With Spring a mere 7 days away, I’m more in the mood for colorful blooms then cozy knits. My paper flower love affair all started with this pin of some fantastic Coffee Filter Flowers via the always inspirational Design Sponge and led me down the rabbit hole of paper flower pinning all of which you can see on my aptly named Stuff to DIY board.
So I started with the coffee filter flowers but I did a few things a little differently. I felt like I wanted to do something different than using paint to to dye the coffee filters, I thought about it for a moment and decided food coloring would probably work wonderfully instead of paint. It totally worked, I think my dyed version turn out pretty darn well.
There’s 3 different types of paper flowers in my bouquet, Paper Peonies original tutorial here, Rolled Rosebuds original tutorial here and Poppies my own take on some of the general tutorials I found. I’ll detail each one below so you can see what I did similarly to the original tutorials and what I found worked for me that’s different. Shall we get crafting our own paper flowers?
Materials
- 60 coffee filters
- Yellow and red concentrated gel food coloring
- 3 bowls
- Wood floral picks
- Green floral wire
- Green Floral Tape
- Scissors
- Brightly colored tissue paper
- Black tissue paper
Peonies
The paper peonies are gorgeous on their own and probably the most time consuming of the three that I tried. If you get an assembly line going they’ll go quicker. The results are stunning and worth the time.
To start dying your coffee filters you’ll need a whole boatload of coffee filters, 60 to be exact, 3 bowls and food coloring in yellow and orange. I used the concentrated gel kind which I found in the cake decorating section of Michaels craft store.
In each of the three bowls place 1 cup of warm water. In the first bowl add equal parts yellow and red food coloring until you get a nice deep orange color. In the second bowl of water add 2 parts yellow to 1 part red food coloring. In the third bowl add only yellow food coloring.
Following the original instructions via Design Sponge I placed 10 coffee filters in the darkest color, 20 in the mid-range color and 30 in the yellow. Let them set for a few minutes, the longer they sit in the dye bath the more vibrant each of the colors will be.
Once I was satisfied with the color I removed the coffee filters and wrung out the excess water. Then I separated each filter and left them out to dry. Just FYI they’re pretty slopping and ugly looking when wet.
Tip: to speed drying you could use a hair dryer set on low or hang them in front of a fan.
Once they were all dry I sorted the stacks by color then separated 10 to a stack. You should have 1 stack of the deepest color, 2 stacks of the medium color and 3 stacks of the lightest color. Next fold them in half and then in quarters, into a pie shape. Cut the rounded edges, more jagged cuts into the deepest color graduating to shallow almost rounded cuts into the lightest color coffee filters. Finally make a small snip in the pointed end so that there will be a small whole the center of your filter.
Here’s where my version differed a little again, I used wooden flower picks instead of straw for the stems of my flowers. I liked how the picks had floral wire at the top of each pick which made attaching the petals to the stem easier than using the masking tape and straws method suggest in the tutorial.
I selected 1 of the darkest dyed coffee filters folded it up in the middle twisted the based and attached it directly to the wood pick, winding the wire tightly to secure it to the wood pick.
Then I placed 1 of the medium dyed filters, sliding it onto the pick through the hole I cut in the center, then crimp around the wooden stick and attach with floral wire. Then I repeated for 1 more medium dyed filter and 3 of the lightest dyed filters.
In total I had 1 dark filter, 2 medium filters, and 3 of the lightest filters wired to your wooden pick. Then I wrapped the whole stick in green floral tape to cover the wires and entire wooden stick. Repeat for each paper peony, when I was done I had 10 full flowers.
The paper peonies were gorgeous, I almost want to kiss the original person who though of this because they’re that pretty and addicting to make.
Once the peonies were complete I decided some pops color in the bouquet would be a nice touch. The hot pink flowers are cut and rolled to make small rosebud flowers. They were so simple and far less time consuming than the peonies. I think the combination is stunning.
Rosebuds
The rolled rosebuds are infinitely more simple when compared to the paper peonies, but none the less gorgeous.
Start by cutting a strip of tissue paper about 3 inches wide from the short side of your piece of tissue paper. Roll the long end in approximately 2 inch segments the entire length of your tissue paper. Cut one end of the paper rounded and unfold
Start crimping back and forth accordion style scrunching up the center of your flower to form the tight bud, then continue to roll the entire length
Attach to a floral wood pick with wire, wrap the entire base of the rose bud and stem with green floral tape to secure and finish.
Poppies
The poppies are a hybrid version of the paper peonies it’s similar principle but different materials and much different results. I think they play nicely in combination with the other flowers.
For the petals, start by tracing and cutting out 3 circles onto your sheet of tissue paper. Stack the circles together and fold into quarters creating a pie shape. Cut the rounded end of the pie shape so that the ends are wavy. Snip just the tip of the point to create a hole in the center of your tissue paper circle.
Cut a small square out of your black piece of tissue paper. Place a small ball of tin foil in the center, wrap around the top of your floral pick and secure with wire.
Place 1 piece of your now cut petal rounds onto the wood floral pick through the center hole you snipped in the first step.
Crimp your tissue paper petal onto the floral pick securing with green floral wire, repeat for 2 more petals. Wrap the entire wood stick including the wired base of the petals in green floral tape to secure tightly.
I have to say these turned out soooo much better than I expected. I’ve had to explain to everyone who has walked in the house that they were made from scratch by me and not flowers stems I bought and put in the vase. I’m a little stupid giddy over them and I’m tempted to pet them lovingly each time I walk into the room.
There’s so many possibilities for these paper flowers, like create a few and set them into everyone’s glass for a dinner party or create a fun center piece, decorate for a party and even make them into napkin holders with a little modification. The possibilities are endless.

51 comments :
Casa-de-christine March 14, 2012 9:22AM
These turned out fabulous!! I can’t believe how great they look! Our wedding is in July and I just want 4 centerpieces that are flowers…. maybe I can save some mega money and just do these! Thanks for the inspiration!!!
Small Home Big Start March 14, 2012 9:42AM
Just popping over from the Bower Power Pinterest Challenge.
Wow! These are great. I especially love the peonies.
OurLakeLife March 14, 2012 9:49AM
Thank You. Design Sponge and their ideas never disappoint. I’m shocked myself at how pretty they turned out.
Diana @ Boy + Girl March 14, 2012 9:43AM
These are beautiful! I found you through the Pinterest Challenge. I love these. I may have to attempt them. Considering my thumb isn’t exactly green these might be just my speed. And I finised the perfect vase for my pinterest project!
OurLakeLife March 14, 2012 9:50AM
Awesome, I was looking for something to put in that white pitcher they’re in forever. These turned out to be just the thing.
Thanks for stopping by
Vixenthefoxylady March 14, 2012 10:28AM
Omg they are brilliant, I love them. I want some too. Xx
OurLakeLife March 14, 2012 10:29AM
Thank you 😉
Blackkatsdesign March 14, 2012 12:25PM
I’ve also been pinning paper flowers. Yours turned out beautiful and the instructions were clear and easy. I can’t wait to buy some coffee filters and make a beautiful peonies bouquet as a hostess gift for Easter dinner.
OurLakeLife March 14, 2012 2:43PM
Thank You, I was also thinking the extra large coffee filters might be pretty cool too! They’ll make bigger flowers 🙂
Monica Miles March 14, 2012 2:35PM
Wow, those are amazing!
OurLakeLife March 14, 2012 2:44PM
Thanks, they’re pretty cool.
Bernhardt March 14, 2012 2:39PM
Just beautiful! Love the different colors. As pretty as the real thing
OurLakeLife March 14, 2012 2:44PM
Thanks Dee Dee 🙂
Andrea March 14, 2012 8:12PM
Your flowers turned out amazing! This is definitely going on my list of projects!
OurLakeLife March 14, 2012 8:30PM
Thank you Andrea, have fun making them.
🙂
Owningsingle March 14, 2012 9:58PM
I absolutely love that!
OurLakeLife March 15, 2012 8:41AM
Thanks 🙂
Catharine Stevens March 15, 2012 9:33AM
These turned out SO great! I’ve been pinning paper flower tutorials like crazy lately because I want to have ALL paper flowers at my wedding! (as you can imagine my team of bridesmaids is not excited about the assembly line that’s about to take place) but your tutorial makes it look like so much fun! I’ll be adding this to my paper flower board for sure! Thanks!
xo Catharine @ Your Modern Couple
OurLakeLife March 15, 2012 10:15AM
Thanks Catharine. I think paper flowers at a wedding are so fun. Check out these someone just recently did for their wedding
http://greenweddingshoes.com/diy-giant-paper-rose-flower/
Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Kate Duff March 16, 2012 8:38PM
Those are beautiful!
Carol March 17, 2012 11:56AM
Very cute – I might just have to give these a try for a baby shower I am co-hosting. Thanks for sharing. I “hopped” over from Tatertots and Jello linky party.
Carol @ arewethereyet
OurLakeLife March 19, 2012 10:20AM
Thanks Carol I’m sure they’ll turn out wonderfully 🙂
amy March 17, 2012 2:10PM
WOW! These look aMAzing! I can’t believe you made them…the thumbnail photo at TT&J totally looked like they were real flowers. I love the colors you used and the flower variety; you not only made them well, you arranged them beautifully too! Great, great job! I’d LOVE it if you’d share this post at my party!
http://oneartmama.blogspot.com/2012/03/shine-on-fridays-19-and-some-fabulous.html
Lynn @ Scrapityanne March 17, 2012 3:30PM
GORGEOUS!!! And what an excellent tutorial, I’m very impressed. I know I have to try some of these!!
Thanks so much for sharing!
OurLakeLife March 19, 2012 10:55AM
Thanks Lynn 🙂
Erin Tatum March 18, 2012 9:08PM
I love this! So easy for such a beautiful result. Great job, and thanks for joining up with the Winter Pinterest Challenge!
Erin @ The Great Indoors
http://www.tatumgreatindoors.blogspot.com
OurLakeLife March 19, 2012 10:55AM
Thanks for hosting Erin 🙂
Laura Ingalls Gunn March 22, 2012 10:52AM
I am visiting via Centsational Girl. I adore your project. So clever!
Happy day, happy spring, happy happy everything!
OurLakeLife March 22, 2012 2:25PM
Thank You 🙂
Colleen March 22, 2012 2:49PM
They turned out so pretty!
OurLakeLife March 23, 2012 7:32AM
Thank You Colleen.
M
bahar November 15, 2012 7:21AM
this is very beautiful.
to be happy
K @ Shift Ctrl ART December 4, 2012 9:54AM
Such fabulous flower. Love this!
Maria December 4, 2012 10:08AM
They last a really long time too. I have mine for a while now and they just need a little dusting every once in a while.
Tami May 6, 2013 2:27AM
this is a comparatively very easy yet pretty tutorial to follow. thanks for a detailed explanation. i made it yesterday and feeling so gud about it. i wish i could post its pic. thank you ro sharing. please post more bouquets.
Urban Water Conservation <> PHOTOS: Handmade Mother’s Day Gift Ideas May 12, 2013 2:06AM
[…] never wilt, but they’re also made from waste paper for a planet-friendly present. Check out the full tutorial at Our Lake Life to give it a try for yourself. Tip: Sadowski used coffee filters and leftover […]
Our favorite paper flower tutorials, part 2 | MarryThis! January 29, 2014 8:01AM
[…] Hanging flower ball 4. Tissue paper and tulle flower | 5. Two methods to craft paper flowers | 6. Paper flower bouquet 7. Giant paper peonies | 8. Tissue paper flowers | 9. Watercolor paper […]
Carrie March 24, 2014 9:58PM
Love your DIY flower bouquet! I am putting together a round up of fresh spring decorating ideas on my blog, lovely etc, this wednesday and would love to include your DIY flowers (with a link back of course).
Selfmade Flower for you | Life is banalogue? April 18, 2014 11:49AM
[…] 8 Our Lake Life […]
Friday Top 5: Pinterest Projects July 16, 2014 5:52PM
[…] I’ve been pinning lots of paper flowers, maybe this tutorial from Our Lake Life will inspire me to finally make […]
8 Breakup Craft Projects For Every Stage Of The Grieving Process February 26, 2015 11:10AM
[…] not exactly tear-proof, wouldn’t be damaged if you keep your weeping to a minimum. And if this pretty paper gesture is rejected, at least you’ve learned a new […]
Spring Forward with DIY Crepe Paper Flowers - Casa Diseno LLC March 17, 2015 6:11PM
[…] Flower Crepe, Craft Berry Bush 2. Handmade Flower Bouquet, Our Lake Life 3. DIY Crepe Paper Flowers, Honestly…WTF 4. Crepe Flowers, Martha […]
TV wall inspiration » White Tulip Designs April 17, 2015 12:35PM
[…] 7. Flowers will never grow along this wall so I’m making my own bright bouquet using this great tutorial from Our Lake Life! […]
12 Handmade, Upcycled Mother's Day Gift Ideas - Earth911.com April 29, 2016 3:16PM
[…] wilt, but they’re also made from waste paper for a planet-friendly present. Check out the full tutorial at Our Lake Life to give it a try for […]
Last-Minute Mother's Day Gift Ideas - Earth911.com May 11, 2017 10:00AM
[…] find out how to get professional results — and make peonies, poppies and rosebuds — check out this tutorial from Our Lake […]
Last-Minute Mother’s Day Gift Ideas - Eco Save Earth May 11, 2017 12:34PM
[…] find out how to get professional results — and make peonies, poppies and rosebuds — check out this tutorial from Our Lake […]
powerful love spells June 21, 2017 10:23PM
Hello,I log on to your blogs named “Our Lake Life:DIY Handmade Paper Flower Bouquet – Our Lake Life” like every week.Your writing style is awesome, keep up the good work! And you can look our website about powerful love spells.
86Carin August 20, 2017 10:55PM
I have noticed you don’t monetize your website, don’t waste your traffic, you can earn extra cash every month
because you’ve got hi quality content. If
you want to know how to make extra $$$, search for: best adsense
alternative Wrastain’s tools
Last-Minute Mother's Day Gift Ideas - Earth911.com May 7, 2018 12:20PM
[…] how to get professional results — and make peonies, poppies and rosebuds — check out this tutorial from Our Lake […]
BestRowena September 6, 2018 5:37AM
I have noticed you don’t monetize your website, don’t waste your traffic, you can earn additional cash every
month. You can use the best adsense alternative for any type of website (they approve all
websites), for more info simply search in gooogle:
boorfe’s tips monetize your website
11 Pretty Peony Projects – Online Shop For Ornaments December 30, 2018 1:15PM
[…] Jello Giant Tissue Paper Peonies by Hello Creative Family Paper Peony Crowns by Kids World Stuff Coffee Filter Peony Bouquet by Our Lake […]