Beginner's Guide: How to Create Dip Art (American Flower) with Materials Costs Around 2,000 Yen

What is Dip Art (American Flower)?

Dip art, an accessory currently gaining attention.

It is a technique in which petals are shaped with brass wire and immersed in a liquid known as dip liquid, which is an acrylic resin, and it is referred to as "American Flower" because it was born in the United States about 40 years ago.

The American Flower, made of translucent petals resembling crystal glass, is incorporated into various accessories such as hair ornaments, earrings, and brooches.

Can Dip Art (American Flower) be handmade?

Popular among craft enthusiasts, dip art can be handmade at home if you gather the necessary tools and materials.

However, it can be quite costly to acquire the same tools and materials as professional handmade artists.

Therefore, in this article, we will introduce a way to try dip art for those who are challenging it for the first time while keeping material costs down.

We will also introduce items available at 100 yen shops and alternative products, so please refer to them.

@yuih_wd

Tools for Dip Art (American Flower)

First, let's gather the necessary tools to create dip art.

① Fine-tipped nippers

② Pliers

③ Cylindrical objects (such as pens or lip balms)

④ Sponge or styrofoam

⑤ Paper cups

⑥ Bamboo skewers or disposable chopsticks

Tools ①, ②, and ③ are used to shape the wire into petals, ③ is for inserting the dipped wire to dry, and ⑤ serves as the container for the dip liquid.

All tools can be obtained at 100 yen shops, so if you don’t have anything at home, you can prepare everything for about 648 yen including tax.

Materials for Dip Art (American Flower)

Next, let's talk about the materials for dip art.

① Brass wire (0.25–0.3mm)

② Dip liquid (clear)

③ Strengthener (reinforcement liquid)

④ Printer ink

Some materials are available at 100 yen shops and some are not.

First, regarding the dip liquid, it is a liquid specifically for dip art, and you can purchase it from Rakuten or craft stores. The price for the smallest size of 160ml starts at 1,380 yen.

In fact, because of similar components to nail polish, for those who do not want to spend too much on their first purchase, you can substitute with clear nail polish from a 100 yen shop.

However, as the nail polish bottle has a narrow opening which does not allow the wire petals to fit inside, you will need to transfer it to a small dish or another container. Thus, it’s best to consider it as disposable.

➡You can buy dip liquid on Rakuten here

The strengthener is a reinforcement liquid that can protect the delicate American Flower.

The American Flower, which has a thin resin coating, can become brittle and very easy to tear after a few months. Therefore, if you want to enjoy it for a long time, a strengthener is essential.

The can type is large at 0.7L and costs around 5,000 yen, so the spray type is recommended, which can be purchased for around 2,000 yen.

However, you may not know whether you can create a satisfactory piece from the start. If you are anxious, it may be good to try making it first, and if you like it, then use the strengthener.

➡You can buy strengthener on Rakuten here

Wire and printer ink can be obtained at 100 yen shops.

For coloring, using colored dip liquid that comes pre-colored results in beautiful colors, but it is a high hurdle for beginners to gather dip liquid that costs around 1,500 yen.

Therefore, it's recommended to initially purchase only clear and color it with ink.

Of course, if you want to create a colorless clear American Flower, then this step is unnecessary.

We have introduced the materials for dip art (American Flower). If you purchase only the dip liquid and wire, the cost will be around 1,500 yen.

In other words, you can start for just a little over 2,000 yen when combined with the tools.

Step-by-step Guide for Beginners! How to Make Dip Art (American Flower)

① Wrap the wire around a cylindrical object to create a loop and use nippers to shape it into petals. Create enough petals in varying sizes as needed.

② Pour an adequate amount of dip liquid into a paper cup and drop a few drops of ink for coloring. Mix well with a bamboo skewer and leave it until bubbles are removed.

③ Dip the petal part of the wire into the dip liquid, then take it out, stretching the membrane inside the loop.

④ Stick the membrane in its stretched state into a sponge and let it dry for about 3 hours. Keeping temperature and humidity low is key to prevent moisture from forming.

⑤ Shape the petals from the center and wrap the base together with the wire.

⑥ Cut off the excess stem with nippers.

⑦ Apply strengthener to the completed American Flower and finally combine it with your preferred accessory parts, such as earrings or clips, to finish.

@yuih_wd

The steps above are also introduced in a video.

Give Dip Art a try ♩

We introduced a beginner-friendly DIY for the currently popular Dip Art (American Flower). You can start for just over 2,000 yen in material costs, so if you love handmade crafts, be sure to give it a try.

There are also dip art classes available, so if you want to learn from a professional, it is recommended to participate in a lesson.

Let’s enjoy the delicate and ephemeral accessories of American Flowers ♡

➡ Check out these cute hairstyles with American Flowers ♡