Amplify the December
with two
dozen leaves, scattered crumple berries,
and five miniature 3D lit candles.
Recommended
to be worn by a young girl,
this delightful “crown” can also be part of
Christmas decor when set on an accent table
or draped over a peg,
or for a
springtime May Day festival.
Pinch-shape and glue rounded end of each leaf,
bend edges in and crumple the berries,
form faceted candles and insert slice-form flames at top.
Arrange and attach these elements onto
a wrapped
purchased headband with several
narrow ribbon streamers trailing from the ends.
Sample project leaves are cut from hand-made paper.
Or trace and cut from fiber
felt, or experiment with semi-pliable
cardstock using the alternate “engineered”
leaf
with cut-on glue tab.
ASSEMBLY: 1. Identify and cut or prepare the shapes:
A candle body (5) B candy insert (5)
C flame point slice (5) D flame shorter point slice (5)
E leaves (approx. 18-20)
F crumple berry circles (approx. 12)
Also shown: purchased plastic headband
and florist tape to cover band
Not shown: ribbon streamers - 15-16" lengths
of 6 or more varied narrow ribbons, quick grab
or hot melt glue
The sample project used handmade green paper
in two of the three shades shown. One recommended
good source for the paper is Midnight Studios Etsy shop.
For more info, follow this LINK.
Another leaf material alternative is to use regular card stock
and cut them using the engineered leaf shape which
includes the cut-in bottom end glue tab.
Shown here, the cut edges at leaf center are
brought together, then . . .
and the leaf is shaped by holding those tips together
until fully secure. Engineered leaves are then
positioned and attached to headband in similar manner
to the hand-traced and formed leaves.
2. Hand-made leaf paper is too thick to cut so the alternative
is to cut 2-3 of the plain leaf template shape, glue
together to prepare a sturdy tracing template, then
traced efficiently and hand-cut. The sample project
used two shades of green paper.
it can be dampened (as shown here using a small
bowl with water inside) . . .
. . . and shaped while still wet. Here, the bottom,
rounded end is pinched together, then . . .
. . . held in place with a small folio clip until dried,
which only takes 10-15 minutes when placed near
a heater vent, etc.
4. Once the leaves are prepared, formed, and
the bottom tips glued (glue may not be required
with handmade paper), add some dimension by
distress inking the edges and top tip.
You may also choose to trim some of the bottom
tip bulk away at an angle as the assemble attachment
to the head band proceeds.
CANDLES
5. Prepare the candle shaft and insert by bending back
on all vertical perforations and end caps or wedge tabs.
6. Form the candle shaft into a tube to overlap
the plain side edge across the opposite flange tab
to perf line, adjust top and bottom for alignment,
and join the seam.
It may be helpful to insert an appropriately-sized
dowel or equivalent into the tube to provide
a "press-against" hard surface so that pressure
can be applied all along the seam.
7. At candle top end, bend the wedge tabs inward
to perpendicular, apply glue to outward surfaces of
tabs, then bend top cap down into position to
glue in place; adjust tube shape to match cap.
8. Insert the top end of the reinforcement (punch
circle end) so that . . .
. . . center portion of reinforcement matches to
the widest wall of candle shaft.
Push the reinforcement all the way in (see following
image), pausing to apply liquid adhesive dabs
at top sides of insert, and to end surfaces, so that . . .
places as possible. Adjust tube shape so that
the bottom of tube matches the bottom cap,
then hold in place until secure.
10. Prepare the flame unit by selecting one of each
9. Use distress ink to color the tips (front & back)
of the two flame shapes for each candle unit.
Sample project uses both red and orange ink.
flame shape, rotating so that the planes of shapes
are perpendicular to each other, then slide together . . .
. . . and push fully together until bottoms align.
11. Insert the '+' end of flame into the equivalent
. . . the slightly-overlapping spirals of tape progressing
20. For the alternating row, position a single leaf
22. When the next-to-final leaf or leaves are attached,
slot cuts at candle top cap, then carefully push
fully in until bulb of flame shapes stop at cap level.
Pull out slightly to apply glue where the insert stems
of flame can attach to slots, then push back in.
CRUMPLE BERRIES
For each berry:
12. Bend back at the near-edge arm of perf cuts
all around circle (6 bends).
13. Next, bend circle edges inward to form a cup.
TIP: obtain a glue bottle cap or other equivalent
that can help to shape the center and sides of
the berry as shown here.
Remove from assist-form, then continue to push edges
under and inward . . .
. . . until the desired berry non-uniform ball shape
is obtained.
If the top surface caves in, us a tool handle tip
to insert and gently push back out.
NOTE that "found" berries can be substituted in
place of the crumpleberries.
FINISHING
14. Prepare the plastic headband using your choiceof methods.
Narrow strips of pliable paper or cardstock can be used
to wrap as with floral tape. Felt strips can be cut wide enough
to be glued to each other at upper and lower edges,
and trimmed to match rounded ends. Even paint can be
used, if it's bond to plastic will hold the elements being
glued sufficiently securely without peeling.
The sample project used brown (or green)
floral tape, beginning at one to wrap around in a spiral
with the first end being covered, then . . .
around the curve and ending at the opposite end
where the tape covers and completely conceals
the plastic.
15. Identify the wide back face of the candle shaft . . .
. . . then position at the center of band on the outside
curve, with lower edges of candle and band aligned,
and glue it securely in place with quick-grab glue such as
hot-melt or Fabri-Tack, etc.
16. Divide the band length on each side of center
in approximate thirds, then position a candle approx.
one-third back from center candle on each side.
Repeat to position and attach a candle one-third
back from second candles. The band tips will be free.
17. Cut pair lengths of coordinated, varied ribbons approx. 9"
long, stack ends of first set with cut edges even and
glue together or stitch across to join. Repeat for
second set. Select one end to begin attaching leaves from
and position end of first streamer bundle at that end,
overlapping approx. 1/2", and glue securely.
18. If using floral tape, tear a short length and wrap
over to conceal ribbon ends, and work up toward
end candle for a few wraps and tear to trim excess.
19. Position first pair of leaves near band end,
overlapping the ribbon ends. Place one leaf angled
toward band end and slightly down . . .
. . . and one slightly up, side by side
over the band, and glue in place.
pointing back straight along the band, slightly
overlapping the previous row pair pinched ends.
21. Continue in this same manner, testing where
the next leaves or leaf will be placed before
attaching. Working over the bulky leaf ends and
candles takes some effort and creativity.
position and attach the second ribbon joined ends
as was done with first ribbon streamers end. Wrap
to conceal in a duplicated manner.
23. Position the final leaves (or leaf).
24. Audition which leaves around the band you wish to place
the contrasting crumpleberry leaves in, then position
a berry deeply into the leaf at pinched end hollow
and glue in place at each selected location.
Here is the completed head wreath.
This is wonderful - I'll have to make this next year <3
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