Crochet Floral Bouquet

I am so excited about how this crochet floral bouquet turned out.  I had the idea and then struggled to find any photos online that looked anything like my idea in my head.   I just forged ahead, crocheting various flowers and trusting between my husband and I that we would come up with a great end result.  And we did!!  

It was intended to be for Mother's Day, but I did not realize how long it would take to get fully created.   She received it over a week late, which is why there was a delay in posting online.    People were wondering why I was creating so many flowers....

First, I started with the flowers.

Peony, Spring Rose, Large Purple/Pink Flower, Marigold, Daffodil and Carnation.

And here is the final result:

My mom has been recently decorating her office area with her favorite color - turquoise and blue.  I am hoping this fits right in and brightens her day!

I may be linking to THESE parties!

Flowers on Stems

I've shown the flowers.....and the stems....now here they are together:

To put together, you need:

1/8 inch diameter by 48 inch long steel rods
green floral tape
Hot glue gun
Vise

Put in a vise and bend back and forth until you have 6 equal lengths.

Wrap in green floral tape.

Take the top 1/2 inch of the steel rod and bend 90 degrees forward.

Hot glue crochet flower to bent portion of steel rod.

Weave steel rod through the crocheted stem and then twist the stem yarn around.

Let dry.

In the photos, we had not twisted the stem yarn yet - it looked much better when we did.

Aren't they pretty?

Check back tomorrow to see the finished project!!

I might be linking to THESE parties!

Stems and Leaves Crochet

I was looking for the perfect stem and leaves to add to flowers and found a great pattern.....FREE!  And one of the quickest things EVER.

Leaves and Stem Pattern

The actual pattern involved one leaf and then the stem.  I then crocheted a second leaf and attached it separately.  I varied the stitch count on the leaves to make them larger or smaller.  

After crocheting, you take the floral wire or pipe cleaner or regular wire and thread through the stitches.  

Why did I need these stems?  Why have I been crocheting so many flowers?  Check back soon to see!

I may be linking to THESE parties!

Jeweled Purple Flower

Just been crocheting away on these fun flowers.....and when I got done with this one, I just felt it needed something.  I remembered a jeweled brooch my mom got my at super discount on our last visit.  I think it is perfect - what do you think?

I used this FREE pattern for the flower......scroll down to the bottom of the cloche pattern to find the instructions.  One of my favorite new blogs.....Aesthetic Nest!

I later added a stem and leaves and created a floral bouquet!

Crochet Floral Bouquet

I may be linking to THESE parties!

I've Been Featured!

Ashley over at Cherished Bliss has featured me for my Perfect Crochet Peony!!

Perfect Crochet Peony

Nicolette over at Momnivore's Dilemma, featured me for my Do You Still Require Word Verification Post.  (Blogger "ate" her post during the outage last week and we are patiently waiting for it to reappear as promised.....)

Have you visited their blogs?  Scoot on over there now!!

Thanks so much Ashley and Nicolette!!

Marigold Crochet

Marigolds have never been my favorite flower, but when I can make it pink and purple, it is!  This was such a fun pattern.....with lots of flexibility.  The crocheter is able to make it as large or small as desired.

There are actually 3 parts to this flower - 2 sets of petals and the center circle.  I used a thick, chunky yarn and you see the fuzzy nature of it.

Enjoy the FREE Crochet Marigold Flower Pattern!

I later added a stem and leaves and created a gorgeous Floral Bouquet!

Crochet Floral Bouquet

I may be joining THESE parties!

Sneak Peek

Oh, I wish I could post this today but I must wait......for someone to get something in the mail......so until then, here is a sneak peek.....

OOOOhhhh, is that my Peony from last week......with a new jewel in the middle......and what's in the bottom right corner?

Hmmmm.......

I'm hoping the blog reveal can be on Monday, so check back!!  Go Post Office, Go!

Update on Stop the Presses! DIY Face Powder

This posted the other day and then Blogger went down and it disappeared.  I am posting it again in case it doesn't show back up.  If it does, enjoy it twice.  lol


Remember my STOP THE PRESSES! post on High Definition face powders?  Well, I have CONFIRMED that the ingredients in the much coveted Laura Mercier Universal Loose Setting Powder IS the same as what you can make yourself with the directions in my post above.  I looked for myself and the ingredients are:

Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Silica.

If you go to Coastal Scents.com and purchase the ingredients yourself (scroll down on the left to the "Makeup Ingredients: Fillers and Additives" and then "Packaging" for the sifting jars and mask), you can create this AMAZING setting powder for under $11 for over twice the amount.  Or you can pay Laura Mercier $34.  Your choice!

Now, why do makeup artists even use a setting powder?  Well, if you have never used one, let me tell you:  Regular powders can look "cakey" and set in fine lines and wrinkles, making them more prominent.  These setting powders with the silica spheres are just magical....your face will look smooth like a cover model and your lines and wrinkles....will....hey, what lines and wrinkles??

Here are photos are the sifting jars with my powders mixed together...I purchased the silica spheres and Magnesium Myristate (although they have others to choose from - the addition of something else with the silica spheres enhances adhesion to the face.  (Otherwise, the silica spheres tend to float...)

 

So, here is the breakdown:

1 oz Laura Mercier  Setting Powder Universal - $34
or

0.35 oz Makeup Forever HD Microfinish Powder
......$30  (1 oz would cost almost $90!!! versus under $11 for do it yourself?)

DIY Creation:

1 oz Silica Spheres                $4.75
1 oz Magnesium Myristate   $4.00
2 sifter jars (.85 ea)               $1.70
1 mask                                                                $  .49
_______________________________________________________
2 oz Total Product     =         $10.94

DOUBLE the product for less than a 1/3rd the price.

Definitely buy the mask - you do not want to inhale a bunch of this and while mixing, the silica spheres will float.

Can't beat that!

If you choose the Magnesium Stearate, it is even cheaper.  1 oz of that is $2.75.  I just picked one - no rhyme or reason.  These are the 4 they recommend on site to add to the silica spheres for adhesion:

• Boron Nitride 16 Microns - 1 oz, $7.95
• Boron Nitride 30 Microns 1 oz.  $7.00
• Magnesium Stearate  1 oz.  $2.75
• Magnesium Myristate  1 oz.   $4.00
• Sericite  1 oz $2.90

If you desire flawless skin but want to be frugal, try this.   I use a highlighter brush to lightly brush on over my makeup - I buy mine at Target but any duo fiber highlighting brush will do:

 Sonia Kashuk Highlighting Brush

You won't be sorry!