How to Make Easy and Fluffy Tissue Paper Flowers
September 14, 2012
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How to make DIY tissue paper flowers for parties or seasonal decor.
Learn how to make these light and fluff decorative flower bouquets with layers of tissue paper! They are perfect for seasonal parties, baby showers and birthdays.
I’m back today with a quick tutorial for an easy craft that I’m guessing many of your already know how to make -- but because I’m always years behind everyone else, I never knew how to make them till a few weeks ago.
I figured I’d share how easy they are just in case some of you are years behind the trends like me. :)
I decided to make some of these for my sisters's wedding shower after my friend Chris shared some pics of her daughter’s birthday party with me. Check it out her woodland party decor cause it’s GORGEOUS.
Here are the quick instructions to make your own tissue paper flowers...
Start with eight to ten sheets of tissue paper, stacked up (I like ten cause it makes them extra poofy), then start folding it accordion style:
Fold it all the way and when you’re done, find the middle and tie it up. I used a piece of floral wire, then tied a ribbon around that so I could hang them.
You could really get away with tying them up with just about anything, as long as it’s tight -- ribbon, string, whatever:
Next it’s time to make them look like a “flower” – take scissors and cut down each end.
You can do a half circle, for smaller “petals,” (picture on the left) or I found if you cut down one end one direction, then the other end the other direction, it makes even bigger petals (second photo):
These different edges give the flowers slightly different shapes.
I wanted to add some color to the white ones and first I thought about dipping them in some paint or food coloring water. But then I quickly realized I’d have to wait for them to dry before I could open them up and was way too impatient. ;)
Instead I took markers and colored the edges:
It took no time at all and gave them the hint of color that I wanted.
You’re almost done – now it’s time to open them up! Just take each layer of tissue and start pulling it away from the next toward the center of the flower:
Just keep pulling and fluff each layer of tissue and eventually you’ll get a beautiful paper flower!:
I’m now OBSESSED with them. You can vary the sizes and make giant flowers by using larger sheets of paper, and smaller ones with standard sizes.
Here’s how the edges came out:
On the one on the right I did pointy petals and didn’t like those quite as much. I prefer the softer version.
You could use a green piece of tissue paper to make leaves that can be hot glued around the outside of the flower.
I got a few different tissue colors, including a package that had three different blue tones, and those gave it an ombre effect:
Aren’t they crazy fun??
And say it with me…you know you want to…
They’re. so. FLUFFY!!!!!!
(Name that movie. Can’t wait till 2013 for the next one.)
I tied them up under the light fixture and they made a HUGE statement at the shower without spending a lot of money:
I may or may not have left them up for a week after, just so I could enjoy them a little longer. The girly girl in me is in luuurve.
You can find kits to make these online and at craft stores, but I’ve seen them cost anywhere from $13 to $18 for eight or so. The kits just give you the tissue already folded with the ends cut – this part takes about two minutes so you’ll save a TON doing these yourself! They really are super easy!
So am I the last person on earth to make these? Are you all way ahead of me? Anyone not know how till now?
These are so fun! I still haven't made any of these. I kind of want to make a bouquet of orange and yellow ones for Fall / Thanksgiving.
ReplyDeleteSarah
I love these!! I'm late to the party too I guess. I have the perfect plan for them!! I'm going to use them though for my son's 3rd birthday...to make a poofy cookie monster :-)
ReplyDeleteFeeling a bit foolish since i just orders some of these from www.beaucoup.com
ReplyDeleteI'll know next time!
I actually bought one of the Martha Stewart kits and was very disappointed at the quality of tissue paper. It seemed to rip very easily when making them. I only ended up making 1 and quit after that. Did you have that problem with the tissue paper you used? Is there a trick to making them, without ripping? Thanks so much!!!
ReplyDeleteCats, I only had that problem on one of the white ones because that paper was so thin. I just tore out that "petal" and used the poof anyway. The nicer paper did not do it at all, but I learned you do want to be kind of gentle.
ReplyDelete*Raises hand* I will admit to not knowing how to make these so THANK YOU for sharing. =)
ReplyDeleteThanks Sarah! BTW...I LOVE your blog! Thanks for sharing all your wonderful ideas.
ReplyDeleteGirl, I first made those in 1972. I am not kidding. I was in 3rd grade and we learned to make them. I'm sure you weren't even born then, were you? But I had a really cool teacher, and she taught us to make them. Mine was hot pink and bright yellow. I kept it in my bedroom for years! (Yes, I was a boring kid.)
ReplyDeleteHope you're having a great day! Your pom-poms look awesome--and you're right! They make a huge, fun statement. Lots of bang for the buck!
Nope, I haven't made them yet. I was planning on trying them out next month for my girl's birthday. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI used to get PAID to make these at Six Flags when I was in high school. Need to make some of these as backdrops for photo shoots! Thanks for the reminder. How did you tie yours? We used to use a rubberband attached to a stick.
ReplyDeleteYou know I love these! We made small ones when I was in grade school back in the early 70's... like Richella I had an awesome teacher who loved teaching us all kinds of crafty things. Mine didn't last long as we moved soon thereafter... yep the life of an army brat! :)
ReplyDeleteDo you know I haven't made them since but would love to figure out how or even where to incorporate them into our decor.... with 3 teen boys its won't happen in their rooms, haha! Hey... maybe this would be a great project to make with our junior high girls! Thanks for the idea!!
When I was a kid (we're talking 40-45 years ago!) my sisters and I would make small flowers out of 2-ply toilet paper. It gave us something to do on a rainy day. It's hard to believe that nowadays people charge money for kits or the flowers already made. LOL
ReplyDeleteMade these for my girls’ room! Now I just have to hang them...
ReplyDeleteTHIS is what I plan to do too :)
DeleteDespicable me!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tutorial!
When I was a kid I helped my uncle make these for a float. We used boxes of tissues then poked them into chicken wire stapled to the bottom of a trailer as the skirt.
ReplyDeleteLater, my mom did something similar in the shape of a snowman.
Cute. I love that your cat likes to make an appearance in your projects. Too cute. He must love you!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a kid (a long time ago) we spent a lot of time at my grandparents home. They had a BIG house with lots of bedrooms. Almost every room had a box of Kleenex! Me and my girl cousins would go from room to room collecting different color of Kleenex to make poofy flowers like this. One of my favorite childhood memories of my grandparents home.
ReplyDeleteI have made these for the last few years. I have a 2 year old daughter and make them for her parties. If I didn't have a girl I doubt I would have any use for them. You can also make these using tulle. I made small tulle ones to go on garland for her tutu party. It turned out SUPER cute and very girly!
ReplyDeleteNever thought about mixing colors or coloring the edges. I'll have to try that out next time :)
Very pretty!
ReplyDeleteDo you have a picture of how you tied the center? I don't quite understand that part...
These are great fun! I have always loved them but never looked into how to make them before. I'm hosting a Halloween Craft Party for a bunch of toddlers so I'm thinking I should make some in orange, black and white and cute the edges super pointy to make some fun decorations! Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE these!! I, too, was a late one to the tissue puff party. But since I had a baby girl 2 months ago i have made several of these. I grouped them together and hung them over her crib as a mobile. She LOVES tem too :)
ReplyDeleteI've made them with napkins (ikea has pretty hues), and my go to tying material is dental floss :)
ReplyDeletethose are some huge poofs!! I bought some for a party at hobby lobby, when we tried to fluff them, it didn't look very pretty! so we never used them. might have to give them another try!!
ReplyDeleteMany, many, many years ago when I was young we made these out of tissue paper for parties. We made flowers like them out of kleenex. I have not made them of late but, have been seeing them all over the place. Just can't think of a place to put them.....They are a lot of fun....
ReplyDeleteoh my word! thank you so much for posting this tutorial! i wanted to make these for our daughter's room and now i know how!!! eek...i know what i'm doing this weekend! :-)
ReplyDeletethank you so much!!!
I have never made these before but I would love to. I think I will done it for the Christmas season.
ReplyDeleteI'm actually making a whole bunch this evening to hang as a mobile over my baby boy's crib. They'll be white, navy, orange, and glitter on white. I hope they turn out as cute as yours!
ReplyDeleteso funny...I too made these back in the seventies....with kleenex! (Someone mentioned toilet paper and it reminded me!) I think we just did it b/c we were bored...and had all of three tv channels to watch, and they were fuzzy! So yes, I've made them, but I love the idea of making huge ones! I too have a boy, but he may also have to deal with them!
ReplyDeleteI made these with Kleenex as a kid! Wow, now that's taking me back...hey, are you trying to make me feel old, hmmm...lol!
ReplyDeleteYou did a good job! We do a lot of birthday parties at home, and I love to decorate with them. I get tissue paper at WM or The Dollar Tree.
ReplyDeleteMy sisters and I shared a room in the 70s and we made these. My mom let us paint the walls of our room pink, blue, lavender and yellow, each wall a different color and we made tissue flowers to decorate our room.
ReplyDeleteTo make them fuller, after you've accordian folded, fold in half and on the end that is not lose, cut it into a "V" - you'll need good scissors to do this. Then tie the string around the middle and fluff.
ReplyDeleteI totally feel you on the boys issue. I've hear about these fabulousnesses for years, but never checked them out. Think maybe some black ones for Halloween? Maybe with a little glitter? Thanks for the tutorial!!
ReplyDeleteI also used to help my gramdmother make these out of colored Kleenex for Memorial Day cemetary flowers. We would tint the edges of the white ones with rouge ( as it was called in the 40's & 50's). Also sprayed a bit of perfume on the ones she let me keep. You certainly have stirred up some wonderful memories!
ReplyDeleteNo, never done this, but now I'm thinking I need to! Thanks for the how-to! :)
ReplyDeleteI made a ton of these for a shower I threw a few months back...and then I never wanted to throw them away! This week my husband finally tossed them because they were filling up a closet :)
ReplyDeletealso great with any very light fabric - instead of pressing - use iron and even spray starch.... when done you can spray opened flower with starch....
ReplyDeleteon either paper or fabric ( cloth pen ) you can color from the interior fold to the exterior edge with either lines or daubs of color
I made my first poms this past spring for my daughter's birthday party- fun, frilly, girly, and CHEAP! :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't made these since I was a little kid. I had totally forgotten how and this is such a great reminder. They are seriously adorable!
ReplyDeletewww.homesweetabode.blogspot.com
I learned how to make those years ago, but forgot. So thanks so much for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteThe only time I have ever made them was to place on top of wrapped presents (small version) but using them as party decorations is a great idea!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!
Blessings, Joanne
I made these as a little girl in the 1950s but it never occurred to me to shape the ends. These are awesome! Thanks for posting.
ReplyDeleteOK, I'm going to date myself here...but we used to make these during recess time in grade school when it was too cold to go outside.
ReplyDeleteWe used plain old Kleenex then so they were much smaller of course. And they were much softer. Then we'd spray them with perfume and they looked/smelled almost like a real carnation!
Good ideas just keep coming around :-)
I first learned of these when my daughter saw them at a play we attended. Someone presented one of the actors with a tissue flower bouquet instead of a real one. We thought it was so beautiful and so clever that we googled how to make it when we got home. After learning how to, on a youtube tutorial, we have made them several times since.... as present toppers, bouquets for teachers, poofs for parties, and even as a
ReplyDeletecraft activity at my daughter's 5th birthday party. I pre-cut the squares and the girls
had a ball choosing their own color combinations. After folding, we twisted long, dark green pipe cleaners around them before cutting the ends.... to hold the flowers together and to act as stems. They were a huge hit!
I love, love, love your blog, btw. It's the only one I read all the way through, every single time. Your ideas are both practical and inspiring- a rare combination! Thank you for what you do.
Okay, I've got a confession. I've not made these yet and didn't know how until now!!! I've seen them at baby showers and swooned over half a dozen on Pinterest, but have not gotten around to it yet. So, rest easy, you are not the last person on earth! ;) I'm thinking these would be adorable in my girls reading nook that I will soon be working on. Thanks for the inspiration! Always the best ideas!!
ReplyDeleteMy mom taught me how to make these with a Kleenix tissue (it was in the days before Puffs!) when I was really little.
ReplyDeleteShe opened the tissue to full size, folded it in half and then made the accordion pleats. The folded part was either taped, or wrapped with thread at the "stem".
Then she tore the very edges of the petal ends of the tissue to give it a ragged edge and separated the two-ply tissue, which created 4 layers.
Then she'd give it a brisk shake to fluff it all out. They turn out to be about the size of a carnation, and look a lot like them.
A few years later, in the "flower power" era of the 60s, I made some larger ones of orange and yellow tissue paper to decorate my room. I put florist wire through the folded middle part and used florists tape to hold the "stem" together and made a bouquet.
This may be one of the first crafts my mom taught me. A very nice memory. Seems like she would even pass me a tissue when I got fidgety in church... folding a flower would keep me quiet until the service was over.
like you and now i see quite a few others i too have never made a paper flower!!! but you have put an end to that as of tomorrow morning my home shall be filled with paper flowers. Thanks for showing all of us how to make them.can't wait to get started.
ReplyDeleteI too have never made a tissue paper flower -- but there's a wedding coming up and I foresee myself making a LOT of them, so thank you very much for the timely tutorial!
ReplyDeleteI actually bought some of these for my daughter's beach-themed birthday party this summer and loved how they looked hanging together. I absolutely love that you showed this simple tutorial to make our own! Yours turned out beautifully! I have some great patterned tissue paper that would be awesome to use! Think how pretty patterned Christmas tissue paper, all sparkly and gorgeous would be to use. I am so doing that!
ReplyDeleteLove the poms :) As for the movie--Despicable Me :)
ReplyDeleteNow I want to make black and orange ones for my Halloween party! Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteThese are fabulous! I absolutely LOVE them! Would it be wrong to make them for my own birthday party? ;)
ReplyDeleteThese look great! We used them for my daughter's wedding, both at the church and the reception venue. It was a family project! You can see it here if you'd like:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.martysmusings.net/2011/11/pom-poms.html
Marty@http://www.martysmusings.net/
I also used to make these in the 70s when I was in high school, but I learned from first seeing them made in Mexico. I lived in Laredo at the time and we used to go to Mexico to shop and eat. I saw a lady making them and told my friends. We started using them on parade floats, for football game dances - any kind of decorating event. Combining them with streamers is the easiest, least expensive and most colorful decorating you can do!
ReplyDeleteI wonder how I can incorporate these into my son's 6th birthday party! I already have the tissues and string . . . Hmmmmm . . .
ReplyDeleteI think we used to make these in elementary school but I've completely forgotten how. I think maybe I'll give some a try for my soon to be 5 year old's birthday party at the end of this month! Thanks for the push!
ReplyDeleteI used to make tons of these when I was a kid. Yours look fab! :)
ReplyDeleteWe are your newest followers!!! I'm so glad I randomly came across your blog! I'm excited to keep reading all of the fun new info you have to share! http://moresisterstuff.blogspot.com/
ReplyDeleteSo cute to cover the light with these. I have always left mine up and then even moved them to one of our kiddo's rooms. You did a great job with those. They make me smile. And your PB wood art looks fantastic. Wow.
ReplyDeleteThose are so fun!! I'd definitely be leaving them up in my house for awhile, a pop of happy to enjoy!
ReplyDeleteJanell
i've never made them, yet always wanted to know how!
ReplyDeletei will get the supplies tonight and do it!
Too cute! I have never seen them before, but I will be making some for my daughter's next birthday!
ReplyDeleteI've been looking for a tutorial for these and finally found yours. They look great! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWow, it's been a year since you wrote this post....I am very behind cos I had no clue how to do them! I saw some at a party this weekend and so wanted to ask how to make them but you rescued me. I am so doing these for anything and everything.
ReplyDeleteI read this post WAAAAYYY back when you first published it and was SO excited to see it! I knew I'd need it SOME day!...Well, this is THAT day! I'm having a baby shower at my house next month & will definitely be making several of these in PINKS and AQUAS! So excited to be doing girl colors, too! (I have 3 boys, so there is very little pink going on around here!) Thanks so much for all the tips and tricks and how-tos you share each day. One of our next projects coming up will be a padded headboard. Can you guess where I'll be going for a how-to?! Love your blog and SO glad you're not going anywhere anytime soon!
ReplyDeleteChristie Baker
I'm even further behind as this post was a way long time a go but now I've made my first pouf!
ReplyDelete