Thrifty DIY: Encyclopedia Flowers

Flowers made from encyclopedia pages

Encyclopedia Flowers

Introducing my encyclopedia flowers! The last time I was at the Goodwill, I found myself in the book section. You’d be surprised at how many good books you can nab there for 99 cents a piece! Then I saw a few lonely encyclopedias – some strays no longer with their original set. I feel sad for these relics of the past, don’t you? So I grabbed the G-H volume for 99 cents and got to work giving it a new life in flower form!

Turn old encyclopedia pages into these gorgeous flowers! A great thrift store project

While I’m not crazy about the idea of tearing up books, encyclopedias (especially single volumes) seem to be a good bet for not being used again. Plus their large sheets of almost tissue-thin paper make them perfect for shaping into delicate flowers.

Turn old encyclopedia pages into these gorgeous flowers! A great thrift store project

You could use just the encyclopedia pages for a more vintage look, but being the color-loving girl I am I had to layer in some bright colored tissue paper as well! I like the juxtaposition of the two types of paper. Putting them in a bright colored vase (you can make one of these too!) makes for a pretty spring arrangement!

Turn old encyclopedia pages into these gorgeous flowers! A great thrift store project

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Supplies for Encyclopedia Flowers

  • Encyclopedia or other book with large, thin sheets of paper
  • Tissue paper (I found the particular pack of colors shown at Target!)
  • Floral wire (I recommend using 18 gauge)
  • Scissors
  • Ruler
  • Pencil
  • Card stock (not shown)

Turn old encyclopedia pages into these gorgeous flowers! | http://www.designimprovised.com

How to Make Encyclopedia Flowers

Step 1: Cut paper into squares

Create a square template by measuring a 6 inch square on a piece of card stock and cutting it out. Use this template to trace squares on your tissue paper and encyclopedia pages.

How to make paper flowers

Step 2. Stack six papers

You will need 3 squares of tissue paper, and 3 squares of encyclopedia paper for each flower.

How to make paper flowers

Step 3. Accordion fold paper

Stack them up, alternating between the two types of paper. Then accordion fold six times (each fold should be about 1/2 inch wide).

How to make paper flowers

Step 4: Snip end of paper

Once it is accordion folded it should look like this. Round off the ends with your scissors, which will create a petal look.

How to make paper flowers

Step 5: Wrap with floral wire

Take your floral wire and wrap it snuggly around the middle of the paper.

How to make paper flowers

Step 6: Shape flower

Start to fan out each layer of paper to form the flower, being careful not to rip the paper as you are separating it.

How to make paper flowers

Once you’ve fanned out each layer the flower should look like this!

How to make paper flowers

I stuck a little floral foam in the bottom of my vase so that the flowers would stand up nicely. No water needed! These will keep my counter looking pretty all spring!

Turn old encyclopedia pages into these gorgeous flowers! A great thrift store project

Like these encyclopedia flowers?
Then don’t miss all my other flower craft ideas!

DIY Flower Crafts from Design Improvised

This post was written in support of the Goodwill San Antonio. All content and opinions are my own.

 
 
 

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5 Comments

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  3. I’ve made these in my teens, I used whole sheets of Tissue Paper and put them on 11 ft stocks of Sunflowers that have already had the heads taken. They were Beautiful! Everyone that drove by either slowed down A lot or Stopped Completely. They were Beautiful. Til it rained. They were up about 2 weeks before the rain. Very lucky.

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