What you will need:
- Scissors- the ones I'm using are florist scissors.
- Stemtex aka florist tape (this is the paper one but you can get the plastic one too either one works well but I prefer this one)- Available from most florists, garden centres, craft shops and wilkinson's.
- Thin wire- One I'm using is normally used for gardens but can work well. It is normally better to use thin wire from a florist shop or from online.
- Few stems of Ivy (Hedra helix). Larger leaves are better if you are making the headband one as they will have longer stems, slightly smaller leaves and stems are better for the bracelet.
- small craft flowers- available in most craft shops. You can have real flowers if you would like too but make sure you wire these too when wiring the leaves.
- butterfly if wanted.
Step 1:
Get your stems of Ivy (Hedra helix) and start by cutting off leaves. Larger ones work better when making the headband as you wont need as many but for the bracelet I went for medium sized ones. Make sure when cutting from the branch you have at least 1 cm of the stem. this makes it easier for wire and helps when making the branching structure.
Step 2:
If you have a reel of wire like me start off by cutting several lengths of around 10 cm minimum. this way you have a little bunch that you can probably at least use for two leaves at a time. But if you are using single lengths of wires that you either brought online or from a florist them skip to step 3.
Step 3:
Grab your first leaf fold it in half gently and poke your wire though the middle of the leaf towards the bottom near the stem if you can. If its your first time for good practice I would do this half way up the leaf. Once you have poked the wire through the leaf, bring the wire down and with the shortest length wind it around the stem. This gives the stem more security and avoids it from breaking. It also helps for later on when you move which direction you want the leaves to be. For the headband it is best to leave a longer bit of wire on the ends (about 3 cm) as it creates more a secure base. But because I have done this before and wanted more of a compact look for my bracelet I cut off most of the excess wire and was going to use mostly the stems for creating the branching unit. Wire all of your leaves then continue onto the next step.
Grab your first leaf fold it in half gently and poke your wire though the middle of the leaf towards the bottom near the stem if you can. If its your first time for good practice I would do this half way up the leaf. Once you have poked the wire through the leaf, bring the wire down and with the shortest length wind it around the stem. This gives the stem more security and avoids it from breaking. It also helps for later on when you move which direction you want the leaves to be. For the headband it is best to leave a longer bit of wire on the ends (about 3 cm) as it creates more a secure base. But because I have done this before and wanted more of a compact look for my bracelet I cut off most of the excess wire and was going to use mostly the stems for creating the branching unit. Wire all of your leaves then continue onto the next step.
Step 4:
Tip: when I was at college when I couldn't manage to pull the tape whilst taping to the stem I used to reel of a length and pull it all then tape it. The paper one is better if your going to try this way.
Step 5:
Once you have taped all of the stems and wires you can start your branching unit. (I am making the bracelet here, to do a less compact bracelet with longer stems/wires or the headband it is exactly the same way but you will be taping half the stem and the rest of the excess wire as well.) I start off by grabbing two leaves and tape my second leaf slightly further down than my first so there is a gap between each one and leaving some of that stem longer than the first. When I come to tape on my third leaf I will be adding that stem onto the second leafs stem and so on and so forth. You will alternate sides each time so it looks more like a branch. continue taping all the way down by adding some flowers in as you go if need be.
Once you have taped all of the stems and wires you can start your branching unit. (I am making the bracelet here, to do a less compact bracelet with longer stems/wires or the headband it is exactly the same way but you will be taping half the stem and the rest of the excess wire as well.) I start off by grabbing two leaves and tape my second leaf slightly further down than my first so there is a gap between each one and leaving some of that stem longer than the first. When I come to tape on my third leaf I will be adding that stem onto the second leafs stem and so on and so forth. You will alternate sides each time so it looks more like a branch. continue taping all the way down by adding some flowers in as you go if need be.
Step 6:
Once you have got the required length for you bracelet or headband (for headband I would do it for it to nearly fit all the way around the head but make sure there if enough room for you to add some ribbon either side for you to tie to make a bow as seen in step 7). Tape your last leaf the opposite way around than the rest so its going back on itself. This way it hides the end of the branching unit.
Once you have got the required length for you bracelet or headband (for headband I would do it for it to nearly fit all the way around the head but make sure there if enough room for you to add some ribbon either side for you to tie to make a bow as seen in step 7). Tape your last leaf the opposite way around than the rest so its going back on itself. This way it hides the end of the branching unit.
Step 7:
Once you have put on the last leaf I then got some ribbon. Satin or organza would be best as it gives it a nice finish, I cut off around 18 cm twice for both sides and I double tie it on to the start and finish of the branching unit. Once this is secure I then tear of a bit of Stemtex and go around where I have tied the ribbon to hide the mechanics. If you would like to add a butterfly, I suggest adding it at the very end so then you can find the middle, Make sure you have wired and taped it on to the branching unit properly. I will show you the finished product with and without the butterfly.
Finished product:
You can either hide or embrace the bow.
Comparison. Which one do you like best?
or if you made the headband the overall look would like similar to this:
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