DIY paper poppies are ?always in season
When you’re stuck in the dreary depths of winter, it’s hard to remember that spring will actually come. So until the frost thaws and new buds emerge, bring a little sunshine to your life with perennially blossoming paper flowers. These colorful poppies are easy to assemble, and will basically last forever so you can enjoy beautiful blooms despite the gloom.
Materials:
– 18 to 20 gauge floral wire
– Light green florist tape
– Crepe paper in black and red (we used Lia Griffith double-sided crepe paper, available ?at the-crafts-outlet.com, 6.99)
– Cotton balls
– Black flower stamens (available at ?the-crafts-outlet.com, 3.14)
– Wire cutters
– Scissors
Instructions:
1. Cut crepe paper into 3′ by 3′ squares. You’ll need one black square and four red squares for each flower. Cut floral wires in half with wire cutters.
2. To make one flower, wrap a piece of floral wire with florist tape, starting at one end and spiraling around until you reach the other end.
3. Tape a cotton ball to one end of the floral wire, using floral tape to secure the edge of the cotton ball to the end of the wire. Wrap cotton ball with a square of black crepe paper so that it’s entirely covered and tape edges to stem to secure.
4. Fold 3 stamens in half and tape at the fold to the stem, so the beaded stamen ends jut out around the crepe paper-covered cotton ball. Repeat a couple more times, working your way around the flower center.
5. Cut red crepe paper squares into petal shapes, making sure the grain of the crepe paper runs up and down the length of the petal.
6. Shape each petal by gently pulling the crepe paper apart in the center, so the petal widens and curves. Crimp the top of each petal by gently pulling the crepe paper in opposite directions in small, equal increments along the edge. Pinch the very bottom of each flower petal so that it creates a point.
7. Tape the bottom of one petal to the stem, so that the petal curves up around the cotton ball center. Tape another petal to the stem so that it curves up around the opposite side of the center. Rotate the flower 90 degrees and tape two more petals to the stem in opposite directions.
8. Finish the flower by gently pulling the petals out and shaping them to your liking. Repeat until you have a whole bouquet!
–Jennifer Mccabe, mccabegardens.net
Photos: Megan Senior
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