Tutorials


Fabric Flower
(Regular or Mini Size)

What you will need:
Fabric
Fishing Line (or thread)
Needle
Circle to trace
Permanent Marker
Scissors
Iron
Ironing Board
Alligator Clip
Hot Glue Gun and Glue
Button Covering Kit (choose the size that you like best)
 
I like to make several flowers at a time to make it worth my time, so choose enough fabric to make as many as you would like.  Usually you can get two regular and 1 mini flower out of 1/4 yard of fabric. 


After you gather your fabric you will need something to trace a circle.  I use a roll of ribbon (2 in for mini flowers, 3 3/4 in for regular flowers)  You can choose your size, but those are the sizes that I use.

Trace six circles for each flower clip you are going to make.  I use a skinny permanent marker, you will not see the marks so it doesn't matter what you use.



  Cut out all of you circles.  Next you need to plug in your iron and get ready to stand at the ironing board for quite a while!~


Take one circle and fold it in half wrong sides together.  Iron for a few seconds and then fold in half again and iron for a few more seconds.  Repeat with all of the circles until you have a fun little pile of triangles.





Now it is time to sew.  I use fishing line instead of thread for most of my sewing, because it is clear and sturdy!  Choose whatever you like best.  Take one of the triangles and start sewing along the curved side.


Pull tight and add the next triangle and repeat until all six triangles are attached.


Pull as tight as you can and then tie off the ends in a double knot.


You can set the flower aside while you cover the button for the center of the flower.  Get out the button covering kit and set out the pieces.


Start with a piece of the same or a coordinating fabric. Lay the top piece of the button on the wrong side of the fabric.


You can use a small amount of glue to hold the fabric in place, but I just go for it!  Next take the clear or white mold piece from the button covering kit, and place the button top and the fabric inside.

  
Trim off the excess fabric.

  
Now take the back of the button, covering all of the fabric sticking out, and place it inside the mold, pushing all the way down until it snaps into place.  Next use the blue pusher that came in the kit and push down.  



Take the covered button out of the mold, set aside the mold and pusher.  Go grab your flower, the covered button, needle, fishing line and glue gun.


Sew the button onto the top of the flower.


You are almost done!!!  Take a small piece of the fabric and cut it into a circle smaller than the flower.  Glue the piece of fabric to the bottom of the flower to cover all of the stitches and just to make it look finished.


Glue on an alligator clip or pin or both!  Sew a few more stitches to hold the alligator clip in place.  Turn the flower over and glue the button in place. 


You are DONE!!! Wear the flower yourself or give it as a gift.
 
 

It takes a while to get the hang of it, so keep trying!! I ended up throwing away the first several I made, while I was trying out different techniques.  I looked all over for tips to make these when I first started trying and never found anything.  I took several techniques from other flower projects and added some "trial and error" and came up with these directions!  Hope they help.  Feel free to ask questions!



Cake Balls




Start with cake mix and frosting...



bake cake, following directions on the box...






mix 3/4 can of frosting with crumbled cake together (after cake cools)...




with your hands!!...







line plate with wax paper...







roll into balls and put in freezer (just for a few minutes so the harden a little)...







melt chocolate in microwave at 30 second intervals until melted...








use two spoons to coat eat ball in chocolate...




put on plate and the into freezer...(just for a few minutes for the chocolate to harden)...





add sprinkles after dipping in chocolate, before you put the plate in the freezer, if you would like...





place each ball in a cupcake liner (just so it is cute and easy to serve)...









and enjoy!!!



two cake mixes and two cans of frosting made 80 cake balls!!!!!



It takes a couple hours to make this many cake balls.  If you can find some helpers the process is MUCH faster!  The more you practice the smoother you can make the chocolate coating too!