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Mom is back in the craft room helping me show you a really beautiful tumbler technique that I just know you are going to LOVE: a pressed flower tumbler that is so beautiful and completely one of a kind – just like each of us!
Mom and I always have so much fun crafting together and I love getting to share her with you too, so go pick yourself some flowers, sis, and let’s get ready to craft!
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Stainless Steel Tumbler, spray-painted white
- Mod Podge
- Dried Flowers
- Counter Culture Fast Set Epoxy
- Counter Culture Quick Coat
Step 1: Pick and dry the flowers
To start, select the flowers you want to dry. Mom and I choose flowers and leaves from our yard.
Pro Tip: Choose leaves and flowers that don’t have a super thick stem. If the stem is too thick it will be difficult to cover with epoxy.
To dry the flowers, lay down a piece of card stock, then place a paper towel over that, and a piece of plain copy paper over that. Next, arrange your flowers on top of the sheet of copy paper.
Place a second sheet of copy paper on top of your flowers, and then another piece of paper towel on top of that.
Next, place the entire thing in the microwave for about 30 seconds.
To give the flowers the pressed effect, remove them from the microwave, leaving them covered and place something heavy on top (mom used a few of my Pyrex dishes for this step), and press down firmly until everything has been flattened.
Pro Tip: Make your own flowers to create exactly the look you want! You can mix and match blooms and leaves from different plants to create a combination that is totally unique.
Step 2: Apply flowers to the tumbler
Carefully remove paper towels and copy paper from the top of the flowers – and now you’re ready to apply them to your tumbler!
Paint a thin layer of mod podge on your tumbler and place the first flower down on your cup.
Once you’ve got it arranged how you want it, apply a layer of mod podge over the top and allow it to dry completely, then add a second layer of mod podge on top of that.
Repeat this process until you’ve added all of your flowers and greenery to your cup.
Pro Tip: The mod podge will look white as you apply it but it will be clear once it dries.
Remember, there is no wrong way to do this – you can arrange your flowers in any way that makes your heart happy!
Step 3: Apply Quick Coat and Epoxy
Place the cup on your tuner and apply a very thin layer of Quick Coat over your tumbler to really lock all of your flowers in place and allow to dry.
Now it’s time to apply your epoxy!
Because of the stems and blooms, you may need to do some sanding between layers to make sure everything is smooth and there are no lumps or bumps on your finished cup. Apply thin layers of epoxy and continue repeating the sanding process until everything is smooth.
And that’s it! Your new pressed flower tumbler is complete and ready for you to enjoy!
I hope you enjoyed learning this really fun and beautiful technique as much as mom and I enjoyed sharing it with you! You can find the full video tutorial of this project (and see Mom and me in action) over on my YouTube channel! And while you’re there be sure to subscribe to my channel for lots of crafting tips, tricks, and more tutorials just like this one!
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