5.30.2011

Happy Memorial Day + Paper Starburst Flower Tutorial

Happy Memorial Day!
To all those who have lost their lives serving our country, to our vets and current active duty members and families of the military.....
our family thanks you from the bottom of our hearts.


Dave bought a new flag for our front porch this weekend. Our old one was quite worn.
While he was hanging the flag I was busy making these pretty little paper starburst flowers to help us celebrate the patriotic holidays.

This weekend Dave and I took a little overnight date night...{we will share more tomorrow as part of our Dear Dave + April post} but it included a walk through Paper Source. There I was inspired by the storefront windows that had all these sunburst hanging in solid prints.



I knew they would be perfect in pretty prints and I was pretty sure I could make them myself without their kit.

I purchased some pretty red, white & blue printed paper from Paper Source and some Zots adhesive dots and came home and got to work.



Each flower takes 2 pieces of 12 x 12 paper cut into 8 - 6 x 6 squares.
Now here was where the harder part came....cutting out my own template.


I remembered that two opposing corners met together while the other two opposing corners were about an inch apart. I measured in 1" from the edge to create the first box. On the two corners that didn't meet together I stopped my drawing 1/2" from each end. I then came in 2" from the outside edge to create the inner box following the same guidelines.


Since I don't own an exacto knife, I used one of Dave's disposable small box cutters to cut through my template. I then placed the template over two sheets of paper to help move the project along faster. At first I used a ruler to follow the template cuts, but then was able to free cut it with the box cutter.


Next, using one of the Zots glue dots roll inside square together as shown.
Flip paper over and roll the second square adhering with a zot in the center. And then flip over again to roll together the last outside square.



This is your finished product. After you have finished making all 8 pieces. Assemble four pieces together by facing all the same direction, stapling bottom corners together and then stapling middle roll from one piece to outside roll from the facing piece. The pictures show this in detail.





Once you have two 4-piece sections stapled together....staple them all together to form a full circle.


Once I had my template made it only took me about 12 minutes each to make a complete starburst flower including cutting the template onto each piece of paper. I made three total to string together like garland.




I punched a small hole at the top of each of the starburst flowers and strung them with twine, tying them off at the right distance so they wouldn't slide. I think this craft might actually finally qualify me as a DIYer!

They will be perfect for the whole month of July too!!

And because this makes me an official DIYer...I'm linking up with my friend, Cindy at Skip to My Lou!

And, my other friends....Kim at Today's Creative Blog and Jen's Weekend Wrap-up Party at Tatertots & Jello!

post signature

43 comments:

  1. Wow, these are great. I bookmarked it so that I can make them for 4th of July. Thanks for sharing and giving such great directions!

    Jessica
    Stop by and say hi
    www.jessabellstamps.blogspot.com

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  2. These look so cool! Thanks for the tutorial!

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  3. I've seen those before and they always looked so complicated! Thanks for the tutorial. I'll definitely have to give them a try!

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  4. Love them! Right up my alley!

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  5. Just wanted to let you know I shared this post on my blog! It is so cute!

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  6. What a great tutorial. I never would've guessed they only took 2 sheets of paper. They look great! Thanks for sharing.

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  7. I LOVE these! Thanks for making the tutorial, I'm going to make my mom some for her bday (which happens to fall on July 4th!). Very cute!

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  8. I love this! I might have to do several for my front porch in celebration of the 4th. Thank you for sharing!

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  9. I love these and it doesn't look as complicated as I thought they would be thanks to your great tutorial! Now I just wish I had a big old white front porch to hang them on!

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  10. What a great idea! These are so festive, I can't wait to use the idea!

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  11. I have always wanted to learn how to do this! Great tutorial, April!

    Look at you go...craftin' it up. :)

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  12. This would be a super cute way to use up some of my scrapbook paper. I can't wait to make these with some of my summer paper. Thanks for the tutorial!

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  13. fantastic tutorial.....love these! will add to summer projects!
    Beth

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  14. Those are seriously adorable! They would be great for almost any kind of party! Stopping by from Tatertots & Jello:)

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  15. What a great idea!! I am a new follower!! I would love if you could link this up to my Delicately Constructed Friday!! Thanks so much!
    Have a great weekend!
    Michelle
    www.delicateconstruction.blogspot.com

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  16. What a wonderful tutorial! They look great on your porch! Love the little dog! :) I am so glad I found you over at delicate CONSTRUCTION! I am your newest follower. I would love it if you would link this up to my Summer Lovin Soiree! http://www.homemakerinheels.com/2011/06/summer-lovin-weekend-soiree-4.html
    Have a great weekend! :)
    Crystal
    Homemaker in Heels

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  17. Those are so pretty and that's a great tutorial!

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  18. Oh I love those! They would be perfect for a party - great tutorial!

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  19. Love these! I'm definitely going to go to the scrapbook section next time I go to the craft store. :)

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  20. Wow, these are lovely, i can't beleive that you just figured them out... You are definetly a crafter! Great tutorial as well. I can't wait to try these. What fun.

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  21. THANK YOU so much for posting this! I saw these at the Paper Source also, and loved them, but didn't like their solid colors. I really wanted to figure out how to make them myself... and your tutorial made it so easy! I'm definitely making these for my daughter's upcoming birthday party! (P.S. I found you on Tatertots & Jello)

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  22. Beautiful! How creative and something I could maybe do with my kids. Love it.

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  23. Those are fantastic! I couldn't have ever figured out the math and measuremants! :) I'll be bookmarking this post so I can TRY to make em! :)

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  24. hi! i love your starbust flowers! i want to get busy and make some of my own to add some flavor to our house! each week i post a "what i made of the week" and i would love to do these! i will show a link to your AWESOME blog so everyone can see where i learned how to make them! i read your blog all the time and i love the items you sell! those earrings are to die for! thank you so much for your inspiration and for helping me bring some cute new decor to our humble abode! <3

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  25. Thank you for sharing these! They are beautiful!!!

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  26. What a gorgeous decoration! We'd love to see you link up to our Monday Link Up and share this with our readers. www.dimpleprints.com

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  27. i absolutely LOVE these and will be attempting these myself!

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  28. I love these! I featured them on my blog today.

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  29. These look fantastic! Can't wait to try them myself!

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  30. Loved these. I made one and it turned out so cute- thanks for sharing! (I had to share on my blog as well :)

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  31. GAH!!!! Fabulous!! I can't wait to try this!! I'm stopping by from Sugar Bee! :)

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  32. These look great!

    I am having a Red, White and Blue Linky Party and hope you will join in on the fun!
    http://www.itsybitsypaperblog.com/2011/07/red-white-and-blue-linky-party.html

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  33. Another method is to fold the square in half, then in half again, then make slits with scissors from the side showing the single fold...

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  34. Awesome! I hope to make a red and green trio for Christmas!

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  37. I have also gone through your other posts too and they are also very much appreciate able and I'm just waiting for your next update to come as I like all your posts.
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