INVITING DESIGN: DIY PAPER FLOWERS

NOVEMBER 1, 2010BLOOMI NG, DI Y, I NVI TI NG DESI GN, WEDDI NGS9 COMMENTS

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Sweet Paper Crafts by Mollie Greene
Today we're excited to share a DIY courtesy of Chronicle Books from one of their newest craft
books, Sweet Paer Crafts, !" Simle Pro#ects to Bri$hten Your %ife by &ollie 'reene( The book is filled
with fun and cle)er ro#ects like star $arlands to strin$ o)er the mantel to delicate flower wreaths for the
front door( &ollie 'reen founded *oyal Buffet, one of our fa)orite etsy shos and has an ama+in$ talent
for uni,ue work usin$ aer( Today we're featurin$ one of the many ama+in$ DIYs in her book, a flowerin$
chandelier( To kick off the launch of the book, Chronicle Books is also offerin$ one of our readers a chance
to win a coy- To enter, )isit our Insta$ram ost featurin$ a icture of this DIY and lea)e a comment by
.m /ed(, 0une !.123( /e'll announce a winner Thursday( 4ur insta$ram is 5oytalk- 'ood luck-
6ere's the tutorial( 70an
DIY Flowering Chandelier
Adding the perfect glow to any dark corner of your house, this chandelier, created from a new or used lamp
shade, is encircled with clusters of pretty paper flowers and leaves. t is best made with a two!tiered shade
that has a universal fitting"where the fitting for the light bulb is in the center of the shade. #ou will also
need a hanging lantern cord and a low!wattage bulb. f you like, you can vary the flowers by using three
layers of sewing pattern tissue, three layers of colored tissue paper, or a combination of the two.
Supplies
$wo!tiered lamp shade with a universal fitting
Scissors for cardboard
Glue remover such as Goo Gone %optional&
'ewspapers %optional&
Multipurpose spray paint in a coordinating color
(anging lantern cord
)ow!wattage lightbulb
*+!lb,-!kg cup hook
Scissors for paper
.uler
Silver metallic thread
)i/uid glue
0lowering Chandelier template
$issue paper for petals
Pencil
$issue paper or sewing pattern pieces in a contrasting color for leaves
ron %optional&
Instructions
1. f your lamp shade is covered with fabric or paper, use the cardboard scissors to remove all the covering
material. f necessary, eliminate any old dried glue with glue remover. #ou want the shade to be as clean as
possible so it will take the spray paint evenly.
*. % recommend spreading newspapers over your work area before starting this step.& 0ollowing the
manufacturer2s instructions and using a light hand, cover the lamp shade frame with two coats of spray
paint, allowing the paint to dry between coats. After you apply the second coat, allow the frame to dry
completely, at least an hour.
3. $urn the frame so the widest part is facing up. .un the cord through the center and screw in the light
bulb. nstall the cup hook from the ceiling following the manufacturer2s instructions, and hang the shade
from the cord.
4. 5sing the paper scissors, cut pieces of metallic thread about 1* in,3+.6 cm long %or longer or shorter
depending on the si7e of your frame&. Starting at the bottom tier of the frame, tie the pieces of thread to the
frame, spacing them about 3 in,8.6 cm apart. Place a tiny dot of li/uid glue on each knot to keep the thread
in place.
6. 9ownload the 0lowering Chandelier template at www.chroniclebooks.com,sweetpaper. Stack three
pieces of tissue paper. 5se the pencil to trace the template on the top piece, then cut out through all three
layers. :e careful to cut inside the pencil line so you don2t have to erase it later. Separate the three layers
of petals. Place a dot of li/uid glue along the straight edge of one petal, in the center. $his will be your
bottom layer. Place a second petal on top, adhering the two together. $his will be your middle layer. Apply
another dot of glue in the center of the middle petal, along the straight edge, and place the last petal on
top. 0old the stack gently in half, and place a small dot of glue on the top layer inside the fold. Place this
glue dot on a piece of the metallic thread, very close to where the thread meets the frame. Pinch the flower
around the thread until it adheres to the thread. Make more flowers in the same way and glue them to the
thread, overlapping them and occasionally leaving space for leaves.
6. f you are using sewing pattern pieces for the leaves, you may need to iron the pieces on a low
setting to smooth out folds and wrinkles. 0or each leaf, cut a piece of tissue paper about 4 by 1 in,1+ cm by
*.6 cm. 0old in half lengthwise. Cut fringe in each narrow end. Apply a dot of glue to the inside of the fold.
Pinch the glue!dotted leaf on the thread underneath the flower that you glued to the chandelier. Continue to
cut and assemble flowers and glue them to the threads, adding leaves here and there as you like.
8. $rim any e;cess hanging thread. Allow the glue to dry for about an hour. $hen gently spread open the
petals of each flower by carefully pulling the layers up and away from each other.
<. 0or the top tier of the frame, repeat steps 4 to 8 to complete the chandelier.
-. $ake care to keep the petals and leaves away from the light bulb. Always use a small, low!wattage bulb
and turn off the light when you leave the house.
(ow to Make Paper 0lowers for a =edding :ou/uet
Pretty, ine;pensive and long!lasting, paper flower bou/uets are perfect wedding mementos.
)earn how to make paper flowers for your bridesmaids and flower girls with this tutorial
Cristin
a .iches, :ird>s Party
0or a full bou/uet, you will need at least 1* paper flowers, depending on the si7e of your blooms and their
fullness.
Object1
Materials 'eeded?
Cut Petals
Cut several teardrop %petal& shapes
out of the crepe paper. $he easiest
and /uickest way is to cut straight
from the roll.
Prepare =ire
Cut a small s/uare of crepe paper and fold in half to get a triangle. 0old the triangle around a floral wire tip
%mage 1&. Secure the paper to the floral wire with double!sided tape, and cover the entire wire in it %mage *&.
Image 1
mage *
crepe paper
scissors
green floral wire
green floral tape
wired floral leaves
(from craft stores)
ribbon
wire cutters
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Add Petals and Create More 0lowers

@eep adding crepe!paper petals to the bud and secure with floral tape at the base each time. .epeat as many
times as you wish to vary the fullness of the rose. Continue making paper flowers with steps 1!3 until you
desired number of blooms is achieved.
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