Delightful And Simple Felt Flowers

I’ve seen my seven-year-old watching for “outdoor play” weather for more days than I care to count. I get it. We’re both tired of being cooped up! Spring has been sending promissory notes on a few blue-sky mornings but she’s been holding out on us.

According to Sam, mud puddles and rain slickers can’t compete with sunny skies and sneakers. Last weekend I decided a fun springtime craft was what we needed. Something to add a little colour to our world — something like these spring felt flowers.

Felt flowers can be made into spring wreaths, added to picture frames, made in to magnets and wearables. And the best part? Whether you call them roses, ranunculus, zinnias or poms, you can call them easy to make!

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Kids old enough to use scissors and a glue gun can help, or grab a few moments and do it yourself. Either way, the entire creative process is slightly addictive and it’s oh-so-satisfying to have flowers that last! I chose pastel hues that remind me of spring but flowers come in all shades and palattes so choose colours that speak to you.

Here’s what you need:

• 9 x 12 sheets of felt (I used 18 for my version)
• hot glue gun, hot glue sticks
• fabric scissors
• 16 x 20 oval open frame (if you decide to add your flowers to a picture frame)

Instructions:

Let's begin with making "circle" flowers. Making the flowers is not an exact science; bigger circles make bigger flowers, etc., and the process is very forgiving. “Ranunculus” take straighter edges while “roses” benefit with a few wavy cuts. You really can’t go wrong.

For the largest flowers, cut an 8-inch felt circle. Medium flowers are 4.5-inch circles and the smallest are 2.5-inch circles.

Cut a spiral into each of the felt circles. When cutting, start with a thin strip and get thicker as you cut in toward the middle.

You can stack, cut, and wrap two colour circles on top of each other for a different effect.

When your spiral cut is finished, begin with the outside end point and roll toward the middle of the spiral, hot gluing every few inches. When you get to the end of the spiral, the small circle flap will serve as the flower’s backing. Make a criss-cross of hot glue on the bottom of the flower. Secure that last circle-flap to hold everything together.

Pom-poms and smaller zinnias

For smaller flowers, cut off the remaining two inches of the felt sheets. For a larger pom, cut about a 4-inch strip. Fold strips in half and glue the edges together.

On the folded edge, make small cuts about halfway down the strip. Roll tightly to get the flower shape, securing with glue every few inches.

I added my felt flowers to a beautiful and ornate picture frame I found. To assemble, start with the biggest flowers in the middle of the arrangement and add smaller ones as you work to the frame’s edge. Once you're pleased with the layout, glue the flowers in place.

Cut a few leaf shapes out of green felt. Add a dab of hot glue to one end of each leaf and tuck them behind your chosen blooms.

These pretty felt flowers will be sure to brighten your world with a touch of spring — no April showers or mud puddles necessary for these fun blossoms that even a bored seven-year-old can appreciate!