Crepe paper poinsettia

Cut the red crepe paper into half-petal shapes. Ensure the paper's grain (the crepe paper's long lines) runs from the base of each petal to its tip. Cut the petals in various sizes and shapes.

Cut the green crepe paper into half-leaf shapes, making them larger than the red petals so they can form the outer leaves of the flower.

Apply glue along the straight edge of a red petal. Place a metal rod on the glue, then press the matching half-petal on top so the wire is centred and the petal is complete. Make sure to turn the petals so that the crepe lines point away from each other.

Repeat the process with the rest of the red petals and green leaves.

Then use side-cutting pliers to shorten the metal rods on the smallest leaves, ensuring they are no longer than necessary.

Now cut narrow strips of both green and red crepe paper. Glue the strips around the metal rods with the glue gun, so each leaf has a stem in its own colour.

Optionally, you can colour the crepe paper with felt-tip pens to create delicate colour variations on the petals.

Similarly, cut narrow strips of gold crepe paper. Fold each strip in half, then twist it into a slender stamen for the flower's centre.

Arrange the red petals around the golden stamens, starting with the smallest and working out to the largest. Place the green petals on the outside. If needed, you can use an elastic band to hold the flower together.

Wrap a strip of green crepe paper around the base of the flower to bind all the wire stems into one stem.

Optionally, tie a ribbon around the stem for a finishing touch. Your poinsettia is now ready to brighten your home all winter.