25.11.13

Thermocol Crafts- Lotus tutorial


Thermocol craft lotus
For quite some time now I have been fascinated by thermocol /styrofoam ball ornaments .
You can dress up thermocol balls with ribbons,fabric scraps,pretty paper ,sequins or beads [lots of ideas!!]
I had a bit of a tough time following some of the pine cone tutorials on the net and finally decided to make my own version…it turned out looking like a lotus!!

Thermocol craft lotus
So sharing how we made our thermocol lotus ball!

Materials Required for the Thermocol Ball craft
Lotus flower tutorial
  • Thermocol balls – we used 2 inch sized ones. If you are not able to get a thermocol ball dont worry you can still make your lotus using a plastic ball but instead of pinning you will have to do a lot of gluing !
  • Ribbon ,fabric or paper -I used 1 inch width pink ribbon.Use sizes and colors you want.
  • Pins
  • Scissors
From the pink ribbon Cut one square[ 1 x 1 inch] and many 1 x 2 inch rectangles [cut rectangles double the width of your ribbon/paper]
Lotus tutorial
Fold the rectangles into triangles by folding up the lower corners to meet the upper edge.
Ribbon flowers
My ribbon is kinda satiny and stiff like paper so I could fold and the creases remained
Ribbon flower tutorial
If you are using fabric or normal ribbon you will have to  hold the fold with your fingers
Ribbon flower tutorial
When you have folded up the other corner you will get a nice triangle.Doesnt matter if you get imperfect overlapping edges!
Ribbon flower tutorial
Pin the square onto the thermocol ball
Ribbon flower tutorial
Take the triangle you had folded and Pin the lower 2 corners of the triangle on to the corners of the square as shown keeping the flaps hidden inside.
Ribbon crafts
Keep pinning triangles to cover adjacent corners of the square keeping the lower edges of the triangles in a line on the thermocol ball
Thermocol Ball crafts
You can even use one pin to hold 2 adjacent triangle corners as you get used to pinning on the thermocol ball!
Thermocol Ball crafts
On completing a layer of triangles atop the square start pinning the next layer lower down .
Thermocol Ball crafts
My next layer also had just 4 triangles. Here is the side view showing how the triangles are overlapped on the thermocol ball
Thermocol crafts
Complete the thermocol ball lotus by pinning more triangles and finishing off with green ribbon leaves!
Do tell me how you like this thermocol - ribbon Lotus!!
I think it would look cool as a home decor and for religious souls I guess it would be lovely as a  Pooja  decoration for goddess Lakshmi!
PS: the stand for the lotus may be familiar to some of you.Here is how I made it : Fancy fold card tutorial
Where to buy Thermocol Balls ?: Try your local fancy store.If you are in Bangalore its available cheaply in many sizes at a Packing Material Supply shop in Ebrahim street[ parallel to Commercial street].Also available at Itsy Bitsy. You can also check out my compilation of Craft Supply Stores in India

Edited :this project got Honorable mention at Crafter corner Festive theme

67 comments:

  1. Its lovely lotus ! Wonderful decor idea...that too without any glue...Seems you are on roll thrid post in a row !!!!

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  2. Your Lotus is beautiful and so well crafted. Love the stand, too.

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  3. Awesome lotus from ribbon, well done!!!

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  4. It is amazing what you can do with a bit of ribbon and Styrofoam! Wonderful flower Dr. Sonia and beautiful card with those amazing die cuts. NancyD

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  5. wow!!! very nice.. i think this when made with smaller ball and smaller ribbon would look like a pine cone :) very beautiful....
    -Berina
    Moxie Craftie

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  6. Lotus is amazing..Loved it.. done pineapple using fish wire..

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  7. Wow, wow, wow, Sonia, this is absolutely stunning!! The lotus flower looks amazing!! I love how you created it - thanks for the awesome tutorial!! Not only is the flower gorgeous, but the base is as well!! This is fabulous!! Have a great day :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  8. WOWW! How cool Sonia. I love this technique..Loz

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    1. Thank you so much Loz I am sure you will make an amazing Xmas ornament with it

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  9. Another fab tutorial. A perfect Lotus flower. Keep them coming! Hugs Mrs A.

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    1. Thank you so much Mrs A. I am just getting around to post all the crafts done the past couple of weeks!!

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  10. This is really lovely, Dr. Sonia.

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    1. Thank you so much Teresa..I was lucky to get a satiny paper type ribbon which made the pinning super easy

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  11. superb lotus tutorial and it is so pretty Sonia, thanks for sharing

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    1. Thank you so much Shylaa ...I guess the pretty look is courtesy the gorgeous ribbon

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  12. Very pretty. I love your lotus flower the color is perfect and the base is just as pretty as the flower.

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    1. Thank you so much for dropping by Diana

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  13. Very pretty. Thanks for showing how you made the flower. Thanks for stopping by my blog too.

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    1. Thank you so much for visiting Terri

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  14. Such a perfect lotus. Wen I saw it I was wondering how it cud be done. Thanks for de tut

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    1. Thank you so much Sujana....that is why I always tree to share a step by step if I can!!

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  15. Wonderful idea...n the lotus is looking fabulous..Thanks for sharing it Dr. Sonia.

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    1. Thank you so much Shalu...it looks terrible as a pine cone but passes ok as a lotus!! Ha Ha

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  16. This is lovely!! Adding this in my 'must try' list!! :)

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    1. Oh good Ayushi...its a fab way to use up ribbon and scraps

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  17. What a beautiful lotus 3D flower Dr Sonia! You always seem to come up with such lovely ideas. I seem to have missed quite a bit of your posts. Especially love the poppy pop-up card tutorial and today's tutorial as well. You make it seem so easy :)

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    1. welcome back to blogland Hussena...missed your sweet comments and creations

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  18. This is so beautiful! Thank you for the tutorial!
    Pam
    scrap-n-sewgranny.blogspot.com

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  19. The lotus flower is beautiful..so easy to make..Gorgeous project Dr. Sonia!! thanks for the easy tutorial...

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    1. Yes Jaya it was quick to make and even my kiddo chipped in

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  20. Thanks for the tutorial Doctor. I am sure I am going to try this soon.

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  21. Wow!! beautiful lotus.. love the way you did Dr Sonia.. Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful tutorial..can't wait to make one for my room decor.. :) thanks for the lovely words on my pista shell necklace..

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    1. Thank you so much Radhika....I thought about your pista shell necklace today too...hats off to your creativity!!

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  22. WOWZER, that flower is so STUNNING, that beautiful frame is all it needs, love the tutorial, I have a lot of those tiny balls so I will try to make one, thanks for your inspiration and you kind sharing, hope you have a wonderful week..

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  23. This is just beautiful! I have a daughter living in China- she may get one of these : ) Thanks for the visuals!!!

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    1. I guessed you had an Oriental connection from the many oriental themed cards you have shared!!

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  24. Your flower is beautiful and thanks for the detail tutorial. I'm going to try this.
    Hugs, Pat

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    1. Thank you so much Patricia...would love to see yours

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  25. very pretty and another great tutorial. Thanks for sharing

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  26. Hi Sonia, I always keep time to read your posts in detail! there is so much to learn from. I amaze to see your generosity to share the knowledge in detail. thanks for sharing this prettiest lotus making tutorial. Actually I bought these thermocol balls from Itsy Bitsy to make snowman, now I'll try lotus :) and thanks so much for your support and love for my blog, it means a lot :)

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    1. Thank you so much Shilpa...you are too kind. And we made snowmen too...in this post :Thermocol Snowman

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  27. The Lotus turned out gorgeous.I am amazed at your patience and grateful for all the tutorials that you do.I love the stand too.Thanks for playing along with us at Crafters corner challenge #14.Wish you all the best.

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  28. great Dr Sonia, u can make anything look wonderful and beautiful. I love ur crafts.... super idea.

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  29. you are magical dr Sonia.... :)

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    1. Thank you so much Bhawana..ha ha I wish I had a magic wand to craft with!

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  30. Great decoration! I tried once. I failed. Your instructions operate easily. I have to try again! Thank you for tutorial. Hugs from Croatia!

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  31. Very lovely,useful,brainy,wonderful tutorial!!thanks :-)

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  32. Awesome doc .... Very useful tutorial

    happyexperimenting.blogspot.com

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  33. Awesome doc... Very useful tutorial

    happyexperimenting.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you so much Hema good to have you drop in after long

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  34. wow, this is so pretty,could never imagine coming up with something like this!

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  35. Awesome Lotus pictorial!

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  36. Majestic tute Sonia ji...such a perfect lotus with such minimal materials,well it is possible only by Dr Sonia :) amazing one !

    Thanks for playing with us @ BGC
    Bipasha(DT)

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  37. Wow !!
    What a fabulous creation!!

    Thanks for playing in the challenge at Crafters Corner !

    Hugs,
    Riti (DT)

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  38. Have seen so many of ur work liked all of them all luck to u

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  39. Thank you so much Sheeka

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  40. Oi, upea tyƶ :)

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  41. Sonia ji ! I am now very eager to see your lotus pond!! this tutorial is so fabulous !
    thanks for playing with us at BGC#43
    Hugs !

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