How to Make an Artificial Silk Flower Arrangement for Graveside Vase Insert

 

Ten stems of silk flowers will be enough for one arrangement. You can get these at the dollar store and they usually have a nice arrangement of them. Craft stores also carry silk arrangements. You can get all of the same color or ones that compliment each other.

Start with two stems and start wrapping with string. Add stems one at a time and wrap together until all the stems are wrapped with each other, then tie tightly.

I put a butterfly with the flowers. You could add a solar light or an angel, or personalize it with something that is meaningful.  

The stems all wrapped.

The inserts are a plastic vase shape that you can get at the memorial stores.

Fill the inserts with either plaster of paris or quick drying cement. Put the flowers in and hold straight till dry. A vise works good to hold straight.

The inserts are placed inside the bronze vases.

How to Paint on T-Shirts

To paint on your t-shirts you will have to buy a textile medium. You can purchase these anywhere that they sell acrylic paints.

Buy any white t-shirt, I bought shirts that would fit each of my grandkids. You will have to wash them before you start to paint on them. Don't use any fabric softener when you put them in the dryer.

You can use any drawing that you want. The easiest that I have found is if you get your pictures either from coloring books, regular books or the internet. Don't get too complicated drawings, the easier the better.

Use a black permanent felt marker to trace your pattern onto the T-shirt. Slip the pattern between the t-shirt. 

I have a glass table so I've put a lamp under the table and it easily shows up the drawing. 

You must mix the paint with the textile medium before applying the paint onto the shirts. Squeeze just a blob onto the paint and mix. When you are painting the shirts it is a good idea to slip a piece of white paper into the inside of the t-shirt, then the paint won't bleed onto the back of the shirt.

For some of my t-shirts I've used glamour dust mixed with the paint. It gives the paint a sparkle which is nice for the little girls t-shirts. When you are finished painting you can touch up the outline again with the permanent black marker.

After you have finished painting you will have to heat set them. Turn the shirts inside out and heat set for 20 seconds (make sure you slip a piece of white paper into the inside of the t-shirt because if you don't it might bleed paint onto the other side of the fabric). Wait 5 days before washing the shirts, then wash as normal.

Have fun!

Flower Arrangement for a Ladies Group

This table arrangement is fun, fast and easy. What you will need is: a purse, one rose, a cake topper shoe, bear grass and some berries.

You want to start with a purse that has a flat bottom on it so that it sits nicely on the table. Cut your rose quite short and put it in a water pik. The shoe is a cake topper but you could use any cake topper that is for ladies. 

Tuck the rose into the purse on the side, if the rose falls you can zip up the purse to hold it. Add some berries or other flowers beside if you like.

Tie some bear grass into a bow and tuck into the other side of the purse.

There you have it, this is a fun project if you are wanting a table arrangement for a ladies group.

The Gourd Festival

We were so fortunate to be able to go to the gourd festival this year. There are so many talented people who have made gourds into beautiful works of art. Until now, I had never heard of making gourds into art, but when I saw all the gorgeous pieces I thought that I would like to give it a try (someday). Here are some pictures that I took while at the festival. Maybe it will inspire you like it did me.

Making a Girraffe Out Of Paperclay

Making this paperclay giraffe was so much fun! You can purchase the paperclay from any craft store. I used aluminum foil for the body and head and wire for the legs and neck. Roll the aluminum foil into a fairly solid ball and poke the wire into the aluminum foil and glue. Wrap the paperclay around the aluminum foil to form the body. As it dries it will crack some, but you can fill in the cracks with more paperclay and after it is dry you can file smooth with a nail file. You will know when it is dry because the clay will not be cold anymore, now you are ready to paint, varnish and embellish. I used false eyelashes, wool for the neck and horns and embroidery floss for the shoelaces.

Place Table Sparkle

 

Here is a quick and easy way to sparkle up the dinner table.

 

 

The sparkle band has an adhesive back on it that I purchased from Michaels. Measure and cut the length you need.

 

 

You can use any flowers that you like. If you want to mix it up, use tea lights in some of them.

 

 

Flower Arrangement in a Cupcake

 

 

For this arrangement I found a plastic cupcake holder and tiered cupcake plate in the dollar store. To start the arrangement place some wet foam into the cupcake holder and tape down with floral tape.

 

I bought a package of miniature carnations. That is all you need, you don't need to get any greens with this arrangement.

 

 

Start by inserting the mini carns. into the side of the foam.

 

 

Go all around inserting the carns as you go.

 

Fill any gaps that you missed.

 

Put the birthday candles on top. I think it is quite cute.