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Supplies
- False Eyelash "Clumps" (if you can't get these locally, they are available at
Drugstore.com)
- Seed Beads or Bugle Beads
- Very Fine Floral Foam. I got mine ("Nu Foam") at MiniKitz.
- Acrylic Craft Paints (assorted colors)
- CA Glue. I used "Zap-A-Gap".
- Bamboo Skewers or toothpick (for applying glue)
- Small sewing needle
- Tweezers
- Small Scissors
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Step 1
Removing lash clumps from packaging.
Use tweezers to lift an eyelash clump from the packaging. Note that the end of the clump has a light adhevise (similar to "rubber cement"), so the clumps are "stuck" in the box. A light tug removes them, but leaves the adhesive intact --
nice because it keeps the clumps from flying away... most of the time. ;)
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Step 2
Spreading the lashes for flower stems. Place the clump on your work surface. Spread the lashes by applying pressure at the base of the clump (I used tweezers).
Notice the wide "blob" at the base of the clump -- I'm going to mention it later.
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Step 3
Color the stems. Apply dark green paint. Don't worry if the lashes get somewhat clumped together (it's going to happen), but keep them as spread as possible.
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Step 4
Re-separate stems. Allow paint to dry for 2-3 minutes. Use a razor blade or craft knife to separate the lashes. I like this step because it lifts up some of the paint
and gives the stems a "hairier" or more organic look.
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Step 6
Adding the "flowers".
Once again, apply pressure to base of clump to keep lashes separated. Using a toothpick or bamboo skewer, coat lashes with CA glue.
Use tweezers to pick up and sprinkle small bits of floral foam over the lashes coated with glue. Arrange foam to your liking... but don't get to attached to
the arrangement -- you'll likely lose some bits of foam when placing these stems in their vase. Additionally, don't get too much foam on the
bottom half of the clump -- this portion is going to be pulled through the "bead vase" and removed.
If you don't have floral foam, you can make some interesting budding plants by dipping the lashes in acrylic paint.
You can see an example of "paint buds" in Step 7. If you decide to use paint, you can skip step 5 (applying glue).
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Step 7
Trimming Clumps. Remember the "blob" I mentioned in Step 2? Well, that "blob" doesn't fit into the bead we're going to use as a vase.
So trim the blob FROM THE SIDES.
Don't simply remove the blob, it holds the lashed together. Small scissors work best for this step.
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Step 8
Making the leaves. Create leaves repeating Steps 1-3 on a new clump. I recommend using a pale green paint. Instead of separating the individual lashes
in this painted clump, divide the clump into 2-3 small groups. Allow paint to dry and your leaves are done.
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Step 9
Placing flowers in vase. Apply CA glue to base of flower clump. Thread clump through sead bead or bugle bead. Use whatever means available, lol.
I used tweezers to hold the bead and a very thin sewing needle to push the clump into the bead.
Dependent on the size of your bead hole, you may have to separate one clump into 2-3 smaller ones and thread the individual clumps through.
Use tweezers to pull clump through bottom of bead until flowers are desired height above top of bead.
Apply dot of CA glue at base of bead. Allow to dry. Trim excess stem below bottom of vase.
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Step 10
Adding the leaves to vase. Sometimes the hole in the bead will be large enough to force the entire leaf clump into the bead.
Other times it will be necessary to trim the leaves prior to placing them in the vase and then add the leaves one at a time
by dipping each leaf base in CA glue and then popping it into the bouquet whereever you like.
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Step 11
Finishing Touches. If needed, you can now use a razor or sewing needle to "arrange" the flowers. Also, if you lost many of the "blossoms"
in the building process or simply need more blooms, you can dab CA glue on stems and place floral foam with tweezers.
From top of the flowers to the bottom of the vase, the "large" vase in the picture stands about 4-feet tall (in 1/144 scale) and the small vase
stands about 2-1/2 feet tall.
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