Making Tulips

The National Association of Miniature Enthusiasts is having an online house party with the theme of "Around the World in 8 Days."

It includes a swap where the theme is visiting various countries around the world. I decided to participate in the swap because I could make tulips as a gift from The Netherlands.

I combined two tutorials.

The blog My Small Obsession has a brilliant Paper Tulip tutorial. And the UK magazine Dollshouse and Miniature Scene had a tulip tutorial by Marianne Cook in the April 2017 issue. I had printed it out in 2017 and kept it as a project To Do.

My Small Obsession uses coffee filters for the paper. And she uses a regular hole punch to punch circles. I love when tutorials use supplies that I have around the house! I shaped the punched circles on an eraser or foam pad using a ball stylus.

Then I followed the advice of Marianne Cook and dipped the 50 mm wires into yellow paint. (That seemed easy). Per Cook, I added three brown threads around the "pistil."

Then I took three shaped petals and put them around the pistil, spaced evenly. When those dried, I added another three petals overlapping.

Then I cut the leaves as directed. I wrapped them around the bottom of the wire.

Once dry, I stuck each flower into self-drying clay in a bead. And luckily, since I had to make 18 items for the swap, one tulip looked lovely in the bead.

And off I mailed my 18 tulips. I should receive 15 swap items back in May (I think). I can't wait. I'll show you the swap packages when I receive them.

The Cook tutorial also suggests painting each petal for that tulip look, so I tried that with one tulip. I am definitely tempted to try to make more in this style.