Fun 'n' Funky Flowers
Designed by Kathleen George - Project Courtesy of The Dow Chemical Company

MATERIALS NEEDED
STYROFOAM* Brand Products:
Balls: 2 1/2" for flower (makes one); 4" for base (makes two)
Block, 4" x 4" x 2"

OTHER MATERIALS:
Acrylic paints: green; yellow
2mm craft foam: bright green for leaves; your choice for petals, one sheet each
3/8" wooden dowel, 12"-18" length for each flower
Serrated knife
Bar soap or old candle
Wooden skewers
Stiff-bristle paintbrush
Disposable palette
Water basin
Paper towels
Handsaw
Ruler
Pencil
Scissors
1/2" head pins
Thick, white craft glue or low-temp glue gun and glue sticks

1.Wax serrated knife with a bar of soap or old candle to ensure smooth cuts. Cut 2-1/2" ball in half for flower center and 4" ball in half for base.

2. Sandwich one end of a wooden dowel between 2-1/2" half balls, pressing halves together until flat sides are flush. Remove dowel. Insert skewer into flat side of each half ball to use as a handle while painting. Paint half balls yellow; stand skewers in foam block to dry.

3. Determine desired height for flower and cut dowel accordingly for stem.

4. Insert and glue dowel centered in rounded side of 4" half-ball. Paint dowel and base green. Let dry.

5. Using pattern, cut five flower petals and two green leaves from craft foam.

6. Glue base of petals to flat side of one 2-1/2" half-ball, spacing evenly; pin in place for extra reinforcement. Spread glue on base of petals and center indentation. Position 2-1/2" half balls on flower stem and press together.

7. Glue leaves to flower stem with tips pointing in opposite directions.

8. Repeat Steps 1-7 to make a grouping of flowers, varying height of stems for added interest.

Project reprinted courtesy of the Dow Chemical Company, Manufacturer of Genuine STYROFOAM^(R) Brand Foam. For more free project ideas, please visit www.styrofoamcrafts.com.