something lovely: paper flowers

paperflowers*

i was completely inspired by this post via pretty good.  i’ve been creating all sorts of paper flowers this week.  I looked at a tutorial online, but ended up using the method i remember from elementary school.  here’s how it works…

*

paperflowers1paperflowers2

paperflowers4

*

1. begin with at least 6 sheets of tissue paper, cut to 8″x16″.  accordian fold the entire length of the sheets.

2. wrap a wire around the middle of the folded tissue paper leaving about 8″ of wire for the stem.

3. let tissue paper unfold a bit.

4. begin to separate each sheet of tissue paper giving lots of depth and texture.  this part isn’t hard, it just requires patience and gentle fingers.

5. wrap stems with floral tape, if you’d like.  place in a vase with real leaves or use as a gift topper.

***

get creative!

24 comments

  1. Thanks so much for this! Put in “paper flowers” and found this link under the image tab on Yahoo! Search. I’m getting married in July and this looks like a fun project to get the girls together for!

  2. You can also buy tissue paper that is water color tissue paper. It bleeds when you get it wet and makes tons of beautiful tied dyed looking prints and colors. It would make some funky flowers! Flower power!

  3. This is the flower my grandmother used to make with facial tissue! I’ve made many of these all thru
    my life and taught my grandchildren how to do them as well. It’s still just as pretty as it was over
    50 years ago. Try lightly touching the edge of the flower “petals” with various color marking pens. The ink “bleeds” into the paper and gives a nice effect. I’m happy to see that these are still around.

  4. Oh, wow! I can’t wait to try this. Just recently I was wanting to make these for my little Charlotte’s 3rd Birthday but couldn’t find simple directions….hmmm… maybe for Thanksgiving?!? Thanks so much!

  5. Wow..does that ever bring back memories! My uncle used to own a bakery and a catering hall and I remember being very young (like kindergarten and younger) and helping to make these to decorate for events happening there. So that tells you how easy it really is! I used to love to pull up the tissue paper and crumple and watch the flower start to emerge.

  6. I made hundreds of these for my wedding this past summer. I glued them to a styrofoam ball and they were the aisle decorations. I also glued them to the letters “M” and “B” for mine and my husbands first initials. They served as the door decorations for the church. So pretty, by my gracious, SO much work!

  7. Wow! These look AWESOME! I’m bookmarking this…I made mine using the Martha Stewart kit, but these look so easy (and just like peonies…my favorites!!)

  8. Yay, this is exactly what I was looking for. My daughter and I are going to make a bunch and put them in a big jug in her room, lots of flowers to look at without the chance of spilling water. Thanks so much.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *