Tools and Materials Needed for Chanhua Making 02

July 26, 2024

2.1.2 Decorative Materials Used in Chanhua Making

In addition to basic tools and materials, making Chanhua also requires the use of decorative materials. This section mainly introduces the decorative materials, dyeing tools, and decorative flower stamens used in Chanhua making.

1. Decorative Materials

After completing the Chanhua, we need to use decorative materials to make it more delicate and beautiful. Common decorative materials are usually divided into decorative paper and decorative threads. Decorative paper can be chosen from common strip paper, often used for folding stars or making quilling paper. This type of paper comes in many colors and patterns, providing a good decorative effect. Decorative threads generally refer to metallic threads used for decoration, mainly computer embroidery metallic threads and French embroidery metallic threads. The former is cheaper but comes in fewer colors, while the latter is more expensive but offers a wider range of colors.

Many other materials can also be used as decorative materials for Chanhua, such as magic wire. The specific decorative material used depends on the needs. The image above shows common decorative materials used in making Chanhua.

2. Dyeing Tools

The color of Chanhua often depends on the color of the silk threads or rayon threads used. Once the color of the work is chosen, it is difficult to change. Therefore, to give Chanhua a gradient or shading effect, post-dyeing is necessary.

As shown in the image above, there are currently four main types of dyeing tools used in Chanhua making: powdered dyes, solid watercolors, liquid pearlescent watercolors, and paint pens.

Many common natural dyes are in powder form, such as plant and mineral dyes. Powdered dyes are easy to store and need to be dissolved in water before dyeing.

Solid watercolors are more common and convenient to use; wet a brush and apply the color to the surface of the Chanhua, often used for gradient and shading effects. The upper left image shows powdered dyes and solid watercolors.

Liquid pearlescent watercolor is a type of liquid watercolor with a sheen. Applying it to the surface of Chanhua gives it a noticeable shine. It is important to shake the watercolor evenly before use. Paint pens generally come in oil-based, water-based, and alcohol-based varieties, with a wide range of colors. They are mainly used for drawing lines, patterns, or writing on the surface of Chanhua. It is recommended to use 0.7mm or 1mm paint pens.

The image above shows the scene of dyeing the surface of Chanhua using liquid pearlescent watercolor and paint pens.

3. Decorative Flower Stamens

Decorative flower stamens are an important part of Chanhua. There are many ready-made decorative flower stamens on the market, commonly including fondant flower stamens and copper flower stamens. During the production process, you can choose decorative flower stamens based on the different shapes of Chanhua.

The image above shows finished fondant flower stamens and copper flower stamens. In addition to using ready-made decorative flower stamens, making your own decorative flower stamens is also a good option. Below are brief instructions on making three types of flower stamens.

A. Round Wax Line Flower Stamens

1. Prepare a roll of round wax line with a diameter of 0.3mm, wind the round wax line around the index and middle fingers about 15 times, and cut off the end.

2. Secure the middle of the round wax line loop with wire and twist the wire tight. Cut both ends of the round line with scissors.

3. Trim the flower stamens according to the size of the flower and color them with watercolor pens.

B. Wire Flower Stamens

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1. Take a 30-gauge iron wire, thread a decorative bead onto the wire, and fold the wire in half.
2. Wrap silk threads evenly around the wire until the wire is completely covered.

3. Add the folded wire with the bead and continue wrapping with silk threads. After wrapping one wire, add a new folded wire with a bead and continue wrapping. Coil the wire and adjust the overall shape, then use the excess silk threads to tie the wire tightly, completing the wire flower stamens.

C. Cardboard Strip Flower Stamens