Christmas Brooches

      I am very pleased to say that I have joined the design team at Altered Eclectics. I have long been an admirer of their creativity, now I can say we are a challenge blog that embraces all things altered, with a monthly theme of Anything Goes as long as it's NOT a card.
     For my first challenge with them I have made some Poinsettia brooches using a very well known drink can, now that it's available in red and green it makes it a perfect choice for these flowers.
     The petals are die cut using a Bigz die from Sizzix and Tim Holtz called Tattered Poinsettia.

    I have cut one large flower in green, one in red, then one medium and one small both in red. Each flower set is scored with a ball tool to make veins on the petals before building the Poinsettia.
    The centre is cut in gold from a beer can (supplied by my friends husband!) and fixed together with a brass paper fastener.
     The die cutting process does round off the edges but I would not recommend these flowers for children, try using felt not metal.

    The brooch back has a felt flower shape, also a Sizzix die, to hold the brooch pin. Attach a small square of felt to double sided sticky sheet and die cut the flower, stitch the pin to the felt through the remaining paper cover, once the pin is secure remove the paper on the sticky side of the flower and press it firmly on to the back of your Poinsettia.  I hope you like them, they're fun to make.
     Please pop over to Altered Eclectics and take at look at the DT inspiration, there are some great gift ideas.

I would like to enter my flowers in the following challenges:

Anything But A Card - Five   Five Poinsettias, Five petals per layer, Five layers of metal.

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes  optional calendar

4 Crafty Chicks - Die Cuts

Try It On Tuesday - Christmas Is Coming