This year we celebrate America's 250th anniversary. With festivities planned across the country, we wanted to add our own felt flare to the party! Felt Fireworks from Maker Team member Kristie of @felt_like_being_crafty are the perfect decor for an epic celebration. Grab your red, white and blue felt and follow Kristie's lead for an explosion of fun and patriotism!
Who says the fireworks can't come inside... besides the fire department? These felt stars + stripes fireworks are such a fun way to add some sparkle to your holiday table. And you won't even have to worry about burned fingers, unless you're careless with the glue gun.
Skill Level: Beginner
Time: 1 1⁄2 hours
Additional Supplies:
Die Cut Machine
Two Paper Towel Tubes
Floral Foam
Directions:
1. For firework Base, measure and cut paper towel tubes into three lengths: 4 ½”, 5” and 6”.
2. Trace tube end onto paper to create pattern for felt circles. Trace pattern onto one Orion, Cherry Red and Linen piece of felt. Cut out and set aside.
3. Press each tube into center of floral foam to fill interior. It is not necessary to fill every gap - just enough for wire to be inserted into top.
4. Turn tubes upside down and hot glue around foam to keep in place.
5. Turn tubes upright and hot glue around edge of foam and rim. Place felt circles from Step 2 as follows:
Orion - 6” tube
Cherry Red - 5” tube
Linen - 4 ½” tube
6. Use wire cutting tool to cut three 5” lengths of wire and six 3" lengths of wire. Take one 5" wire and twirl end, if desired, by wrapping around a pencil. Use awl to make hole in bottom of Star felt shape. Add a small amount of hot glue to end of wire and press into hole.
7. Use awl to make hole in center of Orion circle and hot glue other end of wire with Star through felt and floral foam.
8. Wrap remainder of Orion felt around 6" tube to determine how much is needed for covering. Mark and cut accordingly - but do not glue in place yet.
9. Use Nesting Stars die and a cutting machine to cut two 2 ½” stars from Linen felt. Use the smallest die to cut out two Cherry Red stars.
Alternatively, print and cut star shapes to use as patterns.
10. Line up front center of Orion felt and stitch Linen stars in a vertical line with DMC 817. Glue Cherry Red stars in center of larger stars.
11. Glue embellished Orion felt around 6" tube. Cut a 1” strip of Orion felt to fit around tube. Use pinking shears or scalloped scissors to decorate one edge. Glue to top edge of tube with decorative edge facing down.
12. Cut 1 ½” x 9” strip of felt from both Orion and Cherry Red felt. Carefully cut slits as shown.
13. Tightly roll each strip using small dots of glue along uncut portion to hold roll in place. Reverse tweezers may also be helpful with this step. Glue 5" piece of wire to bottom center of each felt spray.
14. With Nesting Stars die, cut twelve of the smallest star in Linen and four in Orion. Sandwich one end of 3" wires bwtween six pairs of Linen stars.
15. Use awl to make hole in center of Cherry Red circle and hot glue other Orion felt spray and three Linen stars through felt and floral foam. Twist wires so elements stick out at different angles.
16. Measure and cut Cherry Red felt to fit 5" tube. Hot glue in place. Cut a ½” strip of Cherry Red and Linen felt to fit around tube. Use pinking shears or scalloped scissors to decorate one edge of each strip. Glue to top and bottom edges of tube with decorative edges facing upward. Glue four Orion stars to front of firework.
17. Measure and cut Linen felt to fit tube. Hot glue in place. Cut two ½” strips of Orion felt to fit around tube. Glue along top and bottom edges. Use awl to make hole in center of Linen circle and hot glue Cherry Red felt spray through felt and floral foam.
18. Use Letterbox Alphabet and die cutting machine to cut out “4th of July” in Cherry Red
felt. Glue on front of firework.
Add some sparkle to your fireworks with sequins, beads or glitter. Happy Birthday, America!
Thanks to Kristie for designing and writing this tutorial! You can see more of her work on Instagram @felt_like_being_crafty. Stay tuned for more tutorials from the Benzie Design Maker Team!
