DIY Paper Flowers That Look Like The Real Deal And Last Forever

A bouquet of daffodils is emblematic of spring. Butter-yellow petals surrounding a golden-fluted center enhance any indoor space. But outside of March or April, these blooms are nearly impossible to find. Plus, not everyone can enjoy indoor blooming plants or afford fresh-cut hothouse flowers. If you want to refresh your home for spring in November or February without high price tags or allergens, you can whip up a bundle of paper blooms that pass for fresh flowers at a glance.

To make long-lasting paper daffodils, you'll need crepe paper in green, cream, and both light and golden yellow. You can also use crepe paper streamers for a cheaper version, although there isn't typically as wide a range of colors to choose from as there is for crafting crepe paper. Also, set aside floral wire, scissors, a ruler, and craft glue. 

This craft involves fine detailing that might not be ideal for easily frustrated DIYers, but you may find manipulating the paper pieces easier if you make a larger version of this flower; doubling or tripling the dimensions for each piece will take away a bit of the real-deal look, but it will still look stunning.

Cut about a 12-inch length of floral wire. From the cream-colored paper, cut strips about .25 inches wide and 8 inches long. Dab a bit of glue to the end of the paper strip and fold it over the tip of the floral wire. Wrap it around the tip until you've nearly doubled the thickness of the wire, and secure it with glue. From the cream-colored paper, cut six .75-inch by 1-inch squares. Roll them tightly and attach them to the wire, surrounding the wrapped tip with dabs of glue.

Cut a 3.5-inch by 1-inch piece of golden yellow paper, dab some glue from the glue stick at the center point of the piece, and fold it in half lengthwise. Starting with the open ends, cut a slight angle and cut a curved edge along one length of the piece. Open the piece and shape it into a 3D form with about a 1-inch cup with a twisted stem piece about 2 inches long. Slide the wire topped with the flower's center through the cup.

From the light yellow paper, cut a 1-inch by 3.5-inch piece and trim it into six equal-sized pieces. Fold each piece in half widthwise, and snip a half-petal shape from the open edges so that when you open the paper, you'll have a full petal shape. Glue all six petals evenly around the base of the cup (the center of the flower).

Using the green paper, snip a few 1-inch-wide strips that you'll use to wrap the floral wire into a stem; start at the base of the flower, work down, and affix both ends of the paper with glue. Cut a 3.5 cm x 1.5 cm piece of green paper, fold in half widthwise, and cut half of a leaf shape from the open ends. Open the leaf, apply a dot of glue to the base of the leaf, and attach it to the stem beneath the blossom. Give the stem a light bend, and show it off in a small vase.

Ambitious crafters can put together a bundle of six or more paper daffodils following the dimensions shown above. A cluster of three oversized or even one jumbo blossom will make an eye-catching statement. Make more impact by displaying them in one of these 25 flower vases for your cheerful arrangement.