A while back I saw a photo of something like these flowers and couldn't find any tutorials, so I've done the leg work and recreated this elegant look using just a few basic supplies!
Supplies:
liquid gold enamel (found in the model paint section)
round nylon fine tip brush
mineral spirits (cleaner)
large flat disposable dish or pan (for plaster)
Design Master spray paint in mint
Plaster of Paris (small tub) but in usage, maybe 5 cups
several cups of water
stirring stick
plastic clothes hanger
newspaper
your choice of silk/faux flowers. The ones I used looked like a type of Magnolia.
(the more fabric in the flower, the better. Plaster won't bond to plastics.)
The first step is to pour out your plaster into the dish you've selected. Make sure that this dish can be either thrown away for used for other crafts, as the plaster may harden to the surface if not cleaned promptly. Normally in plaster projects, one would have a container of water, and simply pour the plaster in to it until the top of the pile is sticking out from the surface, but I did it the other way around. I added plaster and water until it was the consistency of pancake batter. You want it to be thick enough to coat the flower, not runny and watery. Also time will thicken your mixture because it will be starting to set even as you're working with it, so you'll need to work fairly quickly.
I just put the whole thing in there, stem and all. I made sure to squish the flower in the plaster in my hands as to get it soaked into all the tiny areas, and so it can soak through the fabric to become stiffer and stronger once dried. Your flower will be somewhat heavy after being coated with the plaster, don't worry it will be lighter once it dries. I bent the stems and hung it on a clothes hanger over some newspaper. Let your flowers dry over night to completely harden.
The flowers looks really beautiful even just like this! Again, keep in mind any plastic in the flower will repel the plaster and even if the plaster covers the plastic parts (leaves, stamens) it will break off like a chocolate shell on ice cream.
I then took my mint spray paint and just lightly coated them, putting more color in the center of the flower, and barely any on the petals. I wanted white to show through, so by just adding a touch of color, it gave the flowers a soft porcelain effect.
After about an hour you can begin the enamel. Using a thin round brush, paint the enamel along all the edges of the flower, and the very center.
Clean your brush with your mineral spirits. You'll need a more aggressive chemical to to the job as the enamel will not want to come off the brush hairs!
After all is dry and complete, feel free to arrange your flowers in vase, trim off the stems to glue them onto the lid of a box, or the side of a frame! This can be a really great way to give a really classy gift for a wedding, or for a golden anniversary!
Bethany @ Enchanted Lake
