Memorial Day Crafts: Fireworks Flowers

Oftentimes, when Nick is done with his homework in the afternoon, he wants to do a craft.  Whether it’s painting, coloring or creating, he is definitely artistic, something he gets from his grandmother.  It sure as heck doesn’t come from me.

Usually he ask me to do a search on the computer to find him something to make, but without a well-built arsenal of craft supplies, I don’t always have on hand what he needs for the craft he chooses.   I have been working on stockpiling some basic craft supplies though, and now have a few crafts at the ready for when inspiration strikes; so the other day when he asked, I was totally ready.

With the Memorial Day weekend looming, and plans to head down the shore underway, when I saw these fireworks flowers, I knew they would be perfect.  Simple to make, supplies on hand and a perfect way to celebrate the patriotic holiday.  He did such a fantastic job, I know he can’t wait to see them on the dinner table this weekend … neither can I!

Fireworks Flowers
Craft courtesy of Familycorner.com

basket coffee filters
chenille stems (red, white, blue, gold and/or silver)
red and blue watercolor paint (we used food coloring)
paintbrush
scissors
2 pieces of paper towel or a kitchen towel

Cover table with newspaper, a plastic tablecloth or even an old shower curtain. Gather your supplies and have them all within arm’s reach. Cover kids clothes with a smock or old t-shirt. Now you are ready to begin making your coffee filter fireworks flowers.

Place one of the coffee filters onto the paper plate and flatten out. Paint the coffee filter with water color paint. Paint some solid red, some solid blue and others a combination of blue and red, leaving some areas unpainted. Move the coffee filter to the towel and lay flat to dry. Repeat with the second coffee filter. Leaving the center of the filter in tact, cut the coffee filter in strips, working you way around the circle. Cut a 1.5″ piece off of one end of a chenille stem and set aside.

Take the longer piece of chenille and poke it through the center of the coffee filter. There should be about 2″ of chenille poked through.  Turn the entire thing upside down and grasp the filter with your fingers. Gather it around the chenille and secure it by wrapping the extra piece of chenille stem that you cut off in an earlier step. Twist it around the part you are holding and turn the flower back upright. Manipulate with your finger until strips are spread out and it looks the way you want it to.

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