Photo: Faith Towers
Now that springtime has officially arrived, that means that those of us who celebrate Easter are probably starting to think about decorating our homes for the holiday. My mantel has been empty since I removed my winter décor, so it was begging for some festive embellishments. So I whipped up a few paper flowers to add some beautiful pastels to the room. Click through to find out how to make your own paper flower Easter mantel.
Photo: Faith Towers
The result is bold and unique, and can be kept from year to year (as opposed to real flowers). And they’re easier to make than you might think… enter the mighty glue gun.
Photo: Faith Towers
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 roll of white Italian crepe paper
- Yellow construction paper
- Watercolors
- Paintbrush
- Hot glue gun with extra glue
- Wire
- Wire cutters
- Green washi tape
- Scissors
Photo: Faith Towers
Begin by cutting a 6″ diameter circle out of construction paper. Cut slits all the way around, as shown above. Leave a 1/2 circle at the center without slits.
Photo: Faith Towers
Cut a 6″ diameter piece of white Italian crepe paper. Cut six of them. These will be the petals.
Photo: Faith Towers
Arrange each petal on a protected work surface so that the grain is oriented horizontally, and paint the right sides of each petal. Let them dry for an hour or two.
Photo: Faith Towers
In the meantime, cut a piece of wire to about 10 inches long, and straighten it out as much as possible. You can use any type of wire, as long as it is rigid enough to hold up a flower but bendable enough to straighten out. Wrap it in green washi tape. This will be the stem.
Photo: Faith Towers
Once the petals are dry, gently stretch each one so it forms a bowl-like shape.
Photo: Faith Towers
Add a dollop of hot glue to the bottom of the yellow paper stamen, and attach the bottom of one of the petals to the glued area. (The bottom is the side opposite the paint).
Photo: Faith Towers
Continue in this manner until you’ve used all six, overlapping the previous petals.
Photo: Faith Towers
Stick a stem through the bottom of the flower, and secure it with hot glue. Stretch and open the petals and curve the stem to give it a more natural look.
Photo: Faith Towers
Now make a few more, and arrange them on your mantel or bookshelf in clear glass vases.
Photo: Faith Towers
This arrangement is perfect for Easter, but it will also work through the summer if you’d like to keep it up. Then store them in a cardboard box until next spring.
Photo: Faith Towers
Although these look complex, they are surprisingly easy to make. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to make one in 20 minutes!
Photo: Faith Towers
Italian crepe paper comes in practically every color of the rainbow, too – so you can experiment with different color combinations. Happy crafting!
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Looks fabulous. Only question is, where do you get Italian crepe? How is this different than regular crepe paper?
If you click the link in the materials list, it will bring you to Paper Mart which is where I bought my Italian crepe… but you can also get it on Etsy. It comes in a large, wide roll and it is quite thick.