By Noreen Doll.
A milk jug flower can be used in lots of ways.
You can use it as outside decor, because it’s plastic and will weather well.
It can be used as a decoration on a gift, or an embellishment on a card or craft project. Or just make a bunch and create a colorful bouquet.
it would work well on a child’s head band or barrette.
A milk jug flower is very easy to create, and it’s another perfect craft for kids.
it can be painted or colored with permanent markers, or you can decoupage paper or fabric on it.
Materials.
Milk Jug
Flower Pattern in 2 or 3 sizes
Green Pipe Cleaners or Floral Wire
Permanent Markers
Scissors
Round Nose Pliers
How to Make a Milk Jug Flower.
Find some flower patterns you like. They don’t have to all be the same shape, but you do need to have 2 or 3 sizes.
Wash a milk jug and remove the label. Or use milk jug scraps.
1. Use a marker to trace the flower patterns onto the jug. It’s a good way to use up small pieces of milk jugs with the smaller flower patterns.
2. Cut the flowers out, cutting inside the traced lines.
3. Paint or color the flower pieces different colors. Let them dry.
4. Punch a hole in the center of each flower. Use a 1/4 inch punch so the pipe cleaner fits snuggly in the hole.
5. Wrap each flower petal around a pen and curl it.
Curl the petals on the larger flowers under and curl the petals on the smallest flower up.
6. Use a rounded tip of a marker to press firmly down in the center of the flower piece to help give it dimension.
It works better if you have a surface that gives under the flower, such as a mouse pad, carpet, or cutting pad.
7. Using a green pipe cleaner as a stem, thread the largest flower on the stem with the colored side up. Use floral wire if this is to be an outdoor decoration.
Thread a medium sized flower next, and then the smallest flower on top.
Slide the flowers down to the middle of the stem.
8. Using the round nose pliers, curl the top end of the stem into a small circle.
Slide the flowers to the top of the stem and bend the pipe cleaner curl flat against the top flower.
This will hold the milk jug flowers on the stem and serve as the center of the flower.
Tips
A button can be used in the center of the flower. Thread the pipe cleaner through a hole from the bottom and then back down through another hole, and then again through the center hole in the flower. Twist the end of the pipe cleaner around the stem just under the flower.
If the flowers don’t want to stay at the top of the stem, you can make another curl in the pipe cleaner just under the bottom flower.
The flower pieces don’t have to be the same shape, and can be more interesting looking if you use different shapes in one flower.
Usually an odd number of flower pieces is more pleasing to the eye, so I used 3 flower pieces on my flower.
I curled the flower petals before I colored them, and I used strong pressure on the curl as the plastic didn’t want to hold the curl very well.
A vase full of milk jug flowers would make a great spring or summer centerpiece.
© Noreen Doll
Linda Geser says
I live in senior housing and now have a craft group where we do simple crafts. This milk jug flower will be a perfect future project!!! I am sure that I will be sharing lots of ideas with them in the future. Thank You!
Marie @ The Interior Frugalista says
These would be fun to make with little ones Noreen – love it!
Marty@A Stroll Thru Life says
How fun and creative is this. Love it. Thanks tons for linking to Inspire Me.
angie says
love it yet another great way to use a milk jug
thanks for sharing
come see us at http://shopannies.blogspot.com
Cynthia L says
These are so cute and a great project for a young one to make for Mother’s Day. They are perfect for any occasion that you want to make someone feel special. Thanks for linking to the In and Out of the Kitchen Link Party!
Theresa (Capri + 3) says
I love your Milk Jug Flowers! I pinned it to my flower crafts and activities board. Thank you for sharing on Artsy Play Wednesday. : 0 )
Theres Just One Mommy says
How cute! I never would have guessed it was made from a milk jug!
Marly says
Milk here isn’t sold in plastic bottles, but orange juice is. Would you consider using plastic fruit-juice bottles? Or is the plastic too thick to curl?
Noreen says
Any flexible plastic bottle that can be cut with scissors should work. If the plastic is thick and hard to curl, heat it with a curling iron or craft heating tool to soften it, and that should help. Heat each petal separately, and after curling, hold it curled a few seconds till it cools.
Susan says
How cute and you know I love these flowers because it’s a repurposed project. Thanks for sharing at Inspire Us Thursday on Organized 31.
Kristina & Millie says
Awesome flower! I love this craft for sure! This would be great too as a teacher appreciation gift – never wilts or needs water!
Colletta says
What a cute idea! I hope you can stop by to visit.
Colletta
JanelleS says
What a great idea! My daughter would love to make these for all of her friends. Good picture tutorial. Thank you!
JanelleS-Large Family Vlogger
Nicki says
What a great idea-I would never have thought to use a milk jug.
Stopping by from The Sunday Showcase.
le chateau des fleurs blog says
That’s cute! My kids would love to make this!
I would love if you link this to the Monday party on my blog tomorrow morning!
Xo
Isabelle
Rebecca says
This is ADORABLE.
Jodi says
We just did milk jug flowers a couple weeks ago. I love your take on the idea though. So fun. I’m featuring you this week at Meaningful Mama. Thanks so much for linking up at Mom’s Library. I’m pinning this now too.
creativejewishmom/sara says
great project, thanks for sharing on craft schooling Sunday!
Kristina and Millie says
These are so cute! My daughter would love making these. Thanks for linking up to Snickerdoodle Sunday!
Katie Goldsworthy says
Cute and Fun! Pinning to the Monday Funday board. Thanks for linking!
Laura@Baking in Pyjamas says
How creative, it looks great. Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury Sunday, stop by and link up again. Have a great day!!
Ashley says
Very pretty! Thanks for sharing on Mom’s Library! I featured these last week!
Bindu says
Wow!!! that is a cool idea. Now I am very much inspired to try this one.
Deepa says
So cool! Going on my to-do list, for sure!
Tammi L says
I love that these are so much more durable than the paper ones… and can be dusted by us moms that like to keep them for far too many years! LOL