Luau flowers are a cheery touch appropriate for summery or island themed events.
A luau theme is ideal for a luau party, spring or summer party or an island-themed wedding. As invitations set the initial tone and feel for an event, incorporating an element of the theme, such as luau flowers, will be an ideal and fitting choice. Luau flowers can be easily crafted through items found in your own home or with a few small purchases at a local craft or fabric store. Materials that will work best in crafting the flowers are light or sheer fabrics, plasic or cloth flower petals or tissue paper. This craft can be used on store-bought invitation or on invitations you make yourself.
Either purchase plain and simple invitations and add the flowers as a focal point, or create simple invitations and add the flowers for decoration. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Cut a teardrop shape from the cardboard to use as a stencil. If cutting the petals from material such as tissue paper or fabric this will help ensure the petals are uniform. Tissue paper and fabric will both work well, but will have varying effects. Tissue paper is an inexpensive choice that will crumple more easily. However, if you choose to layer different colors, the tissue paper is sheer enough to let you see other colors through it. Fabric is a sturdier choice material. Use sheer or thin fabric such as silk.
2. Lay the cardboard on top of the material and cut around it to form five, teardrop shaped petals from the piece of tissue paper or the fabric (if using plastic or cloth flowers, simply pluck or cut off five petals from three plastic or cloth flowers). Choose tropical colors such as yellows, oranges, bright pinks and magentas.
3. Glue the five petals from one flower flat down on the invitation. Gluing the flowers flat down will make the invitations easier to send through the mail and will limit crumpling of the flowers. Gluing down only the centers will give the flowers a stronger 3 dimensional look, but will work best if the invitations are hand delivered. Regular liquid glue is the best choice if using fabric flowers since a glue stick may not hold fabric as well. A glue stick is ideal for tissue paper flowers, liquid glue may bleed through. Do not use a hot glue gun as the heat is too intense for delicate fabrics and tissue paper.
4. Cut more petals out of a different color tissue paper or fabric, or take more petals from an existing artifical flower. Glue the additional petals onto the invitation. Layer or overlap the flowers or arrange them creatively over the invitation. Use your imagination.
5. Create a lei look, if desired, by cutting out more petals and gluing the flowers in winding rows around and across the invitation to give the impression of a layed out lei.
6. Glue green string between the flowers as a stem to add an additional visual element and tie the flowers together. A thin string, like embroidery thread will give the invitation an elegant, artistic look. For a more crafty, heavy look, use a thicker kite string or yarn. If desired, you can use a watercolor paint to draw the lines as well.
Tags: petals from, paper fabric, more petals, tissue paper, tissue paper fabric, cloth flowers