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

Paper Pretties Challenge PWC 225 - Fall Inspired

Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge 95 - More than One Fold

Crazy Amigo Challenge - Not a Card

Creative Craft Challenges 2 - Anything Goes

Everybody Art Challenge 206 - Autumn (Autumnal Colours)

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge 117 - Fall Colours

Love to Create Challenge 34 - Anything Goes

Come and Get It Challenge - Anything But A Card

Creative Inspirations Paint Challenge - Inspired by Fall Colours

Crafty Calender September Challenge - Browns and Creams

Alota Rubber Stamps Challenge - 3D Fall Inspired

Really Reasonable Ribbon Challenge 56 - Autumn Colours and Ribbon

Make It Monday - Anything Goes