Completed Kusudama Bridal Bouquets

To create these beautiful Kusudama Bridal bouquets I started out following one of these 2 websites that show you the process in folding each pedal of the flowers:

• Origami Kusudama Flowers
• Kusudama Tutorial

Then on 05 April 2012 I posted this tutorial on how I attached the stems to the flowers.

On 27 May 2012, I shared how I created a bouquet out of all the stemed Kusudama flowers.

To complete the look of the bridal bouquets, on 10 June 2012 I explained how I decorated the bouquets by adding fuller with tulle and wrapped the stems with ribbon.

This is the Bride's bouquet.  It consists of 50 Kusudama flowers and tulle with added embellishments.  There are 3 different size flowers, assembled from 3", 4", and 4.6" squares.

 

For some additional personalization I made some flowers with "sentiments" that are special to the couple.

The first 3 bouquets are for the Bridesmaids.  They are made up of 25 flowers, assembled from 3", 4", and 4.6" squares.

Here's picture of the stem of one of the Bridesmaid bouquet.

The bouquet on the left is the Junior Bridesmaid bouquet and the one on the right is one of the Bridesmaid bouquets.

The Junior Bridesmaid bouquet is made from 25 flowers all assembled from 3" squares.

This is by far the most extensive crafting project I have done but definitely the most rewarding.  I'll admit there were times when I dreaded having to fold another piece of paper but I am VERY pleased with the results!!

Once my hands have recovered from all the folding, gluing, steming, and wrapping, I have so many ideas for these beautiful flowers!!  First off, I'm definitely going to try my hand at making a Kusudama ball.  :o)

Thanks for looking!!
*´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)

(¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ Jamie *´¨)

Decorating a Bridal Kusudama Bouquet

Materials:  Tulle, Wire Cutters, Ribbon

After I wrapped the stems, as I show on this post, I cut the stems leaving a 4-5 inch handle for the bouquet.

I added some tulle between the flowers as filler,  I personally feel that this gave the flowers a completed look.

First I used my Mickey Mouse paper towel holder and put the tulle on it (hey, you work with what you got!!  :o)).  For the junior bridesmaid and bridesmaid I used plain white 6" tulle. Then taking one end, I put it into the bouquet and slowly wove the tulle in between and around the flowers.  Time consuming and a tedious task but, in my opinion, definitely worth it!!  With the Bride's bouquet I choose a tulle that was decorated with rhinestones and pearls.

Then I added some hot glue the end of the stem and putting the ribbon at an angle started wrapping the stem.  I should note here that before I started wrapping the stem, I folded up the ribbon that was at the bottom so that the ribbon "capped" the stems.

As I went up the stems, I would pull the ribbon tight and periodically add more hot glue.

Using a thinner ribbon and my dearest husbands assistance (he had to hold the bouquet for this part), I criss crossed the ribbon up to the top.  I did make sure to add small amounts of hot glue to the ribbon as I worked my way to the top.  At the top I tied the ribbon in a knot and made sure to leave some ribbon to hang down.

Well, as you can see from the top picture I have finally completed all the bouquets for my sisters wedding <sigh>.  I am looking forward to posting additional pictures of all her bouquets just as soon as I have her OK (which may or may not be after her wedding).

Thanks for looking!!
*´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)

(¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ Jamie *´¨)

Etched Beer Mugs

Machine Used: Boss Kut Gazelle
Software: Funtime Scrapbooking III
Files Used: Scroll by Phyllis Parkins 0986
Materials: Glass Beer Mugs, Etching Cream, Repositional Vinyl

Here's a great, personalized Father's Day gift that he'll sure to love!!

I started out by purchasing a set of 6 glass mugs.  In the past I have used contact paper available for purchase at your local grocery stores but have unfortunately not had much luck with it.  For some reason, it doesn't seem that the contact paper adheres to the glass very well.  So, I have been using repositional vinyl, available for purchase at Bosskut.

For the first glass (the one on the right) in Funtime, I used the true type font AmericanUncIniD and typed out the Irish toast, "May there be a generation of children on the children of your children."  Added the Scroll by Phyllis Parkins 0986.  Then typed "Happy Father's Day" in the Funtime font Bookman Bold.  With the alignment tool, I centered all 3 vertically.

When it came time to cut my vinyl, I made sure to use the weeding option in the Cutting Control Panel.  This made it signficantly easier when I started weeding out the vinyl that I wanted to place on the glass mug.

Here's a picture of just how small the letters were cut and how well the Gazelle did!!  I used a vinyl blade, force of 1, and a speed of 1.  She did just BEAUTIFUL!!  Honestly the worst part was weeding each of the small letters.  Amazing how you don't notice how many letters have small bits in the middle of them until you have to weed them.  At this point you'll see that I was still arguing with where I wanted the small bits placed.  :o)

With the second glass I created an image in my PaintShop Pro for the bar that my husband is currently building in our basement.  Due to his military background, he's decided to name the bar "Check Point Pub."  The beer mugs are from the true type font PrositBats, "Check Point" is the true type font Army, and "Pub" is the true type font BrushScrD.

I saved the image as a jpeg and then imported it into Funtime.  After using the vectorization, I cleaned up the image a bit so that I would have a cleaner cut.  With a vinyl blade, I cut the image into the vinyl and applied it to the glass mug using transfer tape.  I've personally found that the transfer tape is a MUST HAVE when working with vinyl on any project.

Thanks for looking!!
*´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ Jamie *´¨)
Bosskut Design Team Member

Father's Day Card

Machine Used: Boss Kut Gazelle
Software: Funtime Scrapbooking III
Materials: Cardstock, Vellum, Metal FX Creative Covering by Con-Tact, 1/8" thick 3-D dots

Here's a card that I made for my dearest husband from our babies. 

I'm not sure how it started but for fun (no matter what we're drinking) we "cheers" each other.  So, taking this little family tradition I decided to incorporate it into his Father's Day card.

I couldn't find a beer mug or sippy cup cut file that I like SO I decided to make them myself.  The Funtime software that comes with the Gazelle is that easy to use!!  Using the basic shapes, the ability to manipulate those shapes, and the option to weld the shapes together I created simple paper piecing cut files.  I've made these files available to other Gazelle owners at the Boss Kut Forum in file sharing.

• Beer Mug
• Sippy Cup

I used the metal Con-Tact paper as the base of the beer mug.  I chose a darker color for the beer because my husband prefers a full bodied beer, of course, a yellow would also look good!  For the "frosted" look, I used vellum and the "head" of the beer is simply white cardstock.

With the vellum, I started out by embossing the lines down the glass.  The embossing mat and embossing tool are available through Boss Kut!  For the embossing, I used of force 2 and 2 passes.  I'm thinking that I possibly could have used 3-4 passes to get a "deeper" look.

For the sentiment, "Cheers" I used the print and cut option on my Gazelle.  In Funtime, I typed out the sentiment in the true type font First Grader and added an oval around it.  With the special effects option, I used the scissors to give the oval a jagged edge.  I then added the crop marks and printed out the sentiment.  I cut out the oval and high lighted the edges.  With 1/8" thick 3-D dots I added them behind "Cheers" for some dimension.

A simple card that brings in a little family fun that I'm sure he'll keep forever!!

Thanks for looking!!
*´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)

(¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ Jamie *´¨)

Father's Day Gift Box

Machine Used: Boss Kut Gazelle
Software: Funtime Scrapbooking III
Files Used: Vintage Framette II by Karen Taglia 0372,
Materials: Cardstock, silver brads, 1/8" thick 3-D dots

My dearest husband is always so hard to buy for!!  I always look for that special something for him that I know he will truly cherish and appreciate.  Since he has always been VERY supportive of my crafting and gets to see firsthand the time and love I put into each item, I decided it was time to make something special for him.

I started with a basic origami style box that I created a cut file in Funtime.  Then decorated the box with matching cardstock that I cut to size based on my dimensions of the box.  Using the Vintage Framette II by Karen Taglia 0372, I framed the sentiment "Happy Father's Day."  I also attached 4 silver brads to the corners of the vintage framette.

Using the option to use ANY pen of my choice, in the Funtime font,  Architec, I "cut" out the sentiment "Happy Father's Day."  Then I removed my pen and quickly put the blade holder back in to cut the rectangle out around the sentiment.  So EASY and I LOVE it!!  :o)

I attached the "Happy Father's Day" sentiment to the box using 1/8" thick 3-D dots for some added dimensions.

With the box finished, my daughter, son, and I will fill it with "treasures" for Daddy!!  Of course, with my babies being 3 years-old and 22 months I'm sure that Dad will get rocks, weeds "acting" as flowers, and whatever other goodies we can find!  :o)  I know that he's gonna LOVE it!!

Thanks for looking!!
*´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)

(¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ Jamie *´¨)

Bosskut Design Team Member

Spring Wreath

Machine Used: Bosskut Gazelle
Software: Funtime Scrapbooking III
Files Used: Ruffled Butterfly by Judy Stark BKD105, Wildflower Cutout 0690,  Parker Pop Kut Flower by Judy Stark BKD103, Wildflower 0687
Materials: 12" Styrofoam Wreath, Fun Fur Yarn, Cardstock, Quilting Pearl Head Pins, Ribbon

So, we're almost into summer and here I am posting a spring wreath!!  I started this around Easter and then other projects took priority.  This was for fun and I'm glad that I finally took the time to complete it!!

My inspiration for this project was from a fellow Bosskut Design Team member Becki, you can find her project here.  I very much fell in love with the look and decided that it was something I had to try! 

With my dearest daughters influence, we choose the fur with pink, purple, blue, and green.  I picked out the colors pink, purple, and green to use on the flowers because those are my daughters favorites and she's my influence for this project.  :o)

I started out wrapping the yarn around the wreath.  I thought for sure that it would take a lot more time than it actually did!!

Then months later ;o), I finally get to cutting out the "Welcome" sentiment, the beautiful Bosskut die cut flowers, and the Ruffled Butterfly by Judy Stark BKD 105.  I attached the flower and butterfly diecuts to the wreath using the pearl head pins.

With the butterfly, I added some glitter to the wings and used ocean blue ColorBox fluid chalk inkpad to the edges.

The original intent was for this wreath to hang on the front door at spring time BUT once my daughter saw it, it was hers!  :o)  She asked if we could hang it on her bedroom door instead and I'm not about to tell her no on this one.

Thanks for looking!!
*´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)
(¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ Jamie *´¨)

Very Basic Kusudama Bouquet

 Materials: 1/2 inch Floral Stem Wrap Tape, 24 Stemed Kusudama Flowers

Here's my first attempt at creating a bouquet that will be used in a wedding.  This particular bouquet will eventually be the property of my beautiful niece.  I decided to start with this one because it is the smallest bouquet that I will be assembling and therefore I felt that it would be the easiest.

For information on how I stemed my Kusudama flowers, please check out this previous blog entry.

To start I took 3 flowers that will be the center of the bouquet and arranged them the best I could as I wanted them to appear in the final bouquet.

With the floral stem tape, I started wrapping it around the 3 stems.  After having it secured tightly, I added 3 more flowers and wrapped the stems again.  I went back a forth between adding 3-4 flowers at a time to wrapping the stems until I had all the flowers in the bouquet that I wanted.

Once completed, I had about 4 inches on the stems of the flowers that was wrapped.  I may have not needed to wrap that much but my fear was that while I was wrapping that I would end up with a thick area of the stem because of the tape.  Fortunately the tape was thin that it wasn't going to be a problem.

The next step will be adding some filler in with the flowers and trimming off the excess stems.  Then I'll make sure to wrap some ribbon around the stems.

As I continue to learn and make progress with making the Kusudama bridal bouquets, I'll be posting additional tutorials as well as the final product.

Click here for the Completed Kusudama Bridal Bouquets from my sister's wedding.
Thanks for looking!!
*´¨)
¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*¨)

(¸.•´ (¸.•` ¤ Jamie *´¨)