Make a Paper Dahlia
Dahlias are lovely looking flowers, and can serve as a beautiful centerpiece. But you can also make them out of paper as a creative and festive decoration for your walls or table. Best of all? You probably already have all the required materials!
Contents
Steps
Wall Decoration
- Gather your supplies. The list is located at the bottom of the article.
- Cut the card stock papers into 4 inch squares. You will need around 50 to 60 squares to make one dahlia. Use a paper trimmer to make this job easier. If you don't have one, a simple ruler and scissors will do the job.
- Pour a small amount of paint into a palette and dip your sponge in it. Dab the sponge around two corners of each squares as shown.
- This is done to create a two color dahlia. Dabbing gives a natural look compared to just painting the corners. If you don't have a sponge, use dry brush to create that effect.
- Allow them to dry. Wait for it to dry overnight, then come back to it in the morning. Lightly dab your finger in a small area of the paint. If no paint comes off on your finger, it is sufficiently dry.
- Apply a line of glue to top right corner of the square as shown.
- Fold the left side of the square to the center and wrap the right side of the square over it to make a cone shape.
- Repeat the same to all the squares. Make around 50 cones to start making the dahlia. You can always make extra if you want.
- Use the plastic plate as the base. The plate used in the images above was 9 inches (22.86 cm) in diameter. If you don't have a plate, you can also cut a piece of cardboard to use as a base. Apply a line of glue on the back side of the cone.
- A plate is preferred to use than cardboard. The reason is that while hanging the flowers on the wall, the plate gives a three dimensional effect as if the flower is popping out from the wall instead just pasted on the wall. But it is your choice to decide which one to use.
- Paste the cone on the back side of the plate leaving a one inch gap between each cone you paste.
- Dab the glue in a V shape to the back of each cone.
- Glue it in between two cones of the first layer so that it sticks nicely.
- Once the second layer is formed, repeat the same process for the next layers until the flower is formed.This will happen in 5 to 6 layers depending upon the size of the plate.
- Once you reach the point as shown in the picture above, it is time to make the center of the flower. For this, take the left over pieces (3" X 8") of the cardstock paper and make fringes for the center by cutting only 3/4 of the paper (lengthwise) in 3 to 4 mm width and leaving the remaining part to fold.
- Roll the fringe paper and dab a small amount of glue when you reach the end of the paper and attach another paper to the roll.
- Do this until the center piece is formed to a desired size.
- Apply hot glue at the base of the center piece and glue it to the flower.
- Be amazed at your beautiful creation. Your dahlia is now ready to hang on the wall.
- Refer to this image for a closer look of what the dahlia should ideally look like.
- Glue a thread on the back of the plate and hang it on the wall using a command hook or thumb tack.
- If the plate has holes, just insert a rubber band into the holes and hang it on to a command hook.
Cone as the Center Piece
This is an another version of dahlia where you can insert a cone itself in the center instead a fringe center. If you don't want the fringe center piece, use a cone as the center piece.
- While pasting the second, third and fourth layer of the cones, maintain the center circle. Paste the cones in such a way the edges of the cones in the first layer should align with cones in the second layer and the next layers, so that you will end up with a hole in the center when the flower cones reaches the center in which you can insert a cone to complete the flower.
- Avoid the gap and align the second layer and the next layers straight above the first layer to get dome shaped dahlia.
- This is done with technique mentioned above but with the fringe center.
- Make as many of these as you'd like. These colorful dahlias make a beautiful wall décor.
Things You'll Need
- Cardboard for base or any plastic paper plate
- Cardstock paper for your color choice (approximately 15 8.5"X 11" papers)
- Paper trimmer
- Acrylic paint in contrasting color of card stock paper
- Paint brush or small sponge
- Hot glue or double sided tape
- Newspaper or drop cloth to cover the work surface
- Ruler (optional)
- Pencil (optional)
- Scissors (optional)
