Create a DIY Paper Peony Bouquet

Supplies:

• 3D Paper Peony Flowers
• Light Cardstock (about 65lb or 170g) For a final size about 3″ in diameter by 2″ high peony, I used two 12″x12″ fuchsia sheets, one 2″x12″ yellow sheet, and one 6.5″x12″ green sheet.
• Hot glue gun
• Needle nose pliers
• Modelling ball tool
• Scoring tool
• Wooden stick
• Paper molding mat or a piece of foam
• Floral stem wire

Uploading the images to Cricut Design Space

• Log into Design Space and click the Create New Project button.
• Click the Upload button, then click the Upload Image button.
• Click the Browse button and locate the SVG you are going to use.

The files will be uploaded to Design Space and will appear in the Uploaded Images gallery. From there you can access them and work on them. If you don’t have a cutting machine, such as Cricut, you can print the shapes and cut them by hand.

Cutting the shapes

Press the ‘Make it” button.

Prepare your mat with the cardstock sheets, and start cutting.

Remove the pieces from the mat with care in order to prevent the petals from being pulled off from the center:

Assembling the flower

Put the first layer of the petals on a modeling mat. Use a ball tool to make the petals curve a bit. Press the petals with your fingers to make them bend towards the center.

Grab the petals one by one, pressing with your fingers where the petals join in the center (this section is really weak and you risk pulling off the petals if they are not properly grabbed).

Slide a wooden stick along the petal to make it curve.

Repeat the same steps with all the circular layers of petals.

Then, work on the small central petals as shown in the above image.

Grab the stem wire and with the pliers, make a small loop at the end.

Apply hot glue onto the loop, then attach one of the ends of the stamens and start rolling.

Press with your fingers onto the base to make sure they remain aligned. Apply hot glue from time to time.

Apply hot glue once you get to the end of the row. Next, open the stamens with your fingers to make them look more natural.

Apply hot glue onto the lower area of the stamens, then attach the small central petals and start rolling.

Apply hot glue from time to time until you get to the end of the piece. Once you get to the end, apply some more.

Apply hot glue also onto the bottom and wait until it cools.

Model the petals with the help of the wooden stick. once the center is done, insert the stem into the petal layers, one by one, starting from the smallest ones.

Apply hot glue onto the bottom of the central parts of the flower. Open the petals to prevent the ends from touching the glue, and slide the petal layer all the way to the top.

Push your fingers against the top and bottom of the flower to attach the petals. Bend the petals and model them to round them out.

Repeat the process for all the petal layers following the right order. Make sure the last petal layers are positioned alternatively to each other.

Apply glue gun onto the top of the stem and attach the end of one of the green strips for cover.

Start rolling downward to the end, then apply glue.

Make the sepals curve with the wooden stick, then insert the stem into the sepals.

Glue the sepals to the bottom of the flower.

Score the nerves of the leaf. Use a stem as a guide to bend the leaf in the middle.

Apply hot glue and attach the leaf to the stem of the flower.

Glue another green strip starting from the base of the leaf and roll downwards.

Apply glue when you get to the end.

Make as many flowers as you want for your bouquet.

Happy crafting!