These aren't your ordinary felt flowers... they're extraordinary! Maker Team member Colleen of @thejoyfulfelter created a new tutorial for Spooky Sunflowers that are equal parts grim and glamour. Something about sunflowers already feels otherwordly, but this finish takes them to another ghostly dimension!
I’m excited to share my sunflower pattern with you! You can use this pattern to make a classic sunflower, with a brown center and yellow petals, but today we are going to embrace the season and make them spooky!
Skill Level: Beginner
Time: 90 minutes per flower
Additional Supplies:
Ultra Fine Tip Marker, Black
Hole Punch
Paper Towel
Ruler
Supplies above will yield three sunflowers 7" in diameter.
Directions:
Sunflower Center
1. Cut 12 x 18" sheet of Black felt into nine 1 x 18" strips. Gather three strips and set remainer aside.
2. Fold one Black strip in half lengthwise and glue halves along bottom edge. Work in small sections with hot glue so it doesn't dry prematurely.
3. Make cuts every 1/4" along folded edge, halfway to other edge. Cuts don't have to be exact and any mistakes can be fixed with glue when assembled.
Repeat Steps 2 and 3 with two more 1 x 18" strips.
4. To assemble center, put a dot of glue on non-fringe edge of one strip and roll inward, like a cinnamon roll. Add glue about 1" at a time below fringe and continue wrapping around growing center.
5. When first strip is fully glued, continue with second and third strips in same manner to make one large fringed center.
6. Flip over center to non-fringed side. Gently push on center to create slight dome shape, mimicking a real sunflower. Add zig zag of glue along back to hold dome in place.
Sunflower Petals
7. Cut 12 x 18" sheet of Graphite felt into six 2 x 18" strips. Gather two strips and set remainder aside.
8. Cut strips into 2 x 3/4" rectangles to make 48 pieces for petals. Don't worry if rectangles are not exact.
9. From long edge of rectangle, cut a curve that ends at center of short side. Cut a mirror image on opposite side to form a pointed petal shape. This can be drawn with a heat erasable pen or cut freehand.
10. Use extra fine tip permanent marker to draw line up center of petal, stopping 1/2" from point. From top of first drawn line, draw lines on either side, following shape of petal, leaving an 1/8" border between lines and petal edges.
11. Put dot of glue at center bottom of a petal and squeeze closed. While holding closed, pull other end back to arch and open petal shape.
Repeat Steps 9-11 with remaining 2 x 3/4" rectangles.
Sunflower Stems
12. Wrap one end of floral wire around two fingers. Lay remaining length of wire across paper towel.
13. To create stem thickness, wrap paper towel around straight section of wire and glue in place.
14. Cut 1/2 yard of Zuchinni felt into nine 3/4 x 36" strips. Gather three strips and set remainder aside.
15. Cut a triangle from end of one 3/4 x 36" strip. Add glue to angled cut and press to top of wire just above paper towel.
16. Continue adding glue in small sections and wrapping felt strip tightly around wire. Slightly overlap each rotation so no paper towel is visible. Add new strips as needed to completely cover wire.
17. At bottom of wire, cut another triangle from end of felt and glue to base. Squeeze along length of stem to smooth out bumps and evenly distribute thickness.
Sunflower Leaves
18. Cut remaining Zuchinni felt into three 5" and three 4" squares. Gather one square of each size and set remainder aside.
19. Round corners of each square to create circles. Fold circles in half and use hole punch to make hole in center. Use Frixion pen to draw circle with 1/4" border around center hole.
20. Cut each circle into eight sections from edge to drawn circle. Cut end of each section into onion dome shape to make leaves.
Sunflower Assembly
21. Put dot of glue on bottom front of petal and press to back edge of center. Repeat until there is one row of petals around center. It should take approximately 20-24 petals. Attach petals so their sides, not bottoms, touch.
22. Add remaining petals between gaps in first row by putting a dot of glue on bottom front of each petal and wedging it between two affixed petals until secured to center. After completing second row, remaining petals can be placed where needed.
23. On back of sunflower center, add a large amount of hot glue and place coiled end of floral wire in center. Hold in place until set.
24. Slide larger leaves up the stem, pulling to widen center hole if needed. Glue every other leaf to bottom of flower.
25. Use scrap pieces of felt (cut, if needed) to stuff under leaves to create dimension. Once satisfied, glue down four remaining leaves.
26. Slide smaller set of leaves up the stem in similar manner. Arrange so leaves are situated between first set. Pull at sides of each leaf to create dimension. Glue down ends, overlapping slightly until secured.
27. Adjust your sunflower and place somewhere that needs a little extra spook!
Use this tutorial as a starting point to create endless variations of this favorite flower. Simply changing the dimensions or colors will create a different feel for whatever the occassion. I hope you enjoyed making spooky sunflowers and will enjoy displaying them every October for years to come!
Thanks to Colleen for designing and writing this tutorial! You can see more of her work on Instagram @thejoyfulfelter. Stay tuned for more tutorials from the Benzie Design Maker Team!
