Paper Flower Centerpiece

If you'd like to decorate without the expense of fresh flowers or want a bouquet that requires no care and can be prepared in advance, consider making these simple yet elegant crepe paper flowers. You can use crepe or tissue paper, and you'll get a bunch of flowers from just a small amount of paper. Floral stems and wire give them a professional finish, and they're easy to find at your local craft store. I "planted" mine in a ball of cotton yarn instead of in a vase—you could do this, too, to add color to the table. If it's a crafty shower (for a baby or wedding), fiber fans could take the yarn home and knit or crochet a square each to make an afghan for the guest of honor.

Materials (makes at least 12 flowers)

• Crepe paper or tissue paper (you don't need anywhere near a whole roll of crepe paper, but I bought two colors for fun; you might also want to pick up a green roll if you'd like to add leaves to your flowers)
• 18-gauge paper stem wires
• 1/2-inch-wide stem wrap tape/green floral tape
• Wire cutters
• Scissors
• Glue (I used Aleene's Quick Dry Tacky Glue)
• Paper towels (good to have on hand for wiping the glue off of your fingers)
• Yarn balls or vases

Gather the materials listed above.

Cut your stem to your desired length (I made mine about 8 inches to 10 inches long. Cut a thin piece of crepe paper about 1-1/2 inches long. Save the other part of the cut crepe paper for the next step.

Draw a line of glue about 1/2 inch long on both sides of one end of the paper stem. Fold the thin piece of paper over the end of the stem and press in place.

Squeeze another a line of glue over the just-glued paper and place the other piece of crepe paper over it. Wrap the stem with the paper two or three times and glue down the end, trimming the strip of paper if necessary.

With a contrasting color, fold the crepe paper over itself until it's about 12 sheets thick. Cut a petal shape from the paper.

Place a line of glue across the bottom (noncurved) end of a petal and glue it to the paper-wrapped end of the stem.

Continue to glue petals to the flower, spacing them evenly in rounds, until your flower is as full as desired. Pinch the bottom of the flower, pressing the petal ends close to the stem, before proceeding to the next step.

Wrap the entire stem in tape by holding the tape at a diagonal angle to the flower and twirling the stem in your hand. Trim the end of the tape and glue it in place, if necessary.

Bend each stem slightly to give it lifelike appeal, and place it into a ball of yarn or a glass jar full of buttons—or any vase you like.

Theo Linda Permann