Photo: Martha G. Brady
The supplies you need to make this are really simple, you’ll need:
- tissue paper, any color
- pipe cleaners for both holding flowers together and for the stamens.
The size flower you want to make is what will decide how many layers you will need. For a nice full flower, you will need at least 3-4 layers of tissue paper to make a nice flower from about 1/2 the length of the tissue paper. If you want to make a full sized tissue paper flower, you will probably need to use 6 layers.
I didn’t cut the paper into certain sizes like the video suggests. I just used 1/2 or 1/3, 2/3 of the folded sheets of tissue paper to make the flowers. Yes, of course I’m lazy when it comes to making something. I want to finish!
Earlier this summer, I was making a bunch of tissue paper flowers for VBS and had a much harder time making nice full flowers with the full sized sheets of tissue. I never used as many as 6 layers, but when I looked at the flowers that were really big, the ones that looked nice and full had 6 layers of tissue!
Below are the directions for making the flowers. As you play with them, you’ll find some flowers look more like camelias/roses, others more like chrysanthemums, still others are more poppy-like, etc. You’ll just have to experiment to see which type is your favorite. The secret is in how you pull and separate out the layers of tissue as well as how you trim the edges. Often, I trimmed down the inner center sheet (as you’ll see in the photo) so it looked more like a regular flower.
Don’t be afraid to pull and puff the layers out from each other, curling them in the direction your want. They will be more and more fun as you move along.
Making a bunch of them when a few of you are working together will be a lot of fun and will give you a stockpile of flowers to add to gifts for the year…including Christmas!
So use up the tissue paper you have lying around…or pick some up to use for gifts. I thought about how pretty white tissue paper mixed with off white would be too.
Use your creativity and your imagination!
