Faux Enamel Flowers

I love retro enamel flower jewelry. The bright color and bold design appeal to me, not to mention the shine. My own crafting style tends toward all three of those things, and I am a jewelry designer, so....perfect fit! Nice metal, retro flowers are not easy to find, nor are they inexpensive. So, what does a smart crafter do? She makes her own faux version of them, of course!

 A little sidebar: I enjoy combining materials and techniques because I have such a varied past as a crafter/teacher. So, my projects almost always involve combinations of painting, jewelry making, papercrafting, stitching, and whatever else is on my mind at the time. Here is a charm bracelet made with a simple 1" round punch. It is never boring! 

Making your own faux enamel flowers is quite easy. And fun! Here is what you need:
  • heavy paper: I used both 90 lb. watercolor paper and posterboard. They worked equally well.
  • cardstock: solid brights
  • Fiskars punches: I used a 1" circle lever punch, a heart squeeze punch, 2 sizes of oopsie daisy squeeze punches, and a large scalloped circle squeeze punch
  • Plaid's Dimensional Magic in clear
  • Mod Podge for paper, or your favorite paper adhesive that will hold with moisture
  • white acrylic paint (optional)
  • small flat paintbrush (for Mod Podge)
  • buttons or gems for flower centers
  • hot glue gun and glue sticks
  • wire cutters (if you have shank buttons)


Try this:
1. Punch shapes. For every watercolor paper shape you punch, punch two color shapes the same.

 2. Using Mod Podge as glue, sandwich a white piece between two color pieces. Brush on a light coat that completely covers the shape.


 3. Make dots or stripes on  layered pieces with acrylic paint if you wish. I used the end of the brush handle on the heart and a pencil point on the daisy. Let the paint dry before the next step.


 4. Lay all shapes on a flat, level surface. Cover each with a coat of Dimensional Magic. Apply straight from the bottle, no brushing is necessary. Let the coat dry 6 hours or so.


 5. Assemble flowers by glueing pieces together. You can roll petals up or down before you apply Dimensional Magic.... or now, after one coat. Gently manipulate the paper for dimension.


Apply a second coat of Dimensional Magic on the front. Let dry. Also apply a coat to the backside of the flower. This makes the flower very sturdy.

 6. Glue gems or buttons in the centers of the flowers. I used some gorgeous Blumenthal Lansing buttons. Snip the shanks off with a pair of wire cutters before glueing them down.


 Build your flowers in layers. Here are some suggestions. One large daisy, two small daisies and a round gem.


 One large scalloped round, five 1" circles, a rhinestone button. 


 Eight hearts, one large daisy, a gold button.





At this point, your flowers are complete and fabulous. Glue on pinbacks, magnets, or add them to a necklace.

To complete a necklace like mine, you will also need:
  • silver wire
  • embroidery floss
  • scissors
  • a chain necklace



Cut a 2" piece of wire. Fold in half. Glue to back of flower. 

Using a piece of floss, knot the flower wire to the chain. Repeat with all flowers you want on your necklace.

No doubt, it makes a statement! How fabulous for spring and summer?

P.S. Clicking on the photos will enlarge them and give you a close up view.

Use your Vitamin C to make yourself a garden of flowers!





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11 creative thoughts:

Heidi P { April 1, 2012 at 11:25 PM }
What a great project and you explain it so well! Love the step by step photos, it really is a wonderful presentation! I can't wait to see how you will inspire me next.
YoungGramee { April 2, 2012 at 2:28 PM }
Love, love, love!!! The colors are fab and that little wire on the back of the flower is absolutely genius!
human pinball { April 2, 2012 at 3:07 PM }
This is absolutely ADORABLE ~ Love this project. You are so clever !
Barbara { April 2, 2012 at 9:45 PM }
Yes indeed it most certainly makes a statement and really looks like enamel. Love it! You never cease to amaze me with your ideas and easy to understand instructions. Keep them coming.
Joy! { April 2, 2012 at 11:01 PM }
Oh my goodness, to cute. Your creativity amazes me! Who would have thought you could make something so darling out of paper! Only you!
Susanne { April 5, 2012 at 5:12 AM }
Such a fantastic necklace, would never have tought that it was made of paper.
Wish you a great day!
Cherie { April 11, 2012 at 9:51 AM }
Isn't paper wonderful? So are these! Thanks!
Jenny { April 11, 2012 at 5:11 PM }
This project is awesome! thanks for sharing it.
Tina { May 2, 2012 at 7:16 AM }
awesome!! so creative~absolutely gorgeous. thank you for sharing
Unknown { June 23, 2013 at 8:59 PM }
Can I buy this from you through paypal? My wife wants this for our baby shower pleaseee help! Email: vickturorteez@gmail.com
BluKatKraft { December 5, 2013 at 9:54 PM }
WOW! This is so cool!

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