Crafting Paper Flower Bouquets From Books For Weddings

Paper flowers are a beautiful, inexpensive and long-lasting alternative to fresh flowers for your wedding. They are perfect as wedding mementos and can be made to suit the colour scheme of your special day. In this guide, you will learn how to make a paper flower wedding bouquet using books.

Choosing the right paper for your flowers and vase

When it comes to choosing the right paper for your paper flowers and vase, there are a few things to consider. The type of paper you choose will depend on the look you want to achieve, the durability of your bouquet, and the ease of the crafting process. Here are some tips to help you select the best paper for your project:

Type of Paper:

• Construction paper: Construction paper is a common choice for paper flowers as it is readily available and comes in various colours. It is also easy to work with and can create vibrant and colourful flowers. However, construction paper may not be as durable as other types of paper and can tear more easily.
• Cardstock: Cardstock is a medium-weight paper that is slightly thicker and more durable than construction paper. It is a good choice if you want to create more sturdy flowers and vase. Cardstock is available in various colours and can be cut and shaped easily.
• Crepe paper: Crepe paper has a unique texture that can add interest and dimension to your flowers. It is often used for making paper flowers as it is thin, flexible, and easy to shape. Crepe paper flowers can look delicate and elegant.
• Book pages: For a unique and vintage look, consider using book pages for your flowers. This is a creative way to upcycle old books and give your bouquet a one-of-a-kind appearance. You can choose a book that holds special meaning to you or one with interesting text or patterns.
• Rice paper: If you plan to create an origami vase, rice paper is an excellent choice. It is thick, easy to fold, and has a nice finish. Rice paper is less likely to tear than thinner types of paper, making it ideal for intricate vase designs.

Other Considerations:

• Thickness and stiffness: When choosing your paper, consider the thickness and stiffness of the material. Thicker papers, like cardstock, can give your flowers a more robust appearance, while thinner papers, like tissue paper, can create a delicate and lightweight effect. Stiff papers may be more challenging to work with, especially for intricate folding or shaping.
• Colour and pattern: Select colours and patterns that complement each other and fit the theme of your bouquet. You can choose solid colours, patterned papers, or a combination of both. Consider the overall colour scheme you want to achieve and how different shades and designs will work together.
• Ease of crafting: Some types of paper are easier to work with than others. For example, crepe paper is flexible and simple to shape, while construction paper is easy to cut and glue. If you are a beginner, opt for papers that are forgiving and don't require intricate techniques.

Remember, the most important thing is to choose a paper that you feel comfortable working with and that aligns with the style and theme of your paper flower bouquet and vase.

Cutting and folding paper to create petals

Cutting the Paper:

• Start by gathering your materials, including paper, scissors, and a template (if desired). You can use different types of paper such as construction paper, printer paper, or even book pages.
• Decide on the size and number of petals you want for each flower. As a general guide, you'll need around 3-5 petals per flower, and you can adjust the size of the petals according to your preference for bigger or smaller flowers.
• If you're drawing your own template, start by drawing 14 flower petals on a sheet of paper, with 2 petals of each size. This will give you 7 different-sized petals, each slightly bigger than the previous one. Ensure that your petals are delicate in shape and not too big.
• Alternatively, you can find flower petal templates online and adapt them to your desired size and shape.
• Once you have your template ready, copy or trace it onto your chosen paper. You will need enough petals to form each flower, usually around 5 petals per flower, depending on the style.

Folding the Petals:

• Fold each petal down the middle diagonally, creating a clean crease in the centre. This step is important to get right, as it will form the base for your petal shape.
• Next, fold the centre edges of the petal towards the top corner, creating a small square or diamond shape with triangular halves folded over. Ensure that your folds are precise and sharp.
• Open up the kite shape by folding the open edges of the diamond outwards and flattening the paper. This will create two kite shapes on either side of the diamond base.
• Bring the edges of the kite shapes together and apply a small amount of glue to hold them in place, forming a small cone shape. Allow the glue to dry for a minute before proceeding.
• Repeat these folding and gluing steps for each petal, creating 3-5 petals per flower, depending on your desired fullness.

Assembling the Flowers:

• Once you have a sufficient number of petals, it's time to attach them to a stem. You can use floral wire, pipe cleaners, or even sticks for the stems.
• Find the centre of the flower's back and apply glue. Attach the stem to the glued area, ensuring that the petals are pointing upward relative to the stem.
• Repeat this process for each flower, allowing the glue to dry completely before handling.

By following these steps, you can create beautiful and unique paper petals for your wedding bouquet. Feel free to experiment with different paper types, colours, and petal shapes to make your bouquet truly yours!

Curling and gluing petals to create flowers

Curling and gluing petals is a crucial step in creating paper flowers for your wedding bouquet. Here is a detailed, step-by-step guide to achieving this:

Curling the Petals:

• Using a piece of foam or a similar material, and a rounded tool such as a wooden spoon or the end of a cosmetic brush, press the tool firmly along the edges of the petals to create a curled effect. The harder you press, the more defined the curl will be. Be careful not to break the paper.
• Alternatively, you can use your fingers to gently curl the petals. Start by holding the petal at the base and gently rolling it towards the tip. This method gives you more control over the curl and allows you to create a more natural, soft curl.

Gluing the Petals:

• Once your petals are curled, it's time to assemble them into flowers. Gather your petals in piles of different sizes, with two petals of each size per flower.
• Using a glue gun or regular glue, apply a small amount of glue to the centre of each petal. You can also use beads or brads (small wire nails with curved heads) to secure the petals together.
• Start with the smallest petals and work your way up. Overlap the petals slightly as you glue them together to create a full and luscious flower. Ensure the glue is completely dry before moving on to the next petal.
• Once all your petals are glued together, attach them to long wires to create the flower stems. You can use floral wire, lollipop sticks, or any similar stick-like object.
• If desired, wrap the stems with floral tape or ribbon to give them a more polished look and to cover any visible wires.

By following these steps, you will be able to create beautiful, curled petals and assemble them into flowers for your paper wedding bouquet.

Attaching flowers to stems and arranging them in a bouquet

Attaching the flowers to stems and arranging them into a bouquet is the final step in making a paper flower wedding bouquet. This is how you do it:

Attaching Flowers to Stems

• If you are using a hot glue gun, put on your hot glue finger caps to protect your fingers.
• Add hot glue inside the sepal of the flower, around the bent wire. Press the wire from underneath the sepal to ensure it is well attached.
• Once the glue has set, add more hot glue to cover the entire centre of the sepal.
• Press the bottom of the flower onto the glue and apply pressure to adhere the sepal to the flower base.
• Repeat these steps for all the flowers you want to attach to stems.

Arranging the Flowers in a Bouquet

• Decide how you want to arrange your bouquet. Lay out all of your assembled flowers and leaves on your work surface in the approximate location you want them to be in your bouquet.
• Use hot glue to attach the flowers without stems directly to the foam hemisphere. Apply a generous amount of glue to the bottom of the flower and press it down onto the foam. Hold it in place with medium pressure until the glue dries.
• If you are unsure about the placement of some flowers, use a small amount of hot glue to hold them in place temporarily. Once you have decided on the permanent placement, gently pull them off, add more glue, and attach them permanently.
• After your flowers are attached, add leaves between them wherever you think they look best. Apply a small amount of hot glue to the leaf "stem" and press it down onto the foam.
• If you have gaps, use leaves or small flowers to fill them in and hide the foam.
• If you have made flowers with wire stems, gently push the free end of each wire stem into the foam wherever you would like your taller flowers to be.
• If some of the stems are too long, pull them out, cut them with wire cutters, and push the shorter stem back into the same hole in the foam.
• It is easy to rearrange taller flowers in your bouquet by pulling the wire stem out of the foam and inserting it back into a different spot.

Your paper flower wedding bouquet is now complete!

Decorating your bouquet and adding finishing touches

Now that you have your paper flowers ready, it's time to decorate your bouquet and give it some extra visual appeal. Here are some ideas to help you with that:

Decide on a theme or colour scheme :

It's important to approach the flowers and the vase as a whole. Consider the occasion for which you're making the bouquet. For example, a Halloween decoration may feature spooky oranges and blacks, while a Valentine's gift might lean on conventional reds, whites and pinks.

Wrap the vase:

You can wrap construction paper or coloured paper around the vase and secure it with tape. This will give you a blank canvas to decorate. The colour of the paper will impact the overall look, and you can even use multiple colours for a bolder statement.

Draw a design on the vase:

Use your creativity to decorate the vase. You can use markers, pencil crayons or even watercolours to create geometric patterns or drawings. For a wedding bouquet, consider drawing the bride and groom, a wedding cake, or a ring to make it unique and memorable.

Accent your flower petals:

Add intricate designs or shaded textures to your petals to bring extra life to the bouquet. You can use pencil crayons to add simple shading, which will significantly improve the overall look.

Arrange the flowers in the vase:

The placement of each flower can be a creative statement. Evenly distributing them across the front and back is a safe option, but feel free to experiment with different arrangements to see what looks best.

Add ribbons and lace:

You can wrap the stems of your flowers with ribbons and lace to give them a more elegant and decorative touch. You can also add beads or other small decorative elements to complete the look.

Remember, the key is to be creative and have fun with the process. There are endless possibilities for customising your paper flower bouquet, so feel free to experiment and add your personal touch!

Frequently asked questions