Sunday, November 27, 2011

Tutorial: Rolled Paper Flower Wreath

This project was listed at the Tip Junkie's Handmade Gifts Blog - A great resource if you're in need some unique gift ideas.  Thanks to Laurie (aka The Tip Junkie) for choosing to feature my wreath project.

I had a couple requests for a tutorial on how to make the paper flower wreaths seen in my Christmas Coffee Filter Decor post.
  

After reading through several tutorials, I used a the one I found here at Jones Design Company's blog:


Make sure you block out a generous portion of time before visiting this blog, as it is AMAZING!

This tutorial is for the wreath above.  So, rather than scrapbook paper, I used....ahem....COFFEE FILTERS (what else, right??) to make the white flowers shown in the wreath above.  I cut 3-4 coffee filters at once, and rolled them as shown in the tutorial.  (Instead of rolling a single piece of paper at a time, I rolled 3-5 at once to get a fuller looking flower.)

JDC suggests cutting the paper with wavy cuts like this:
spiral 2


...but I tried it that way, and I preferred the way it looked with more straight, even cuts.  Also, I tried to keep the width of the cuts as uniform all the way to the center.  Some tutorials I've read suggest making the width larger as you get closer to the center.
Try to get the very beginning of the roll as tight as possible, which is difficult, especially with the coffee filter paper.   If you've not made rolled flowers before, you might try a single piece of thicker paper before the multi-layered coffee filters.

Here I used single book pages for each flower.   The circles for these flowers were about 4"-5" across.

I used hot glue to fasten my flowers (I'm sure you would figure this out, but for the multi-layered coffee filter flowers, you'll want to put a dab of glue between each layer at the end to keep everything in place). 

So, once you have a big pile of paper flowers, it's time to make the wreath.  I used a styrofoam plate as my "wreath form," by cutting the flat center portion out, but leaving the curved edges.  Again, does not need to be perfect.

Start by placing the tissue paper flowers around the wreath as symmetrically as possible, making sure they are all facing up (not off to the side).  Then use the book paper flowers to fill in the holes, especially around the center and outer edges.

Finally, for the leaves, use the method suggested by JDC:
glue leaf

I made my leaves using brown paper cardstock and painted them with gold craft paint.

Tuck the leaves in bare spots...making sure they are evenly distributed.

Finally, attatch a piece of fishing line to the back with hot glue.  If you are giving as a gift or want to hide the plate, glue a piece of card stock to the back and trim to the size of the wreath.

And there you go...a practically FREE wreath...

If you like how this turned out, you might want to check out my pleated wreath, too.

Now, here's what NOT to do:
This is the first wreath I did using white printer paper before I tried the coffee filter paper.  I cut the flowers making them bigger as I went toward the end of the spiral...which as you can see above, made the outer edges very tall, and so they were hard to blend in with the other flowers.  I went back and trimmed the flowers to make them blend together better.  Also, notice how they are all pointing in different directions...looks a little funky.

So, obviously, there are all types of variations you can try...here are a couple of the different ones I did: 
  






Once you get the hang of these, you can make them while watching tv, riding in the car (not driving), etc...I'd make a pile and then hot glue them later.
You could spray paint these, dye the coffee filters, try different edges on the flowers, try various types and colors of paper, but I don't have to tell you this - you are the most creative people I've ever met!!
I'd love to see what YOU come up with!!! If you leave a comment letting me know that you've made one, I'll be sure to come over and check it out!

If you like these, but don't have time to make one yourself, I have them for sale in my Etsy shop.

I've linked this to these parties:

MONDAY:
TUESDAY: 
Domestically Speaking (Paint Projects)
Faded Charm (White Projects)

THURSDAY:

FRIDAY:

take care -
 

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26 comments:

Laura @ Our Prairie Home said...

Beautiful! Love this idea!

Boden said...

Woo hoo! I'm number 100!!! Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving that sweet comment. Your rolled roses are absolutely lovely, and they're just perfect in wreath form! ~Jen

Blue Creek Home said...

Love this idea - yours turned out so pretty!
Signed up to follow ya- puts you at 101 - congratulations
Rhonda

jeanne said...

A fun craft and the result is so pretty. Thanks for sharing your creative ideas.
xo, Jeanne

Judy Bisaya said...

this is so pretty. I should give this a try. thanks for sharing.

Jill said...

Love, love, love this! Thanks for the tutorial! Really love the blended wreath with the leaves :)
-Jill @ Junky Vagabond

Flea Market Lynn said...

Loved the tutorial......thanks for sharing! The wreath is so cute & whimsical! Hope you can stop by my blog for a visit. I am one of your newest followers....I hope you will follow me back.

Evie said...

LOVE this!!! Those coffee filter roses are just stunning. Great job!!

evie @ brown paper packages

Kammy's Korner said...

I reeeeally wish I could snap my fingers and have this come together for me. GORGEOUS!

Helen and her Daughters said...

I love these, can't wait to try to make one.

time worn interiors said...

I love these flower made from paper! I've never tried them, but with this tutorial I actually think I could do it!
tot

Cottage and Broome said...

These turned our wonderful, I love all the different versions! Will be your newest follower, please stop by when you get a chance, Laura - Cottage and Broome

Amanda said...

Beautiful! Your tutorial, tips and ticks are so very appreciated! I especially love the rose and pinecone clustered ornament! Brilliant!
Best Wishes and Blessings,
Amanda

Mandy said...

Erin - your wreath is gorgeous!

Mandy

Kate said...

LOVE this! Gorgeous, gorgeous! Thanks for sharing!

Good Girl Gone Green said...

Beautiful!!!

Heaven's Walk said...

Great tutorial - and reallllly pretty wreaths! Love them! :)

xoxo laurie

Anonymous said...

What a great tutorial, and I love what you have done with the instructions. Thanks for sharing. found you via Serenity Now

Suzanne MacCrone Rogers • Italian Girl in Georgia™ said...

Very pretty! Love the mix of coffee filter paper and the printed words. It's just charming.

Happy holidays to you,
Suzanne

Drama Mama Lori said...

Hi! Visiting from Ask Anna, where I just posted a similar tutorial (only I used paper grocery bags!) I had to laugh when I read your "not driving" comment, because wrote about spending most of a drive home (riding, of course) rolling flowers. New follower!

Pamela said...

Very pretty! Thanx for the tut and coming to party!

Charlotte Wilson said...

Hi Erin,

this wreath is gorgeous! I am going to try that soon!

Merry Christmas!

♥charlotte

Charming Ways of Life said...

I love these beautiful flowers!! Thank you for posting this.

Little Bit said...

Really pretty. I may just try my hand at this for a Valentines project. Thank you for sharing. I'm so glad I found your site. Little Bit from DecorateWithaLittleBit.com

Little Bit said...

p.s. I'm pinning it! Little Bit from DecorateWithaLittleBit.com

Unknown said...

This is absolutely Gorgeous! I love everything about it! HOpe you stop by and join in my under 300 followers blog hop @ http://pinkapotamus.blogspot.com/2012/05/under-300-followers-blog-hop-3.html
I am your newest follower~
xoxo
Amie @ Pinkapotamus

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