Crazy Big Kanzashi Flower Costume

I started to be really enamored by all the lovely Kanzashi Flowers I had been seeing springing up in the crafty community. So I thought it would be fun to make a giant version.

And a shout out for "Kanzashi In Bloom" which is the book that inspired most of my fabric flower obsession.

Here's a little how I did it.
The yellow,orange petals and the leaves were dyed from a bed sheet. Each petal is double layered with the pattern fabric behind the solid fabric.

I starched the fabric a lot before I folded the flowers because my fabric was quite thin. After the flower was formed, I brushed some regular ol' white glue on the petals to stiffen them a bit more.

The "love me" text was clear transparency sheet printed from my computer, trimmed and held in place with a dab of hot glue.

Oh, and the whole costume is held in place by a fabric-covered cardboard behind the flower with elastic straps for arm holes. The flower stem has an elastic loop to hold it to my ankle.

All in all, it was pure fun to make and dance my buns off all Halloween night!