Make a Crepe Paper Flower Instead of a Bow! Vintage Style DIY Gift Topper

With Mother's Day coming up, and wedding season back this year, you might be wrapping some lovely gifts this spring! 

A few years ago I designed these giant crepe paper flowers for a friend's wedding backdrop. While wrapping a present for another friend's bridal shower this year I decided to scale the flower down to use instead of a bow on her gift! The petals are made from heavy crepe paper which is very sturdy. These paper flowers would look lovely on gifts for bridal showers, weddings, birthdays, Mother's Day, or for any old day, in fact! The recipient is sure to be delighted.

Using a heavier grade crepe paper for the petals is the real secret to making these flowers as it is stretchy, and holds its shape well. The paper I used for the petals is here.  I used vintage paper for the flower's center, but any type will do for that.

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I have made templates for the petals which you may download and print for free.  CLICK HERE to download.

Supplies:

• Heavy crepe paper in petal color
• Fine crepe paper in flower center color
• Scissors
• Low temp hot glue gun, glue sticks
• 3 inch chipboard circle
• Petal templates, CLICK HERE to download and print (remember to print at 100%, do not scale)

Step 1:

Print and cut out the petal templates. From the heavy petal colored crepe paper, cut 6 rectangles, each measuring 3 1/2 x 8 inches.  Ensure that the textured grain of the paper is running along the length of the rectangles.  Fold a rectangle in half (making it 3 1/2 x 4 inches.)  Set the large petal template on top of the crepe paper with the folded edge lined up with the straight bottom edge of the template.  Cut around the template. This will create a double-layered petal with a folded edge at the bottom.  Cut out petals from the remaining rectangles in the same way.

Step 2: 

Gather the lower folded edge of a petal with your fingers, and pinch it to leave creases where it was gathered.  Apply a small amount of low temp hot glue about 1/4 inch in from the edges of the petal, and then gather the paper again, holding it firmly until the glue sets.  Gather and glue the lower edges of all 6 petals.

Step 3:

Hold a petal with two hands.  Use your thumbs to gently stretch the center of the petal outward, and away from you.  Only stretch about 1 1/2 inches at the center of the petal, leaving the edges unstretched. This will create a rounded, cup shaped petal.  Then, slide your fingers in between the two petal layers to separate them.  Gently peel them apart, and fan them out so that they are offset from one another. The purpose of having the double petal like this is to create volume in the flower.  Complete all 6 petals in this way.

Step 4: 

Apply a dot of glue to a chipboard circle, about 1/2 inch in from the edge.  Press the base of a petal set onto the glue.  Hold the top of the petal upward until the glue sets to give the flower dimension.  Add the next petal with another dot of glue, overlapping the last petal slightly.  Continue adding petals all the way around the edge of the chipboard circle, overlapping each one slightly until you meet the first petal.  If you have applied them too closely and have a gap, just make an extra petal to fill in the blank space.   These flowers can be adjusted to be fuller by adding more petals.

Step 5:

Cut out three more rectangles of petal paper, this time measuring 3 x 6 inches. Use the small petal template to make 3 more petal sets using the same method as before.  Apply the petals to the center of the flower to fill in the open space.  Hold the tips of the petals upwards while the glue dots set.  If your flower has any bare spots at this point, just make extra petals to fill in the blanks.

Step 6:

To make the flower's center, cut a 2 x 12 inch strip of fine crepe paper in your accent color with the grain running along the short side (against the length.) Fold the strip into a small rectangle, and then cut a thin fringe, taking care to stop cutting 1/4 inch from the edge.  Unfold the strip, and then roll it up along the uncut edge.  Seal the end with a dab of glue.  Rough up the fringe by brushing it against your palm. This will make it look something like a dandelion.  Apply glue to the rolled end, and press it into the center of the flower.  

Step 7:

Gently stretch the outermost edge of each petal to create a ruffled effect.

The flower may now be attached to a wrapped present with either double stick tape, or a dot of hot glue.

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