Book Page & Tissue Flowers

I’ve been in a bit of a funk lately.  Part of it is that winter seems never-ending, part of it is that we’ve been awfully busy with home improvement (read: not crafty) stuff, and the last bit of it is that I really think being pregnant robs me of some of my creative juices.  I’m just feeling sort of… blah… lately.   I’ve been thinking I wanted to bust out some more book page crafts soon, I’ve had the itch, but I’ve been… uninspired.  (Yes, you are reading that right, LOL.)   But I visited my good friend Jean at Discarded Darlings yesterday, and she posted a fabulous tutorial on book page roses.  And I thought yes, that is exactly what I should make (only entirely differently).  So – here is what I whipped up – a bouquet to cheer any reading enthusiast.  Even me.

It’s like spring in the nerd garden, and I am totally in love.

Anyway – do pop over and visit the original tutorial that inspired me.  Jean’s flowers are way more authentically rose-like, plus I adore her wit and writing.  Meanwhile, I will happily show you how to make this less-lifelike-but-super-simple-version of a paper flower.

What you will need:

• A scrap/used book -OR- photocopies of a few book pages.  I shopped yard sales and thrift shops for a while to get my hands on several beat-up, used copies of books with perfectly good pages still in them.  It can be really difficult cutting into a book in good condition, but if it was otherwise destined for the trash over rips, tears, or missing pages, then it’s a rightful upcycle. ;) And don’t forget – sheet music, bible verses, and love notes are also fabulous things to photocopy to create a whimsical look.
• Tissue paper to brighten it up.  Totally optional.
• Scissors or a large round paper punch
• Hole punch
• Sticks (I used lollipop sticks but small dowels, skewers, floral wire, or anything else stick-like would also work fine)
• Masking tape or floral tape

Cut out several circles.  Mine were 2″ circles and I used a paper punch, but you could easily do it by hand.  For each flower, I used 3-4 circles of both the book pages and the tissue.  Use your hole punch to make a hole in the centers of your circles.

Now, you can start with either color circle but I found I like the book pages in the center the best.  So take your circle, put the stick through the hole in the center, and wrap it around.  When you have it arranged how you would like, use a small piece of masking tape or floral tape to hold it in place.

Next, I alternated colors of paper circles.  But do it however you like.  You may want to mix in more or less color from the tissue.  For each circle you add, curl it up slightly less, and tape it to the stick to secure it as you work.

;

When you feel like you’ve got enough “fluff” to your flower, you can quit. ;) Just be sure to tape it off at the bottom.

Lovely!  The first one took me about 5 minutes to make while I figured out how best to assemble it, the rest were only 2-3 minutes each.  So you can realistically have a cute little arrangement in about 30 minutes.

Now – repeat until you have a cheerful little bouquet!  You can arrange it in a small vase with some floral stones, if you like.  That’s what I like. :)

Are you doing anything to help yourself feel more springy?  Or has spring already sprung in your neck of the woods?