This project was demonstrated by Lacey Oldham.
Materials:
teacup and saucer
plaster of Paris mix
about 60" of 18-gauge wire
12" of 26-gauge wire
small amount of peat moss
doily
12" length of 1" wired green ribbon
10" length of 1" wired ribbon in desired color
small flowers of your choice
hot glue gun w/glue sticks
container to mix plaster
water
chain-nose pliers
wire cutters
needle-nose pliers
Steps:
1. Cut the 18-gauge wire into five pieces: one about 14 inches long, two about 12 inches long, and two about 10 inches long. Using chain-nose pliers, curl about 3 inches of each wire into a spiral with a gap between each round. These are the tops of the wires and will be holding the pictures (figure A).
2. Bend the other end of each wire down at a right angle about 1 inch and then one inch again, creating a "U" shape on the end of each wire. With 26-gauge wire, bundle all the wires together at the bottom above the bends so they stay together (figure B).
3. Mix up enough plaster of Paris and water to fill the cup. Don't mix it in the teacup but in another container until creamy, and then pour it into the teacup to within 1/2-inch of the rim.
4. Fan out the bottom of the wires and push them into the middle of the wet plaster , making sure that the handle of the teacup is to the right or the left side and the wires are centered with the longest wire at the back of the bundle (figure C) . Hold for just a minute until it sets up enough for the wires to stay in place. Let this dry completely, for several hours.
5. Once the plaster is completely dry, glue the doily to the top of the saucer . Then glue the teacup to the doily.
6. Glue the moss on top of the plaster to cover it completely (figure D) .
7. Make a very loose knot in the middle of the green wired ribbon. Glue this ribbon on the opposite side of the handle where the teacup and saucer meet. Glue the 10 -inch piece of ribbon, making the same knot, on top of the green ribbon (figure E).
8. Arrange your flowers in the middle of the ribbons and glue in place. Cut the ribbons at an angle to the desired length.
9. Arrange the wires by bending them so that the 9-inch wire is in the back, the 7-inch wires are slightly out a little further, and the 5-inch wires out further yet.
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