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Tuesday, September 4, 2012

About Those Paper Flowers. . .

 
 
 
 
I had a few requests to show how I made the paper flowers I featured in a recent post. I used the same method for a different post I did in the spring.
 
 
 
 
 
I've seen tutorials for the larger tissue flowers all over the place, so I guess I thought everybody has seen them too. The process for my smaller ones is the same.
 
 
 
 
 
Using tissue, and a larger pattern is very easy. Even a child can do it. We used about fourteen sheets for each large tissue flower.
 
 
 
 



 


The smaller version is a bit trickier because of the size, and the paper I used. 




 
  
My almost tissue-thin paper came from a vintage encyclopedia. It's most often used in Bibles. I got mine at a flea market for a dollar and a half. The thin paper is important. It is less pliable than tissue, and has a bit more crinkle. I like having the print, but I have also seen tissue paper stamped with script before it is made into a flower.
 
 
 
 
 
I simply rip out the pages and trim the edge. I found five sheets per flower to be most manageable. If you use tissue you can use more pages for a fuller look.





 
 Make a one inch accordian fold. Any narrower and you don't get good distinct petals.
 
 
 
 
 
 
Don't worry about being exact each time. I ended up with an overlap here, and it doesn't matter.





 
Find the center, and secure it. Thin wire is nice, but I used crochet thread.





 
 
 
 
 
 
Trim the corners for rounded petals.





Peel each page singly away from the others. (I got ahead of myself and started peeling before shaping the edges, and had to go back for the photo.) This part isn't easy. It's slow going and takes more care as opposed to using tissue paper. Even so you will likely have small tears. They don't show. Just keep going. Your skill will improve with practice. The point is to pull the paper as far as you can away from the others at the base. The paper gets curled and wrinkled naturally in the process.

 

 
This is what you have after the first page.



 
Half way done.




 
 Voila!
 
 
 
 
 
 
Each flower looks a little different as in nature. And you can scrunch a little at the end to shape the flower to your liking. I think they have good impact in bunches, but I only have patience to make a few at a time! The hardest part is finding the onionskin paper. But crafters are always collecting this sort of stuff. And of course you can always use tissue paper. There are fabulous patterns of all kinds out there. Have fun!
 
Hope it's a nice week for you. . . .
 
Jacqueline



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30 comments:

  1. Thank you so much Jacqueline, I LOVE these and it brings me back to the 60s when we made the BIG CREPE PAPER ones and had them "ALL Over our bedrooms"!!! I am not one to dissect books BUT a GoodWill encyclopedia sounds great for this...
    Have a wonderful week,
    Hugs,
    Donna

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  2. Jacqueline, thank you for sharing this tutorial. I find these flowers charming and would love to make some of my own. I'm going to look for some tissue thin paper in old books. ;-) Love this look! ~ Sarah

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  3. Thanks!! :-) Was going to ask, but someone beat me to it. Been thinking of them a lot of late and even went to Hobby Lobby to buy some. Didn't want to pay their price though.... Now I don't have to. SWEET!!!!
    Cheers, Gee

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  4. Charming indeed from the old book Jacqueline.

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  5. Thank you for share this tutorial, darling Jaqueline, they are full of taste. I'll make some... =)
    Silvia

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  6. They are soo beautiful. I have to try to make some.

    Wish you a great rest of the week.

    Hugs

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  7. great tutorial! I'm pinning this and will be making some! thanks!!

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  8. Jacqueline,
    Thank you for sharing this tutorial with those of us in the Land of Blog!!! These are so adorable!!! I'll be on the look ~ out for onion skin books at garage sales and such! Again, many thanks, dear friend!
    Fondly,
    Pat

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  9. They're really cute, and they look easy enough to be a fun project and not a major ordeal. I think i might try to make some, thanks for sharing your how to!

    Cindy

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  10. these are ever-so- lovely! i will give them a try. merci mon amie! ;)

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  11. The flowers are beautiful. Nice, easy to follow tutorial. Thanks.

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  12. Jacqueline, as you know, I am the least crafty person you know! But these are beautiful and look like something I could do. Seems like many eons ago, I remember doing something like these with my girls--one of my few attempts at crafting. The printed pages make beautiful flowers. Kay

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  13. I think I made them for showers and for the wedding car...a very long time ago..but the same principal..
    But yours are especially lovely and delicate...you've got the touch!!

    Cheers!
    Linda :o)

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  14. I have always loved them...but never tried to make them
    and Probably NEVER will, because no matter how much "tutorial" I get, My creative juices are THIN, Diluted !!!

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  15. Thanks for sharing! The flowers would be a pretty accent at a bridal or baby shower, too!

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  16. I think I was one that asked...Thank you, I book marked it. They are so pretty

    CArol

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  17. These look like fun to make! Thanks for sharing the tutorial, Jacqueline!

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  18. I am not sure I would be brave enough to tear up a book even an old one, but they do look good.

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  19. Ciao Jacqueline,
    il fiore con la carta scritta è STUPENDO!
    Thanks so much!
    Grazie,grazie

    Maurizia

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  20. Thanks a million for the tutorial. I am sure I can make a few. I will be looking for the right type of book paper now.
    *Smiles*

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  21. These are just so lovely, Jacqueline! Thank you so much for posting these instructions. I'm definitely going to try one!

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  22. thanks for sharing this great tut, jacqueline:) gorgeous flowers!

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  23. Love this idea! I've made tissue ones before, but not paper. I found a HUGE old dictionary at a garage sale this Summer for 50 cents. The whole binding was ripped off and the pages are spilling out, so I think it would work great!

    Thanks forthe inspiration:-)

    xoxo
    Kathleen

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  24. Those are adorable, thank you for showing me how it's done.
    ~Cindy

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  25. These are so pretty, Jacqueline! Thanks for the tutorial.

    Blessings,
    Sandi

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  26. These look fun to make...with some rain coming in this weekend I just might try!
    Thanks!!

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  27. Oh my goodness... I love the book page paper flower!
    I just showed my daughter how to make these back in February for my granddaughter's birthday party. My daughter didn't know how to do it... but I tell you, the book page is wonderful!
    I want to make some. :) Pat

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  28. Oh my Goodness - how have I missed your wonderful blog. I love it. Love the flowers (thanks for the tutorial, I'm totally going to make some). Love your style and photos and ironstone and highchair and just everything! Joining now....

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