Newspaper and Tissue Paper Flowers Tutorial

I wanted some Mardi Gras-esque decorations but I didn’t want them to be too obvious. I also wanted them to be cheap. Like stupid cheap. And since both used newspaper (hello FREE!) and tissue paper can be very cheap, this seemed like a pretty awesome way to go.

I pulled out the colors that seemed the most Mardi Gras to me and got after it on the floor of my parents’ den while dodging four, yes FOUR, crazy dogs that missed me so much that they couldn’t bear to not run all over my set up. In the end, it was awesome because I was able to craft with minimal supplies in a space that isn’t my own craft room with tons and tons of crafty things. And that means that even if you aren’t super crafty, you can totally knock this out. I mean, do you have a pair of scissors? Yes, then let’s get it!

For this project you will need:

• Newspaper
• Tissue paper
• String
• Scissors

You can gather newspapers from all around even if you don’t read it personally. Ask friends and family. Check at the office may be in the waiting room. And sometimes I’ve even had convenience store managers offer to give me the old issues that haven’t been sold and were still lying around.

Pull out the newspaper sheets that are doubled. And by double, I just mean that they have a fold in the middle and when they open up are very wide. Any of the single-page sheets that appear in the middle of sections aren’t going to work here.

Stack up your double pages as neatly as possible and place a piece of tissue paper on top.

Trim the newspaper that exceeds the edges of the tissue paper. Now I think that tissue paper is the same size but maybe not exactly. All of my colors were dead on except for the teal that was about half an inch more narrow than the others, but that was no big deal.

Stack your papers however you please. I wanted the color to be throughout the flower so I went newspaper, tissue paper, newspaper, you get the idea. Gather until you have 10-12 sheets all ready to go.

We are going to accordion fold the paper up. If you’re not sure what that means, first fold the paper up about an inch and a half to two inches from the bottom edge.

Flop it over and fold up again. If you keep turning the paper, you’ll get the accordion fold that looks pleated.

When you get to the end trim up any excess paper so it is nice and flush.

Tie a string around the middle tightly. This is cute baker’s twine but it doesn’t have to be because you aren’t going to see it. Use whatever you have on hand that is fairly sturdy.

Trim the ends in any shape you please. I went with points but you can curve the ends for a softer look… whatever floats your boat, really.

Turn the pages on its side and start to pull the ends apart like so.

One sheet at a time, pull the paper up and away from the stack. Be gentle because it will easily tear.

Continue doing each sheet and gather after each to round off and start to make the flower shape.

In the end you have a fluffy little flower that can be any color scheme you please.

They’re great in pairs or sets…

Or look great solo, perhaps one in a corner?

So save those newspapers and get ready to make some décor whenever you please to match anything!

Allison

A crafter since her earliest years, Allison spends a little time every day making something. She crafts, sews, paints, glues things onto other things, and is a firm believer that a life spent creating is a life worth living. Visit Allison’s blog, Dream {a Little} BIGGER.