Daisy-like blooms made to last
Summery, daisy-like cosmos are replicated in crêpe paper, with their cupcake-shaped flowers in single or double layers. Both share a stamen and calyx, and smaller versions can be made for a delicate display
TO MAKE A SINGLE CUPCAKE COSMOS Stamens
1. Prepare the centre pollen by laminating one strip of Buttercup/Carminio Yellow or light yellow 180g crêpe paper and one strip of Goldenrod/Yellow 180g paper together, following the instruction panel on page 100. Cut each piece 1½in (3.8cm) tall along the grain and 3in (7.6cm) wide. Stretch the strips so they are 7½-8in (19-20.3cm) long. Laminate them together using a glue stick. Fold this strip midway along the grain and cut at the fold to create two equal pieces. For the first piece, fringe finely ¼in (6mm) down. For the second piece, first draw a broken line along one long side using a thick black marker, leaving a thin line of yellow on the edge. Turn the piece around and repeat on the other side. The dotted lines do not have to be straight or even. Fringe the second piece similarly to the first section. Cut triangle notches into both pieces, with the triangle tip just below the fringe.
2. Using wire cutters, make a loop at the tip of a 20-gauge stem wire. Dot the Goldenrod/ Yellow side of the first fringed piece with tacky glue along the base and triangle sections. Starting at one end, wrap the fringe around the loop. Keep the fringed tips as flush as possible. Press the triangle section down to wrap around the stem wire. Repeat with the second fringed piece, with the fringe tip lying 1.5mm above the tip of the inner fringe. To secure, wrap a strip of green floral tape approximately ¼in (6mm) down from the fringe tip, pulling tightly. Use the thumb to open out the stamens by spreading the fringes outwards. The tips of the outer fringes should face outwards and down, so that the fringe is shaped like a dome. For a fluffier stamen fringe, wrap the floral tape lower.
Petals
3. For the petals, cut across the grain of 180g Italian crêpe paper in Bright White/White or Sweet Pea/Light Pink for a strip 2in (5cm) tall grain-wise. Stretch. Cut two pieces each 5in (12.7cm) long. Pleat each piece accordion-style every ¼in (6mm) to create ‘hills and valleys’. Keep the pleats flat or closed. Use a pair of heavy-duty scissors to cut through multiple layers, rounding off one end to look like a blunted triangle. Use template A to cut if preferred and mind the dotted lines showing where to fold. Next, hold onto the flat or base side with the left thumb and forefinger and use the right hand to open up the pleats, creating a fan. With the fan open, press the petal base flat. Use the thumb and index finger to pluck the creases on the petals, moving the thumb from the petal base to the petal tip, flattening out the pleats. At the same time, push with the thumb to create a slight cup in the petal. Fold the petal at the base to create a 90° angle. Repeat with the other petal piece.
4. Apply tacky glue to the petal bases, even between the pleats. The pleats may need to be slightly opened up in the bases to stretch them out so that they are wide enough to cover the stamens. For a smaller, full cupcake cosmos, simply fold down more of the base to shorten the length of the petal. Place the first petal base around the stamens, so it covers half of the stamens’ parameter. Place the second petal base around the other half of the stamens’ parameter, below the fringe. For both petal bases, place it ¼in (6mm) below the fringe bottom, so that the fringe just grazes above the petal, rather than the petal squashing the fringe.
5. To create one continuous petal, overlap the two petals on both sides and apply tacky glue to secure them together. Trim the petal tips as necessary.
TO MAKE A DOUBLE CUPCAKE COSMOS
6. For the petals, cut across the grain of 180g Italian crêpe paper in Bright White/White or Sweet Pea/Light Pink for a strip just under 2in (4.8cm) tall grain-wise. Stretch. Cut two pieces that are 4in (10.2cm) long, trimmed to just under 2in (4.8cm) tall. Pleat each piece accordion-style every ¼in (6mm) to create hills and valleys. Keep the pleats closed. Use scissors to cut through multiple layers to round off one end to look like a blunted triangle. If cutting with a template is preferred, use template A and mind the dotted lines showing where to fold. For a smaller double cupcake cosmos, simply fold down more of the base to shorten the length of the petal.
7. Hold onto the flat base side with the left thumb and forefinger, then cut two long slits into the fold, three quarters of the way down from the cut edge; cut one slit on one side of the pleated petal at any fold, then turn the pleated petal over and cut another slit at any fold. Repeat with the second petal.
8. Again, hold onto the flat base side with the left thumb and index finger, and use the right hand to open up the pleats, creating a fan. With the fan open, press the petal base flat. Then, use the thumb and index finger to pluck the creases on the petals, moving the thumb from the petal base to the petal tip, flattening out the pleats. At the same time, push the thumb to create a slight cup in the petal. Fold the petal at the base to create a 90° angle. Repeat with the other petal strip.
9. Glue the petal strips as per step 4. Curl the petal tips. For the outer petals, use the same crêpe paper strip from step 6 and cut two pieces just under 2in (4.8cm) tall grain-wise and 6in (15.3cm) long. Pleat and cut the petals as in Step 6. If preferred, use template B and mind the dotted lines showing where to fold. Then, repeat the petal manipulation in step 7, but make a total of four slits, instead of two. For a smaller double cupcake cosmos, simply fold down more of the base to shorten the length of the petal. Repeat the petal manipulation in step 8 and glue the petal strips as per step 4.
FINISHING DETAILS Calyx
10. Cut across the fold of double-sided crêpe paper in green, such as Green Tea/ Cypress, for a strip 1in (2.5cm) tall grain-wise. Place template CA on top to cut a calyx with eight sepals. Curl or pinch the sepal tips slightly. Before attaching the calyx, wrap the entire stem wire in floral tape in a similar colour to the double-sided crêpe paper. Apply tacky glue to the calyx base and wrap it around the bottom of the petals. Stretch the calyx base while wrapping to cover the entire petal base.
Foliage
11. Cosmos have thin foliage attached to their fine stems. Cut a thin strip of the same double-sided green crêpe paper used for the calyx, 2in (5cm) tall grain-wise and ⅛in (3mm) wide. Use scissors to cut a long slit approximately two thirds deep from one end. Trim one of the long ends shorter than the other long end, then trim both ends to create a point. Curl the long ends or pinch or twist as desired. Try splitting one of the long ends to create another thin piece for interest.
12. Glue one or two pieces of foliage by dotting the foliage base with tacky glue and pressing it into the flower stem wire, 4-6in (10.2-15.3cm) below the calyx.