Learn how to do anything: How to Make a Paper Dahlia

Monday, November 21, 2016

How to Make a Paper Dahlia

Dahlias are lovely looking flowers, and can serve as a beautiful centerpiece. But you can also make them out of paper as a creative and festive decoration for your walls or table. Best of all? You probably already have all the required materials!

EditSteps

EditWall Decoration

Gather your supplies. The list is located at the bottom of the article.
Cut the card stock papers into 4 inch squares. You will need around 50 to 60 squares to make one dahlia. Use a paper trimmer to make this job easier. If you don't have one, a simple ruler and scissors will do the job.
Pour a small amount of paint into a palette and dip your sponge in it. Dab the sponge around two corners of each squares as shown.
- This is done to create a two color dahlia. Dabbing gives a natural look compared to just painting the corners. If you don't have a sponge, use dry brush to create that effect.
Allow them to dry. Wait for it to dry overnight, then come back to it in the morning. Lightly dab your finger in a small area of the paint. If no paint comes off on your finger, it is sufficiently dry.
Apply a line of glue to top right corner of the square as shown.
Fold the left side of the square to the center and wrap the right side of the square over it to make a cone shape.
Repeat the same to all the squares. Make around 50 cones to start making the dahlia. You can always make extra if you want.
Use the plastic plate as the base. The plate used in the images above was 9 inches (22.86 cm) in diameter. If you don't have a plate, you can also cut a piece of cardboard to use as a base. Apply a line of glue on the back side of the cone.
- A plate is preferred to use than cardboard. The reason is that while hanging the flowers on the wall, the plate gives a three dimensional effect as if the flower is popping out from the wall instead just pasted on the wall. But it is your choice to decide which one to use.
Paste the cone on the back side of the plate leaving a one inch gap between each cone you paste.
Dab the glue in a V shape to the back of each cone.
Glue it in between two cones of the first layer so that it sticks nicely.
Once the second layer is formed, repeat the same process for the next layers until the flower is formed.This will happen in 5 to 6 layers depending upon the size of the plate.
Once you reach the point as shown in the picture above, it is time to make the center of the flower. For this, take the left over pieces (3" X 8") of the cardstock paper and make fringes for the center by cutting only 3/4 of the paper (lengthwise) in 3 to 4 mm width and leaving the remaining part to fold.
Roll the fringe paper and dab a small amount of glue when you reach the end of the paper and attach another paper to the roll.
Do this until the center piece is formed to a desired size.
Apply hot glue at the base of the center piece and glue it to the flower.
Be amazed at your beautiful creation. Your dahlia is now ready to hang on the wall.
- Refer to this image for a closer look of what the dahlia should ideally look like.
Glue a thread on the back of the plate and hang it on the wall using a command hook or thumb tack.
- If the plate has holes, just insert a rubber band into the holes and hang it on to a command hook.

EditCone as the Center Piece

This is an another version of dahlia where you can insert a cone itself in the center instead a fringe center. If you don't want the fringe center piece, use a cone as the center piece.

While pasting the second, third and fourth layer of the cones, maintain the center circle. Paste the cones in such a way the edges of the cones in the first layer should align with cones in the second layer and the next layers, so that you will end up with a hole in the center when the flower cones reaches the center in which you can insert a cone to complete the flower.
Avoid the gap and align the second layer and the next layers straight above the first layer to get dome shaped dahlia.
- This is done with technique mentioned above but with the fringe center.
Make as many of these as you'd like. These colorful dahlias make a beautiful wall décor.