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Monday, January 24, 2011

Zipper Rose

I've really enjoyed seeing all the ways zippers have become an accessory.  You may have noticed that I like love flowers.  I whipped up these two roses and now I can't stop thinking about all the different ways I would like to use them: on a headband, on a purse, as a hair clip, as a brooch, etc.

Supplies/Materials
  • 30 inch upholstery zipper (you can buy a 72" zipper and make two)
  • Scissors
  • Low-melt hot glue gun
Directions
  1. Cut the ends off the zipper and remove the moving part (I don't know what that is called)
  2. Begin by squeezing a small strip of glue on one end, and rolling the zipper two times.
  3. Create petals by folding the zipper into a point and gluing petal in place.  Form petals continuously in a triangular pattern around the center.
  4. I used two different zippers.  The darker zipper is only 1/2 inch wide, and the lighter zipper is 5/8 inch wide.  The extra 1/8 inch made it much easier to form the petals without the fabric coming loose or having gaps.

Daniel had some questions about glue, so here are the backs of each flowers.  I bumped up the contrast a little to help you see the lines.  I hope this helps!



27 comments:

  1. I love this flower. Very pretty. I am gonna have to try it.

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  2. I like those! We could get a pair of shiny flats, maybe to match the metal color of the zipper and put the flower on the toe. Make our own cute zipper flats instead of paying $80 for the ones at dillards.

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  3. These are darling, and good thinking Brookie!

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  4. This is so beautiful! I have been wanting to make one of these but have never found one that looks as pretty. Thanks for sharing:) I will have to try this:)

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  5. These are really cute! And what a great tutorial!
    xoxo,
    Amy

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  6. This is really cute! Looks like it came right from a fancy boutique! Love it!

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  7. That is so cute - I was just today wondering about how to do this, thanks!

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  8. Great job! Your tutorial will be on my blog 1/27 @ 12:00pm MST http://fabricbowsandmore.blogspot.com

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  9. I have a quick question you said to cut the ends off and remove the moving piece my question is at no point did you said to glue the two parts together or use just half but based on your pictures one of the two must be true. Did you use only one side of the 36" zipper or did somewhere in the middle you glue the two pieces together ?

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  10. Thanks for all your comments!

    Beth - I didn't glue the two ends together, but I did glue the second side to the flower as I went. As you make the petals, when you get near the end of the first side, glue it down and trim off any excess. Then, start a new petal with the other side of the zipper. You simply glue it on both sides of the petal just like all the other ones.

    Thanks for the clarifying questions--I'm sure others were confused as well.

    Malory

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  11. Love these. Following you now, would love for you to come by and follow me back.

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  12. I have also been having fun making zipper flowers.
    http://mmbcreations.blogspot.com/2011/01/fabric-friday-everythings-coming-up.html

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  13. I just love this. You did a great job. Thanks for sharing. Lori

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  14. These are awesome! I love the more realistic petal shape you made vs. the simple spiral. So, so LOVE IT! ~ Nike@ChooseToThrive

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  15. These are lovely! Thank you for sharing with us!

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  16. That is a great tutorial! Thanks for linking up!

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  17. I would have loved this when I was a teen. Back then I made this sweatshirt with zippers all over it after seeing an expensive one at the mall. If I had a flower like that for my hair, I would have been all matchy-matchy! Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

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  18. Okay, I have been seeing these and I love them! Thank you for the tutorial, and for linking up to Fantastic Friday.

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  19. I have always wanted to learn how to make this! Thanks for the tutorial!

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  20. Ok, I just opened a box of chocolate that I was saving as a hostess gift. I'm on my 2nd zipper and I can't seam to get that triangle. What am I doing wrong, there is sooooo much glue in the back of my ROUND flowers ... and do you have a tutorial for removing glue from hand, nails and now keyboard ... HELPPPPPP . sorry my finger got glued to the P.
    I love those flowers and I am going to get it even if it kills meeeee. sorry, finger got glued to the e.

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  21. Oh Danielle, I'm sorry you're having problems. First, with glue, I make sure I use low-melt, then it is usually fairly easy to rub off. I make sure to only use a small dot of glue to secure each petal.

    One thing that might help, is to form the first petal for the second zipper, then glue both sides down. All of my petals started sort of round, then I flatten the zipper (so the teeth are out instead of up)which creates more of a pointed shape. I will take a picture of the back and add it to the post.

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  22. I'll be featuring this tomorrow at Sugar and Dots! LOVE.

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  23. oo this is way cute! Thanks for showing me :)

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  24. so cute! I love the way you did this...
    We are having a linky party if you would like to join... http://www.bubblynaturecreations.com/2011/02/project-party-weekend-springtime.html

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  25. wow, really pretty! I've been making Ribbon and Fabric Flowers but I've never tried zipper flowers before. They look great!

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  26. Parabéns!!!!
    Obrigada por compartilhar, é muito lindo, também vou tentar fazer uma!!!
    Abraços direto do Brasil.

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  27. Parabéns!!!!
    Obrigada por compartilhar, é muito lindo, também vou tentar fazer uma!!!
    Abraços direto do Brasil.

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Thank you for leaving a comment--I love to hear what you think! I try to respond to any questions within one day.