Mother's Day Bouquets 5 Ways
(Firework Flowers & Tissue Paper Bouquet are also available as "Craft Kits", and can be purchased online at: www.abracadabracrafts.com)


Firework Flowers
Project time: 20 minutes
Difficulty: Advanced
Ages: 6+

What You Need:
Scrap booking Paper (printed on both sides)
Pipe Cleaners
Glue
Scissors

Craft Instructions:

1. Select a piece of colorful paper and lay it flat on a hard surface. With the shortest ends facing you, begin to fold back and forth in an accordion fashion, just like you would fold to make a fan. The smaller the fold, the more full your flower will be. Each fold should be no more than a half inch wide.

2. Once you have folded the paper all the way, place a pipe cleaner in the center of the folded paper. Wrap the end of the pipe cleaner around the center of the folded paper. The pipe cleaner will be the stem of the flower.

3. While the paper is still folded together, use the scissors to snip a decorative edge on both ends of the folded piece. Cut through all the layers! You can cut a round edge or make a V shaped edge. Experiment with different cuts.

4. Next, take two of the ends and bring them around to form a partial circle. Use a glue dot to secure the ends of the paper together. You will now have a partial circle shape. Repeat this step with the other two ends, forming a full circle shape. Your flower is complete!

5. Try making different flowers by cutting the paper in half and making a smaller version, or try making different decorative end cuts to change the look of your flowers.



Tissue paper bouquet

Project time: 15 minutes
Difficulty: Medium
Ages: 5+

What You Need:
Scalloped tissue paper (use decorative edge scissors) in assorted colors
Green Pipe Cleaners

Craft Instructions:

1. Stack 4 pieces of tissue paper on top of each other, aligning the corners together.

2. Fold the sheets accordion style. Back and forth...

3. Secure the tissue paper by wrapping the pipe cleaner around the center of the folded stack of tissue paper. Be sure to leave enough pipe cleaner for the stem.

4. Take care in the next step! The tissue paper will rip easily. Lift each layer one by one to form a basic flower shape. Gently pull on each sheet separating them from each other pulling towards the center.



Paper Plate Sunflowers

Project time: 20 minutes plus drying time
Difficulty: Easy
Ages: 2+

What You Need:
(6) Mini Paper Plates
(6) Green Pipe Cleaners
Large, Wide Tip Black Marker
Yellow, Red, and Orange Washable Paint
Large Paint Brush
Glitter (optional)

Craft Instructions:

1. Use the black marker to color in the center of each paper plate sunflower.

2. Next, use yellow, red, and orange paint to color the outside edge of the paper plates. While the paint is still wet, sprinkle with glitter.

3. Secure each paper plate onto a green pipe cleaner stem. Poke one end of a pipe cleaner through the center of the paper plate. Using the end that you just poked through, come back down through the paper plate, and twist the excess pipe cleaner around the stem.



Cupcake Flowers

Project time: 30 - 40 minutes plus drying time
Difficulty: Medium
Ages: 4+

What You Need:
(6) Craft Cups or Heavy Duty Cupcake Liners
(6) Green Pipe Cleaners
Glue
Assortment of washable paint (we used Glitter Finger Paints)
Assortment of buttons, and/or Jewels

Craft Instructions:

1. Use your fingers to paint the inside of each craft cup. Don’t be afraid to mix colors! If you are not working with “glitter paint,” you may want to sprinkle loose glitter onto the paint before it dries.

2. Next, secure a pipe cleaner stem onto each of the craft cups. Poke one end of a pipe cleaner through the center of the craft cup. Using the end that you just poked through, come back down through the craft cup, and twist the excess pipe cleaner around the stem.

3. Glue a button or jewel onto the center of each flower, and let dry.




Coffee Filter Poppies

Project time: 30 minutes plus drying time
Difficulty: Medium
Ages: 4+

What You Need:
(6) Large Round Coffee Filters
(6) Green Pipe Cleaners
Assortment of washable paints (we used Liquid Glitter Water Colors)
Eyedropper (medicine droppers work great)
Pom Pom Beads

Craft Instructions:

1. Dilute the paints to a watery consistency.

2. Use the eyedropper to suck up the paint. Squeeze the eyedropper and release the paint around the inside edge of each coffee filter. Use different color combinations for a tie-dyed effect.

3. Next, secure a pipe cleaner stem onto each of the coffee filters. Poke one end of a pipe cleaner through the center of the filter. String a pom pom bead onto the pipe cleaner. Securing the bead to the inside center of the flower by lacing the pipe cleaner back down through the coffee filter, and twist the excess pipe cleaner around the stem.