For this first Iron Craft challenge of 2015, we were asked to make something related to 4th anniversary gifts, flowers, fruit or appliances. I originally thought I might try to do something with fruit like a soap or other bath product, but then I started thinking about flowers. I love to have fresh flowers in the house, but we have been traveling a lot lately and have more last minute trips coming up, so fresh flowers are not the best solution. I decided to try my hand a paper flowers.

There are lots of tutorials for paper flowers out there, but I couldn’t find one that was exactly what I wanted. I wanted a flower that was big and puffy like a peony, it needed to be on a stem to use in a vase and it had to be made from the tissue paper I had leftover from Christmas.

I took what I learned from a bunch of different places, had a few throw aways, and finally came up with this version that fit the bill. They add just the touch I needed for after Christmas, winter decor. Plus I found them a little addictive to make. I kept going back and just making two more.

Pretty Paper Posies

If you use the size tissue paper I did, you will end up with a flower that is approximately 4″ in diameter.

• Supplies

• tissue paper, my sheets were 24″ x 20″ (2′ x 1.667′) You will get two flowers from each sheet.
• ruler
• rotary cutter (optional)
• paper scissors
• stapler
• floral wire
• glue (optional)

1. Fold the tissue paper in half length-wise, mine now measured 12″ x 20″.

Fold in half length-wise again, 12″ x 10″.

Fold in half length-wise one more time, 6″ x 10″.

2. Cut in half so you have two 6″ x 5″ stacks. Set one stack aside for a second flower.

Cut 1″ off the folded end of the stack, leaving you with a 5″ x 5″ stack. I did both of those cuts with a rotary cutter, but you could use scissors.

Some of the edges will still be folded, cut open those folds with scissors. Now you have a stack of eight 5″ x 5″ sheets.

3. Fold the stack in half. Open that fold up and fold each half into thirds, accordion style. Don’t worry about your folds being perfect and everything lining up, it won’t matter in the final flower.

4. Fold in half length-wise.

Open it back up and staple on the fold.

Round the ends. You can do this folded up through all the layers or each side separately.

5. Cut a length of floral wire about 3″ longer than you want the stem of the flower. Fold on end over 1.5″. Put that fold over the staple in the paper and twist to hold in place.

6. Fan open on side of the paper. Gently, separate the tissues petals working them towards the center.

Don’t worry if you get a few little rips, they won’t show. Repeat with the other side.

Fluff and adjust the petals until you like the shape. I found that gluing the edges of each “fan” or side together helped give it a rounder shape with less pulling apart to two sides.