Make and Share Craft Tutorials
 "Pin It"){kind=icon}
About
Published
almost 4 years ago
Time
Difficulty
Posted By
This is a nice, simple collage technique for making deightful flower badges (aka pins, buttons).
These will brighten your day and also make great presents!
Notes on equipment:
I'm lucky to have a badge-maker, which does make it easier.
However look out for some great tutorials on this site for ideas for making badges without a badge-maker!
Other alternatives: hire one, borrow one, or buy a kiddies one (I once saw an online video showing great results from a cheap plastic kiddies badge-maker)
Notes on time:
I use magazines and newspapers for my collages which means the time taken really varies according to whether I find what I want, and how quickly!
I like the element of chance involved...
I've put 50 minutes but it could take much less time, or it could take longer.
Crafts
Instructions
-
1
Find some old magazines.
I love using fashion mags because of the variety of textures, colour and light.
In the end I mostly used the French magazine, JALOUSE, for making these badges.
-
2
Measure your background image.
I used a 58mm template. If you don't have a template use a ruler and a compass to draw a circle.
Remember to allow enough margin for the badge to tuck under (about 9mm).
-
3
Cut out your background circle.
I used a special cutter, but you could also use small, sharp craft scissors.
I liked the idea of using natural images (leaves, grass) for the background and then using e.g. leather, fabric for the flowers, in a mix of nature and artifice.
-
4
Cut out your petals.
I like them to look a little irregular so I cut them freestyle.
You could also make a template to make them look neat.
You will need about 10 - 12 petals for this size badge, depending on how you lay them out.
-
5
For this particular badge I used a mixture of different images to make the petals.
Sometimes even buildings can make great petals!
-
6
When you have all your petals, lay them out to see how they look on the background circle.
Use a template (or ruler) to check that the flower fits into the visible centre of the badge.
-
7
Now glue your petals into a flower shape in the middle of the badge.
You can use most types of glue. I'm using pritt stick, which can be a bit messy for detailed work (even using tweezers).
But the beauty of a large badge like this is that the shapes are quite large, making gluing easier!
-
8
Gather together your badge materials:
- metal support
- plastic backing
- pin
- mylar cover(For a simple badge made without a machine you could glue the flower onto a card backing and add a pin - as I mentioned in my intro, there are some great tutorials with these kinds of techniques available on Cut Out and Keep!)
-
9
Press the badge following the manufacturer's instructions.
I bought my badge-making supplies from Enterprise (UK).
-
10
Et voilà : beautiful flower badges to wear, decorate school or shopping bags, and to give as gifts!
Have fun!
Sx
Comments
Recent Favorites
