Paper flowers do not get much shorter on supplies than this: one square piece of paper and a wooden skewer, and that is the entire list. These paper lilies have kept me happily busy for days, and a mistake costs nothing but another square of paper. The folds are ordinary origami folds repeated on four sides, and the skewer comes in at the very end to curl the petal tips, which is what makes a folded shape read as a lily. Group a few in a jar for spring decorations, or fold a dozen for a table. If you have made origami daffodils or a paper tulip bouquet before, this will feel familiar, and if you have not, start right here.
To make a paper lily, fold a square piece of paper in half both ways and diagonally both ways, collapse it along those creases, fold the sides in to the center line, open and flatten each fold in turn, then curl the petal tips outward with a wooden skewer. Paper and a skewer are the only supplies, and there are 13 short steps.
RELATED: How to Make Origami Daffodils
I also recently made a tulip paper flower bouquet and it turned out even better than I imagined! They are so lovely that I’ve been using them as photo props. These DIY paper flowers are truly the perfect spring decorations. Whether you are a kid or an adult, you’ll love this fun and easy art activity. If you’d like to learn how to make paper flowers, keep reading for the step-by-step instructions!
Lily Paper Flower Materials
- origami paper or square-colored paper
- skewer
How to Make Lily Paper Flowers
Step 1:
Start by folding the paper in half.
Step 2:
Open and rotate. Fold again in half.
Step 3:
Rotate so one corner faces you. Fold diagonally.
Step 4:
Open and rotate. Fold diagonally again. It should look like this once opened.
Step 5:
Hold the paper by its sides as shown in the first photo below, then fold it toward the center.
It should look like this once folded.
Step 6:
Fold the sides toward the center line.
Step 7:
Flip and repeat step 6.
Step 8:
Open one fold, then flatten. Repeat for all folds.
Step 9:
Fold both sides inward toward the center.
Step 10:
Open the folds, press the end as shown in the photo below, and then fold it flat.
Fold the bottom point upward.
Step 11:
Hold the middle side folds, then gently pull to open. Fold the top center inward.
Press flat. Repeat the steps on all sides.
Step 12:
Open to the flat side, fold the sides inward, and repeat for all flat sides.
Step 13:
Curl the tips using a skewer and you are done!
Frequently Asked Questions
What size paper do you need for a paper lily?
Any size, as long as it is square. The materials list calls for origami paper or square colored paper, and the square is the part that matters, because the first four steps are two halving folds and two diagonal folds of that sheet. A bigger square gives you a bigger lily and is much easier to handle while you are learning the sequence.
Do you need special origami paper?
No. Origami paper is the easiest to fold because it is thin and already cut square, but any square colored paper works. The full supply list for this project is two items: the paper and a skewer. There is no glue, no tape and no scissors in it, so if you can cut a square you can make the flower.
How do you curl the lily petals?
With the skewer, in the last step. Once the flower is folded and opened out, run each petal tip over the wooden skewer and let it curl outward the way a real lily opens. Roll it slowly rather than dragging it, since thin paper will crease instead of curling if you rush, and do all four tips so the flower looks even.
Can you use paper lilies as decorations?
That is what they are for here. Folded paper flowers do not wilt, so they work as spring decorations, as party and table decor, and they hold up as photo props, which is exactly what the paper tulip bouquet ended up doing. They can be made weeks ahead and stored in a box. Fold them in one color for a formal look or mix shades for something softer.
