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How to Make Giant Paper Flower Stem

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A giant paper red rose stands in a green manicured lawn. In this giant paper flower stem tutorial, you can make your own large flower stems from wood dowels.

Paper flowers are a lovely craft project. Your flowers can be bright or patterned, large or small, and in any quantity you want. The biggest problem when making or purchasing paper flowers is how to make stems stable enough that they support the large flowers and can stand upright. This giant paper flower stem tutorial will teach you how to make DIY flower stems and a DIY flower display stand. I’ve divided the lesson into two parts to make it easier to follow. Be sure to check both sections for supply lists!

Part 1: How to Make Giant Paper Flower Stems

Learning to stem a giant flower is quite simple because you can find all the necessary supplies at a craft store, and the steps aren’t complicated. It took me a while to figure out how to create a flower stem that made a solid connection to the flower – but once the epiphany struck, everything fell into place. You are probably asking, “Can I learn how to make stems for giant paper flowers too?” Well, yes! I’m going to teach you!

First, let’s review the supplies you will need for Part 1.

Supplies for a giant paper flower stem:

  • Wood dowel (3/4 – 1-inch diameter, 3 ft. long)
  • 1 3-4 inch diameter foam balls, cut in half
  • Green tulle or green spray paint
  • 3-4 large leaves
  • One ready-made paper flower – shop templates here!

In this giant paper flower stem tutorial, I use green tulle to wrap around the dowel, matching the yellow-green color of natural flower leaves.

All the supplies needed to make giant paper flower stems: paper flower, leaves, dowel, foam balls, and tulle or paint.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies to Make A Giant Paper Flower Stem

Before you begin any project, prepare your workspace and gather your supplies. You may be able to find foam balls already cut in half at your craft store. If not, you can cut them yourself. I used a small saw. Be careful when cutting or get someone to help you!

A close-up of a craft dowel sized ¾” x 36”. This particular dowel costs $1.69 from a craft store and makes crafting a giant paper flower stem cost-effective.

A large foam ball gut in half; this foam ball will create a base for the giant paper flower stem.

Step 2: Decorating the Giant Paper Flower Stem

Personally, I like to wrap my dowels in tulle because it adds a whimsical texture. However, using green spray paint will work as well too.

In this example, I’m using a 3/4 of an inch thick dowel. If you used card stock heavier than 65 lb. to make your paper flowers, I recommend going up to a 1-inch dowel. Start wrapping the dowel tightly with your tulle, adding bits of glue as you go so everything stays put. If you decide to spray paint, then do that in this step.

 

Start wrapping the wooden dowel rod with the green tulle fabric about an inch from the end of the dowel. The tulle is glued in place and twisted to create a whimsical, textured flower stem.

The process of wrapping green tulle fabric around a wooden dowel to create a giant paper flower stem.

Step 3: Creating A Hole For The Dowel Stem

Connect the wooden dowel for the DIY flower stem to the half foam ball. Make sure the foam ball is flat side down. Aim for the center of the foam ball and push in the wood stem very firmly until you carve a hole with the dowel. Do not punch the hole all the way through the foam ball; only go about halfway or a little further. If you used tulle or another material to cover your giant paper flower stem, it might ride up a little, but that’s fine.

The giant paper flower stem has been wrapped in tulle and glued in place. The next step will involve white foam balls cut in half.

A foam ball, cut in half, has a deep dowel-sized hole in its center. Using the wooden dowel to carve out this hole is step 3 in the giant paper flower stem tutorial.

Step 4: Attaching The Foam Ball To The Dowel Stem

After you’ve carved the hole into the foam ball, generously fill the hole and cover the tip of the dowel with clear hot glue. Then, firmly press into the ball. It’s important to press the stem and ball together until the glue completely dries, usually 1-2 full minutes. If some glue squeezes out when you press the stem in, that’s a good sign you’ve added enough glue!

Pro Tip: To have the flower face at more of an angle than straight up, cut off 1/3 of the foam ball and push in the dowel so the flat side is at a 45-degree angle, as shown in the example photo.

To attach the foam ball to the wooden dowel, you’ll need craft glue like hot glue.

To create a giant paper flower stem for a more forward-facing flower, attach the foam ball to the wooden dowel stem at a 45-degree angle.

 

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Step 5: Attaching the Leaves to the Flower Stem

To reinforce the stem further, glue the leaves opposite each other around the base and fold them out. When you fold the leaves down, try to get them closer in line with the foam ball. This creates a wider gluing surface for the flower.

This giant paper flower stem is ready to have the leaves attached. Here, we are attaching one giant paper flower leaf to a tulle-covered stem, just below the foam ball, which will be the head of the flower.

Two giant green paper flower leaves are attached to the giant paper flower stem. These paper leaves add extra support to the foam ball, the center of the giant paper flower.

Step 6: Attaching the Giant Paper Flower to the DIY Stem

This first step in attaching the flower to the giant paper flower stem is solely focused on loading up the foam ball’s flat side with glue and pressing firmly to the base of your flower. Again, hold this in place until completely dry to ensure a solid connection. Now add glue to the two leaves you attached and press those into the bottom.

Two leaves surround the foam ball, which we've attached with hot glue to the giant red paper flower head.

To attach the giant paper flower head to the foam ball and flower stem, use hot glue and press the flower head firmly to the foam ball.

Step 7: Hide the Foam Ball with the Giant Paper Flower Leaves

To cover the rest of the ball, add a few more leaves. If you’re concerned about the white ball showing, you can still paint it green.

To hide the foam ball, attach more paper leaves to the giant paper flower stem surrounding the foam ball flower head base.

 

Step 8: Making the Giant Paper Flower Stand

You have several options for making the flower stand. The challenge with giant wood-stemmed flowers is that they’re top-heavy; you need the base to be heavy enough to hold the flower upright.

The easiest way to stand your flower up is to shove the dowel into the ground. However, if you aren’t using these giant flowers outside, there is another way to stand the giant paper flower stems upright.

The second option is to build a small flower display stand from PVC tubing, weigh it down with sand or concrete, and place the stem into this heavier material to keep your giant paper flowers inside.

In the following sections of this giant paper flower stem tutorial, we’ll cover how to make this PVC stand and how to make a backdrop. Keep reading for Part 2 below.

Loving this tutorial? Have you ordered your copy of The Art of Giant Paper Flowers yet? Don’t miss out on all the amazing tutorials in store! The workbook is included!

This colorful Art Of Giant Paper Flowers book, and the accessory workbook, are available for purchase on the catchingcolorflies.com website.

 

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Part 2: Giant Paper Flower Display Stand

In Part 2 of this giant paper flower stem tutorial, you’ll learn how to make a DIY flower display stand holder to keep your flowers standing upright and beautifully displayed. Believe me when I tell you that PVC will be your best friend when creating free-standing holders for giant paper flower stems or as a backdrop frame. You’ll find this DIY PVC wood stem stand is exactly what you need.

A PVC pipe, drill, and handsaw sit on the concrete outside. These are some of the tools you need to gather to make a free-standing flower stand for your giant paper flower stems.

Step 1: Gather the Supplies to Make a Giant Paper Flower Display Stand

Creating a free-standing flower display has its perks: it’s super simple, you get to use power tools, and you make a fancy system for your DIY Paper Flowers!

Part 2 supplies for a giant paper flower display stand:

  • Drill
  • Small drill bit -1/16 inch
  • 3/4 inch spade or drill bit
  • Small saw
  • PVC tubing – 1 1/4 inch size
  • 1 PVC four-way cross-piece – 1 1/4 inch to match the tubing
  • 4 PVC end caps
  • Safety eyeglasses

Step 2: Prepare the PVC 4-Way Cross

Using your drill with the small bit, drill a pilot hole on both sides of the center of the 4-way cross. This will make it easier to drill in the larger hole for your DIY flower display stand. Please be sure to wear safety glasses in case of flying plastic pieces.

 

The small hole left by drilling into the PVS 4-way cross using the small drill bit. These pilot holes are the start of a giant paper flower stem display stand.

Step 3: Drill Bigger Holes

After the pilot holes have been drilled, use your 3/4 inch spade and drill entirely through one side, then the other. It’s helpful to put the 4-way cross onto the longer piece of PVC to get a safe and good grip for drilling with the spade.

Using a larger drill spade to create a larger hole in the PVC 4-way base for the giant paper flower stand.

The goal is to use the same size spade as the thickness of the dowel for the stemmed flower. In my photo example, I’m using a 3/4 inch dowel and drilling with a 3/4 inch spade.

Step 4: Make the Legs for the DIY Flower Stand

Next, create the four legs that will balance the stand from the PVC piece. Measure out an 8 to 9-inch section of PVC and cut it off using a handsaw. Repeat for a total of four pieces to be used as the legs of your flower display stand. Be careful when sawing; use safety glasses and proper leverage.

 

A piece of white PVC is placed on the end of a workbench while a handsaw cuts off an 8 to 9-inch piece. This is how to make the legs of the giant paper flower stem display stand.

For the giant paper flower stem display stand, place one leg section into one of the holes on the 4-way PVC cross, as seen here.

Step 5: Inserting the Legs

Place the four legs you created from the long PVC pipe into each of the 4-way PVC cross centerpiece holes.

This large PVC pipe X is made from 4 sawed-off pieces of PCV pipe; this structure will be the base stand for your giant paper flower stem.

Step 6: Cap the Leg Ends

Finish placing all the legs into the cross center. Add the four end caps for a more finished look.

These white plastic end caps are placed over the PVC leg openings for a finished and purposeful look to your giant paper flower stem display stand.

Step 7: Plant Your Giant Paper Flower

Place your wood dowel (the finished flower you made in Part 1 of this giant paper flower stem tutorial) in the center. If you want to provide more stability, add some cement in the ends of the legs of the stand, allowing room for the pieces to connect.

This stand will be the perfect addition to your giant paper flower display system. Do you have any other ideas on how to DIY a giant paper flower stem? Tell me below!

This image shows a plain wooden dowel – the giant paper flower stem – placed in the center of the PVC pipe stand.

Step 7
Place your wood dowel (finished flower stem) in the center. If you want to provide more stability, add some cement into the ends of the legs of the stand, allowing room for the pieces to connect together.

This stand is going to the perfect addition to your paper flower display system. Do you have any other ideas as to how to DIY a flower stem? Tell me below!

Discover More Paper Craft Tutorials

Share what you’ve been up to by tagging your craft project pictures with #DIYwithAbbi. I would love to see your creativity flourish, 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 by bringing you fun, easy-to-learn DIY projects, 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 – starting with my bestseller, The Art of Giant Paper Flowers, the Giant Flower Library, and my shop of endless paper designs and flower templates.

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

Thanks for letting me pop into your day!

Giant Bella Style Paper Flower Templates
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Alana Style Giant Flower Templates
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Eden Style Giant Paper Rose
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Set of 5 Large Giant Flower Templates
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This giant paper flower stem tutorial includes pictures of supplies such as a red paper rose, a tulle-covered wooden dowel, a glass jar filled with white beads, and the foam balls used to keep the stem in place.

 

_DIY Flower Stem How to Make Giant Paper Flower Stem Cover Image

How to Make Giant Paper Flower Stem

Active Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 2 hours
Difficulty: Easy to Intermediate

Use this giant paper flower stem tutorial to make sturdy flower stems and a PVC pipe stand to display your gorgeous giant paper flowers. This tutorial walks you through the step-by-step instructions.

Materials

Supplies for a giant paper flower stem:

  • Wood dowel (3/4 to 1-inch diameter, three ft. long)
  • For each stem, 1 3/4 inch diameter foam balls, cut in half
  • Green tulle or green spray paint
  • Three to four large paper leaves
  • One ready-made paper flower

Supplies for a giant paper flower display stand

  • Drill
  • Small drill bit: 1/16 inch
  • 3/4 inch spade or drill bit
  • Small saw
  • PVC tubing: 1 1/4 inch size
  • 1 PVC four-way cross-piece: 1 1/4 inch to match the tubing
  • 4 PVC end caps
  • Safety eyeglasses

Instructions

    Part 1: How to Make Giant Paper Flower Stems

  1. Gather Your Supplies to Make A Giant Paper Flower Stem
  2. Decorate the Giant Paper Flower Stem
  3. Create A Hole For The Dowel Stem
  4. Attach The Foam Ball To The Dowel Stem
  5. Attach the Leaves to the Flower Stem
  6. Attach the Giant Paper Flower to the DIY Stem
  7. Hide the Foam Ball with the Giant Paper Flower Leaves

Part 2: Giant Paper Flower Display Stand

  1. Gather the Supplies to Make a Giant Paper Flower Display Stand
  2. Prepare the PVC 4-Way Cross
  3. Drill Bigger Holes
  4. Make the Legs for the DIY Flower Stand
  5. Insert the Legs
  6. Cap the Leg Ends
  7. Plant Your Giant Paper Flower

Did you make this project?

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

© Abbi

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9 Comments

  1. Angelica Martinez says:

    Omg.. Thank u so much.. Very nice nd very helpful.. God Bless you

    Reply

  2. Hello how big do I buy the foam balls?
    Thank you

    Reply

    1. I use between a 4-6 inch ball.

      Reply

  3. Would this stem work with giant foam flowers as well?

    Reply
  4. Rebecca Skinner says:

    Love this! Occurs to me that a small Christmas tree stand might work; 8 or 9” section of pvc pipe secured in the stand like you would do for a Christmas tree trunk – then drop the stem down inside the pipe

    Reply

    1. That’s a great idea, Rebecca! Thanks for sharing!

      Reply