My Not-So-Original Idea

The week after Christmas, I was thinking about making a felt flower.  So, I went to my Google toolbar and started looking up "felt flowers" trying to find some tutorials  I thought this might be easier than going to each of my favorite blogs and seeing what they had.

Well, I was wrong.

I literally went through pages of links. Yet still, I couldn't find quite what I wanted.  So I pulled out some felt and got started.

I wore my new flower on New Year's Day (and many days since!) but it wasn't until yesterday that I finally posted what I came up with.

Now...

I have a confession to make.  Last night (during my bout of insomnia) was the first time I have looked at any blogs since before Christmas.  (gasp!)  It's awful, I know.  I can't believe I just admitted to it.  I've been in a funk - don't judge me!

So last night I started catching up on my favorite blogs and you know what I came across in the side bar of Tatertots and Jello?  A flower that looks very close to mine (or maybe mine looks very close to hers)!  She actually used a template to cut her petals and only used two layers instead of the three I used.  Her center was a little different, also.  But all in all, our flowers look the same.

I was so embarrassed (and frustrated!)  I was pretty pleased with the flower idea I had...turns out, someone else thought of it first!  Huh!  Story of my life!

So go visit Jen over at Tatertots and Jello.  Maybe she's already done something you've been thinking about, too!

Felt Flower Tutorial

I love big flowers for embellishing most anything and everything!  With winter here, I wanted felt flowers instead of the silk flowers I've been using.  I searched the internet and kind of combined some ideas from some of the flowers I saw.  This is what I came up with (some pictures are of my red flower and some are of the purple.)

Here's what you will need.

1 sheet of felt

1 large button

complementary colored yarn or embroidery floss

hot glue gun

hair clip

lapel pin

First I cut five petals about 3 inches in length.  (This is done completely free hand.  Don't sweat the shape too much.  It will look good, I promise.)  Then do five petals around 2 1/2 inches and five around 2 inches.  The red flower I made with a bit of a pointy petal.  This gives a poinsettia look.

To give it some "oomph" I decided to sew a seam along the back.  It gives a little more depth.  Just fold them in half and line them up on the sewing machine and do one after the other then cut them apart.

Next, cut a circle from the felt to use as base for the flower.  Start gluing the 3 inch petals around the outside.  Then glue the 2 1/2 inch petals and finally the 2 inch petals.

Finish off with a button laced with yarn or embroidery floss hot glued to the middle.

Flip over to the back and use a scrap piece of felt to attach the clip and pin with hot glue.

Your flower is finished!  I hope you get as much mileage out of your flowers as I already have from mine!

One way I use mine is on my favorite knit beanie!

And as a lapel pin to dress up my jean jacket!

I'm linking this idea to these wonderful blogs!
C.R.A.F.T.
Finding Fabulous

I'm still here!

Hello, friends!  Sorry it has been so long since I last posted.  Let me catch you up on what's been going on (this is the part where you pretend to care)!

As of January 3rd I have started working my third job!  Yes, that's right, third.  My 6 and 8 year old boys seem to have a problem finding employment to help pay for their private school!  So I decided to step up.  I'm working as an aide in the Pre-K classroom at their school and I love it!  The only problem is, I'm still trying to figure out how to fit everything into the new schedule!  But it's coming along.

On a similar note, you work-outside-the-home moms...how do you do it?  Getting up every morning and shower/make up/hair and put together an outfit.  Make breakfast, pack lunches, get out the door at exactly 8:08am (1 minute later and you catch all the stoplights.).  Come home from work/school, make snacks, start homework, practice spelling tests, practice Bible verses.  Now start dinner, start a load of laundry, clean up dinner, fold laundry.  Start the boys on their showers and teeth brushing so as not to miss 7:30pm bedtime.  Is 7:30pm too early for me to go to bed, also?  Start another load of laundry.  Monday night, Boy Scouts.  Wednesday night, AWANA.  Friday night, woo-hoo!  Mom's day off is tomorrow!  Oh, yeah...more dinner and laundry.

Work-outside-the-home moms, you have my utmost respect!

In my spare time, I have managed to make a couple of things that I want to share with you so I will be working on some pictures of those things and hope to have them posted soon!

Again, thank you so much for your faithfulness.  Many of you I don't know personally but I feel blessed to know you as my blog friends!  Thanks for your patience and for sticking around while I figured out this new "routine"!