How to Make Tissue Paper Flowers

With flowers, it always seems I’m in the wrong season. I always want what’s not blooming now.

When I got married in the fall and told my florist I wanted lilies and peonies and ranunculus in my bouquet, he laughed and told me I should have gotten married in the spring or summer when those flowers are more readily available.

What’s a flower-loving gal to do when her favorite blooms aren’t in season? Make her own tissue paper flowers, which are every bit as beautiful as the real thing. And they last a whole lot longer. The only thing missing is the scent (but I have a solution for that, too).

How to Make Tissue Paper Flowers

Tissue paper flowers are easy really easy to make.

You’ll need the following supplies to make the three different versions I’m featuring in my arrangement:

• tissue paper
• scissors
• floral wire
• floral stem wire
• green floral tape
• 1-inch foam ball
• floral stamens (look in the wedding section of the craft store or buy them online here)

The first type of flowers I’ll show you how to make are these dogwood-type blooms.

Start with 5 rectangles of tissue paper, measuring 5 inches by 2.5 inches.

Put the foam ball in the center of a sheet of tissue paper and twist the ends, as shown, like you would a candy wrapper. Repeat to make a total of five petals.

Making sure your twists are secure, trim one end above the twist.

Gather five petals by the twisted tails around 6 or 8 stamens. Secure by wrapping a 4-inch piece of wire around the gathered petals and stamens. Attach to stem wire, then wrap with floral tape.

To make these delicate petal flowers, begin with 18 rectangles of tissue paper, measuring 5 inches by 2.5 inches.

Trim into a petal shape, as shown in the first photo.

Twist a piece of 4 -inch wire around the center of your stack of tissue paper. Place several stamens in the center and secure with wire. Attach to floral stem and wrap with floral tape.

Fan out the petals around the center to create your flower.

Finally, here’s how you make the peonies (or dahlias, depending on the colors of tissue paper you use).

Stack 8 sheets of tissue paper, each measuring 6 inches by 7 inches. Accordion fold the tissue paper, making sure your folds are about 3/4 of an inch.

Once you’ve folded the tissue paper, cut the edges into points. (You may also find pre-folded tissue paper in your craft store. That’s what I used.)

Fold a piece of 4-inch wire around the center of the accordion-pleated tissue paper, twisting to secure.

Starting on one side of the wire, fluff the flowers by pulling each layer of tissue paper up to the center. Repeat on the other side.

Wrap the remaining wire around a floral stem and cover with floral tape.

I have used these fake blooms all over my house, such as in the dining room as part of my pink-and-green ladies luncheon.

They added such a fun and flirty touch to the tablescape.

I also have some hot pink tissue paper flowers in my  pink-and-green office and craft room. (I’m sensing a color theme here!)

Recently, I added a pitcher of spring tissue paper flowers in the living room, where I also have a Blooming Peony & Cherry™ candle and wax melts warmer from Glade’s limited edition spring seasonal scents collection.

The fragrance definitely smells like spring, with a combination of cherry and red fruit, delicate notes of pink rose and peony, and white woods and creamy musk. It’s romantic, flirty and feminine.

Glade seasonal scents, available in jar candles, wax melts and scented oil warmers warmers, come in two other fragrances. Poppy Groove™ features water lily, iris and freesia floral notes and Hello Spring™ combines the scents of quince and jasmine.

With just those few touches, it looks, feels and smells like spring in my house.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.