does anyone know how to make dandilions? I thought of using the foam circles that are generally used for science projects as the base for the seeds, but how should I make the seeds? (the parts that blow away when you make a wish) Any ideas?
How about the toothpicks with the fringe things on the end? They wouldn't blow, but if you used all yellow or all white (if they have white), it would look like the seed part and it would be easy to stick in the foam balls. Good luck!
Just a thought.....use drinking straws . Cut them down to the length you will need then insert them into a styrofoam ball. Then for the desired color use spray paint.
Brown play doh, toothpicks for the stem and thin curly ribbon for the "feather" and a glue gun & tweezers.
If you don't need it to actually blow away but just want the look, you could use tissue paper. Cut small squares of tissue, put your finger in the middle of the square & then pull the tissue up & crumple around your finger. You can then stick the tissue to a styrofoam ball with a thick glue that dries clear, like Aleene's Tacky Glue. It is more of an "abstract" version - not as realistic as some of the other suggestions, but it may be easier to make & transport instead of having to use pins or other sharp objects - especially if your daughter is helping you. Hope this helps! :)
B.,
For each* dandelion, I would buy a whole box of round, wooden toothpicks. Then I would dip or brush each toothpick with craft paint -- 2/3 grey and 1/3 white. I would paint the Styrofoam ball grey - same as the "lower" part of the pick. Then assemble with the grey ends of the picks into the ball and the white points out. Place the picks as close as possible together and push them in to the exact (as possible) same depth. Cover the whole ball, with only a circular "base" left free (for the stalk and leaves). I think this should approximate a dandelion flower head, with a bit of a white halo on the outside edges.
Finally, assemble into a flower by inserting a long, grey or green pipe-cleaner "stalk." I think you could cut "raggedy" dandelion leaves out of tissue or craft paper and push them up to the base of the flower, where you can glue into place with a drop of glue.
You could do a batch of them and leave the picks off of a space on some of the balls -- to look as if they have already been "blown." Maybe place a few individual picks around the bunch, on the table (or on a base of some sort, if these are table centerpieces.)
* Obviously the number of toothpicks required to cover each foam ball will depend on the size of ball used. Also, you might experiment with flat toothpicks versus the round ones - and see which looks more like a dandelion. I think the flat ones are thinner and have one end broader than the other. In this case, I would probably stick the pointy end into the foam ball and leave the broader end outward to emphasize the white paint.
Have great fun and let us know which recommendation you use and what looks the best.
God bless!
K.
Hi B.,
foam ball, yarn - cut into small pieces,pull the yarn apart for the fly away part,
sequence beads your choice of color, or gets some earth tone beads small round ones and some push pins. Small wooden dowel rod and pant differ shades of green for stem.
stick pins in the foam ball, glue your pieces of yarn on the tip of the sequence bead and stick your rod in your foam ball. good luck with your project.
What about taking a pice of brown paper ( or even making seeds out of Sculpey Clay that you bake in your oven)attaching it to a piece of wire. Then on the other end of the wire use the fine floaty kind of boas. Not the one with the actual feathers just the soft part. And glue bits of that on the other end so it looks like the acutall seed and floaty soft part. Make a bunch of those and then stick them in the foam ball. I dont think you could actually blow on them and they would work. Thats the best I got for now!!! Best of luck. Also have you ever pulled a cat tale apart there extreamly messy and soft like the dandilions. Also theres those plants that look like big green hay stacks with off white fluffy stems that might do the trick.
How old are the kids? How about pins in a dry marshmallow on a skewer?
The cat tail suggestion seems neat, as well as the feather boa material. Try making it several ways before you get enough supplies for hte entire group.
When I was an elementary art teacher, I figured if I could do something in 5 minutes or less, they could do it with, especailly with half the materials prepared, in half an hour.
And you actually want stuff to blow off it, right?... using Q-tips comes to mind. Mayabe cut each down so that the Q-tip & stick part are all the same length. You should be able to stick those all over and into the foam balls... and if you wanted colored one (i know, not natural! But little girls love pink and purple), you can probably do a quick dye soak on them too if you're careful not to let the cardboard stick parts get too soggy.
As for blowing stuff off it... Maybe a light spraying of spray adhesive all over the Q-tip and then roll/dip it into silver glitter or confetti...? Hmmm, or maybe you could dip in flour? Or a flour and glitter mixture? You wouldn't want the adhesive to be too sticky; you'd want some 'what-not' to blow off... You'll have to be really careful in transporting them to the function.
Have fun.
I don't know what age you are dealing with or if you are just looking for the "look" of the dandilions or for it to accutally function.
If you are just looking for the look, how about splitting a feather down the middle of the shaft and rapping it around the end of a straight pin or straw. Or something to just give the feel could be a sequince glued to the top of the straight pin.
Q-tips, cut in half and frayed and placed inside of straws would make them removable.
Other small flowers silk baby's breath could work too. Or you could just fray the end of straws. Cut the tips and flatted it on the table. Good luck.
Ostrich feathers they are at craft stores not cheep but would be great for that purpose. Because of the cost be sure and use a very small ball use a small cake tester stick for the stem covered with the green floral arrangements.
