Crepe Paper Flowers - Columbine NEW! In-Store Class Apr 11

Crepe Paper Flowers - Columbine NEW! In-Store Class
Saturday, April 11, 1-4pm
Instructor: Finnuala Tessier
Limit: 6 students. All participants must be 15 years or older.

Class Details

A favorite of hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies, the delicate columbine comes in a riot of colors. In a nod to Colorado’s state flower, Denver paper artist Finnuala Tessier has chosen to use white and blue for her columbine. The distinctive spurs on the back of the flower head make the flower look tricky, but it’s actually a wonderful project for learning basic crepe paper techniques that translate well into other botanicals. 

Finnuala starts class by describing the properties of crepe paper and then explains how this “crepe-ing” lets the paper stretch and be shaped. Since developing muscle memory requires hands-on learning, you'll practice several shaping techniques in the class, e.g., “massaging” the paper, cupping petals, and rolling the edges. In addition, Finnuala shows you how to paint the crepe to achieve the Colorado columbine’s distinctive blue. (Crepe paper is available in a host of colors, but not that one!) It’s all this attention to detail that makes her flowers so life-like.

You'll make one flower in class, then take home materials and templates to make several more at home. Join Finnuala for what’s sure to be a merry time – the columbine, after all, is often described as a jester’s hat!

An email will be sent to participants the Monday before the class. Classes with homework may receive pre-class info earlier.  No email? Double check the email address you entered when you registered and your SPAM folder. Due to SPAM filters and inbox settings, we cannot guarantee you will see, read, or open these emails. Two Hands Paperie assumes no responsibility for non-attendance of a class. Contact twohandsclasses@gmail.com with any class questions and see our Class Policies page for more information. 

Class Materials

Please feel free to bring the following optional materials:

• Optional: apron or wear clothes that can get messy
• Optional: water bottle & snack

Class Materials Include:

• Templates
• Crepe paper in a variety of colors
  
• Glue, scissors, wires, etc
  

Class Refund/Cancellation Policy

Cancellations made up to 14 days prior to the first class meeting will be refunded or, at the participant's option, used to pay for another class. Two Hands Paperie will retain a $10 processing fee for EACH class cancelled by a participant. After 14 days, there is no refund or credit. In addition, the fee for a class cancelled within this 14-day timeframe by a participant cannot be transferred to pay for another class. These policies are to ensure that teachers are compensated for their investment in materials and in time spent preparing for the class. We reserve the right to cancel a class if fewer than 3 students enroll 48 hours prior to the scheduled class time. If for any reason Two Hands Paperie cancels a class, students will be called at the phone number on file and refunded the FULL class fee.

Instructor Bio

Local crepe paper artist Finnuala Tessier specializes in sculpting flowers. She says she’s not a gardener, but she is passionate about making what she calls forever flowers. Her favorite projects, for example, have been capturing in crepe paper a bride’s wedding bouquet as a permanent reminder of that special day. Finnuala finds the challenge of recreating a specific bloom to be the perfect way of decompressing from her day job. Not surprisingly, her travel photos are heavily weighted toward close-ups of the local flora, and her hikes yield pictures from multiple angles of each wildflower she encounters. 

European crepe paper is her medium of choice for creating her forever flowers. The crepe is durable, inherently malleable, readily accepts coloring agents, and comes in all the hues of a rainbow. She finds the tactile process of working with it to be meditative. “Every minute I’m making paper flowers, I’m happy”. 

Sharing this wonderful art of crepe paper flowers with others is the entire reason why Finnuala started teaching. She believes everyone, no matter their skill level, can learn how to paint, shape, and sculpt crepe paper to create realistic flowers. She meticulously studies a flower and experiments in order to create techniques that bring the flowers to life. For example, she literally tried 18 different paints in various combos - acrylics and watercolors - to match the color of a particular flower. She also made sure the color could easily be duplicated by students. 

Her standing invitation to everyone? “Come make forever flowers with me!”

See her Instagram @flowersbyfinnuala