TISSUE PAPER FLOWERS

It’s a tradition to have flowers for Shavuot, and these tissue paper flowers look like the real thing! You only need three things for this craft — tissue paper, scissors, and pipe cleaners; and even though there are several steps, once you get the hang of it, they’re really quite easy to make. Your kiddos will enjoy making a whole bouquet of them, which you can use as a beautiful and extra special Shavuot centerpiece!

HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED:

-Tissue paper (for each flower you’ll need six pieces about 6” x 5”)
-Scissors
-Green pipe cleaners (one for each flower)

HERE’S WHAT YOU DO:

(1) For each flower, cut and stack six pieces of tissue paper about 6” x 5” each. (2) To make one flower, stack a set of six pieces of tissue paper and then fold the whole stack like a fan. (3) Place one pipe cleaner in the middle of the fan, perpendicular to the fan and with about an inch and a half over the top. Bend the pipe cleaner over the fan, and then twist the end around the other section of the pipe cleaner. (4) Using scissors, round the edges of each end of the tissue paper fan. (5) Next, spread open each side of the tissue paper fan so that it almost looks like a butterfly. (6) Now for the trickier part! Be patient as this step is the longest. Starting with the top layer, carefully pull up on a single piece of tissue paper on one side and then do the same thing to the other side. You have to fuss with it quite a bit as it won’t pull up easily. Take your time, and don’t worry if you tear a piece of the tissue paper here or there — it will still look good when you’re done. (7) Repeat step six, alternating between each side until all the layers are pulled up. (8) Make as many flowers as you like! (9) Put them in a vase for a beautiful “flowers for Shavuot” decoration!