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12 Easy Ways to Make Paper Flowers

Learn how to make paper flowers with our easy-to-follow projects—all with printable templates and clip-art.

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Photo: Thuss + Farrell

Fresh bouquets are always a beautiful touch, but then they wither within a week's time. Flowers made from crepe paper or tissue paper can be just as pretty—and they don't need watering or sunlight, and they'll never wilt. Flower for flower, paper arrangements are less expensive than those made with live blooms, plus they'll last for decades—not just days—if properly preserved. Try one of these paper flower projects, complete with easy instructions and templates, and enjoy a touch of spring all year long.

01 of 12

Paper Daffodils

paper daffodils
Thuss + Farrell

A triangular vase displays welcoming crepe-paper flowers in shades of yellow. Painted, striped petals and mottled-crepe leaves give each flower a layered look, as well as a wild personality. To add these details to the crepe paper, use a thin brush and a craft sponge.

02 of 12

Paper Painterly Poppies

paper poppies
Thuss + Farrell

Invite kids to paint abstract designs on sheets of double-sided crepe, then turn their artwork into imaginative flowers perfect for a grandmother or friend. Another option is to paint them yourself and adorn each with glitter. Simply cut leaves from black card stock paper using our template and punch a hole at one end. They're great for decorating wrapped presents or for use in home décor.

03 of 12

Paper Dahlia Favors

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Channel the dahlia's intense color and festive attitude with eye-catching tissue-paper favor pouches. Download and print our template; cut from folded tissue paper. Then tie on a tag bearing planting instructions, and verdant ribbon to pose as leaves. At home, guests will peel back the petals to reveal a dormant dahlia bulb brimming with potential and just waiting to take root.

04 of 12

Floral Pom-Poms

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These dahlia-like bursts of color hang from the ceiling, adding charm to any party. Our tissue paper pom-poms can be made in the size and color of your choice.

05 of 12

Paper Tulip Favors

paper tulips favors
Raymond Hom

Create a boundless field of tulips with these sweet favors. We placed bulbs in votive candleholders with enough water to cover the roots, then added paper blooms and a vellum seat assignment to each one. Download our templates, and print onto card stock; then cut out with scissors to create patterns. For each tulip, trace and cut petals onto pink cover stock or heavy paper, glue an 18-inch length of 16-gauge green cloth-wrapped floral wire for a stem, and slip into the leaves of a potted tulip bulb.

06 of 12

Watercolor Paper Roses

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A few strokes of watercolor paint transform basic coffee filters into beautiful paper roses. All you need is a set of watercolor paints, floral wire and tape, a bamboo skewer, and a box of disposable cone coffee filters (eight filters will make one full bloom rose).

07 of 12

Scented Paper Flowers

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Just because your flowers are made out of paper doesn't mean that they can't smell like the real thing. A little bit of fragrance oil goes a long way with these faux blooms to give them a little something extra. Cut a 9-inch piece from the crepe paper streamer and fringe it with scissors. Dab a single cotton ball with a small amount of fragrance oil, and wrap it as the stamen with paper.

08 of 12

Splattered Tissue Paper Flowers

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Courtesy of Mike Krautter

Spritzing these paper flowers with a bit of paint makes for a splattered look that mimics the random, unique color patterns on true blooms. First, assemble a few tissue paper flowers. Then, fill a spray bottle with water and a few drops of paint, and spray the paper with one color at a time.

09 of 12

Crepe-Paper Roses

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Add a pop of color to the room with a bouquet of these larger-than-life crepe-paper roses that will never wilt. They're made with double-sided crepe paper, floral wire and tape, and an easy-to-use template.

10 of 12

Hanging Paper Flowers

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With a few snips and folds, and a little imagination, you can turn humble paper bags into party-perfect decorations. For this project, you'll need six gusseted bags (same size and color) for each flower.

11 of 12

Paper Pom-Pom Flowers

paper pom-pom flowers
Thuss + Farrell

Styled after pep-squad pompoms, these are some of the simplest paper flowers to craft (from tissue paper, as well as single- and double-ply crepe). Fringing scissors make this project quick work. Try pairing pastel shades with bright leaves, and use the puffy blooms as party favors or in large arrangements.

12 of 12

Paper Asters

paper aster flowers
Thuss + Farrell

A single stem can feature multiple blooms, as shown here with these asters. The centers are cotton covered with glitter, the petals are created with fringing scissors, and the leaves (printed from our template and cut out using deckle-edge scissors) are made from twisted ribbon paper.

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