Craftberry Bush

Inspiration blues…

flowers· gift· gift wrapping· mother's day· paper roses· spring

April showers, May flowers…or so the saying goes.  There has been an abundance of precipitation around here of late, so I am expecting a plethora of flowers this year.  With so much rain in the forecast, it makes the little bursts of sunshine even more desirable.

I think that along with the sun, my inspiration is also hidden in the clouds.  For the past few days, I have been waiting for inspiration to come…

…but it hasn’t.  Perhaps it’s the rain and the dark clouds that are making me feel a little blue and uninspired.

I have created these little clay Hydrangeas and am hopeful sharing these pictures and my thoughts will get me out of this ‘funk’.  Your words of wisdom always touch my heart and make me smile.

So here they are ready for their close up.  I went searching for some milk glass for Mother’s Day and was lucky to have found several pieces.

I also found a beautiful vintage frame which I painted white, and bought some gorgeous smelling soaps from a little boutique near by (shopping therapy often works).  I plan on making a sweet little package for my mum for Mother’s Day.  She loves Hydrangeas and these items will look great in her bathroom.

The necklace was a gift from hubby and the ring is his Nan’s wedding band.  It was given to me by my sweet Mother-in-Law.  Nan, who is going to be 90 years old this fall, lives in England and is the epitome of a posh English lady.  Unfortunately, she suffers from Parkinsons and dementia, which is a heart-breaking disease for everyone involved in her life.
I managed to take some photos of my clay Hydrangeas resting upon some real Hydrangea leaves.  I think they look lovely and could pass for real.
I had originally prepared a tutorial using polymer clay and a different technique, but found it very complicated to take pictures of the steps.  Then, I came across a tutorial – courtesy of Martha Stewart – that I found was much simpler and you can even watch a video of it here.  So I combined the tutorials and hope you like the results.
You will need:
White Crayola Model Magic (air drying clay)
blue food coloring
toothpick
floral wire
floral tape
scissors
You could use either the Model Magic or the Polymer clay.  For this tutorial, I decided to use the Model Magic because the material is similar to the one used on the Martha show.
But here is my little secret…you have the ability of making any color you want by adding a few drops of food coloring to the clay.  It does not change the consistency and you save some money in the process.  For this particular color, I used approx one drop of blue and less than a drop of red.  I had originally written the steps on my pictures, but feared they are too small, so I have also written them below. 

1. Make an oval shape of approx 1.5″
2. Cut the top part in four as shown
3. Flatten each petal with your fingers and round the tips
4. With a toothpick, make the indentations for each petal and make a little hole in the centre.

5. Roll a small piece of yellow or blue clay for the stamen
6. Apply it to the centre of the flower with the toothpick
7.Allow to dry (approx24 hrs or if using polymer clay bake as per package instructions)
Note: If you are using polymer clay, insert wire at the bottom of flower prior to baking.
8. Once dry, pierce floral wire to the bottom, secure with a little hot glue.
9. Wrap wire with floral tape and group into bunches of 4 or 5
10. Wrap all stems together with floral tape.

I think they look very sweet sitting in the milk glass.  I placed some of my coffee filter roses to go along with the display.

I also bought these gorgeous Hydrangeas at our local nursery.  I bought some for my mom and some for my mother-in-law.  Let’s hope someone buys some for me as well (honey?).

Thank you once again for stopping by.  Knowing that you are here always makes me feel better.  I look forward to hearing from you and finding out how and where you find inspiration.

much love,
Lucy

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Comments

  1. I have the honor of being your “linky neighbor” over at My Romantic Home. Hydrangeas are actually my favorite flower, you sort of get a bouquet with one stem;) Mine have not bloomed yet, hopefully some time in May. Have a wonderful weekend, xxx tami
    p.s. hope you’ll stop by my blog to join in my giveaway

    Reply

  4. Awwww-I’m sorry you have the blues! It’s this stinking weather we are all having-I know it is! That and the fact that artists (and you ARE an artist) have to have some down time from all that creating..you gotta recharge, girl! Your hydrangeas are perfect…some poor little bee will come along and bang his little stinger off trying to worm his way into those beautiful little blossoms….maybe THAT will make you smile!

    Your necklace is gorgeous and I love Nan’s wedding band. My own father died of Parkinsons when I was only 21. He got it when I was 11. Thankfully for us (maybe not so much for him because in the end he could barely be understood) his mind was as sharp as a tack. He has been gone all these years and I still miss him.

    Lovely post today, Lucy! You will have your mojo back before you know it! Try vodka!;>) xxoo Diana

    Reply

  6. Oh I think the hydrangeas are SO pretty! And ALL projects are worth sharing! I usually even share when my projects go wrong 😉 No worries, that’s my favorite part about the blogging world- so much support! 🙂

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  7. What precision you grace your craftiness with. Thank you for the blessing of sharing your talent. And thoughts of your nan. Too many peope find fault too fast when they should be seeking beauty- even if it takes awhile.

    Godspeed and Good Fortune.

    Reply

  12. Hi Lucy,
    Your hydrangeas are gorgeous; one of my favourite flowers. Your photos are wonderful too. Thank you for stopping by today and leaving your nice comment. I would welcome you to tea anytime! Have a lovely weekend.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

    Reply

  16. Oh Lucy, your hydrangeas are so pretty! You’ve displayed them so nicely too. I also love those coffee filter roses…I think I’m going to have to take a peek at that. Thanks for linking up this week. Hope you had a nice Mother’s Day 🙂

    ~Tricia

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  19. The inspiration and creativity shared in this post remind us of the beauty that can be found even in difficult times. Embracing color and artistic expression can be therapeutic, offering comfort and joy. In addition to nurturing our spirits, it’s essential to consider the emotional and physical needs of our loved ones. Understanding the differences between palliative care vs hospice can help families make informed decisions about end-of-life care. Both approaches provide support, but knowing when to transition to hospice can enhance the quality of life for those in need.

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