Tissue Lotus Flowers

How to Make

1. Cut out 2 green or blue tissue paper circles, 4-5cm bigger than a wooden coaster. To make a base for the flower, brush glue over one side of wooden coaster then cover with the tissue. Leave to dry. Turn the coaster over, brush glue around the sides and over the other side on base. Leave to dry.
2. Cut an A4 double-sided self-adhesive sheet in half. Cut 2 x pieces of pink tissue paper 2-3cm bigger than the self-adhesive sheet. Peel off the backing paper from the self-adhesive sheet then stick the tissue on top.
   Smooth the tissue with your fingers. Turn the sheet over. Peel off the backing paper then stick the tissue on top. Cutting the tissue paper bigger than the self-adhesive sheet makes it easier to cover the full sticky area on both sides. Trim any overhanging tissue from around the edges before cutting out the petals.
3. Cut out 2 petal templates from card, make a larger 6cm x 3cm shape and a smaller size 5cm x 2cm. Draw around the petals onto the tissue sheet then cut them out. To make a flower you’ll need 18 petals, 12 larger sized and 6 smaller.
4. Curl the petals before gluing them together. One at a time, hold the end of tissue petal between your thumb and forefinger. With the other hand, carefully pull a pair of closed scissors along the petal, pressing the scissors firmly with your finger. The more pressure you apply with the scissors the more curly the petal will be, a small ruler will also work.
5. Glue 6 large petals into flower shape. Apply a small amount of glue at the end of one petal then add the other pieces on top so they are evenly spaced, add more glue if necessary. Repeat to make another flower in the same way with 6 large petals. Make another flower with the 6 smaller petals. Leave to dry. Glue the 3 flowers sections together with the smaller size in the middle. Leave to dry.
6. To make the centre of the flower, cut a 5cm strip from the width of a double-sided self-adhesive sheet. Peel off the backing then cover both sides with yellow tissue, cut into a 3cm strip then cut a fringe along one edge with small snips 5mm apart. Tightly curl up the fringe, trim if necessary then glue into the middle of the flower. Glue the flower onto the coaster.

Top Tip

Petals can be re-shaped by carefully pulling the scissors in the opposite direction of the curl to make a flatter shape.