Tell Me A Story: FUN WITH FLORALS AND PIPE CLEANERS/CHENILLE STEMS

Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

Link: http://tellmeastory-marcia.blogspot.com/2013/11/fun-with-florals-and-pipe.html

Did you know pipe cleaners
are really pipe cleaners?

Pipe cleaners were originally intended for removing moisture and residue from smoking pipes.

Pipe cleaners can also be used for cleaning out tight places. There are special pipe cleaners made specifically for cleaning out medical apparatus and for engineering applications.

Craft pipe cleaners
are usually made with polyester or nylon pile and are usually longer and thicker than the smoking pipe type, and not very useful for cleaning purposes because the polyester doesn't absorb liquids.

Children play with pipe cleaners (also called chenille stems) and bend them into many shapes.

They aren't just for children!

Adults can have fun
with pipe cleaners/chenille stems, too!

Let's have some fun with pipe cleaners!

We will bend and twist them into letters;

...and add them to floral arrangements;

gift tags;

napkin rings;

and use them as ornaments and decorations on the Christmas tree!

Gather Supplies

Pipe Cleaners/Chenille Stems
Green Floral Tape
Green Floral Wire
Silk/Artificial Greenery, Flowers & Berries
Feathers, Bells, Decorations, Ornaments
Scissors
Wire Cutters
Ribbon & Cord

I purchase silk flowers (Old Time Pottery, Hobby Lobby, Michaels, Jo-Ann's, Dollar Stores) that come together in a "bouquet," and cut them apart with wire cutters.

Then I wire them individually into arrangements.

Artificial/silk flowers have come a long way, baby.

They are no longer the ugly plastic ones you remember in your grandmother's house. Those are still around, of course, but there are many beautiful choices.

Look at these beauties I found at Old Time Pottery. They look and feel real.

Remember...pull apart or cut apart individual stems of flowers, evergreens and berries, and then wire them individually into floral arrangements.

Purchase pipe cleaners twisted together, or braid them together yourself.

It's easy to create monogram letters!

MORE FUN WITH PIPE CLEANERS

CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=mcafee&va=LETTER+MADE+FROM+pipe+cleaners

Ready to create florals?

Wire individual flowers, berries, feathers, and evergreens together in the arrangement with floral wire to create a pleasing design.

Don't be afraid to bend the flowers where you want them to go in the arrangement. Many of the leaves of flowers are individual wired. I lovingly bend each leaf in place.

Cut the wire with wire cutters, and then cover the wires with green floral tape (available at craft and hobby stores).

Floral tape is sticky.

Pull it tight as you twist it around: overlapping as you go along the stem.