5.5 How to Make a Chanhua Bougainvillea

1.  Prepare a piece of 0.4mm copper wire and pumpkin-colored silk thread.

2.  Leave a small section at one end of the wire, then start wrapping the thread around the wire.

3.  Using your hands or flat-nose pliers, bend the wrapped wire back and wrap it again to secure. Repeat this step to create three corners.

4.  After finishing the bent wire, use your fingers to gently curve the tips outward.

5.  Prepare several stamens and petals using this method and set them aside.

6.  Use brown silk thread to assemble the curved petals with the stamens.

7.  Wrap a short section of thread on the stem of the finished Bougainvillea flower, tie it off, and set it aside for later.

8.  Make several flowers using the same method. Also, fold some 0.6mm copper wire in half to create branches.

9.  Use brown silk thread to tie two of these branches together.

10. Add three Bougainvillea flowers one by one, then continue wrapping down the stem. Do not cut the copper wire at the lower part of the stem—keep it at its normal thickness. This will make the finished stem look more realistic.

11. Wrap to a suitable length and temporarily tie off the thread. Use shaping pliers to bend the stem into a curve.

12. Bend the Bougainvillea branch to the angle shown in the picture and set it aside.

13. Use the same method to assemble the remaining flower branches.

14. Group the Bougainvillea flowers into small clusters, with 1 to 3 flowers in each group. Shape them as shown in the picture.

15. Take two longer flower clusters and wrap them together.

16. Use shaping pliers to bend two stem sections, creating a backward curve.

17. Add the remaining three flower clusters one by one. As you assemble them, try to make the stems look natural and beautiful.

18. After wrapping all the remaining stems, use an invisible finishing technique to tie off the thread.

19. Prepare a hexagonal pot and a piece of floral foam cut to size.

20. Place the floral foam inside the pot. The top of the foam should sit about 0.5cm below the rim.

21. Insert the finished Bougainvillea stem into the floral foam to secure it.

22. Prepare some small white pebbles, about 1~3mm in size.

23. Cover the floral foam with the pebbles to make the potted plant look nicer. Your Bougainvillea potted plant is now complete.