{"id":7625,"date":"2022-03-30T22:37:43","date_gmt":"2022-03-31T06:37:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/makeitagarden.com\/?p=7625"},"modified":"2022-09-12T17:38:02","modified_gmt":"2022-09-13T01:38:02","slug":"why-do-dish-flowers-come-apart-all-the-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/makeitagarden.com\/why-do-dish-flowers-come-apart-all-the-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Do Dish Flowers Come Apart All the Time?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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“Carnival” in the artist’s garden<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Who doesn’t love dish flowers? Their whimsical personality is winning popularity contests as the most sought after garden art. You may have seen them on Pinterest or other on-line sites or even at a craft show. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But making a dish flower is not as easy as it may look. Maybe you found this out, and perhaps that’s why you are reading this. You’re not alone. Many crafters have expressed frustration with making dish flowers because they come apart and break, and that’s disheartening!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why dish flowers come apart<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Is it the glue? Is it the method of construction? OR, is it something else? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As an artist who makes and sells my own dish flowers, I’ve heard these questions a zillion times. Generally, there are TWO MAIN reasons for this problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Glue Failure<\/li>
  2. Construction Method<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    A word about glue<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    When it comes to glass garden art, you want a glue that’s made for glass and one that is strong-bonding. E-6000 is frequently recommended for this craft. I use it myself. The only problem is that E-6000 is only rated to 180 degrees for those sunbathing beauties in your flower bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A lot of people tend to forget about outdoor temperatures. In some climates (mid-west, Southern California, Texas etc.) those glass and ceramic plates not only absorb heat, but retain heat. It’s no stretch at all for them to become hot, hot, hot and that glue starts to soften, taking its toll on your dish flower. Remember too, that all those dishes have weight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You can’t blame the glue when it is tasked beyond it’s capacity. Other strong bonding glues or adhesives may not be suitable for an outdoors application, so it’s always good to do a little research first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Here’s my full review of E-6000 <\/a>as it applies to garden art. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    About Silicone<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
    \"Tube<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    In my experience, GE’s 100% silicone II (for exterior) is the way to go. Silicone is actually not a ‘glue’ at all, but a sealant. It’s primarily used to seal\/caulk around the outside of a window. So you can trust it’s strength and durability. It’s not only water-proof, but sun proof, too! Silicone stays pliable and withstands temperatures up to 400 degrees. As long as the glue is fully cured before you put your art piece on display in the yard, it’s highly unlikely your dish flowers will come apart and break.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Construction methods<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    It’s no secret that crafters have wrestled for years to find no fuss ways to attach the dish flower to the post. Here are a few you may have seen on Pinterest or elsewhere. Note: I do not recommend either of these.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    flattened spoon glued to back of plate<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
    \"A
    glass bottle glued to rim of plate<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    As I mentioned above, I do not use nor recommend either of these methods because they are not always reliable. For one, there is not nearly enough surface contact to support the weight of those plates. Should the glue become compromised, the art piece slips right off. Crash!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This is why, as an artist, I use the drill method<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"A
    I use and promote the drill method<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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