Hey there! I totally realize that Valentine’s Day is over a month away, but it’s not too early to start thinking about craft ideas is it!? Of course not! This weekend, while I was taking care of a sick little girl, I put together some crepe paper flowers for a topiary that makes a great Valentine’s day craft idea. Here’s how to make your own!
You’ll need at least one roll of crepe paper. If you use anything larger than a 4″ styrofoam ball, I would get two rolls of crepe paper. Here’s all the supplies I used for this crafty project:
- 1 – 5″ Styrofoam Ball
- 2 – rolls of crepe paper (from the dollar store!)
- Hot glue gun and glue sticks
Optional supplies may include band-aids for all the hot glue on your fingers unless you are a super skilled hot glue crafter! And maybe a glass of wine for “wine and roses”! har har 🙂
To make a crepe paper flower, first tear or cut off a strip of crepe paper. I made my strips about 2 feet long. Smaller strip = small flower and vice versa!
Fold the paper over about 1/3 of the way like this for the entire strip of paper.
Starting at one end, begin rolling the paper a few times with the folded edge on the outside.
After rolling a few times to make the center of the flower, begin twisting the paper and wrapping it around. You only need to twist it a 1/4 turn, wrap, twist another 1/4 turn, wrap some more… keep going!
I continue to hold on the center part while I’m twisting the paper around. This gives me something to hold on to the flower.
After a few wraps around, you should start seeing something like this.
Don’t worry if it doesn’t look like that picture. Let me tell you that this is the first time I’ve done this. The first 2 or 3 flowers I made looked like wads of crepe paper and well, they didn’t make it. 🙂 Just keep practicing!!
One you get to the end of your strip of paper, just add a dab of hot glue and wrap the end under the flower to attach it.
Then attach your flower to the styrofoam ball with hot glue. No need to skimp on the hot glue here! You don’t want it to come unraveled. But be fore-warned – My fingertips are still a little blistered from the hot glue! 🙂 Okay, maybe not blistered, but I think I still have hot glue on my fingernails!
Keep filling in until you have a complete ball! I had to make a few smaller flowers to fill in gaps here and there. This craft does take some time, but it’s easy enough to do while watching your favorite TV show (who has time for TV?) or during nap time! When I first started this, I thought it would take me forevahhhh, but once you do a few and get the hang of the it, it goes fast!
I’m planning on making a couple more in different sizes and colors for Valentine’s Day decorations. These would even be great for wedding or shower decorations or just because! I plan on attaching some ribbon to this one after the holiday and hanging it in our daughter’s room.
Oh and just ignore those empty bookshelves in the background! We just got those for our dining room this weekend and put them together. Styling bookcases is on my list of things to do this month as well! 🙂
Have you started thinking about Valentine’s Day?
Do you do any special activities with the family to celebrate?
Have you ever made crepe paper flowers before?
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17 Comments
Max
Love this! Will be pinning and hoping to try when I gather up some supplies
Delila
The flowers are so beautiful and cute. I will definitely by trying this. Thanks for the tutorial!
Maggie
Hi Ellora,
great tutorial and for sure you write 2 very important things to don’t miss: a glass of wine and band-aids.. haha!!!
Love your photos, your way to write and explanations! Great! Thank you for this!
Will try it now…. need to go open the wine! ?
Warm greetings from a Brazilian in Poland!
Maggie
Ellora
Thanks Maggie!! Love hearing from you! Thanks so much for your kind words. And yes… crafting is always better with a little wine! 😉 Enjoy my friend!!
Cindi
About how many Flowers do you think are needed to mAke one topiary? Just trying to budget my time and see if it’s possible
Ellora
Hi Cindi, it depends on how big of a styrofoam ball that you want to use and how big you make your flowers. I made my flowers about 1 1/2″ big and the ball I used was 5″ styrofoam ball. If it’s the first time making these, it takes a few minutes to get the hang of it and then it goes fast. Maybe you could gather some friends or family and make an afternoon of fun with it! 🙂
Sara
I didn’t have my hot glue gun around, so I just used straght pins by tucking in the end under the flower so it doesn’t unravel, and then pinning through the middle of the crepe rose to secure it into the ball. Beautiful, because it leaves a pearl head in the middle of the flower showing! I haven’t tried the look with plain straight pins but I imagine as long as the color isn’t too light it should be unnoticeable. If not, it won’t ruin it anyway. Just not as gorgeous as the pearly flowers!
dollmaker
One of the room moms where I work made these for a special dinner at school…. they were a hit! She said it did take some time as she did about 40 of them, but they were beautiful and well worth the effort. They would be beautiful for showers or even weddings as they looked expensive and were just gorgeous.
Cloudcroft Hotel
I love this look. I was skirting around the internet today to get ideas for our February storefront window. I would love to use this. Not sure what the window theme will be yet but if I use it I will be sure to mention where I got the idea. Thanks
Ellora @ Creatively Southern
Thank you so much! Hope you find some inspiration and I’d love to see what you end up doing with your window theme!
Felecia Cofield
Hi Ellora! I love this topiary! It is so elegant! Thank you for sharing this great tutorial! Have a great day! Blessings from Bama!
Ellora @ Creatively Southern
Thank you Felecia!
maritza
what is that base called? holding the pomander? I am wanting to purchase them for my wedding
Ellora @ Creatively Southern
Hi Maritza! Thanks for your question. It’s actually just a wooden candle holder that I picked up at Hobby Lobby on clearance. Congrats on your wedding! Let me know if I can help with any other questions. 🙂
Jamie -Better With Age
So cute! That’s adorable. And styling bookshelves are a challenge too 😉 I’m a new follower.
Kris @ Driven by Décor
Love the flowers – there’s got to be some fun projects to do with those in kids rooms!
Anonymous
Very cute!