How to Make Paper Flowers for Spring using Tissue Paper

This tutorial shows you how to make paper flowers for spring using tissue paper, craft paint, branches and a hot glue gun. We share a list of supplies you will need and walk you through each step for making these authentic looking flowers. 

This post was originally posted on 02/22/2022 and updated o n 03/18/2025

If you are new to this blog: Welcome! My name is Anna and I share information on collecting antique/vintage items, refurbishing furniture and making small crafts/projects. The purpose of this blog is to show you how to use creativity and antiques to make your home beautiful. In addition to information on the blog, you can also follow me on the following social media accounts Instagram, Facebook or Pinterest.

Back Story 

If you have been reading this blog for more than 1 minute – you know I love flowers. However, since I live in upstate New York, this time of year there is still snow on the ground. We won’t be getting any flowers until May.

The weather and lack of real spring flowers blooming outside resulted in a creative spark. I decided to make my own spring flowers and am sharing this technique with you. My favorite spring flowers are cherry blossoms so in this craft is focused on creating similar blossoms. The flowers are fun to make and require only basic supplies. These beautiful paper flowers are one of the easiest paper crafts I have made.

How to Make Paper Flowers for Spring

It will take about 30 minutes to make 6-10 small paper flowers. If you want to make more flowers, it will require more time.  This is a great craft to make with older kids. 

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Supplies

These supplies are available at your local craft store or big box store such as Michaels, Walmart or Target. Where possible, I have provided links to online sources. 

Here are the supplies you will need:

• 8-10 sheets of tissue paper – cut into 3 inch squares
• 2 craft paint colors. I used a soft pink and a raspberry pink.
• 2 small craft paint brushes. One for each paint color.
• Branches from outside. If you prefer you can use these artificial branches.
• Hot glue gun (and glue stick)
• Tweezers. These are optional but they help prevent your fingers from being burned by hot glue.
• Scissors
• Something to protect your work surface.  I used a sheet of aluminum foil.

Step 1 – Cut out the flowers

First, plug in your hot glue gun so it has time to heat up.

If you haven’t done so already stack 8-10 sheets of tissue paper and then cut out 10 squares that are about 3 inches in width and height. Again, each square should consist of 8-10 pieces of tissue paper. Fold the square on the diagonal to make a triangle. Then fold the triangle in half again.

Use your scissors to trim the end of the triangle into a semi-circle. The intent is to create a flower pattern. (There is a video at the end of this post showing how to make these flowers for further information.)

Unfold the tissue paper square and you should now have a square of tissue paper with rounded “petals” on the edges.  The petal shape on the edges is key for this paper flower craft.

In the photo above, there is a small pile of previously trimmed tissue paper with “petals” on the edges

Repeat this process for 10 squares with stacked sheets of tissue paper. The goal is to have a total of 80-100 sheets of individual squares trimmed to have petals.

Step 2- Paint the flowers

Use something to protect your work surface. Some examples include; paper, cardboard or wax paper. I used a sheet of aluminum foil.

Take 4 individual sheets of tissue paper and set them on your work surface area. Using a paint brush with the darker of your two paint colors on it, apply brush strokes from the center of the tissue paper out toward the petal edges.

Stack another piece of tissue paper on top the recently painted tissue paper. Apply paint to the new piece of tissue paper in the same fashion. Repeat this process stacking each piece of tissue paper on a painted piece of tissue paper – until all 4 sheets are stacked up and painted.

Set this stack of painted flower petals aside.

Using the lighter color of paint – repeat the same steps above for a separate stack of flower petals. Paint one piece of tissue paper, then stack on a new piece of tissue paper to the painted flower petals, apply paint to the new tissue paper flower petals and then stack on a new piece of tissue paper flower petals. Repeat this process until you have a second stack of 4-6 painted tissue paper petals.

Step 3 – Assemble the Flowers

Now you should have two stacks of tissue paper flower petals. One stack with a darker pink color and a second stack in a lighter pink color. We are going to combine these two stacks to make a single flower.

Using your tweezers, find the approximate center of the darker pink stack of tissue paper petals. Upon finding the center, pinch the underside of the tissue paper petals and gather all the petals toward the center.

After you have pinched the underside of the flower petals – the tissue paper flower petals should look similar to the image above. (The flower in the upper right corner). The darker pink tissue paper petals will be the center of our flower.

Next, we are going to apply a little bit of hot glue in the center of the light pink tissue paper petals. Then using your tweezers, so you don’t burn your fingers, place the darker pink petals on top of the hot glue. Here is a TIP – keep an extra glue stick within easy reach. 

The you will pinch the underside of the light pink tissue paper petals and gather everything toward the center. At this point your flower is done.

Simply repeat these step to create 9 more flowers. You can make as many or as few flowers as you see fit. Ten flowers just seemed like a reasonable number to me.

Step 4- Attach the Flowers to Branches

You can use any branches for this project. I have been known to wander into the woods to trim branches from some bushes. However, if you don’t feel comfortable wandering into the “wilds” – you can also order artificial branches.

If you ever looked closely at flowering branches, the flower buds tend to be located at the tips of the branches and at the base of a stem near the main branch. To mimic this, I decided to attach the tissue paper flowers in similar locations. Find an area where you want to place the flower and apply hot glue.

Again, using your tweezers, so that you don’t burn your fingers, place the tissue paper flower on to the hot glue. Wait for a bit for the hot glue to set up.

To ensure your flower is securely attached to the branch, apply some extra glue to the back of the flower and the branch.

I used an old glass bottle to hold my branch so I could see how the branch looked as I glued on the tissue paper flowers.

Simply repeat this process for the remaining tissue paper flowers.

Paper Flowers for Spring -Other Variations

Here are some other creative ideas you can use to make different colors and styles of paper flowers:

• Use yellow paper for the center of the floral blossoms
• Instead of branches, attach a flower to a green paper straw which acts as a stem
• Create a variety of flowers in different colors to create paper flower bouquets
• Instead of tissue paper, try using coffee filters
• Use green card stock to make leaves

The End Result

Here are some photos of the tissue paper flowers that I made.  I staged these flowers in my living room.  However, they would also make a beautiful centerpiece for any table.  Given we won’t have fresh flowers for a few more months, this is the perfect way to bring spring indoors.  An added bonus, these flowers can be used in the years to come.

If you want to remember this project for the future, simply pin one of the “paper flowers for spring” images below. That way it will be easy for you to find.

Video

Also, because a video is worth a thousand words, I created a short video showing you how to make these flowers. You can always hit the pause button and rewind if you need more visual information for specific steps.

Conclusion

Thank you for stopping by the blog today! May your spring be filled with paper flowers!

If you enjoyed this post, you may also like:

DIY Antique Paper Leaf Wreath

Antique Paper Stars