Make a California Poppy - No Dirt Required

More on my orange kick! I learned how to make these today from some friendly park rangers at a fair. Fast, easy, and cheap, these can be used as a hair accessory or a pin, or you could throw some in a mason jar and have a fun decoration. I made mine in orange (it's a California poppy!) but you could make it any any color. Add more layers for a more ruffly flower.

 What you'll need:

Green pipecleaner
At least two pieces of colored tissue paper

 Step 1

Stack your papers on top of each other and make an accordion fold. The more folds your paper has, the more crinkly your flower will be.

 Step 2


Lay your folded paper across the pipecleaner, leaving enough room at the top to fold it over the paper and twist it to the rest of the pipecleaner stem.

 Step 3

Spread out your folded paper like a fan until it forms a circle. Flatten the folds.

 Step 4


Bend the petals of the flower up into a cup shape. You may have to flatten the folds some more if you can't get it to turn up.

 And ta-da!

Here's a close-up of the center of the finished flower.












If you make one, let me know! I'd love to see a picture!