DIY Project: Felt Poppy Bobby Pins

You all know I'm a DIY gal and if I see something I love (or can't find what I want) and know I can probably do it at home, then dang-it, I'm gonna do it!  Recently I was on the hunt for some cute hair pins because I'm basically obsessed with them.   For the same reason I sell jewelry on Etsy, I couldn't find exactly what I wanted so I decided to make my own hair pins.  This little project turned out so cute I thought I'd share it with you all!  Although I do have what my husband considers to be an unhealthy love for Pinterest (is there really such a thing?), I didn't find this one there, I thought of it myself.

I forgot to include the seed beads and marker in the photo...

What you need:

1. felt in whatever colors you want
2. scissors
3. pen or marker
4. hot glue gun
5. bobby pins (I'm sure you have some around, they come in packs of a billion)
6. little black seed beads (I used size 11/0)
7. black thread
8. thin needle that will fit through your beads
9. a nickel and a dime or two buttons of similar sizes for tracing

I had everything I needed already at home since I'm always making felt crafts but all of these items should be fairly cheap at any craft store if you don't have them at hand.  If you don't have bobby pins laying around, I do not believe you ;)

First, take your coins or buttons and trace equal numbers of each on your felt pieces.  Make a million of them, it's fun once you get going!  I had fun mixing and matching the colors along with some solids as well.

I made lots in cute color combos!

Now cut out all one million little circles you made, if your hands get cramped don't blame me.  You shouldn't have taken me seriously when I said make a million.  Make sure when you cut them that you cut inside your marked lines, you don't want that showing on your hair pin when you're done.  It also doesn't have to be perfect, real poppies aren't perfectly round anyway and more interesting that way.

Once you've sworn you'll never cut a million tiny pieces of felt again, match one big and small circle for each set and center each one.  Thread your needle and knot the end of the thread.  If you cannot find a needle thin enough to go through your beads you can always hot glue them to your flower, but take extra care not to over do it or it will look like a nasty glue mess.

Bead one, and yes my nails are way more awesome than yours, be jealous

Bead two

and then there were three

Stick your needle in slightly off center in the middle of your flower through both felt circles.  Stick a bead on your needle and sew it in place, putting your needle back through very close to where you came out.  Do the same for the second and third beads to form a little triangle pattern.  I did two passes through each bead for extra security.  If you're gluing the beads instead of using thread make sure to glue the two felt circles together as well.

Center your bobby pin on the back

put in a few stitches to keep it in place

Now place the rounded end of a bobby pin in the center of the back of the flower.  Make sure your pin is facing the right way so you're not attaching it on backwards.  I'm sure that would be pretty uncomfortable in your hair.  You don't necessarily have to do this, but I sewed my pin in place before gluing it.

flip up your pin and put a little bead of hot glue where it was laying

carefully lay the pin back down, making sure it adheres well too

After sewing it in place, flip the pin up and put a bead of hot glue where it had been laying and gently roll the pin onto the glue bead and hold till it dries.

tada, look they multiplied!

There ya go, one down and only 999,999 more to go!  They're rather addicting to make if you ask me and the best part is they make super cute gifts!

Feel free to pin this using the pin it button below!