How to Make Giant Paper Flowers

A close-up of a purple flower made of layers of paper. Cricut can be used with Abbi Kirsten templates to make huge paper flowers.

This Giant Paper Flower Tutorial is our easiest step-by-step beginner’s tutorial.

The instructions I’m teaching you today is basically an updated version of the “Easy Method when DIY-ing any Giant Flower” post that made our blog so popular! This method I am teaching you below is wonderful because it is a simple method that can be applied to successfully create any giant flower template, no matter the petal shape.

Giant flowers are great to use at any event, from weddings to baby showers to even home decor! And a lot of people want to know how to to this for themselves to customize it just like they want.

Supplies:

Flower templates (sign up below to receive this one for FREE! Or shop all my signature templates at Catching Colorflies!)
Glue gun
Scissors or Cricut machine
176-gram weighted/65lb Card stock
Wooden dowel
3-inch circle punch
Patience
Update: I made this Petal Curling Variation video for more unique ways to make your flowers!

Get this template for FREE HERE! Click the pink button below!

Getting Started

I am using my Priscilla-style flower template in this tutorial, which I am providing for free to you when you sign up above!

If you prefer something different, don’t worry I have over 50 different giant flower templates! Files are all compatible with cutting machines and easy to use for those who want to hand cut instead, which is the method I will be using here.

For hand-cut method- You will need to print out the templates from your computer onto a heavy card stock, cut the templates once and use these to trace over the card stock you will use to actually build the flowers from.

Step 1

Begin by laying your template on your card stock of choice and trace your petals.

Largest base petal– 6-8 cuts

2nd layer– 6-7 cuts

3rd layer– 6 cuts

4th layer– 5-6 cuts

If you are using a machine, skip down to step 3.

Cutting machine measurements in inches

Extra large 7.5 x 10.5
Large 5.5 x 8.5
Medium 4.5 x 5.5
Small 3.5 x 4.5
Extra Small 3 x 4

Step 2

Cut all your petals out once you have finished tracing.

You can make this process quicker by stacking 2-3 sheets on top of one another and cutting several out at once. Use binder clips to help keep paper from moving

Five purple paper petals of varying sizes lay on a white wood table next to scissors. You can use scissors or a Cricut cutting machine to make these giant paper flowers.

Step 3

Now you want to cut slits at the bottom

center of each petal, about an inch, slightly less on the smaller petals.

Abbi Kirsten uses scissors to cut a slit in the bottom of the purple paper petals. These slits allow the petals to curl easier so your giant flowers can bloom.

Step 4

Now to start building the giant paper flower begin with the 1st layer, put glue on the inside edge and overlap the slit, but not too much or your petals will be too tight when assembled to get all the smaller layers in. Do this with all the petals. You can overlap a little more on the 3rd & 4th layer.

Abbi Kirsten holds the base of the purple paper petal demonstrating how to cross the petal ends over using the slit. This will create a cup that adds depth to your giant paper flowers.

A closeup of Abbi Kirsten's hands holding two sides of a paper petal together to form a curl at the base. The giant purple paper petal is part of the assembly of a giant paper flower cut by a Cricut cutting machine.

Step 5

Next you will curl all the petals back. You can do this by hand or use a thick wood dowel or a fat pencil works too.

Over a white, distressed wood table, Abbi Kirsten's hand is seen holding the base of a finished purple paper petal cut by Cricut.

Step 6

Assembly time. Starting with your 1st layer of base petals, you want to add some glue to the outer edge of one petal and precede to overlap another petal at about a 45` angle and press firmly for a second or two.

Abbi Kirsten holds two giant purple paper petals to use as the outer layer of a giant paper flower. The ends have been curled using a wooden dowel, which helps the paper flower look like it is blooming.

Continue in this fashion until all the base petals meet together forming a circle in the center of the flower. Watch the angle of placement as you go around making sure you leave enough room for the petals to come together evenly at the end of the circle.

Five purple paper petals have been assembled and glued together to form the outer layer of a giant paper flower. Abbi Kirsten has many giant paper flower templates that can be used for holidays or home decor.

Seven giant purple paper petals are glued together to form a circular outer layer of a giant paper flower. The petals were cut using an Abbi Kirsten template and SVG files for a Cricut cutting machine.

Step 7

Use a circle punch or cut out a small square if you don’t have one to glue over the open bottom.

Abbi Kirsten places a circle of purple paper on the back of and outer layer of paper petals to create a base.

Step 8

Start the 2nd layer of petals alternating between the base petals as shown above

Abbi Kirsten's hand holds down the second layer of smaller purple paper petals that have been laid inside the outer layer of this giant paper flower.

Step 9

Continue alternating petals adding the 3rd layer.

Abbi's hand reaches into the giant paper flower to add the final purple petal in the inner third layer.

Step 10

Continue alternating petals adding the 4th layer.

Step 11

Add in your extra small 5th layer of petals.

A view into the giant paper flower. The whole picture is filled with the layers of the flower, with purple petals getting smaller as we add them to the center. Petals are cut with a Cricut machine using Abbi Kirsten's SVG files and templates.

Pompom center

To create the rolled center fold a piece of card stock in half length wise, cut the paper down the middle. Lay the 2 pieces on top one another and fold in half again.

Abbi Kirsten folds a piece of purple paper in half lengthwise on a white wooden desk.

A look down at a white wooden desk. Abbi Kirsten displays two pieces of purple paper folded on the long-edge to use as a giant paper flower center.

Step 12

Begin cutting slits all the way down the paper.

A closeup view of Abbi Kirsten's hands as she uses shredding scissors to create fringe on the edges of folded purple paper.

Separate the two pieces after you are through cutting all the slits.

Step 13

Open the fringe piece up, flip inside out and glue the open ends together.

A view of Abbi Kirsten holding a length of paper that has been cut into fringe for use in a giant paper flower.

Step 14

Start rolling the first piece adding glue along the edge as you go.

Optional—you can use the dowel to make the rolling easier.

Over a white distressed wooden desk, Abbi Kirsten's hand hold a partially rolled and fringed purple piece of paper. This will act as the stamen in a giant paper flower.

Step 15

After you finish rolling up the first piece continue by adding on the next one.

A look at a finished light purple paper pompom held in Abbi Kirsten's hand. The paper stamen pompom will be used when making a giant paper flower from a template.

Step 16

Glue the center in and admire you pretty flower!

A very close look at the inner layer of the purple paper flowers smaller layers and the paper fringe pompom center.

Keep reading below to learn how to make a giant leaf!