Crepe Paper Flowers

Things you will need:

1. crepe paper - any crepe paper will do, but the stiffer it is the easier it will be to create your circles.

2. two different sized circle punches, sizes depend on how big you want your flower to be,

OR

a pencil, 2 cardstock circles (1 large and 1 small) cut in half to use as patterns and scissors.

3. glue (white, fast-drying)

4. micro beads or glitter crystals

5. A saucer for your beads and a surface for your glue

6. Time, patience and a love for making your own flowers. These flowers are not hard, but they they are not for someone who doesn't enjoy making their own flowers.

STEP 1

Punch or cut 5 large crepe paper circles and 4 small ones. Punching requires a stiff quality crepe paper and sharp punches.

If, like me, you can't get your punches to work on your crepe paper, you can do like I did and punch out 2 different sizes of cardstock circles, fold them in half, cut down the fold and use the half circle as a pattern. Fold the crepe paper and place the center of the half circle along the fold as demonstrated in the photo below. Trace the pattern and then cut it out. This makes the process even more tedious, but I think the flowers are worth it!


You will notice that I said to use white fast drying glue, but have photographed my clear Zip Dry glue. While I used the Zip Dry for this flower, it actually dried too fast and I wasted a lot of it by having to reapply wet glue.



Punch cardstock circles for the base of your flowers.



STEP 2
Scrunch one side of each circle together to make a fan. IMPORTANT - be sure that the open end of your fan is along the grain that can be stretched as demonstrated in the photo in step 4.



STEP 3
Dip the scrunched end of the circle in glue and set aside to dry.


STEP 4
Gently pull and stretch the open end of the fan on each circle.

STEP 5
Run the edge of the petal through glue.

STEP 6
Coat the glued edge with micro beads. Repeat with every petal and set aside to dry.

STEP 7
Coat one side of the cardstock circle base with glue and attach the large petals.



STEP 8
Add another dollop of glue and attach the small petals. Add a decorative center to yet another layer of glue and sprinkle with micro beads to absorb the excess glue and create a pretty center.

You can then add leaves, ribbon, lace or any other garnish that your imagination can conceive.