I have been up to so much sparkly fun. I just can't wait to share it. I hope you enjoy it, as much as I did. I had this idea swimming in my head, so I tried it out today, and voila, I think it is a whole lot of fun, and oh so easy!!
You see that shamrock brooch there? Well, I invented a fun and super easy way to make it. I created a PDF cutout for you!! Not only that, I have some FREE PDF Saint Patrick's Day Greetings for you too! I always want to think up ways to say thank you, and add some easy fun to our lives...
I decided to created all different sizes and colors of shamrocks, and layer them... You know, how once a year, you are in your car and realize it is St. Patrick's day, and then you wish you had something cute to throw on? Without having to dress in all green? Well, here ya go...
There were very fancy ways to attach the shamrocks to eachother. However, I decided, if you are going to make them with your kids, or whip one up for yourself to wear, it should be super duper easy. Especially if you are going to make more than one, maybe for friends?
The PDF file you will be able to print out (especially good on nice thick white cardstock) is shown below...
Make sure to Click on this link for printable version.
(give it several seconds to open)
Here is how to get started...
I made two brooches. One with really silly bright colors, and one with some wonderful fine glitter. Some glitter I had, and some is part of Martha Stewart's wonderful glitter selection. Plus, I used a bit of the vintage sterling silver glitter too. Only a little though, I am very stingy with my vintage sterling glass glitter ;)
First I cut out all of my shamrocks... (meanwhile the hot glue gun heated up)
Then, I started layering them, adding a tiny pearl of hot glue in the center. Layer biggest to smallest...
Once all layered, I give them a firm push in the center, to make sure they are really stuck together.
Then, I give each shamrock, starting with the top one and working to the bottom one, a little fold, to make them a bit more 3-d...
Once they are all folded up very gently, and look like this, I am ready to attach a safety pin to the back.
My advice, attach the safety pin before you embellish... I found that the center of the upper backmost shamrock is the best placement for the safety pin... I used a smallish safety pin, so it would not hang off the edges.
You can use those specially made brooch back pins that you can get at any craft store. The kinds that simply have to be glued to the back of the brooch. However, I chose a simple safety pin, because I wanted this to be easy, easy.
So now for the fun part! Glitter! I looove glitter! You will need some Elmer's glue (or any craft glue) and a small paintbrush.
Make sure you have all your glitters out too. I also used Mica flakes on the super colorful brooch. Get out any fun stuff you want to use! I started embellishing, with the middle, but you can start anywhere you'd like...
You will then simply, use your paintbrush to paint glue on the petals of the shamrock. I painted the glue on, and glittered little by little. With each individual petal. As, the glue dries fast, and if you do more than one petal at a time, you might not get good glitter coverage...
You will notice that the color of the flower shimmers through, even if you cover it with silver or gold fine shimmer. In person, you can still see hints of the green, which is really pretty...
As you work along, your brooch will start to look like this...
Once you are completey done, let your shamrock brooch dry really well. The drier it gets, the prettier the glitter sparkles. You can also add a giant stone to the middle of your flower, or a button... Anything really, even an old rhinestone earring that you just have one of?
Now wasn't that so super easy and fun??? I know, they are a little, well, let's face it, alot sparkly, but they are so much fun to make! I was thinking that if you didn't want glitter, you could draw designs on each shamrock with different pens and markers? Or use each shamrock to outline each size on different papers, then glue the papers on to each shamrock and then simply assemble it, so you have a collaged shamrock. That could be really really fun.. You could use doilies even. I have to play with that idea too!
By the way, I did later play with the collaged brooch idea, and included it at the end of this post ;)
I know, you are going to think I have totally lost it. However, I also have some Free St. Patrick's Day cards for you. I know it seems early, but really it isn't, time goes by so fast. Before you know it, you'll barely be printing them and it will actually be St. Patrick's day. So, I am giving you a head start. I love sharing Free cards! They are sooo much fun to make!!
They look like this...
Click here for your printable PDF file of your very own Free St. Patrick's day cards. From me to you!!
You will also be able to find the Free Brooch PDF and the Free St. Patrick's day PDF in the right hand side bar. SO you don't have to look for them later...
Okay, I better go before you come hunt me down for the longest blog post ever!
Also, the winner of the Valentine post drawing, as chosen by the random number generating machine, is Jenn Lui!! Yippeee for you!! E-mail me Miss Jenn!!
See you soooooooon!!! V
Update:
Here is an alternative to sparkly brooches... Collaged brooches...
A new idea I thought up for making those fun Paper Brooches...
Cut out all of your shamrocks that you have printed on cardstock (printable PDF here).... Then take pieces of paper, and trace each shamrock onto a different piece. So that you can make a collaged paper brooch... Then cut out each colorful paper piece, and glue it to the appropriate shamrock, and assemble as before...
And even try using those pin backs I spoke of before (or use a safety pin)...
And, use some of your button stash for a center...
Voila, isn't this soooo pretty!! I love it!! A wonderful alternative to no glitter!
Have a blast!! Can't wait to see what you make!! V
