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Nobody brings felt to life quite like Maker Team member Amy of @mikelmichelleco. In her newest tutorial, Amy creates posable plant friends that don't require any watering and can carry sweet messages in their little felt tendrils. Get out your gardening gloves and follow along!
I am a plant fiend. When it comes to receiving flowers, I much prefer them attached to a plant so I can keep them forever or until a stroke of bad luck - for the plant. I wanted to create a little Flower Pot Friend since it would be adorably thoughtful and definitely last forever. This is a great gift for anyone and it makes the perfect little desk buddy!
Skill Level: Intermediate
Time: 3 1/2 hrs
Supplies:
One 9 x 12" sheet of Coral Wool Blend Felt
One 9 x 12" sheet of Citron Wool Blend Felt
One 9 x 12" sheet of Moss Wool Blend Felt
One 9 x 12" sheet of Castle Wool Blend Felt
Felt Scraps for Flower Centers and Envelope
Flower Stamen
Pom-poms in Acorn, Medium - One per plant
Wood Pots
Pipe Cleaners
Wire Stems, 18 Gauge and 22 Gauge
Hot Glue Gun
Wire Cutters
Pliers
Darner Needle
Polyfil
Scissors
Permanent Marker
Flat Iron
Flower Pot Friend Pattern (click to download)
Directions:
1. Print the Flower Pot Friend pattern above onto cardstock and cut out stencils.
2. Trace the pattern pieces onto the corresponding colors of felt as follows:
Coral: (1) Large Flower, (1) Small Flower, and (1) Bud
Castle: (3) Root Tendrils
Citron: (2) Leaves
Moss: (2) Strips
*Use felts scraps in Fuchsia or similar color to cut Centers for Large and Small Flowers.
3. Prior to cutting out the petals, flat iron the felt pieces on the lowest setting to prepare the surface to better accept ink. Then use a permanent marker to add colorful details for a more realistic appearance. I like to test my markers on scrap felt first.
Cut out the remaining pieces.
4. Next, take approximately 7" of 18 gauge floral wire and use wire cutters to snip the end at an angle to ensure a sharp point. Create a curved bend to attach the bud stems. Cut two 4" segments of 22 gauge floral wire. Wrap the 22 gauge wires along the curved bend about four times each and twist the ends together using pliers.
5. Take a strip of Moss felt and place a thin line of hot glue along the middle, matching the size of the bud wire. Place the twisted wire into the glue and add a second even thinner line directly atop of the wire. Fold the felt over and press until cool/firm. Trim the excess felt away from the wire base. Repeat with the second bud wire.
Repeat with the long floral wire stem. Straightening the wire will make this easier.
6. Continuing with the leaves, run a thin line of glue down the center length of the leaf and place the floral wire on top. Add another very thin line of glue on top of the wire and fold the felt around it, pressing and holding along the wire until cool/firm. Cut the wire at an angle to ensure a sharp point, leaving about 2" exposed.
You can fold the leaves away from the glue line and run the flat iron over them to help the leaves open up again.
7. Next, fold a pipe cleaner in half and twist the pieces together. Begin sewing the root tendril starting along the curved point. I like to use quilt stitch here so my seams stay tight. Place a tiny bit of polyfil into the end point and insert the twisted pipe cleaner. A chopstick or stuffing tool might be useful here. Continue sewing up the length of the seam stopping every inch to squish a tiny bit more of the polyfil into the tendril. Complete your stitch along the top, working around the exposed length of pipe cleaner. Repeat with remaining pipe cleaners to make three tendrils.
8. Insert the three root tendrils up through the bottom hole of the wooden pot. Look inside and press the pipe cleaners into the ridge along the base of the pot. Clip the ends to ensure they remain hidden. Cover the pipe cleaners with a layer of hot glue.
9. Next, take the Acorn pom-pom and create a guide hole with a darner needle. Insert the Moss covered floral stem all the way though and snip the end, leaving enough length to bend the wire back into the base of the pompom. Repeat with the two leaves.
Add hot glue to the inside of the wooden pot (just beneath the lip) and insert the pom-pom. Hold in place until the pot is cool to the touch.
10. Returning to the flowers, fold the back petal piece in half and snip a tiny opening in the center. Place the opening over the bud wire, allowing the small Moss covered point of the bud wire to poke through the petal. Add a tiny dot of glue and press the middle petal piece in place.
Next, take the Fuchsia center and snip a tiny hole to insert the flower stamen. Add a tiny dot of glue and pull the center of the stamen down in place, squeezing the felt center together around it. Finally, cut the back of the stamen off, add a bit of glue and press in place on the flower. Repeat with the smaller flower and bud.
11. As an optional step, you can have your Flower Pot Friend deliver a special note. Make a mini envelope from scrap felt, flat iron over the fold lines and glue. Add a tiny note or hearts!
Yay, you made a new friend! Get it? Now, you can let your little buddies stand up tall or relax in a seated position (on the root tendrils) all while holding that sweet sentiment you’d like to share with a special someone. I had so much fun creating these little personified plants! I foresee them popping up on some teachers' desks very soon. Thank y’all for following along!
Thanks to Amy for designing and writing this tutorial! You can follow her on Instagram @mikelmichelleco or visit her website. Stay tuned for more tutorials from the Benzie Design Maker Team!
