Fallen Nature Trefoil Crown

SUPPLIES & TOOLS:

• One ruler
• One pencil
• Tape
• One 12"x12" cardstock
• One X-Acto Knife with #11 blade
• Cutting board
• One foam sheet
• One 30" long piece of 7/8" wide grosgrain ribbon
• One 9"x12" green foam sheet
• Two scissors: one regular and one small trim
• Multipurpose glue
• Nature elements: seed pods, sticks, small artificial flowers, etc.
• Assorted foam shapes
• Optional: variety packs of rhinestones, gems, sequins, chenille stems, etc.
• Power-Tac adhesive
• One 1" foam brush
• Variety pack of craft brushes
• Multi-surface acrylic paint in a variety of colors
• Palette
• Mod Podge
• Paperclips


• Feel free to make the crafts your own and get creative with the materials. If there's anything you can't find, we encourage you to use substitutions.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Make the trefoil foam shape. Print out a trefoil template on cardstock. Cut out the image and transfer it to the foam sheet, using a cutting board and an X-Acto knife.


2. Make the headband of the crown. First, cut two pieces of cardstock 2-1/2" x 12". Cut one piece of foam sheet 2" x 12". Tape the short ends of the cardstock together on the back to form a 2-1/2" x 24" strip. Place a small mark in the center of the bottom long edge of the foam sheet. Use a foam brush to apply multi-purpose glue to the entire back of the foam sheet. Press the foam sheet onto the cardstock, lining up the bottom edges with each other and the center mark on the foam with the split between the two pieces of cardstock. There will be 1/2" of cardstock exposed at the top edge—this is where other foam cutout pieces can be attached to create a decorative edge. Find foam pieces that are the same thickness as the foam sheet on the headband and glue them to the top edge of the cardstock using multi-purpose glue. Start in the center of the headband. Let the headband dry.


3. Size the crown. Once the headband is dry, try it on. Lightly mark with a pencil the spots where the two bands overlap.


4. Plan how to decorate the headband of the crown. Lay out the headband on a flat surface. Determine where you want to put the trefoil and place it there. Arrange the sticks and longer items on the top of the headband—lower points of these items should not extend below the bottom edge of the headband. Lay one 30" long strip of ribbon over stems close to the center of the headband. The length of the ribbon may need to be elongated to cover and press down between the stems. Locate spaces for smaller items. This is the time to rearrange your decorations and determine if any items should be painted.


5. Move the headband to keep it clean.


6. Prep crown decorations requiring it. All the natural elements will need to be coated with Mod Podge to keep debris from falling. If adding color by painting, apply white paint first, then a color coat for the most vibrancy. Let the paint dry, then coat the items with Mod Podge. Let that dry.


7. Attach all elements. Starting in the center of the headband, glue the stems from the top to the bottom of the headband only. This will be covered with the ribbon later. Do not place the stems past the overlapped part of the headband.


8. Starting at one end of the headband, glue the ribbon down the center over all the stems, taking care to press it down between the stems. Apply a small bead of Power-Tac to each back edge of ribbon a few inches at a time. Trim the ends of the ribbon flush with the ends of cardstock.


9. Attach the trefoil foam cutout. Use a small bead of Power-Tac to attach any other decorative items and let it dry.


10. Join both ends together to create your crown! Fold the overlapped ends of the cardstock and glue them together with multi-purpose glue. Hold the ends in place with paper clips until the glue has set.