Knee High Tulips

[iratokid]

Here is my entry for the dollar store challenge!  I had a really hard time deciding what to do, but finally settled with this idea.  It was inspired by the fairy wings that people make using wire hangers and panty hose.  I needed something decorative, so I decided on making a fake plant using things you wouldn't normally think of in a floral arrangement.



I started with:
2 packages of knee high stockings (3 sets in each package) ($2)
1 white plastic fence ($1)
1 plastic flower pot ($1)
2 green "wind twisters" ($2)
1 package easter egg dye ($1)
1 package wire hangers ($1)
1 styrofoam cube ($1)
1 package florists wire (not pictured) ($1)
total: $10



I started out by dying the stockings in the egg dye.  I was afraid it wouldn't work, but I let them soak a LONG time.  And the color seemed to stick pretty well.



i cut the hangers in half and formed each petal, then covered them in the dyed stockings.  After that I attached each petal to one another with the florists wire and then attached the finished flowers to the wind twisters (I broke one in half so I would have 3 stems).  After this, the stems were stuck into the foam block in the pot.  leaves were made from the remaining panty hose and hangers and stick into the foam.  I used the scraps from the leaves to cover the foam in the top of the pot.  Lastly, the fence was wrapped around the pot (it snaps together).  And voila! a decorative fake plant that will last for years!

[water_heaven]

Wow, those are lovely! Who knew panty hose could be so great?

[moonshinebluebird]

Very elegant looking flowers! I love the petals.

Did you find shaping the wire to be easy? I'm just curious as I want to use hangers for something and you've done such a great job at shaping them!

The color of the petals is very delicate too, lovely

[iratokid]

shaping the wire wasn't hard, just hard on my hands.  I just straightened each wire out, cut it in half, then formed it into a circle by twisting the ends together.  After that I just pulled on the end opposite the side twisted together to form a point.  I would recommend using pliers and maybe even gloves.

[KMOM13]

Very creative and original...I would never have thought to use hangers, panty hose dyed with Easter coloring to make flower petal and leaves and it turned out very lovely!

[winstongang]

Fabulous!! I love this idea

[akachan]

These are friggin wicked!

I laughed when I saw the pic..Knee-high tulips....not knee high tulips.

How tall are they btw ?

[iratokid]

they're probably 2 1/2 feet tall? Maybe 3.

[ninjanator]

that's such a beautiful idea the end result is gorgeous!

[saylo]

Wow. It's beautiful. I love it. 

[xashiex]

such a great idea it looks extremely pretty too!

[staciart]

Absolutely AMAZING!  The blossoms are sooooo elegant and sophisticated - just incredible!

[allyinthevalley]

So pretty and smart!!

[singing_stars]

thats a spectacular shade of purple!
v pretty!

[SpicyChicaLisaAnn]

what a kewl idea!

[coral]

What a great idea to dye the pantyhose!  I am amazed at all the imaginative things people have come up with for this challenge!

[Rascal Kosher]

Very nice. 

[sonnetbird]

Tulips are my favorite flower, and these are gorgeous!

[beckashell]

these look so pretty!

[non.sequitur]

They're very pretty... which seems like an odd thing to say about pantyhose flowers, but it's true. Great job.

[geekch1ck]

Freaking awesome!!!!  I would have never known they were made from pantyhose. 

[cosmo_mouse]

Ohh, they look really beautiful. Great job 

[thefeltmouse]

The creativity expressed through this challenge is amazing!

[MunLtStmpr]

I loved how you used the twisty wind things as the stems!

Great job!

[Muria]

Those are cool!  Now I know what to do when my nylons start to run...   

[HannibalSmurf]

so beautiful!

[supermommy2five]

WOW! This is sooo cool!

[yardenxanthe]

How pretty! I'm posting about this at Dollar Store Crafts in July.

[ftcanon]

Wow, you did a wonderful job.  You should definitely check out www.newsheer.com.  I'm going to make some nylon flowers and put it in a pot like you. That just looks awesome. Brilliant idea.