Make a corsage brooch!

Corsage brooches were quite the hype this summer! They look stunning on a simple white tee shirt! I bought two, made four, and got given two. I might post a picture of all my brooches later.

Today, boys and girls, we're going to be making this:

Okay, so let's get started:

You will need:

- Tulle [in any colour!]

- Some thick cardboard [It's okay to recycle some, I got mine from a university project!]

- Scissors and strong glue [the basics..]

- A circle template for the centre of the brooch [or anything circular that you can draw around! I used the base of a paint bottle earlier]

- Some jewellery findings, and brooch pins

How to make it:

1. Cut out a circle from the cardboard - it can be as big or small as you want it to be! Mine was about 3-3.5cms in diameter. Cut out a circle from within it, like this:

I also coloured it black because my tulle was black, but this isn't strictly necessary because in the end your tulle completely covers the cardboard base, so it's not seen.

2. Time to cut your tulle! Cut it in long strips, about 1cm by 15cms. But you can make it wider, shorter, or longer! And don't worry about cutting it extremely perfect - no one will be able to see.

3. Now get knotting! Get a strip of tulle, and hold it in a upside-down U shape over the circle cutout. Like this:

4. Then take the two bits that are loose and pull them up from under the circle and through top loop of the upside-down U.

5. Pull the loose bits tight ... tighter!

6. Repeat this with the rest of the strips. One thing to keep in mind: Keep tightening those strips together. After you think you're almost done covering the circle, push it in and create space for more. This will make it sturdier and make the brooch look fuller.

7. Done yet? Just a little more to go!

8. Stick a jewellery finding in the middle of the circle, and a brooch pin on the other side. [Make another circle, cover it with fabric and stick the brooch pin on it. I've also shown that in this tutorial]

The final brooches!

9. Yay! Your super cool corsage brooch is done! Wasn't that easy? Aaaand, doesn't it look similar to this one Emma wears for Teen Vogue?!

Extra notes:

- Instead of using a jewellery finding, you could also make a smaller version of the brooch and stick it in the middle, like how I did it here.

- After you make the brooch, you might want to snip uneven ends, if any. Or you could purposely make it uneven! :) [I should try that!]

- This brooch was inspired by DesignMom's Tulle Tutorial.

- This brooch, before any glue was applied, went through the washing machine. It came out good as new, and nothing happened to the cardboard inside. Phew. No guarantee what happens after the gluing, though! :)

Let me know if any of you makes one! Or if you find out about any other broochey tutorials!!

Oooh, and don't forget to buzzback/comment!!!

Emma's photo © Teen Vogue; all the others are my own.