Home » Paper Flowers » DIY Iris Unicorn Rainbow Flowers- Large Rainbow Paper Flowers
|

DIY Iris Unicorn Rainbow Flowers- Large Rainbow Paper Flowers

This post may contain affiliate links that won’t change your price but will share some commission.

A fancy party wall featuring many paper crafts like rainbow paper flowers, cupcakes, a unicorn cake, and whimsical unicorn themed decorations.  A paper sign saying "Sophia" hangs on the table.
.

The magic & fun of unicorns is taking over my crafting heart this week, and creating something spectacular – Large Rainbow Paper Flowers! Everything about these brightly colored beauties is just what any unicorn admirer could dream up! I teamed up with a fellow creator and friend over at Press Print Party to bring you all this rainbow unicorn goodness!

A paper unicorn backdrop with thick lashes, a pink horn and three beautiful iris rainbow flowers that make a crown for the unicorns head.
.

Follow my step-by-step instructions and get ready for a bright & exciting color explosion!

DIY Iris Unicorn Rainbow Flowers Supplies

Step-By-Step Large Rainbow Flower Instructions

You will have 8 petals in each layer. Each of the 8 petals will be a different color.

Petal Prep

Cut the following number of petals:
Extra Large: 8 Petals
Large: 8 Petals
Small: 8 Petals
Extra Small: 8 Petals
5 layers for an XL flower or downsize to a large by subtracting the XL Petal. Downsize to a medium by subtracting the XL & Large Petal.

Let’s get started on our DIY Iris Unicorn Rainbow Flowers- Large Rainbow Paper Flowers

DIY Iris Unicorn Rainbow Flowers instructions for large rainbow paper flowers. Abbi Kirsten's hand shows how to cut a slit on a large purple petal and then how to shape the petal.
.

Step 1: Cut out all of your petals. Then cut 2-inch slits at the bottom of each petal and overlap slightly with glue.

Step 2: Use a marker, pencil, or dowel to curl back the top edges of the flower petal. I’m using my Paper Blooms Shaping Mat rolling tool.

These two side-by-side photos show a close-up of Abbi Kirsten curling a large purple paper petal and a stack of rainbow petals already curled. These petals will be part of the Large rainbow flowers for the unicorn.
.

Related Posts

Step 3: Repeat with all of your petals. You should have 8 Petals for each layer. For this tutorial, there will be five layers since we are making an XL flower. I have eight colors present for each layer. One for each petal.

The left photo is a closeup of Abbi holding two large petals in pink and purple like playing cards. The photo on the right is a display of four petals in pink, salmon, yellow and purple. These petals are layered to create a large iris rainbow paper flower.
.

Note: With my other flower tutorials, I use circle bases. Today, I’m introducing the ‘Petal Perfect Bases.’ This base comes with the DIY Iris Unicorn Rainbow Flower & can also be purchased separately. The Petal Perfect Base helps you keep petals in a neat circle.

Step 4: You will be gluing each petal over each segment of the petal perfect base. There are eight sides. One for each petal. Add glue to the bottom of the back and glue onto the base as shown. Your petals will not fit perfectly on each side since we want the petals to overlap to achieve the correct look.

These two pictures show the progression of large rainbow flowers. The left picture shows the first layer of rainbow-colored paper petals around a purple base. The second photo is a closeup of a second layer added.
.

Step 5: Glue the next petal onto the next segment. Here you can see my two petals roughly line up with each side of the octagon base. Keep going with the next 6 petals the same way.

All of my petals align with each side of the petal base.

These side-by-side photos compare the second layer beginning to a completed second layer. The petals are in shades of pink, purple, red, and pink. All these petals will create an iris large rainbow paper flower.
.

We will now move on to the second layer of large petals.

Step 6: I started the 2nd layer with my dark purple petal. To create a spiral look, you will want to glue the large dark purple petal to the right of the XL purple petal. Your large dark purple petal should be between the XL dark purple and the lighter purple petal.

Step 7: Follow the color pattern and glue the lighter purple flower petal in between the lighter purple XL petal and the lavender XL petal.

Step 8: Keep going until your 2nd layer is complete with eight large petals.

Two additional step-by-step pictures of the assembly of a large rainbow paper  flower, made of different colors of paper cardstock. The photo on the left shows the third layer seen from above. The right photo shows the fourth layer, and how the petal placement creates a color swirl.
.

We will now move on to the third layer of large petals.

Step 9: I’m starting with the dark pink petal. Glue it in between the dark pink large petal and the dark purple large petal from the previous layer.

An ad for the DIY Iris Unicorn Rainbow Flowers and Large Rainbow Paper Flowers video tutorial. The text also includes arrows pointing to the paper flower petals with "see the spiral forming here."

Step 10: Add in the next petal (mine is light pink). Keep going until your 3rd layer is complete. You should be picking up on the repetitive pattern we are doing here and start to notice a spiral forming.

Step 11: It’s now time to move onto the 4th layer. I will keep repeating the exact same pattern with the colors.

Step 12: Finally, add in the 5th layer of extra small petals the same way we did the last four layers.

Three finished large rainbow paper flowers on a sea-green wooden table. Petals in pinks, reds, yellows, greens, and purples swirl around the flower to the center yellow fringe.
.
A closeup of a beautiful large rainbow paper flower with various colors of petals swirling to the golden center of paper fringe. Yellow-gold leave peek out from under the flower. The papercraft sits on a white background with colorful party confetti.
.

Step 13: To finish, add in a pompom center. Basic pompom PDF instructions are included with the templates or opt for a fun swirl pompom center with video instructions.

There you have it. A beautiful, fun, unicorn magic-filled tutorial to brighten your party, nursery, and/or home decor! How would you use this flower? Tell me below!

Large rainbow paper flowers are seen from overhead in a two-picture view. The top photo is a close up of the spiral pearl center nestled in a swirling petal rainbow. The picture below is of three finished swirl rainbow large paper flowers on a green wooden table.
.

Follow along step-by-step with this video tutorial

DIY Iris Unicorn Rainbow Flowers- Large Rainbow Paper Flowers

Magical Unicorn Large Rainbow Paper Flowers

Active Time: 1 hour
Total Time: 1 hour
Difficulty: Easy

Bring whimsy and beauty to any party or home decor with these large rainbow paper flowers. The magical, colorful swirled flowers can be extra large and are perfect crowns for your children or their unicorns. This easy rainbow flower papercraft can be made using our written or video instructions. 

Instructions

Step 1: Cut Out Your Petals And Base

There are 8 different-colored petals in each layer. Cut the following number of petals:

  • Extra Large: 8 Petals
  • Large: 8 Petals
  • Small: 8 Petals
  • Extra Small: 8 Petals
  • Cut out the new Petal Perfect Base

Step 2: Petal Slit And Overlap

  • Cut 2-inch slits at the bottom of each petal. Slightly overlap the cut edges to create a curve, then glue them together. 
  • Do this for all the petals. 

Step 3: Curl The Petals 

  • Curl the top edges of the petals downward slightly to shape the petal. Use a marker, pencil, wood dowel, or the tools in my Paper Blooms Shaping Mat & Rolling Tool Kit.
  • Repeat with all the petals.

Step 4: Add Bottom Petal Layer

  • Glue each of the eight XL bottom petals over each side of the Petal Perfect Base. The petals will overlap.
  • Begin with the dark purple petal. 

Step 5: Add The Remaining Flower Layers 

  • Use the eight large petals to create the second layer of the rainbow flower. 
  • Start with the large dark purple petal on top of, and to the right, of the first layer XL dark purple petal. 
  • Layer the rest of the second row in the same color order so that each color is slightly offset from the same color beneath it. 
  • Your large dark purple petal should be between the XL dark purple and the lighter purple petal.
  • Follow the color pattern and overlap technique for the remaining rows to create a color spiral. 

Step 6: The Flower Center 

  • Create the flower center from the included PFD instructions or the video tutorial. 
  • Glue in the pompom center. 

Now you have a fun, unicorn magic-filled rainbow paper flower to brighten your party, nursery, and home! 

Did you make this project?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Discover More

My mission is to inspire you to nurture the creative magic inside your soul – bringing you fun, easy-to-learn DIY projects, and quality template designs. I share various projects but specifically love paper crafting and flowers. Interested in more flower tutorials?! I’ve created dozens of signature designs for you to enjoy – starting with my best seller, The Art of Giant Paper Flowers, and my Member Vault full of hundreds of paper crafts and Cricut crafts.

Feeling overwhelmed? Start here with my tried and true Resource List!

Thanks for letting me pop into your day!

DIY Iris Unicorn Rainbow Flowers- a multiple photo graphic combining all the photos in the post into a step-by-step picture tutorial. The picture show how to take each color of petal and add them to the purple flower base in a color swirl perfect for a rainbow unicorn party.
.

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

4 Comments

  1. Beautiful! I’ve never seen anything like this and I love the video!

    1. Thank you so much! 🙂

  2. Lorraine salter says:

    They are gorgeous the way they fit together amazing tutorials will be making some in the near future to put on my sewing room wall thank you so much