I love peonies in general but I do not love making paper peony. They take forever and use a lot of crepe paper. The paper peony is not for a beginner.
So I challenged myself to make one better suited for beginners. A super easy one that doesn’t take an hour to make.
Good news for all paper flower newbies, this paper peony takes only 5 minute and I made 2 types!
The first one uses crepe paper and individual petals.
The second one is intended for cutting machines and can be made with cardstock paper.
Materials for Easy DIY Paper Peony
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Crepe Paper – Its seems everyone buys the Lia Griffith crepe paper. Its pretty good and you can get it from Amazon.
Cardstock – I like to use medium weight cardstock with colored cores. Here are some of my favorite brands:
- Recollection Assorted Starter Pack – Basic assorted colors, great starter pack, perfect weight for most papercraft projects
- Metallic Shimmer Assorted Set from Amazon – This set is a little lighter in weight but the colors are beautiful in 3D
- Cardstock Warehouse Brand on Amazon – I love the quality of all the matte colored cardstock with Cardstock Warehouse. It is my go-to brand for individual matte colors that I might need
- Stardream Metallics Line – For paper crafts, the Stardream line is the go to for a metallic shimmer finish. It is the perfect sheen to make any project pop. The core is also colored is which hard to find for metallic paper.
- Assorted Pink Set from Paper Paper – This is a must-have for paper flower makers. The variety is perfect to create a bouquet.
- Assorted Purple Set from Paper Paper – This is another must-have for paper flower makers. I love the variety of finishes in this pack.
- Metallic Variety Set from Paper Paper – I don’t know any avid paper crafter that doesn’t use Stardream metallics line of shimmer paper. It is the only metallic cardstock line that I know of that has such variety and has colored cores.
Glue – I use tacky glue but a glue gun works too. I also use tape too but if you only want to get one adhesive out, glue works.
Paper clips – not absolutely necessary but helps hold the piece in place
Template – Both sets of paper peony templates are available in SVG and Printable formats for free in my resource library.
Tutorial for Easy Crepe Paper Peony
Step 1: Prepare the cutouts
I like to fold the crepe paper accordion style for 3 layers (which makes for 6 petals). I make 2 petals strips using template 1 and 2. I then make the individual petals with template 3 in the same method.
Step 2: Start rolling the Template 1 petal strip
I like to add a little frill tissue strip in at the core but this is optional. Secure the end of the strip in place with tape or glue.
Step 3: Stretch the middle of each petal.
Step 4: Pre-stetch the middle of each petal for the template 2 petal strip
Step 5: Start wrapping the template 2 petal strip around the base.
Step 6: Glue the base of the petal to create a 3D effect
This is wear I like to clip with a paper clip to hold it in place to dry. It doesn’t take long but it helps for a few minutes.
Step 7: Stretch the middle of each petal
Step 8: Glue each petals around the rolled based.
Be sure to off set the petals. I like to use a hair band at the end to hold it in place while the glue is drying.
How to Assemble Cardstock Paper Peony
Step 1: Cut out the templates
I like to use the light grip blue mat for this project. It makes clean up a little faster.
Step 2: Curl the petals
I use a scraper device but a credit card or scissors work as well.
Step 3: Start gluing the petal strips together in a loop
Step 4: Glue the smallest single piece cutout into a bulb
Step 5: Glue the bulb to the next largest cutout
I like to glue it to the base and then glue each petal overlapping each other.
Step 6: Continue gluing each layer working towards the largest piece
Step 7: Glue the optional outer most petals
I’ve also included some optional single petals for the last loop of petals. This is intended for you to have a little more positional control on where each petal goes.
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