Blackberries
Supplies:
- Floral wire (18-24 gauge)
- Toilet paper – or tissue paper
- Tiny styrofoam balls (2.5-3 mm)
- Tacky glue
- Glossy Mod Podge
- Black paint
- Purple paint, or red and blue
- Green cardstock
- Scissors
- Optional: wire cutters
Step 1: Create the base
Cut a piece of wire (green or black). It should be long to easily hold onto it while working on the berry (approx. 4-5 inches)
Divide the layers of a square of toilet paper (this step is not necessary if are using 1-ply) (you could also use tissue or crepe paper)
Roll/fold the piece of toilet paper to a width of about .5 inches and secure the fold with glue.
Apply a dab of glue to one end of the folded toilet paper and attach to the end of the wire.
Wrap the toilet paper around the end of the wire, gluing it down as you wrap for extra security. Aim to overlap each layer directly on top of the previous while wrapping. You should end up with a neat cocoon shape at the end of the wire.
Step 2: Apply the beads
Coat the outside of the toilet paper in a layer of tacky glue.
Pour tiny styrofoam balls onto a plate.
Roll the glue coated tiolet paper in the styrofoam balls. Aim to coat the entire surface with the balls. If you want to be precise, you can use tweezers to apply the styrofoam balls to any sparse areas.
Let dry.
Step 3: Paint the berry
Mix together black paint with a small amount of red and blue (or purple) paint to achieve a very deep purple color.
Add two coats of paint to the berry.
Let dry.
Mix in a bit of the dark purple paint into some glossy Mod Podge and coat the berry.
Step 4: Make the leaf
Cut a small square of green paper (roughly 2”x2”).
Fold the paper in half from top to bottom.
Fold it in half again, this time side to side. Undo this fold (leave the first fold) to reveal a crease.
Fold the bottom corners up to meet in the middle of the crease. This should create a point at the bottom of the paper.
Fold in half from side to side along the crease you created earlier.
Turn the paper to where the pointed tip faces away from you, the straight crease is on the left, and the diagonal crease is on the right.
Cut a small amount of the tip off, starting from the right and aiming diagonally up towards the tip.
Unfold the small piece you cut off to reveal a four pointed leaf shape.
Step 5: Apply the leaf to the stem
Use a sharp object to poke a hole in the center of the leaf. This will make it easier to slide the leaf onto the wire.
Place a small dab of glue on the top of the berry where it meets the wire.
Slide the leaf down the wire and into the glue to secure it to the berry.
Make any adjustments to the leaf you want.
Cut the excess wire and bend it so that no sharp edge pokes out.