DIY Paper Orchid Flower Tutorial with Templates
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I’ve always loved how bright and elegant orchids are! Orchids in nature are challenging to keep up with, so I am delighted to share this paper orchid tutorial in collaboration with Michaels Craft Stores.
I crafted these beauties from pink and purple cardstock with the help of my Cricut Maker machine! Abbi Kirsten Community attracts many crafters, from beginners to pros. For those newer to creating paper crafts visit my full paper flower supply list and my expert collection of frequently asked questions which will have you make wow-worthy flowers in no time!
This paper orchid tutorial is beginner-friendly, and as a special treat, I am providing the SVG orchid templates as a free SVG – download below!
My Cricut is always the powerhouse of my crafting success. Michaels Craft Store is my favorite place to shop for supplies – I’m there almost every week! If you don’t have Michaels near you or do not wish to go out then just use my links below to ship the supplies right to you!
Love paper roses and other paper flowers as much as I do? Download The Joy of Paper Flowers eBook and template bundle, which has more than 24 flower templates, leaves, and centers. I even walk you through styling a paper flower bouquet and orchid arrangements.
Supplies Needed to Make DIY Paper Orchid Flowers
Let’s review the supplies for this paper orchid craft project:
- Cricut Maker or Cricut Explore plus Cricut tools (if you do not have a cutting machine I have PDF printables so you can still enjoy this lovely flower!) Read why I love my Cricut machines!
- Scissors
- 65-pound cardstock paper – I used purple paper, pink paper, yellow paper, and green paper.
- Paper-covered wire (used as the center stem)
- Thin floral wire (used for each orchid bloom)
- Floral tape (helps attached the blooms to the thick floral stem)
- Cricut light blue mat
- Glue gun
- Wood dowel
- Distress ink and Ink sponges (use distress ink and sponges to add color variation to the orchid. This is optional.)
- Orchid templates (download below!)
How to Make Super Easy DIY Paper Orchid Flowers
Once you have all your supplies together, it is time to create these stunning flowers. You can learn how to make DIY orchid flowers by watching my YouTube tutorial or by following my step-by-step instructions with pictures. Make sure you download the free orchid template first.
Download Orchid Templates
Download these free orchid paper flower templates in SVG cut files and PDF printable format by creating an account on the form below, then check your email to set your free account password.
If you are already a member, then log into your account right here and find it in the Small Paper Flower section or type in the search bar DESIGN #21, and voila! You have your freebie!
Step-by-Step Paper Orchid Tutorial
Below is a picture tutorial of the orchid creation process. Follow along and learn how to make paper orchids for yourself!
- Cut the paper orchids using my Cricut templates. If you don’t own a Cricut cutting machine, you can use scissors.
- Place a sheet of cardstock onto the LightGrip mat and then load the paper into the machine. Press “Go” when prompted.
- Once cut, gently peel the mat away from the cardstock. Then gently peel away the cut designs.
- Repeat for each color of cardstock.
- (OPTIONAL): To enhance the look of your paper orchids, use some distressed pigment ink and a small sponge to add some color to the center of the orchid blooms. For example, I used a dark pink pigment on light pink cardstock. This adds dimension to your flowers.
- Shape the paper flower petals by gently creasing down the center, then curl backward using the dowel rod. Do this for all petals. Curl the two center pieces inwards as well.
- To assemble the paper orchid flowers, use your glue gun to place a dot of glue in the center of the 3 point petal, and place the 2 point petal on top, right in the center.
- Glue the floral wire tip at the flower’s center. We will assemble the orchid’s center right on top of this wire tip. Make sure the wire is secure.
Building Your Paper Orchid Flower
- Glue the two center pieces together, then glue them on top of the wire in the center of the assembled petals.
- Repeat this process for 3 to 6 paper orchid blooms.
- Wrap the thicker floral wire in corsage tape. This makes the green more natural-looking.
- Trim down any orchid wires that are too long.
- Prep corsage tape by ripping off strips and placing them aside.
- Starting at the top, add each orchid bloom to the thick floral wire with corsage tape. If you made different size paper orchid flowers, you want the larger flowers towards the bottom and the smaller ones on top.
- Work progressively down the floral wire until you have as many orchid flowers as you want.
- (OPTIONAL) You can add leaves as desired. I like to curl them with a wood dowel. Add them to the base of the floral wire with a little bit of glue and add another leaf to the opposite side to create a mirrored image.
I like to place my paper flower orchids in a lovely vase, but you can do whatever you like!
Free Spring Flower SVG Files
Check out a bunch of free flower SVG cut files below from my fellow creators!
Paper Orchid SVG Flower Templates | Abbi Kirsten Collections
Daisy Flower SVG | Persia Lou
Wild and Free SVG | Crafting Overload
Spring Florals | Brooklyn Berry Designs
Flower Pop Up Card | Gina C. Creates
Flowers Feed the Soul Daisy SVG | Color Me Crafty
Boho Daisy Libbey Glass Wrap | The Denver Housewife
Bloom Wildly | The Quiet Grove
Love Spring Shadow Box SVG | Dinosaur Mama
Lilacs | Kiy’s Craftroom
Flower Market | Crafty Life Mom
Best Buds | Artsy-Fartsy Mama
Stay Wild | Liz on Call
Live Life in Full Bloom | Simple Made Pretty
Spring Blooms Layered Card | The Bearded Housewife
Live Simply Bloom Wildly | The Walnut Street House
Spring Floral Wreath | Extraordinary Chaos
Just A Wildflower In Love With Sunshine | Sunshine and Munchkins
Raising Wildflowers | Tried & True Creative
DIY Paper Orchid Flower Tutorial with Templates
This step-by-step tutorial will show you how easy it is to make gorgeous DIY paper orchid flowers for your home or as gifts.
Materials
- Cricut Maker or Explore
- Cricut tools
- Scissors
- 65-pound cardstock paper - purple
- 65-pound cardstock paper - pink
- 65-pound cardstock paper - yellow
- 65-pound cardstock paper - green
- Paper-covered wire
- Thin floral wire
- Floral tape
- Cricut light blue mat
- Glue gun
- Wood dowel
- Distress ink (optional)
- Ink sponges (optional)
- ikOrchid templates
Instructions
Cut and Assemble the Orchid Petals
- Cut the orchids from my template using either your Cricut machine or scissors.
- If you are using a Cricut cutting machine: place a sheet of cardstock onto the blue mat. Load the paper and press the "Go" button when instructed.
- Remember to gently peel the mat away from the cut design to prevent curling. Then peel the mat away from the cut design.
- Cut each color of cardstock and orchid parts you will need.
- (OPTIONAL) You can distress the petals to give them a 3-D look and a more realistic illusion of texture. Use the ink and sponges to create an ombre petal look. Try to use dark ink on light paper and visa-verse.
- Shape the paper flower petals by gently creasing down the center. Curl the petals backward using a wood dowel, and curl the two inner pieces inward.
Assemble the Orchid Blooms
- Place a hot glue dot in the center of the 3-point petal.
- Place a 2-point petal on top of the glue on the 3-point petal.
- Glue the floral wire tip at the flower’s center. This will be the wire on which we will assemble the orchid's center.
- Add the yellow center to the pink center with glue.
- Glue the completed center pieces on top of the wire in the center of the assembled petal blooms.
- Repeat this process for 3 to 6 paper orchid blooms.
- Wrap corsage tape around the thicker floral wire.
- Trim down any orchid wires that are too long.
- Prep corsage tape by ripping off strips and placing them aside.
- Beginning at the top, add each completed orchid bloom to the thick floral wire with the prepared corsage tape. Larger flowers go at the bottom and get smaller as you progress up the floral wire.
- (OPTIONAL) Add leaves if desired. I like to curl the leaves with a wood dowel and add them to the floral wire with glue.
More Crafts to Love
About Abbi Kirsten
Welcome to my colorful corner of the internet, where we play with vibrant crafts and unlock your creative magic! Hang out with me and get lost in a fun array of projects, tutorials, and products, from stunning papercraft ideas to flower templates, Cricut help for beginners, and endless crafter’s hacks.
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