Cotton Gum Blossoms

Here are three methods of making Australian gum blossoms. There is a wired version, a tied version and a combination of both. The wired version is great if you want a stem. The tied version is very fiddly and does not have a stem, but results in a soft bottomed flower that is easier to squash down onto a page or card.

Materials

Cotton crochet thread. High twist such as Mercers 20 is best as it holds it’s shape better.
2mm amber glass bead
Hot glue gun
sharp scissors
Wire cutters or old, blunt scissors
For wired versions, you will also need 22-26 size covered florist or cake decorating wire
Parafilm – florist’s tape.


Method:
Wind the thread around your first and second fingers 50 times for half blossoms, 100 times for full blossoms. Cut the wire into 3 pieces and slide one of the pieces under one side of the thread wraps. If using the tied method, use a small piece of thread instead of wire.

 Bend the wire back over to form a loop and twist to tighten the loop around the thread. If using the tied method, tie the thread tightly around the threads.

 Repeat the process on the other side of the cotton so that you have wires/ties directly opposite each other.

 

Slip the cotton off your fingers and pull both wires/ties gently to straighten out the threads.  

 If using the combination method or tied method,  tie a small piece of thread around the threads just above the wire loop/cotton ties.

If using the wired method, wrap the shorter end of wire around the base of the threads several times. Repeat at the other end of the bundle of threads.

All methods: cut through the centre of the bundle with the sharp scissors.

 

Trim the ends so that they are even.
For wired/combination method flowers and half flowers wrap a short piece of parafilm/florist tape around the base of the flower and stretch and wrap the tape down the wire.

 For full flowers, trim off any excess wire. You can cut the wire off at the base of full flowers if it is not needed, as long as you leave the twists in place. Bend the twists up against the base. Alternatively, tape the stem only and slide a bead cap up the wire and glue over the flower base.

Find the centre of the full flower and press your finger into the centre to slightly flatten out the flower. Using a hot glue gun, glue the bead into the middle of the flower with the hole facing up.

Trim off any excess/stray threads and trim your flowers to a roughly round shape. You can also lightly brush the ends of the threads with yellow/gold paint to simulate the pollen if you wish.

For half flowers, leave the wire on to wire into a spray.

Gum flowers grow in shades of red through to pink and pale cream, in many sizes from about the size of a 5 cent coin through to a 20 cent coin.