I am finally getting to sit down and post on here! It has been such a hectic week. Everyone has been sick including me. In the middle of it all I put together these mums and really had so much fun doing it. It was a break from being “the mom.” (wink)
I thought that it would be fun to post a little tutorial for any of you who want to ever do these. It really is not as hard as it may seem. The hardest part is just figuring out how it is you want to do it!
Now here in Texas we do these celebrating the Homecoming Football Game. All the girls get a huge one to wear on the front of their shirts. And all the boys get one to wear on their arms.
I loved driving to drop my son off at school and seeing all the creative mums people had made. And driving home I saw my neighbor out with her kids taking pictures of them with their awesome mums she had made. It really gets everyone in the football spirit!
And just on a side note before I start, these can be made for a “Mom to Be” for her shower. Or for a bride at her shower. There are a lot of reasons to make these besides just for football! (wink)
Supplies:
- 3 Backings – You can buy this at a hobby store or you can make it using something like a cereal box. (wink)
- Flower(s) – 1-3 depending on the size you want
- Stapler and a lot of staples
- Hot glue gun and sticks
- Variety of Ribbon – colors of your choice – Usually the School colors – You want enough to fill out the bottom hanging ribbon along with enough to go around the flower. I can not give an exact measurement due to the fact that everyone likes them different lengths and use different amounts around the flower.
- Curling Ribbon
- Bling – The trinkets of your choice: Strings of beads, whistles, Bells, Cow Bells…The louder the better
- Sticker Letters – I find for the larger letters the Iron-On ones at Wal Mart are cheaper
- Safety Pin Used to attach Mum to shirt
Directions:
For each mum you will use three backings; the front, middle, and back. Backings come in different sizes and shapes. The one below is for a three flowers mum. A simple circle is used for one flower. They comes in different sizes depending on the flower. I actually this year ran out of circle backings from last year so I used the back of a spiral notebook and just cut my own.
Attach a hoop made from ribbon at the top back of the middle backing with staples. This will be used as a way to pin the mum to a person’s shirt. If the mum is heavy the trick is to attach it to the bra strap for support. Some people do not use this method but make a huge loop and use it as a necklace.
At the bottom of the middle backing you will attach all the ribbons in what ever order you want. A tip with the curling ribbon is to staple it, then bend it over itself and staple it again. It gives it extra support. Now I forgot to take pictures of this next step but I added strings of beads. And to attach them you simply hot glue them to the front of the ribbons but make sure the glue is touching the backing.
After all the ribbons are attached I attach the BLING using the curling ribbon. You can get the bling at your local crafts store. I prefer Michael’s. They just seem to have so many options and cater to the Homecoming Mums there. But I do not narrow myself down to just that. I go looking through the Christmas and Halloween aisle as well. And I love the dollar bins!!! Anyways after adding the bling I then run the curling ribbon through my scissors to curl them and it really makes the mum look full!
Once the mum was put together I went back through and added all my letters. I put my son’s nickname and his girlfriends name on here, added the High School name, and so on. You can add what ever you want. My nephew had me add on his “Boxers are sexy” ha ha If you get to this part and think you need extra ribbons for the words just add them! You can even attach them to the back of the backing.
After getting all the hanging ribbons done, I work on the front backing of the mum. First I go around the edge and using the hot glue gun I add loops of ribbons or as in this one I added Feathers! (wink)
Click HERE to see my last years ones where I used ribbon instead of feathers.
After you have the edging attached you then hot glue the flowers to the backing. This heart shaped backing is large enough for three flowers. Also as you see I added a spray of some sticks on this one. You can glue them between the flower and backing. Or you can just glue them on the back side after the front is complete to better see where you want the spray to go.
After adding the flowers I then added a butterfly for a touch of bling to the front of the flowers. You can add anything from teddy bears to words. I saw one girl go on the internet and print the school mascot. Then she got creative and dressed him up with paper hats and shoes. And when she was done laminated him using tape. Sounds simple, but it was awesome looking! Be creative!
Once your front backing with the flowers is done, and the middle backing with the ribbons is done you will glue them all together using the hot glue gun. Then you will take one more backing and hot glue it to the back to cover all the staples and such that would snag on a person’s clothes. (Sorry I do not have pictures of this part….I forgot to take any.)
Here are some pictures of some other ones I made this year. The orange one was a little one that a friend of mine wanted to give his wife. Their anniversary fell on Homecoming! So he wanted her to have one to wear at her son’s game. Fun huh!? If you have any questions please ask! I hope you have lots of fun making yours!!
This one is one to go on arm…for a boy!
It’s a Bandana Mum!
It’s a Bandana Mum!
UPDATE – To see the latest mums I made click “HERE”
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Anonymous September 19, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Those are really cute! You did a fantastic job and I love how unique they are!
Floppin Flower September 19, 2011 at 6:25 pm
Oh thank you!!! ;0)
Geri September 20, 2011 at 2:39 pm
You're amazing! I loved my mum, thank you for making it!
Floppin Flower September 20, 2011 at 4:42 pm
Aww…I am so glad you liked it! I thought Alan was so cute to do that for you. I hope you guys had an awesome Anniversary!
Anonymous September 24, 2011 at 4:46 pm
I Love every Mum you've ever made for me they are alll beautiful:) you are so creativee Mrs.Lisa!!
Floppin Flower July 26, 2012 at 7:38 pm
I love making mums for you sweet lady!!! And we still have 2 more to go! (wink)
Kaitlin LeAnn July 26, 2012 at 2:34 pm
Where did you get the butterfly trinket ?
Floppin Flower July 26, 2012 at 7:35 pm
I actually got it in the floral section of Michaels. It was on top of a long stick to put in a floral arrangement. (wink) When I went shopping I did not stay just in the homecoming aisle. I walked around the store to see if anything popped out at me. Usually around that time of year they also have a lot of Seasonal stuff out from Halloween to Christmas so that helps too! And the discount stuff is the best!! Lots of odd and ends in there!
Linda Steaples January 18, 2013 at 12:11 pm
LOVE THESE !!!!
Floppin Flower January 18, 2013 at 10:24 pm
Thank you!!! I have fun doing these for my son’s girlfriend and my niece. They are so expensive to buy! And this way, you get EXACTLY what you want! (wink)
Mums the word! | Floppin Flower September 2, 2013 at 9:08 am
[…] and am really excited! I will be posting pictures soon. UPDATE to see a tutorial on the mums click “here” and to see other mums I have done you can click “here” Or you can go to the left side […]