How to Make Book Page Flowers

Gather your supplies!

- Books you can cut pages out of
- scissors
- pencil
- hot glue gun
- x-acto knife (or scissors but be safe)
- floral tape
- cloth stem wire (I use 18G)
- ruler
Optional:
Paper cutter board with ruler marks

Step 1: Get Some Books and Cut Out the Pages

Alright, I know it's hard to tear apart books, but find some books you don't mind tearing apart. I would recommend getting something with pages at least 5"-6" in width. I make my squares 4"x4" and my pages are 6" wide I believe. Start dissembling your book by cutting the pages out.

Step 2: Cut Out Squares and Fold Them

Cut out 4"x4" squares and fold them three times as shown. I used a cutting board to save time, but you can also use a ruler. Each flower requires 4 squares.

Step 3: Make Your Template and Cut Out Your Petals

I make one petal template and use that for all my flowers so that they are all the same. Cut all of the petals. It should have 8 petals when it folds out.

Step 4: Cut Your Different Petal Sizes

First cut one petal out so that you now have a 7 piece and a 1 piece.
Then cut 6 petals and 2 petals.
Next cut a 3 petal and 5 petal.
Last cut out two 4 petals. One of the 4 petals will be extra, but can be used for the next flower.

Step 5: Glue Your Petals and Curl the Petals

With a hot glue gun, glue the first and last petals together of each portion, making sure to overlap the petals properly. Curl the tips of the petals with a toothpick for all of the flowers other than the 1 & 2 petal. For those, you're use the toothpick to curl it around itself as shown.

Step 6: Glue the Layers Together

Put glue on the 6 petal (now 5 petals with the overlap) and glue it into the larger one. Continue this with all of the petals. Alternate the location of the petals when gluing. For the 3 petal, I round it out a bit. For the last two, I usually push them into the center otherwise they stick out pretty far.

Step 7: Add Your Stem

Hot glue your stem into the hole on the bottom. I cut my stem wire in half for each flower, but use whatever length you need for your application. Use floral tape to cover up the glued wire. I use two pieces and hot glue them around the insertion of the stem. And you're done! Enjoy :)

Comments

[Little Miss Cutie]

That is lovely. If there were flowers like that it would just be my dreams.

[mevalle]

I definitely believe you could make these. They are time consuming, but the prep is the hardest part. Assembly was much easier!

[magpiesmiscellany]

How did you cut the tape to get such beautifully shaped sepals? I'm doing okay shaping the rose (though I need to figure how to glue them without burning my fingers if you have any!)

Incidentally, for anyone worried about the whole cutting up a book (though I agree phantom menace was a good choice no matter how cute I thought Obi Wan was in it...) ask your library if they have any discards. Children's books have a brief rough life and there are only so many times they can be repaired before there's nothing left to do but craft with them!

[mevalle]

Honestly, I made so many of these. I just kind of accepted how each floral tape ended up. I found that if I cut on a slant, it looked nicer. I also made sure not to glue the whole part down. If there was part of the floral tape hanging not glued, it seemed to look better.

[diane297]

Printing out pages of sheet music would make beautiful paper flowers!

[mevalle]

I agree. Those would look beautiful!

[junihoj]

wow that's good i just hope it will look good as the one I saw here. Nice job keep it up.

[mevalle]

My first flower was okay. It definitely got better after making a few, so I recommend making a couple to get the hang of it before you give up.

[SilentSkeleton]

Find books you don't mind tearing apart *tears apart phantom menace* That made me laugh out loud, great project :o)

[mevalle]

Hah, I am just doing the world a favor. And thank you!

[SilentSkeleton]

:o)

[jacrook22]

​So cool! I LUV books & the ones I used to recycle (or donate) can be used to make these beautiful flowers! Firstly, I can create for my own home (practice makes perfect, don'tcha know!). Secondly, to sell so that proceeds can be donated to literacy programs. Can't wait to try this. Thanks for sharing.

[mevalle]

That sounds wonderful. Best of luck in your crafting :)

[LindaR128]

I will use romance novels. I don't mind cutting up those. Very inexpensive at garage sales and thrift stores.

[mevalle]

Yea I'd imagine you can get them anywhere for $0.50 each if not free!

[FillimenaB]

Romance novels... Perfect. This could be a cute hostess gift, dressed up. Quick and easy little craft project.. Love it. Thank you for sharing your creativity with us.

[mevalle]

Yes, and very fun. I love seeing the flowers come together once I start gluing.

[ShekharSahu]

Really loved it.

[mevalle]

Thank you. I was just hoping to make a very complete tutorial for a friend. Glad you all enjoyed it!

[nick1941]

I have reams and reams of office paper for recycling--and it's printed on only one side. I'm thinking of making the flowers from this paper and lightly spray painting the finished flower, or ever tea staining it. Thanks for the idea to get me started.