A photo of white and light-blue small paper dahlia flowers in a vase with black and white striped ribbon. Image text overlay reads, “the must try dahlia flower tutorial!”

An Easy-to-follow Tutorial to make small paper Dahlias

When I started out, capturing the beauty of the dahlia flower did not seem like an easy feat. But with the right tools and patience, I found the perfect way to channel the intense color and festive attitude of this beautiful flower into an easy but delightful paper craft. Now you can learn how to make paper dahlia flowers to decorate favor boxes, centerpiece arrangements, bouquets, and more! These step-by-step written and picture instructions are divided into two parts: how to make the small paper dahlia flowers and how to add stems to the flowers.

While I will be showing you how to make small paper dahlias in this tutorial, there is no shortage of paper dahlia flowers you can make! If you’re looking for different styles of paper dahlia flowers, check out my other tutorials here:

Supplies Needed for Small Paper Dahlia Flowers

Before beginning any craft project, be sure to gather all the supplies you will need, and prepare your workspace. To create small paper dahlia flowers, you will need:

65-pound cardstock paper
Scissors
Cutting machine – optional, but recommended
Hot glue gun
Paper Blooms Shaping Mat and Tool Set
Thin wood dowel
18-gauge wire
Dahlia flower templates

Pro-Tip: I have created a comprehensive guide and ultimate supply list for making any paper flower you want, from basic to advanced materials. I’ve also included links to the resources I use!

A four-paneled graphic showing various stages of creating a small white paper dahlia flower.

How to Make Small Paper Dahlia Flowers

Now that you have all of your supplies and a clean surface to work on, it’s time to create these fanciful paper dahlia flowers. You can use these step-by-step instructions to create any color of small dahlia flowers you want.

Step 1: Cut Out Your Dahlia Petals and Leaf Base

You will need 8 petal layers consisting of 7 petals per layer, as indicated in the template. Cut these out first.
Cut out your leaf base.

Pro-Tip: A cutting machine, like a Cricut Explore Air 2, is recommended but PDFs are included with the template download for those who wish to hand cut. Learn more about which Cricut may be right for you with my Cricut Buying Guide.

Step 2: Curl Your Petals

Roll each petal tip using your thin wood dowel to curl the petal to the shape of the dowel.

Step 3: Shape Your Petal Layer

Gently press and roll the centers of each small paper dahlia layer into cups so the petals stand up using your Paper Blooms Shaping Mat and Tool Set.

If you do not wish to purchase the shaping mat and rolling tools, you can gently fold the flower petals upwards with your fingers.

Step 4: Stack the Small Paper Dahlia Petal Layers

Begin stacking and gluing 6 of the petal layers.
Save the last two layers for step 5.
Add a small dot of glue to the center of one petal layer and place another dahlia layer on top. Like shown in the picture, be sure to alternate the petal placement. Don’t place single petals directly on top of the bottom petals. Petals should be put between the bottom petals.
Glue one petal layer at a time. Try to preserve the curls you added to the petals in the last step.

A four-paneled graphic showing how to layer small white paper dahlia flower layers and how to build the tightly coiled center petals.

Pro-Tip: If you haven’t yet, be sure to join the subscriber community to gain access to all my freebies or visit my signature design shop here!

Step 5: Create the Small Paper Dahlia Center Bud

The last two petal layers are going to be the center of the DIY dahlia flower.

Curl the individual petals of these last two layers tightly upwards and twist slightly so they remain tight and upright together. It is important to keep this center bud tight. Your finished two layers should look like a cylinder, as shown in the picture above.

Step 6: Add the Center Bud

Glue the tightly curled center bud (your last two layers) to the middle of your paper dahlia flower. Now the center of the flower is complete.

Your completed dahlia should resemble the last image on the picture. Remember, learning how to make a dahlia paper flower takes time and patience. Nobody gets it perfect the first time, including me.

Now that your petals are in place, it’s time to add the leaf base and stem.

How to Stem Your Small Paper Dahlia Flower

A four-paneled graphic shows how to stem a white dahlia flower by adding a leaf base and a green wire stem.

Step 1: Prepare Your Wire

Bend the tip of your 18 gauge wire at a 90-degree angle and form a small circle.

Step 2: Prepare Your Leaf Base

Punch a hole through the leaf base using your wire stem or a hole punch.
Thread the wire stem through the hole in the top of the leaf base.

The circle you made in the wire stem should be on the top of the leaf base, with the rest of the wire under the leaf base.

Step 3: Glue the Stem and Leaf Base

Add a generous amount of glue on the top of the stem (wire circle) and the top of the leaf base.
Press firmly onto the bottom of the dahlia until fully dry.

Your stunning small paper dahlia flower is finished! Display these DIY paper flowers on their own, with a bunch of dahlias in a bouquet, or any way you like!

I don’t know about you, but when I first started making these dahlias, I fell in love. This DIY dahlia flower quickly became one of my top go-to small flower crafts. They especially look stunning when assembled together in a large bunch (they would look gorgeous in a bridal bouquet!).

Tell me below in the comments how you would use these beauties in your own special way! Share what you’ve been up to by using #DIYwithAbbi and follow me on social media. I would love to see your creativity in the works, so flaunt your flower power magic! You are a huge source of my inspiration!

My mission is to inspire you to nurture the creative magic inside your soul – bringing you fun, easy-to-learn DIY paper flower tutorials and quality template designs. I share a variety of projects but specifically love paper crafting and paper flowers. Interested in more flower tutorials?! I’ve created dozens of signature designs for you to enjoy – The Art of Giant Paper Flowers (a bestseller), the Giant Flower Library, and my shop of endless paper designs and paper flower templates.

Thanks for letting me pop into your day!

How to Make Small Paper Dahlia Flowers

Active Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour

Difficulty: Easy

Learn how to make gorgeous small paper dahlia flowers with this beginner tutorial! These paper flowers are perfect for home decor, bouquets, special events, and more.

Materials

Tools