See how easy it is to make paper flowers from folded squares of colored paper. After a little preparation by the adult or teen leaders, it's just "fold, cut and glue" to make colorful flowers that can adorn cards, gifts, place cards, centerpieces, picture frames, and more.
This project is great for family, classroom or group craft time. It requires no patterns and uses simple materials.
At the end of this project page, find links to other sites with flower inspiration and more paper flower fun!
Related projects: For more realistic flowers, see the Spring Flower Bouquet project, and for a simple vase, see the Shamrock Centerpiece project or the Flared Boxes project.
Pre-cut squares of colored paper in assorted colors and sizes. Squares that are 2" to 4" (4 to 10 cm) work well with standard-weight paper. Use heavier paper for larger flowers and lighter paper for smaller ones.
Fold each square into quarters. Either fold on the vertical and horizontal centerlines or on the diagonals.
Tip: Carefully match corners and make sharp folds. Neatness counts.
Cut a petal shape from the folded square. The center of the flower is the corner where the folds come together. Make that corner the base of your petal shape. Draw the petal shape with a pencil if you like, but after a few times, cutting freehand will be easy.
Cut some small circles for flower centers or use a punch to make circles.
Unfold the cut squares and stack two coordinating colors together for each flower. Pick a circle for the center. Glue everything together with a bit of glue in the centers.
Tip: Give the petals some shape by curling the tips around a pencil.
Make leaves by folding rectangles of green paper in half and cutting a leaf shape. Unfold, then refold one leaf over the other in a V-shape. Glue the leaves to the back of the flower.
Tip: You can make a paper vase for your paper flowers—see the Shamrock Centerpiece project.
That's it! Now you know how to make paper flowers!