Own Your Encore

 It was a rainy Sunday in Seattle so I attended a “Paper Bouquet” class at Packaging Specialties.  In 2 hours I learned some basics for crepe paper and tissue flowers.  This annotation gives some basic steps that I can refer back to when I forget!

The class participants are always a curiosity, they included; a few ladies from a garden club who were planning to take what they learned back to the club – their club members gather to talk flowers, drink wine and do a flower related project [ I think they decided to hire the instructor], there were a couple  mother/daughter teams learning how-to for an upcoming wedding and a few like myself…we like all things paper.

MATERIALS – crepe paper, tissue paper, waxed string [book binder string], floral wire and tape, scissors, tape measure, pencil…she gave us a few petal templates [included in the slideshow] but a few pictures of flowers might be most helpful.

To make a peony /poppy type flower

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

1. Cut 12″ piece of floral wire, wrap one end around a pencil a few times to create a pig’s tail [this is your stamen]
2. Cut a 3″ section from crepe paper pack, cut fringe to 1″, unfurl and cut a 12″ section for your 1st flower
3. Wrap the fringe around the wire below the pig tail and secure with waxed string, tie a double knot
4. NOTE: a few  techniques – roll the fringe in your hands to make it look round… curl using a pencil… dip in color for ombre [let dry]
5. Cut the petals, # of petals for each flower will depend on type, using thumbs stretch the petal starting 1/3 down and work into a cupped shape or shape appropriate for your flower
6. Gather the bottom of the petal and place around the stem, over and tight up to the fringe tie, add petals, wrap with waxed string, knot
7. Wrap the bottom of the petals with floral tape creating the receptacle of the flower
8. NOTE: to make the Aqua flower in the bouquet there are 2 layers of fringe, a 3″ as above and a 5 inch – steps below

• Cut a 5″ [same process as with 3″] section from crepe paper roll, cut fringe to 1″, unfurl and cut a 12″ section for your 1st flower
• Wrap the fringe over the base of the 1st fringe and secure with waxed string, tie a double knot
• Add petals

To make a bud or a snowdrop flower

1. Cut 12″ piece of floral wire, fold one end over
2. Cut 2 -1″ x 3″ rectangles of crepe paper, fold 1 piece in half lengthwise with fold edge at the top
3. Place wire at edge of folded crepe paper 1/4″ down and wrap tightly, secure with floral tape – you have a tiny bud
4. Fold second 1″ x 3″ crepe paper into thirds, then fold that in half, with scissors cut 1/4″ up from folded edges, cutting an arc to the center
5. Unfurl to expose 3 pointed peaks, gather the base of each peak around the wire stem, creating 3 petals surrounding your center bud
6. Secure with floral tape, wrap stem

To make the fuchsia type flower – requires a 3/8″ straw/ or you could make by rolling paper around a large pencil

1. Cut 3 –  6″ pieces of waxed string, tie a single knot at each end [6 knots], fold the knotted strings in half
2. Cut 12″ piece of floral wire, place the wire through the folded strings and fold over, secure [you have a created the long fuchsia stamens
3. Cut a 3″ piece of Bubble straw, cut half-inch fringe at one end and cut 3 half-inch slits at the other end
4. Flair the fringe end, pull the stamens through, mash the other end together [overlap the 3 slits], secure with waxed string
5. Make flower petals following snowdrop instructions – repeated here

• Fold second 1″ x 3″ crepe paper into thirds, then fold that in half, with scissors cut 1/4″ up from folded edges, cutting an arc to the center
• Unfurl to expose 3 pointed peaks, gather the base of each peak around the wire stem, creating 3 petals surrounding your center bud
• Secure with floral tape, wrap stem

The Yellow flower in the bouquet is made of tissue paper around a fringe center.  The Red Poppy is my design – I made it this evening…practicing..