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Tuesday, July 22, 2014

An 'Ugly Duckling' Transformation ..

Hello my dear friends,

I love to create things out of something that would some times just be trash to others ~ old to new ~ Todolwen. Recycling is vey important these days and today I am going to share a sort of  'ugly duckling' transformation.

 I came across this whilst I was browsing the internet and it's such an 'egg'cellent idea really! (There is a little hint for you.)  A friend of mine told me that this idea has been around since many years but I can't remember having heard of it before but I loved it right away.


Would you believe me if I said that the look of these make me smile these days?! ... Well, they do!


My work table is looking like this right now ... covered in a huge mess!

My 'ugly duckling' ...

  
... is made from some ordinary bits and pieces from an egg carton which looks like this before I turn them into ...



... a beautiful swan  ~ well, in this case a lovely rose.

 I liked this the way these turn out so much. I wanted to share a little how-to on how I made them with all of you lovely blogger. I am not claiming the fame to it but I also have no idea who really came up with this for the very first time.

I tend to make only 3 roses from one carton.

To make them all you will need is ...


... an empty cardboard egg carton, a glue gun and your hands and now you can already start!


Separate the lid from the bottom and place the bottom aside for now.




I tear three from each lid (one from the front part and two from the top part ) so they are all almost the same size. These will become the center parts of your roses. Tear the strips and then place aside.


Now tear cups from the bottom part ~ each rose will need two of them.
 
 
Tear around the top of the cup ...

 
... to make the height all around almost the same. I don't make them very neatly because little imperfections will give the rose a more realistic look in the end.


Now carefully tear each cup into 4 petals.
Some cups have scorched lines you can use as a guide to make your petals the same size.


I like to tears the corners of the petals off ...

 
... so that they slightly rounded but I don't tidy the edge up too much again.

And now to create your rose ...


... place one cup inside the other one so that the petals are off center from each other ...



... and using your glue gun add a dot of glue between egg cups to secure them together.


Take a strip from the lid ...


... and roll it up.


 Once rolled let it go slightly so it will fill the center of the bottom section of your rose.


Again using your glue gun, add several dots of glue to the bottom of your rolled strip ...


... and place then into the cup of the rose and hold for a moment until the glue sets and that's it!

 
You have just created your first rose!
 
 
Isn't it lovely?!


 This is already so beautiful but if you wish you can also give your roses a little color with paint that has been slightly watered down.


I like to just white wash mine a little sometimes.


 
 

I did so with these.

There are many tutorials on the Internet and many different ways you can create these lovely blossoms ~ this was just the way I like to make them.

I hope you have enjoyed this little how-to and maybe you might try it out some time?

And last but not least ...

... have I ever told you that I have some of the sweetest neighbours you could have?!


After I told some of them about me taking to making these roses, they were so neat and have started to leave empty egg cartons on my front porch ...


... so I have something to work with.


The only thing now is ... I don't even know what I am going to use these roses for yet but I enjoy creating them and I am sure I will come up with something lovely where I can incorporate them in.
 I guess I will just have to wait and see what I come up with and so will you my dear friends.

I hope you are well my dear friends and life is treating you kind

Have a peaceful and creative day.
 

27 comments:

  1. Hi Karen, I have never seen these either. Now to find some grey paper egg cartons. Most of our eggs in MI come in plastic. Do you remember when you did the little vintage sewing kit made out of an "egg carton" from Bath and Body? I made one of those, but never showed it on my blog, if I can figure out how to transfer pictures from my camera to my laptop I post it. I love it, and your ideas. Have a nice day.

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  2. OOh yes! i love roses and these are fairly realistic looking. I shall be making some no doubt in the future!
    I think, maybe they would look good painted red and put on a wreath for any time of the year? Or gold or silver perhaps? The uses for theses roses is almost endless in my mind!
    Thank you Karen for sharing this lovely little craft, so inexpensive too. xxx

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  3. Those turned out awesome. Thanks for sharing.

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  4. What a fun idea - I have never seen this - what fun it will be to try - I even have an egg carton - thanks for sharing! Pam

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  5. I think these are great and will have to try it.Thank you for sharing.

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  6. Wow, they are awesome! You know what they could be used for? A great summery wreath... hot glue onto a round form, add a ribbon and viola! A wonderful welcome on your front porch door - to thank those kindly neighbors for their contributions.... ;)

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  7. What a great tutorial! I think i might actually be able to do this! You could make a wreath! That would be gorgeous! Hugs! deb

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  8. How gorgeous! I think you need a basket and some colored roses and it will be perfect.
    I can see it already ;-)!
    Love to see what you are going to do with them.

    Hugs Ines♥

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  9. Lovely to look at, and most of all, cheap! Thanks Karen.

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  10. Karen I have seen lots of altered egg cartons but I can honestly say I have never seen these beautiful roses you have created. Simply Stunning and from a paper egg carton. Creative Bliss Dear...

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  11. I never would have thought an egg carton would turn into such beautiful roses!

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  12. I have one of those egg cartons in the fridge right now. You've got me wanting to give this a try. I like the idea of using these on a wreath as one of your commenters said.

    Happy creating ~ FlowerLady

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  13. The whitewashed ones would be beautiful in clusters on a twig wreath and they will make lovely Christmas tree decorations. They're very pretty just piled in your silver dish.

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  14. Our house is called 'The Roses' - and I would make a large wreath with many, many white-washed eggcarton-roses attached and hang it right outside the front door - I have several wreath I change as the seasons change ..... yours is missing though!!! :)
    you're a wonderful DIYer Karen - Love from France
    Kiki

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  15. This is new to me, and I've been around a long time!!! Another item to start saving... I can hear my husband groaning now!!! I like the way you've gathered some together for the photo, makes a rather interesting display.

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  16. Karen-- only you could turn an egg carton into beautiful cardboard roses-- the whole idea is pretty amazing!! Can't wait to see how you use them!
    Xoxo
    Vicki

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  17. Hallo Karen,

    was fĆ¼r eine gute Idee ;o))

    Ich schick dir liebe GrĆ¼ĆŸe

    Mela

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  18. Hi Karen,
    I have just found your lovely blog via you origami butterfly, which I am keen to try and make, that was on Pinterest. I am delighted to have found you and the chance to see some of your gorgeous creations. I've just seen your egg box rose tutorial and would love to, have a go at making these too.
    I have added you to my list of blogs to follow and will look forward to visiting again to see your new posts. Warmest best wishes from across the miles here en France.
    Susanne

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  19. Awesome, beautiful...cant wait to try it. Thank you!

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  20. Best tutorial I have seen yet for egg carton roses. Just what I was looking for.
    Thank you

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  21. love these roses...I finally bought an egg carton today, they are not easy to find here...Most stores have the styrofoam.....Can't wait to make them!!..Thaks for sharing!!

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  22. Karen, Thank you so much for posting this wonderful tutorial on the roses!!! Just look how many lives they have already blessed over these past years and still there are those of us who just now are discovering your post!! I plan to make quite a few of these for a shabby-chic looking Christmas this year. I am a florist by trade so I always incorporate some kind of floral look into my Christmas decorating. I cannot wait to see how it will all turn out when done. Again, thank you so very much! P.S. I found your post on the roses when I came across the gorgeous Poinsettia Tree Topper!! Wow! It is amazingly beautiful as well! :)

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  23. First time on your Blog, Love it. I make Victorian Lamp shades, made the egg carton roses painted lightly, hang them w/price from shades, Now Wondering, Are they buying the shades because of the cute TAGs?

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    1. So happy you like my blog. I think possibly for the shade and the tag. Would love to see some of your work.
      Hugs.
      Karen B.

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