Handmade Paper Flowers

These pretty flowers will brighten up any space, outfit, or wrist.

Materials:

• Tissue paper in assorted colors
• Thin ribbon
• Scissors
• Floral wire and floral tape (not required)
• Safety pins (not required)

Instructions:

1. Cut six to eight pieces of tissue paper about six inches by ten inches for a lifesize flower. [photo part1 max-width=150 align=right]Note: Paper may be cut according to the size of flower you want.
2. Place the paper in a pile, alternating colors if desired. Note: It's okay if the paper doesn't match exactly in size.
3. Fold the paper lengthwise, like an accordion.
4. With a ribbon, tie the center of the folded paper in a knot (see Figure A).
5. Round both ends with scissors, or angle them to create a point.
6. Fan out the top and bottom of the accordion and gently pull each piece of the paper toward the center of the flower, one layer at a time. Arrange to make the petals fuller on the outside, and less full in the center (see Figure B).
7. To make the flower's pollen, put a small piece of crumpled yellow tissue paper inside the center petals.
8. Turn the flower over and affix a piece of floral wire to the ribbon. Twist it to create the stem of the flower. Then cover it with floral tape. If you'd like to make a flower pin, simply fasten a safety pin to the ribbon. To make a wristlet, tie on an extra piece of ribbon, long enough to tie around a wrist.