Kanzashi Flowers

DIY Satin Fabric Kanzashi Flowers 
These pretty and elegant flowers are super easy to make and pretty to look at too. Kanzashi are traditional japanese ornaments for hair. Today it is known for the silk cloth flowers that adorn the tsumami kanzashi. It can also refer to the technique of folding cloth used to make these flowers.

40 out of my goal of 100 so far! Which one do you like? ☺ - - - #zen #flowers #kanzashi #kanzashiflowers #instaflowers #flowersofinstagram #crafts #goodmorningpost #handmade #originalartwork #original #art #worldofartists #art_assistance #instaartexplorer #artisticdreamerss #bestartsharer #artistgalaxy #artistic_castle #artagram #young_artists_help #artposst #artists_rescue #helpmyart #artopia_gallery #art_4share #instaart #instaartist #artagram

A photo posted by Violent Carter (@craftser101) on Oct 19, 2016 at 8:45am PDT

These ones here are made from 5cmX5cm ribbon and satin cloth squares of 3cmX3cm and embellished with rhinestones. They are pretty simple to make but require lots of patience and a steady hand. I've had to use 2 sizes of tweezers and a nose plier for some of the more complicated folds. I also recommend using a high temperature glue gun to held the flowers together. I glued the flowers to 3 inch barrettes.

And practice makes perfect :) 
I've made about 50 of them so far. Experimenting with different kinds of fabric is fun. Some of the stiffer fabric (such as the red fabric in the pic above) is easier to work and gives you very crisp lines. Some of the softer fabric works better for leaves or nested petals (such as the white fabric above).

Kanzashi Flower barrettes! Coming Soon!!! - - - #wip #workinprogress #sneakpeek #artsandcrafts #handmade #originalartwork #kanzashi #kanzashiflowers #artagram #instaart #flowers #flowerstagram #crafts #art_assistance #worldofartists #artopia_gallery #art_4share #artists_rescue #young_artists_help #artistic_castle #instaartexplorer #artisticdreamerss #goodmorningpost

A photo posted by Violent Carter (@craftser101) on Sep 23, 2016 at 10:28pm PDT

I don't know if I'm getting any better at making them, but I'm certainly getting a lot of practice! - - - #Zen #flowers #kanzashi #kanzashiflowers #instaflowers #flowersofinstagram #crafts #goodmorningpost #handmade #originalartwork #original #art #worldofartists #art_assistance #instaartexplorer #artisticdreamerss #bestartsharer #artistgalaxy #artistic_castle #artagram #young_artists_help #artposst #artists_rescue #helpmyart #artopia_gallery #art_4share #instaart #instaartist #artagram

A photo posted by Violent Carter (@craftser101) on Oct 13, 2016 at 9:46am PDT

A whole boatload of flowers today! Enough for a bouquet 💐😁 - - - #flowers #kanzashi #kanzashiflowers #instaflowers #flowersofinstagram #crafts #goodmorningpost #handmade #originalartwork #original #art #worldofartists #art_assistance #instaartexplorer #artisticdreamerss #bestartsharer #artistgalaxy #artistic_castle #artagram #young_artists_help #artposst #artists_rescue #helpmyart #artopia_gallery #art_4share #instaart #instaartist #artagram

A photo posted by Violent Carter (@craftser101) on Oct 10, 2016 at 8:49am PDT

Colorful Wall Decorations

This is an awesome and fun temporary wall decoration for parties. You can take your favorite rangoli or mandala designs and convert them to pretty decorations. What I did was pick out my favorite designs and then cut them out of colored construction paper. For shiny or sparkly paper, I simply used shiny gift wrap. I then decorated the paper with glitter glue, metallic scribble paint, and acrylic rhinestones. Once everything is dry, you can tape it up onto your walls with blue painter's tape so you don't damage your walls. I recommend make sure your design is small pieces so that it will actually stay on the wall. The problem with having one big piece is that there is a greater chance of it falling down due to how heavy it is. Have fun and get as colorful as you want!

Initial Blue Peacock holding a Sitar

How the pieces will be arranged on the wall

Letters that will spell out Diwali

Mandala on the wall

Inspiration Design

Blue Peacock holding Sitar

Blue Peacock playing the Tablas

Colors of Mandalas

It is easy to get lost in geometric patterns full of color. Pick up a couple of color pencils and let your imagination take you places. For me, I explored several different paths and ended up here. Happy wandering!

Colored Zentangle Mandala #mandala #zen #zentangle #colorpencils #colourpencils #prismacolor #doodle #drawing

A photo posted by Craftser (@craftser101) on Jul 24, 2016 at 11:08am PDT

Colored Mandala #mandala #zen #zentangle #colorpencils #colourpencils #prismacolor #doodle #drawing

A photo posted by Craftser (@craftser101) on Jul 24, 2016 at 10:32am PDT

Colored Zentangle Mandala #mandala #zen #zentangle #colorpencils #colourpencils #prismacolor #doodle #drawing

A photo posted by Craftser (@craftser101) on Jul 24, 2016 at 10:13am PDT

Colored Mandala doodling #mandala #zen #zentangle #colorpencils #colourpencils #prismacolor #doodle #drawing

A photo posted by Craftser (@craftser101) on Jul 24, 2016 at 10:22am PDT

Zentangle Notebook Cover

It is fun to doodle and there is something very entrancing about organized chaos. This was done with black ink and then sealed with Modpodge. Have fun trying out different shapes and patterns. For this particular piece: the different mandalas and flowers have very little in common. The only continuity in this piece is black ink.

Doodle with Black Ink Sealed with Modpodge #Zen #doodle #zentangle #modpodge

A photo posted by Craftser (@craftser101) on Jul 24, 2016 at 10:06am PDT

Golden Paper Dahlias

This is a simple idea I came up with, after inspiration struck when I saw several felt dahlia tutorials. Dahlias are a very pretty flower and their simple rotational symmetry make them an ideal flower to use as inspiration in crafts.

For this project, I used Gold wrapping paper but you can use whatever kind of paper or fabric that you desire. Just remember to try it out and see if the medium, you chose, holds its shape.




Requirements:
Gold Wrapping Paper
Scissors
Ruler, Pencil & Eraser
Tape
Liquid Glue (I used Elmer's Glue although you can use hot glue)
Black Construction Paper

Directions:

1) Cut out heptagons of decreasing sizes (as shown in the figure to the right) . I would experiment with the sizes as I wanted the next layers of petals to fully cover the gaps in between. Depending, on the look you want, the sizes will differ. I was aiming for three layers, but it came out as four to five layers.

You can use double sided paper to cut the shapes out of. What ever side is in the inside of the roll will be the color of the petal. Whichever color is in the inside will be the dominant color. The side on the outside will show around the edges so it will become the secondary color.

2) You then roll the heptagon so the pointed end sticks out and the short edges meet together. Glue takes a little time to dry, so taping the edges together holds the shape better. I put the Gold side facing inward in the cone.

I rolled about 11 cones for the bottom layer (the biggest cones). For every subsequent layer,  rolled less and less cones.

3) I then glued the same size petals down so that the petals touch each lengthwise. I then glued the next layer's petals so that they rest in between the big petals on the bottom layer.

4) You keep layering the petals until the entire flower is complete without any holes. I filled the flower on the top with 3 small petals. But you can stop there are put something else in the middle such as a button, bead, crystal, or something else. I have also tried putting a pine-cone painted in gold.

5) And there you have it folks! A step by step tutorial of how to make a golden dahlia. You can make small ones to decorate Christmas trees or fill bowls for table centerpieces. Or for any other occasion. 

Have fun and experiment and don't forget to comment below and share your successes!