How to Make Crepe Paper Carnations

Make beautiful carnations out of crepe paper.

Crepe paper carnations make beautiful decorations for May Day, Cinco de Mayo and Mother's Day. They are also an alternative to real flowers for a wedding. No matter what you plan to use them for, crepe paper carnations are not difficult to make.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• A variety of colors of crepe paper, 8-by-11 inch sheets
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Green pipe cleaners

Making the Petals

1. Lay out seven or eight 8-by-11 inch sheets of crepe paper on top of one another, narrow side facing you.

2. Take the bottom edge of the pile of paper and fold it up to meet the top edge, working from the narrow end.

3. Fold in half again.

4. Trim bottom corners so they are rounded, but do not cut across the bottom of the petal. They will be unfolded along that line. Slash the straight edge to about a third of the way down the petal so that you will be able to ruffle it later.

Adding the Stem

1. Take the petals you rounded in step four of section one and open them along the fold line. The stem will be placed across the fold line.

2. Pinch the center of the petals along with the center of the green pipe cleaner. Fold the pipe cleaner in half so that the two ends of the pipe cleaner are touching and the loop at the top goes around the pinched petals.

3. Twist and pull each petal carefully into place so that the flower is very ruffled. Shake it back and forth when you are done to poof it up even more.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a variety of bright colors.

• Coordinate colors for the prettiest flowers.

• For even prettier carnations, cut a pile of crepe paper leaves and glue them around your stem.

• Do not cut across the bottom of the petals. They will be unfolded along that line.

• Crepe paper ink will bleed when wet and will stain your hands and clothes.

References

• Martha Steward DIY Weddings: How to Make Crepe-Paper Flowers