Saturday, February 2, 2013

Flower Pen Bouquet Tutorial



Flower pens are one of my favorite crafts! I make them for every season and occasion! They're simple, fun, and everyone loves receiving them as gifts (...at least those I've given them to have! ;)) Before I share my favorite craft with you, I'd like to share a love story written in wildflowers.

It was the summer of 1998. Gasoline cost 97 cents, which was good because my boyfriend went through plenty of it! He lived 45 minutes away and was trying to squeeze both me and 21 credit hours into his schedule. Finals week and I were competing for his attention. I seemed to be defeated by a serious case of urgent-need-to-hit-the-books-itis. Devastated, I poured my heart out to my dearest friends, "How will I possibly survive 2 or 3 days apart!" (This sounds overdramatic, but at 19 years old and madly in love I actually literally spoke those words.) He couldn't bare it either. His '89 Ford Escort and his heart raced to see me. While making his hurried path to surprise me, a flash of brilliant burnt orange, vivid purple, & golden yellow caught his eye on the side of the road. Wildflowers, beautiful and growing free in the nearly summer sun, just like our love ... how could he resist! He pulled over to the side of the road and picked me the most beautiful bouquet I've seen to this day. (This may have something to do with the deep sentimental significance those fresh flowers still hold in my heart.)

As he continued on his mission to his future Mrs., he realized he had no vase, no lovely paper or ribbon, nothing he could use to present these flowers in. He pulled up to my parents' home and realized there was something in the car he could use. He removed his shoelace from his shoe and tied a simple ribbon, securing both the bouquet and my continued adoration.

His heart pitter pattered with excitement as he made his way up the steps to surprise his future bride. The knock was answered by my mother. I was at a friend's house, trying to escape the burden of being apart from him for more than 48 hours. I wasn't there to receive what my mom said was the sweetest thing she ever saw. Yet that moment, my young beau with a smile and a hand full of wildflowers tied up with a shoelace and a whole lot of love, is still one of my favorite memories. Glorious handpicked beauty from the side of the road, nurtured the love that still flourishes for him in my heart.

I'm delighted to bring you a simple tutorial for a
He Loves Me Flower Pen Bouquet!













* Give extra attention to the top and bottom, wrapping a few extra times to secure those important areas well.





May your hand soon hold a gorgeous pen as you author a heartfelt love letter (...and possibly a grocery list too! ;))

Thanks for stopping by! Don't be shy. Please say, "Hi!"

{Visit my LINK PARTIES! page to see where I've shared this craft,
and find other fabulous bloggers' creations, too!}



I was honored to have this craft featured at:

Inside BruCrew Life


33 comments:

  1. I have seen these places and just love them. Would make a fun gift for my daughter's teachers. Pinning now!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by & pinning, Vicky! This would make a fabulous teacher gift! ...maybe throw some red pens in there too ;) I love giving them as gifts! Pens are something all of us need & who doesn't love to have a lovely bouquet around too? ;)

      Delete
  2. Looks great! We found you via The Foley Fam - Sunday funday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you!! So glad you stopped by! Wonderful to hear from you this morning. :)

      Delete
  3. Cute pens! Thanks so much for sharing this on The Creative HomeAcre Hop!
    http://www.theselfsufficienthomeacre.com/2013/02/the-creative-homeacre-hop.html

    Hope to see you again next week!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love these!! Seriously think it should b mandatory for all pens to have a happy flower on it!! Thank u for linkin up!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Kristine! ... I agree, wouldn't the world be a much cheerier place if so? ;)

      Delete
  5. What a sweet story and a sweet flower pen craft to brighten this gray winter day!! Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Beverly! Your sweet comment sure made me smile! Hope your week is getting off to a terrific start! :)

      Delete
  6. Love your story and I do love a bouquet of wild flowers. I have a daughter who lives across the country who often surprises me with beautiful bouquets of flowers. Don't you just love to answer the door to a vase of fresh flowers--just because.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's wonderful, Cindy! What a sweet & thoughtful daughter you have! :) ... I agree, "just because" floral surprises are the best!!
      Thanks for stopping by :) It was wonderful to hear from you!

      Delete
  7. Woooow, I've never seen flower pens before... but I think I'm in love! What a beautiful idea! Following you now :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. So sweet a story and the idea is so lovely! I will even make one for myself :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Priya! I hope you enjoy making and having your own lovely pen bouquet too! :)

      Delete
  9. I saw a beautiful arrangement at the bank last fall with brillian spring colors and vowed that I would make one for my computer desk to make me smile. Thanks for that reminder! Loved this!

    http://cottagesweetcottage.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Lil! They're so simple (& fun!) to make!! :) I made a bright gerber daisy pen bouquet for a dear family friend that's a loan officer. She uses it on her desk at the bank! You don't happen to live in Iowa do you? Haha! ;) ... Anyway, it really made me smile to hear that you were originally inspired to make this from seeing one in a bank (since I've made them for a banker friend as a birthday gift), and that you remembered when seeing my post here! :) Thanks for stopping by! I really enjoyed hearing from you!!

      Delete
    2. So glad you stopped by my blog today! Nope, I live in the South Side of Chicago but somewhere someone in the midwest there are more than 2 peeps making flower pen bouquets! Funny thing is that they WERE Gerbera daisies too! ha! I'd love to do that but I priced them and they were a bit too steep in price for me! maybe I'll find a sale!

      Delete
    3. I love these! They're super cute.....thanks for stopping by Lori Ann's Food & Fam :). Can't wait to check out more of your blog...your newest follower

      Delete
  10. What a cute story!

    These remind me of when I worked at the library in high school because they always had a vase of them on the front desk :)

    ReplyDelete
  11. These are so much fun!! Thanks for sharing this at my Pin Me Linky Party.

    ReplyDelete
  12. How fun... I think this would solve the disappearing pens from my house?!?! Thanks so much for sharing at Super Saturday Show & Tell today... this looks amazing!! xoxo~ Ruthie

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks for showing exactly how you did this. Very cute craft. Take care and thanks for linking up to What to Do Weekends. Linda

    ReplyDelete
  14. This is so cute! I'm obsessed with stationary and always spend a fortune on it, but I needn't as I can make this cute pen, thanks for the how to! :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Oh my goodness, that is the sweetest story!! Thank you for sharing these fun pens on Trick or Treat Tuesday!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Ok he sounds like a sweetheart!! What a great memory and LOVE the pen flowers :)

    ReplyDelete
  17. I remember when gas was under $1! Was it really in 1997? Wow... Thank you so much for sharing with Saturday Spotlight. Have a great week and come back soon!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love this craft project! My daughter would love to make these for her room I'm sure!

    Thanks for sharing at my link party last weekend @The Weekend re-Treat

    Hope to see you again this weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Stopping by to let you know I featured you on my Saturday Spotlight party today. Thanks for linking up! :)

    http://angelshomestead.com/saturday-spotlight-4/

    April

    ReplyDelete
  20. I have never made flower pens, and your tutorial is great ~ love all the pics! My girlies would love this project! Thanks for sharing at the Summer Bucket List Party =) Marcy @ day2day SuperMom

    ReplyDelete
  21. Love Flower pens. I use them everywhere in my classroom! Thanks for sharing the tutorial at our Summer Bucket List Party! Keep those ideas coming, remember you can keep linking up through June!

    ReplyDelete

I would love to hear from you today! I enjoy reading each and every comment I receive. (I do moderate them before they're published. Gotta keep it family friendly! ;)) Let's chat! B.Y.O.C. {Bring Your Own Chocolate!}