How to Make Tissue Paper Flowers - A Cheap, Whimsical Party Decoration and Favor
76Inexpensive Party Decoration
Tissue paper flowers are a whimsical and attractive party decoration. You can make these inexpensive flowers for bridal or baby showers, childrens' parties or any event you wish to dress up. Tissue paper flowers are simple to make, informal, and fun. They can double as party favors, delighting your guests when the party is over.
Purchase tissue paper in large packages at big box stores. You can use a single color for a mass of similar blooms. A wedding shower looks pretty with all white flowers. Or, you can use the colors of the bride's maids dresses.
To please a guest of honor, create tissue paper flowers in their favorite color or use exciting combinations like pink and orange.
I used several sheets of striped tissue mixed in with plain for added interest.
For added depth, use several shades of the same color.
Make the tissue paper flowers resemble giant blooms or vary the sizes by cutting the paper in half to create smaller flowers.
For a recent baby shower, I set out a container of real carnations too. The tissue paper flowers resemble carnations so the combination was very attractive.
Tissue Paper Flowers
Materials Needed
Tissue paper - and lots of it. The more the merrier
Scissors
Floral wire or chenille pipe cleaners.
And, of course, it's a lot more fun if you have a friend to help!
How to Make Tissue Paper Flowers
Take 10 sheets and cut them in half. If you are making a huge flower, more sheets will create a fluffier bloom. But for the 1st one you make, use less. Think of it as your practice flower.
Pile them on top of one another, matching the corners.
Fold the tissue paper back and forth, making accordian pleats with the folds 1/2 inch to 1 inch as shown below.
Tissue Paper Flower - Fold Accordian Style
Tissue Paper Flowers - Secure in Center With a Wire
Wrap floral wire or chenille pipe cleaner around the center of the folded sheets. If you want to display the flowers in a vase, use stiffer, longer wire.
Fold in half like a fan and secure with wire as shown below.
If you like, before you spread the fan, clip the edges. Snip into the petal or cut rounded edges for an interesting, more flower-like look.
Tissue Paper Flowers - Fold in Half Like a Fan
Gently unfold the tissue paper as shown below, separating the pieces of tissue paperl After unfolding, you can fluff or arrange the tissue as you like.
Gently Unfold Tissue Paper and Fluff
Making Tissue Paper Flowers
Tissue Paper Flower - Done!
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Brings back memories for me; I use to do this at my Church Vacation Bible school for arts and crafts, years ago. Thank you for the memories :)
Great hub, Dolores! These artworks are really fantastic. You have clearly detailed the steps. Thank you very much for sharing this.
This brings back memories - these used to be such fun to make and we had forgoten about them.
Great photos - thanks for all the detail.
Aw that's how it's done, great visual guide. Peace:)
Putz - they were selling them at the Philadelphia Flower Show and looked so cheerful, reminded me of childhood too. Thanks!
Coolmon, I remember them from when I was a kid and thought it would be fun. Thanks for stopping by!
Michael - we made quite a lot of them and had a great time. Thanks!
2patricias - it took several tries to get them right. Thanks for reading my hub!
katie - I always like a how-to with pictures. They really help me so thought I'd offer some. Peace to you too!
Let me join in - yes, I remember making them when I was a kid too! They are really great!
Thanks for this beautiful hub Dolores. It made me smile!
I always wondered how they did that.... cool post!!
this is something that will work well with kids making gifts.....thx
Ok. Now you have inspired me to try and make some flowers. I haven't done that in years!
We strong, silent men are not normally fond of making such things, but when no one is watching, we can try to help the wife when guests are expected, by hiding away in a quiet room away form prying eyes in order to do our bit...:-))
Great hub.I am not crafty at all but this looks like fun.
This is a fun craft and one that I haven't done in years...I learned this in Girl Scouts...
It's nice to be reminded of things we used to do, like make these flowers. Now we can pass it on to another generation.
Thanks for the memory, I haven't done this for years!
jill - what a lovely comment, thank you.
carolina - I could not remember how to do it, but my friend taught me.
loveofnight, yes, a good way to get them to hep decorate for their own party. Thank you!
lj - I love the old fashioned stuff, and it really looked pretty. Thanks!
deGreek, your comment made me laugh. The way you put it, I imagine some large, sausage fingered guy, fumbling like mad in a dark corner, tissue paper flying, poking himself in the eye with the wire, cursing quietly. Thanks!
Granny, this doesn't seem like an actual craft, just a bit of decorating whimsy. Thanks!
Nancy, people talking about Bible School and Girl Scouts makes me think of the other stuff they did back then, I loved the soap carvings! Thank you!
shiela - that's why I thought the tissue paper flowers would be great for a baby shower, sort of taking us back to childhood. Thank you!
gramarye - glad you enjoyed the hub, thanks for dropping by.
Totally brings back memories - excellent idea!
akirchner, it worked out well. The tissue paper flowers really made the party look fluffed out and fun! Thanks!
This brings back memories. Love the step by step pictures
That looks great but far too hard for me!
Thanks for the reminder of how great these flowers can be! I think on a spring themed table bright yellows and the lovely blues would be a terrific and low cost idea to real cut flowers. Will have to make a run to the store and get busy!
Wonderful pictures and instructions Dolores.
I had forgotten all about tissue paper flowers--we used to make them as kids, and it was so much fun. I remember making an Easter bonnet one year, decorated with just these flowers!
I think I'll try this again with my 5 year old grandson when he comes over to spend the day with me tomorrow--thanks so much for the great hub!
Tammy
ethel - thank you! I am trying to include step-by-step pix in my how-to hubs because when I am trying to learn something, I find that pictures really make a difference.
Jonsie - it's a lot of fun but really isn't a guy thing. It's one of those things you like or don't. I love projects! Thanks!
Mardi - I used them as favors because I didn't want to have to figure out what to do with them after they got all dusty and I got sick of them. Recycling is good. Thanks for commenting!
Tammy - hope you two have a great time! My friend and I love to harken back to childhood. We grew up together and were always making messes and doing projects. We are just busy-hands kind of people!
Like many others commenting - I remember this craft for my (much) younger days. How wonderful to be reminded of how beautiful, thrifty, and fun these are to make. I can't wait to introduce my nieces and nephews to this. Love your hub and easy to follow instructions. Thanks.
heymcs - thank you for the nice comment. I hope you have a good time with the kiddies!
Hi Mam, you always have something reusable to share to us, very informative, thumbs up plus it is easy to do, you make it look very easy, thank you Mam, Night, Maita
Hi, Maita, yes, some of the tissue paper we used for the flowers was older stuff that I had flattened and saved. With careful handling, tissue paper can be used over again. Thanks!
I love love love tissue paper flowers. In fact if I had to list one of the best things ever about spending a lifetime in schools - it is when I learned to make tissue paper flowers - nothing else mattered.
You know I am ready to do this again. Lots of birthdays coming and summer solstice parties and summer fun - and wouldn't it be nicer to have loads of these flowers. They are more likely to biodegrade unlike balloons. And I like when it is children's parties - to get them involved in making something. Calms them down - a lot - and they get to take something home. And guess what? - we adult type people love to make things too.
I can't believe how excited I am now! Thanks so much!
BK - getting kids involved in making stuff winds up being so much fun. Doing this at the party, they'll have a great time and remember it. I am so glad you enjoyed the hub!
This is great. I can remember when these were so popular and they sold for around $5.00 a piece at the big fairs. I always wondered how they made them.
I can't wait to give it a try. This is something really easy to do on a rainy day with the grand kids. I wish I saw it before Mother's Day. That would have been a nice hand made bouquet for the mommy's.
Great Job, rated up and bookmarked.
Sage
Nice subject. I hadn't seen this done for years, 40 years! Pleasant surprise to bump into this. Memory lane. Thanks.
Sage, they were selling them at the Philadelphia Flower Show and just seemed so charming that we had to try and make them ourselves. Thanks for stopping in!
Pamela - I remember when I was a kid how I loved tissue paper flowers but could not figure out how to make them. Here's to the kid in us all! Thanks for leaving a comment!
Making Tissue Flowers Brings back memories for me too. It reminds me of my childhood when Six Flags St.Louis made them and sold them. My mom would buy us some a few times too. Cause they were so pretty. And then since Six Flags at the time was making and selling them back then when I was a kid in late 80s early 90s. I was in Girl Scouts then and my mom had the idea of making them at my house for our Girl Scout get together. So we got to make them for our I think it was our first time or second. And it is so much fun making them. I love making tissue Flowers. I Plan on Doing it again very very soon for my friends Wedding Shower! Can't Wait!. God Bless
Bethany - thank you so much for sharing the lovely memory! Tissue paper flowers are a great scout or group project!
How beautiful are these??!! Thank you for sharing!
Love this! I just knew there had to be a way I could make flowers (no talent) :) I can hardly wait to try the tissue paper flowers. I am grateful...yes I am. And the photos are very helpful. A great hub, dolores!
vocalcoach - thank you! We had a lot of fun making those tissue paper flowers! And they sure dressed the house up for the shower!
Great tutorial! I made these tissue paper flowers for decorating a fairy themed birthday party and they were a huge hit. The colors in tissue paper are so bright and vibrant, perfect flowers for little fairies. Great step-by-step photos and great hub!
Erika - thank you! You can do so much with the tissue paper flowers by altering the size and color combinations and they make a great party favor as well.
Thanks for the refresher! I was racking my brain trying to think of a cheap, easy flower decoration for my 1970s inspired wedding in February. This is an excellent idea!
Sandy - congratulations and best wishes on your upcoming wedding. The 70's theme sounds colorful and fun. Thinking of the music, the clothes, and the signature drink will be a lot of fun for you and your guests. Thank you for commenting!
These remind me of elementary school. We used to make these flowers in school art class for Mother's Day. Happy memories! I may have to make some again, just for fun! Thanks for this blog!
Putz Ballard 2 years ago
I had not see this craft in years but it is so nice and thanks for sharing, it brought back memories of my childhood.