I've never had the pleasure of attending the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival at Disney World, but it's on my wish list. All those plants, flowers and Disney characters in one place? Count me in!
It just so happens that the release of Disney's newest movie, "Oz the Great and Powerful," and the opening day of the Epcot festival are only a couple of days apart this year. If you've seen any of the movie posters, you know this is a match made in heaven. The lush, vibrant colors and plant-filled landscapes leave no question that the Land of Oz garden and children's play area will be a highlight of the festival.
Since I can't be there in person, I was inspired to bring a little of the movie magic home. I noticed a certain type of flower popping up in many of the posters and previews, so I'm here to share my version of a flower from the Land of Oz.
To make one of these you'll need:
- 2 felt rectangles (about 9 x 12") in two different, coordinating colors
- 5 pipe cleaners
- 3 beads
- 1 chopstick or other wooden stick
- Embroidery floss
- Stem wrap tape (waxy floral tape, found in the craft store with floral arranging supplies)
- Oz Flower Pattern
Cut the flower shape from one color felt and the five petal centers from the other. Be sure to cut along all of the red lines in the center, as indicated on the pattern. Cut four of the pipe cleaners in half.
Lay the flower on a table. Center a cut pipe cleaner on one petal, down about 1/4" from the top. Add one petal center with the top edge even with the petal edge. Pin in place.
Using the embroidery floss, stitch through both layers of felt, crossing back and forth over the pipe cleaner. Knot the end behind the flower.
Repeat on the remaining four petals. Make sure the ends of all the pipe cleaners are through the hole at the center of the flower, bending slightly to push through if necessary.
To make the stamens for the center, slide a bead onto one of the remaining cut pipe cleaners, about 1" from the end. Bend the pipe cleaner over and twist it around itself under the bead. Repeat for all three beads.
Gather all five petal stems together. Slide the stamens in the center and make sure all eight pipe cleaners are even at the bottom. Wrap the uncut pipe cleaner tightly around, just below the flower.
Push the end of the chopstick into the center of the stems, as close to the flower as it will go. Finish wrapping the pipe cleaner around the stems and down onto the chopstick.
Starting at the base of the flower, wrap the stem with stem wrap tape, pulling slightly and overlapping.
The leaf is made the same way as the flower, but I used a doubled-over pipe cleaner for the stem instead of a chopstick.
Don't these make you want to hop a hot air balloon to the Emerald City? Or better yet, Epcot!
Staci has been sewing and crafting for as long as she can remember. If there's a technique she hasn't tried, it's probably on her wish list. At her blog, Crafty Staci, she shares beginner-friendly craft and sewing tutorials, simple recipes and her successful, and sometimes not-so-successful, attempts at expressing her own creativity. In addition to her blog, you can find Staci at Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram.
Related: What to Expect at This Year's Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival
We hope a DIY craft will get you inspired for your upcoming Disney trip, help you remember your last visit to the parks or just add a little magic to your day. If you have a simple Disney project you would like to share, check out our guest blog submission guidelines.
