DIY Tutorial: Eco-Chic Bouquet Alternative
categories: DIY, centerpiece ideas, eco-chic, wedding ideas
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! =)
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Thanks again to Jesi for the fabulous inspiration!
P.S. Love this look? Check out Jesi’s Owl Drink Stir Sticks video tutorial too!
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I love it! It is so easy to get caught up with events and forget the environmental impact of every goody bag and balloon. This is great.
Jan 4, 2010 at 11:34 pm -
Great way to “upcycle”! I just made 3-D stars and a birthday banner from TJ bags. I’m trying this next.
Jan 5, 2010 at 12:35 am -
awwww, thanks so much Jenn!!!!!
Jan 5, 2010 at 8:27 am -
This is gorgeous! My best friend is having an eco-themed wedding in DC next October and this would be perfect for her bouquet.
Jan 5, 2010 at 9:25 am -
I love that Trader Joe’s bag {happen to have a few I can’t part with}. Such a neat idea, makes me want to make a few brown flowers for my house!
Jan 5, 2010 at 9:51 am -
Love this! Jesi is the best!!!
Jan 5, 2010 at 11:12 am
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Wow, I love this! I’ll be linking in my next Wedding Roundup. I’m off to check out Jesi’s site!
Jan 5, 2010 at 3:01 pm -
This is so creative! I have a bit of a tree-theme in my wedding, so the idea of re-using paper bags kind of plays into the theme.
Jan 5, 2010 at 9:10 pm -
This is fantastic! I made some like this before with construction paper but I love the natural look of the paper bags.
Jan 6, 2010 at 7:17 am -
Thats it! I’m making some of these to take to school next week. When the fresh flowers wilt, I’ll still have my homemade varieties! Thank you.
Jan 7, 2010 at 10:36 am -
I LOVE THIS!!! I’m so making this!
Jan 7, 2010 at 8:31 pm -
WOW, those are phenomenal! Great job and I love the tutorial.
http://www.amodernproposal.com
Jan 8, 2010 at 8:04 am -
I love this project – really like the look of mixing paper flowers in with real blooms.
Jan 8, 2010 at 8:24 am -
Hmmmm…..possibly one of these Kraft Bag Flowers glued to the top of a Kraft Brown favor or gift box, with additional strips cut from the brown paper bag of choice, and used like ribbon around the box. You have my mind thinking in a new direction!!! Thank you.
Jan 8, 2010 at 8:35 am -
Beautiful. I love this tutorial. Very creative..
Jan 10, 2010 at 8:02 am -
great idea! thanks so much
Jan 12, 2010 at 11:18 pm -
Very Creative.. Nice way to make such good flower..
Jan 13, 2010 at 12:20 am -
Oh man this is great. Ur the man! Ur such a genius, i salute you. more info about bouquet and flowers. Flowers
Jan 19, 2010 at 6:52 pm -
Its really beautiful! so many ways to do things the eco-friendly way.
Some great ideas, check our website/s and Blogs:
http://www.ecofriendlymarket.net
http://www.ecofriendlypackaging.net
http://www.pandancollection.comGREEN WEDDING IDEAS:
http://www.ecofriendlymarket.blogspot.comOther ec0-friendly ideas:
Jan 21, 2010 at 2:57 pm
http://www.ecofriendlypackaging.blogspot.com -
This is really really cool! I love paper things and I might make some just for myself!
Jan 22, 2010 at 5:59 am -
cool idea, these look like so much fun to make
Jan 29, 2010 at 1:59 pm -
I linked to this tutorial in a blog post about floral industry alternatives… I thought it would be polite to let you know.
This is the post, in case you have any questions or concerns.
http://lorigami.wordpress.com/2010/02/05/i-want-to-buy-you-flowers-part-2/xo
Feb 5, 2010 at 10:21 am
Lori -
Wow! Wow! Wow! Wow! I just Love it….
Mar 11, 2010 at 9:39 pm -
Love it…..how can you secure it so the spirals don’t just flop inside out if the flower gets turned sideways or upside down?
May 29, 2010 at 7:55 pm -
thanks for help!
Jul 29, 2010 at 8:12 am
