Better Budgeting: Sweet Bouquet of Chocolate Flowers

Frugal Crafts and Homemade Gifts (featured column)
Submitted by Sarah Matson

Surprise someone special with this sweet and inexpensive bouquet of "chocolate" flowers. This craft gives lots of bang for your buck; it’s inexpensive to make, but as you can see from the attached photo, the final product is pleasing to the eye. It’s just the thing for a teacher’s gift, Mother’s Day gift, or just-because-you’re-special gift. Plus, it's an easy craft for kids to make!

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You will need:

Three cardboard tubes
Green construction paper, or felt
Colorful tissue paper
Colorful yarn
Three foil-wrapped chocolates or truffles (Ferrero Rocher chocolates work well)
Scissors, ruler, glue stick, craft glue

Directions:

Cut one of the cardboard tubes to 2 1/2" in length, another to 3", and the third to 4 1/4". (Tip: Cut around the circumference of each tube to avoid flattening it.)

Cut three rectangles of the following measurements from green paper or felt: 2 1/2" x 6", 3" x 6", and 4 1/2" x 6". Apply glue stick to the back of a rectangle before wrapping it around the appropriate tube.

Arrange the "stems" in a cluster, each tube touching the others, and use craft glue to secure. Let dry.

Cut four 5" circles of brightly colored tissue paper and scallop the edges. Stack them together, alternating colors, and gently press the center about 1/4" into one of the tubes to form a resting place for the chocolate. Glue in place. Repeat with the remaining tubes.

Cut three 24" lengths of colorful yarn and tie them around the bouquet. Place a chocolate in the center of each flower.

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Sweet Bouquet of Chocolate Flowers