Looking for a sweet and simple flower craft that kids will love making? A paper towel rose is an easy, creative project that turns an everyday item into a beautiful handmade bloom! Soft, colourful, and surprisingly realistic, these DIY flowers make lovely decorations or heartfelt gifts for special occasions.
This paper towel rose craft is perfect for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or anytime kids want to create something pretty and meaningful. With just a few basic materials and a bit of creativity, children can mix colours, experiment with paper folding, and make roses that are completely their own — no green thumb required!
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How to Make a Paper Towel Rose
Materials:
Equipment:
See the craft in action:
Instructions:
Step 1: Find what you need
- Gather your supplies and materials.
Step 2: Colour the paper towel
- Place your paper towel on a baking sheet or another protected surface that can handle marker and water.Choose at least 3 colours of washable marker that will go nicely together.
- Start colouring parts of the paper towel with 1 colour, leaving lots of space between the sections.
- Add your second colour of marker between the first. Then fill in the rest of the paper towel with your third colour.It’s okay if there’s a bit of white space between the colours, but you’ll want to fill most of it.
- Begin using an eye dropper to add water onto the coloured paper towel.
- Repeat until the whole paper towel is saturated. Allow to dry.
Step 3: Connect the paper towel to the “stem”
- Once the paper towel is dry, carefully peel apart the layers.(Only do this if your paper towel is 2 ply.)
- This will give you 2 thin pieces of coloured paper towel to work with, 1 at a time.
- Holding the paper with a long edge towards you, fold the left side down until it’s about 3/8 inch above the bottom edge.
- Add a dot of hot glue near the bottom left corner.
- Place the end of a green paper straw into the glue.
Step 4: Begin folding the rose shape
- Fold the left corner of the paper over the straw and then roll the straw to the right once, covering it.
- Now fold the angled part of the paper towel down next to the straw.
- Fold the paper towel down again, and roll the straw once to the right.
- Repeat 2 more times, and then add a dot of hot glue to the paper towel. This will help secure your first folds.
- Now continue the same steps, looking at the flower from the top.You’ll want to fold the top of the paper towel down and in towards the flower, tucking the fold in as you roll the straw to the right.
- Repeat until you reach the end of the paper towel, adding a bit of glue after every 2 or 3 folds. Each “row” of petals should stick out a bit from the previous one.
Step 5: Add the second paper towel piece
- Fold the second paper towel the same way you did the first. Add a dot of hot glue to the same place as well.
- Connect the second paper towel to the bottom of the flower.
- Repeat the exact same folding and gluing steps that you did with the first piece of paper towel.
- Your paper towel rose is complete!
Helpful Tips:
- Use a good-quality paper towel that can handle drawing and getting wet. We recommend Kirkland or Bounty.
- You can colour your paper towel roses with washable markers, or try liquid watercolour paint (or diluted food colouring) dropped right onto the paper towels.
- Want a smaller rose? Cut the paper towel in half lengthwise, then follow the same steps.
What markers are used to make a paper towel rose?
Use washable markers — they’re the kind that will spread and blend when you add water. For the prettiest results, try analogous colours (colours beside each other on the colour wheel) or different shades of the same colour, since they blend together more smoothly.
What can I use for the stem of my paper towel roses if I don’t have a green straw?
A wooden skewer or floral wire wrapped in green floral tape or green yarn works really well. You can also use a green pipe cleaner, though they aren’t as strong, so they don’t stand up as well in a vase.
Can I make a paper towel rose without an eyedropper?
Yes! You can add water with a small teaspoon, or use a spray bottle instead. We love using an eyedropper because it’s fun to watch the water and colour spread, but if you’re making lots of roses, a spray bottle is usually the fastest option.
These paper towel roses are such a fun way for kids to turn simple materials into something truly special. Each flower is unique, and the way the colours blend and spread makes the process just as enjoyable as the finished result.
Whether you’re making them for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, or as cheerful homemade decor, this easy craft is a lovely mix of creativity and hands-on fun. Set out the supplies, let the kids experiment with colour, and enjoy watching their paper towel roses bloom!
Here’s even more paper flower ideas:
Now available
Low-Mess Crafts for Kids Book
72 cute and fun crafts that kids and parents alike can enjoy. All with as little mess as possible!
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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