Flower Week: Tissue Paper Carnations
Today is the start of Flower Week on Folding Trees. Every weekday, I will be showcasing different types of paper flowers. You may be surprised at the variety of flowers you can make using different paper craft techniques! If you know of any amazing flower tutorials I should include in my round-up, let me know!
When I had the idea for Flower Week, I thought I would kick off the week with some flowers that I made myself. I wanted to try some tissue paper flowers, but when I followed various tutorials I found online, the flowers I made weren’t realistic enough for me. So, here’s what I came up with to rectify that:
A vase of pretty tissue paper carnations! Below is a close up of the flowers - aren’t they lovely?
Want to make your own? Keep reading to find out how!
You will need:
- Tissue paper
- Scissors
- 2 large paper clips
- Pipe cleaners (chenille stems) or floral wire
- Coloured marker pen
- Optional: floral wire, floral tape, wire cutters
You can make your carnations any size, but I found that a 3″ (7.5cm) circle gives a realistic-sized flower. Fold your tissue paper in half again and again until it is just larger than your circle size. I used a 20×24″ sheet of tissue paper, which let me cut 48 circles at once - enough for 4-5 carnations!
Find a suitably-sized circular container and draw around it with a pencil onto your folded tissue paper.
Start to cut out the circle, holding all the layers of tissue paper together. If you can’t cut through the whole thickness, try cutting half the layers at a time, then draw another circle to cut out the other half. I found that I could cut through 48 layers with no problem, as the tissue paper is so thin. You don’t have to cut too exactly, so don’t worry if some of the layers don’t come out as perfect circles. Use a large paper clip to help keep the layers together.
As you continue to cut, add a second paper clip on the opposite side of the circles to keep all the circles together.
This next step is the key to making the flowers look more realistic than standard tissue paper flowers. If you are in a hurry or making them with children, you could skip this step and still end up with nice flowers. It is a bit tricky and takes a few minutes to complete, but I think it’s worth it!
Take a marker pen with a complementary colour (a cheap kids’ pen is fine). A bold colour will give a more effective result. Use your non-writing hand to hold the edges of all the tissue-paper layers together, and use the side of the pen nib to begin to gently colour the edge of the circles. Take this slowly - if you press too hard, the tissue paper layers will separate. Colour a small section of the edge at a time, and go over each section a few times to ensure the colour is intense and the ink has saturated all the edges.
Continue to colour around the edge. When you are about halfway through, move the paper clips to areas you have already coloured, and fill in the gaps.
Note: I have switched to the white tissue paper for these photos as the coloured pen shows up more clearly!
..Erm, yes. You may well end up with a coloured finger by the time you have finished (see below) as you have to hold the papers close to the edge to keep them together while you colour them! Don’t worry - it’ll wash off 
Remove the paper clips and select enough circles from the pile to make one flower. I used approx 12 circles per flower, but 8-10 circles would be fine.
Keep these circles together and poke two holes near the centre of the circles. I used the end of a pipe cleaner to do this, but if your pipe cleaners aren’t sharp enough you could use a large needle or similar.
Fold down about 1 inch of the pipe cleaner, and push the long end through one hole and the short end through the other hole.
Pull the ends all the way through, then twist the ends of the pipe cleaner together underneath the flower to keep all the circles together:
Now to make the petals. Separate the topmost circle and crumple it upwards from the centre. Scrunch up the paper randomly, but try to concentrate on the base of the petal (the centre of the circle) and leave the coloured edges alone.
Now repeat with each circle in turn. Crinkle each circle up individually, and try not to have the folds in the same place each time. You can see (below, right) how I am squeezing my fingers around the base of the petal each time I add a new circle. This stops the coloured petal edges from being creased into folds.
Keep scrunching… When all the circles have been crumpled up, you will end up with a lovely carnation like this:
And that’s it for the basic tutorial! If you are making these with children, you probably want to stop at this point. If you want to make the stems look more realistic, here are some ideas:
Make a double-headed stem by cutting down one pipe cleaner to half its length (use wire cutters for this) then twisting it together with another completed stem:
I wasn’t satisfied with my green furry caterpillar stems, so I converted them with some floral wires and green floral tape:
Cut the floral wire to the same length as your stem.
Holding the wire and pipe cleaner stem together, start to wrap the floral tape tightly around them. Start about 1″ down from the flower head (below, left) and wrap up the stem to the head. Then wrap all the way down the stem to the bottom. To wrap without the tape getting tangled up, hold the tape steady and at an angle to the stem with one hand (below, right), and use your other hand to twirl the stem around, winding the tape around itself as it goes.
The floral tape will stick to itself, so there is no need to use glue to fasten it down. Remember to stretch the end of the tape as you wrap the end of the stem, to help it to stick securely.
Make just one as a paper buttonhole. Make about a dozen, and you have a beautiful bouquet!
I hope you enjoyed this tutorial! If you make any tissue paper flowers, please add them to the Folding Trees Flickr group.
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Posted: August 4th, 2008 under Folding Trees Tutorials, Ornaments & Decorations.
Comments: 56
Comments
Comment from Jesi
Time: August 4, 2008, 4:22 pm
Very neat, what a great tutorial too!
Comment from denise
Time: August 4, 2008, 4:59 pm
thay do look like real thing well done denise
Comment from Ellen Bloom
Time: August 4, 2008, 6:19 pm
Love your idea of using the marking pen for the coloration of the petals edges. When I was a little girl, my Grandma taught me how to make these. We used nail polish to tip the petals after the flowers were done. One other thing…our template was not a disc, but a disc with scallops. This really gave the carnations a realistic looking “petal.” Thanks for the memories!
Comment from JillyBoo
Time: August 5, 2008, 12:30 am
My goodness, I love your site. My children will go bananas for this It is so simple, but the result is beautiful! Thanks!
Comment from iHanna
Time: August 5, 2008, 6:56 am
Oh my how beautiful they are - so simple yet very beautiful. Love crafts like that. Remind me of the coffee filter roses that was done on Martha Stewart show once.
Pingback from Indie Fixx » Tutorial Tuesday: Tissue Paper Carnations
Time: August 5, 2008, 10:39 am
[...] Read More! [...]
Comment from JT
Time: August 5, 2008, 5:18 pm
These are beautiful especially with the color on the edges. Will try working on some.
Pingback from How To: Tissue Paper Carnations « Keiki Gift Ideas
Time: August 5, 2008, 5:47 pm
[...] saver when it comes to finding material that appeal to me. Today I came across this tutorial by Folding Trees. I love the way the edges of the tissue paper are colored with markers to make the flowers look [...]
Comment from Stefani Tadio
Time: August 5, 2008, 7:55 pm
These are so pretty! I’ve never made this kind before. When I saw the subject, I thought they were going to be the Kleenex folded in an accordian and fluffed out variety. That’s the kind I made with my mom and grandmother.
The florist tape really finishes them off nicely!
Comment from futuregirl
Time: August 5, 2008, 10:59 pm
Wow! I can’t believe how easy it is to make such beautiful flowers! What a great tutorial! 
Comment from Stitchworks
Time: August 11, 2008, 8:21 am
I’ve just passed on an award to you.
See my blog for details.
Comment from Kate Mc
Time: August 24, 2008, 8:17 am
I just love these delicate, pretty flowers. The only modification I am going to make is to cut the circles out with pinking shears (used to stop fabric fraying). Then colour the edges, this will give a really realistic edge to them.
Comment from virigia
Time: August 29, 2008, 4:25 pm
That is awesome!! Kudos to you.
Comment from komalasuri
Time: September 27, 2008, 1:47 am
HEllO DEAR FREAND,
i enjoyed the flower making .realy iam going to make this for my festival,now it is coming day after tomarow. i will use the the trick. thanks alot ,for the easy flower making.
by by
komalasuri
Comment from Santosh
Time: September 28, 2008, 9:25 am
Its Awesome!!!! I wante to make something different for my love and thought of the idea of making flowers with paper…..I felt this was the most easiest flower which I could make …. and a wonderful tutorial amongst all which I went thru….
Thanks a lot for your kind tutorial…. would def like to get more such tutorial….
Comment from priyanka
Time: November 4, 2008, 6:45 am
i enjoyed the tutorial.very simple and very neat i wud like a lot more from u
Pingback from Green House Decor » DIY Project:: Glass Marble Flower Vase
Time: November 25, 2008, 11:53 pm
[...] need something to fill your vase, make your own flowers! I make these pink and white flowers using this tissue paper carnations tutorial from Folding Trees, and the result was simply stunning. They’re fun and easy to make, and the supplies are [...]
Comment from scrappysue
Time: January 6, 2009, 1:56 am
these are gorgeous! thanks for sharing
Comment from Carmen
Time: January 17, 2009, 5:14 pm
These are the most realistic paper flowers I’ve seen. I can’t wait to make some. Thank you for putting this tutorial together.
Comment from Grace
Time: January 22, 2009, 10:51 pm
Thanks for sharing this. When I was small, I was taught to make the tissue paper carnation with a total different method. Your method looks better, I like the idea of using a marker pen to color the edge, it makes the flowers look real!
Comment from Maya
Time: February 12, 2009, 2:51 am
Gorgeous! I made something similar (300 of them *groan* October two years ago). Without the colored edges! The edges are beautiful, I will definitely do that next time. The floral tape really makes it look polished.
Comment from pepper815762
Time: February 14, 2009, 1:52 pm
i love this post! will u tell me if there are any more you have made?
Comment from pepper815762 club penguin
Time: February 14, 2009, 1:55 pm
thank you for putting this together it was easy and fun!
Comment from Marti
Time: February 15, 2009, 3:23 pm
Clear instructions and step by step pictures to follow! Thank you!
Pingback from Review: Martha Stewart Tissue Paper Bouquet Kit » Weddingbee » The Wedding Blog
Time: March 6, 2009, 2:01 pm
[...] Not Martha, but a delightful DIY carnation kit! Source [...]
Comment from Aelyn
Time: March 22, 2009, 6:05 am
These are gorgeous! Thank you for sharing.
Comment from meenu
Time: April 3, 2009, 12:46 pm
its beautiful
Comment from jackie
Time: April 7, 2009, 3:23 pm
Thanks so much for the step-by-step instructions! I am going to make these to pass out at our Mother’s Day banquet at church-white for deceased moms and pink for ones still living.
cheap to make but a blessing to give!
Comment from Debbie
Time: April 14, 2009, 4:35 am
Oh my goodness! I was looking on google for a tutorial and found this site!
This is absolutely fab!!!
Thank you thank you!!!
Pingback from DIY Tissue Paper Carnations — iDiY
Time: April 16, 2009, 11:30 am
[...] think? Whether for a fun bouquet or just something to jazz up your gift wrapping, head over to Folding Trees for the fab tutorial. Happy [...]
Comment from Erin
Time: April 16, 2009, 2:41 pm
Too cute!
Comment from Katie @ The Savvy Event
Time: April 16, 2009, 3:45 pm
I love these-the marker around the edges is the perfect touch.
Pingback from DIY Daily: Tissue Paper Carnations | Inspirations & Creations - Elizabeth Anne Designs: The Wedding Blog
Time: April 17, 2009, 12:01 pm
[...] found at Folding Trees via [...]
Pingback from DIY: Tissue Paper Carnations « je t’aime eclec
Time: April 17, 2009, 12:04 pm
[...] found a tutorial via Twitter on Folding Trees for these super cute tissue paper carnations! So of course, I have been making them all day. They are soooooo adorable and super easy to make! [...]
Comment from Cheryl
Time: April 19, 2009, 4:38 pm
Thanks for this tutorial, I have been thinking of something different to use for these round glass fishbowl’s I purchased for my mom’s 70th birthday party, the theme is black & white, it’s a simi-formal celebration, I’ve already made a few to see what they would look like in the glass bowls, even though they are made out of tissue, they are elegant looking and I think they would go perfect with the theme of the party. I used black marker on white tissue paper, these are too adorable!
Comment from SiSi
Time: April 20, 2009, 10:51 am
I was always looking for a good tutorial for carnations, these are great. I will have to try em:) Thanks!
Comment from 2337
Time: April 24, 2009, 10:07 pm
oh, I had no idea that making these picotees is very easily. thank you so much.
then, I can make beautiful bouquets as the gift for my girl. hic hic
thanks again
Pingback from Flowers… / Raynamin
Time: April 26, 2009, 8:16 pm
[...] Made some flowers out of tissue paper, pipe cleaners, stem wrap tape, and glitter spray. Took a while to get them done, but they turned out well. I made them from the tutorial from Folding Trees. [...]
Comment from rossella
Time: April 28, 2009, 12:34 pm
molto belli li voglio fare ne ho provato uno ma cn la carta crespa ed è bellissimo chissà cn la carta velina….
Comment from Caroline1956
Time: April 29, 2009, 10:33 pm
Very simple and beautiful, I must try to make them.
Comment from michelle johnnie
Time: May 1, 2009, 6:42 pm
Very cute and so easy! I will have to make some!!!
Comment from happyland
Time: May 2, 2009, 3:29 am
that amazing! great works!
Comment from Courtney@Booksnboys
Time: May 2, 2009, 11:41 am
Those are beautiful! SOOO much more realistic than the ordinary paper flowers. I think I need a big bouquet on my table for mother’s day
Thank you so much for the excellent tutorial!
Comment from Shannon
Time: May 5, 2009, 11:47 am
Well written tutorial. We made a bunch for Teacher Appreciation week, and they were so easy to make.
Pingback from Fiori di carta velina « mondoCiPi - to do
Time: May 7, 2009, 4:18 am
[...] Fiori di carta velina 7 Maggio 2009 Archiviato in: 1 — mondocipi @ 10:18 Semplicissimi e d’effettohttp://foldingtrees.com/2008/08/flower-week-tissue-paper-carnations/#more-454 [...]
Comment from gubse
Time: May 8, 2009, 2:25 am
great works
Pingback from Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! « The Quach Klan
Time: May 14, 2009, 12:15 am
[...] found the idea at this site: http://foldingtrees.com/2008/08/flower-week-tissue-paper-carnations/ (I am still learning about this blogging thing and haven’t figured out how to get you all [...]
Pingback from Folding Trees » Paper flower centrepiece
Time: May 17, 2009, 6:07 am
[...] another idea on paper flowers have a look at June’s tutorial for tissue paper carnations. SHARE THIS POSTClose Bookmark and Share This Page Save to Browser Favorites / [...]
Comment from emiboo
Time: May 17, 2009, 9:38 pm
Wow! I made a yellow one for mum for Mothers Day… she was very impressed. Carnations are her favourite flower.
Comment from Emily.t
Time: May 26, 2009, 11:58 pm
WOw! Thanks for the tutorial! Very clear instructions and the carnations are so so lovely! Btw, I’m all the way from Malaysia =D love your blog!
Pingback from Bridal Wedding Guide » Blog Archive » Sewing Patterns as Inspiration
Time: May 27, 2009, 6:04 pm
[...] To make the paper flowers below, check out Folding Trees. [...]
Comment from Andrea
Time: June 1, 2009, 12:50 pm
These are so cool! I think I need to make some for my dining room table! Thanks for the tutorial on how to make these!
Comment from gayathri
Time: June 2, 2009, 7:31 am
wow superb ya. i like it a lot. you know one thing u can do different flowers using soap, caunflour, and fevicol
but i dnt tried it if u knw plz teach me
regards
gayathri
Comment from Christina
Time: June 13, 2009, 9:24 pm
I made a newspaper one before with my one idea to make a rose and it came out really good.
Pingback from KidStyleFile » Blog Archive » Rain, Rain, Go Away, Come Again Another Day…
Time: June 14, 2009, 6:32 pm
[...] Carnation Flower Tutorial at Folding Trees [...]
Comment from Christina
Time: June 16, 2009, 2:16 am
It looks so pretty. Im going to use it for my moms birthday.
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