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Drum & Beagle Corps

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6-piece cat

These flowers were photographed at the senior center where I worked as activity director. Folks participated to varying degrees; some preferred watching, but comments along the way let me know that watching was something they looked forward to . Some who do not volunteer to make crafts often enjoy finding just the right spot on the bulletin board or along the hand rail to display them.

If you want colored edges on your carnations, the easiest time to add color is before you make the wavy folds.

Fold tissue in half "the long way" (some kids prefer to say "hotdog fold."), and then twice again (first "long way" then "short way") so that all outside edges are on the same side for coloring.

Open tissue out so you have only 4 layers (2-ply tissue folded in half the long way.) Bunch the tissue along an imaginary line down the long center of the rectangle.

Wrap pipe cleaner or florist wire to cinch the middle of the bunched tissue.

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The step not pictured is cutting along the edge to separate the folded side of the tissue. You want all 4 layers to separate.

Gently separate the layers as far as you can without tearing. (Stronger materials can be used for folks who have a hard time with fragile things: see shopping bag flowers below.)

We used the same method for the shopping bag flowers on the left. They are only one layer each. Each flower is made from a rectangle about 4" by 18". The pipe cleaners are long, so they can wrap around the candle sticks to make centerpieces.

These candles are on the tables of a retirement facility, where candles are rarely lit, but people like their festive look. We used similar flowers on bulletin boards and in the hallways. Many thought they were real until they got up close and personal.

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Crepe paper is wonderfully forgiving, and you can do a lot with no glue.

Use about 10-12" of crepe paper for each blossom. Gather a loose "roll" of paper into a bunch as shown. Don't worry if your roll isn't perfect.

Wrap the tail end around the bunch and begin to roll tightly (it's easier than it sounds.) The inside is loose, but because it's crepe paper, that outer round you're working on grips the inner roll and it won't fall apart. Once you have the outer layer nice and snug, you can gradually turn the "tail" down so you're twirling it the long way, to form a stem. The tail in the picture is longer than it really needs to be.

You can actually stop here, if you just want a bud with a same-colored stem.

The next step is to open out the petals a little. Some of the buds can be left unopened as on the left.

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Wrap the tail once around - sort of like a bow tie. Then twist the tail around the bud.

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Several buds can be twisted into one stem. Crepe paper does not require glue to stay like this. You can stretch it out or twist it, and it more or less stays the way you shaped it.

Scroll down to see the bouquet!

There are no wires in these stems. The crepe paper will hold a bend to some degree.

Blossoms can be opened just a little, some wider than others, some with petals folded down a bit.

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