How to Make a Paper Flower Backdrop: Let's Finish It!

Submitted by nicole on Wed, 08/31/2011 - 14:20

This is the final part of our How to Make a Paper Flower Backdrop tutorial. In case you missed it, learn how to make all the other flowers for this backdrop in Part One and Part Two.

Cupcake on a rustic swing hanging in front of a monochromatic white giant paper flower backdrop.

Today we'll learn how to make the last flower, what I call the Rolled Cone Flower. As before, you'll need more of that roll of paper, scissors, and a glue gun. Tape is handy for this one, too, but not necessary.

This is what I mean by Rolled Cone Flower:

Closeup of paper flower backdrop with black text pointing to rolled cone style paper flowers.

Rolled Cone Large Paper Flower Tutorial:

These are incredibly easy, and you can make them very large. This is good for two reasons. First, because the large scale is dramatic. Second, the larger your flowers are, the fewer you have to make!

First, cut your petals. They should look like slightly tapered U shapes (narrower at the top of the U). But don't knock yourself out worrying about getting it just right. Whatever you cut will be just fine. Really.

Picture showing paper petals being rolled into cones and assembled together to create a rolled cone style paper flower

Roll each petal into a cone, and secure with tape or hot glue. Tape is faster, but the glue gun works just as well.

Arrange the cones so that they form a circle, with the points meeting in the middle. I usually used six for each flower, but it really depends on the size of your petals. Use as many as you need. Glue together using the glue gun.

Two strips of fringed white paper, one flat on the table, and the second rolled together and standing to form the fringed center of a giant paper flower.

Make a fringe flower center, if desired, and glue to the center of the flower.

The only other element on the backdrop were the leaves. These were insanely simple to make, and were great filler. I used a lot of leaves.

How to Make a Paper Leaf for a Paper Flower Backdrop

Pair of scissors and three white paper leaves.

The instructions for these are pretty darn obvious. Cut out leaf shape. Fold in half to give some dimension. Voila, leaves!

You've done the grunt work--now let's see it all come together into a thing of beauty.

Assembling a Paper Flower Backdrop:

your trusty glue gun
your mountains of paper flowers
a 4 x 8 sheet of foam insulation sheeting from your local Lowes or Home Depot

8x10 foot Styrofoam insulation board

The foam insulating sheet is lightweight, easily can be cut to whatever size or shape you want, and is very inexpensive. I think I paid about $6.50 for mine.

Now all you need to do is use your glue gun and start sticking on those flowers!

Use the leaves to fill in the cracks between the flowers. A little bit of the Styrofoam will still be visible, but when you're doing a white-on-white background like this, it just looks like part of the design. If you were to do this project in a different color (I'd love to try it with wrapping paper!) I'd paint or cover the Styrofoam first.

I hope you've enjoyed learning how I made the backdrop for the Secret Garden baby shower. I can imagine a ton of other applications for this type of project. The most incredible photobooth backdrop ever? cover cardboard columns and arches to make an insanely beautiful focal point for a wedding ceremony? Me, I'm planning to re-use the backdrop as an art piece in my bedroom, whenever I get around to re-painting the awful purple sponge painting left behind by the previous owners.

How to Hang a Paper Flower Backdrop

The paper flower backdrop can simply be leaned against a wall for the most simple installation. That's what I did at the parties at which I've used this backdrop.
If the event is outside, a backdrop stand is an affordable option for creating a support for a free-standing paper flower backdrop. Use packing tape to tape the back side of the paper flower backdrop to the background stand.
If hanging the paper flower backdrop as an art piece on a wall, simply use a hammer and nail to affix the paper flower backdrop to the wall. It's so lightweight that you won't need to hang it on a stud or use wall anchors.

Paper Flower Backdrop Tutorial Part 1:

Paper Flower Backdrop Tutorial Part 2:

Or do you love this look, but just aren't a crafty person? You can buy paper flower installations (like this one you can buy here).

Or if this is going to be for a photo backdrop, you can buy a vinyl photo backdrop that just looks like a paper flower wall! (buy it here) So affordable, too!

Pinterest image for Giant Paper Flower Backdrop