I’ve enjoyed making paper flowers for many years, and have collected quite a few reference books. I’m always surprised how different each paper flower artist’s approach is, and thought it would be nice to create a bouquet using flower designs from 4 separate authors. This post will contain a paper flower book review from each author in case this can help anyone decide where to start in their paper flower journey. Enjoy!
Note: None of this has been sponsored in any way. I paid for all materials and books and none of these creators have any idea who I am 🙂
The Materials
Paper flower making does require an investment of material upfront, but luckily the supplies are not too expensive. Some basics include:
- Crepe paper and/or tissue paper
- Floral wire
- Floral tape
- Hot glue and/or tacky glue
- Panpastels, watercolors, chalk, etc. (something to add color and detail)
- Sharp scissors and/or rotary cutter
While perhaps not the least expensive way to obtain supplies, Felt Paper Scissors is a one-stop-shop which cuts out a lot of the stress. It is operated by Lia Griffith, a paper flower titan whose book we will discuss later in the post.
The Exquisite Book of Paper Flowers by Livia Cetti – Garden Rose
The Book
Emphasis: Petal texture and color
Livia Cetti was actually how I was introduced to paper flower art. I used to subscribe to Creativebug, and she had tutorials that completely captivated me. Despite that, I have never actually made any of her designs! Unlike the rest of the books in this review, Livia focuses more on tissue paper creations than crepe paper. It’s a unique approach compared to many other paper flower artists and a lot of fun to try. She outlines a lot of ways to create realistic petal color and texture through things like bleaching and painting. Livia also largely uses floral tape to attach petals to the stem wire, which is different than most artists who utilize mostly tacky or hot glue.
The Flower
Crepe Paper Flowers by Lia Griffith – Iris
The Book
Emphasis: Flower structure
If you do any exploration into making paper flowers, you are going to run into Lia Griffith! She has created a veritable empire: her own line of crepe paper and supplies, a robust blog with a repository of paper craft tutorials and multiple books. In this book, Lia really focuses on creating the essence of flowers by getting their fundamental structure correct. It may be a little less detail-oriented than some books, but the simplicity of the flowers creates its own realism in my opinion.
The Flower
The Fine Art of Paper Flowers by Tiffanie Turner – Zinnia
The Book
Emphasis: Realistic Detail
This has been the book I have used the most during my exploration of paper flowers. I love the balance of detail and structure this one provides. I also love that Tiffanie includes methods to make faded or damaged looking flower/foliage! It can add a lot of realism and whimsy to your project. She also talks about the different techniques and ways you can categorize certain flowers, such as ‘fringe-centered flowers’, ‘continuous strip flowers’, and ‘petal-by-petal flower’. This can be really helpful in understanding basic construction and what you are in the mood for!
The Flower
Paper Flower Art by Jessie Chui – Clematis, Olive Branches
The Book
Emphasis: Detail and Arrangement and Composition
This book is my newest acquisition and I love it already! Jessie’s flowers also lean toward the realistic/detailed end of the spectrum. She also includes a lot of good examples and explanations around composition and method of flower arranging, which I will use to actually arrange the flowers I have created for this post (stay tuned for that update).
The Flower
Book Review Summary
I’m making the following recommendations with the caveat that everyone has their own style and comfort with learning new things. There are also many more paper flower books in a wider range of styles! Never be afraid to jump into the thing that makes you most excited to get started.
Best for beginners: Crepe Paper Flowers by Lia Griffith
For something a little different: The Exquisite Book of Paper Flowers by Livia Cetti
To help you level-up and figure out your own style: Paper Flower Art by Jessie Chui, The Fine Art of Paper Flowers by Tiffanie Turner
Final Thoughts
This is my first attempt at making a floral arrangement and I think it turned our alright. I may add smaller, darker flowers toward the center to balance out the larger blooms and abundance of white/light pink in the center. However, I officially deem it good enough to go to its forever home as a woefully belated Mother’s Day gift to my mom. Love you mom, and thanks for supporting my creative pursuits 🙂
