365 Designs: DIY CHERRY BLOSSOM BRANCHES & GLASS TUMBLERS >

DIY CHERRY BLOSSOM BRANCHES & GLASS TUMBLERS


 
  Can you believe it's that time of year again. Cherry trees are nearing their peak here on the East Coast. Their blooms  are just amazing. Though cherry blossoms are especially meaningful for the people of Japan, here in the US  they are simply admired for their unparalleled beauty. If you haven't already, you should consider  a trip to Washington  to experience cherry trees in full bloom. They are quite something to behold and will definitely inspire your creativity.
  For this next project I found inspiration in an interior design catalog.  It featured beautifully detailed hand painted champagne glasses in a variety of spring flowers. Although the flutes were indeed gorgeous they were just a little too fancy for my taste. I thought why not simplify it. Well this next tutorial just can't get any simpler. All you need to hand paint these glasses is a a pencil eraser and the actually paint bottle itself...
 

*see below for complete product details.




STEP ONE:
To prep the glass simply wipe rubbing alcohol on with a lint free towel. This helps the paint to adhere by removing oils or residue. 

STEP TWO:
The great thing about Martha Stewart Glass Paint is that it comes in a fine tip applicator bottle. I literally used this bottle to draw directly on the glass. When drawing the cherry tree branches you want to try a zig-zag or sideways "y" shape. The trick to cherry tree branches is to draw a few sparse branches in a deep brown color.




STEP THREE:
For this next step, drawing the flowers, you only need a pencil. Using the eraser as your "brush" is not only easy but give you a nice petal shape. When drawing cherry blossoms you want to think in fives. There are five petals that make up the flower. You also want to keep the blossoms in bunches along the branch. It's almost like you swung the branches in a big bowl of cotton candy. Make sure you don't overdo it with the blossoms. You definitely want to see lots of branches.





 For the color I used a light pink. You can pick any shade you like from a deep coral(orange/pink) to an almost off white pink. Make sure when painting you keep the paint at least 0.8" or 2cm away from the rim of the glass.
After  you're finished you're going to want to cure the paint on the glass. This will ensure its durability. Follow these curing instructions after letting the paint dry about an hour.

BRANCH PROPS:
I've had many requests about the cherry tree branches I used as the props. To make the branches your going to want to use the Hydrangea Punch. Punching through tissue paper can be tricky. You want to fold it a few times to make it easier to punch through. 


After you have a pile of punched out tissue paper flowers you're ready to make the blossoming branches. All you need to do is dab any all purpose glue on the ends of the branches and then dip them in the pile of tissue flowers. Be careful not to over do it. You want clumps of blossoms in several spots on the branch. Let the branches sit until dry.






After everything is dry and cured 
you're ready to display you new works of art. 
The branches look great by themselves in a simple clear or white vase. 
The glasses can be use for decorative purposes or  for everyday use as they are dishwasher safe.

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Martha Stewart Crafts Glass Paint in Vanilla Bean, $3.50, Michaels.com, Martha Stewart Crafts Craft Paint in Poodle Skirt High Gloss, $2, Plaidonline.com, Stemless Wine Glass, $1, DollarTree.com, Martha Stewart Crafts 3-in-1 Hydrangea Punch, $11, EKsuccess.com or Michaels. Sign up to Michael's text or email to receive 40% off coupons you can use on all of these products.