How to Craft Beautiful Flowers Using Crocheted Doilies

This craft project will teach you how to make beautiful flowers, using crocheted doilies. You can shape each of your flowers slightly different, to make them more realistic. You might even consider coloring the flowers in soft pastel shades, to create a beautiful floral bouquet. By using crocheted doilies, your flowers will have a stunning delicate look to them and they will make a lovely centerpiece.

Materials:

crocheted doilies (6" or smaller)
food coloring (optional)
latex gloves (if using food coloring)
paper towels
craft glue
water
tin foil
floral wire
large beads or pearls
floral tape

Tips:

If you would like to color your flowers in pretty pastel shades, this can be done with food coloring. Purchase the 4 pack of primary colors to create different shades. Pour a half cup of water into a glass bowl and add several drops of food coloring, mix well. Now insert the doily into the solution and let it set for approximately 15 minutes, stirring the doily around periodically. Now put on a pair of latex gloves and with your hands remove the doily and wring out the excess liquid. If you are pleased with the color lay the doily on paper towels and allow to dry. If you prefer a deeper shade, add more food coloring to the liquid and reinsert the doily and wait another 15 minutes.

Directions:

Prepare a flat work surface by covering the surface with newspaper or plastic. After the crocheted doilies have been colored and dried, you are ready to begin the stiffening process. To begin, add 2 parts craft glue to 1 part water (or use mod podge if you prefer) and mix well. Insert the doily and mix it around until it is fully saturated. Let it sit a minute. Next, use the tin foil to make a small cone like shape and set it on your surface with the smaller end on top. Now remove the doily from the glue and lightly wring out the excess liquid, back into the bowl. Place the doily over the tin foil and shape it into a flower. Allow the doily to dry this way. Make as many flowers as you like, using the step above.

Now take the floral wire and cut it twice as long as you would like your stem to be. Thread a large bead or a large pearl onto the wire, moving it to the center. Now fold the wire in half and twist the two wires together all the way to the ends.

After the crocheted doilies have dried, your flowers should be nice and stiff. Now take the floral wire with the bead or pearl attached and push it through the center of your flower. Using the floral tape, wrap the base of the flower and continue down the stem, stretching the tape as you wrap. Continue adding and wrapping the stems for all of your flowers, using this technique.

Now place your beautiful flowers into a vase and enjoy!