My most recent addiction is with felt. I love the versatility of this material and am enamored with how easy it is to work with. It's a great go-to for bib necklaces, brooches, hair accessories, and appliqué pieces for your wardrobe.
I figure I'll start with making brooches - that's easy enough right?
Here's what I used:
-felt (I chose grey for this project to create a lovely monochromatic look)
-titanium scissors (love of my life scissors that will cut through anything)
-hot glue & glue gun
-brooch pin (available at most craft stores in their jewelry making section)
-pencil (for marking and pressing down hot glue areas)
Optional additions to your brooch making session include, but aren't limited to: holiday music because it's never too early, a nice cup of coffee or tea, and a little something sweet to nibble on while you are working. :)
Here's what I did:
1. Cut your felt into 3 one inch wide strips, then cut them into 1 x 1 inch squares (as pictured in bottom right hand corner of photo). The squares don't need to be cut into exact measurements - you just want them roughly the same size. Slight differences will only add to the flower's organic appeal.
Once you have cut out all of the squares, cut one side into a "soft heart" (as pictured in bottom left corner of photo). These will become your flower petals.
2. Cut out 2 matching circles or ovals of the same color felt measuring about 2 inches in diameter.
3. Cut a 1/2 x 6 inch strip of felt and fringe one side of the strip as pictured below.
4. With your hot glue gun, begin gluing the first layer of flower petals to the edge of one oval. I like to slightly overlap my petals to give it a nice full look. (Some people ask why not sew the petals on? -You certainly can sew on each petal if you are not a hot-glue fan, but I find that the hot glue helps make the backing of the brooch more sturdy in terms of keeping it's shape and form and easier to handle.)
5. Once your first layer of petals are glued on, you're ready to glue your second layer of petals around the center of your oval. Again, I like to slightly layer the petals for a fuller look.
6. Time for the fringed center of your flower! Grab the fringed strip of felt you made earlier and begin rolling the uncut side of the strip all the way to the other end of the strip.
7. Place a generous amount of hot-glue (about a nickel sized amount) to the center of your flower brooch right on top of the petals and press the uncut side of your fringed roll to the hot glue. Press the roll down into the glue to secure it to the brooch. I use a pencil to help push it down to avoid getting burned.
8. While the glue is cooling down on your flower, grab that second oval and using pencil, mark the spot where you need to create two slits to push the brooch pin through. Once you have cut the slits and put the pin in place, add a little hot glue to keep the pin stationary.
9. Hot glue the second oval with attached pin to the back of the flower and smooth out the felt so that it sits flat and flush.
10. Once the hot glue has cooled, fluff up the center fringe of the flower and you are ready to go!
Yay! You've made your own sweet little brooch!
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