CraftPals
Flower Pounding
Posted by Jodie on July 24,
FLOWER POUNDING YOUR OWN FLOWERS YOU GROW
Materials Needed:
Hammer
Cutting Board...2 or 3 Magazines
A Roll of Plastic Wrap
Fabric...or Paper
vvvvvvvv
Fresh Flowers..like...Red Cockscomb..pink and red Geraniums..
Purple Petunias...red Fuchsia..all colors of Aster
..Chrysanthemums...Cosmos...Gaillardia..Moss Rose and
Pansys...
Black-eyed Susans and Roses work well if you remove the petals
from the
flower head and use them a few at
a time....
USING LEAVES
Most "fleshy" leaves smash well also..the unusual shapes and
different shades of green that Geranium...Begonia and
Nasturtium leaves
produce are very pretty.. All types of Ferns all turn out
beautifully..The ferns that you might have in your house works
great.......
FALL LEAVES.....are very colorful..Look for leaves that have not
dried
completely out....Their red.. gold..yellow-green shades produce
pretty
imprints...
USE YOUR IMAGINATION..BE CREATIVE.......
HOW TO MAKE A BUTTERFLY with LEAVES........
You can make Butterfilies from leaves.....
To make a Butterfly...pound purple shamrock leaves for
the wings
and a stem for the body. To futher distinguish
the shape..out line the wings with a permanent
marker...don't
forget the Antennae
HOW TO POUND..TAP..TAP...TAP...FLOWERS..
Place the fabric or paper right side up on the cutting board
or stack of magazines...then place a flower or leaf on top of
the
material and cover it with plastic wrap......
Gently tap the entire surface of the flower with your
hammer...Pounding it causes the flower to bleed onto the
fabric..that is what makes a beautiful print..
To see it remove the plastic wrap and scrape off the the
flower or leaf residue..and repeat the process with other
flowers
or leaves until you have the design that you want.
When I am working on a project I keep a piece of cloth so
that I can practice pounding different type of flowers or
leaves
that I will use on my project..
It also lets me see if the plants true color will transfer..for
example the red Begonias make a red imprint..but red
Impatients produce a purplish-red shade...the Purple
Cleome and purple Verbena produces blue tones....Always
use the brightly colored flowers..they leave a pretty design.
WHAT TYPE OF FABRIC TO USE & TO FINISH PROJECT
I suggest using 100% Cotton or a 50-50 cotton polyester
blend..
After finishing a design...(SOAK)..fabric for (10 MINUTES)
in a strong (SALTWATER SOLUCTION) ....USE 1/2 CUP
of CANNING SALT...to 1/2 GALLON of COLD WATER.......
Drying it by machine or hanging to dry will SET THE
STAIN... When the colored item needs washing..hand
wash in cold
water....using Woolite...or Ivory soap....Your
work of art should not fade away......
YOU CAN MAKE...Stationery...gift wrap...T-Shrits..Pillows
Pillow Cases..Aprons...Place Matts...Wall Hangings..Quilt
Squares...Be creative..............
I was given this recipe by a friend...she always had beautiful
throw pillows on her sofa..beds...and a wall hanging that I was
out of this world....as a birthday gift she gave me a hammer..
fabric...and flowers from her flower garden....I have been
pounding
since March making everything I could think of..
I have beautiful Butterflies in with my flowers...that is my wall
hanging.....
I hope that you will enjoy this project as much as I have..this is a
year round project...I am very happy to share this with you..that
is
what crafting is about.."Sharing with your friends"
Have a great day..and Happy Pounding...Tap..Tap..Tap...
Jodie