DIY: Tissue Flower Photo Prop by Marilyn

I might have a small obsession with flowers. I love how friendly they are, how they make me feel, and how it makes others feel when I give them as gifts. Even giving wild flowers to friends seems to make them happy. I decided to make this giant tissue flower as a prop to use for photos, but also as something fun to give someone on their next birthday or decorate with at a birthday party. Even though it is not a real flower, the fake giant ones like this seem to have the same effect with making people smile. :) The instructions are very simple and it makes for really fun photos!

You will need: 1 package of tissue paper (color of your choice), some yarn (a complimentary color to the tissue paper), garden wire, scissors, and possibly a sharpie (if you'd like to add some details to your flower).

First wrap your yarn about 20 or so times around something like a coaster or small notepad (or a post-it note pad). Pull off the coaster and tie in the center with more yarn. Cut through the loops all at once on each side of your bundle.

Pull out all or most of your tissue paper and cut out the biggest circle you can out of it. It doesn't have to be a perfect circle. Wrap your garden wire around your yarn bundle and pull through the center of your tissue paper. You might use your scissors to help make a slightly bigger hole for it to fit through. Tie some more yarn around the bundle and pull through the center so there is extra string in the back. 

Grab a few sheets of your tissue paper at a time and fold into quarters to cut smaller circles in layers on top of your original shape. Continue doing this with the whole bundle of tissue. Crinkle up the tissue and fold some of it under itself for each sheet to add volume.

For the stem, I bought a skinny wooden stick (you can find them at any craft store) and wrapped it with green tissue. I secured it with some garden tape and tied my flower to the top with string. 

We hope you guys will enjoy! For more fun ideas, try alternating different colors of tissue paper, using a sharpie to add some detail, or different materials for the center.

Photography by Kaleb Nimz and Marilyn Nimz