Let’s Make Newspaper Flowers

I was looking at the stack of newspapers that needed to be recycled, and I thought…

I should make flowers out of those.

So, I tried making some.

It was much mucho muchness fun.

After I had made a couple I decided to take some spray paint to them.

And then of course.

I was obsessed.

It began with a bit of testing of size and sheets….

I found that 6 layers of newspaper, cut down to 10" x 10" worked the best for my taste.

I decided to trim the end edges with scalloped scissors.

I liked the effect.

A lot.

So, I went with it…

I made these exactly like you would make accordion/fan tissue paper flowers for parade floats.

Folding back and forth, folds about 1.5" wide.

Securing the center with a pipe cleaner.

Then, all you do is hold your folded paper as I am below…

And carefully lift each layer to the center, one by one.

Use a method where you lift the first layer of each side to the center, then the 2nd, then the 3rd…

And so on and so forth.

Be careful and slow, because the paper can easily rip, but if it does, don't give up.

Mine have a few rips here and there that you can't see once the flower is fully opened.

And so…

You keep lifting your layers open…

Until you have something that looks like this.

All sides and layers, meeting up towards the center.

You will have two sides of your flower that are open.

At this point you can choose to staple the sides shut or not.

It's totally per your taste.

I wanted my flower to have a bit of a round shape, so I stapled a couple of the outside layers of the open edges shut, like so…

That's it.

Paper flower madness, here you come 😉

I can't stop thinking about the things you can do with these.

Make a beautiful garland with them.

Decorate a wedding car.

Use them for the 4th of July, with red white and blue ribbons.

Baby showers?

Birthdays?

Hang them from chandeliers.

Cluster them together to form a huge heart or cross for special events.

Etc.

As you know.

I can't leave well enough alone.

So I took out my fave.

Spray paint.

Of course, you should do this outside, or in a very well ventilated area.

I find that spray paint makes any paper more sturdy.

For example, my paper spider webs and paper snowflakes both got a dose of spray paint.

Sooooo.

I sprayed a thin coat of paint onto the newspaper flowers.

Blue…

Silver…

(you can sprinkle glitter onto the paint before it dries as well, hello fun yumm!)

Pink.

I love the pink, with the words peeking out like mixed media.

Love it.

(next time I might use my French or Chinese newspapers that I have collected here and there)

Also tried some white…

Sprinkled with gold glitter while wet.

Newspaper.

A few scalloped edges.

Some spray paint and glitter…

And there you are.

Your own snazzy newspaper flowers.

I feel…

Yes.

An addiction coming on.

Newspaper flowers made me crazy happy today.

I need to make more, now.

🙂

I think it's the making something out of free bits and bobs that always catches my heart.

A bouquet of these would be crazy fun.

Will you give them a whirl?

I hope yes.

 

Love, V