August’s flower is the bold and colorful poppy. This crepe paper version adorns cupcakes – but instead of fussing with a hard-to-fashion center, simply pop on a black berry candy, and you’re done. The bonus is you get to eat the red ones that also come in the bag.

Materials needed: orange and red crepe paper (streamers or sheets), scissors, thread, needle, Haribo berry candy, green cake pop sticks, hot glue gun.

Step 1: Cut a 12” piece of streamer, or a 12” x 2” piece of crepe paper.
Step 2: Gently pull along one edge of the crepe paper, creating a little ruffle by stretching out the paper (this works better on the sheets than the streamers).
Step 3: Take a threaded needle and begin a running stitch (in and out) along the straight edge of the streamer. Make about 6-8 stitches, and then pull the thread gently through the paper.
Step 4: When you get to the end, leave some thread hanging. Pull the thread from each side, gathering the paper together in the center of the thread.
Step 5: Carefully tie a triple knot in the thread, joining the two sides of the paper. Gently open and fluff the flower around the knot. Trim the ends of the thread.
Step 6: Insert a green cake pop stick through the center of the flower,
Step 7: Stick a black Haribo candy on for the center of the flower
Step 8: Apply a tiny dab of hot glue under the flower to keep it attached to the cake pop stick.
Step 9: If needed, apply a tiny dab of hot glue to close the edges of the flower together.

Photography by Tim Gibson