Thursday, June 5, 2008

Simple Paper Rose Flower Tutorial


Wendy over at Dozi Design has posted a super simple tutorial for making paper flower roses. They turned out great and can adapt to any use. She attached them to branches to make a great paper flower centerpiece but I can also see them as great place cards. I will have to try this one out myself!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Paper Flowers Reinforce the Positive in Students

A group of six graders were taught a wonderful lesson about the power of kind words by using paper flowers to share their positive opinions of each other.

The students at Mountain View Elementary School in Olympia, WA created paper flowers from construction paper and glued a picture of themselves in the middle. The teacher, Robin Schiaffino, then instructed them to pass the flowers around and write positive, kind words about each other on the petals. Some of the sweet opinions "smartilicious" and "good paper airplane maker".

I love this idea because all too often all we hear are the bad opinions and it's so great that these young kids are learning self confidence and also about how important it is to be kind to others!

[via The Olympian]

Monday, April 21, 2008

Giant Paper Flowers Gain Attention in Storefront Window Display

Check out these giant paper flowers that decorate this unique store in Soho.


I was doing my daily blog search when I saw a great find by Katy over at katyelliott.com She snapped a great pic of a store on Broadway with HUGE paper flowers hung from the ceiling that are just stunning! I love the purple one, what about you? I would be interested in finding out how they made these giant paper flowers, they are such a head turner!

[via katyelliott.com/blog]

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

1,000 Tissue Paper Flowers Decorate Hula Night

I am always searching for people who are making paper flowers. I just read an article about a Hula Night put on at Amherst College where they turned Valentine Hall into a tropical paradise.

They used 1,000 tissue paper flowers to decorate the counters and windows sills. Can you imagine making ONE THOUSAND paper flowers? Whew! Hope they took pictures to remember the beauty!

Live tropical plants, paper palm trees, ice sculptures, and even a volcano were also used to decorate the hall. Because of the time it takes to plan and make all the decor, it is a once-every-four-years event. I'm sure it was beautiful. I would love to have seen all those tissue paper flowers all together! Even more, I would have liked to been there just to feast on the menu: coconut shrimp, island pork, sweet potatoes and Hawaiian slaw were the main courses. Someone would have to peal me away from the pineapple ice cream for sure!

Read more about the Hula Night (scroll about mid-way down the page)

Sunday, April 13, 2008

Creating Paper Flower Bows from Recycled Materials


I just found a great idea and tutorial about taking household materials and using them to create paper flowers that add a touch of pizazz to gifts. Since the whole world is on this green kick, this is a great way to feel apart of it. Not only is it great for the environment but it also saves you a lot of green in your wallet because we all know how much those store bought bows can be!

By using plain gift bags, brown paper bags or newspaper to wrap gifts, you can then create paper flower "bows" to add a unique ornament to the gift. Grocery bags, plastic wrap, magazines, and reused gift wrap are all materials suggested in the article. I think that other materials such as aluminum foil, pages from an old book, or maybe even old photos will make beautiful paper flowers as well!

Here's a link to the article. Click for directions on how to make these stylish paper flower bows.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Paper flowers As A Unique Fundraiser


While searching the internet the other day for people creating paper flowers, I found a great article about a fundraiser going on right now where people are selling paper flowers for a great cause! Businesses in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania are participating in this unique fundraiser, selling paper flowers.

I LOVE this idea! Unlike your typical candy bar or t-shirt fundraiser, there is a special feeling when you receive a flower, especially a paper flower, because of the time and effort it takes to make it. A paper flower, unlike a real flower, never wilts and you don't ever have to water it. A paper flower doesn't get eaten or turned into an old gym shirt either. A paper flower is a great fund-raising tool because it's a daily reminder to give!

The participating businesses are selling the paper flowers for just a buck to raise money for Lifesteps, a local family-focused nonprofit. I love this idea and I love their slogan, Seeds of Hope, more. What a great message to reach out to the community. It just makes me want to smile while looking up at a rainbow and give a few bucks to build me a paper flower bouquet! Here's a little more about the nonprofit agency selling the paper flowers:

The fundraiser will conclude April 20. Proceeds benefit the Lifesteps’ Family Caring Fund, which is restricted to paying expenditures not otherwise reimbursed by federal, state, or county programs, and supports local programs and services such as free developmental “Child Check” screenings for children birth to 5 years of age. Lifesteps offers family-focused services to Western Pennsylvania communities. Additional programs and services offered to local communities include home-based services for families in need and an adult training facility and 24-hour community homes for adults with mental retardation.

To read more about this paper flower fundraiser, click here.

If you found this blog post while looking for unique fundraiser ideas and you love this idea of selling paper flowers as much as I do, you can check out this popular book on Amazon about making paper flowers. Martha Stewart is also selling a paper flower kit from her crafts line now also you may like (The picture of the tissue paper flowers above was made from her kit)!

I'm just starting this site so I would love to hear from you! Let me know what you think in my comments!