
    Weather is such a tease…80 one day and 60 and rain the next…Everything is turning green and lots of budding going on.

  12. Jen says:

    I couldn’t tell the difference either at first! Ha! They are adorable. And oh my Miles…sleeping beauty baby boy! 🙂

  13. You are so very clever, Miss V! The crepe paper hollyhocks are so dreamy. I guess one could crimp the edges or use scallop scissors for the crepe paper petal edges too.
    After staring at anything pink, for a bit, and when one looks away, you will see green ( the contrasting or opposite color) and the same with staring at anything green for very long, you will see pink if you look away. Funny how that works. Anyway, that was one silly thought which went through my brain while looking at your handmade hollyhocks. Random thought, totally. I do love combining contrasting colors in mixed media art.
    Miles looks like he is on Cloud nine with all that coziness surrounding him. Dog bliss.

  14. Marilyn says:

    My Hollyhocks keep getting diseases, maybe I should make the fake ones!

  15. Beautiful! And adorable dog!

  16. b says:

    I show your ideas on my blog . Ths

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