Flowers can be used as a corsage, centerpiece, jewelry or even to decorate a card. Paper is plentiful and colorful, so let’s start playing to find out what cool flowers we can make for little cost.
Steps
1. Simple flowers – cupcake liners.
With a cupcake liner, fringe (cut down) the ruffled edge of one or more liners. Glue them together if you use more than one. Add a stem or flower center to complete your flower. Kids of any age can complete this project. Experiment and share your samples with others.
NOTE: You can also gather them to make more of a “carnation” looking flower.
2. Color sheets.
Color sheets are a great way to provide flowers quickly to a large group. Find one online or create your own.
Check out the Enrichment Project for the “Daisy” that goes with the “Girl Scout Traditions” badge program.
3. Stamp.
Create your own “color sheets” by stamping flowers on your card stock before cutting and assembling. Like punched flowers (below) you can choose to shape your flowers for a more 3-D effect. Create one or more stamped flowers.
4. Tissue / crepe flowers.
Didn’t we all make tissue paper flowers as kids? Of course, you could use gift wrap to make really large flowers as well. With tissue flowers, you have an endless supply of colors and patterns. Make a few tissue flowers of varying sizes.
5. Accordion rosettes.
Rosettes are an easy way to make paper flowers. Starting with one rectangular sheet, accordion fold just like the tissue / crepe flowers and create a rosette flower by gathering one side together. Add a little extra embellishment to the center to make your rosettes really pop.
6. Iris folding.
You can cut out a flower shape from a flat sheet of paper. Then, using a variety of colored strips of paper (or ribbon), layer them to create a colorful pattern that shows through the cut-out shape. Go to your favorite search engine and search images for “iris folding flower” to not only find samples but patterns as well.
7. Kusudama.
Kusudama is a Japanese folding craft where you can make one petal for each flower from a square of paper, then either use one for a bud or assemble multiples into a flower. Check out foldingtrees.com for a great basic tutorial on creating Kusudama flowers.
8. Punching – simple.
From simple to complicated, punching and assembling flowers can be fun. Try punching one flower shape out of a variety of papers like cardstock, yellowed book pages, maps, etc. Layer them to create an interesting flower.
9. Punching – three-dimensional flowers.
Punching can become very complex. It starts with multiple punched shapes. With scissors, you can clip apart petals to create a more defined shape. Add shaping with a stylus (embossing tool) or color to give the flower more in depth. Check out www.mcgillinc.com for instructions for a large variety punched and formed flowers.
10. Punching – beyond the instructions.
After you have assembled a few flowers, you’ll get a feel for creating them. Make one or more flowers of your own design with your punches and paper.
11. Templates.
You can make, find or purchase templates for flowers. For templates, you trace what you want onto your paper (or print it out), cut out your flower per the template directions and assemble. Try creating a paper flower from a template.
12. Increase the dimensional.
If you want a more obvious three-dimensional look, use glue dots or foam to add thickness to your flowers. Try this on one or more of your flowers to see the difference.
13. Enough color?
Looking for more shading or color? You can make your paper flower pop by adding ink (direct-to-paper), glitter, embossing powder and more. With all these wonderful embellishments, you can make your flower as powerful as you wish.
14. Only the beginning.
There are many more ways to make paper flowers than just presented here. Explore the Web or experiment yourself and come up with your own unique designs.
Sites to Explore
- www.mcgillinc.com
- kidscraftweekly.com/flowers_issue.html
- www.ehow.com/print/how_4781272_flowers-using-paper-punch.html
- www.ehow.com/how_7293485_make-flowers-punches.html
- www.ehow.com/print/how_8501826_easy-double-daisy-punch-instructions.html
- www.ehow.com/print/how_12101768_make-leaves-petals-circle-punch.html
- www.cheekymagpie.com/?p=964
- tipnut.com/paper-flowers
- www.academichic.com/2009/05/26/how-to-make-tissue-paper-flowers
- foldingtrees.com/2008/11/kusudama-tutorial-part-1
- www.creationsbykara.com/2011/02/how-to-make-paper-flowers.html
- www.pepperdesignblog.com/2010/01/28/shabby-chic-handmade-paper-rosettes
- www.curbly.com/users/capreek/posts/13487-roundup-7-stunning-diy-paper-flower-tutorials
- www.100layercake.com/blog/2011/07/22/diy-storybook-paper-roses
- www.thecraftyblogstalker.com/2012/08/how-to-make-20-different-paper-flowers.html
To download a PDF of this badge program, click here: EP_Paper Flowers
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