Happy Birthday to the Queen! Jenn, here, with a project inspired by the English monarch but fit for the queen in your life (and if that's yourself, even better).
Did you know that the Queen gets 2 official birthdays a year? One on her actual birthday in April and another official celebration in June. It's good to be the queen!
The first thing that comes to mind when I think about royalty is definitely the biggest bling of them all: the crown. So I decided to make a crown which quickly escalated into a headpiece that could have been used in that scene from Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood. I don't mind, though, I adore it, and it's the perfect crown for me!
To make your own crown, gather together:
- Metallic poster board
- Pencil, ruler, and scissors
- Embellishments: pearls, flat-back gems, mirrors, sequins, charms, rhinestones, felt shapes, feathers, etc.
- Helmar Gemstone Glue
- Helmar Silicone Adhesive Sealant
- Tweezers
- Clothespins and/or binder clips
Once the crown shape is cut out (don't forget a tab on one end to connect it when finished), embellish the bottom edge. A line of Helmar Gemstone Glue works well to attach the beaded trim in the center of the crown as well as a small pearl strand on top if it.
While the first items dry, add any embellishments to the back of the crown form to peek over or between the points. The feathers are secured with the same Helmar Gemstone Glue. Allow any back or inside decorations to dry completely before proceeding.
The brass teacup charm was hollow, so filling it with Helmar Silicone Adhesive Sealant made it possible to secure the bases of the feathers into the filled charm and hold the charm to the front of the crown.
Returning to the Helmar Gemstone Glue, fill in the center of each crown section with larger elements: beads, charms, etc. Concentrate heavier elements towards the bottom of the crown. This will help it sit securely on a shelf (or head) and keep the points from drooping since they are embellished with lighter objects.
Squeeze a small puddle of Helmar Gemstone Glue onto a piece of plastic to dip smaller elements, like sequins or rhinestones, into. Use tweezers place the smaller items onto the crown to avoid sticky fingers.
Finish the crown points by adding strips of pearls. Helmar Gemstone Glue dries clear, so don't worry about it showing in the gaps between the pearls, just use as much as necessary to keep them in place. Allow everything to dry while the crown is still flat.
Gently form the crown into a circle, securing the tab to the back of the crown with Helmar Gemstone Glue. Help the crown keep its shape while the glue dries with binder clips or clothespins at the top and bottom of the tabbed overlap.
To make this crown wearable, you could attach combs or clips to the inside of the crown. The poster board will be sturdy enough for gentle wear–I mean, it's not like the Queen goes around playing rugby in her own crown, right?
Wishing you creative days,
