An Arrangement of Paper Flowers

Intro & Materials

Download all the templates here.
The templates for all three of the paper flowers are included here.
Resources List
Resources list
1. Carte Fini for 180g fine Italian crepe papers. This company has fun colors. It's a bit thick so I tend to use it for leaves and calyx only. http://cartefini.myshopify.com/
2. Blumchen for double sided crepe paper http://www.blumchen.com/craft_shop_crepe_paper_pg3.html
3. Blumchen for single ply which is great for what we are doing here, especially if you spray mount two together. http://www.blumchen.com/craft_shop_crepe_paper_pg2.html
4. Paper Mart for 180g single ply. Like Carte Fini, it's a bit thicker, but it's really cheap and great for practicing on http://www.papermart.com/HOME
5. Floral wires from Amazon
Color & Crepe Paper Suggestions
I think the wonderful part about creating paper flower beauties is adding in your artistic flair and deciding which colors to choose. That said, if you're going for a natural look, here are some suggestions on what types of crepe paper to order and use for your flowers.

DAHLIA:
- double-sided crepe for the petals (I teach you how to make it if you can only find single ply). I used peach on one side and mauve on the other.
- double-sided or 180g single crepe for leaves (I used a light green 180g)
- single-ply crepe paper for the stems (I used green)
DOGWOOD:
- double-sided crepe for the petals (I used white on one side and ivory on the other)
- 3 different types of single ply for the center (I used yellow, green, brown)
- single ply for the stems (I used brown)
- 180g or double sided for the leaves
ROSE
- double sided crepe for the petals (I used peach on one side and pink on the other)
- 180g or double sided for the leaves (I used light green)
- single ply for the stems
GREENERY
- 180g or double sided for the leaves
- single ply for the stems

Creating a Paper Flower Dahlia

Step By Step Instructions for the Dahlia
Sometimes it's easier to read written instructions for a step-by-step process so I'll spell it out for you here. Please let me know if you have any questions. I'm happy to help!

How to make a paper dahlia.
1. For the dahlia I make here, I started by creating a 5" diameter circle out of chipboard with my circle cutter and a pencil. (if you don't have a circle cutter, just trace around an object--it doesn't have to be a perfect circle). A 5" diameter will become even larger once the petals are on. If you don't like really large flowers, I would suggest doing a 4" or 3". For the final arrangement, you'll need to make a number of them so don't fret if you don't like the first one you make.
2. Cut out 60 petals of double-sided crepe paper from the template provided in this lesson. Line up the grain of the crepe paper with the small lines on the template. If you're noticing that it's hard to work with later on, it might be because the grain is off.
3. TIP: Cut out many at the same time by doing an accordion fold and cutting them all out in one swoop.
4. Cut out 30 pieces of the calyx (the green back part of the flower) out of green crepe paper. I didn't use a double-sided crepe paper. Instead, I used a single ply, but heavier crepe paper from Paper Mart that's 180g.
5. Cut out a stem out of green paper that's about 18" wide from the template. I would use a single ply green paper.
6. Cut out a leaf stem out of green paper that's about 6" wide from the template. I would use a single ply.
7. Cut out your leaves from the template in double sided or a heavier single ply.
8. To make the leaves. Cut out a piece of floral wire to glue to the bottom of the crepe paper Add a slim rim of glue gun to the center of the leaf and hold down the wire immediately. Add wire extensions out from the center of the leaf to the edges wherever you think is necessary to hold it up.
9. Cut out the stem paper for the leaves and give it a stretch.
10. With the leaf stem paper, glue a bit of glue onto the back of the leaf stem at the top and wrap it around the floral wire. I usually do about 4" of stem for the leaves.
11. Holding one petal, fold over the two bottom edges so that the bottom corner overlaps the other side slightly. Affix with glue.
12. Repeat this to all of the petals.
13. Punch a hole in the middle of your 5" diameter circle with something sharp. This will be where you insert your stem.
14. Start gluing them around the outer edge of the chipboard. Put a dab of glue about 1/4" of the bottom of the petal and then hold it down with a paintbrush so it doesn't burn your fingers.
15. Once you've done the outer layer of petals, do another row of petals along the next inner layer so that it overlaps the outermost.
16. Continue until you've almost reached the middle.
17. Before you cover up the middle with your last petals, take your 18" wire and bend the tip about 1/2".
18. Affix this with glue and pass it through the hole of your chipboard and hold.
19. Glue down your last petals in place to cover the stem.
20. With your green calyx pieces, overlap them with glue along the back side of the chipboard in a similar process as the petals. Work your way in. For the last few pieces, glue them down onto the wire.
21. NOTE: It appears that the video isn't working for this portion of the project. If you'd like to see how this is done on screen, the same process is shown with the rose video so please refer to that as I try and fix this video.
22. With your stem piece in both hands on either side, stretch out the paper.
23. Glue a bit of glue on one end of the stem paper and wrap it around the top of the stem so that it surrounds th calyx pieces.
24. Holding the stem piece in one hand, twirl the stem in the other in a downward motion.
25. A few inches below, dab a bit of glue onto the edge of the leaf and affix it into the stem. Continue wrapping around it.
26. Add in another leaf and continue down.
27. When you've reached the edge of the wire, cut the stem paper off and glue it into the stem.
I like to leave the stems as long as possible so that I can later go back and cut them when I'm making the floral arrangement.

Please let me know if something is unclear so that I can fix it.

Creating a Paper Flower Dogwood

Dogwood step by step
The dogwood adds lovely volume into your arrangement. I added three into my arrangement, but you do whatever looks best to you.
1. Start by cutting out your templates. The template is included here once again as a resource to this project.
2. For the petal, I spray mounted two shades of whites together (grain going in the same direction, of course). One side is bright white and the other is ivory.
3. Cut two of the big petals and two of the small petals for each flower. Make sure to pay attention to the grain of the crepe paper.
4. Depending on how large you want to make your spray of dogwoods, each one has between 12-24 petals. Each flower has 4 so you can choose how many flowers you’d like per spray.
5. Cut out two leaves per flower and a few extras to add into the spray to make it appear more natural. I used a 180g single ply paper but you can also use a double sided.
6. Cut out the center of the flower by layering three pieces (I chose yellow, green, brown) of crepe paper (single ply is fine) together about 1 1/2'’ by 3 ½”. You’ll cut against the grain of the paper. Fold this over a few times and then cut fringe into it, going in about ½” and making the incisions as close as possible. Roll the layers together (the best example I can think of is a joint. Sorry) so it’s very tight and creates a type of tight tassel. Glue it together to hold it.
7. Cut out the paper for the branch and stem for the leaves and pull it taut. Remember that crepe paper is fragile but if you’re going with the grain, it should give a lot. I used a single ply brown crepe.
8. With an oil pastel (optional), color the rim of the petal. Work it into the paper with your finger. Do this to all of the petals.
9. With the end of a pencil eraser you’re going to do what’s called “fluting” on the edge of the petal. It’s basically giving the point of the petal some shape. You gently twist the eraser so that there’s a small indentation in the paper. Do this to all of the petals.
10. Then you’ll do what’s called “curling” the petals. This is done by cupping each flower with your thumbs and giving it a slight curl around them. In this case, you’ll cup each petal towards the edge of the petal to create that rounded shape. Do this to all of the petals.
11. Now you’ll assemble the flower together by taking the center and gluing on one of the large petals to the center. You’ll add the glue about ¼” from the bottom of the petal shape. Quickly adhere below the top of the center, about ½” down.
12. Add on another large petal directly opposite of that petal.
13. Add the smaller petals on either side of the large petals to fill in the gaps.
14. Repeat this process with all of the flowers.
15. To create the stems, glue the edge of a heavier piece of wire and stick it into the bottom of the center. There should be enough room there to maneuver it in. Hold it tight.
16. With your stem paper, glue the top of the paper just below where the petals start to fan out. If you think they are too floppy, go ahead and paste the paper so it cuts it off. Immediately start wrapping the stem by twisting with one hand and pulling it down with the other.
17. Glue one leaf in and continue wrapping. Then glue in another leaf and repeat. Do not go down all of the way so that you leave room to add in another spray of flowers.
18. Repeat the process of creating the flowers onto the stem twice more, each one getting progressively smaller.
19. Once you’ve created all of the flowers, glue in the second smaller spray into the first spray and continue wrapping the stem paper around it.
20. To make the spray more natural looking, I like to add in bits of natural branches into it. It’s done in the same technique as adding in flowers.
21. Add in another smaller spray of flowers to the main large one.
22. To finish it off, continue wrapping the spray and intermixing it with leaves. Glue the end to the stem.
23. Voila!
Please let me know if something is unclear. The videos should be more explanatory.

Creating a Paper Flower Rose & Greenery

How to Make the Rose Step by Step
The rose adds in nice filler and flourish into the arrangement. I added 5 into my final arrangement.
1. Cut out the pieces of the template.
2. Cut out 15 or 16 (depending on how full you want your rose to be) petals per flower out of a double-sided crepe paper.
3. For the calyx, first cut out a rectangular piece of crepe paper and then give it a stretch before cutting out the shape from the template. I used a single ply 180 g paper. You can also use double sided.
4. Cut out the leaves out of green paper from either a heavier single ply or double sided crepe. One large leaf and two of the smaller. Add wire onto the backs of the leaves. Glue the wire down. Leave the center wire longer, about 4” below, and wrap it with the crepe paper. Add the two smaller leaves on either side of the large leaf and wrap them all together with crepe paper.
5. There are three batches of petals we will do right now. For the first batch of 5 petals, you will “flute” the edge of the petals, which is taking the edge of the petal and giving it a gentle tug in between your two thumbs going either way. Emphasis on GENTLE. I do this on either side of the tip of the petal.
6. For the next batch of 5 you will gently roll the top of the petal with the edge of your scissors and then “cup” the petal towards the upper half of the petal shape.
7. For the last batch of 5 petals you will roll the edge of the top of the petal with something rounded. I used the paper wire of my stems to do this. You can also use a thin pencil or knitting needle. Then, “cup” the bottom half of the petal.
8. Start assembling the rose by taking one of the first batch of petals and rolling it together, again, like a joint. (Is there a better metaphor?!?). Glue it together.
9. Take another fluted petal and glue the side to the first petal you just created and loosely wrap it around. Glue the edge.
10. Take the third petal and continue to loosely adhere it around this growing flower.
11. Repeat with the next two petals. By the time you finish with this first round of petals, your flower will be about 1’ in diameter.
12. With the next batch of flowers, glue a line of glue about 1’ from the bottom of the petal and position it to the center of the flower. Hold it as it dries in a cupping shape.
13. Place the rest of the petals around the center of the flower.
14. With the last batch of petals, you’ll continue gluing them around the center. I don’t like to make mine perfectly even. I like them to look a bit more natural.
15. Secure the flowers with a 6” piece of wire like a twisty tie. Bring the wires down flat. You’ll be hiding it so no need to cut it off.
16. Glue the edge of a heavy piece of wire and insert it into the center of the flower and hold.
17. With the calyx, glue the edge to the bottom of the flower and space it around.
18. Take your stem paper and glue it near the top of the calyx and start wrapping it down.
19. Add in a spray of leaves. Glue it in.
20. Add in another spray of leaves.
21. Leave the wire long so that you can go back in and cut it down for the arrangement.
Go ahead and make many of them. I made 5 for my arrangement.
How to Make Greenery
How to make greenery

The process to making greenery is the same as the sprays of greenery for the flowers. This time, you’ll use thicker, heavier wire that’s longer. Cut out a piece of stem paper that’s about 1/3 longer than the wire about 1” thick. Cut out the shape of the leaf you want. Add wire to the backs of the leaves if they are big. Start the process by adding in a leaf first at the top, then wrapping it with the stem paper. Then wind your way down the wire, adding in leaves on either side of the stem. Create lots of greenery for a full look and less if you want it to be a bit more sparse.

Creating a Paper Flower Arrangement

Make a Paper Flower Arrangement
Now that you have all of your flowers, it’s time for the arrangement!

First, decide what style you like. If you’re taking this class, I’m assuming that you already love flowers and have an idea of the style you prefer. If you don’t, I would suggest starting a Pinterest board and collecting images that inspire you. Feel free to check out my boards for some inspiration. For this particular arrangement, I’m doing a more loose, natural arrangement. I chose a terracotta base and bought a half globe dry floral oasis to stick into the bottom.

1.     Start by putting the oasis into the bottom of oyur chosen pot.

2.     Secure it down with floral tape or regular tap that’s criss-crossed over the top. Use a big piece around the perimeter of the pot to hold it in place. Because my pot was large enough for the oasis, I did not use this method.

3.     Start with the flowers that will take up the most space. I chose to start with the dahlias because those are the show stoppers. I used the widest face first and inserted it at an angle.

4.     Take another dahlia and insert it from the opposite angle from the other side. Cut it down so it’s not at the same height. With floral arrangements, you will want to vary the heights of the flowers.

5.     Add in a third dahlia. Floral arrangements work best in odd numbers.

6.     Next, I added in the roses. I wanted a more sweeping look, so I placed them close together with a few sweeping down the front of the pot and then extending in a sinuous curve up the front. The beauty of this dry floral foam is that it’s pretty sturdy so feel free to try out some fun positions with it.

7.     Next, I added in the dogwoods to add in the height. I wanted it to be balanced on either side so I placed some into the foam coming out at an angle and then some angled from the other side.

8.     Lastly, I added in the greenery. The greenery really completes the arrangement. I made a variety of shapes and colors so that it adds dimension to my arrangement. I brought some coming from the base of the arrangement as well as some sticking out from the top. I placed them all around the pot too so it looks good from all angles.

Additional Resources

All music by Mindy Gledhill. She's releasing a new album next month and it's SO good. Check it out here.
Dahlia template
Color and crepe paper suggestions
- double-sided crepe for the petals (I teach you how to make it if you can only find single ply). I used peach on one side and mauve on the other.
- double-sided or 180g single crepe for leaves (I used a light green 180g)
- single-ply crepe paper for the stems (I used green)
Materials for the dogwood

oil pastels (optional), double sided crepe paper, single ply crepe paper, natural branches, wire, scissors, glue gun
Crepe paper and color suggestions
- double-sided crepe for the petals (I used white on one side and ivory on the other)
- 3 different types of single ply for the center (I used yellow, green, brown)
- single ply for the stems (I used brown)
- 180g or double sided for the leaves
Materials

Double sided crepe paper, single ply crepe paper, scissors, wires.
Crepe and color suggestions

ROSE
- double sided crepe for the petals (I used peach on one side and pink on the other)
- 180g or double sided for the leaves (I used light green)
- single ply for the stems
GREENERY
- 180g or double sided for the leaves
- single ply for the stems
Materials

dry floral oasis, floral tape, pot, your finished flowers, wire cutters

Elle McCann

Freelance Web Designer

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