Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Paper botanical creations lead to...

It all started at The Grand Marketplace, I saw this simple paper flower garland and snapped a couple of photos.

Then we spent Thanksgiving in Spokane, WA, visiting my family. While enjoying lunch at an old favorite restaurant we got to chatting with the server. One thing lead to another and he mentioned a shop called Anemone, they make paper flowers. Later that day we went to check it out.

Only it wasn't where he said it was, a bakery is there now. However...they did have paper flowers on display.

The person working the late shift knew nothing about Anemone, or the flowers.

Thankfully Google did!

But the shop was closed. Of course that didn't stop me from peering in the window.

And taking photos, even though I knew they'd be bad.

Anemone...the next time I'm in Spokane I'm so there! In the meantime they have a great webshop - check it out!

Okay, fast forward a month or so and Alison posted about her paper flower craps (not a typo) and linked to this tutorial. Then I went shopping on Amazon (used, of course) and bought a book. Hey it was January and there was no gardening in sight (rain, rain, rain, rain)...what's a gardener to do!?

The book is great, tons of inspiration. However I wasn't so much into painful recreating of realistic flowers...I was happy with the basic flower shape created in the tutorial Alison linked to. Time to get to work...

Ya, I hear you wondering..."What paper is she using?"...Don't be a hater. I've had this (very used) book for 3 years. It was falling apart when I bought it, I've framed many pages and given away more. It was time to make use of the others

I made jumbo flowers. Why? Because as you may have guessed I planned to make a paper flower wreath. And you know what? These things take time...a lot of time. I figured big ones would fill the wreath shape faster.

Of course this is me doing the creating so it's not all about the flowers, I needed to make some foliage shapes too...

It was a cloudy afternoon and I was working indoors. The colors are off considerably.

I hot-glued the flowers onto the wreath form as a place to start.

And then quickly realized if I wasn't going to hate this creation then I needed to make a few smaller flowers to intersperse with the bigs. Here's one underway...

And three of them done.

The Philodendron leaves go in...

Fast forward (taking in-progress photos can be a drag when you're in the creative "zone") to the finished project on the front door...

The green door isn't the best backdrop but still, I love it.

In addition to the Philodendron leaves there were also 3 other leaf shapes and the brown curls of what I've always called Monkey Tail Fern...I'm sure they have a botanical name but I don't know it.

The paper pages from the book were thick and brittle, which didn't lend themselves to clean cuts and folds. I don't mind.

Also I didn't manage to stick to one way of cutting and folding. Every flower is different.

I wanted to show you how tall (thick? deep?) the wreath is.

It's odd...definitely odd. But I love it.

This paper flower thing is a lot of work. I don't know how the professional florists do it (and they really do...it's a thing, and there are a lot of them).

I hope you can humor me, I've got one more idea burning away in my mind. Must. Make. After that...I think I'll be done with the paper flower thing...

All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

32 comments:

  1. Really nice work! This is something I was not familiar with at all. Paper agaves up next? :)

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    1. Andrew asked why I wasn't scheming to make paper Agaves. Perhaps I should put that on the list.

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  2. Super fun. You need to get on Pinterest....THOUSANDS of paper/fabric/felt flower ideas. Also, this local blogger makes beautiful ones:
    https://liagriffith.com/craft/craft/paper-flowers/?gclid=CNz-gqvd_MoCFQ-PaQod3gcF2w

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    1. Ya I'm on Pinterest, I'm not really feeling the love these days. They've filled my "feed" with "picked for you" pins rather than pins from the people I follow. Hate it! Thanks for the link to the local!

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  3. I love how this turned out ! I'm worried about it's exposure to elements on an exterior door though ..

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    1. We've got a glass "security" (?) door that protects it Kathy. I wondered if there would be moisture condensation that might get to it but nope.

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  4. Wow, I've never seen anything like it. I can only imagine how long it must have taken you. Clearly Andrew isn't the only one in your family who knows how to make paper creations.

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    1. It wasn't that long, parts of two afternoons...not counting the trip to Michael's! Andrew did give me a little history on paper craft. Who knew there were people so devoted?

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  5. That wreath is absolutely fabulous! I love that you used colorful pages for your flowers, rather than plain text. I had a similar problem with brittle paper on the first one I made.

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    1. So glad you saw this post Alison - your creations nudged me further along in my desire to try it.

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  6. Oh my gosh, you're talented with paper flowers too. The skill just doesn't seem to end with you! Very impressed. As Alan says, paper agaves next?? :)

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    1. You don't see me painting, playing a musical instrument, or talking about my athletic abilities do you? Believe me, there is an end to my skills!

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  7. I love it too, Loree, and I admire the time it must have taken to create it. I saw a paper "houseplant" on-line recently and pinned it for future reference. I think you've tapped into a trend!

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    1. Definitely a trend Kris! Will you be trying your hand at it?

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  8. I have just thrown over all of my prejudices agains fake flora. I especially like the shot of the leaves and curls scattered haphazardly on your work surface.

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    1. Ha! There is something about fake that makes no apologies about it. Unlike those creepy silk flowers.

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    2. My Gram had silk roses with lightbulbs inside. Can anyone top that?

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    3. Wow...no! Well unless it was my Gramma's red silk geraniums in the red rock of her front garden. No, wait...your's still wins!

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  9. I can't believe you made that in an afternoon. It definitely looks like a lot of work but a terrific finished result. I like it against your door. I think the green emphasizes the floral quality. Should you ever want to make paper dresses, Google the name Isabelle de Borchgrave for some inspiration.

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    1. A couple of afternoons actually, and thank you! Those dresses!!! Have you seen them in person?

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    2. I have only read about those dresses.. Pretty amazing, huh?

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  10. Oooh, how fabulous! I love the printed parts peaking and weaving throughout the petals!

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    1. Thanks Fifi, me too! The professionals resort to all sorts of dip dying and painting. Me no have the patience for that!

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  11. It's way cool! I especially love that you used pictures of cacti and succulents to make the flowers.

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  12. Those look excellent! Nice job, Loree! You are so talented and patient. :)

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    1. Oh boy, I wish I could live up to the label of patient...I just don't think I qualify.

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  13. Very cool looking! I'm also wondering why there aren't paper agaves. If you do make some, please share pictures!

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    1. Oh you know I will. There are certainly plenty of metal Agaves, must be paper ones too...

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  14. Wow Loree! Your wreaths have just been taken to a whole new level. That is so cool. I love how chunky it is.

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  15. That is amazing! My friend did paper flowers for her wedding. She used a Cricut cartridge for them and we had several flower parties where we would hang out and help assemble. I have my bouquet on my desk at work :)

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  16. Haha, not much time lately and I missed this...you truly are an artist :D

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