| |
| Tissue
Paper Flowers |
You
will need:
- Colored tissue paper
- Wire
- Green or brown florist's tape
- A pencil
Instructions:
- Cut the tissue paper into varying shapes for flowers and leaves. Use
varying size petals, smaller for the center, and larger for the outer
petals. Here
are some templates you can print and use for a rose.
- Wrap single or multiple sheets around the pencil. For greater "crinkle"
effect, use less tissue paper, and wrap tightly. For a loose "crinkle",
use more paper, and wrap loosely. Starting from one end of the pencil,
gently push the tissue paper toward the center. Repeat at the other
end. Gently unwrap the paper from the pencil.
- Starting with the smallest petals (the center of your flower), wrap
the base of each petal around the wire. It's easiest to flatten out
the petals, wrap them, and then bend the tops of each petal backward
to create an unfolding flower. Secure it to the wire by wrapping it
with the florist's tape. Leave the tape long.
- Wrap each successive petal around the wire, overlapping the previous
petal slightly and secure with a wrap of tape. (I like to overlap a
little unevenly - the finished flower more closely resembles something
nature would produce.) You don't have to use wire as the stem of your
flower, but wire has the advantage of "bendability".
- Once your flower is complete, wrap the tape around the bottom several
times to create a solid base. Continue wrapping the tape around the
wire, moving slightly down and overlapping with each wrap. Slightly
below the base of your flower, begin placing the leaves by wrapping
the base of each leaf around the leaf, and securing it with a wrap or
two of tape. You can bend the leaves back or not, to get the effect
you wish. Continuing securing leaves to the wire, placing them a bit
apart so that you don't end up with a "bush", wrapping tape around the
wire between each leaf.
- After the last leaf has been added, continue wrapping the wire with
tape until you reach the end of your wire. Cut the tape and stretch
slightly as you press the end into the previously wrapped tape to secure
it.
Several flowers in a vase make a nice, long-lasting display. You can also
use gardener's styrofoam to secure your flowers - simply cut the styrofoam
into the shape you want so that it fits in the bottom of your vase/container
and stick the ends of the wire into it. For added foliage, you can buy dried
eucalyptus leaves at your local craft store, or add some silk leaves to
your arrangement.
contributed by Make-Stuff |
|
