How to Make Paper Roses & Flowers With Cricut

The Cricut personal die cut machine allows crafters to create custom die cut shapes and letters for their paper crafting projects. You can choose from more than 100 themed cartridges, with images ranging from simple geometric shapes to elaborate icons, including animals, holiday motifs, household items and more. To make paper flowers and roses, the most simple route is to select a cartridge featuring flowers --- many do --- and cut your favorite image using the machine. However, it is possible to make three-dimensional flowers and roses even if you don't have a flower-themed cartridge.

Things You'll Need

• Cricut machine
• Cricut cartridge
• Cricut cutting mat
• Plain cardstock or patterned paper
• Paper piercing tool or thumbtack
• Brads
• Buttons
• Glue Dot
• Glitter glue or shimmer spray (optional)

Instructions

1. Choose the paper that you want to use for your flower. Any type of cardstock or patterned scrapbook paper will work.

2. Cut the paper to fit the cutting mat of your machine, if necessary. Depending on the model of your Cricut, the paper should be 6 inches by 12 inches or 12 inches by 12 inches.

3. Adhere the paper to the cutting mat. Be sure that the paper is attached securely and lined up with the grid lines.

4. Choose a cartridge with a circle image. Circles with scalloped or embellished edges will give your flower more visual interest.

5. Set the Cricut machine to cut the size you want. Follow the manufacturer's instructions to set cutting pressure and speed for the paper you chose.

6. Cut five circles from the paper. Remove the circles from the cutting mat.

7. Stack your five cut circles. Using the paper piercer or a thumbtack, poke a hole through the center of all five circles.

8. Insert a brad into the hole. Open the brad prongs to hold the five circles together.

9. Starting with the top circle, scrunch the paper toward the brad. Repeat with the remaining paper circles, crumpling each one individually.

10. Adjust the layers until you are pleased with how the flower looks. Attach a button to the center of the flower using a glue dot.

11. Adhere the flower to your project using a Glue Got. Repeat the process until you have the desired number of flowers.

Tips & Warnings

• You can embellish your flower however you wish. Use glitter glue to line the edges of your flower petals, or spray the completed flower with shimmer spray.

• Use items other than buttons for the center of the flower. Choose a larger brad, or cover the brad or button with sequins, smaller cut circles or any other item you choose.

• If you are making a larger flower, you may need to cut more than five circles to achieve the look you want. Experiment with the size and number of paper layers until you are happy with your flowers.