How to make a paper Protea

Buy cheap books, you'll need at least two. I just bought a bundle of Mills & Boons, yes judge me all you like. I didn't read them. Or buy some second hand ones. So two books. The paper should not be too thick or it will not fan out, or may even split. Tear the cover off completely. Take care not to damage the spine. 1. The following instructions apply to each page of the book. 2. Fold each page back into the gutter, allow from 1mm-2mm from the gutter (if you fold right into the gutter as you start finishing the book these pages will get creased and pushed back from the gutter). 3. Fold each page back again into the gutter, allow from 1mm-2mm from the gutter. 4. Fold back the little triangle that sticks out above the page so it is flush with the page.

From the top fold back into the book. Allow 10mm - 15mm from the spine for the fold. This will form the top flat area of the flower. If you wish to have a pointed flower then fold back into the gutter from the top, see two small images below. Continue doing this with each page in the book, the fanning out of the 'flower' will occur naturally as you complete all the folds.

To create the outside petals, use the second book (must be the same size as the first book) and cut some pages into squares. Fold the square diagonally, then open up again and fold the two corners up along the centre line you have created with your first fold. Fold closed along your original fold. Gathering three pages in the book and push the petal into position, allowing it to jut out as shown in the photograph. Repeat this process, allow for one free page between each group of petals. So three pages for a petal then skip a page, then three pages for the petals and so on.

To finish off your flower you can slip a triangle onto the single pages. Cut your left over squares in half. Fold the square diagonally, then open up again and fold the two corners up along the centre line you have created with your first fold. Fold closed along your original fold. Slip into position over your single page between the petals and line it up with the outside point of the page. Viola! You're done.