How to Make a Flower from Plastic Straws

These darling flowers can be made with just two colored plastic straws, and can be used to decorate cocktail glasses.

1. Gather your materials. For the purposes of this article, assume that the off-white straw is the bloom and that the clear green straw is the stem.
2. 

    Cut the straws.
   Cut the straws. Cut the bendable straw into two pieces just below the bendy part as shown. Trim them to reasonable lengths. Cut off a piece of the straight straw the same length as the part of the "bloom" straw without the bendy part. Use the photo for reference.
3. 

    Make a cut just below the bendy part so that the bendable section is just attached to the straight bit (as shown).
   

   
   Make a cut just below the bendy part so that the bendable section is just attached to the straight bit (as shown).
4. 

    With the same piece, cut the straight part above the bendy part from top to bottom.
   With the same piece, cut the straight part above the bendy part from top to bottom. Do not cut the bendy part.
5. 

    Fringe the bendy part as shown.
   

   
   Fringe the bendy part as shown. Make several small cuts all around the bendy part that don't go all the way from top to bottom. Don't cut the bendy part open.
6. 

    Cut fringe in the both of the completely straight straw pieces.
   

   
   Cut fringe in the both of the completely straight straw pieces.
7. 

    Place your finger in the stem straw's fringed end.
   Place your finger in the stem straw's fringed end.
8. 

    Press down the uncut end of the stem straw.
   Press down the uncut end of the stem straw.
9. 

    Cut away the sides of the unfringed portion of the stem straw so that you're left with two flaps on opposite sides of the straw that end in points.
   Cut away the sides of the unfringed portion of the stem straw so that you're left with two flaps on opposite sides of the straw that end in points. (Refer to photo; click to enlarge.)
10. 

     You'll now have three parts.
    You'll now have three parts.
11. 

     Spread out the fringe on the bent part of the bloom straw.
    

    
    

    
    Spread out the fringe on the bent part of the bloom straw.
12. 

     Gently curl the fringe on the stem straw.
    Gently curl the fringe on the stem straw.
13. 

     For the straight part of the bloom straw, curl the fringe with a fingernail.
    

    
    For the straight part of the bloom straw, curl the fringe with a fingernail.
14. 

     Extend one of the cuts on the stem straw all the way down so as to open it up.
    

    
    Extend one of the cuts on the stem straw all the way down so as to open it up.
15. 

     Stack the three parts together as shown.
    

    
    Stack the three parts together as shown. Put the stem straw within the non-bendy bloom straw. Then put the bendy bloom over both, letting the leaves stick out through the gap.
16. 　
    

     Lift up the leaves - the pointed flaps of the stem straw.
    

    
    Lift up the leaves - the pointed flaps of the stem straw.

• Do not cut the flat area of the pieces unless instructed.
• Length does not matter.
• 

  
  The straight cut section of the bendy part of the straw can now be put on the rim of a glass.

• Plastic straws (2 different colors)
• Scissors