Crepe paper flowers look beautiful, last forever and cost a fraction of fresh blooms. Because crepe paper stretches, you can cup and curl each petal into a natural shape. Here's how to make your first rose in under 30 minutes.
What you'll need
- Crepe paper in your flower colour, plus green for leaves
- Floral wire or thin garden wire
- Floral tape (green)
- A glue stick or hot glue gun
- Sharp scissors
Step 1: Cut your petals
Cut a strip about 6cm tall, with the grain running up and down. Fold it like a concertina and cut a rounded petal shape through all layers at once. You'll want around 12–15 petals for a full rose.
Step 2: Shape each petal
Hold a petal at both sides of the middle and gently stretch outwards to create a cup. Roll the top edge around a pencil to curl it back. This stretching is what makes crepe paper flowers look real.
Step 3: Make the centre
Bend a small loop at the end of your wire and wrap a scrap of crepe paper tightly around it to form a bud.
Step 4: Add the petals
Glue the base of each petal around the bud, overlapping as you go. Start with the smallest petals and work outwards, letting the outer ones open up more.
Step 5: Finish the stem
Pinch the base, then wrap floral tape from the petals down the wire, stretching the tape so it sticks to itself. Add a couple of green crepe leaves halfway down.
Ideas for using your flowers
- Make a bouquet for a wedding or birthday that never wilts
- Arrange them in a jar for a table centrepiece
- Glue single blooms onto gift wrap or cards
- Build a flower wall for a party backdrop
Beginner tips
- Always cut petals with the grain running vertically, or they won't stretch properly.
- Lightly brush petal edges with a darker shade of chalk pastel for a natural blush.
- Practise on scraps first; the stretching technique takes a few tries.
Find a rainbow of colours in our crepe paper collection, plus floral tools in Floristry Tools.
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