Make flowers from crepe paper | How About Orange

April 20, 2011

Make flowers from crepe paper

Ages ago I bought a package of crepe paper (like this—the folded sheets, not streamers). An impulse purchase simply because... it was orange? The other day I finally made some flowers with it while watching way too much HGTV. These will be nice gift toppers, or maybe I'll do more and make a wreath.

Materials:
Sheet of crepe paper
Small piece of cardstock
Scissors
Glue (I used Aleene's Tacky Glue)
Toothpick

Cut 12 circles from a sheet of crepe paper, any size you like depending on how big you want the final flower to be. I accordion-folded a strip of paper and cut multiple circles at once. No need to be too precise; freehand circles will do.

Orient each petal so the grain in the paper runs vertically. Apply a bit of glue at the bottom of the petal and pinch it to create small gathers. When the glue has dried, press both thumbs into the center of each petal and stretch the paper to curl the edges inward, forming a bowl shape.

Cut out a small circle of cardstock (about the same size as the petals before you shaped them.) Glue five petals around the outside edge. Then stagger four petals inside that ring, followed by three petals in the middle.

To make a center for the flower, cut a small strip of crepe paper and fold it in half. Cut notches along one long edge of the doubled paper to make fringe. Roll the fringed paper around a toothpick and secure with glue. Finally, glue this piece into the center of the flower.

57 comments:

Rose Clearfield said...

Cute!! These flowers would make a wonderful decoration at a shower.

Carrie said...

cute cute cute!!! I'm going to make a few and smother them in glitter ;) Thanks so much for the idea!

Curated By Color said...

Such a great idea! Thanks for sharing! Would be fun to put a bunch on a string as a garland.

Grandma G said...

So pretty! I grow them... they're called poppies. ;)

But you lost me at "trim off the tips of the fringed loops". Where did we get loops? Maybe I'm dense today from the never-ending winter. Or maybe it's 'cause Courtney's here. Anyway, in case somebody else is dense too, will you clarify that?

Mum

iam_artisan said...

I have lots of crepe paper too that was just kept. Didn't know you can make flowers as lovely as that... Thank u. For sharing that tutorial...

Jessica Jones said...

Here, Mum, I edited. I had actually folded the paper the other direction and cut notches into the folded edge. But this way is simpler. Does it make sense?

Grandma G said...

That works for me. :)

Thanks!
Mum

P.S. Courtney likes your pen. ;)

Jessica Jones said...

Ha, tell her thanks.

concretenprimroses said...

Very cute.
Good to do while watching hgtv!
Kathy

Alysa said...

So cute! Crepe paper brings back so many fond memories. We always used it to decorate for parties when I was growing up.

Jenn Erickson said...

Sweet and simple, yet exquisite and dynamic! Thanks for the perfect tute!

Jenn

Anonymous said...

wow! Que bonitas y fácil de hacer.
Just what I need. Un saludo y felicidades.

Elissa

Stephanie said...

I love these--thanks for the instructions!

Kristen said...

Oh, sweet! I can see those on pretty packages, made into a wreath, tucked behind my ear. Perfect! Thank you for sharing your how-to. :)

Lil Mama Stuart said...

you are the paper crafting queen. just posted about crepe paper (streamer) topiaries today.

floral/spring/easter baptism

Sarah said...

Are orange scissors a must? Mine are purple (seriously, no bias, it's not my fault they are purple.)

Anonymous said...

love it! do you think this would work with tissue paper? or do you need a little bit of strength?

Sara said...

so pretty. i never thought to make a flower from crepe paper.

Lolitadewdrop said...

w0w!! This is super amazing! I have thought about something similar for the exterior petals but I've never thought of doing the little middle part of the flowers.

liberal sprinkles said...

Looks great, thanks for the tute. I have some crepe paper and am going to get using them!

tinajo said...

Turned out so cute, thanks for showing it! :-)

Laura Frunza said...

They're gorgeous. I'm gonna try them myself, but unfortunately, I only have pink crepe paper which is not even nearly as beautiful as this orange one.

Tania said...

thanks for sharing - they're so pretty!

Deb @ PaperTurtle said...

Thanks for the great tutorial for these adorable flowers! I've been looking for a new flower-method and plan to use this one in the near future! :o)

april said...

oh I love these! Thanks so much! This looks so simple that a walking craft disaster like myself can successfully make these! I can't wait to try!

The Three Queen Bees said...

Fighting urge to make a ton of these and put them on anything that can't get away quick enough. Very nice tutorial!

Jessica Jones said...

Bees, if you find your family, friends, and pets won't come within 10 feet of you, you've probably made too many.

R's Adventures, I think tissue paper will tear if you try to do this method on it. Crepe paper has these little tiny folds built in and is stretchy, so when you do the step where you form the petals into bowl shapes, the paper gives a little and lets you shape it. Tissue paper would just tear at that point.

Sarah, I'm sorry to tell you that your purple scissors won't work for this project. Only orange scissors will cut crepe paper.

Tiffany said...

I too am an orange fanatic and buy things just cus...well, their orange. These flowers are adorable. I have to follow your lead!

Grandma G said...

Aw, c'mon Jess.... purple scissors will cut purple crepe paper!!

Mum

Jessica Jones said...

No. Purple scissors will cut nothing.

Grandma G said...

Oh. I'm glad mine is gray then.

hi-d said...

So pretty! And I LOVE the orange!

Anonymous said...

I used crepe paper to make flowers for an outdoor wedding. The bright colors added to the beautiful day.

Christina said...

I love these and can't wait to make them. Thank you for sharing this tutorial!

Unknown said...

These are adorable I can thin of so any great uses for them! Could be time consuming but I got lots of naptime to work with!
http://mommypants13.blogspot.com

Ruth said...

Very pretty. I just did a workshop in making crepe flowers. Gorgeous orange color.

Angeline Zhu said...

gorgeous and simple!
you're a genius!

Eleanor Rae said...

Aw these are so pretty, I'm definitely going to make these for spring gift wrapping! xxx

Eleanor Rae said...

oh also, I love that ONLY orange scissors will work ;) teehee x

Marie-Line said...

Great tut'... I like to do the flower to put on a card!!!
Thank for the idea... ^^

Craftiness NOW said...

very awesome and love the color!

Angelina Fong Designs said...

I'm definitely going to save this tutorial for my upcoming wedding!! The flowers are so pretty!

maria soto said...

lovely!!

Anonymous said...

Ahh! So cute! Thank you for sharing. :))

Michelle said...

What a great idea. I am going to have my daughter make some flowers like this to put on her grandparents Christmas present. It will be a Christmas Flower they can keep for years to come.

able mabel said...

I love this idea!

BEARKIS said...

Прекрасно!!!Благодаря!

Kym said...

this is great! I love working with paper.

Visit my Etsy shop to see and purchase some of my work

www.etsy.com/shop/PaperSquare

Fabi Ormerod said...

PERFECT flowers!!! Loved it :)

Kelly K. said...

How much do I love your tutorials!!

Victoria SoapRosa said...

que bonitas y faciles!!!!!!thanks!!!!

Leckeres für Mensch und Katze - Goodies for a pleasant life said...

That looks really pretty. I have to give it a try. Thanks for sharing. lg Tina

Carolyn said...

The flower looks great, very easy and inexpensive. Excellent for decorating a gift.

Hannah said...

I love these! I made one this morning using some junk mail postcards...yay recycling!
I am also going to attach some green 22 gauge wire to the back and make a bouquet of flowers.
Thanks for the awesome tutorial, very thorough and clear!

Kate said...

Featured this on my blog! Hope you don't mind! These are just great!

http://acreativecookie.blogspot.com/2012/02/five-things-friday-2-flowers.html

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much. Just what I was looking for. It looks simple and easy.

Viata dupa bebe said...

Great idea! We will try them as well with our baby girl, she is old enough to not eat them now