How to Make Easy Decorative Paper Flowers

So Many Options

Pretty pom-poms made out of tissue paper are easy and inexpensive to make. When you create your own, you can customize the sizes, shapes, and colors. For your next party, try hanging them in windows or over your table, or make smaller ones for pom-pom “bouquets.”

Tip: Handle your tissue paper with care, and make the decorations in advance so that you’re not rushing through the process the day of the party.

• No time to make your own?
Purchase a similar kit from Martha Stewart Crafts

Shopping List

Here’s what you’ll need to begin your project.
• Tissue paper (15 sheets per pom-pom)
• Scissors
• Spool of wire (24-gauge, available at crafts stores)
• Grosgrain ribbon (for hanging)

Flipping and Folding

Step 1: Unfold the tissue paper, and lay the stack on a flat surface. Beginning at one of the long ends, make a crisp fold (about 1 1/2 inches wide), and then flip the stack over and make another (resembling accordion folds). Continue the folds until you reach the other end of the stack.

Tip: We used 15 sheets of tissue paper per pom-pom. For varying amounts of fluff, you can try more or less.

Nice and Neat

Step 2: When you’re finished folding, firmly run your hands down the folded stack to ensure the creases are prominent.

Wrapped and Wired

Step 3: Unravel and cut a length of wire long enough to fit around the stack and have some extra. Place the wire around the middle of the stack, and twist it around itself to secure. With the extra length of wire, create a loop. (This will be used to attach the hanging ribbon to the pom-pom.)

Corner Cuts

Step 4: Firmly holding one end of the tissue paper stack, make two cuts to create a point. Repeat on the other end.

Tip: Because there is so much paper, use very sharp scissors for this step.

Easy Does It

Step 5: Firmly pinching the middle of the tissue paper (where the wire is located), gently “fluff” one side of the pom-pom. Pull one piece of tissue paper out at a time, being careful not to tear. Repeat the fluffing on the other half. When the pom-pom is full and complete, tie the ribbon to the wire loop, and leave enough length for hanging.