DIY Tutorial: Eco-Chic Bouquet Alternative

This fabulous new DIY Tutorial comes from the ultra-creative Jesi of Jesi Haack Weddings and features clever “paper bag flowers” crafted from brown Trader Joe’s grocery bags.

While the paper flowers are cool on their own, they also look fabulous when mixed with a few tissue flowers and fresh flowers for an eco-chic wedding bouquet or party centerpiece. Read on for all the step-by-step details (with gorgeous images!), as told by Jesi…

1. Start off with a grocery bag. (I love Trader Joe’s, but Whole Foods or Henry’s will suffice too.)

2. Draw a circle (the larger the circle, the leafier the flower) and slowly taper it in to the center like a spiral keeping the lines about 1/2 inch away from each other.

3. Take your scissors and begin cutting along the line you just drew, furthest away from the center.

4. Continue cutting, following on the drawn line until you reach the center of your spiral.

5. Snip off the end of your spiral at the point that it begins to turn back into the bag.

6. Beginning at the end of the spiral, start to roll up the paper until you reach the center of your spiral.

7. When you are finished rolling it, it should look like a tightly rolled up piece of paper.

8. Place the rolled up paper in the palm of your hand and let it fall loosely apart. You may have to gently “help” it by turning the center of the flower to open it up a bit more.

9. For the stem, I chose a green pipe cleaner, but you could use your imagination and come up with something different or funky depending on your project. Flip the flower upside down, and tape the pipe cleaner to the base of the flower.

10. And here is the finished product…

11. Add a few paper flowers and it becomes a unique bouquet!

12. And to step it up a notch, we added a few tulips and a hydrangea…DONE! =)

*****

Thanks again to Jesi for the fabulous inspiration!

P.S. Love this look? Check out Jesi’s Owl Drink Stir Sticks video tutorial too!