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How to Make a Paper Flower

Written by Coree Casinger

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Published on

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Reading time for 6 min

Flowers are an essential part of many celebrations. From simple decorations in your home to birthday parties, anniversaries, bridal showers, and even weddings, flowers set the scene. It’s no wonder DIY crafters have grabbed ahold of the floral scene and have made it their own. Enter paper flowers.

I know what you’re thinking. Paper flowers? Really? The answer is absolutely yes! Paper flowers are not just flat, layered pieces of paper cut into a flower shape, and used for decorating pages. 

Nowadays, paper flowers are being used for larger-than-life applications. Giant paper flowers pieced together create beautiful wall decor. Paper flowers have been attached to pens, and wrapped with green tape to signify the pen as the flower’s stem. Delicate flowers have been made and turned into a bride’s bouquet. Paper flowers can be created to suit the need with the proper paper and embellishments.

Supplies Needed to Make Paper Flower

The picture shows some of the materials needed to make paper flowers.

DIY crafters have brought many paper flower variations to life, from paper flowers that lay flat for cards or scrapbooking pages, to larger-than-life flowers to fill rooms as decor. Regarding the nitty-gritty of paper flower creation, though, you will need similar supplies as what we will be using today. For our paper flower-making purposes, you will need the following supplies:

Green Cardstock

Yellow Cardstock

Pattern or Solid Cardstock

Liquid Glue

Hot Glue Gun and Glue Sticks

Scissors

Toothpick (optional)

Cricut Machine (optional)

Two Ways to Make Paper Flowers

Today we’re going to look at two different ways to make a paper flower. The first way is with a stem (Method 1), which will allow you to create a beautiful bouquet. Bouquets make great additions to any room or can be carefully crafted for special events.

The second way is without a stem (Method 2), allowing you to use the paper flower for projects such as shadow boxes, or even garlands. When using the paper flowers from Method 2, be sure to measure how tall your paper flowers are before you purchase your shadow box.

Method 1: Making a Paper Flower With a Stem

Step 1: Cut cardstock

From your green cardstock, cut one 1.75” x 9” rectangle, one 1.5” x 3.5” rectangle, and one 2” x 4” rectangle. From your yellow cardstock, cut one 1” x 2.75” rectangle. Cut one 4.25” x 11” rectangle from your pattern or solid cardstock. Alternatively, cut one 8.5” x 11” paper in half.

The picture shows the green cardstock needed to make the paper flowers.
The picture shows the yellow cardstock needed to make the paper flowers
The picture shows the cardstock needed to make the paper flowers

Special Note: All pieces from Steps 1 can be cut by hand, or by creating the shapes in a cutting program like Cricut Design Space, and using a cutting machine like the Cricut Maker 3 to cut the shapes for you.

Step 2: Fold and fringe rectangles

Take your yellow and pattern/solid cardstock rectangles, and fold them in half long ways. If you use pattern paper, fold it so the design is facing itself. Cut slits from the folded edge, leaving approximately ½” uncut at the opposite end of your pattern/solid rectangles, and ⅛” uncut at the opposite end of your yellow rectangles, as shown below.

Fold white cardstock in half to form a rectangle.
Cut out the bottom of the white cardstock folded into a rectangle.
Fold yellow cardstock in half to form a rectangle.
Cut out the bottom of the yellow cardstock folded into a rectangle.

Tip: If you used your Cricut, or other cutting machine, to cut your rectangles, it is not recommended to use the cutting machine to cut the slits in your rectangles for you. Doing so makes it difficult to fold the paper in half to get the necessary crease for this type of flower leaf. You can, however, create score lines with your cutting machine to help you fold the necessary pieces in half for crisper folds.

Step 3: Unfold and glue rectangles

Unfold both rectangles from Step 2, and flip over. If you are using pattern paper, your pattern will now be showing. Using your liquid glue, glue the open ends together of each rectangle. Be sure to work slowly, and keep the edges aligned as you press the ends together.

Unfold the cut white cardstock.
A piece of cardstock with colorful flowers printed on it.
Apply glue to the white cardstock.
Apply glue to the yellow cardstock.
Glue the glued colored cardstock in half.
Glue the glued yellow cardstock in half.

Step 4: Roll the inner flower piece and stem

Starting with your yellow fringe rectangle, roll the rectangle into a coil, using your liquid glue to seal the end. Using a toothpick is a handy trick to get the rolling going!

Take your 1.75” x 9” green rectangle, and, starting with the bottom left corner, begin rolling the rectangle to create our stem. 

I like to use a toothpick to get started. When you get to the last small piece to roll, use liquid glue to seal the end. As you roll the paper between your fingers, excess glue will seep out. Continue rolling the stem, and use your fingers to spread the excess glue over the outer part of the seam to create a better hold. Don’t worry, the glue will dry clear! Remove the toothpick, if you used one, then use scissors to cut the tip of each end, so the stem looks like a straw.

Roll up the cardstock with a toothpick.
The picture shows a yellow stamen made from cardstock.
Roll up the green cardstock with a toothpick.
Glue the green cardstock.
Use green cardstock to make the stems of the paper flowers.
Trim green flower stems with scissors.

Step 5: Cut leaves

Take your 1.5” x 3.5” green rectangle, and your 2” x 4” green rectangle, and fold them in half. Draw a leaf shape on one side of each piece. Leaving the fold intact, cut out the leaf shape. On the fold, cut a small triangle as shown below.

Note: Because people will roll tighter or looser stems, start with a smaller triangle cut in the leaf pieces, and increase the size of the triangles as needed to slide over the stem.

Fold two pieces of green cardstock in half.
Use a pencil to draw the outline of the leaf on green cardstock.
Cut out the green leaves with scissors.
Cut out the green leaves with scissors.

Step 6: Attach inner flower and add outer flower petals

Using hot glue, attach your yellow coil to the top of your stem. Blow to cool the glue, and set the pieces.

Put hot glue around the base of the yellow coil where it meets the top of the green stem. Begin wrapping the large fringe rectangle around the stem and coil as shown below. Continue to put hot glue, a little at a time, rolling slowly and in sections, keeping good tension on the roll. I prefer to put a small strip of hot glue, then hold the large fringe rectangle taught with one hand, while rolling the stem with the other hand.

The picture shows a flower stem made of paper and a hot glue gun.
Put hot glue around the base of the yellow coil.
Use hot glue to glue the petals to the stems.
Hot glue the yellow coil to the top of the stem.

Step 7: Attach and shape leaves

Slide your leaf pieces up the stem to the underside base of the flower. Cut a larger triangle in the pieces if necessary. Once your pieces slide easily over the stem, hot glue them in place, attaching the smaller leaf first, then offsetting and gluing down the larger leaf. Use a pencil, toothpick, or fingers to curl the points of the leaves upward. Hot glue each leaf to the underside of the flower, one at a time.

Slide your leaf pieces up the stem to the underside base of the flower.
Slide your leaf pieces up the stem to the underside base of the flower.
Use a pencil to curl the points of the leaves upward.
Glue the leaves to the bottom of the flower.
Glue the leaves to the bottom of the flower.
The picture is of a paper flower.

Step 8: Fluff your flower

Create your ideal paper flower by fluffing the fringes to your liking.

Tip: Mist with a spray bottle filled with water. This will soften the paper, and allow you to fluff the pieces much easier!

The picture is of a paper flower in full bloom.

Method 2: Making a Paper Flower Without a Stem

Paper flowers without a stem can be used in a variety of ways. They are great fillers to shadow boxes, add nice flourish to cards, can be attached to chalkboards, and you can even turn them into garland! 

To make a paper flower without a stem, we are going to follow the above steps with the following changes to the corresponding steps below.

Step 2 alteration: Fold and fringe rectangles

After gluing the edges together for the large fringe rectangle, trim the glued edge to have only ¼” unslit edge, as shown below.

Measure the white cardstock with a ruler.
Glue the edges of the large rectangular tassels together.

Step 5 alteration: Cut leaves

Do not cut triangles on folded edges.

Cut out leaf shapes from green cardstock.

Step 6 alteration: Attach inner flower and add outer flower petals

Since this version is without a stem, you will simply put hot glue around the base of your yellow coil, and begin wrapping the large fringe rectangle around the yellow coil.

Apply hot glue to the bottom of the yellow coil.
Wrap the large rectangular tassel around the yellow coil.

Step 7 alteration: Attach and shape leaves

Using hot glue, attach the leaves in an offset placement to the underside base of the flower. If you are going to use these stemless flowers for a garland, use hot glue to attach twine between the underside flower base, and the leaves, as shown below.
Use hot glue to attach twine to the bottom of the flowers.
Use hot glue to adhere the twine between the bottom of the flowers and the leaves.

Voila! You now have two fun ways to make a super cute paper flower!

This is a colorful paper flower.
The picture shows a colorful paper flower.

Paper flowers can add a nice touch in so many ways, with so many projects. Below are some fascinating ways paper flowers are being used by DIY crafters.

Bouquets in vases around the home

Boutonnieres/Corsages for teen dances

Party decorations

Disguise pens in offices

Centerpiece

Wedding bouquets

Photo booth props

How will you incorporate paper flowers into your next celebration? With so many different paper flower versions to make, and so many beautiful papers to make them from, your imagination can truly run wild with creativity. I can’t wait for you to give making paper flowers a try, and see how you incorporate them into your world. Be sure to come back and share your creations with us!