Miniature Flower Arranging Table Tutorial

 

One Inch Scale Miniatures Needed

Work Table with Drawers, Unfinished
Chrysnbon Chair, Unfinished
Al Chandronnait Low Market Basket
Porcelain Tea Cup & Saucer
Teaspoon
Porcelain Vase
Bonnie Lavish Gardening Tools & Gloves Kit
Newspaper & Pencil
Rusty Bucket (found at Hobby Lobby)

Supplies Needed
Flower Petal & Leaf Punches (use tiny flower & leaf shaped scrapbooking punches)
Green Star Punches (use a tiny star shaped scrapbooking punch)
Green Lichen or Reindeer Moss
Cloth covered green wire (2 pieces)
Green & Ecru Thread
Wax Paper (to protect work surface)
Sandpaper
Tacky Glue
Zap-A-Gap Glue
Paper Towels
Floral Foam Block
American Accents Rust-Oleum Kit, Distressed Ivory or acrylic paint and wood stain
Crackle Medium (optional)
Matte Spray Sealer
Brown Glass Paint
Acrylic Paint:  Raw Umber, Burnt Umber, Green Umber, Avocado, Cadmium Yellow, Buttermilk,Medium Hauser Green, Brown Iron Oxide, Silver Metallic
Scissors
Fan paint brush & other small Paint Brushes
X-acto Knife
Tweezers
Toothpicks – for applying glue
Small disposable cups – for paint and/or glue
Corsage Pin – flower stems steps
Foam Pad (such as a mouse pad) – flower stems steps
Popsicle Stick – for stirring paint and/or stain
Tiny Clothespins – Garden Tools Step
Small Rag – for Work Table project
Emery Board – for sanding and distressing

Flower & Leaf Punches

I use scrapbooking punches found in Hobby Lobby, Michael’s Crafts and scrapbooking stores. Look for in-scale punches in flower petal and leaf shapes – don’t forget to look in the “Border” and “Corner” punches section. I use rice paper and colored vellum paper. Cardstock is usually too thick.   For more details on punches and paper, please see the instructions for making flowers below.  You may also want to visit the tutorial at this link.

(I recommend that you read through all the instructions before starting this project.)

PROJECT INSTRUCTIONS

Step 1. Work Table & Chair

You will need:
Work Table with Drawers, Unfinished
Chrysnbon Chair, Unfinished
Crackle Medium (optional)
X-acto Knife
Zap-A-Gap Glue
Sandpaper
Emery Board
Paint brushes – for painting and dry brushing
Small Rag
American Accents Rust-Oleum Kit, Distressed Ivory or acrylic paint and wood stain (I used buttermilk acrylic paint on the table and the American Accents Rust-Oleum Antique Top Coat to age it.)
Matte Spray Sealer
Acrylic Paint:  Raw Umber, Burnt Umber, Green Umber, Avocado

1.            Paint the work table with your choice of acrylic paint or water-base stain – two good coats should be enough, unless you plan to use the Crackle Medium.  Follow the manufacturer’s directions on the bottle if you would like to try this. Take the drawers out of the table and paint them separately.  Set aside to dry.

2.            Assemble the chair using Zap-A-Gap Glue and paint it in your choice of color(s); it will need at least two coats of paint.  (You can paint it in more than one color to make it look like an old chair that has had many coats of paint.)  Set aside to dry.

3.            Distress the work table using your Xacto knife, emery board, and sandpaper.  Concentrate on the surfaces that would normally see the most wear: work surfaces, edges and corners.  You can also use the Xacto knife to nick the top surfaces of the table and slats.  Don’t forget to distress the drawers.  See the sample for ideas. Continue until you are pleased with the results – you can make it look as worn as you like!

4.            Paint or rub the table and chair with the American Accents Antique Top Coat (make sure you stir it first).  Work in small areas at a time, and wipe off fairly quickly with small white rag provided.

5.            To simulate dirt and wear, dry brush the table and chair with some or all of the following paint colors (your preference): Raw Umber, Burnt Umber, Green Umber, Avocado.  I normally squirt a dime-sized amount of each color in a plastic cup, and take turns with each color using a fan brush.  Dip your brush into the paint, then wipe off most of it on a paper towel.  Then, lightly and quickly brush on the table, drawers and chair until you are pleased with the results.  Remember you can always add more, but it’s hard to take off!  Set aside to dry – DO NOT PUT THE DRAWERS BACK IN THE TABLE UNTIL THEY ARE COMPLETELY DRY, OTHERWISE YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THEM AGAIN.  SAVE YOUR DRY BRUSHING PAINT FOR THE REMAINING STEPS.

6.    Spray both with Matte Sealer.  Set aside to dry.

Step 2.  Bonnie Lavish Garden Gloves & Tools

You will need:
Bonnie Lavish Garden Gloves & Tools Kit
Scissors
Acrylic Paint: Medium Hauser Green, Raw Umber,Brown Iron Oxide and Silver Metallic
Tacky Glue
Paint Brushes (Fan & Small)
Tiny Clothespins

Please follow the instructions provided in the kit. Some suggestions are noted below.  Please note: be gentle as you handle the tools, as they are a bit delicate.

Gloves

1.            After you have glued the thumbs on and let them dry, paint them with your choice of acrylic paint.  (On the sample I used Medium Hauser Green and Santa Red.)  Set aside to dry.

2.            Dry-brush with Brown Iron Oxide and Raw Umber to simulate dirt. Set aside to dry.

Garden Tools

Be gentle while handling these – they are delicate!

1.            Paint the upper part and skinny part of the handle with the silver metallic paint. Let the clothes pins hold them while they dry.

2.            Dip handles in tacky glue to build them up.  Let the clothes pins hold them while they dry.

3.            Paint over the tacky glue with your choice of acrylic paint color.  (On the samples I used Medium Hauser Green.) Let the clothes pins hold them while they dry.

4.            Round the tools slightly as directed in the kit instructions. Dry-brush with Brown Iron Oxide and Raw Umber to simulate dirt. Set aside to dry.

Step 3.  Age Al Chandronnait Low Market Basket

Simulate dirt and wear by dry brushing the basket and contents with Raw Umber, Burnt Umber, Green Umber and/or Avocado acrylic paint.  You can also paint with a wash of one of these colors.

Miniature Flower Arranging Table by Kathryn Depew

Miniature Flower Arranging Table by Kathryn Depew

 


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Step 4.  Daisy Stems in Vase & Basket

You will need:

Porcelain Vase
Aged Low Market Basket from Step 3
Green Lichen or Reindeer Moss
3/8″ diameter White Daisy Punches (made with a scrapbooking punch and white rice paper)
1/8″ diameter Yellow Circle Punches (made with 1/8″ diameter circle punch & yellow cardstock)
1/4″ diameter Green Star Punches (made with 1/4″ diameter star punch & rice paper painted with Medium Hauser Green acrylic paint)
Cadmium Yellow Acrylic Paint
Foam Pad (such as a mouse pad)
Corsage Pin
Tacky Glue
Block of Flower Foam
Tweezers
Scissors

1.            Using scissors, cut from the cloth-covered green wire 6 pieces measuring approximately 1-1/2” long.  Dip each end slightly into tacky glue so the cloth won’t unravel.

2.            Taking one length of wire, dip one end in a small dot of glue and touch to the very CENTER of one of the yellow circle punches.  Dip top of circle in Cadmium Yellow paint for a very light coat – just enough to add a little dimension.  Insert stem in block of flower foam to dry.  Repeat for remaining stems.

3.            On the blue foam pad, using the corsage pin, pierce a hole in the very CENTER of a daisy punch.  Slide the daisy punch up the corsage pin to enlarge the hole.  Remove the daisy punch from the pin.  Repeat for the remaining daisy punches, and the star punches.

4.            Take one of the stems with the yellow circles on top, and place a dot of glue under the circle.  Using tweezers, slide a daisy punch up the stem, until it meets the circle.  Be gentle so that you don’t tear the circle off the stem.

5.            Place a dot of glue under the daisy punch, and slide a second daisy punch up the stem, until it meets the first.  Use your tweezers to adjust the daisy punches so that the petals are evenly spaced.

6.            Place a dot of glue under the second daisy punch.  Slide the green star punch up the stem, and press gently against the petals.  Insert stem in block of floral foam and let dry.

7.            Repeat for remaining stems.

8.            Arrange three daisies in the porcelain vase and glue some of the lichen into the vase.

9.            Glue the remaining three daisy stems and lichen into the aged Al Chandronnait Low Market Basket from previous step. Set aside to dry.

Miniature Flower Arranging Table - Top View

Miniature Flower Arranging Table – Top View

 

Step 5.  Flower Stems for Bucket & Newspaper

You will need:
Rusty Tin Bucket
Tacky Glue
Newspaper
Paint & Fan Paint brush for dry brushing
3/8″ diameter Red Flower Punches (made with a scrapbooking punch and red rice paper)
1/4″ diameter Green Star Punches (made with 1/4″ diameter star punch & rice paper painted with Medium Hauser Green acrylic paint)
Leaf Punches (made with 1/8″ leaf punch & rice paper painted with Medium Hauser Green acrylic paint)
Corsage Pin
Foam Pad
Tweezers
Block of Flower Foam
Scissors
Cadmium Yellow Paint
Yellow Sand (optional)

1.            Rub newspaper front and back with Antique Top Coat.  Dry brush with Raw Umber, Burnt Umber, Green Umber and/or Avocado acrylic paint.  Crumple Newspaper slightly as shown in picture.  Dry brush the Rusty Bucket with Green Umber and/or Avocado acrylic paint.  Set both aside to dry.

2.            Red flowers in newspaper: Cut from the cloth-covered green wire 4 pieces measuring approximately 1-1/2” long.  Dip each end slightly into tacky glue so the cloth won’t unravel. Deep one end of a stem into Cadmium Yellow paint (and in the yellow sand if desired) and set aside to dry.  Repeat for remaining stems. Use the larger red 6-petal punches. On the blue foam pad, using the corsage pin, pierce a hole in the very CENTER of a red 6-petal red punch.  Slide the punch up the corsage pin to enlarge the hole.  Remove the punch from the pin.  Repeat for the remaining 6-petal red punches, and the star punches.

3.            Take one of the stems with the yellow tip, and place a dot of glue under the tip.  Using tweezers, slide a red punch up the stem, until it meets the paint.  Be gentle so that you don’t push the punch and the paint off the stem.

4.            Place a dot of glue under the red punch.  Slide the green star punch up the stem, and press gently against the petals.  Glue two small leaves on the side of the stem, pointed end up.  Curl them outwards and press the rounded end (bottom of leaf) against the stem.  Insert stem in block of floral foam and let dry.

5.            Repeat for remaining stems.  When dry, glue onto newspaper as shown in the picture.

6.            Two Cosmos Stems: Cut from the cloth-covered green wire 2 pieces measuring approximately 1-1/2” long.  Dip each end slightly into tacky glue so the cloth won’t unravel.  On the blue foam pad, using the corsage pin, pierce a hole in the very CENTER of the two tiny yellow 5-petal punches to cup the punches.  Glue one of these to the top of the each of the stems.  Insert stem in block of floral foam and let dry.

7.            Using the pink or purple daisy punches, follow the instructions to make the daisies (in Step 4) except glue on small leaves to the stems as you did with the red flowers above.

8.            Red Wildflowers: Cut from the cloth-covered green wire 4 pieces measuring approximately 1-1/2” long.  Dip each end slightly into tacky glue so the cloth won’t unravel.  On the blue foam pad, using the corsage pin, pierce a hole in the very CENTER of the four small red 5-petal punches to cup them.  Glue one of these to the top of the each of the stems.  Glue small leaves to the side of each of the stems. Insert stem in block of floral foam and let dry.

9.            Blue & Pink Wildflowers: Cut from the cloth-covered green wire 4 pieces measuring approximately 1-1/2” long.  Dip each end slightly into tacky glue so the cloth won’t unravel.  On the blue foam pad, using the corsage pin, pierce a hole in the very CENTER of the four tiny pink 5-petal punches and the four small blue 5-petal punches to cup them.  Glue one of the pink punches to the top of the each of the stems. Place a dot of glue under the pink punch and slide the blue punch up the stem, and press gently against the petals. Glue small leaves to the side of each of the stems. Repeat for remaining stems.  Insert stem in block of floral foam and let dry.

10.          Arrange and glue the Cosmos and wildflower stems in bucket (you may add a few to the basket with the daisies, also.)


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Step 6.  Miscellaneous Accessories

You will need:
Miniature Porcelain Tea Cup & Saucer
Brown Glass Paint
Miniature Teaspoon
Paint & Paint brush for dry brushing
Green & Ecru Thread
Zap-A-Gap Glue
Pencil
Tacky Glue

1.            Glue the miniature teacup and teaspoon to the saucer with Zap a Gap. With a toothpick, drop a small amount of brown glass paint into the bottom of the teacup and on the teaspoon to simulate a drained cup of tea. Set aside to dry.

2.            With a very small amount of a brown and/or green acrylic paint on your fingers, run your fingers down the length of the ecru and green pieces of string.  Wind each around the end of a paintbrush handle and slide off to make a small circle.  Glue each bundle of string into one of the table drawers.

3.            Dry brush the Pencil with Raw Umber, Burnt Umber, Green Umber and/or Avocado acrylic paint (or just roll it around in your fingers with a little paint).  Glue into the drawer with the string.

Miniature Flower Arranging Table by Kathryn Depew

 

Finishing your Flower Arranger’s Table

Glue your vase, newspaper with flowers, garden tools and gloves to your table top.  Glue your bucket and basket on the slatted shelf below.  You can refer to the photo or class samples for ideas on placement or arrange as you desire.  You are finished!   I hope you enjoyed the project and learned some new skills.  If you have any suggestions, corrections or comments, please let me know!


Copyright 2011 Kathryn Depew

Have you tried this project? Please comment below and leave your ideas and suggestions! Would you like to share your creation? Please contact me!


One Response to Miniature Flower Arranging Table Tutorial

  1. Kelli A. says:

    I do love these miniatures! I’m glad I found your blog, or it found me, I’m not sure how it worked!

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