PAPER PLATE FLOWERS
It’s a tradition to decorate the synagogue and home with flowers for Shavuot because Mount Sinai was said to be lush with beautiful flowers. Your kiddos will love making these big gorgeous flowers with paper plates and some paint and glue! Make them in lots of different colors and put them all over your home and synagogue for an extra delightful and meaningful holiday!
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED:
-9” Paper plates (optional — you can also use 6” paper plates for one of the smaller layers)
-Scissors
-Paint (I used acrylic)
-Paintbrushes
-Glue
HERE’S WHAT YOU DO:
(1) Fold the paper plate in half. (2) Fold it in half once more. (3) Keeping the plate folded, cut a heart shape. (4) Open up the heart (it should look like a 2-D flower). (5) Cut slits in between each petal (this will make it easier to bend the petals later). (6) Repeat Steps 1-5 at least two more times to make additional layers of the flower. It works best if you make each one slightly smaller than the last. I did two layers using 9” plates and then one layer using a 6” plate. (7) Fold a new 9” paper plate in half and cut a scalloped edge (this will be for the smaller inner layers of the flower). After you do this, cut out the center of the plate so that just the scalloped edge remains. (8) Open it up and then cut the circle in two pieces — one somewhat smaller than the other. (9) When you’re done cutting, you should have five pieces — each piece will be one layer of the flower. (10) Paint all your pieces on both sides, allowing each side to dry completely. (11) For the flower-shaped plates, bend each of the petals up and in. Next, use your biggest plate as your bottom layer, and then glue the next smaller-size plate on top of the bigger plate. After that, glue the even smaller plate on top of the last one. (12) For the last two layers, you will roll the scalloped edges and then glue them standing upright. It’s easier if you bend an edge at the bottom before rolling it so there is more paper for the glue to stick to. Note that you may also need to trim each of the scalloped edges so that they’re a little shorter and can fit just right as the next two layers.
Start with one paper plate (the regular kind, as opposed to a thicker variety, work the best for this craft).
Fold the paper plate in half.
Fold it in half once more.
Keeping the plate folded, cut a heart shape.
When you open up the heart, it should look something like this.
Cut slits in between each petal (this will make it easier to bend the leaves).
Fold a new paper plate in half and cut a scalloped edge (this will be for the smaller inner layers of the flower). After you do this, cut out the center of the plate so that just the scalloped edge remains.
When you open up the plate, it should look something like this.
Cut the circle in two pieces — one somewhat smaller than the other.
Make two more layers of the flower using either 9” or 6” plates and making each layer slightly smaller than the last. I made two layers with 9” plates and then one layer with a 6” plate. When you’re done cutting, you should have five pieces that look something like this.
Paint all your pieces on both sides, allowing each side to dry completely.
For the flower-shaped plates, bend each of the petals up and in. Next, use your biggest plate as your bottom layer, and then glue the next smaller-size plate on top of the bigger plate. After that, glue the even smaller plate on top of the last one. For the last two layers, you will roll the scalloped edges and then glue them each standing upright. It’s easier if you bend an edge at the bottom before rolling it so there is more paper for the glue to stick to. Note that you may also need to trim each of the scalloped edges so that they’re a little shorter and fit just right as the next two layers.
