Flowers are great, but handmade flowers that last forever are better; here is a simple way to make vintage paper flowers that are perfect for Valentines Day. This is the perfect craft for any teenager or adult. It’s a great craft to do with your friends.
Materials Needed: Buttons, flower wire, hot glue gun, green felt flower ribbon, floral wooden sticks, safety pin or needle, and paper. Solid colored paper is great, and patterned paper can give it a very vintage look; I recommend paper with music notes or script writing for a nice finish.
Optional Materials: Mason jar, and shredded green paper or basket filling.
Total Time: Roughly 30 minutes per flower.
Price: Less than $20
Step 1: Cut the paper into strips (the size of the strips will differ based on the size of the flower you want to make). You need 10 strips roughly ½ inch thick and 4 inches long, and 6 strips roughly ½ inch thick and 3 inches long.
Step 2: Cut about 16 inches of flower wire and unwind it until it’s straight. Curl one of the ends to create a barrier for the paper once it’s added.
Step 3: With the 10 longer paper strips, take each piece and connect both ends, with the pattern facing outward. Don’t flatten the piece of paper; just fold it over for the ends to touch. Poke a hole using the safety pin or needle through the two ends.
Step 4: Thread the flower wire through the holes you poked in Step 3. Repeat these steps until all 10 longer strips are on the flower wire. Arrange these as you like so that they aren’t on top of each other.
Step 5: Repeat Steps 1-4 using the 6 shorter strips to add another layer of pedals.
Step 6: Pick out the button you want as the center of your flower and thread the flower wire through the button holes (as if it were thread). Again, using the safety pin, poke a hole back through the center of the flower. Bring the flower wire back through the pedals and twist to secure at the back of the pedals.
Step 7: Once the pedals and button are positioned where you like, use the hot glue gun to secure the position of all the pieces. Twist the remaining flower wire around the wooden stick.
Final Step: To finalize the flower, apply the flower felt around the stick to finish the stem. The ribbon will be sticky for about 20 minutes after it’s applied to the flowers stem. Once this dries, you’re done!
To create a great Valentines Day decoration, get a mason jar and fill it with colored paper shreds or basket grass. Make 3-4 flowers and poke that number of holes into the lid of the mason jar. Arrange the flowers as you like; this piece is a perfect centerpiece or side table decoration.