Fig. 497.—The open flower.
is a most appropriate design for Easter. You can make one of cardboard which will stand alone. Cut [Figs. 493] and [494] from stiff paper, and make the slit down through the top of one and up through the bottom of the other; then slide the two crosses together by placing [Fig. 493] at right angles down through the top of [Fig. 494], adjust the two pieces and your cross will resemble [Fig. 495]. The card may be closed flat by turning the two crosses until they lie closely against each other. You can decorate this double cross by painting or pasting flowers on it, or lettering it with the words, “Easter Greeting.”
Another new design is
The Tulip Bud
([Fig. 496]). This you can open at will and make it blossom. Open it still further and the petals appear as if ready to fall, as in [Fig. 497]. Cut [Fig. 498] of white paper and paint it to resemble a tulip petal; make five more petals, then trace [Fig. 499] on a piece of cardboard, fit the six petals together and place them on top of the tulip stem ([Fig. 499]). Hold the petals firmly in position while you run a coarse needle and thread through the petals and cardboard back in order to fasten the flowers on the stem. Knot the thread on the outside of the petals and also on the wrong side of the pasteboard card. [Fig. 500] shows the knot on the lower portion of the petals. Draw the thread tight to keep the petals firmly in place. Paint the stem and leaves green and paste a small round piece of paper over each of the knots which fasten the flower on its stem as shown in [Fig. 501]. When the bit of paper is painted it will never be noticed.
Fig. 498.—The tulippetal. | Fig. 499.—Tulip stem andleaves. | Fig. 500.—The knot in thepetal. |
Fig. 501.—Paste paper overthe knots. |
You can use this idea with another flower if you do not understand painting in water colors.
The Dainty Bloodroot
wildflower blossom is pure white and you can cut the petals of white paper, and fasten the flowers on gray-green cardboard. Paste the stem securely down and sew the petals in place in the same manner as those of the tulip. The bloodroot will look especially pretty when you move the petals and cause the snowy flowers to open.