Riot and Frolic

Don't worry, arachnophobes.  No actual spiders here, just lots of colored paper.

But apparently, in the dark, these look like big spiders.

Yeah, that's a tissue paper flower.  It's about a foot and a half in diameter.  Clearly, my husband has been watching movies like this:

Anyhoo, yesterday, you might have read about my craft fail with the above flowers, or stringing thereof.  I wanted to give you all some hinties, so your magnificent flowers can look as lush and fantastic as these:

First of all, this really is a fun project.  Kids can be involved, it's cheap, easy, fast, and fruitful.  You might even have all the things you need around your house.  There's a million tutorials around the internet, and I'll link my favs…

Martha Stewart.  You crafty wench.  Not only does she (or her staff- whatever, Gordon!) show you how to make the festive hangy-balls, but cutie little napkin rings, also.  

This lady took the MS toot and one upped her.  I know, blasphemy.  But it's great, really.

Here's the deal:

Tissue Paper Flowers (Pom-Poms)

– several sheets of tissue paper

– a material to bind your tissue paper together (string, fishing line, floral wire, pipe cleaners, yarn, etc.)

– scissors

If you checked out the links above, you got the general gist:

Take several layers of tissue paper in a square-ish shape in the size you'd like and fold them accordion style.  Bind them in the middle.  Cut half-circles or points off the ends.  Seperate layers into poofs.  Drink root beer with strangely project-coordinated child.

Hints:

– more layers of tissue paper= more BA* flowers.

– smaller pom-poms need less layers than large ones. (I liked 8 layers or so on my 6" flowers and about 16 layers on my foot and a half flowers.)

– when you cut your ends (half-circles or points), make deep cuts.  Then they look more petal-like.

Ideas:

– use several different colors in one poof.

– stick it on a gift instead of a bow

– hang a garland of smallish flowers along with some twinkle lights.

*- bad ass