Paper flower bouquet - DIY

These gorgeous inexpensive flowers can be made not only for the bride but also for the bridal party.  There are several advantages in choosing to have them for your wedding day flowers. A paper flower bouquet won’t wilt or droop and can be made to match your wedding colour palette no matter the season. Added to that, they can be made months in advance which will help ease the pressure as your wedding day approaches. 

Materials: 

• Assorted sheets of 120 gsm paper in various shades for flowers and leaves
• 1 Packet 4 x 200 mm chenille pipe cleaners
• 25cm lengths of fine craft wire  
• Floral tape
• Craft glue and scissors 

How to create:

1. Download the template
2. Trace the flowers and leaf templates on to coloured paper and cut out. Erase any pencil marks.
3. To make the stamens for the centre of the flower, cut strips of paper 25 x 200 mm. Along the long edge make repeated cuts approximately 2mm apart making sure to cut only ¾ of the width of the paper. You should end up with a length of paper that is uncut on one side and has a fringe on the other.
4. To assemble the stamen, apply some glue to one uncut end of the fringed length of paper. Place a pipe cleaner on the glue and hold in position until dry. Continue spreading the glue along the uncut edge and roll the paper around the pipe cleaner until you have created the centre stamen. (See image A & B)
5. To assemble the flowers, begin with the smaller petals. If you would like to give some of them a slight curl you can shape them by rolling them around a pencil or your finger. You will need four small petals spaced evenly around the stamen to create the centre of the flower. Using one petal at a time, apply the glue to the base of each petal and wrap around the stamen stem and hold in place to secure. (See image C)
6. Follow the same steps as above but this time using five larger petals to complete the flower.
7. To assemble the leaves glue the craft wire to the centre of the underside of the leaf approximately 2 cms from the tip and allow to dry. The wire enables you to shape the leaf as you desire. 
8. To complete assembly take two leaves and position them at the base of the flower. Wrap the wire of the leaf around the flower stem to help hold in position before wrapping with floral tape. Floral tape needs to be stretched as you wrap to help it adhere to itself and stay in place. Begin by stretching the tape a little and wrap it around the base of the flower a few times.  Continue wrapping by twisting the flower stems and stretching the tape as you go making sure to overlap the tape a little at the same time.
9. Group together in a bunch, trim the ends to neaten and tie with a beautiful bow.