Big activities with a small footprint.
These paper flowers are inspired by artwork in Gallery Oldham’s collection called Tradition by artist Abdus Shakoor Shah which is part of Gallery Oldham’s art collection. You can also watch this easy guide on our Visit OMA YouTube channel.
You will need:
- Coloured paper
- Ruler
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Glue
- Cotton buds
- Start with your red piece of paper. Measure with your ruler 8 cm x 8cm and mark this on the paper. Then draw the lines using your ruler to create a square.

2. Carefully cut out your square then repeat these steps until you have 3 squares.

3. Fold your square in half to make a triangle. Then fold it in half again to create a smaller triangle.
4. Fold your triangle in half again to make an even smaller triangle. Then fold again one last time but along the longest length of the triangle. It should look like this.

5. Cut off the smaller triangle with your scissors. Snip off the corner of the triangle and use your scissors to create a curve along the edge of your petals. Then unfold your flower.

6. Repeat these steps to create 3 flowers.
7. Roll the green paper tightly around the cotton bud to make your stem. Cut the pointed end off then stick with PVA glue. Make sure you hold it whilst it dries.

8. Use your yellow paper and measure a strip 2 cm wide along the length of the sheet. Then cut this out. Fold the strip in half and then in half again.

9. Cut some tassles into the paper. Be careful not to cut the whole way through. Then bend the tassles out to give it some shape, roll it up and glue to make a rosette.

10. Take your stem and flower petals. Glue these together placing one flower on top of the other.

11. Glue your rosette in the centre of the flower. Hold it in place until it dries. Finish you flower by cutting a small circle of yellow card, glue it to the centre to cover the end of the straw.

Congratulations you’ve created a paper flower. Now, why not make a bunch, you could use different coloured paper to create more beautiful flowers .
Go back to our Spring Thing webpage for more amazing crafting ideas or get some growing inspiration for your garden.