Making Paper Peonies

I used these paper peonies in Mother’s Day projects the last two years and want to share my technique in how to make them.

Peony instructions:

1. Download my peony file and cut with your Silhouette from cardstock or pattern paper (it looks best with color on both sides–avoid single-sided pattern papers). If you’re careful with your placement, you can get three full flowers on a 12×12″ page.

2. Each peony should have three large, one medium, and one small 3-petal piece, plus seven individual petals.

Ink the edges, front and back, then either use flower shaping tools (like those from McGill) or just spritz lightly with water and press the petals into your palm and crumple a little.  You want the full flower pieces to curve up, and the individual petals to curve the opposite direction.  Let dry.

In this example, I want the flower to be dark pink, so on the five full flower pieces the pink side is showing as the petals curve up towards me (see Fig.1). For the seven individual petals, I shape them so the opposite side is curving towards me and I can see the underside as they curve up (see Fig. 4).

Fig. 1

 

3. Take three of the individual petals and overlap them to form a kind of inverse cup. Glue them in place one at a time with a low-temperature hot glue gun.  You can see how far I overlap them (see Fig. 2 and Fig. 3).

Fig. 2
Fig. 3

 

4. For the next step, you’ll need a small round piece of styrofoam, craft pom-pom, or even a piece of wadded paper. A 1/2″ pom-pom is my favorite.

Fig. 4
Tuck the round paper or pom-pom into the curved bud you just made, wrap the bottom points around it, and hot glue in place so the bud is fairly round, besides its somewhat pointed tip (see Fig. 5).
Fig. 5

 

5. Next, place the remaining four individual petals around the outside of the bud.  Glue each in place near the base so the glue is hidden. Their edges should slightly overlap one another. Once glued together, these individual petals forming the peony center will be placed into the center of the smallest full flower piece (see Fig. 6 and Fig. 7).

Fig. 6
Fig. 7

 

6. Now glue the peony center to the one mid-sized full flower piece. Then add to the three largest full flower pieces. Be sure to stagger the petals so the splits don’t align. There is your beautiful peony!

 

Aren’t they beautiful? I’ve used these paper peonies on arrangements like this Floral Wreath and this Mason Jar Bouquet.


31 thoughts on “Making Paper Peonies”

  • OOOH! So pretty! The balled up center portion is needed for peonies, and I thank you for the file! I am making peonies for a spring basket on my front door. It holds carrots now, for you-know-who, but I'm sure they will have been taken by morning. He's here today, you know. That long-eared fellow. Your flower jar is wonderful, Kelly; a bouquet that never needs water or has to be thrown out. That's nice to have!

  • Kelly, thank you for the Silhouette cutting file for this gorgeous flower. I have question, how did you put the flower wire?

  • Love it. You never cease to amaze me. Miss seeing you at the store. What to see you do this one in person.

    Catherine

  • Your bouquet is stunning – thank you for the file and the great tutorial. Much Appreciated.
    Hilary

  • These are amazing! I don't have a silhouette, though. Would it be too much trouble to ask you to provide a PDF of the template?

  • Hi..i'm inspired to try out some peonies flower after reading your beautiful post but somehow, i can't open the template for cutting peoney flower of yours..how can i managed to download it? Do you have some other file format for that templates? image, perhaps? Really looking for it,thanks 🙂

    • This file is a Silhouette Studio digital cutting file. It would be a lot of work to cut by hand, but if you still want an image file please send me an email and I can make one for you to print. Or if you have a digital cutter other than a Silhouette machine, I can convert it to an SVG for you. See my email address in the "About Me" tab above.

  • I just want to thank you so much for sharing this file! I received a request for gumpaste peonies, yet I don't have a cutter and was looking at spending $25 to buy a cutter that may or may not get here in time. I came across your page when looking for other options and low and behold, you saved me! Thank you! (Yes, I often use my silhouette for gumpaste) 🙂

  • So beatiful! Will definitely have to try this! Thank you so much for sharing your file and tutorial! 🙂

  • Hi, The PDF file would only open and print a corner of the file. It also wants me to get an app, which I prefer not to do. I would really like to make this flower, but cannot seem to print it out. I like to fussy cut, but do have a cricut explore. Hardly use it at this point. Thank you, Magie.

  • Debbie,
    i went to my laptop and was finally able to download and print the pattern. Thank you, I am looking forward to printing it out on cardstock and cutting it out and assembling them. These Peonies are truly lovely. Thank you, Magie

  • I’ve spent nearly five hours trying to download the printable pattern for these peonies, with absolutely no success. This is truly not worth the trouble! Perhaps you could e-mail the petal pattern?

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