How do I make fake foliage that isn't supposed to look real (see images)

March 27, 2017 7:42 PM

I feel ridiculous asking this question, but I know nothing about DIY and I need help. I want to make abstract-ish fake flowers. In other words, I'm not trying to make fake flowers that look real. Instead, I'm trying to make something abstract-ish and modern that adds a pop of color for home decor. I have links to pictures inside showing exactly what I'm trying to do (as a starting point, anyway).

A few years ago, I found a bundle like this at Pier1 that had what I assume is painted bark used as "leaves" like this. I bought a bundle and tore it apart to get just the stems with the red bark leaves & I put them above my kitchen, like this (keep in mind, that's under 2 feet tall). I moved to a new place and some of them didn't survive the move very well. I don't think Pier1 sells the particular bundles I tore apart to make these, and even if they did, Pier1 closed near me.

I can't help thinking I could make something better... but how? I don't drive and there isn't a store like Michaels (or whatever other crafty stores may exist) so I'd rather buy the parts online and make this at home.

What can I use as stems that are bendable but hold their shape,? What can I use as leaves, and where can I get them online (yes, specifically online)? They'd stand 1.5 to 2 feet tall, and the leaves need to be a rich red since that's the pop of color I'm going for.

posted by 2oh1 to Home & Garden (11 answers total)

Those "leaves" aren't bark, they're thin pieces of wood cut with a band saw; the cross-grain marks of the saw are obvious in the closeup. They will have been cut flat and then heated/steamed to allow bending.
posted by jon1270 at 8:13 PM on March 27, 2017 [1 favorite]

Curly willow has curly branches and twigs. Maybe put the word out that you're looking for some curly willow branches?
posted by aniola at 8:13 PM on March 27, 2017

This isn't exactly what you are looking for, but you can great a pop of color from these red preserved oak leaves
posted by metahawk at 8:19 PM on March 27, 2017

You can buy online from Michaels actually. Look under floral stems - I think - for things you can use as stems. They probably have several things you could use for leaves but I prefer not to advise you on that - you're clearly very creative and I think you'll be more satisfied by poking around online and finding what sparks an idea for you.
posted by bunderful at 8:31 PM on March 27, 2017

Response by poster: What I'm really hoping for is some sort of bendable wire to use as a branch (preferably tan?) because I'm trying to fill a space that's around 2 & a quarter feet tall between the top of a shelf and the bottom of art hanging above... and some sort of red "leaves" to attach to it (glue?). I want it to look more like an art piece than like fake flowers, so... the more obviously not real but still good looking the better.

I love the red leaves from the bundle I got from Pier1, but the approach of buying an arranged bundle & tearing it apart for the individual parts, as I did, is very limiting. So, I'd love to find a way to just make the stems and deep red "leaves" myself.

But what can I use as stems? What can I use as leaves? I'm ok with painting them if I have to, and I'm definitely ok with taking this concept in a different direction so long as I end up with something that looks good - preferably a bit modern or abstract, as in, intentionally not real flowers.
posted by 2oh1 at 8:40 PM on March 27, 2017

Wire clothes hangers? I have some tan ones, so they must make them.
Thinner wood shavings like you get when planing would be good as they usually curl on their own.
Outside of buying a 2x4 and a plane I don't know where you'd get them.
posted by bongo_x at 12:02 AM on March 28, 2017

Do some Pinterest searches using terms like... wood chip flower, flower craft, painted petals, etc, and browse the results. I bet you will get some ideas on what to use for materials!
posted by fourpotatoes at 3:56 AM on March 28, 2017 [1 favorite]

If I were doing this, I would use paper wrapped wire for the stems and cut petals out of something stiff-but-flexible like pleather (or even real leather if you can find it in the right color). If you don't mind shiny, foil craft sheets are easy to cut and shape too. Some hot glue to attach and that's it.
posted by dogmom at 5:18 AM on March 28, 2017 [1 favorite]

Scrolling through paper flowers on Pinterest is bound to be inspiring: https://www.pinterest.com/explore/paper-flowers/
posted by asphericalcow at 7:08 AM on March 28, 2017 [1 favorite]

Fantasy flowers might be a good search term for you.
posted by fiercecupcake at 10:18 AM on March 28, 2017

I would use florist wire, sandwiched and glued between 2 layers of thin-ish colored paper. If you want them thin, skinny triangle leaf shapes, I'd lay out a bunch of wires on a larger sheet of paper, glueing up the wire and paper sandwich, then cutting out the leafy/grassy shapes with the wire as the stem/spine in the center, after the glue had dried.
posted by sarajane at 4:45 AM on March 29, 2017 [1 favorite]