Independence Day picnic utensil bundles

This is a re-post of a project I did last year but I've added photos and instructions on how to make the paper flowers. I hope this helps. You're welcome. :)

For all of us Americans our 4th of July Independence Day celebration usually means a barbecue, a picnic, or some kind of gathering in the sunny outdoors. I don't know about you, but my plastic utensils are all completely mismatched now that I only needed forks one time or only needed a spoon and a knife another, but I refuse to buy new when these will do. I would, however, like it to look less like I ran around to camp or picnic sites stealing a knife here and a fork there. To add a little unification and to take some of the hassle out of the food line I bundled the utensil sets inside a paper napkin and bound it together with a festive paper flower in flag colors.

Materials needed:
thin weight paper
scissors
glue
green covered floral wire

Optional but recommended materials:
sewing pin
circle punch

You can start with colored paper but make sure it is a thin weight paper as you'll be folding it several times and the thicker it is, the more difficult it will be to fold. If you don't have colored paper available computer printer paper works just great.

If using printer paper:
Do not use a circle punch, the paper is too thin and it will likely tear instead. Use a biscuit or cookie cutter, jar lid, compass, etc. to trace your circles and cut them by hand.
When you've gone through the steps listed below you can then color your plain paper by making a wash (paint and water mixture) to color your flowers.

Cut floral wire in half and dab some glue on each end to keep the covering from fraying loose when you try to work with it. When that is dry curl one end in on itself to create the flower center. While the glue is drying...

Cut or punch your circles.


Fold your circle in half, then in half again, then in half again - it should form a tiny cone shape (see below).
Trim the wide end to a rounded edge - this will form the "petals" when you unfold it.


Cut down one of the fold lines - it doesn't matter which - then trim the top and side off the "petal" to give yourself a little flap.

Dab glue on your newly made flap and bring your sides together, putting the flap behind the whole petal. This adds dimension to your flower. Let glue dry.


When your glue has dried, use a sewing pin to make a hole in the center of the flower - this will make it easier to push your floral wire through.

Et voilà!

Now gather your utensils inside a paper napkin and use the floral wire to bind them together creating a napkin ring/bundle all in one!





Enjoy your Independence Day!

Linking to:

Creations by Kara

Everything Etsy