How to.. make a Paper Flower (from newspapers!) - Red Ted Art

Hurray! Guest Post day is here!! Today’s “How to” is brought to you by the lovely Nicole over at “Made by Nicole” – as you know – I love paper craft and I love using recycled materials. Finally, a use for all those “junk mail” newspapers and magazines that come through the door… So…ed Ted

How to make Paper Flowers:

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.

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Here is my first ever attempt using 10 random pages from a freebie magazine – I was lazy and didn’t use a button, just a scrap of paper for the centre. I think the button is MUCH prettier. I just wanted to have a “quick” go and am pretty impressed with the result. Put a little more effort in and they are even prettie!!