Crepe Paper Poinsettia

Materials
Pink, green, and maroon crepe paper
Scissors
Floral wire
Floral tape
White glue

1. To make a small bract, photocopy template and cut out; enlarge template to make large bracts and leaves (ours are five inches long). Trace 4 to 6 small bracts and 10 big bracts onto pink crepe paper; trace 1 or 2 big leaves onto green crepe paper. Cut out all shapes.

2. To make center buds, cut three 2-by-1/2-inch strips of maroon crepe paper. Hold 1 strip vertically and make a fold 3/8 inch from the top; fold down the corners of this portion to form a point. Use your fingertips to roll point into a ball while tightly twisting the stem. Repeat to make the other buds. Attach each bud to a 12-inch piece of floral wire with floral tape, stretching tape slightly to make it adhere.

3. Wrap floral tape around top of wire twice. Add the bracts, beginning with the small ones, by wrapping tape around the base of each and adhering it to the wire stem. Continue adding the larger pink bracts, then the green leaf or leaves. Wrap tape around a few more times, working your way down the stem.

4. Gently fluff and shape leaves with your fingertips.

5. Cut pieces of floral wire that are two inches longer than green leaves. Affix wire to the underside of each green leaf with glue, allowing excess wire to extend below the base. Let dry 10 minutes, then attach the loose ends of wire to the flower's stem with floral tape.

Published by Martha Stewart Living, 2005.