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Kirstie's Handmade Britain
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How To Make Paper Gelatine Flowers
If you’d like to make a display of pretty gelatine flowers like those in Kirstie’s Handmade Britain, here’s how.
By Kirstie Allsopp
Leaf gelatine
Heat-proof bowl
Covered wires
Food colouring
Stamens
Floral tape
Paintbrush Oasis
Skill
It's a little bit fiddly but if you have everything ready and to hand, even a child can do it successfully!
Budget
Gelatine costs just a couple of pounds, as does floral oasis and tape, so a large bunch of flowers should cost you under £10.
Time
This is a quick process, but the flowers do need to be left to dry overnight.
Step One: Soak The Gelatine
Soak your gelatine leaf for about 10 minutes in cold water until it feels soft and pliable like a wet dishcloth.
Step Two: Prepare The Wires
While the gelatine is soaking, prepare your wires. Either make your petal shape free-hand or mould them round a metal petal cutter. Twist the wire to enclose the shape. You can paint it with the paste colour or leave it white.
Step Three: Colour The Gelatine
Take the soggy gelatine sheet out of the water, shake off the excess water and put it into a heat-proof container that is sitting in hot water. This can be in a saucepan of simmering water or just in another bowl with boiling water. If you use the latter, be sure to keep it topped up with boiling water so that the gelatine stays liquid. Stir in whatever colour you like.
Step Four: Dip The Wire Petal Into The Gelatine
Slide in your wire petal so that it is totally submerged. You can either do this by tipping the gelatine container at an angle or by bending your wire to a right angle with the base of the petal and dipping it straight in.
Step Five: Remove The Petal Carefully
Take it out slowly and carefully so that you have a film of gelatine covering the entire petal shape. (it’s just like dipping the wand into bubble blowing liquid). If the ‘bubble’ breaks, just re-dip it!
Step Six: Let The Excess Run Off
Hold the petal upright to let any excess gelatine run down the wire. You can pick this off later when it is dry.
Step Seven: Allow To Dry
Stick the petal into a block of oasis to dry for about half an hour.
Step Eight: Make The Centres
While the petals are drying, make the centres by taping some stamens to a wire.
Step Nine: Shape The Petals
When the petals are dry, shape them by bending them gently over your finger. The only thing you can't do is to widen them as the gelatine will then tear, otherwise you can play around to your heart's content! Tape as many petals as you like to the centre to create a flower.
With thanks to Merched Y Wawr
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