Dry funeral flowers and make jewelry.
Floral arrangements used at funerals pay tribute to the deceased and lighten up the otherwise somber occasion. Dry the flower arrangements after the ceremony and use them to create pieces of jewelry that will last for many years. Depending on personal taste, use tiny flower blooms such as forget-me-nots as a whole, or separate petals of larger flowers carefully to create your work of art. You can even use greenery from funeral flower arrangements such as delicate baby's breath in your jewelry beads.
Instructions
1. Flatten a small section of polymer clay as big as a golf ball on a flat surface with your palm.
2. Place your pasta machine on a flat surface and set it at the highest setting. Slide one end of the clay through it and roll it until the end. Carefully lower the flattened clay onto an even surface and roll it into a snake with your hands, until you get the desired diameter of your beads.
3. Decide the size of your beads before slicing the rolled clay with a clay cutter. Keep in mind that the width of each slice of clay determines the bead's depth. Place the beads on one of their flat sides on a baking sheet with the other flat side facing upwards.
4. Extend a metal skewer through the center of each bead. Follow the clay manufacturer's instructions for baking the beads. Bake them for the appropriate amount of time and allow them to cool when done.
5. Lift each cooled bead and apply an even layer of decoupage medium on a side of it. Carefully lift a flower petal or small flower head with tweezers and lower it into the medium. Cover the flower head with another even layer of decoupage medium and allow it to dry for up to 24 hours.
6. Turn the dried beads over, apply a layer of decoupage medium to the other side and add a petal to it. Coat it with decoupage again and allow it to dry.
7. Slide the beads through a silk cord for a bracelet or necklace. Loop the ends through a lobster claw clasp and wear your jewelry.
