EDUstick® Creators Club
A Flower for Mum
Make a flat flower with six petals, a stem, a leaf and a centre. Choose PLA colours and arrange them in your own pattern. Once it has cooled, give the flower to Mum or use it in your own composition.
Your outcome: Make a recognisable flat flower using your own choice of PLA colours while keeping the character of the approved test.
Illustration of the finished construction. Full-size (1:1) templates are supplied on a separate sheet.
Session 1 • stage 1/9
Draw the stem
Choose a colour for the stem. Trace template F-L and fill it from top to bottom with adjacent strands of PLA. Let it cool, remove it and set it aside.
Check: The stem is completely filled and has straight edges.
If it does not work: Fill the gap on the mat; let it cool.
Parts and methods for this stage
1 × Stem · PLA 1.75 mm
• template F1
Trace the template on the transparent mat. Fill the inside with successive adjacent strands of PLA, following the template until they touch the outline and one another. Keep the base intact. Let it cool, remove it with an adult's help and set it aside. Finished cross-section [mm]: 1.2 × 1.2. Support: Transparent work mat approved for use with PLA; template underneath. Strand direction: Start with a closed outline, then add the fill strands in the order shown by the template paths. Cooling: Leave it on the mat to cool before removing and assembling it. Tip access: The nozzle is accessible from above; keep fingers away from fresh PLA.
Finished stem
Stem
Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.
Session 1 • stage 2/9
Add the leaf
Trace F-LI, including its wide base. Fill the outline with successive strands of PLA in your chosen leaf colour. Let it cool, remove it and set it beside the stem.
Check: You have two separate parts; the base of the leaf is solid.
If it does not work: Fill the missing area to match the template and let it cool.
Parts and methods for this stage
1 × Leaf · PLA 1.75 mm
• template F1
Trace the template on the transparent mat. Fill the inside with successive adjacent strands of PLA, following the template until they touch the outline and one another. Keep the base intact. Let it cool, remove it with an adult's help and set it aside. Finished cross-section [mm]: 1.2 × 1.2. Support: Transparent work mat approved for use with PLA; template underneath. Strand direction: Start with a closed outline, then add the fill strands in the order shown by the template paths. Cooling: Leave it on the mat to cool before removing and assembling it. Tip access: The nozzle is accessible from above; keep fingers away from fresh PLA.
Stem and leaf
Leaf
Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.
Session 1 • stage 3/9
Draw the centre
Choose a colour for the centre. An adult helps you change the filament. Trace and fill F-S with adjacent strands. Let it cool, remove it and set it beside the stem and leaf.
Check: You have three cool parts, each separate from the others.
If it does not work: Fill the gap on the mat and let it cool.
Parts and methods for this stage
1 × Centre · PLA 1.75 mm
• template F1
Trace the template on the transparent mat. Fill the inside with successive adjacent strands of PLA, following the template until they touch the outline and one another. Keep the base intact. Let it cool, remove it with an adult's help and set it aside. Finished cross-section [mm]: 1.2 × 1.2. Support: Transparent work mat approved for use with PLA; template underneath. Strand direction: Start with a closed outline, then add the fill strands in the order shown by the template paths. Cooling: Leave it on the mat to cool before removing and assembling it. Tip access: The nozzle is accessible from above; keep fingers away from fresh PLA.
Three finished parts
Centre
Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.
Session 1 • stage 4/9
Make petals 1–3
Choose the PLA colours. Trace, fill and cool F-P1, F-P2 and the lower F-P3. Leave the notch at the base of F-P3 open.
Check: You have three separate, cool petals; the notch in F-P3 remains open.
If it does not work: Make the missing petal using its assigned template.
Parts and methods for this stage
1 × Petal 1; 1 × Petal 2 · PLA 1.75 mm
• template F1
Trace the template on the transparent mat. Fill the inside with successive adjacent strands of PLA, following the template until they touch the outline and one another. Keep the base intact. Let it cool, remove it with an adult's help and set it aside. Finished cross-section [mm]: 1.2 × 1.2. Support: Transparent work mat approved for use with PLA; template underneath. Strand direction: Start with a closed outline, then add the fill strands in the order shown by the template paths. Cooling: Leave it on the mat to cool before removing and assembling it. Tip access: The nozzle is accessible from above; keep fingers away from fresh PLA.
1 × Petal 3 · PLA 1.75 mm
• template F1
Trace the dedicated F-P3 template, keeping the notch at the base. Fill the inside with adjacent strands of PLA, following the template; do not fill the notch. Let it cool, remove it with an adult's help and set it aside. Finished cross-section [mm]: 1.2 × 1.2. Support: Transparent work mat approved for use with PLA; template underneath. Strand direction: Start with a closed outline, then add the fill strands in the order shown by the template paths. Cooling: Leave it on the mat to cool before removing and assembling it. Tip access: The nozzle is accessible from above; keep fingers away from fresh PLA.
Stage outcome
Petal 1 · Petal 2 · Petal 3
Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.
Session 1 • stage 5/9
Make petals 4–6
Trace, fill and cool F-P4, F-P5 and F-P6. The lower F-P4 has its own notch; do not fill it. Keep the cool petals separate.
Check: You have six separate, cool petals; the notches in F-P3 and F-P4 are open. You can take a break.
If it does not work: Make the missing petal using its assigned template.
Parts and methods for this stage
1 × Petal 4 · PLA 1.75 mm
• template F1
Trace the dedicated F-P4 template, keeping the notch at the base. Fill the inside with adjacent strands of PLA, following the template; do not fill the notch. Let it cool, remove it with an adult's help and set it aside. Finished cross-section [mm]: 1.2 × 1.2. Support: Transparent work mat approved for use with PLA; template underneath. Strand direction: Start with a closed outline, then add the fill strands in the order shown by the template paths. Cooling: Leave it on the mat to cool before removing and assembling it. Tip access: The nozzle is accessible from above; keep fingers away from fresh PLA.
1 × Petal 5; 1 × Petal 6 · PLA 1.75 mm
• template F1
Trace the template on the transparent mat. Fill the inside with successive adjacent strands of PLA, following the template until they touch the outline and one another. Keep the base intact. Let it cool, remove it with an adult's help and set it aside. Finished cross-section [mm]: 1.2 × 1.2. Support: Transparent work mat approved for use with PLA; template underneath. Strand direction: Start with a closed outline, then add the fill strands in the order shown by the template paths. Cooling: Leave it on the mat to cool before removing and assembling it. Tip access: The nozzle is accessible from above; keep fingers away from fresh PLA.
Stage outcome
Petal 4 · Petal 5 · Petal 6
Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.
Session 1 • stage 6/9
Join the leaf to the stem
Place the wide end of the leaf on the stem: make a 4 × 6 mm overlap, with its lower edge 10 mm above the end of the stem. An adult applies PLA along the right edge of the overlap, touching both parts. Let it cool.
Check: The entire base rests on the stem and stays attached after cooling.
If it does not work: Fit the cool parts together. An adult repairs any loose section along the contact edge; let it cool.
Parts and methods for this stage
1 × Leaf overlap joint · PLA 1.75 mm
• template follow the written method
Once the rectangular end of the leaf is positioned on the stem, an adult applies fresh green PLA along their shared right-hand edge for 6 mm. A 4 × 6 mm overlap supports the entire joint. Finished cross-section [mm]: 1.2 × 1.2. Support: Both fitted, cool parts lie on the mat; the join is supported by their shared edge. Strand direction: One continuous strand along the entire retained contact edge, touching both parts. Cooling: After each join, keep the connection still until it cools. Tip access: An adult guides the nozzle from above; do not squeeze the hot joint with your fingers.
Stage outcome
Stem · Leaf · Leaf overlap joint
Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.
Session 1 • stage 7/9
Add the centre
Place the centre on the top end of the stem, tucking about 3 mm of the stem underneath it. An adult applies fresh PLA along the lower edge of the centre, across the width of the stem. The strand touches both parts. Let it cool.
Check: The centre is joined to the stem; the six petals are still separate.
If it does not work: Move the cool parts together. An adult fills the gap along the contact edge; let it cool.
Parts and methods for this stage
1 × Full-width stem joint · PLA 1.75 mm
• template follow the written method
Once the centre is positioned over the 3 mm stem overlap, an adult adds fresh yellow PLA along the lower edge of the centre across the full width of the stem (about 4 mm). The strand runs over the existing parts, with no gap to bridge. Finished cross-section [mm]: 1.2 × 1.2. Support: Both fitted, cool parts lie on the mat; the join is supported by their shared edge. Strand direction: One continuous strand along the entire retained contact edge, touching both parts. Cooling: After each join, keep the connection still until it cools. Tip access: An adult guides the nozzle from above; do not squeeze the hot joint with your fingers.
Stage outcome
Stem · Centre · Full-width stem joint
Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.
Session 1 • stage 8/9
Join the first petal
Place the cool petal with its concave base against the centre. An adult adds one continuous strand of PLA along the entire 6–7 mm contact edge, touching both edges. The parts lie on the mat; leave about 1 mm of clearance from the neighbouring petals. Let it cool.
Check: The first petal stays attached to the centre along the entire arc.
If it does not work: Improve the fit of the cool parts, then repair the joint; let it cool.
Parts and methods for this stage
1 × Petal 1 joining arc · PLA 1.75 mm
• template follow the written method
Once the concave edge of the cool petal is fitted, an adult applies fresh yellow PLA along its contact with the centre in one gentle arc about 6.6 mm long. The entire arc touches both edges. Do not add crosswise strips or dots. Finished cross-section [mm]: 1.2 × 1.2. Support: Both fitted, cool parts lie on the mat; the join is supported by their shared edge. Strand direction: One continuous strand along the entire retained contact edge, touching both parts. Cooling: After each join, keep the connection still until it cools. Tip access: An adult guides the nozzle from above; do not squeeze the hot joint with your fingers.
First joint
Petal 1 · Petal 1 joining arc
Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.
Session 1 • stage 9/9
Finish your flower
Attach F-P2–F-P6 in order. At F-P3/F-P4, leave about 1 mm of clearance from the stem joint and end the 3.6 mm arcs before the notches. The other arcs are 6–7 mm long. Cool each joint.
Check: The six petals, leaf and stem remain connected; the clearances stay open.
If it does not work: Repair the loose contact with fresh PLA on the mat and let it cool.
Parts and methods for this stage
1 × Petal 2 joining arc; 1 × Petal 5 joining arc; 1 × Petal 6 joining arc · PLA 1.75 mm
• template follow the written method
Once the concave edge of the cool petal is fitted, an adult applies fresh yellow PLA along its contact with the centre in one gentle arc about 6.6 mm long. The entire arc touches both edges. Do not add crosswise strips or dots. Finished cross-section [mm]: 1.2 × 1.2. Support: Both fitted, cool parts lie on the mat; the join is supported by their shared edge. Strand direction: One continuous strand along the entire retained contact edge, touching both parts. Cooling: After each join, keep the connection still until it cools. Tip access: An adult guides the nozzle from above; do not squeeze the hot joint with your fingers.
1 × Petal 3 joining arc; 1 × Petal 4 joining arc · PLA 1.75 mm
• template follow the written method
An adult applies fresh PLA along a shortened 3.6 mm arc between the centre and the lower petal, on the side away from the stem. The strand touches both edges and ends before the notch. Let it cool. Finished cross-section [mm]: 1.2 × 1.2. Support: Both fitted, cool parts lie on the mat; the join is supported by their shared edge. Strand direction: One continuous 3.6 mm strand along the marked arc, away from the stem joint, touching both the centre and the petal. Cooling: After each join, keep the connection still until it cools. Tip access: An adult guides the nozzle from above; do not squeeze the hot joint with your fingers.
Stage outcome
Petal 2 · Petal 2 joining arc · Petal 3 · Petal 3 joining arc · Petal 4 · Petal 4 joining arc · Petal 5 · Petal 5 joining arc · Petal 6 · Petal 6 joining arc
Blue / dark emphasis: the part used in this action. Arrows: visual guides. Illustration not to scale.