Peony Paper Flower Tutorial

Paper Peony Flower

         Hi friends sharing a bouquet of cheerful handmade Paper Peonies to brighten your day! I first made this Peony flower design for an Origami Box and it was so easy and fun to make I made a whole bunch!

Paper Peony Flower

         These huge flowers are as big as your palm and can easily fill up a flower vase you have at home.Mine are sitting prettily on  a bicycle cart my mom had gifted me ages back!

Paper Peony Flower

Used fine glitter and diamond dust to make my flowers sparkle!

Paper Peony Flower

How to make an easy Paper Peony Flower

Materials Required

• Paper -handmade paper gives the best results [mine are from the Indian Craft Shop Itsy Bitsy]
• Flowers- hand-cut ,die cut or punched. I used diecuts from a  Spellbinders Nestablities Blossom Five die set
• Scissors
• Adhesive- Glue gun to quickly assemble your flower and liquid glue to add glitter and sparkle
• Pollen - or any other center you want to add to your flowers

Here is the Video tutorial 

And here is the  Pictorial 
Cutting the Flowers

Spellbinders Diecuts

             You need 6 flowers to make your Paper Peony. I used the 3 large dies from a Spellbinders Nestablities Blossom Five die set to cut out 2 flowers each from each die.

            If you don't have this particular die... it doesn't matter...you can alternately use any other flower shape die/punch which has  broad petals!

           Also the shape is fairly easy to hand-cut if you just think of it as a circle with wavy borders  or you can follow the method in this link : Hand-cut Large Paper Flower tutorial 

Cut the Flower Petal

Cut in between the petals towards the middle  such that you cut 1/3rd of the diameter of the flower [ approx....no need to rack your brain or hunt for a scale to get the exact 1/3rd!]

Peony Paper Flower Tutorial 

Snip between the petals of all your flowers. This step just allows you to easily shape your flower.

Peony Paper Flower Tutorial 

Ink Petal Edges - optional

Peony Paper Flower Tutorial 

Inking the edges of the petals will give a totally cool look to your flower and just takes an extra few minutes!

Peony Paper Flower Tutorial 

Shape your Flower Petals

Now what I love about this particular flower is you don't need to use an fancy tools....just your fingers!! And that makes its quick and easy!

Peony Paper Flower Tutorial 

 Just bend your petal up at its base as shown in the picture above and curve the petal around your finger.

Peony Paper Flower Tutorial

     Fold up and curl all your petals using your fingers and you will get a flower which is gently cupped with its petals curving towards the middle. If your paper is very thick you can use your embossing pad and tools to help you .

Peony Paper Flower Tutorial 

The next step is the coolest and is better seen in the video....cup your flower and squeeze in all the petals at the top.

Peony Paper Flower Tutorial 

Because of the snips and curls you had given the flower earlier it will easily form into a "bud" shape!

Peony Paper Flower Tutorial 

When you leave your fingers it will unfurl into a perfectly cupped and curled flower! Easy wasn't it!!

Peony Paper Flower Tutorial 

Assemble your Paper Peony Flower

Peony Paper Flower Tutorial 

Do the same steps for all 6 flowers and it's time to glue all the layers together

Peony Paper Flower Tutorial 

I like to start from the largest base flower and add the layers atop with the petals staggering.

Peony Paper Flower Tutorial 

Its easier to apply hot glue to the cupped smaller flower and stick it to the larger flower underneath as you go up.

Peony Paper Flower Tutorial 

Now that one doesn't look too impressive does it....well wait till you add a center and some sparkle!

Flower Center

Tie a bunch of pollen and hot glue it to the center of your Peony...and though I have shown a green floral wire...try to use something white so that it doesnt show!
Add Sparkle and Shine to your Paper Flower

Flower tutorial 

You can use fine glitter/ chunky glitter/ diamond dust or whatever you fancy to add sparkle and a magical look to your flower.

Flower tutorial 

 Add liquid glue to your petal edges and add the sparkling media of your choice!

Flower tutorial 

I used a mixture of Diamond dust and Glitter to make my Peonies!

Paper Peony Flower

The one above has diamond dust alone and the "wild honey" Peony has glitter alone.

Paper Peony Flower

The Purple one is my favorite and is all sparkly with a mixture of both diamond dust and fine glitter dusted on the petal tips!

Paper Peony Flower

I love making flowers and these Peonies look so cheerful ...dont you agree?

Paper Peony Flower

And that is the Bicycle flower cart with my Peonies on our terrace garden!

Paper Peony Flower

Hope you enjoyed the tutorial and my bouquet of Paper Peonies!
Here is a pinnable image for fans of Pinterest

Easy Peony tutorial 

Linking to

1. All Sorts Challenge 366 great outdoors
2. 613 Avenue create
3. Pixie's Snippets Playground 232 - the inner flowers are small and cut from snippets of leftover paper
4. Simon Says Monday