PRETTY DAHLIAS

Make paper versions of these fashionable late-flowering blooms and they will last all winter! You will need

• White crepe paper

• Drawing compass

• Scissors

• Watercolour paints

• Artist’s paintbrush

• Craft glue

• Flower pips (for the centre of the flower, try Fred Aldous)

• Florist’s stub wire in 25cm lengths

• Green florist’s tape

• Cardboard

To make

❶ Fold a 24cm-deep length of crepe paper in half and, using a drawing compass, mark out 4 circles (each one smaller than the other). For our 10cm flowers, the circles had a radius of 5cm, 4cm, 3.5cm and 3cm. For the smaller flower, the circles had a radius of 4.5cm. 4cm, 3.5cm and 3cm. Cut out the circles so that you end up with 2 in each size.

❷ Keep 2 together and fold in half, then in half again. Take each folded piece and trim the curve into a scalloped edge. Snip down the edges of the scallops to approximately 2cm from the pointed end to form petals. Open the folded shape out and also snip the top, bottom and sides 2cm from the centre, so that you have a pair of flat flower shapes with 16 petals. Repeat this with the other 3 pairs of circles.

❸To hand paint the petals, use diluted watercolour paint to paint gently from the centre of each circle outwards to the tips of the petals, then apply a circle of darker colour in the centre. Alternatively, you can apply a diluted colour to the tips of the petals (this is best done while the circles are still in their folded form), allowing the watery paint to seep down the petal to create a realistic effect. Open out and leave to dry. ❹ When petals are dry, take each one and gently fold it in half along its length, creasing it down the middle.

❺ Build the flower by layering each circle on top of the other, starting with the largest one, making sure you place it so that the petals alternate. Apply a dot of glue to the centre and add the next circle until you have built up all 8 circles.

❻ Take 4 flower pips (these are for the stamen of the flower) and fold in half. Using scissors, make a hole in the centre of the flower and poke the folded ends of the pips through the hole so that the pips poke out the front of the flower at slightly varying lengths.

❼ Make the stem by binding together 2 lengths of florist’s wire with the florist’s tape. Cut a circle of cardboard with a diameter of 4-5cm. Tape the stem to the back of the circle of cardboard and glue this to the back of the flower to give it strength and cover the back of the pips. Place the flower in your vase.

Flower painting, from £75, Vintage Flower Paintings