Flower Pin Tutorial

This is my first blog tutorial - so please bear with me.  I was asked to do this after one of my pins was my entry for the first week of Summer of Color2.  List of supplies:  die and die cut machine (or you can hand cut shapes); paints/inks; atlas or map; grunge paper; felt;  heavy duty medium;  glossy finish (I use DuraClear glossy finish in combination with DecoArt Triple Thick Glossy Glaze); needle and thread; decorative buttons, beads, crystals.  Optional - clear gesso.  

These pins were die cut with Tim Holtz Tattered flower die - the largest flower.  Die cut map paper, felt and grunge paperI coat the map paper with clear gesso; use the heavy duty medium to attach to the Grunge paper.  Grunge board doesn't work with all the dies - the thinner paper is better. Next I use paints (either thinned or glazes so you can see the map) and I usually finger paint. Give one coat of  DuraClear finish and then glue on the buttons with the heavy duty medium. When it dries - sew the buttons on as well. In this case, I glued the center pearl first so I could more easily arrange the buttons.

At this point you can add crystals or pearls and sew on beads if you want.  I also coat the back (Grunge paper with some water resistant finish - gel medium or even DuraClear glossy finish.

Use the heavy duty medium to glue a pin back to the die cut felt.  When it's dry, use needle and thread (I use invisible thread to make it look neater) to sew the pin back into place.   In this case I made holes and poked curled wires through the front of the pin before I attached the felt to the back.  Then use the heavy duty medium to glue the felt to the Grunge paper.  Coat pin with Triple Thick glaze and I usually add a couple of coats of DuraClear (leaves a smoother finish) and voila - you have a pin.  I have also hand cut heart shapes to make these pins.  Hope I haven't forgotten anything - feel free to ask questions or leave a comment!!!  Thanks for stopping by.