HOW TO: Paper Flowers Using Junk Mail
The second installment of recycled paper flowers is here, with a new vase template to match!
Paper flowers can be a fantasy, which is part of the fun! When crafting the varieties below, I wasn’t focused on directly mimicking a real bloom; instead, I was interested in exploring different shapes, colors, and sizes while utilizing discarded paper to create the arrangement as a whole. The Domino Sugar packaging flowers we made last time remind me a bit of a campanula, and the blue stalk-like flowers we’re making today evoke a delphinium. Even with these similarities, the goal is to have fun crafting, recycling, and (if you're like me) listening to a good podcast at the same time.
These come together a bit easier than the Domino ones; you just need to be comfortable with floral tape. I got you!
Floral tape, used by florists and paper flower artists, is a somewhat unusual material. It’s made from a thin, crepe-like paper coated with a waxy adhesive. The adhesive activates when the tape is stretched, allowing it to stick to itself rather than your hands or tools.
To apply it, you’ll need to develop a rhythmic hand motion: twist to wrap the wire stems with one hand while gently pulling the tape to activate the adhesive with the other. I find it works best to pull downward at about a 45-degree angle; this helps stretch the tape and maximize its coverage.
If you’re just getting started, try practicing on a single length of wire a few times. Wrap, unwrap, and rewrap to get the feel of it before attempting to bind multiple stems together. I have an older YouTube video that explores floral tape in all its magical glory [here].
TOOLS & SUPPLIES:
Paper in shades of blue and green (I used ads, junk mail, painted newspaper, blue craft paper from a previous job, etc. If you're painting paper, include those supplies too.)
18 or 20 gauge straight floral wire; I prefer the type wrapped in green paper1
Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Floral tape2
STEP 1: Cut Circles
For one flower, cut about 40 circles, each approximately 1–1.25" in diameter. You can speed up the process by folding the paper and cutting several layers at once. Don’t worry about perfection; variety adds charm!
STEP 2: Make Little Petals
Cut your floral wire into thirds (you’ll need about 18 pieces, 4–5" long each). Using your hot glue gun, glue two circles together, slightly offsetting the layers. Fold the stack in half (before the glue sets) and glue it to the end of the wire stem, toward the bottom edge of the circle. This makes the top stick out a bit for added dimension.
STEP 3: Construct the Flower with Floral Tape
Use a full-length floral wire as your main stem. With floral tape, attach clusters of small wired petals to the stem. I prefer to attach three at a time, leaving about 1 inch of wire exposed beneath the petals. Layer the clusters approximately 1 inch apart down the stem until all 18 are attached (a few more or fewer is good too). Refer to my floral tape tips above, or watch the video below for a quick demo.
STEP 4: Make Leaves
Fold your paper to cut multiple leaves at once. Don’t stress about uniformity, just aim for a basic elliptical shape. (Five to nine leaves per stem works well.) Cut narrow paper strips (~½" × 1½"), one for each leaf. Cut more floral wire into 4-5” lengths. Glue each wire to the back of a leaf, then quickly press a paper strip over the wire while the glue is still wet to secure it.
STEP 5: Attach the Leaves
Using floral tape, attach the leaves to the main stem. Tape on two or three at a time, leaving about an inch of wire below each leaf exposed, and work your way a few inches down the stem, attaching leaves as you go. If the lower part of the main stem feels too thin, you can bulk it up by adding more wire and covering the full length with floral tape.
Gently bend the wire stems on the leaves and petals until they look just right. Congrats! You did it!
In related news, I transformed the vase from this junk-mail-paper-flowers project into a template. As an experiment, this one is already printed (like an old school sewing pattern). If you’re interested, the template is on Etsy!
Thanks for reading, and have a great week! Share your flowers with me if you create some; I can’t wait to see!
Paper-covered straight floral wire (or cloth-covered) can be found on Amazon, Blick, or Michaels. Cake decorators also love this wire; here is one.
Just fantastic. These are so good.
Wonderful creations worth emulating by learning your ideas, imagination and techniques.