A message for a loved one
How to make an original secret message in a flower
A paper flower blooms before your very eyes and gives your loved one a happy surprise! How? Read on to find out!
Safety precautions
None.
Equipment
- paper flower;
- marker;
- plate;
- water.
Step-by-step instructions
Write an inscription on the paper flower’s petals (we wrote “I love you.” Keep in mind that it usually looks best when the number of petals is equal to the number of letters in the inscription!) Then, starting from the last petal, fold them in towards the center, creasing them slightly. Set the flower in a plate of water and watch it bloom!
Process description
The water permeates into the paper due to the material’s wettability and the capillary effect. The capillary effect is the phenomenon in which water strives to fill narrow capillaries, formed in this case by the interwoven fibers of the cellulose. When wet, the cellulose fibers swell and apply tension to the creases in the paper. This results in elastic forces that cause the paper to unfurl.