Have you ever noticed how many people are born in September? It seems as though everyone knows at least three people who have September birthdays. My September Birthday Buddies include friends Emma, Sherry, Jackie and David, as well as my wonderful son Michael.
At least one of them will receive this cool Birthday Bouquet, made with vellum flowers and featuring the holding power and variety of KoolTak™ products. Once I got started, these flowers went together quickly, thanks to KoolTak’s™ Punch Adhesive, Clear Foam Dots, Premium Extreme Adhesive, Foam Dots and Sparkles.
I think it actually took me longer to find my container of beach glass (relegated to the storage room in my recent purging episode) than the time required to make all the flowers. I also used some older materials, such as the vellum, from my stash in the interest of purging. You could also use printed papers from your scrap box to make the flowers.
This project was also made easier by using a Smoothfoam half-round hollow ball. I have had trouble in the past finding an good adhesive for this type of foam base, as well as for vellum, but KoolTak™ and Smoothfoam products never fail me. The half-round hollow ball was the perfect size for the gorgeous vase (a $2.99 Goodwill find and the only thing I had to purchase for this project), and filling it with beach glass hid the lack of stems for the flowers.
This is how I made it:
Supplies
KoolTak™ Products
KoolTak™ Foam Pads 1” x ½” x 1/8”
KoolTak™ Punch Adhesive Sheets
KoolTak™ Premium Extreme, ½”
KoolTak™ Sparkles, Green Bonus Pack
KoolTak™ Clear Foam Pads, ¼” x ¼” x 1/32”
Vellum sheets, 12” x 12”, one for every two flowers, plus scraps for filler flowers
Punches: 1 3/8” circle, 1” circle, ½” circle and ¼” hole punch
Sizzix Big Shot
Sizzix Dies: Tim Holtz’ Alterations Tattered Leaves, Flower #2 (657345), Sizzix Basic Grey Flower #2 (657711), Flower Layers and Leaves (557690},
Scissors
Ribbon, approximately 1 yard.
Happy Birthday Tag
Beach Glass
Large Vase
Directions
Fill a large vase with beach glass. Place KoolTak™ Foam Pads (1” x ½” x 1/8”) along the top of the vase rim, about 2” apart. Set aside.
Place the KoolTakKoolTak™ Sparkles, Green Bonus Pack Foam Pads every two inches around the lip of the vase.
Create the flowers:
Dogwood-Style Flower– Die cut two flowers for each finished flower. Pinch each petal edge together to create a petal length crease on each flower. Punch a 1 3/8” circle from the KoolTak™ Punch Adhesive Sheet and attach it to the center back of the top flower. Sprinkle on KoolTak™ Sparkles green microbeads, which will adhere in the die cut circles of the flower center. Peel off the release paper and adhere the top flower to the bottom one. Attach a KoolTak™ Foam Pad (1” x ½” x 1/8”) to the bottom of the second flower and set aside.
Pinch the edges of the petals together to create a crease. Apply the KoolTak™ Punch Adhesive circle to the back of the top flower.
Sprinkle on KoolTak™ Sparkles Microbeads, shake off and then attach the top flower to the bottom one using the same circle. KoolTak™ products perform double-duty to save you time and money.
Attach a KoolTak™ Foam Pad to the back of the flower and set aside.
Second Large Flower – Punch a 1” circle from the KoolTak™ Punch Adhesive Sheet and adhere it in the center of the top flower. Pinch the petal edges together, creating a crease in the top flower. Remove the release paper and sprinkle KoolTak™ Sparkles Green Glitter onto the flower center, tapping off the excess and returning it to the glitter container. Apply four KoolTak™ Clear Foam Squares to the bottom of the top flower and adhere it to the second flower. Attach a KoolTak™ Foam Pad (1” x ½” x 1/8”) to the bottom of the second flower and set aside.
Punch a 1″ circle from KoolTak™ Punch Sheet Adhesive and place it in the center of the flower. Pinch the petals together to create a crease in each one.
Cover the circle with KoolTak™ Sparkles Green Glitter and tap the excess back into the container.
Add a KoolTak™ Foam Pad to the back of the flower. The reason for adding the KoolTak™ Clear Foam Pads instead of the ones used on the other large flower is to make sure the adhesive can’t be seen through the vellum. Since we’re using a smaller area for the flower center, there’s more room for error. The larger white KoolTak™ Foam Pad might show through vellum if it’s placed a little off center.
Attach four KoolTak™ Clear Foam Pads to the back of the flower.
Small Filler Flower- Punch two ½” circles from the KoolTak™ Punch Adhesive Sheet. Remove one side of the release sheet and adhere the circle in the center of the top flower. Pinch the petal edges together, creating a crease in the top flower. Remove the remaining release paper and sprinkle KoolTak™ Sparkles Green Microbeads onto the flower center, tapping off the excess and returning it to the container. Apply the second KoolTak™ Punch Adhesive Sheet ½ circle to the bottom of the top flower and adhere it to the second flower. Attach two KoolTak ™Clear Foam Pads (¼” x ¼” x 1/32”) to the bottom of the second flower and set aside.
Using the 1/2″ punch, punch a flower from the KoolTak™ Punch Adhesive Sheet and adhere it to the center of the top flower. Pinch the edges of the petals, then add a second 1/2″ punched circle on the back of the top flower. and adhere it to the bottom flower.
Cover the center of the top flower with KoolTak™ Sparkles Green Microbeads.
Adhere two KoolTak™ Clear Foam Pads to the bottom of the second flower and set aside.
Assembly
Place a strip of KoolTak™ Premium Extreme around the bottom of the Smoothfoam half-round, about 1” from the rim. Place leaves along the adhesive strip.
Apply KoolTak™ Premium Extreme adhesive around the bottom edge of the half-round.
Place the leaves around the bottom edge.
Remove the release paper from the foam on each flower and adhere them to the half-round.
Fill in any empty spaces with the small flowers.
Tie the ribbon around the top of the vase, securing it in place with a couple of KoolTak™ Clear Foam Squares on either side of the knot. Punch a hole in the tag, slip it onto one side of the ribbon, and then tie a bow.
This bouquet will remind the recipient of you every time she sees it, and there is no need for her to remember to water it. That’s my kind of plant!