Gathered Blooms Tutorial

Kit Contents:

• Wire Stems (12)

• Stem Covers (12)

• Daisy Cutouts (makes 7)

• Peony Cutouts (makes 5)

• Pom Poms in Honeycomb (5) and Avocado (7)

• Outer Vase Cutouts (2)

• Hexagon Chipboard (2)

• Inner Vase Cutouts (3 pieces)

• Moss

• Bone Folder

• Glue

Optional Supplies:  Hot Glue Gun (not included)

Instructions

Craft Time:  ~2 Hrs.

Assemble the Inner Vase  

Tip: We recommend using the craft glue included in your kit (rather than a hot glue gun) to assemble your vase. Craft glue gives you a bit of wiggle room, allowing you to adjust and reposition pieces as needed. 

1. Prepare the glue bottle: Open the lid, remove the stopper, and screw the valve cap back on.
2. Locate the bag labeled Inner Vase and remove the contents.

3. Gently fold all pieces along the score lines. Use a bone folder to reinforce each fold for crisp edges.

1. Long rectangle piece: Lay on a flat surface with the adhesive strip facing down. Fold all the score lines upward. 

2. Hexagon pieces (2): Lay the pieces on a flat surface with the adhesive strips facing upward. Fold the tabs inward along score lines.

4. Rectangle Piece: Peel off the backing from the adhesive strip. Add small drops of glue along the adhesive strip for a stronger bond.

5. Fold the rectangle piece so the two short edges meet, overlapping where the adhesive strip is. Press firmly and hold while the glue sets.

Tip: Make sure the edges are aligned precisely so all future pieces fit together correctly.

6. Hexagon-shaped pieces: Take one hexagon-shaped piece and peel off the adhesive backing from all tabs. Add a few drops of glue to the adhesive strips. 

7. Place the hexagon piece over one end of the tube, folding the tabs down over the sides of the tube. Press each tab onto the tube and hold in place until secure.

8. Repeat steps 5 and 6 with the second hexagon-shaped piece, attaching it to the opposite end of the tube.

9. The Inner Vase is now complete. Set it aside until needed.

Assemble the Outer Vase (outer shell)

1. Locate the bag labeled Outer Vase and remove the contents:

1. 2 die-cut, scored pieces

2. 2 hexagon-shaped chipboard pieces

2. Die Cut Pieces (2): Carefully fold along all the score lines. Use the bone folder to gently reinforce each fold for a crisp finish. Apply light pressure so the foil is not scratched.

1. With the foil side facing down, all the tabs and folding sections should be folded upwards.

3. On one die-cut piece, peel off the backing from the long adhesive strip along the side edge. Add small drops of glue along the adhesive strip for a stronger bond.

4. Carefully align the non-adhesive edge of the second piece with the exposed adhesive strip on the first piece.

5. Press firmly along the seam to secure them together, creating one long continuous piece.

Tip: Make sure the two pieces are precisely aligned, especially along the top edge. The alignment will affect the appearance and function of the vase.

6. Peel off the backing on the remaining long adhesive strip. Add small drops of glue along the adhesive strip for a stronger bond.

7. To close up the vase, fold the piece and bring the two long edges together. Make sure the top edges and foil line align precisely. Press and hold until the seam is secure.

8. Turn the vase upside down (foil side up) and place it on a flat surface.  

Shape the lower portion of the Outer Vase:

1. Working one tab at a time, peel the backing from the small adhesive strips on the foil and add a few small drops of glue to each strip for added strength.
2. Fold the tab inward and press it onto the corresponding section. Hold until secure.
3. When glue is dry, place the vase upright on a sturdy surface. You will see six small adhesive tabs remaining on the inside bottom of the vase, forming a hexagon shape.

Insert the Inner Chipboard Base:

1. Peel the adhesive backing from each of the six interior tabs.
2. Locate one hexagon-shaped chipboard piece. This piece will go inside the vase and be glued to the remaining adhesive strips at the bottom of the vase.
3. On the top face of the hexagon-shaped chipboard, trace a thin line of glue along the perimeter (you can use craft glue or hot glue for this step). 
   1. Do not apply glue to the adhesive tabs. Applying glue to the chipboard (not tabs) helps reduce excess glue seeping out onto your crafting area.
4. With the glue side facing down, carefully lower the chipboard piece into the vase. Align it with the hexagon shape at the bottom. It does not need to fit perfectly - as long as the chipboard piece rests securely on top of the adhesive tabs, it’s fine.
5. Once aligned, press the chipboard down firmly onto the adhesive tabs until secure. Allow the glue to dry completely. 

Tip: Place a piece of scrap paper under your vase while pressing down. This helps catch any excess glue and keeps your crafting surface clean.

Attach the Outer Bottom Piece:

1. When the glue is dry and the inner base is secure, turn the vase upside down again on a flat surface.  
2. Take the remaining hexagon-shaped chipboard piece and apply glue along the perimeter. Then, add small dots of glue evenly across the inside area within the border.
3. With the glue side facing down, carefully align the chipboard piece with the bottom of the vase. Press it gently into place and allow it to sit for a few seconds.  
   1. Turn the vase upright and press down firmly through the center of the vase to make sure the two chipboard pieces are fully attached and secure. 

Complete the Vase

1. Inner Vase piece: Apply glue to the bottom of the tube (side without the holes).  

2. Carefully place the completed Inner Vase piece inside the Outer Vase and align hexagon shapes on the bottom of both pieces.

3. Gently press the Inner Vase into place and hold until a strong bond is formed.

Prepare the Stems

Tip: For faster assembly, you may choose to use a hot glue gun to assemble the flowers.

1. Remove the wire stems from the bag labeled Stems & Covers.
2. Open the bag labeled Daisy and remove the green flower base pieces. You will find two types of green cutouts:
   1. One with a hole in the center
   2. One without a hole
      
3. Take one flower base with a center hole. Insert the wire stem through the hole and slide the piece up the stem until it reaches the twisted wires at the top.
4. Add a small drop of glue to each petal of the green cutout and to the twisted wire at the top.
5. Place one flower base without a hole on top of the other cutout and wire stem, aligning the petals and sandwiching the twisted wire in between the two layers.  
6. Press and hold each petal firmly to ensure the two layers are securely bonded.
7. Insert the completed stem into one of the holes at the top of the vase to allow it to dry.
8. Move on to the next stem and continue the above steps until all 7 of the Daisy stems are complete.
9. Repeat the steps above for the flower base pieces in the bag labeled Peony. You’ll notice that the Peony base pieces are larger than the Daisy bases. This size difference will help when attaching the flowers to the stems, making it easy to match each flower to the correct base.

Prepare the Flower Centers

1. From both flower bags, locate the flower center pieces (small starburst-shaped cutouts). 

2. Working one at a time, apply a few drops of glue to the center of a starburst cutout.  

3. Press a pom pom into the glue and hold it in place for about 20 seconds to allow it to adhere.  

4. Follow the color pattern below:

1. Yellow (Stardust) starburst → green pom pom

2. Green (Avocado) starburst → yellow pom pom

5. Set the finished piece aside to dry.

6. Repeat these steps with the remaining flower centers.  

7. Allow the glue to fully set while you continue assembling your flowers.

Assemble the Daisies (Ivory-colored)

1. Locate the Ivory-colored Daisy petals. Each Daisy is made up of three petal layers.

2. Using the bone folder, gently curl each petal upward, holding the base of the petal to prevent tearing. 

3. Layer three petal pieces slightly offset so the petals don’t line up exactly. To add dimension, flip the bottom layer upside down so its petals curve downward, leaving the other layers curved upward.

4. Add a small drop of glue to the center of the bottom layer. Place the second layer on top and press gently to secure. Repeat with the top layer.

5. Locate the yellow flower centers with green pom poms. Add a small drop of glue to the center of a Daisy and press a flower center into place.  

6. Set the flower aside to dry and move on to the next flower.

7. Repeat until you have assembled all the flowers.

8. Locate one flower stem (with the smaller flower base). Apply a few drops of glue to the flower base.

9. Place a Daisy on top and press firmly to secure it to the stem. Hold for several seconds to allow the glue to set.

10. Locate the stem covers. Slide one flower stem through a stem cover, then insert the stem into one of the holes in the center of the vase.

11. Repeat with the remaining Daisies.

Assemble the Peonies (Grapefruit-colored)

1. Locate the Grapefruit-colored Peony petals. You’ll notice two sizes: small and large.

2. Each flower is made up of five petal layers in the following order:

1. Small → Large → Large → Large → Small

3. Using the bone folder, gently curl each petal, holding the base to keep it from tearing.

4. Layer and glue the petals together, following the order above. Slightly offset each layer to add dimension. Place the bottom layer upside down so that the petals curve downward to make the flower appear fuller.

5. Locate the green flower centers with yellow pom poms. Add a small drop of glue to the center of the flower and press a flower center into place.

6. Repeat until you have assembled all the flowers.

7. Locate one flower stem (with the larger flower base). Apply a few drops of glue to the flower base.

8. Place a Peony on top and press firmly to secure it to the stem. Hold for several seconds to allow the glue to set.

9. Locate the stem covers. Slide one flower stem through a stem cover, then insert the stem into one of the holes in the center of the vase.

10. Repeat with the remaining Peonies.
    

Complete the Project

1. Locate the moss and gently tuck it into the top of the vase, filling in around the flower stems to create a natural look.  

2. Arrange the flowers as desired by bending the stems and adjusting the color placement.

Display Your Piece

Display your Gathered Blooms on a mantel, shelf, or favorite nook and watch them bring a cheerful pop of color to the room.

Share your finished piece! Tag us @craftedbyc9 and use #CraftedbyC9.