How to Make Paper Flowers for Your Valentine

If you are low on cash this Valentine's Day, and you cannot afford to buy luxurious roses for your loved one, make these tissue paper flowers for your valentine. They will certainly last a lot longer, and your loved one will appreciate the time and effort you put into your gift. These flowers are also a great Valentine's Day craft project for the kids. Help your kids make these flowers as a Valentine's Day gift for mom or dad.

What You Will Need:
Tissue Paper
Pipe Cleaners
Scissors

Cut the tissue paper into 5 x 7 inch rectangular pieces. For a smaller flower head, you can cut the pieces smaller. For a larger flower head, cut the pieces bigger. You will need about 4 to 6 pieces of tissue paper for each flower. You can use more pieces for a fuller flower, or fewer pieces for a smaller flower. Use all the same color tissue paper for a solid-colored flower, or several colors for a multi-colored flower. Change the color of just the top piece or two of tissue paper for the illusion of a center of the flower.

Stack the tissue paper neatly, and then accordion fold the paper along the long edge. Each pleat should be ½ inch to 1 inch in width. When finished, pinch the middle of the tissue paper and tightly wrap one end of a pipe cleaner once or twice around the center of the folded tissue paper. You can use a green pipe cleaner to resemble a realistic flower stem, or you can use any color you like for a funkier look.

Carefully separate the tissue paper, pulling each piece up and out to form the flower head. You must be gentle to avoid tearing the tissue paper. Work the tissue paper until the flower head is full and there are no holes. The pipe cleaner should be mostly covered at the top. If necessary, you can twist the paper at the base to help make it stay where you want it.

If you want to add leaves to the flower stem, wrap the end of another pipe cleaner around the stem, form it into the shape of a leaf, and then wrap the other end around the stem. For a final touch, spritz the flower with a bit of perfume.

You can give your valentine a single tissue paper flower, or you can create a bouquet. You can create a bouquet of classic red roses, or creative multi-colored flowers. Gather your bouquet and tie them with a pretty ribbon, or wrap the stems with a sheet of tissue paper similar to the way a florist wraps a bouquet.

If you really want to get creative, make a vase for your bouquet. Cover a juice bottle, or any other large bottle, with tissue paper or drawing paper. You can use markers to draw a small, repeating design over the entire surface of the vase if you like. To personalize your gift, write a loving message on the vase for your valentine. Tie a ribbon around the top of the vase for an additional flare.

To create a funky vase, smear glue over the surface of a bottle and apply small pieces of tissue paper to the glue. Make sure there is enough glue to soak into the tissue. The glue will dry and harden, holding the tissue. You can get different effects if you tear or cut the tissue. Cutting the tissue paper with scissors creates a clean, straight edge. Tearing the tissue paper creates a feathered edge. Use pieces of tissue of all the same color for a more conservative look, or use multiple colors for a funky look.