Originally Posted by Vance Wood

If you have access to the publication Bonsai International there have been a number of articles about this subject over the years. OK, maybe you don't. Here is the real problem getting material that will flower in the least amount of time. This rules out growing from seed. I have a Crab Apple I have grown from seed that is going on twenty years old and has never flowered. This is common with this tree. So your best resource is to learn how to grow them from cuttings and take cuttings from trees in your area that are good bloomers. Once you do that successfully then you can start worrying about what to do next. A cutting will take at least two years before you can do anything much more than keeping it watered and free from a host of fungal and insect problems.

As to the start to finish issue, that's asking a lot of anyone. This is book length material complete with visual instructions.