Spring! And, Easter! What a perfect time to lavish mom or grandma with flowers. Just knowing that you made them "with you own two hands" will make the gift even more special.
Begin with: white, yellow and green construction paper-scissors-scotchtape-a ruler-and a pencil.
On the white paper, trace carefully around you hand (include an inch of wrist) and connect at the bottom. Note*As many hands as you trace you will have that many flowers when you finish. My theory is: make lots-they're small!
Next, measure 2" strips of green paper (if you go across the long side of the paper you'll have short flower stems-across the short side is longer stems-either way is ok). You'll need one stem for each flower.
On another sheet of green, draw leaves. You may want to use a tracer so they're all alike. They should be a long, narrow eye-shaped leaf, and you'll need 1-2 leaves per flower (it may take more than 2 sheets of paper!)
With the yellow paper you'll make the flower centers. You'll need 3-5 1/2"x3" rectangles. Measure and draw them on the paper, then carefully cut all of your elements out (the centers, the stems and the hands).
To assemble: Form the stems into a straw and secure it with a strip of scotchtape (younger children may want to actually roll the paper around a drinking straw and tape it in place). Bend the leaf piece in half length-wise to give them shape and tape in place at the base and mid-way up the stem.
Form the flower by *curling* the fingers out with the blade of the scissors. In response to "I can do it myself": use a butter knife or the handle of a long paintbrush. Curl the yellow centers and tape in place so thatthe petals and centers all curl outward. Form a circle at the wrist to fit into the
stem (it may overlap). Tape into place once you've inserted it into the stem.
After you've completed the boquet, place them in a vase (WITH NO WATER) or tie them with a pretty ribbon. Be sure to give them with a card~with love~from you.
Have fun. 'Til next time. Rose
