Make felt cuts using my pattern. I suggest a selection of different sizes if you plan to create a felt succulent arrangement. Although the default size is generally the largest you want to go because it fits on an 8.5 x 11 sheet of felt, you can resize it to be smaller. The darker green object in my photo is at its largest size, while the lighter green shape was shrunk so that the entire collection of shapes measured only 5.5 across.
After cutting out your parts, color them to give them a more realistic appearance. Shade the leaves by applying blush and eyeshadow (refer to photos of real succulents to see the shading). Then, to create a contrasting edge that many natural plants have, put an oil pastel crayon on the edges. As an alternative, try lipstick!
After that, center the largest group of leaves with your hot glue gun by applying a ring of glue there. Do not apply glue directly in the center. You want it to be in the middle instead (but not at the edge of the center either).
Put a set of the second-largest leaves on top of the first, offset so they are in the middle of the leaves in the bottom layer. Create an indentation in the center by applying pressure with the point of anything, such as your tweezers.
Over the two that have previously been glued together, place the other pair of leaves. To keep it compacted with the other two, apply more pressure to the center. By doing this, you may give your succulent a better shape and prevent it from looking like a flat collection of felt bits.
You must first bind the next two pairs of leaves into a slender cone form. Just put a small amount of glue on the tiny “V shape, then fold the two sides over. A natural dish will result from this.
Continue sticking the leaves to the felt plant after you’ve dished them out. Once more, after placing each set of leaves into position, use rings of glue to push down in the middle of each set of leaves.
Roll up the final piece and glue it into the shape of a wrapped blossom to make the one that sits in the middle of the.
Put glue in a ring in the middle of your glued plant and push the bud into it. This will cause the leaves around the bud to move up against it. To help your bud take on the shape of the actual plant, some (or all) of the leaves on that final layer should adhere to the sides of your bud.
Step 1: Cut the pieces out using the felt succulent templates
With my Cricut Maker, I enjoy cutting felt with the rotary blade. Use the firm grip mat when using the blade if you don’t have a Maker.
Can a Cricut be used to cut felt?
YES! Both the Cricut Maker and the Cricut Explore may be used to cut felt. Even while the Maker offers additional possibilities for felt cutting, the majority of Cricut machines can absolutely cut felt. My preferred tool for felt cutting is the Cricut Maker.
No fraying
Cut edges won’t fray because felt isn’t woven. This makes it a wonderful material for no-sew crafts and a great practice tool for children learning to sew. Since no hemming is necessary for individual pieces, it’s also a great material to use when making appliques or decorations to add to other projects.
Inexpensive
Although there are more expensive high-end felts available, felt is generally a very inexpensive material to work with, which again makes it an excellent practice material for beginning sewers. However, keep in mind that felt does act very differently from woven materials, so avoid attempting to use felt to simulate projects you want to produce from woven fabrics.
Easily accessible
Although there are many different types of felts to choose from in every fabric store, you won’t even need to visit your neighborhood craft store if you’re seeking for felt for crafts. Sheets of felt are frequently available at dollar stores, hobby shops, and supermarkets that carry basic craft items. You can purchase felt by the yard at your local fabric store if you need it for larger projects or finer grades of felt. You might even use unspun wool to create your own felt at home if you’re feeling particularly daring.
Versatile
There are so many applications for felt that the list is practically limitless. It’s ideal for scarves, mittens, and other winter accessories. Use it to add texture to throw cushions with felt forms, or use it to adorn the house by stringing together festive shapes into custom garlands. By adding felt padding to furniture legs, you may protect your flooring and offer aesthetic storage with simple felt boxes. Felt bags and handbags are a terrific way to decorate, and thicker varieties are even water-resistant, making them a great option for house shoes and slippers. The only restriction on felt projects is your imagination! See this article for many more felt-related suggestions.
Minimal elasticity
It doesn’t have much give if you pick up a piece of felt and pull on the opposing sides. Though felt tends to be relatively stiff and unyielding compared to woven fabrics, lighter weight felt will have more elasticity than its heavier equivalents. It is not a good material for most clothing because it does not drape, flow, or even breathe properly. Additionally, you’re out of luck if you extend it out. Unlike knits or other stretchy fabrics, felt cannot be easily returned to its original size and form after being stretched out of shape.
Coarse texture
Many felts are not only a slightly stiff fabric but also have a rough texture. It lacks the luster of silks or satins, as well as the buttery soft touch of minky or fleece. This is related to the sort of fiber required to manufacture felt; rough fibers mat together into a solid fabric far more readily than smooth ones. Naturally, not all tasks require a delicate, flowing fabric. Felt is a great contrast when used as a decoration or trim because of its texture.
Potential for shrinking
Another potential drawback of working with felt is that, if cleaned improperly, some varieties, especially those made of natural wool, are liable to shrink. Handwashing or using a cool, delicate cycle in the washing machine can usually prevent this. But be sure to refrain from using a dryer. Felt goods should be reshaped and laid flat to dry, exactly like a wool sweater.
Although felt may be in a different league from other materials, it is certainly not always the star performer. You can confidently plan your next felt project now that you are aware of some of the disadvantages of working with felt as well as some of the qualities that make it particularly beneficial.
Are you an expert at making felt already? Do you want to share your favorite project with us? Tell us everything in the comments section below!
How do you paper over a succulent?
Even though your wedding day will undoubtedly be remembered for all the right reasons, it’s wonderful to give your guests a souvenir. Give them something that will brighten up their home instead of koozies and cookies, like a succulent wrapped in burlap.
Which felt type works best for felt flowers?
*While you may make these flowers with synthetic felt, I strongly advise using wool felt instead because the completed flowers have a much nicer texture and weight.
Start by cutting a circle from the color of felt you intend to use for your flower. (Your finished felt flower will have a diameter that is approximately half that of the circle you cut.) Cut a spiral around the circular with the shears as shown.
Apply a small amount of hot glue to the spiral’s end to hold it in place. Set the blossom aside with care.
Cut a circle piece with shears that is about the same size as the flower’s reverse side. On the entire backside of the rolled flower, liberally spread hot glue.
Attach the circle-shaped piece of felt to the flower’s backside by pressing hard to fasten. Be very generous with your usage of hot glue in the preceding stage so that the flower won’t come unrolled.
Cut out leaves from the green felt if desired, then glue them to the sides of the finished felt flowers.
It only takes a few minutes to make these rolled felt flowers, but they are so much fun and useful! I made a cute centerpiece for spring with mine.
How should felt flowers be made?
Choose the color you want your flower to be in the first phase. I really like using colorful felt for this!
Take the felt sheet that you intend to use for the petals of your felt flowers, which measures 812 inches.
It should be cut into four equal 2 x 12 inch strips and should be oriented with the longest side towards you.
It’s not necessary for these cuts to be completely straight because the edges will end up becoming the bottom sides of the felt flower. I simply fold the felt in half, then cut along the fold, never even measuring these.
Once more folding it lengthwise, glue the two longest sides of the felt strip together. In the video, this process is really apparent.
The petals can now be cut. Start by making a series of tiny openings that are between a quarter and a third of an inch apart on the felt tube’s unglued side.
You decide how far apart these cuts should be. I’ve discovered that smaller is preferable, but you don’t want them to be absurdly little.
You want the piece to remain intact as a whole. The end result should be a strip of tiny loops.
Once more, the video makes this step of creating felt flowers very apparent.
The strip will then be rolled and adhered together to create the felt flower.
Roll your felt tube tightly together after applying a tiny dab of glue along the seam where it is linked to the other end.
For a more polished appearance, I typically cover the felt flower’s end seam with the leaf.
These felt flowers can be transformed into a variety of items. In order to finish this project, I simply attached a magnet on the back.
Check your freshly made felt flower for any strings of hot glue that may still be attached, and then carefully peel them off.
These tiny gifts of felt flowers are wonderful. They can also be used for a variety of other things, such as headbands, wreaths, or in place of bows on gifts!