Build a Flower Read online

  Laminating your paper consists of gluing two pieces of paper together for added strength or for flowers that need different colors on either side of the paper. You can laminate doublette or florist crepe papers with a glue stick or with tacky glue and a flat brush. Always apply the glue thoroughly around the paper, paying special attention to the corners and edges. Make sure the direction of the grain is the same for all layers of paper that you glue together. With these types of paper, you will be able to shape the petal while the glue is still wet and take advantage of the added stretchiness. To laminate more delicate papers, such as fine crepe paper or tissue paper, you can use fusible bonding web or spray adhesive. To laminate sturdy papers like cardstock, use a hot glue gun to apply lines of glue around the edges or center.

  Ruffling

  Ruffling the edges of your petals will give them a subtle wavy effect. To ruffle your petal, hold the edge of your petal with your thumbs and index fingers and gently pull in opposite directions. Ruffle your petals for flowers like peonies.

  Fringing

  A paper fringe is used to simulate the stamens in the flower’s center. Cutting a fringe involves making a series of successive cuts along the edge of your paper. Cut a finer and more realistic fringe by carefully making the cuts close together. A wider fringe is used for bolder and more modern designs. To cut a fringe faster, fold your paper crosswise once or twice and cut multiple layers of paper at once. To cut a uniform fringe, pencil mark or score a horizontal line up to where you want to cut your fringe. To attach your fringe to wire, apply glue along the bottom and wrap it around the top of your wire. Secure with floral tape.

  Wiring

  Wiring petals consists of adding a straight wire between two layers of paper for added flexibility. Apply glue thoroughly around the paper and place a straight wire vertically down the paper. Sandwich the wire between your two layers of paper. Use a thin floral stem wire that is between 26 and 30 gauge. Wiring petals is great for flowers like the tulip, iris, lily, and magnolia. When making oversize flowers with crepe paper, wire the outer petals for added support. When making wall flowers with crepe paper, wire the upper petals to avoid drooping.

  Attaching the Petals

  You can glue the petals one by one if you want them placed very precisely, but for a more organic distribution, organize them in clusters. If you attach them as strips or stack them as layers, that will make the project go faster. As you add more petals to your stem, be sure to keep attaching them at the same level on your wire, just below the center/stamens. Otherwise, your flower may move down the wire and it will be very hard to secure it with floral tape.

  Wrapping the Stem

  The wire becomes the stem as you build the flower on top and wrap it with floral tape or paper strips. You can use floral tape or crepe/tissue paper strips to wrap the wire and to attach leaves to it. Floral tape is easy, as you can just wrap it around the wire, but paper strips will give the project a more finished look. To use paper strips instead of floral tape, cut ¼- to ½-inch (6-mm to 1.3-cm) strips of crepe paper against the grain and stretch them out completely. You can then apply glue along the entire strip, or just apply it every few inches as you wrap it down the wire. You can also use paper strips to create a clean surface if attaching your petals is becoming too slippery. If using plain wire, as opposed to cloth or paper-covered wire, it helps to wrap the wire with floral tape before building your flower. To attach leaves, position them one by one against the wire and secure them with floral tape or by gluing on paper strips.

  Coloring Techniques

  Painting your paper is another way to add depth and texture to your flowers. You can add finishing touches to your assembled flowers, paint small details on your cut petals, or change the color of your precut paper. Keep in mind that water-based media will wrinkle most papers. Once dry, wrinkles can be fixed by curling them with the edge of your scissors, cupping them with your fingers, or simply smoothing them out between the palms of your hands.

  Before you use any of these coloring techniques on a project, it is a good idea to test your coloring techniques on a scrap of paper first and wait to see how the color looks once the paper dries. There’s often more than one way to apply each type of coloring method, and some methods work better on certain types of paper than others. Experiment with the coloring techniques that follow to give your paper flowers an artistic touch.

  ACRYLIC OR CRAFT PAINT

  You can use acrylic or craft paint on papers like cardstock, doublette crepe, florist crepe, and tissue paper. For fine crepe and tissue paper, use the paint sparingly so the paper doesn’t rip. Begin by mixing your colors and testing them on paper scraps. Before cutting the paper, you can use a flat brush to make marks up and down your paper, splatter the paint with an old toothbrush, or spray diluted paint on the paper with a spray bottle. After cutting the petals, you can paint fine details with a thin brush. For cardstock, mix the color you want, then with the folded edge of another piece of cardstock pick up the paint and spread a thin layer up and down the paper. Let the paper dry thoroughly before cutting it.

  INKS

  You can use inks on papers like doublette crepe, florist crepe, fine crepe, and tissue paper. For detailed brush work, use calligraphy inks, alcohol inks, concentrated watercolor, and India or China inks applied with a thin or fan brush and straight out of the jar. If you want to alter the color of your inks, dilute them in rubbing alcohol by adding a few drops of ink into a couple teaspoons of rubbing alcohol until you get the color and saturation you want. For color gradients, brush your paper with water and then apply drops of ink to the wet area. Keep in mind, doublette and florist crepe papers will bleed color when wet. Use this to your advantage and keep the watery pigments that run off the paper to use to color other papers. Alternatively, dilute your inks in approximately ¼ cup (60 ml) rubbing alcohol and pour or brush the color mix directly onto your precut paper. Let dry thoroughly before assembling.

  PASTELS AND PANPASTELS

  Pastels work well on papers like fine crepe, florist crepe, and doublette crepe. Panpastels have become very popular among paper artists. These are pastels packaged in a pan so they can easily be swiped with a brush or makeup sponge. I recommend applying pastels after assembling a flower to avoid smudging the colors with your fingers while shaping and attaching the petals. Wedge your brush between the stamens and your petals to deposit the pigments and create gradation. Although mostly used as a dry medium, pastels can be mixed with water or rubbing alcohol and applied with a brush for interesting effects. Protect your flowers with a spray fixative after painting them with pastels. Spray your flower evenly from a distance of at least 15 inches (38 cm). This may darken the color slightly. Be careful not to blow on your flowers when working with pastels, as you do not want to breathe in the dust.

  MARKERS

  Markers are great for cardstock, tissue, fine crepe, and doublette crepe papers. Use a fine-tipped marker to add small details on your cut and shaped petals. Add texture to your petals by drawing lines up and down your paper. To avoid harsh marker lines, start at the base of your petal and feather your marker outward in the direction of the grain. Use a colorless blender to soften any marker streaks if desired. You can also use a broad-tipped marker to lightly dab the edges of your crepe paper petals for a subtle effect. Or use a black permanent marker to draw stamen tips and centers when black crepe paper is not available.

  DIP-DYEING

  You can dip-dye papers like tissue, fine crepe, florist crepe, and doublette crepe. Mix ¼ cup (60 ml) rubbing alcohol with the dye or ink of your choice. You can use liquid fabric dye, food coloring, and even scraps of doublette or florist crepe paper. Control the intensity of the dye by adding more alcohol for a softer color, or less alcohol for more vibrant colors. The paper will absorb the dye very quickly, so you only need to dip it for a couple of seconds. To dye crepe paper, fold each strip several times crosswise and quickly dip one of the edges into your color mix. Let the paper dry before cuttin
g it. To dye tissue paper, cut your tissue paper into strips or squares then gather your paper into bunches and quickly dip one of the edges or corners into the mix. For interesting tie-dye effects, experiment with scrunching or wrinkling your paper. Bleach will also yield interesting results, but mix it only with water (never with alcohol) and use it in a well-ventilated area.

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  TUTORIALS FOR BASIC FLOWERS

  Project No. 1

  Cardstock Wall Flower

  These cardstock wall flowers are a modern yet whimsical way to decorate your walls for an occasion or long-term. With the help of a hot glue gun, they are easy to craft and can be customized to fit your event’s theme or room decor. The recommended paper is cardstock because of its sturdiness. Have fun with the color combinations, and experiment with acrylic paint to give the flower added texture. You can display your flower on the wall with removable hanging strips that hold up to 1 pound. Place the tape of the hanging strips on the back of the flower and on one of the top petals to avoid drooping.

  Relevant techniques

  cutting, snipping base of petal, laminating, and fringing

  Number of petals

  16 arranged in 2 layers

  Optional coloring / Acrylics

  Mix the color you want, then with the folded edge of a piece of cardstock pick up the paint and spread a thin layer up and down your paper. For interesting textures, place two colors next to each other without fully mixing them, pick them up with the folded cardstock, and spread them on the paper. Let the paper dry thoroughly before cutting it.

  All dimensions are given as height-by-length.

  Materials

  Three 8½-by-11-inch (21.5-by-28-cm) sheets of cardstock paper

  Color for background petals

  Color for foreground petals

  Color for the center

  Recommended glue: Hot glue gun

  Templates: Wall flower petal

  Scissors

  Ruler

  1. Cutting the paper

  Cut the background and foreground cardstock into sixteen strips of equal size. Each strip should be approximately 4¼-by-1⅜ inches (11-by-3.5 cm). To do this, cut your paper in half lengthwise and then cut each resulting piece in half crosswise until you get sixteen strips.

  2. Cutting the petals

  Use the petal template to cut the petals out of your foreground cardstock. Alternatively, cut your own petal design freehand.

  3. Laminating the petals

  Apply a line of hot glue along a foreground petal and quickly glue it to a background strip. Press and hold briefly.

  4. Cutting the outline

  Cut the background strip around the foreground petal to create an outline with the background color that’s about ⅛-inch (3 mm) thick.

  5. Starting to shape the petals

  To raise and cup your inner petals, cut a 1¼-inch (3.1-cm) slit at the base of eight petals. Reapply glue to ensure the foreground and the background hold together if needed.

  6. Shaping the petals

  Apply glue to the bottom of the left flap and overlap it with the bottom of the right flap. Do this with the eight petals where you cut a slit.

  7. Attaching the petals

  FIRST LAYER / Cut a 2-by-2-inch (5-by-5-cm) square out of the yellow cardstock. Attach four flat petals on the corners and then fill the gaps with the other four flat petals. Leave enough room in the middle of the square for the flower’s center. To glue, apply glue to the back of each petal’s base. Press and hold briefly.

  8. Attaching the petals

  SECOND LAYER / Glue the dimensional petals in between the gaps of your flat petals. Press and hold briefly.

  9. Cutting the center

  For the center, cut a 3-by-11-inch (7.5-by-28-cm) strip out of the center cardstock and fold it in half lengthwise. Cut a 1-inch-deep (2.5-cm) fringe on the folded edge.

  10. Gluing the center

  Apply glue along the base (the opposite edge from the fringe) and roll it onto itself to create the center. As you roll, apply more glue as needed.

  11. Attaching the center

  Apply glue to the back of your center and place it in the middle of your flower. Press and hold briefly. Open your center by fluffing it with your fingers.

  Suggested adjustments if using other types of paper

  FOR DOUBLETTE CREPE AND FLORIST CREPE / Petals: Stretch out your paper and cut out your petal template sixteen times. Make sure the grain of the paper runs parallel to the template arrows. Cut sixteen 4¼-by-1⅜-inch (11-by-3.5-cm) rectangles with the grain running vertically for backing. Laminate the petals: With a glue stick or tacky glue, apply glue thoroughly to your petal shapes and attach them to the rectangles and cut around the foreground petal to create an outline with the backing. If you want the second layer of petals to be dimensional, wire them with a 4-inch (10 cm) 26 to 28 gauge wire straight down the middle of each petal. Attach all petals to a 2-by-2-inch (5-by-5-cm) backing with a hot glue gun. CENTER / No change.

  Project No. 2

  Doublette Crepe Paper Tulip

  Each of this tulip’s six petals is carefully crafted by gluing two layers of paper together. Laminating the petals makes them sturdier and gives them a smooth texture that you can paint with inks. You also have the option of wiring the petals to give them extra mobility, allowing you to open and close your tulip again and again.

  Doublette has a different color on each side of the paper. Pick the color that you like, and make sure to glue your paper so that it is the color showing when you fold your petals. The trick to this flower is to thoroughly apply glue when laminating the petals. I prefer to use an extra-strength glue stick for this project, but you can apply tacky glue with the help of a brush or your fingers. If you shape the petals while the glue is still wet, you will be able to create interesting sculptural shapes through cupping and ruffling. To mimic the tulip’s thick stem, wrap the wire with extra floral tape.

  Relevant techniques

  cutting, cupping, ruffling, laminating, wiring, and wrapping the stem

  Number of petals

  6 arranged in 2 layers

  Optional coloring / Inks

  You can use concentrated watercolor, calligraphy ink, or India ink. Pick up your paint straight out of the jar using a brush or dilute it with very little rubbing alcohol. Look up tulip photos or botanical illustrations as references to familiarize yourself with the color patterns found in tulips. Use a thin brush to paint delicate brush strokes or a fan brush to paint long brush strokes up and down your petals.

  All dimensions are given as height-by-length. The grain of the paper should be running with height.

  Materials

  Doublette crepe paper (90 g)

  Color for petals

  Green for leaves and stem

  Yellow for center

  18 to 20 gauge wire (cut to 9 inches [23 cm])

  Recommended glue: Extra-strength glue stick or tacky glue plus a brush to apply

  Templates: Tulip petal, Tulip leaf

  Scissors

  Floral tape

  Ruler

  Wire cutter

  Optional: 26 to 28 gauge wire for wiring petals

  1. Center

  Cut a 2-by-½-inch (5-by-1.3-cm) rectangle and a ½-by-4-inch (1.3-by-10 cm) strip out of yellow crepe paper. Scrunch and attach your rectangle to the wire with the strip of yellow crepe paper and glue, leaving ¼ inch (6 mm) of the rectangle visible at the top.

  2. Stamens

  Cut a 2-by-1½-inch (5-by-4-cm) rectangle out of yellow crepe paper. Make four parallel cuts on one of the short sides; each cut approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep and ¼ inch (6 mm) from the next. Twist each resulting tab with your fingers. Apply glue to the base (the short, noncut edge) and wrap it around your stem, approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) below the top. Secure with floral tape and spread out your stamens evenly around the stem.

  3. Laminating the paper

  Cut six strips of doublette crepe paper, approximately 3�
�-by-4¼ inches (8-by-11 cm) each. Apply glue thoroughly on the right half of one strip (remember, dimensions are given in height by length) and fold it in half to glue the two sides together. Smooth out your paper a little by rubbing it between the palms of your hands. Repeat for all six strips.

  Optional: Wire your petals by placing a 4-inch (10-cm) 26 to 28 gauge wire vertically down the middle of your right side and fold the strip in half to glue the two sides together.

  4. Cutting the petals

  Place your petal template on top of your laminated rectangle and cut around it. Make sure the template arrows match the direction of the grain. Fold the petal’s tab back at the base. Repeat for all six petals.

  5. Cupping the petals

  While the glue is still wet, shape the lower half of your petal. Hold the middle of your petal with your thumbs and index fingers and gently stretch it into a subtle bowl shape. Repeat this motion around the lower half of the petal to get the desired shape. Repeat for all six petals.

  6. Ruffling the petals

  Ruffle the top of your petal by holding the top edge of the petal with your thumbs and index fingers and gently pulling once in opposite directions to create a wavy effect. Repeat for all petals.

  7. Attaching the petals

  FIRST LAYER / Apply glue to the folded tab of your first petal and attach it to the stem, just below the stamens. Press and hold briefly. Attach two other petals evenly around the center. Let glue dry and secure with floral tape.

  8. Attaching the petals

  SECOND LAYER / For the second layer, attach the remaining three petals evenly around the stem, between the gaps of the first layer petals. Attach each petal at the same level on the stem. Secure with floral tape and wrap the tape all the way down the stem.