Paper flowers are just as versatile as real blooms, if not more so because of their longevity. I’m always looking for new ways to decorate and craft with my paper blossoms. In today’s tutorial, I will show you step by step how to make floating teacups with cascading paper flowers!
This floating teacup craft is a beautiful handmade gift to give or a way to use a special piece of china in a new way. I think this is an excellent Mother’s Day gift! Your teacup will literally look like it is floating mid-air as if by magic. Let’s start with the supplies you will need for making this whimsical craft below.
Supplies
- Teacup and saucer – if you do not have one already check out eBay for some great options!
- A metal fork
- Hot glue gun
- Gorilla glue
- Paper flowers
- Moss and/ silk flowers
- Vase fillers or small rocks
- Small silicone mat
Paper Flower Templates
I used a variety of paper flowers to create this look. Specifically, my set of 10 rolled rosettes and my ruby rose template design. I also added in some paper vines to enhance the flowers using my whimsical vine, and leafy vine set. With the blue and purple teacup, I also used my poppy style paper flower.
If you want a large variety of paper flowers to work with, I highly recommend my ebook The Joy of Paper Flowers which comes with 24 templates and tutorials including the ones I used in the video. Or if you prefer to pick and choose, then download as many or as few as you wish here in the shop.
I sized all my paper flowers to make about 1.5 – 2-inch blooms using my Cricut Maker and Cricut Explore machines. The paper rosettes are particularly easy to create and make a lot of quickly.
Freebies
I also have a Freebie Vault with a couple of small blooms inside that you can use for this project as well!
Gain access to my free templates by signing up via the teal button below. If you are already a member, then login right here and find it in the SVG section. Remember to use the password you were given in the first email. Need help entering the vault? Read this helpful post here.
Constructing the Teacup
The first phase is to build the teacup structure. In a lot of similar tutorials, I have noticed crafters using only hot glue. When I tried this my hot glue just peeled away from the glass, so I chose gorilla glue to reinforce the hot glue and it worked perfectly!
I started bending my fork into a deep curve and then attaching the fork handle to the inside of my teacup with a little hot glue first then with my gorilla glue. Once I added my gorilla glue, I placed the silicone mat inside with weighted rocks or vase fillers to let it set up.
You will want to repeat the whole process a second time before connecting the folk to the saucers. Watch the full video here to see how I did it.
After your gorilla glue dries (typically 24 hours), you can start addressing the instability of the teacup. I discovered that no matter how I bent my fork the floating teacup was not altogether stable. So I glued down some weighted rocks or vase fillers as a counterweight.
Next, begin adding your moss over the rocks first with a little hot glue and then build up some silk greenery, and paper vines for the base.
Adding Flowers
Now you are on the fun part with adding paper flowers! I recommend playing around and laying out your design first before gluing anything down. Once you are happy with the layout glue down your paper flowers with hot glue.
For the fork handle, I like to cover it will some paper vines first and then add some flowers over the top.
Scroll down to watch me build this step by step in the video below!
What do you think of this floating teacup tutorial with paper flowers? I’d love to see how yours turns out. Be sure to join my Facebook group here and show off your crafts!
How to Make Floating Teacups – Video Tutorial
The video tutorial below walks you through the whole process visually step by step. Hit play to see how it is done! Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel for more videos weekly!
More Crafts to Love
- 6 Last-Minute Handmade Christmas Gifts to Make With Cricut
- How to Make Tile Arabesque Christmas Ornaments with Cricut – Free Templates
- Free Faux Leather Hair Bow Templates and Tutorial
- DIY Christmas Poinsettia Faux Leather Earrings
- DIY Decorative Christmas Gift Boxes with Faux Glitter Leather
About Abbi Kirsten Collections
I have spent the last 9+ years building my creative skills and sharing them with others. My flower designs are created with simplicity, color and crafty fun in mind. 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!
Want to join my Facebook community to share your crafts and learn from the best? Click here to request access to my group, Crafters and Cricut Lovers.
For further color crafts and inspiration, join me on Instagram & Facebook.
Jen says
Wow! I’d be so worried about that teacup falling. Is it still holding up with the glue after a few days? Love your blog and flower patterns! Thanks for this. It would be perfect for a tea party themed birthday party!
Abbi says
Hi Jen!
Yes, no problems at all. As long as you use gorilla glue and use those weighted rocks you’ll be fine! 🙂
Teresa C Willis says
Beautiful, I’ve already found me a teacup and saucer to use for this project for my Mom for Mother’s Day!!! Abbi, do you think that the E-6000 glue along with hot glue would work as well as the gorilla glue? I have that on hand is why I ask.
Thanks, Abbi for the beautiful project,
Teresa
Abbi says
Thanks Teresa! Yes, E-6000 glue should work because it states that it will bond well with glass. 🙂
Sonia Azar says
Hi there … what a beautiful project !! I can’t wait to do this for my mom and aunt for Mother’s Day ! I sat down to watch your video but it keeps stopping at the point where you demonstrate how to bend the spoon … an error message keeps posting up 🙁 not sure what’s happening . Is there another way I can see the video ? … thank you so much for sharing your beautiful talent and love of flowers with all of us!
Abbi says
Hi Sonia,
Try this direct link on my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L07kZbB5cbM
Sonia says
Thank you so much !! that did the trick . I cant wait to make these , have a wonderful day!!!