Crafting Crepe Paper Flowers For Your Wedding Day

Crepe paper flowers are a fun and whimsical project to undertake for your wedding. They are easy to make, durable, and can be customised to match the style and palette of your wedding. You can make a wide variety of flowers, including lilies, tulips, peonies, and roses, using the single-petal or continuous-petal method. The key to making these flowers is using Italian crepe paper, which is stiffer and stretchier than regular crepe paper, allowing you to create petals that hold their shape. You can also add stems and leaves to your flowers using floral wire and hot glue. Whether you're creating a bouquet, centrepiece, or backdrop, crepe paper flowers are a beautiful and cost-effective way to add a personal touch to your special day.

Choosing the right crepe paper

When it comes to choosing the right crepe paper for your wedding flowers, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, the weight of the paper is important. Crepe paper weight is measured in grams per square meter (gsm), and the higher the weight, the heavier the paper. Heavier paper is generally more durable and less likely to tear, but it can also be more difficult to work with, especially when creating intricate designs. Lighter paper, on the other hand, is more delicate and tearable but can create very realistic flowers, as many real petals are thin and fragile.

Another factor to consider is the type of crepe paper. There are several types of crepe paper available, and each has unique characteristics. Italian crepe paper, for example, is known for its stiffness and stretchiness, making it ideal for large flowers. It is more expensive than regular crepe paper, but the petals won't flop, and the flowers can be huge. German crepe paper is also of high quality and comes in a wide range of colours, while Chinese crepe paper is more affordable but may have inconsistencies between rolls in terms of colour, stretchability, and thickness. American or Dennison crepe paper is another option, known for its vintage aesthetic, and there is also Mexican crepe paper, which is thinner than other types of crepe paper of the same weight.

When choosing the right crepe paper for your wedding flowers, consider the type of flower you want to create, the size of the flowers, and the level of detail you want to achieve. For example, delicate blossoms like cherry blossoms or daisies may require lighter weight paper, while fuller flowers such as roses or peonies may need heavier weight paper to provide structural support. Larger flowers will also require sturdier paper to maintain their shape and withstand their weight. If you plan to create intricate petal designs, lighter weight paper may be easier to work with, as it offers greater maneuverability.

Finally, consider the colour of the crepe paper. Choose shades that closely match the flowers you want to replicate or experiment with different colours to create unique and personalised flowers. If the flowers are for a wedding or event, choose colours that complement the event's colour scheme. For home decor, consider the colour of the room the flowers will be displayed in.

Cutting out the petals

To make crepe paper flowers for a wedding, you'll need to start by cutting out your petals. Here's a step-by-step guide:

Firstly, roll out your crepe paper and cut a strip vertically, ensuring that the "lines" or "grain" on the paper go from bottom to top. This will ensure that the petals are stretchable. The width of this strip will depend on how big you want your petals to be. For example, if you want your outer petals to be around 7 1/2 inches wide, cut the strip to this width.

Next, fold the strip in half, against the grain. Then, cut out a petal shape with the fold at the bottom. You can be creative and choose any petal shape you like—you can make them pointy, rounded, or frilly. If you want to make multiple flowers, consider making each flower unique by varying the petal shapes.

Now, it's time to start shaping the petals. Gather the base of the petal and pinch to crease it. Then, release the gather, add a small amount of hot glue, re-gather, and hold it in place until the glue dries. Repeat this process for all your petals.

To give the petals a cupped shape, gently stretch the centre of each petal away from you, being careful not to stretch the top edge. This technique will help give your finished flowers a more realistic and full appearance.

If you want to create petals of different sizes, simply cut additional strips of crepe paper with varying widths and repeat the above steps. For example, you could cut a strip that is 5 1/2 inches wide to create slightly smaller petals.

Once you've cut and shaped all your petals, you can start assembling your flowers by gluing the petals to a paper plate or a foam ball, working from the outer edge inwards and overlapping each petal slightly.

Remember to cut out a variety of petal sizes and shapes to create full and lifelike crepe paper flowers for your wedding decorations.

Shaping the petals

Cutting the Petals:

First, decide on the width of your petals. For an 18-inch flower, cut a strip of Italian crepe paper vertically with the grain, about 7.5 inches wide. This will be the width of your outer petals. For smaller petals, cut a strip of regular crepe paper to the desired width.

Folding and Shaping:

Fold the strip of paper in half, against the grain. Cut out a petal shape with the fold at the bottom. You can vary the shape of your petals—try making some pointy, some rounded, and some frilly.

Creasing:

Gather the base of the petal and pinch to crease it. Release the gather, add a small amount of hot glue, then re-gather and hold until the glue sets.

Cupping:

Gently stretch the centre of the petal away from you to form a cupped shape. Be careful not to stretch the top edge of the petal. Repeat this process to make 8-10 petals for the outer ring of the flower, and 6-8 petals for the inner ring.

Attaching the Petals:

Apply the petals to a paper plate, starting from the outer ring and working inwards. Glue the backside of each petal to the plate, holding it in place until the glue sets. Slightly overlap each petal as you go.

Final Touches:

Once all the petals are attached, stretch the edges of the outer petals back and forth to create a ruffled effect. You can also curl the tips of the petals inward, or outward, depending on the type of flower you are creating.

Attaching to the Stem:

Finally, attach the completed flower to a stem made of floral wire or PVC pipe. Secure it with hot glue, and wrap the stem with green crepe paper strips to give the appearance of flower stems.

Remember, you can adapt these techniques to create a variety of different flowers, such as tulips, peonies, lilies, and roses. Get creative and enjoy the process of shaping your petals!

Attaching the petals to the stamen

Preparing the Petals:

Before attaching the petals, it is important to shape them to create a natural and elegant look. Start by cutting out your petals from the crepe paper, ensuring that the "lines" on the paper go from bottom to top, creating a vertical grain. This will make your petals more stretchable and pliable.

For a simple flower shape, cut a strip of crepe paper and fold it in half. Cut out a "petal shape" with the fold at the bottom. You can experiment with different petal shapes, such as pointy, rounded, or frilly, to create variety in your flowers.

Once you have your petal shapes, it's time to add some dimension. Gather the base of each petal and pinch to create a crease. Release the gather, add a small amount of hot glue, and then re-gather and hold until the glue sets. This will give your petals a cupped shape. Stretch the centre of the petal gently, being careful not to stretch the top edge. Repeat this process for all your petals.

Attaching the Petals:

Now it's time to assemble your flower by attaching the petals to the stamen. Start by creating your stamen using crepe paper and floral wire. You can make different types of stamens, such as a fringe stamen, button stamen, or pistil stamen, depending on the flower you are creating.

Take your shaped petals and begin attaching them to the stamen using floral tape. For a rose, start by cupping the petals just below the middle and curling the upper edge outward. Attach the petals to the stamen, positioning the smaller petals lower and tightly curled around it. Gradually add the larger petals, slightly overlapping them to create a full-bodied flower.

For a tulip, shape the petals to cup inward slightly and roll three of them at the widest point to curve strongly inward. Pleat the base of each petal and pinch the folds in place. Attach the heavily cupped petals to the stamen first, and then add the remaining petals, overlapping them slightly.

When attaching the petals, it is important to stagger and overlap them slightly to give the flower more shape and dimension. You can also add leaves to your flowers by attaching them to the stem with floral tape.

Feel free to experiment with different petal sizes, shapes, and colours to create a variety of crepe paper flowers for your wedding. With these techniques, you can make stunning bouquets, centrepieces, and decorations that will impress your guests and add a unique touch to your special day.

Adding leaves and stems

Now that you have crafted your crepe paper flowers, it's time to add the finishing touches—the leaves and stems! This step will bring your flowers to life and give them a more realistic appearance. Here's a detailed guide to help you through the process:

Cutting and Shaping the Leaves

The first step is to cut out leaf shapes from your crepe paper. You can make standard leaves, notched leaves, or teardrop-shaped leaves, depending on the look you want to achieve. For standard leaves, simply cut out elongated leaf shapes. For notched leaves, make small cuts along the sides of the leaf tip. For teardrop leaves, cut a few shallow slits at the tip of each leaf. You can also create grass-like leaves by cutting a strip of crepe paper and creating a spiky fringe along one side.

Once you have your leaf shapes, it's time to shape them. For standard and notched leaves, start by folding each leaf in half lengthwise, then pleat the base by pinching it. This will give the leaves a more natural, three-dimensional appearance. For teardrop leaves, you can manipulate the edges to add movement and make them look more lifelike.

Attaching the Leaves

To attach the leaves to your flowers, you'll need some floral wire and floral tape. Cut a piece of floral wire to the desired length for the stem, and attach a leaf to it using floral tape. You can also add a short piece of wire to the centre of the leaf and wrap it with floral tape for a more secure hold. Wrap the tape around the base of the leaf and stem, making sure to overlap the wire and slightly cup the leaf around the stem. This will give your leaves a neat and sturdy attachment.

Creating the Stems

For the stems, you can use floral wire or PVC pipes. If you're using floral wire, cut it to the desired length and wrap it with floral tape. You can then attach the wired leaves and flowers together by wrapping the tape around the base of each element. If you're using PVC pipes, cut them to the desired length and heat them to bend them near the top, creating a more natural shape. You can then wrap the PVC pipes with green crepe paper strips to give them the appearance of stems. Finally, attach the leaves and flowers to the stems using floral tape or hot glue.

Final Touches

Once you've added the leaves and stems, feel free to adjust and fluff the leaves and petals to your liking. You can also add additional elements, such as curling the edges of the petals or leaves to give them more movement. Your crepe paper flowers are now complete and ready to be displayed! You can use them as a bouquet, centrepiece, or even as part of a wedding backdrop installation.

Frequently asked questions