IT'S SPRINGTIME!!!!!

Well, it is in my house, anyway. I got tired of waiting to see real flowers outside so I decided to make my OWN flowers inside. Aren’t they loverly?

Ever since I saw these on the Martha Stewart show a few weeks ago I knew I wanted to make them. This post will not be a tutorial because hey, Martha already did a lovely video for you! You can find the link to the video here. I made peonies, which is the second kind of flower they make, so it’s at the end of the video.

Here are my strips of bleach-dipped tissue paper hanging to dry:

Starlet is helping me “fringe” the yellow tissue paper for the centers of the flowers:

Here is a petal-less flower awaiting some pretty pink and white petals:

Shaping the petals with some scallop-edged scissors:

The finished product!

Here are a few of my tips for you:

1. When dipping and hanging the strips of tissue paper to dry, be very careful, because for starters, you just dipped them in bleach. That stuff has the potential to ruin so very many things if it drips on them! I dipped mine near the sink and then unfolded them over the sink, making sure all the drips got out. I also used “splashless” bleach, which is slightly thicker than regular bleach, so not as hazardous. Secondly, you are using tissue paper, so it is very fragile, especially when wet!! Be very gentle when unfolding it, as it will stick together and then tear. Just go slow!

2. The bleached tissue paper takes from 30-40 minutes to dry. I used the time while mine were drying to cut the yellow fringes and put them together with the stems.

3. If you’ve never used floral tape before, it can be a bit tricky. I personally kind of hate the stuff, but that’s beside the point. Anyway, I have found that the best method to use is to stretch it nice and tight and kind of smoosh it down by rubbing over it with your fingers as you go. It’s the kind of tape that doesn’t really feel sticky, but it sticks to itself if you use the technique I described. (And, incidentally, if you use a touch of scotch tape here or a dab of glue there and just cover it with the floral tape, no one has to know. Promise!)

The best thing about these flowers is that they are made of tissue paper, and tissue paper is very forgiving, especially when you’re making flowers! You can just kind of snip and scrunch and shape the flower however you like.

I was very pleased with my little blooms and I am so happy to see flowers again! Would it be weird if I stuck them in the ground outside my window? Probably.

The girls had fun putting them in their hair!

(Little Boo can't quite decide between the pixie stick and the flower...)

Anyway, I just loved the effect of dipping the tissue paper in bleach, and I wondered, What else could I use this effect with? Here's a hint...

I'll show you the finished product later this week!! ;-)

I am linking up with Keeping It Simple's Motivate Me Monday the Shabby Chic Cottage's Transformation Thursday, DIY By Design's "Swing into Spring" (see button below), How Sweet the Sound's Pink Saturday and So You Think You're Crafty's I'm Crafty Party this week! Check out those blogs for more fantastic crafty ideas!