Monday, January 19, 2009

Paper Flower Tutorial

I made this tutorial for the cyber crop at the Scrap-room this past weekend this past weekend and thought you might like it too. These also look great on wrapped presents in lieu of a bow. When we were kids we'd make dozens from newspaper and attach them to our barrettes, headbands, make costumes with them - they're so fun.

This is so easy it feels almost silly to make a tutorial on it but just in case you aren't familiar with the technique, here goes:

1. Get ten pieces of thin (not card stock) two sided paper - anything from newspaper to fancy patterned paper works. I used book pages


2. Stack them up and cut out a circle.


3. Cut spokes into the paper. I made this pic big so you can see what I mean.


4. When you're done it should look like this


5. Separate you circles. This step is vital as it won't fluff if they're stuck together


6. Re-stack pile


7. Staple through the center of the stack


When you're done it should look like this:


8. Don't panic. I want you take your nice little stack and crumple it in your fist. Trust me, it'll be okay.


9. Now do it again a few times


10. Voila! You did it! Told you it was easy!


11. But we're not done yet. Find the back of the staple. You might lose some petals doing this - no biggie.


12. Press the back of the staple side down against your table to make a flat bottom


Some Options

Sprayed With Glimmer Mist:


Sprayed from mister with water and dye re-inker and added a button:


All Done:



Tip: These are VERY dimensional. If you want something flatter use less paper.

Here are some projects I've made with paper flowers:



26 comments:

itsallrosi said...

these are really pretty!

Mary C. said...

Totally cute. They certainly add some umph to a layout!
Thanks for sharing the tutorial here.

Kat said...

Those are super cute Nicole! Thanks for the wonderful tutorial :D

Laura said...

I love these! I am going to try to make them with my second graders, maybe we can use them for mother's day cards. Lets see how they turn out. The tutorial is great.

GlitteryKatie said...

LOVE IT!!!!

Dianne said...

Very pretty! I love the effect that the print gives the flowers.

Elizabeth R. said...

I hadn't seen these before. Great tutorial!!! I just made one of these in 5 minutes. I love it! I'm off to cut up a book!

Angela said...

I seriously love these flowers. Awesome work!
You have been nominated for a blog award. Check it out on my blog.

Anonymous said...

OMG nicole,
this are just what I need for those old books that I almost gave away!!!!!

love ya~!!!! I am so freaking excited.... I used to do mine differently, but this is soooo freaking fast and much easier....

-- dalis

jessica said...

i love this.
i could see using pages with some nice words on it too.
also, have a date with a 6 year old soon and this is a fun little project to do.
thank you for the great tutorial.

Anonymous said...

Wow! How pretty! Love things made from around the home and recycled!!!

I do a weekly "How to" blog post (from no sew bunting http://redtedart.wordpress.com/2010/04/02/how-to-make-no-sew-bunting/ to paper cups http://redtedart.wordpress.com/2010/04/16/how-to-make-a-paper-cup/

I would LOVE to show this one as a guest post one week?

Do let me know!

Maggy

Mrs_Pickle said...

I have just read your tutorial, and it being a little quiet at work, and having instant access to lots of spare paper and staples, I have just made my first paper flower...in less than 2 minutes. Love it! and will be making many more at home finishing them off with help from my huge button jar!

SarahLP said...

These are yummy, Nicole! Thanks for sharing.. I want to make some right now!

Jan said...

Going now to find books that are beyond repair and making myself some pretty flowers! ;-)

Jenn Erickson said...

Brilliant! As an ephemera junkie and paper hoarder, I'm always looking for new ways to make pretty little things with vintage papers! Your flowers are incredible! Mind if I post a link to your tutorial on my FB Fan page? I know my readers would be interested in visiting you to learn this fab technique! Jenn

Beth @ Wiccan Make Some Too said...

These are really cute!

singapore florist said...

wow nice creation. where did you learn that?

Love from Singapore Florist :)

Lea said...

oh these are super cute and super easy. Great little tutorial, thank you for sharing:)

ajrunge said...

these are great, and so easy and effective! Thanks

bev said...

I love these and they sound so easy to make. Going to have to give it a try. Thank you for the idea!

Eileen The Artful Crafter said...

I love these too, Nicole! What a fun creative family you must have come from.

I've never seen them and, as usual, you make something that appears to be difficult, really accessible.

Cherie said...

I love love love any project that uses old books, and this one is fabulous. Thank you for sharing it! Your instructions make it look easy. I'm going to try this one.

Michelle@ A Full Cottage said...

Hi Nicole
This is really great. I love the look with the button but have not heard of the stuff that you used to color them. Where did you get it and what is the brand?

Thanks so much for sharing another great tutorial.

:) Michelle

Julie said...

I just sat down and made five of these cuties! Thank you, Nicole. They are sweet and will look great on my scrapbooks and in my art journal!

sllvncookie@aol.com said...

These look easy&simple,I love your blog signed up today I'love all your things ,keep up great work. Cookie 17

Unknown said...

Wow thank you sooo much! I've always wanted to know how to make these!