Sola wood flowers are not your typical flowers. You can probably guess from the name that they are made of wood, which makes them last longer. But how exactly is it possible to make flowers from wood?.
Tapioca (also known as cassava) plant is where the journey begins. The root of this multipurpose plant is used to make sola wood, which is some of the lightest wood in the world. After the bark is peeled off, the rest of the root is carefully cut into thin sola wood sheets, which soon turn into sola wood flowers.
You should note that every single sola wood flower is unique and handmade. Seeing something real and one of a kind is like a breath of fresh air in a world where machines are killing craftsmanship. Also, sola wood flowers are 100% natural. By choosing them, you contribute to creating a sustainable and balanced world.
Sola wood flowers sometimes lose their perfect shape during the storing or shipping. You should not get worried, though, as it is super easy to reshape them. All you need is some warm water and a few minutes of your time. First, dip a sola wood flower into a bowl of warm water just enough to get it wet. Try not to soak it as thick sola wood might tear apart.
Once the sola wood flower is wet, start reshaping its petals, starting from the outside. You will see how easy and satisfying the whole process is. There is no bouquet, centerpiece, or corsage that looks more beautiful than the one you made yourself, after all!
Once you are done reshaping sola wood flowers, let them dry for 12-24 hours. Good news, you can also reshape dyed sola wood flowers as they remain relatively resistant to water. Here is a short video that shows you how to shape your sola wood flowers step by step!
For beginners, we recommend using acrylic paint to dye sola wood flowers. It is the most affordable and convenient method, which you can learn in minutes. All you need is a bowl of water, your desired color paint, and some patience.
When you’re done dying your first sola wood flowers, you’ll see that there are lots of ways to get the right color. As an example, to make a sola wood flower a little darker, add more paint and less water. To make it lighter, do the opposite. You can also use different kinds of paint, like latex, watercolor, or spray, to make your wood flower bouquets and other arrangements more flexible.
We encourage you to try new things and share them with us. However, you should start by learning the basics. Below you can find a quick example on how to dye a sola wood flower.
If you want to arrange your own sola wood flowers, here’s a quick tip: order at least 10% more flowers than you need to make your wood bouquet or corsage. If you haven’t done this before, remember that you may lose some sola wood flowers during the process.
Not to restrict your floral arrangement opportunities, most of sola wood flowers come without stems. Sometimes it seems impossible to add a stem to a sola wood flower at first. But don’t give up! Things are a lot easier than you think they are! Here is a short guide that shows you the most important steps.
The day of your wedding is one of the most beautiful and important days of your life, so everything must be just right. We understand the importance of floral arrangements and decorations that create a festive atmosphere and illuminate eternal love. There was a time when real flowers were used, but they would die soon after the wedding. Now, sola wood flowers are becoming a very popular choice for weddings because they last a long time and are easy to arrange. Here are some options on how to use sola wood flowers at weddings:
We have already mentioned how you could use sola wood flowers as your wedding decorations. Now we’ll show you how to make the wooden bouquet of your dreams that will look great with your wedding dress.
Sola wood flowers will last for ages, and they require minimum maintenance. These qualities make them perfect for various projects and events. Be open to new ideas, and don’t be afraid to try different things with sola wood flowers when you’re making gifts, corsages, or bouquets. Here are a few examples of where you can use wood flowers:
You will need to get all of the tools you will need ready before you start making your sola wood flower arrangement. Here are a few tools that you might find useful.
Of course, this list is endless, and everyone has different methods that work for them. We would love to hear what are your favorite tools and techniques to create sola wood flower arrangements. Talk about it in the comments below! If you still have questions about sola wood flowers, don’t be shy about getting in touch with us.
Making wooden flowers is an enjoyable woodworking project that allows you to create gorgeous, natural looking floral decor. With just some basic tools, wood, and hot glue, you can craft amazing wooden flowers to display in your home or give as gifts.
In this simple, step-by-step guide you’ll learn how to make realistic wooden flowers that will add a lovely touch wherever they are placed. Let’s get started!
What You’ll Need
To make a wooden flower you only need a few supplies
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Wood – Basswood, pine, cedar, and poplar are good choices. Use wood that is relatively soft and workable.
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Hand plane – Used to make thin wood shavings for the flower petals. A bench plane with an adjustable blade depth works best.
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Sandpaper (optional) – Helpful for smoothing petals. Fine grit 150-220 recommended.
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Scissors – For cutting petal shapes.
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Hot glue gun and glue sticks – For assembling the flower. High temp glue is best.
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Acrylic paint (optional) – For adding color after finishing the flower.
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Sealant – Such as polyurethane or spray lacquer. Helps protect the completed flower.
That’s it for materials! Just those few simple supplies are all you need to craft gorgeous wooden blooms.
Step 1: Make Petals with a Hand Plane
The hand plane is used to make thin wood shavings that will become the flower petals.
Set the plane to cut a thin shaving, about 1/16″ thick. Test it on a scrap piece of wood. Thicker shavings can be used for the center and base of the flower.
Hold the plane at an angle against the wood and take long strokes with the grain to create shavings. Make shavings in a variety of sizes for interest. You’ll need 15-20 good petal pieces.
Optional: Softly sand each petal piece to remove any splinters and smooth the edges.
Step 2: Cut the Petal Shapes
Now it’s time to cut the petal shapes. This is where you can get creative!
Use sharp scissors to cut curves and points to shape each shaving into a petal. Cut some wide, some long, some with rounded ends, some pointed.
Varying the petal styles makes the flower look more lifelike. Snip strips at angles for multi-layered petals.
Cut 15-20 pieces into beautiful petal shapes. The grain of the wood should run along the length of the petal shape.
Step 3: Curl the Petal Tips
For even more natural shaping, gently curl the tips of each petal piece.
Carefully roll the thin ends of the petals around a round object like a paintbrush handle or pencil. Apply light pressure as you roll to create a slight curve.
Don’t worry about curling every petal perfectly – the variations will enhance the organic look.
Step 4: Assemble the Flower
Now for the fun part – putting all the pieces together into a beautiful bloom!
Choose one of your smaller petals to begin. Roll the petal into a tight coil to form the flower’s center.
Use hot glue to attach the rolled petal to your base, which can be another wood shaving, a small block of wood, or florist foam.
Next, begin gluing larger petals around the center, adjusting the shape as you go. Vary the angles, allow petals to overlap and build layers.
Add mediums petals, then larger petals towards the outer edges. Bend and adjust until you’re happy with the shape.
Step 5: Shape the Center & Finish
To complete your wooden flower, add extra petals to fill any gaps and form the center to your desired shape.
For a more defined center, glue small petals tightly together to create a rounded dome shape.
Twist and bend the petal ends for a natural look. If needed, use scissors to trim excess length.
Once your flower looks complete, set it aside to fully dry.
Step 6: Paint & Seal (Optional)
For extra realism, paint your wooden flower using acrylic craft paints.
For the center, mix brown, yellow and green paint. Brush the color lightly over the inner petals.
Paint the outer petals in softer tones like white, pink or lavender. Add variegated shades and dots for a natural effect.
Finish with two coats of sealant like polyurethane or spray lacquer. This helps protect the wood and paint.
Now your beautiful handmade wooden flower is ready to grace any room or gift!
Tips and Inspiration
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Craft flowers in different sizes and shapes – try roses, daisies, tulips, poppies or orchids.
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Use stamens made from painted twigs or faux stamens from a craft store to add pollen centers.
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Attach a magnet to the back to make refrigerator art or ornament