For the past few weeks, I have been learning to make crepe paper flowers. Gordon is constructing 12 pvc posts to place down the aisle, which we will use to hang the fabric pennants and then tie one of our crepe paper bouquets to the top. We will have real flowers at the wedding, but Emily and I thought these were a cute and inexpensive alternative to real flowers down the aisle. This is another project that provides a nice break from embroidering wedding napkins. I think I have about half of the flowers done.
For making flowers with individual petals (gerberas, peonies, roses), the best paper is either German duplex, or Italian crepe paper. The Italian paper is available on Etsy ($7 for a huge roll) and it is amazing — very thick and super stretchy. At first I used the templates on the Martha Stewart web site, but you can also just make up your own petal shapes. Honestly, it’s hard to mess this up since crepe paper is so forgiving.
The other method is to use strips of petals and wrap them around the stamen. This method is a little faster, but if you have a ruffler foot, you can whip out long strips of ruffled petals in no time. I’ve made lots of crepe paper streamer flowers using the ruffler — just unroll a 2 – 4 yard length of the streamer (depending on how puffy you want your flower to be), fold it several times until it’s about 6 in. long, cut along one long edge with some kind of design (scallop, zig-zag, or whatever — be imaginative), run the opposite long side through your ruffler, wrap the gathered side around the stamen and wire, occasionally adding a dab of hot glue. I could do a tutorial on this if anyone is interested. These three flowers are made from streamers.
One thing I have learned is that I hate floral tape — it doesn’t stick and it’s too slippery. Double-stick tape or hot glue will work well for attaching individual petals. For wrapping the bottom of the flower, I like to use Frog Tape because it’s green and sticky, although it doesn’t really stretch.
UPDATE: Link to photos of the completed crepe paper wedding flowers here, and a tutorial on how to make flowers using a ruffler foot here.
Wow…. the wedding is going to be incredibly beautiful…. you’ve been working very hard! Hope you’ll share some photos later… I’m sure a lot of us would love to see everything put together.
Oh my goodness these are the prettiest crepe flowers I have ever seen – you’d better take LOADS of pictures of this wedding!!
Ditto what Allie said! These flowers are spectacular. I’ve never seen anything like them.
They’d be gorgeous on a straw hat, or made into a pin to wear on a dress..or just a vase full would be stunning! You never cease to amaze me with your tallents.
PLEASE take lots of pics of this wedding..and send some to Martha Stewart. I’m sure she’d be thrilled. 🙂
Wow! Those are gorgeous! I can’t wait to see pictures from the wedding!
I’m curious though…what’s a ruffler?
These are so beautiful!!! I can’t wait to see all the amazing details at Emily’s wedding. She is so lucky to have you to help.
Martha, all these flowers are amazing and so gorgeous! Thank you for posting and giving us some hints on how to make them. 🙂
Those are so beautiful! I can’t imagine what a wonderful wedding this will be! I hope the marriage is equally as glorious!
I concur with the above statements. I must say I’ve been reading your blog for quite some time, but the wonder of what wedding craft you are going to post next has me checking it much more frequently!
I would personally love a tutorial, but not until after the wedding when you’ve had a chance to catch your breath again!
Those are GORGEOUS!!! I would love a tutorial (after the wedding) and then I may possibly achieve independence from Michael’s and/or Joann’s – at least from the floral department anyway…
Count me in with the tutorial-after-the-wedding crowd. These are beyond gorgeous. Thanks for the advice on crepe paper – the stuff in the stores seems to get worse each time I buy it (which isn’t all that often, but still…)
Wow! The flowers are beautiful!! I’m super impressed!!
I was so impressed to see these! I could never make anything so pretty out of paper!
Martha,
Your flowers are amazing! It has been so many years since i made crepe paper flowers, may have to try it sometime, again.
The wedding is going to be beautiful. All the work you’ve done, maybe you can make it last more than one day….lol
Martha, Martha, Martha…..I had no idea I graced such an artist!! All of your work is so creative and beautiful! I especially love the flowers for Emily’s wedding. They are so natural looking, I’m in awe! Please post pictures of the big day. I really enjoyed exploring your blog…thank you for sharing. Jill
I just found your blog and I love your quilts and “almost quilts”…and the embroidered napkins! These flowers are gorgeous too…yes, a tutorial after the wedding would be great. I did flowers for my brother’s wedding and I learned that the trick to floral tape is to stretch it enough while wrapping to make it stick.
Laurie
what is a ruffler?? also beautiful flowers by the way. this is by far the best blog ever!!!
I’m starting to plan a wedding myself and remembered you had made these crepe flowers that were simply stunning. IF you have time, now that the wedding was a complete success, a tutorial would be wonderful!
Thank you so much!
Wow! This is exactly what I am trying to do though I am definitley not as crafty. If you could please do a tutorial it would be very much appreciated! My wedding is in July and these would be perfect.
Thanks in advance!
AWESOME>>>LOVE THEM!!!!
Beaatuiful flowers. I also make them and woldlike thare with you. How so I d o that\?
Estela
wonderfull flowers .i will make them and get complements from others