DIY CHALLENGE FINALIST #5 - a paper flower backdrop

Finalist #5 of the DIY challenge and the last finalist that will be posted here at bliss! is this great Flower Photobooth Backdrop by Caroline of Sunday Evening. I love that shes wearing PJs on the tutorial pictures - makes the whole project so much more approachable somehow. Check out finalist #4 and 6 on Urban Scarlet. Tomorrow well be posting a round-up of the finalist, so itll be easier for you to pick your favorite. But now, check out Carolines fantastic project:I’ve been seeing oversized flowers all over blogs but hadn’t come across a good tutorial on how to make them! So I figured Id put one together myself. Enjoy!Here’s what you’ll need:• Scissors• Kraft paper (or other paper of your choice)• Accent paper of any bright color• Hot glue (tape can be used in a pinch – that’s what I used)• Staples• Large white coffee filters or cupcake liners• 1 bag of black teaRose - Steps:Note: realize that this DIY is extremely flexible and can be adjusted to make as large or as small flowers as you feel! Because of the nature of the project, exact measurements were not used.• You’ll need to start to make petals by ripping large sheets of paper with one arched side. The other sides can be ripped or straight edges, it doesn’t matter. You won’t see these sides in the finished product. This side will be the edge of your petal and in my opinion, they look great natural with soft, organic ripped edges so don’t worry about trying to make them perfect.• Take both corners of the ripped piece and pinch them together to form a rounded almost teardrop shape.• Staple the ends together making sure that you secure both sides. • Take the rounded edge of the petal and gently coax backwards almost so that you can’t see the edge, just the rounded edge.• Set petal aside and continue to repeat this process to make about four or five petals roughly the same size. These biggest petals will form the base of the flower and be shown on the outermost layer.• Position the petals in a circle, arranging them to overlap slightly.• If you are using hot glue, use glue to adhere the petals to one another in the circle making sure that this first layer is very sturdy as this will be the foundation for the rest of the flower. If using tape (I couldn’t find my glue gun!) make sure to secure the petals well. My tape wasn’t sticking very well to the kraft paper but I made due.• Continue to make petals in the same way you did before decreasing the size.• Continue to adhere petals overlapping on the flower for the next layer, inside of the larger ones.• Work your way inward, still making petals smaller and smaller as you approach the middle.• To make the very center, rip a long (approx. 1 ft.) and thin (approx. 1 in.) sheet of paper and begin to roll in onto itself making a rosebud coil.• Pinch bottom or rosebud together as you work.• Staple (or glue) bottom of rosebud together.• Place in center of flower and secure.• Fill in small petals as necessary in gaps between other petals.Carnation - Steps:• Stain the cupcake liners with hot (strong) tea by letting them sit in the liquid for around 1 hour. You can increase or decrease the time depending on the color desired.• Let dry.• Take 2 or 3 liners and pinch together in the center making a carnation shaped flower.• Staple pinched bottom through all layers.• Shape flower as necessary.Other flower – Steps:• Print out this template and cut out.• Trace petal shape onto kraft paper. You’ll need about 20 petals for a medium sized flower. This can be widely adjusted to your liking.• Cut out petals.• Begin arranging the outermost layer of petals. You’ll need around 10. Overlap each one as desired and secure with tape.• Next, arrange the second layer of petals, placing each one in between the layer before so both layers are seen. Secure with tape.• For the center, I used small strips of my accent color paper curled and arranged in a circle. They can be glued down. These flowers can be mounted on a wall with hooks, tape, or even sticky tack! They can serve as all around party décor of the backdrop for fun photobooth pictures! Cluster flowers as close or as far apart as desired! I dressed mine up with a simple bunting and liked the look of the neutrals with a small pop of color. Feel free to play around with dimensions, colors and shapes.Thanks, Caroline, for sharing this project with us! Beautiful work!