Throughout the streets of Malaysia, you can find many vendors selling strung flower garlands. These are made with real flowers including jasmine, lotus, chrysanthemum and hibiscus. The flowers play an important role in Hinduism, and are meant to bring luck and prosperity, while warding off evil. The garlands are used in religious ceremonies, including weddings, adornment of temples and shrines, and in homes, businesses, and even motor vehicles. There are short strings of flowers to hang from rear view mirrors, long garlands to drape archways, and loops of flowers to be worn as leis. Because the flowers are fresh, they are replaced daily. We are sharing a tutorial for making a paper flower garland that can be turned into a lei to be worn or used as a decoration.
Note: If this project seems too time consuming for your child, add more straw sections between the flowers. The paper flower garland will still be beautiful but require less work.
Paper Flower Garland Materials – 30 inch garland
- 6 pieces cardstock paper (6 white or colored – 4 different colors for petals and 2 green for leaves)
- markers, crayons, colored pencils (optional)
- 5 – 10 paper straws
- green marker
- embroidery floss or twine
- large eye needle
- scissors
- leaf pattern
- flower petal pattern
Paper Flower Garland Directions
You have several options for how to make your garland. You can print the patterns on white cardstock and color the flowers, you can print the patterns on colored cardstock, or you can cut out 1 leaf and 1 petal pattern, then trace them on paper. If you print or copy on white cardstock, you will need to color the front and back of the flowers before stringing them. We printed our petals and leaves on colored cardstock paper. To get a 30 inch paper flower garland you will need 4 pages of flower petals, 2 pages of leaves and 5 straws.
Cut out the individual petals and leaves.
Poke a hole in the center of each flower and leaf.
The flowers and leaves need to be given a three dimensional look. On the petals, fold each peal toward the center. Then, pinch each petal in half lengthwise. Your flower now has dimension.
Do the same with the leaves. Fold each leaf toward the center, then pinch each leaf.
To prepare your straws, begin by coloring each paper straw with a green marker. Then cut the straws into 3/4 inch sections.
Cut a piece of embroidery floss or twine your desired length. We cut ours 36 inches. Put a large knot on the end. Thread your needle on the floss. Begin stringing your garland in the following manner: 1 leaf, 1 petal, and 1 straw. When stringing your garland, always put the needle in from the back (the flat side) to the front of the pieces. Again, you can add as many straw pieces as you like. Do not make the the individual straw pieces longer, tho. You need to keep them in 3/4 inch pieces so your garland flows.
String your garland until you reach your desired length.
If you want to make a lei, poke your needle through the original knot and tie it off. If you want to leave the garland in a long string, make another large knot on the finished end.
