Create A Unique Recycled Paper Flower Bridal Bouquet

Paper flowers are a great way to add a unique and sustainable touch to your wedding. In this guide, we'll show you how to make a beautiful recycled paper flower bouquet that will impress your guests and last long after the big day. From choosing the right materials to assembling the bouquet, we'll take you through each step to ensure your paper flowers look stunning and elegant. So, get your creative juices flowing and let's dive into the world of paper flower crafting!

Choosing the right type of paper

Type of Paper

The type of paper you choose will impact the overall aesthetic and durability of your flowers. Construction paper, with its variety of colours, is a popular choice for paper flowers. It is readily available and can add a vibrant touch to your bouquet. However, if you're looking for something more elegant and delicate, consider using crepe paper. Crepe paper has a soft, textured surface that can give your flowers a more realistic and natural appearance. It is also easy to cut and shape, making it a versatile option.

Thickness and Quality

The thickness and quality of the paper are important considerations. Thick, high-quality paper, such as cardstock or card paper, will give your flowers a sturdy and long-lasting structure. It holds its shape well and is less likely to tear during the cutting and folding process. On the other hand, thinner paper, such as standard printing paper, can be more challenging to work with but may be suitable for smaller flowers or those with intricate details.

Recycled Content

Since you are creating a recycled paper flower bouquet, look for paper made from recycled materials. Using recycled paper not only reduces waste but also adds a unique touch to your bouquet. Old novels, vintage maps, or discarded wallpaper can be given a new lease of life as beautiful flowers. Not only will your bouquet be environmentally friendly, but it will also have a one-of-a-kind charm.

Colour and Pattern

The colour and pattern of the paper will play a significant role in the overall design of your bouquet. Consider whether you want a cohesive colour scheme or a mix of vibrant shades. You can even experiment with patterned paper, such as pages from old books or magazines, to add a quirky touch. If you're creating a bridal bouquet, soft neutrals and pastels can give an elegant and romantic feel.

Ease of Folding

If you plan to create intricate folds for your flowers, choose a paper that is easy to work with and folds well. Rice paper, for example, is known for its smooth surface and crisp foldability, making it ideal for origami flowers. It is thicker than standard paper, giving your flowers a three-dimensional appearance. However, if you're a beginner, construction paper or standard printing paper can also be good options to start with.

When choosing the right type of paper for your recycled paper flower wedding bouquet, consider the availability, cost, and your own crafting skills. With some creativity and experimentation, you can transform recycled paper into stunning flowers that will make your wedding bouquet unique and memorable.

Cutting and folding the petals

To make recycled paper flower wedding bouquets, you'll need to cut and fold the petals with precision. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Cutting the Petals:

• Start by cutting your chosen recycled paper into squares. Make sure the squares are as large as possible, as you'll need ample material for the folds. Aim for 3-5 squares for each flower in your bouquet.
• Place the paper with the side you want facing outward facing down. This is important, especially if your paper has different colours or patterns on each side.
• Now, pull one corner of the paper over to the opposite diagonal side, and cut off the excess strip that remains. This will give you a perfect square.
• Cut out teardrop or petal shapes from the paper. An easy way to do this is to cut straight from the roll of paper. You can also try using a template or drawing the petals freehand.

Folding the Petals:

• Fold the square diagonally, leaving a firm crease in the centre. This initial fold is important, so take your time to ensure it's precise.
• Fold the centre edges up towards the top corner, creating two triangular halves folded over a diamond base.
• Fold the open edges of the diamond in half, outward towards the outer edges of the triangles. This will create a 'half-kite' shape.
• Open up the kite shape over the diamond base, forming a full kite shape. You should now have two kite shapes, one on each side of the diamond.
• Bring the edge folds together to create a small cone, and secure it with a small amount of glue. Allow the glue to dry for about a minute before proceeding.
• Repeat the above steps to create 3-5 petals for each flower, depending on how full you want your flowers to be.

Once you've cut and folded your petals, you can start assembling your flowers by gluing the petals to the stems. Remember to be cautious and take your time, especially when working with glue and delicate paper folds.

Attaching petals to stems

Gather Your Materials:

Before you begin, ensure you have all the necessary materials. You will need paper, floral wire or alternative stems, glue, scissors, and any desired decorations such as ribbon or lace. Floral wire is recommended for the stems as it is flexible and easy to manipulate. However, you can also get creative and use materials like popsicle sticks, wooden sticks from your backyard, or pipe cleaners.

Prepare Your Petals:

The key to a beautiful paper flower is taking your time with the folds and creases. Start by cutting your chosen paper into squares. You will need 3-5 squares per flower, depending on how full you want your bouquet to be. Fold each square diagonally, then bring the corners up to the centre, creating a small diamond shape. Next, fold the open edges of the diamond outwards to form a "kite" shape. Finally, bring the edges together and secure them with a small amount of glue, forming a cone-shaped petal. Allow the glue to dry before handling further.

Attach Petals to Stems:

Once you have a collection of petals, it's time to attach them to the stems. Apply a small amount of glue to the centre of the flower's back and attach the stem, ensuring the petals are facing upward. Hold the petal in place for a few seconds until the glue sets. Repeat this process for each petal, working your way outward to create a full flower. You can use 3-5 petals per flower, depending on the desired fullness.

Secure and Arrange:

After attaching all the petals, give the glue a few minutes to dry securely. You can use hot glue or regular glue, but hot glue will provide a stronger and faster-drying bond. Once dry, gently adjust the petals as needed to ensure they are evenly spaced and arranged to your liking. You can also add a small amount of glue at the base of each petal to secure it to the stem and enhance the flower's structure.

Embellish and Finalise:

Now, you can add the finishing touches to your bouquet. Consider wrapping the stems with ribbon, lace, or twine to give them a more elegant appearance and to cover any visible glue or tape. You can also add leaves or other embellishments to the stems for a more natural look. Finally, arrange the flowers into a bouquet, securing them with ribbon or twine.

Creating recycled paper flower bouquets for your wedding can be a fun and rewarding project. Take your time, and don't be afraid to experiment with different colours, paper types, and stem options to create a unique and personalised arrangement.

Making the vase

Choosing the Right Paper

First, select the right type of paper for your vase. While construction paper is a good option, thick rice paper is ideal for origami as it creases well and doesn't tear easily.

Creating the Waterbomb Base

To begin constructing your vase, you will need to create a waterbomb base. Start by folding a large square piece of paper in half diagonally, and then unfold it. Next, fold it in half diagonally in the opposite direction, and then unfold again. You should now have four distinct creases running through the centre of the paper.

Opening the Waterbomb

Now, gently push the paper up from opposing ends inwards, holding the centre down. This will cause the waterbomb's creases to open up into a triangle. Continue applying pressure until the waterbomb stands up. Smooth out any crumpled edges if needed.

Fleshing Out the Vase

With the waterbomb base complete, you should have something resembling an obtuse triangle. Take the two far corners of this triangle and fold them upwards towards the opposite side. Fold the right side over to the left, and then unfold. Repeat this process on the left side. This will create the appearance of a bottomless cup.

Making the Squash Folds

Make squash folds on the left and right sides of your vase, and then flip it over and repeat on the other side. Squash folds are a common origami technique where you press down on the edges of the paper after making the initial fold. These folds will give your vase a solid framework.

Opening Up the Vase

With the squash folds in place, you can now gently open up the vase from the inside out, being careful not to dislodge any of the folds. To finish, fold the overlapping creases on the inside of your vase to hide them from view.

Decorating the Vase

You can decorate your vase in a variety of ways. One option is to wrap construction paper around it, taping it in place, and then drawing a design with markers, pencil crayons, or even watercolours. You could also try your hand at origami and create intricate folds to give your vase a unique look without the need for additional paper.

Decorating the bouquet

Now for the fun part: decorating the bouquet!

First, decide on the look you're going for. It's a good idea to approach the flowers and the vase as one cohesive unit, rather than designing them separately. 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 feature reds, whites, and pinks.

Next, wrap construction paper around the vase and secure it with tape. This provides a blank canvas for you to decorate as you choose. The colour of construction paper you select will have a significant impact on the overall look of the vase. You might even use strips of multiple colours for a bolder statement.

Now, get creative and decorate the vase. Vases offer the most space for artistic expression in a flower bouquet, so make use of it! Take some markers, pencil crayons, or even watercolours and a paintbrush, and let your creativity flow. A geometric pattern is simple and effective, but a full-blown drawing could leave a great impression if you're artistically inclined.

You can also accent your flower petals by drawing intricate designs or adding shaded textures to bring extra life to the bouquet. Finally, arrange your flowers in the vase. Evenly distributing them across the front and back usually works well, but feel free to experiment with different arrangements.

Frequently asked questions