Spiky Flowers

This is a variation on a Polish ornament called porcupine...uh...balls. No, not the meatball thingies with rice sticking out. (Hey, does that recipe work for anyone? The only time I tried it the rice never cooked and I ended up with little nasty meatballs with hard chunks in them.)

I suppose it's technically a Christmas ornament, especially if you make it with foil paper.

I think it makes a chrysanthemum-ish flower,

or a companion doo-dad to the spinners I made last week. I can see these alternated on a garland, can't you?

How to make Polish Porcupine Flowers

Cut three circles, all the same size. I used 3" square origami paper and drew circles using a compass.

Fold each circle in half, then in quarters and then in eighths. Unfold.

Use a compass to draw a 1" circle in the center of each circle.

Slash along the crease lines, from the outer edge toward the center, stopping at the inner circle.

The circle now has eight petals. Pre-curl each petal toward its center. I like to pull each edge around a knitting needle, somewhat like pulling ribbon against a scissor blade to curl it.

Roll the petal edges, one side around the other. I roll each petal back and forth until the point is pointy enough, then open up the edge and use a glue pen to fasten.

Here are the circles, start to finish.

Finished circles, both sides shown. (The side with the white is the back. The smooth, all colored side is the front.)

These are not "fast and easy" to make. It takes a good long time to roll, glue, and hold each petal to dry.

Now. If you were making an ornament, you would need a whole bunch of these. Exactly how many depends upon the size of the circle you start with and the thickness of your paper. See instructions here for a CD size porcupine.

But we're making a flower from three pieces.

Lay all three circles right side up, stacked on top of each other.

Fasten through the center with thread.

Use a button, bead, or even a piece of cardboard to keep the thread from pulling through the paper.

Use more circles to make a fluffier flower.

Mine are made from plain colored paper as it makes the construction easier to see. I think they are more attractive made from patterned paper--hides the seams!