These DIY crepe paper flowers are SO EASY to make and they’re surprisingly realistic! Use party streamers to create a beautiful flower, and in less than an hour you can make a whole bouquet!
Choose your favourite colours, and celebrate summer blooms by making your own long lasting flowers that won’t wilt. These paper flowers look great as a centerpiece, they make awesome homemade gifts, and they’re so much fun to put together!
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How to Make Crepe Paper Flowers
Materials:
- Crepe paper streamers (purple, or any flower colour, and green)
- Floral wire (26 gauge, 14 inches long)
- Masking tape
Check Out The Video Tutorial:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Fold crepe paper and make petal cuts
- Cut a length of purple steamer (or colour of choice) to be 48 inches long.
- Fold the streamer up so there is less length to cut. We folded our streamer in half 4 times.
- Cut about 1-1/4 inches across the streamer loops at the top and bottom. Do not cut all the way across.
- Move your scissors about 3/8 inch down from the top and make another 1-1/4 inch cut. Again, don't cut all the way through.Repeat all the way down the streamer bundle, making cuts an even distance apart.
- To make the dahlia flower petals, cut up at an angle, starting from the middle of each section. Cut about 1/4 inch in from the point.
- Flip the bundle over and make the same angled cuts going the other way. This will create little points at the top, like a picket fence.
Step 3: Roll the paper into a flower shape around the wire
- Unfold the streamer so that it's in a single layer. Bend the top bit of floral wire over to create a small hook. Place the bent over wire near one end of the crepe paper.
- Add a generous amount of hot glue over top of the wire.
- Wrap the crepe paper around the wire to secure it in place.
- Start rolling the paper around the wire.Roll it tightly around the wire, one bit at a time, scrunching the paper up a bit as you roll it. You almost want to fold it over double in small sections before wrapping it around the wire.
- Continuing rolling and scrunching the crepe paper until you get to the end. Wrap masking tape around the base of the flower to keep the crepe paper in place.
Step 4: Attach a green base to the flower
- Cut off a strip of green crepe paper about 2 inches long and then cut it in half lengthwise.
- Add hot glue along the length of the green crepe paper, close to one of the long edges.
- Wrap the green crepe paper around the base of the flower, covering up the tape. Make sure the side with the glue is at the top, close to the flower.
- Add hot glue inside the wrapped green crepe paper, where it is open at the bottom.
- Press the green crepe paper in around the wire and hold it in place until it stays on its own.
- Fluff up the flower petals, adjusting them until you're happy with how the flower looks.
- Your dahlia crepe paper flower is complete!Optional: Make a whole bouquet! See below for different cuts to create different types of flowers.
Helpful Tips:
- Be sure to scrunch the paper a bit as you roll it up. This will give your flowers a more organic, fuller shape.
- Cut the paper differently to create totally different flowers! See the picture and instructions below for how to make Dahlias, Marigolds, Peonies, Pom Pom Poppies, and Carnations!
What is the best crepe paper to make flowers?
We made our crepe paper flowers using regular party streamers. You can buy these at the dollar store, Walmart, Amazon, or at a party supply store.
Streamers work perfectly to make smaller flowers (3 inches and under), but if you want larger flowers, you’ll need to buy sheets or larger rolls of crepe paper. There are a lot of different varieties out there, with different weights (thickness).
There are benefits to each weight of paper. Thinner paper (60 gsm) is more delicate, like real flower petals. Heavier paper (180 gsm) tends to be more stretchy, with a durability that means the flower will hold its shape well.
How to make Dahlias, Marigolds, Peonies, Pom Pom Poppies, and Carnations:
Each flower is made by wrapping the crepe paper around a wire base, but they will turn out totally differently depending on the type of cuts made.
The picture above shows how the different styles of cuts turn into the different flowers. Each flower starts with 48 inches of streamer, except the marigold, which starts with 24 inches.
- Purple: Make pointed “picket fence” cuts make a dahlia.
- Orange: Cut a rounded “valley” into each strip, leaving pointed edges, to make a marigold.
- Pink: Cut rounded tops to make a peony.
- Yellow: Cut thin, pointed strips to make a pom pom poppy or dandelion.
- Red: Create wider strips and cut 4 small points into each section to make a carnation.
How long do crepe paper flowers last?
Crepe paper flowers should last years, if not forever, if they’re kept in the proper conditions. Keep the bouquets out of direct sunlight to avoid fading, and make sure to avoid areas with excessive moisture (like a bathroom, or next to a kitchen sink).
If you need to dust the crepe paper flowers, shake or blow on them gently. You can also use a hairdryer on a low, cool setting to remove dust particles.
What can I do with my crepe paper flowers?
Place the crepe paper flowers in a vase for a centerpiece at a wedding or anniversary dinner, or use a single flower in a bud vase for a table setting. Homemade paper flowers also make for a thoughtful gift for Mother’s Day, or just because.
You can also use these flowers as hair decorations, either placing one bloom behind your ear or turning a group of flowers into a flower crown. Use a crepe paper flower with its wire cut off in place of a gift bow on a present for a fun, homemade touch. Finally, add a DIY element to your spring or summer decor by adding the crepe paper flowers to a wreath or turning them into a garland.
It’s crazy how real these crepe paper flowers look! We had so much fun creating the different varieties, and we love how the colourful bouquet of paper flowers looks gathered together in a vase.
Here’s even more flower craft ideas:
Our book Low-Mess Crafts for Kids is loaded with 72 fun and simple craft ideas for kids! The projects are fun, easy and most importantly low-mess, so the clean up is simple!
Where to buy:
You can purchase Low-Mess Crafts for Kids from Amazon, or wherever books are sold:
Amazon |  Barnes and Noble | Books-A-Million | Indiebound |  Amazon Canada
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