How to Craft Felt Poinsettias

Poinsettias are beautiful flowers to display during the Holidays. I haven't purchased live Poinsettias in years, since I heard they were poisonous if eaten by house pets. After purchasing artificial poinsettias for years, one year I decided to craft my own poinsettias. If you would like to learn how to craft your own poinsettias for the holidays, just follow the steps below.

Materials (to craft 1 poinsettia):
2 red or white colored felt squares
1 dark green felt square
cardboard
marker
scissors
craft glue
water
heavy gauge floral wire
floral tape
large gold or silver button
hot glue gun and glue sticks
silver or gold glitter

Directions:
Using the cardboard, draw a flower petal that is flat at one end and pointed at the other. The petal should be approximately 6" long x 2.5" wide. Cut out the shape of the flower petal to make a template.

Lay out the colored felt that you chose for your poinsettia. Lay the template on the felt and trace out the petals (12- 14 petals). Cut out the petals. Using the dark green felt, cut out 3 leaf shaped petals that measure approximately 5" x 2". Next, mix the craft glue with a small amount of water (approximately a 1/4 cup of glue and 1/8 cup water) to make your fabric stiffener. Soak the petals and leaves in the glue mixture. Lay out a piece of plastic and one by one remove each petal from the glue and squeeze out some of the excess glue. Place the petal on the plastic and shape the petal with your fingers. Repeat this step for the remaining petals. Sprinkle the petals and the leaves with silver or gold glitter. Allow the petals to dry in this manner, reshaping periodically if needed.

Now cut a piece of the craft wire for the stem approximately 10" to 12" long. Lay the wire on the edge of the dark green felt. Run a bead of hot glue down the length of the wire. Quickly roll the felt up with the wire inside. Trim away the excess felt. This will add some thickness to the stem. Next, cut a piece of dark green felt a 1/4" wide x 6" long. On the end of the floral wire, begin wrapping the 1/4" x 6" piece of felt into a coil, using the glue gun as you go. This will create a base to attach the flower petals to.

After the flower petals have dried thoroughly and are nice and stiff, use the glue gun to attach the petals to the base on the end of the stem. Hot glue the large button to the center of the flower. Attach the 3 leaves in random spots along the stem with the glue gun. Now take the floral tape and starting beneath the flower wrap the stem with the floral tape, making sure to wrap the tape around the ends of the leaves as well. You have finished crafting your first poinsettia

Tips: Purchase additional felt and buttons to create several poinsettias to make a Poinsettia arrangement.

Place your newly crafted poinsettias in a tall vase and display them for the holidays!