Thursday 27 September 2012

Kusudama Flower Ball


On Saturday we had our monthly craft group meeting and for this session Sandra took charge with a mystery project.  She showed us how to fold a square of paper so that it formed a petal for one of the flowers in a kusudama flower ball.  Each flower has five petals and twelve flowers make a ball.  I only made a few petals during our crafting session but was determined not to let another project go in to the UFO (unfinished object box) so continued folding squares at home until the sixty needed were folded. 

Then began the slow process of gluing and drying as firstly the sixty petals were glued together to make the flowers and then the twelve flowers glued together to make the ball. Patience paid off and after a few gluing sessions the ball was completed.


The papers used to make the ball were from a bag of Scrapbooking paper bought from Costco.  To get a set of uniform squares for folding each one was cut using a Spellbinders die.  In the centre of the flowers is a quilled flower cut using the Marianne die English Rose.  A stick pin pearl was added to the centre of the quilled flower.  The ribbon trims used are Stampin' up's Chocolate Chip and Very Vanilla grosgrain ribbon.  Here are views of the top and bottom of the ball.  A Spellbinder circle die and the 3/4" circle Stampin' up punch were used to make the flower centres to thread the ribbon through.



As well as showing us how to make these flower petals Sandra also brought along kits for us to make a telescopic snowman card.  I've been wanting to make one of these style of cards after seeing them on Erika's blog.  Erika is a demonstrator for Spellbinders dies and Personal Impressions stamps and our group like to go to her demonstrations at the Papeterie when she comes through to Aberdeen.  On Saturday Norma brought along at least six lovely cards which were created using inspiration from Erika's last two visits.  It would have been lovely for Erika to have seen them so she could know how worthwhile we find her visits.

Folded Snowman


Unfolded Snowman


I cased decorating my snowman from Ruth at Flower Sparkle.  I'm not sure what Sandra used to cut all the pieces for the snowman but I do know that the eyes and arms were cut using the Memorybox twigs and berries die and the decorative circle was a Nellie Snellen flower circles die.  The three pieces of the snowman swivel on the brad for his mouth and the  lowest star brad on his body.  The verse was stamped using a Hero Arts stamp and the snowflakes were from the Stampin' up set Serene Snowflakes.

These projects kept us busy all afternoon and along with tea, Janet's lovely lemon drizzle cake and cream sponge and a catch up on our news I think a productive and enjoyable afternoon was had by all.

Thanks for reading today.
Liz xx

I'd like to enter the flower ball in the following challenges

23 comments:

  1. Liz thanks so much for the "toot". I LOVE both your projects and would have too enjoyed the crafty day out especially with lemon drizzle cake, nomn, nomn.
    The snowman is just perfect as a telescopic card and I've always wanted to make those flowers but never got around to it.
    Stunning work, happy crafting, hugs Erika.

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  2. Wow... the flower ball is spectacular and very pretty. I love that snowman and how it 'flips out'... I may have to try that.

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  3. WOW, the flower ball is absolutely stunniung, I love it! And the snowman is fabulous too, a very clever design and a fun card.
    Lorraine x

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  4. These really are wonderful Liz. Your flower decoration is stunning and the snowman is fabulous.
    It sounds like you had a really great time.
    Hugs Sue

    P.S. Did you see we voted you in the top 3 for your baby card over at the Card Mania challenge? - Well done

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  5. Stunning flower ball Liz, pretty flowers and lovely colours. Love the cute snowman. Sounds like my craft days with friends, don't always get much done! Carolxx

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  6. Just beautiful! Thanks so much for participating in our Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge.

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  7. wow i love the flowerball, its gorgeous!

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  8. Wow the flowerball is absolutely stunning,thanks for joining in the Tuesday Throwdown Challenge and good luck
    Janet

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  9. Glad you had a great time - your flower ball is amazing!
    Kath x

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  10. wow these are both so stunning liz.fab fun snowman and your flowerball is absolutely fantastic ;D

    xx coops xx

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  11. Great snowman and flower ball, Thanks for joining us at Come and Get It this week. Lovely projects.

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  12. Gorgeous creation, I have just started making one of these balls from the Creativity magazine. xxxx

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  13. Beautifil flower ball. It is very special. Thank you for joining us at Come and Get It challenges this week.

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  14. wow Liz these are both amazing projects. I LOVE that ornament I want one lol. Craft room here I come. ;) Thank you so much for playing along with us this month at Alota Rubber Stamps.
    Hugs,
    Raven

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  15. That flower ball is stunning! And such a creative, cute snowman!

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  16. very beautiful creations!!

    Thanks for joining us at Creative Craft Challenges!!
    hugs
    xMx

    you can visit http://whenthescraphitsthefun.blogspot.com/
    for my free digis!!

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  17. Wow!! Two really beautiful projects..lovely flower ball, amazing actually...stunning even lol!! and your snowman is so cute!!
    Thank you so much for joining us this week at Make it Monday..
    Hugs,
    Marjorie
    xx

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  18. Great job folding all the flowers! It looks great. Saw this on Make it Monday!

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  19. Just fabulous, I could easily see a bride carrying one of these instead of a traditional bouquet. Saw you on MiM :o)

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  20. Hello. I spotted your Beautiful card and Ball on MIM...Faye

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  21. Two absolutely gorgeous projects - the flower ball is so elegant and I love the snowman card too.

    Thanks for joining us at Penny's.

    Helen x

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  22. Two fabulous projects Liz....I just love the flower ball. Stunning.
    Debbie x

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  23. I saw your beautiful creation on Make It Monday and had to visit and take a closer look. Gorgeous! TFS!

    My entries are: #10, #11, #86, # 120, # 122, #198, #212, #226, #261 and #268.

    I would love to have you visit my blogs: Paper and Scraps Creations by Julia and Me and Myself on the Dark…

    Hugs,

    Julia

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