orchid flower pens

I can finally post this one!  I made these orchid flower pens for my mom-in-law for Christmas!  We pulled names and a room of the house to inspire our gift.  So, I pulled "Susan" and "Office".  This was perfect because she has a great new job and an office to go with it!  So, with the standard "show-off your grandkids" picture frame, I made her some flower pens that her clients can't steal...although I think they might try because they turned out beautifully!  This craft can turn very country/crafty/crappy really fast if you choose the wrong materials.  For example, if you use a terracotta pot and some giant sunflowers it may look like you stole it from a Kansas DMV.  But, if you choose a pretty vase and simple flowers, it will look nice and classy.  Ok, here's how to make it!

Technique: Cutting, taping
Inspiration: my own brainstorm
Materials:

• 10 pens (with ends that pop off, see pictures)
• Enough silk flowers to cut up and make 10 pens
• Brown floral tape
• Scissors
• Small vase or pot
• Pebbles

Directions (Repeat for each pen)
1. Cut up flowers so that there are a couple inches of stem on each one.

2. Take the caps off pens and pop off the little end caps (I used my teeth).
3. Cut a 12 inch (or so) length of floral tape.
4. Starting at the writing-end of the pen, slowly wrap the tape around pen.  Overlap the tape and stretch slightly as you wrap. 

5. When there are a couple inches left on the pen, place the flower stem next to the pen, and continue wrapping so that the two are wrapped up together. 
6. Next, cut a 6 inch length of floral tape. 
7. Fold the end a bit and stick in the open end of the pen (where you popped the little cap off).  Replace the end cap to hold the tape in. 

8. Tape around the end of the pen to finish it off and continue wrapping down the pen toward the tip.  The tape is very forgiving, so if it doesn't look right you can start over or just wrap more tape around and smooth with your finger.  The first one is challenging and then the subsequent pens look better and better.

                                                                                                                                                                           

9. Repeat with the rest of your pens.  Replace all the caps so your pens don't dry out!

10. Fill a vase with pebbles and stick pens in a pretty arrangement.  I could only fit 5, so the rest will be replacements if the others run out of ink.