How to Make a Paper Sunflower

The sunflowers are finally blooming, good thing as we came within a hairs width of having frost the last two nights. Oh well, that's life in Calgary. To keep us in sunflowers thru Sept. we have to make some paper ones. The kids were up for it so here we go.

Materials Needed:

- newspaper, coffee filters, glue,

thin cardboard (like a cereal box)

poppy seeds, twigs from the garden, felt

tempera paint, brushes, art shirt, wax paper

The first thing you have to do is paint your newspaper and/or coffee filters. We used liquid tempera paint. We tried watercolor but the color was too light.

Let dry. We left ours outside and it dried lickety split.

While the paint is drying, take your thin cardboard and trace out two circles. I used a small ice wine glass.

Cut them out.

Take one of the circles and use it as a template to cut out a circle of felt. Try to make it slightly larger than the cardboard one. Set aside.

Cover one of your cardboard circles with glue and sprinkle on some poppy seeds. Try to cover the whole area and press them down into the glue. Set aside to dry.

We tried dried beans for the center but they didn't look as good and they made the center too heavy. Lentils or sesame seeds might work to make a Sunflower with a different colored center.

Take your dry painted newspaper and/or coffee filters and cut into strips about 3-4 inches wide. Then using the accordion fold fold them up .

Cut thru all the layers. Cut a nice petal shape. You may need to do this several times to make enough petals.

Start gluing the petals onto the edge of the other cardboard circle. We alternated the painted side with the non painted side cause we liked how it looked. You could alternate with the painted filters or do one out of unpainted newspaper for a different look.

Keep gluing you need about 3 layers to get a nice full look.

When you have all the petals you want glued on put some glue in the middle and add your poppy seed center.

Let the glue set for a little while and then turn over and glue on your twig.

Glue on your felt circle. This will help get your twig attached to your flower.

Let dry and that's it. Make a bunch and you have a nice display.

see ya later

gail