OK, so I realize that I've pretty much become the world's lamest blogger.  A few months back I posted about how great blogging has been for me, and then my life took a turn that I felt coming, yet somehow I was completely unprepared for.  I've been busy enough with my two sweeties plus my Wondertime work (I'm happy to say that I now have several projects under my belt) and even the best laid plans have fallen to the wayside.  Now the end of the summer is staring me square in the face.

So, here is a tiny project for a rainy day.  I came up with it for the magazine, but it was a no-go. It would be cute on your desk at work, or several scattered down the center of a table.  Make one, make many, make them with your kids, make them to celebrate after your kids head off to school.  Just make them.

Materials

1 tin can (yay, recycling!)
1 piece of crepe paper (the folds you find at your party store for 59 cents are perfect, expensive double-sided crepe paper actually doesn't work for this at all)
1, 3 " styrofoam ball
T-pins (12 or so)
enough fabric or paper to cover the can
double-sided tape
serrated knife
scissors

Cut your styrofoam ball in half with a serrated knife.  Squeeze it just inside your tin can with the flat side up, so that the top of it is where the top of the can used to be.  Cut 12, 3 1/2" rounds out of your crepe paper.  I fold my paper to cut several at once.  Make a fist with one hand, and put a crepe paper round on top of the thumb side of it.  Now stick your index finger from the other hand in the "hole"  Get it?  That's the flower.  Now take a t-pin and stick it down inside your bud, being careful not to push it through.  Stick your bud in the center of your styrofoam ball.  Continue making little buds until the top of your can is blooming.  Now cut a piece of paper or fabric large enough to cover your can, and apply it with double-sided tape on one end.  Smile.

PS- I'm sure you could make these with tissue paper, but I LOVE crepe paper, so trust me and try it.