How to Make Cupcake Paper Carnations

I'm always looking for easy crafts for my 4-year-old, and she had a great time making these pretty carnations for Valentine's Day. They're really easy for little hands to make, as long as an adult helps with the steps that require a sharp knife.

What You'll Need:

-Cupcake cups / muffin pan liners of various colors

-Green chenille stems (pipe cleaners)

-Sharp pointed knife

Start by creating groups of 2 - 3 cupcake cups, and use your sharp pointed knife to cut two holes in the bottom, spaced about 1/2" apart. 

Start by making a hook out of one of your pipe cleaners. From the top, push the long end of the hook through one hole, then push the short end through the other hole, ensuring that both ends go through all cupcake cups.

Gently tug the pipe cleaner down until the top of the hook is up against the cupcake cup.

While holding both ends of the pipe cleaner up against the bottom of the cup, use your other hand to squeeze the cup from the bottom up, slightly twisting as you go.

Add another cupcake cup group from the bottom up, by inserting the long end of the hook into one hole and then moving it up, until you can then feed the small end of the hook into the other hole. Gently push the new layer up against the first layer.

Again, hold the pipe cleaner under the cups and use the other hand to squeeze the papers together, gently twisting as you go.

Continue adding more layers until you have the fullness you desire.

When you're done, twist the small end of the pipe cleaner around the large end. If desired, you can fold the long pipe cleaner in half and twist it around itself to make it strong enough to hold the flower. You can also wait until you have an entire bouquet and twist them all together. 

 This was such a fun craft for my little girl. I cut the holes for her and she enjoyed doing everything else herself!