The Simple Things

Taking time to live well
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Make: Giant paper flower

Lottie Storey May 3, 2017

This huge, decorative bloom is a sunflower you can enjoy all year

YOU WILL NEED:
Assorted colours of tissue paper
Scissors
Fuzzy pipe cleaners

1 Carefully stack approximately 12 sheets of tissue paper, lining up all the edges carefully. The flower pictured uses four yellow sheets for the centre, these are stacked on top, then two or three white and then six sheets of orange. (To make smaller versions, just omit the inside yellow pieces and use fewer sheets, cut smaller, for the outer petals.)

2 Start to fold all sheets over at the same time in 5cm folds. Now fold back the other way, and repeat accordion-style until you have folded all the paper.

3 Unfold all the paper carefully and take out the yellow paper that will be used for the centre of the flower. Fold the yellow paper back in pleats, then fold the folded paper in half widthways. Trim off half of the unfolded ends.

4 Make 5cm-long cuts into the trimmed edge of the folded yellow paper.

5 Now fold the white and orange sheets back up together and fold in half widthways. Trim the unfolded edges together with a rounded edge for your petals. If you find them too thick to trim all together, do half at a time.

6 Carefully unfold all of your papers, place them back in their original stacked order and then fold them back up all together in the concertina style.

7 Fold this in half and wrap a pipe cleaner through the centre of the folded tissue paper. Twist to secure.

8 Starting with one side of the yellow paper, gently pull out and fluff up one piece of the tissue. Separate each piece as you work through the layers of the tissue paper. Be careful not to pull too hard on the papers as they rip easily.

9 Continue on the other side, gently separating and pulling up each piece of tissue paper and fluffing it until you have a full flower shape.

Adapted from Decorate for a Party by Holly Becker and Leslie Shewring (Jacqui Small) 

 

More from the May issue:

Featured
May 29, 2017
Recipe | Smoked trout, cucumber and coconut salad with dosa
May 29, 2017
May 29, 2017
May 27, 2017
Garden hacks | Make a colander hanging basket
May 27, 2017
May 27, 2017
May 26, 2017
Recipe | Picnic Pies
May 26, 2017
May 26, 2017

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  Buy ,  download  or  subscribe   See the sample of our latest issue  here   Buy a copy of our latest anthology:  A Year of Celebrations   Buy a copy of  Flourish 2 , our wellbeing bookazine  Listen to  our podcast  - Small Ways to Live Well

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

View the sampler here.

InMaking Tagsissue 59, may, Make project, papercraft, flowers, school holiday ideas
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Featured
  Buy ,  download  or  subscribe   See the sample of our latest issue  here   Buy a copy of our latest anthology:  A Year of Celebrations   Buy a copy of  Flourish 2 , our wellbeing bookazine  Listen to  our podcast  - Small Ways to Live Well
Feb 27, 2025
Feb 27, 2025

Buy, download or subscribe

See the sample of our latest issue here

Buy a copy of our latest anthology: A Year of Celebrations

Buy a copy of Flourish 2, our wellbeing bookazine

Listen to our podcast - Small Ways to Live Well

Feb 27, 2025
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The Simple Things is published by Iceberg Press

The Simple Things

Taking time to live well

We celebrate slowing down, enjoying what you have, making the most of where you live, enjoying the company of of friends and family, and feeding them well. We like to grow some of our own vegetables, visit local markets, rummage for vintage finds, and decorate our home with the plunder. We love being outdoors and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with a job well done.

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