I am always looking for new ways to add flowers to my life. This simple but rustic old book flower bouquet is a great way to use up scrap paper or old books and create a beautiful bouquet to display. I love the rustic feel of this and how it fits into the farmhouse style I enjoy. Since these are so easy to make, you'll love it as a fun activity for kids to help you create!
Jump to:
Old Book Page Flower Bouquet
My obsession with flowers continues with this fun idea. I like adding rustic to my home decor, and farmhouse-style items are always a hit. These paper flowers combine old books, tissue paper, sticks from the yard, and just a bit of glue to create a beautiful bouquet that really adds that farmhouse appeal I wanted.
This is a great idea for using up just those few pieces of paper you have left over from other projects. Even a single paper rose looks great in a vase on your mantle. I love that this isn't an exact process so little mistakes are easy to fix. Get creative and make these truly your own style.
Do I Have to Use Sticks for Stems?
Of course, you don't have to use sticks for stems. You can easily substitute anything you prefer, like dowel rods or even chopsticks. I've used floral wire and wrapped it to fit my decor, but those can be a bit flimsy.
One of my favorite ways to create flower stems is to cut apart old wire hangers. I have a ton of these in storage from when my husband worked, where his uniforms were laundered and returned on metal hangers. It's easy to grab the metal snips and simply cut them and bend them to length. This is especially nice if you are looking for something sturdy that won't cost much.
Can I Paint These Flowers?
I have painted and dyed paper and book pages many times with great success. For this project, I like the idea of using a bit of watercolor just around the edges of the leaves. That would give them a beautiful color without being too messy or complicated.
Another option that would be fast and easy is to spritz with spray paint. I think a bit of gold or silver would be pretty for holidays or just a basic pink or yellow for everyday use. Get creative and make them fit your desires.
If you use colored paper, you can also combine different colors and turn this into a fun rainbow style pattern.
If you have leftover paper, check out making these old book page hanging birds. They look adorable on the wall, but you could even attach them to the vase for this project!
What Glue Works Best to Secure Paper Flowers Together?
Most glues will work well with paper flowers. I prefer to use the simplest glue I have on hand. Simple craft glue can be used to secure the paper flowers or you can use something stronger like hot glue or super glue.
Some options are basic school glue, craft glue sticks, tacky glue, and, of course, hot glue is always an option, but I find it a bit excessive for this type of project.
Ways to Display This Bouquet
There are a few ways that you can display this bouquet. The first is by making the paper rose bouquet and place it in a traditional vase. This is a way to bring your crafts into your decorations.
I love adding these to any vase I have on hand and sitting on the mantle. They also work beautifully in a shallow bowl or vase and scattered a bit more like pictured. This style is ideal for use as a centerpiece on a table.
You can also tuck these into other flowers or plants in your home for a bit of a different texture or look that will fit in line with your farmhouse style decor.
If you want to add more to your table decoration this old book rose ball decoration is another fun option that looks beautiful next to these rustic flowers.
Supplies Needed
- White craft paper
- Old book pages
- Twine
- Sticks or twigs
- Jar or vase
- Scissors
- Craft glue
How to Make a Rustic Old Book Page Flower Bouquet
Cut a length of craft paper (or tear out an old book page).
Fold this paper in half to form a square, and cut that square in half to create two squares of paper.
Fold the square of paper in a back-and-forth accordion style like a fan until you have it completely folded.
Now, fold that strip of paper that has been folded in half.
Tie a length of twine around the center of the paper where you folded it in half.
Now, use scissors to clip off the ends of each side in rounded or pointed angles to create pointed petals or rounded petals of your flowers.
Next, unfold the sides of the fan and fluff outwards so it forms a ball shape.
Continue fluffing the paper until it is in a flower shape you are pleased with. If needed, you can combine two of these accordion fan balls together to form a larger flower.
Now, you will secure the bottom to the stick, either tying with additional twine or with a dab of hot glue.
Arrange these into your vase or bowl as desired.
Your paper flower bouquet is ready to display!
As you can see, this is a pretty easy project and is one that can be whipped up in just a few minutes. It's ideal for adding to your table for a slightly different take on a flower bouquet and is definitely simple enough for kids to help you make.
If you want more fun ideas like this one, make sure to check out my easy old book page flower tutorial, this gorgeous old book page wreath, or even this old book page star wall art decoration. All of these turn that scrap paper into something gorgeous to add to your home decor.
For a larger project, check out this stunning method of making angel wings out of old book pages. It's so beautiful!
Crafter's Tip
If you struggle to fold paper evenly, I have the perfect solution for you! Invest in one of these paper folders. This little piece of wood or bone looks a lot like a knife but doesn't have sharp edges. It's ideal for foldign paper and keeping those nice even lines you are looking for in the finished product.
Rustic Old Book Flower Bouquet - With Video
Make a gorgeous rustic old book flower bouquet using a scrap paper or pages from an old book! This easy to make paper flower bouquet is a great kids craft!
Materials
- White craft paper
- Old book pages
- Twine
- Sticks or twigs
- Jar or vase
Tools
Instructions
- Cut a length of paper or tear a page from an old book;
- Fold the paper in half to create a square, then cut along the fold creating two squares;
- Now, fold each square back and forth in a fanned accordion-style pattern;
- Once the paper is in a fan fold, fold that in half and crease in the center;
- Tie a length of twine or ribbon around the middle at the fold;
- Now, trim the ends of the paper into points or rounded edges for your petals;
- Fluff the paper out on both sides to form a flower;
- You can tie another fanned flower to this one to make it bigger, or simply leave as it is with a single folded paper;
- Tie or glue each flower to the end of a twig or stick;
- Arrange in your vase or bowl as desired;
- Display the bouquet on your table or mantle!
Notes
Use any paper you want to make these flowers fit your preferred style and colors.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Daphne Lewis
Love your beautiful book flowers!