By Paper Crafts Contributor, Lauren Romano.
Valentine’s Day flowers are lovely, but they’re also expensive and they die shortly after you buy them. A better option is to make paper flowers for yourself or to give as a gift. However, make small centerpieces instead of making a bouquet. It may sound complicated, but all you need is a little patience and a handful of inexpensive items.
What you’ll need:
Step 1. Cut tissue paper into squares. The smaller the squares the smaller the flowers. I cut each square into 5 inch pieces and alternated between using red tissue paper and one that’s heart-patterned.
Step 2. Take each square and fold it into a triangle. Follow that up by folding each triangle in half, then in half again.
Step 3. Hold each triangle so the fold faces to the left, then cut off the top of the triangle so you form a curve at the top.
Step 4. Next, cut off the lower point at a curve.
Step 5. Open up the triangles; each piece should look like a flower that’s missing the center.
Step 6. Make a cut in each piece from the top of the petal to the center so they are no longer solid pieces.
Step 7. You’ll notice the pieces have creased sections which is going to help with gluing the flowers together. Take one section and overlap the two ends until it’s the size you want for the outer layer. Don’t glue the ends down; instead, glue down the second or third section in.
Step 8. Repeat Step 7 for each layer until you get to the center. As you go along, make the layers smaller and put a small drop of glue on the bottom of each layer so they stick together.
Step 9. To make the center piece, roll one of the layers into a cone shape. Put a small drop of glue on the sides of the point, then stick it through the center of the flower layers. Pinch the layers around the point so they curve in.
Step 10. After the flower dries, place it on top of a glass candle holder. Opt for a candle whose coloring complements the colors of the flower.
