Tissue Paper Flower Bouquet

I've shared dozens (and dozens) of flower crafts over the years and I never get tired of making them. I've made so many flower crafts that I actually had enough to put together a round-up of just my favorite edible flower crafts! Today's project isn't edible, but I'm happy to add it to my collection of flower crafts. It's so pretty. (And did you notice the colors I used?) Affiliate links below. 

 

Decoupage Tissue Paper Flower Bouquet 

Materials:

• Neenah Bristol vellum
• 1/2 sheet for the vase
• 1/2 sheet for each of the flowers
• 1/4 sheet for the leaves
• 1/4 sheet for the flower centers
• tissue paper
• Mod Podge
• decoupage brush
• microtip scissors
• hot glue

Steps: 

Choose the colors of tissue paper you want to use for your bouquet. Tear the tissue paper you're using for the vase into irregular pieces. Pour some Mod Podge into a cup and dilute it with a little bit of water (about 3 parts Mod Podge to 1 part water). Working on one area at a time, paint some of the Mod Podge onto the paper, then place a piece of tissue paper onto the moist area. Paint over the top to seal it. Repeat the process, overlapping the pieces as much (or as little) as you want. 

Cut or tear the remaining colors of tissue paper so that they are slightly larger than the paper they'll be covering. Working with one color at a time, spread a coat of the watered-down Mod Podge onto the paper. Carefully lay tissue paper onto the moist paper. Load the brush with more Mod Podge and paint a coat over the top of the tissue paper. Use the brush to smooth any wrinkles as best you can. Don't worry about any overhanging tissue paper. Repeat the process until you have prepped the papers for the three flowers, the leaves, and the flower centers. 

When everything is completely dry, cut out a vase, two flowers from each color (total of six), three flower centers, and three leaves. It is easiest to draw the shapes you want on the back of the paper before cutting. 

Arrange the two layers of flowers so the petals are off-set and glue them together. Glue the flower centers in place. Adhere the flowers to the vase, starting with the one in the center back. Finally, add the leaves. 

You might have noticed that my purple flower is sparkly. I experimented with Sparkle Mod Podge, which gives the flowers some extra dazzle. The choice is totally up to you and the look that you want!

Miniature Edible Jelly Bean Bouquet

Here's a fun and easy gift idea for spring! Or anytime, really. Because who wouldn't want a miniature edible bouquet made of candy to brighten their day? Nobody, that's who. Affiliate links below.

Miniature Edible Jelly Belly Bouquet

Materials:

• Jelly Bellies 
• miniature M&Ms 
• large marshmallow
• green toothpicks
• plastic condiment cup
• ribbon
• knife

Steps: 

Pour your Jelly Bellies out on a clean surface. Pick out the shades that are best for flowers and leaves and set them aside. I used Cotton Candy, Orange Sherbet, Bubble Gum, Very Cherry, Lemon, French Vanilla and Green Apple. Eat the rest. Except for Buttered Popcorn and Top Banana. Those are completely disgusting.

Poke a toothpick into the end of each Jelly Belly, except for the green ones. Use the knife to split each green Jelly Belly lengthwise, then stick each half horizontally to one of the green toothpicks where leaves would be. It's sticky enough to stay put if you press a bit. Set the toothpicks aside.

Squeeze the marshmallow so that it is smaller in diameter than the condiment cup. Place it in the cup and sprinkle the mini M&Ms around it so the marshmallow isn't visible through the cup. Add extra M&Ms on top to hide the rest of the marshmallow. Now, poke the toothpicks into the marshmallow as if you were arranging flowers. Put them at different heights and mix the colors around. Finally, add a bow. It's ready to give to someone special!

Here's a photo of the bouquet in my hand to give you a sense of scale:

I didn't take photos of the intermediate steps because I was experimenting with a lot of things and wasn't sure what would work. Instead, here's a photo of what it looks like when you pull the marshmallow out of the condiment cup after you've given the completed bouquet away and it's ready to eat.

I could see making a bunch of these as party favors or place cards. I imagine using just one color for all the flowers could be really striking. I might just have to make more of these. Good thing the Jelly Belly Factory is just down the road!