Make a Pounding Petal Heart

You can't beat a flowery art project. This one is particularly good fun and involves pounding a few petals to create a treasured t-shirt for your loved one. I first came across this technique whilst on holiday in deepest Cornwall. Intrigued by the rich colours and simple silhouettes I’ve been super keen to try it again. 

Armed with Stanley my trusty vintage hammer and my carefully chosen leaves and flowers I set about creating a heart. I know it’s the universal symbol of love but it also happens to be one of my all time favourite shapes. It makes a thrifty, sweet Valentine’s alternative to a pricey bunch of red roses. 

I lined the inside of the t-shirt with greaseproof paper and laid it flat on the surface, smoothing any creases. I drew a heart outline in pencil and then  placed the flowers face down inside the line. I mixed up petal sizes, colours and leaves to create a lovely collage effect.

Once I was happy with my layout I stuck the petals down with lengths of masking tape. I then gave each one a pounding with my hammer. Taking care to mind my fingers!

I carefully peeled off the tape. It’s so exciting to see each silhouette slowly revealed. You can always try this technique out first on rag paper or a spare piece of fabric. I found that deeper shades of petals and leaves worked best.