Crafting A Paper Flower Backdrop For Your Wedding Day

Creating a paper flower backdrop is a fun, low-budget way to add a unique touch to your wedding. It's a simple DIY project that can be customized to fit your wedding's colour scheme and theme. All you need are some basic supplies like paper, glue, scissors, and a backdrop material of your choice, such as cardboard, foam boards, or chicken wire. You can experiment with different types of paper, such as cardstock or crepe paper, and choose from a variety of flower styles, including dahlias, broad dahlias, and easy flowers. With some planning and creativity, you can make a beautiful paper flower backdrop that will impress your guests and create lasting memories.

Choosing paper and colours

When making a paper flower wedding backdrop, the paper and colours you choose are important. The type of paper you use will determine how your flowers look and how long they last. For a lightweight and portable backdrop, tissue paper is a good option. It is cheap and can be used to create an ombre or watercolour effect. However, tissue paper is delicate and may not be suitable for outdoor weddings or venues with strong air conditioning.

If you want something sturdier, crepe paper is a good choice. Italian crepe paper is stretchier and stiffer than regular crepe paper, making it ideal for large flowers with petals that stand up. It is more expensive, but the result is a show-stopping flower that will last. You can also use a combination of Italian and regular crepe paper to create a variety of petals.

Cardstock is another option for making paper flowers. It comes in various colours and weights, with 65-80 lb cardstock being a good choice for paper flowers. Cardstock flowers can be cut by hand or with a cutting machine like a Cricut. They can be glued together with a good-quality craft glue.

When choosing colours for your paper flower backdrop, consider your wedding colours or the theme of your wedding. You can use solid colours, or mix and match to create an ombre effect. You can also use patterned paper or add glitter for a sparkly effect. If you want a more subtle look, stick to neutral colours like white, cream, and light green.

Finally, don't forget to choose a colour for the centre of your flowers. This can be the same colour as the petals, or you can choose a contrasting colour to make the centre stand out.

Cutting and shaping petals

To make paper flowers for a wedding backdrop, you can use cardstock or crepe paper. The cardstock should be of good quality, 65 lb, and 8.5" x 11" in size. For crepe paper, use Italian crepe paper, which is stiffer and stretchier than regular crepe paper. You will also need a paper plate, a hot glue gun, and glue sticks.

• Unroll the crepe paper and cut a strip vertically with the grain. The width of the strip will determine the size of your petals. For larger petals, cut a strip that is about 7.5 inches wide.
• Fold the strip in half, against the grain.
• Cut out a petal shape with the fold at the bottom. You can vary the shape of the petals—make them pointy, rounded, or frilly.
• Gather the base of the petal and pinch to crease it. Add a small amount of hot glue to the crease, regather, and hold until the glue sets.
• Gently stretch the centre of the petal away from you to create a cupped shape. Be careful not to stretch the top edge of the petal. Repeat this process to make 8-10 petals of the same size.
• Apply the petals to the paper plate by gluing the backside of each petal to the plate, placing them a couple of inches in from the edge. Slightly overlap each petal as you go along.
• Make 6-8 more petals, but this time, make them slightly smaller, approximately 5.5 inches wide and 7 inches long. Before applying these petals to the plate, fold the ends upwards so that they stand up vertically. Apply these petals to the plate in a circle just inside the ring of outer petals.
• Cut a rectangle of crepe paper in a complementary colour, roughly 6 inches tall. Fold the rectangle with the grain of the paper several times until you have a fold that is 2-2.5 inches wide. Then, fold it in half, against the grain. With the fold at the bottom, cut out an oblong petal shape. Unfold the paper, and you will have a double-ended petal. Stretch the centres of the petals to create cupped shapes, and then bring both sides together by pinching the centres. Make 15-20 of these smaller petals.
• Glue these smaller petals around the inner circle of the flower, letting them face every which way. They do not need to be applied uniformly.
• To create the inner fringe, cut a long strip of crepe paper in the centre colour (e.g. yellow). The strip should be roughly 4 x 20 inches. Fold the strip with the grain to create a small, manageable rectangle. Cut about 2/3 of the way into the fold, making close cuts of about 1/8 inch wide. Unfold the strip, and then roll up the fringe, gluing the end to hold it in place. Trim off any excess length, and glue the fringe into the centre of the flower.
• Finally, stretch the edges of the outer petals back and forth to create a ruffled effect.

Assembling the flowers

The fun part about making a paper flower backdrop is that you can get creative with the colours, patterns, and sizes of the flowers. You can make a variety of different flowers, or stick to one type. The number of flowers you make will depend on how dense you want your backdrop to be. The assembly process is fairly simple and can be done in a few steps.

Firstly, you will need to cut out the petals for your flowers. For a giant paper flower, cut a strip of Italian crepe paper vertically with the grain, and make it as wide as you want your outer petals. Fold the strip in half, against the grain, and cut out a petal shape with the fold at the bottom. You can choose any petal shape you like, such as pointy, rounded, or frilly. Repeat this process until you have 8-10 petals, which will be enough to go around the plate. Remember, the petals don't have to be uniform, so feel free to experiment with different shapes and sizes.

Next, you will need to gather the petal at the base, pinch to crease it, and then add a bead of hot glue before holding it tight until the glue sets. Stretch the centre of the petal away from you to create a cupped shape, being careful not to stretch the top edge. Repeat this process for all the petals.

Now it's time to attach the petals to your base. For a sturdy base, use a Chinet paper plate as it is thick and strong enough to support the flower. Apply the petals one by one to the paper plate, a couple of inches in from the edge. Glue the backside of the petal to the plate and hold it in place until the glue sets. Add the next petal, slightly overlapping the last one, and continue this process until you have attached all the outer petals.

For the inner petals, cut 6-8 petals in a slightly smaller size. Fold the ends of these petals upwards before applying them to the plate, which will help them stand up vertically. Apply these petals in a circle just inside the ring of outer petals.

To create the inner fringe, cut a long strip of crepe paper in yellow or your chosen centre colour. Fold it with the grain to a small, manageable rectangle, and then cut about 2/3 of the way into the fold, making close cuts of about 1/8 inch wide. Unfold the strip, roll up the fringe, and tack the end down with glue. Trim off any excess length and glue the fringe into the centre of the flower.

Finally, stretch the edges of the outer petals back and forth to create a ruffled effect. If you want to hang your flower as part of the backdrop, pierce the paper plate and add a wire hanger.

If you are making tissue paper flowers, the process is slightly different. First, cut 6"x6" squares of tissue paper and take a board with double-stick tape across the short side. Loosen the tissue paper squares by separating them from each other, then take one square and centre it over the top of a water bottle, pressing down. Hold the paper in place, flip it over, and press it into the tape. Repeat this process down the entire line of tape, adding another row about 1-2" over. Continue until the board is covered in tissue paper.

Attaching flowers to a backdrop

There are several ways to attach paper flowers to a backdrop, depending on the materials you are using and the type of display you want to create. Here are some methods you can use:

Using Adhesive:

• Double-stick tape: This method is used in the tissue paper backdrop tutorial. Apply double-stick tape to the backing board and press the tissue paper squares onto it. This creates a light and portable backdrop.
• Craft glue: Good-quality craft glue can be used to hold paper flowers together, especially when attaching them to a backing board.
• Hot glue gun: A low-temperature hot glue gun can be used to assemble paper flowers and attach them to various surfaces.
• Strong adhesive strips: Clear adhesive strips can be used to attach paper flowers to a solid backdrop or fabric background.

Mechanical Attachments:

• Wire and ribbon: You can attach paper flowers to a garland of greenery by stringing wire or ribbon through the base of the flowers and tying them in small groups. This allows for easy adjustment of the flower arrangement.
• Fishing line or twine: Paper flowers can be hung as a curtain by attaching them to fishing line or twine. This creates a lightweight and transparent hanging system.
• Floral wire and zip ties: For a more secure attachment, floral wire and zip ties can be used to attach paper flowers directly to a foam board. Poke holes in the foam board, twist the wire, and cut away any excess board.
• Command Strips: 3M Command Strips are mentioned in two tutorials as a way to attach paper flowers to foam core boards or directly to walls. They provide a damage-free hanging solution.

Other Methods:

• Nails: If your venue allows it, small nails can be used to hang paper flower backdrops.
• Clothes hangers: Straightened metal hangers can be taped to the top of foam core boards to create a hanging mechanism.
• Hooks: Over-the-door hooks can be attached to the top of each panel and hung on a frame.

These methods can be combined or modified to suit your specific needs and the materials you have available. Experiment with different techniques to find the best way to attach your paper flowers to your desired backdrop.

Displaying the backdrop

Firstly, consider the surface you will be attaching your paper flowers to. If you are attaching the flowers to a wall, it is important to be mindful of the paint. 3M Command Strips are a great option for hanging your flowers as they are less likely to damage the wall. If you are attaching your flowers to a solid backdrop, a hot glue gun or strong adhesive strips can be used.

If you are looking for a free-standing option, you can create a frame using PVC pipes or wood. For a more heavy-duty option, a wooden frame is recommended. You can then attach your flowers to the frame using hooks, hangers, or clear packing tape. If you are using a wooden frame, you can also use landscape stakes to provide additional support and stability.

Another creative way to display your paper flower backdrop is by using foam core boards. You can attach the flowers to the boards using double-stick tape, clear packing tape, or 3M Command Strips. These boards are easy to transport and can be hung up using small nails or command strips. This option provides flexibility, allowing you to line up and tack the boards into place, fluffing the paper flowers as needed.

If you are looking for a more unique and textured look, you can create a backdrop using tissue paper squares, a foam board, and chicken wire. Simply attach the tissue paper squares to the chicken wire and then glue the wire to a lumber frame. This option is easily transportable and can be made ahead of time.

Lastly, consider the weight of your paper flowers when choosing a display method. Heavier flowers may require a stronger adhesive or a more durable hanging option to ensure they stay securely in place.

Frequently asked questions